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The news this morning reminds me of a line from one of my favourite musicals, Chicago.
“You gonna believe what you see, or what I tell you doll?”
A collage showing the covers of all the books I read this year.
A summary graphic from StoryGraph which shows how many books I read, the number of pages, some of my 5 star reads, my top genres and top authors.
I read 42 books in 2025. Not too shabby! Here are all the covers and my StoryGraph summary - I love these annual reading stats.
In my online bookclub we celebrate the Icelandic tradition of #Jolabokaflod, aka swapping books on Christmas Eve.
My wonderful gift this year came all the way from North Carolina with these locally sourced goodies! Can’t wait to try them!
I was so sad to hear of Sophie Kinsella’s passing at such a young age. Her books bought me a lot of joy in my late teens and early 20s.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Working through my edits to complete before I start querying in January.
I wrote 800 words this morning, and finished another scene - good progress!
The internal critic is very loud, telling me it’s terrible and everyone will hate it. But I’m trying my hardest to ignore that voice.
#amwriting
Brilliant event last night - it was a joy to hear @misterkristoff.bsky.social speak about the Empire series.
Shock of the night was that Aaron and Baptiste weren’t meant to be *a thing* 😱😭💔
Seriously though, these books traumatise and inspire me in equal measure. One of the best I’ve ever read.
I’m literally vibrating with excitement. I’m also listening to lofi metal—something which sounds like it shouldn’t work, and yet is SO RIGHT to accompany this story…
A kindle showing the cover of Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff.
IT. IS. TIME! The release I’ve been most excited for all year.
Hard copy coming from Illumicrate but I’m not lugging it around in my handbag, so getting stuck into the ebook straight away!
A picture of a red moon with a tower and the steps leading to it, in black and white The caption says "The keep and keeper"
I lost the framed original of this while I was going through St Pancras on Sunday Nov 2nd around 3pm. Would love if it had been found by anyone?
Hand holding a hardback copy of The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson.
Midweek book delivery! Excited to get stuck in to the latest from @rainewilson.bsky.social. The cover art is gorgeous 😍
I am heading home from a fabulous @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and it is OFFICIALLY PUBLICATION WEEK 🥳🥳🥳
If you're in the area, please do come see me on Thurs in St Andrews & make me sign things??
We will never forget Todd (Todd… Todd… Todd…) 🤣
Podcasts: 🔈
Stake Knife
SFF Addicts
Anime: ✨
Ruruoni Kenshin
Games: 🎮
What Remains of Edith Finch
Also want to share all the recommendations I was given by fellow writers:
Books: 📚
Kings of the Wyld - Nicholas Eames
Sons of Darkness - Gourav Mohanty
Perilous Times - Thomas D Lee
Hangsaman - Shirley Jackson
The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison
The Water Outlaws - SL Huang
Fresh from @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social. Such a brilliant weekend where I met many fantastic, talented people.
Special shoutout to @jordanacosta.co and @adrianmgibson.bsky.social for all the advice and support.
I’m feeling creatively refreshed and ready for whatever comes next!
Fab to meet you too, and thank you! I added The Bone Raiders to my Christmas wishlist yesterday, defo excited to read it 🤩
What’s the last book you read that really made you laugh?
Looking for recommendations to lighten up my TBR!
For me it was Voyage of the Damned by @franceswrites.bsky.social (genius, no notes) and The Yakuza’s Bias manga by Teki Yatsuda.
#booksky
Excitedly reviewing the @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social programme - so many interesting panels and discussions will be taking place.
To kick things off, I am SO looking forward to the Fountain Pens & Stationery workshop on Thursday evening! Can’t wait to geek out over pens and pretty notebooks ✨🖋️📓
The countdown to @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social is on!
I’m excited to be heading down to Brighton on Thursday for a packed weekend—let me know if you’re going too and what part of the programme you’re most excited for 🥰
I had grand plans for my non-working day: taking myself for brunch and editing a huge chunk of Goldweaver.
But I have the flu. I’m so frustrated because I work hard to have this free time for my writing. Sadly my brain isn’t up to it today.
So I guess I’ll stay in bed and play otome instead.
This beauty arrived today - excited to delve into more of @shaunalawless.bsky.social fabulous storytelling!
Recently read - Happiness by Aminatta Forma
Dealing with themes of displacement and hostility to migration, this was a very timely read. Set in my local area so I particularly enjoyed how easily I could visualise the setting and landmarks mentioned!
I finally finished Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind & Blossom. 110+ hours and I loved every second! I will never forget the Shinsengumi 💔
And now I am so ready for Illusion of Itehari to release this week - excited! Created by the same team as the Piofiore games aka my favourite otoge of all time. 🤩
Recently read - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
A sweeping, expansive account of Korean immigrant families living in Japan through the 20th century.
Recently read - Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst
It wasn’t until I finished this that I realised it’s based on a true story. A chronicle of love between two flawed people who were desperate for something beyond the ordinary.
Recently read - The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews
Haunting and atmospheric, set in an under-appreciated and oft misunderstood period of English history. I really enjoyed this one!
Massive thanks to the very splendid @elizachanwrites.bsky.social for reading THE SALT ORACLE 🖤🌊🖤
chng.it/J9WppVQ9ZC
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I did enjoy it! I found the slightly distant third person narrative style a bit jarring, but the description and worldbuilding was exquisite.
