Abie Longstaff

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Gorgeous reel of my school visit to Great Walstead School to open their new library

www.instagram.com/reel/DVgZqjW...

Photo of books in two fans on a table. Fan 1 is Little Fairy Godmother, fan 2 is Little Bad Wolf. Both children's picture books, stories by Abie Longstaff.

More books! Arriving today, we have Little Fairy Godmother by @abielongstaff.bsky.social in store, for an event at Barnsley Library this Saturday! Stories and activities, and the magical origins of fairy tale characters.

The new book is out late April, we have early supply for this event!
#booksky

We're all clinging on by our fingernails (It's not just you)

Up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack
'We're all clinging on by our fingernails (it's not just you).'

“Following the news is a bit like watching a TV series where the characters systematically make the wrong choices and you're in front of your screen like "NO WAY ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT NO ONE WITH ANY SENSE WOULD... RHAAAA" but you still keep watching because you want to know how it ends.”

What to do in a publishing slump Across your career as an author, you will have brilliant times and low times.

New post up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack
'What to do in a publishing slump'

Brave New World: Justice for creators in the age of GenAI   - The Society of Authors We have joined forces with other creator-led organisations to co-launch a ground-breaking report showing the onset of a creative jobs crisis in the UK.

The Society of Authors joins forces with other creator-led organisations to co-launch Brave New World?, a groundbreaking report on the onset of a creative jobs crisis in the UK. More and a link to download the report here. Essential reading.
societyofauthors.org/2026/01/30/b...
#JusticeForCreators

'I don't like my cover'
What to do...
Up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack
open.substack.com/pub/abielong...

Just heard that my latest @barringtonstoke.bsky.social novella got Children's Book of the Week in The Times! Blimey.

Is it really writer's block? Figuring out what's wrong

Up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack. Mini creative blocks: how to identify them and how to overcome them.

Piles of copies of The Notwitches and The Notwitches Prison Break (by me!)

Morning all! If any of you are in the Edinburgh area and in need of a last-minute gift for the young 'uns in your life, I highly recommend a trip to Toppings bookstore where they have two big stacks of newly SIGNED copies of my books. Run run run!

The front covers for How To Be Brave, How To Be True, and How To Be Free by Daisy May Johnson sit on an orange background, highlighted by white pencil-esque doodles around them.

Hello! If you're looking for a last minute Christmas book for your young, old, or cake orientated bookish friends, then may I suggest these? They feature best friends forever, afternoon tea, found family, delightful chaos, footnotes, covert ninja skills, and more... ❤️ #booksky #books #childrensbooks

Saying no It’s easy to burnout in this industry.

Saying No - new post up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack...

Extract from substack

When a 'bad' book does well - coping with ugly feelings
Up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack
open.substack.com/pub/abielong...

From Dylan Thomas’ shopping list to a note from Sylvia Plath’s doctor: newly uncovered case files reveal the hidden lives of famous writers Exclusive: Hardship grant applications to the Royal Literary Fund, including unseen letters by Doris Lessing and a note from James Joyce saying that he ‘gets nothing in the way of royalties’, show aut...

This Guardian article on how even well-known writers have benefited from the wonderful RLF shows the value of backing artists. Many, many writers need TIME to develop. And time costs.
I'm watching the UBI for artists programme in Ireland. Will be so interesting to see what comes of it.

Thank you

I could really relate to this article by @abielongstaff.bsky.social. abielongstaff.substack.com/p/what-do-yo... Have a read, @womenwritersnet.bsky.social community! #writerslife #writinglife #writing

How do I ACTUALLY do a school visit? From getting them to doing them

Up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack including,
What to put in your sessions,
How to get work,
How to control the kids (featuring a VERY funny story from the brilliant @sarahcrossan.bsky.social who does amazing school visits)
open.substack.com/pub/abielong...

Thank YOU! It was brilliant, and so inspiring.

How many voices? How many people look at your work before you submit it?

How many people look at your work before you submit it?
New post up now on my Publishing Peptalk substack.

It's the last day of the 99p Kindle ebook deal for The Green Man's War. Don't miss out - especially if you want to catch up with Dan's adventures before embarking on The Green Man's Holiday which keen readers are already enjoying. You could get both for under six quid, just saying 😁

For the past three years, I’ve been a member of the CWIG committee of the Society of Authors - we’re the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group - and we’ve been working on a campaign to come up with guidelines for publishers, agents, etc, for ghostwriters.

#SerendipityLit author Dr. @csmaccath.com will be moderating the "Shapeshifting Stories" panel at the World Fantasy Convention next Saturday!

Featured panelists:
@abielongstaff.bsky.social
@silvanhistorian.bsky.social
@toribovalino.bsky.social

A membership is required: worldfantasy2025.co.uk

Cue lots of publishers frantically aging new texts up or down in a mass panic 🤣🤣

These age ranges are already v nebulous and often market-driven/market-imposed. If you look at the shelf of books for 5-8 year olds the difference between texts can be vast.

I'm really excited about the Children's Booker prize but I want to learn more. I can't find the rules & regs yet. I want to know what 'aimed at children of 8-12' means. 'Aimed at' by whom? The author, the publisher, the bookshop? If the author says a chapter book is right for age 8, is that enough?

Ghosts Are Real in celebrity-authored children's fiction - The Society of Authors This Halloween we are standing up for ghostwriters of celebrity-authored children’s fiction - calling for them to be more visible in the world of publishing.

societyofauthors.org/2025/10/24/g...
Our CWIG @societyofauthors.bsky.social guidelines for publishers and agents
#GhostsAreReal

#GhostsAreReal

SoA calls for transparency around 'unsung' ghostwriters behind celebrity-authored children’s books The Society of Authors has launched a campaign to 'make a stand for a better recognition of the contribution and role of ghostwriters in celebrity-authored children’s fiction'.

Thank you @thebookseller.com for covering our CWIG @societyofauthors.bsky.social campaign to celebrate the unsung heroes of many celebrity children's books - the ghostwriters.
Please support our #GhostsAreReal campaign.
Let's applaud the CRAFT of writing.
www.thebookseller.com/news/soa-cal...

What do you want from your writing life? There was a time I nearly gave up on publishing.

New on my Publishing Peptalk substack.
'When you think of your writing life at its best, what do you want it to bring you - practically, emotionally, creatively?'
I asked 50 author/illustrators, and this is what they said.
open.substack.com/pub/abielong...

In Conversation with… Lydia Monks
3:00pm-4:00pm, Saturday 29th November, Grimm&Co
Tickets: £10 / 5 free bursary places available

Please follow the link in our bio for full information on this fantastic event, limited tickets available 📚 @grimmandco.bsky.social @lydiamonks.bsky.social