iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 31/03/2026

Shameless Easter chocolatey book promo. Cover artwork by Sandra Navarro

Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 30/03/2026

Honoured but terrified to receive a proof copy of Jennifer Killick’s next chiller: Demon Hunters: Soul Feeder with illustrations by Marina Vidal Jennifer’s books guarantee relentless panic! Released 4th June Thank you @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

So lovely to celebrate the publication of the 2nd Inkbound book, Meticulous Jones and the Shadow Compass this evening with the brilliant @prleathley.bsky.social Also wonderful to catch up with @chris-callaghan.com and to finally meet @juditheagle.bsky.social and Emma Swan.

The lovely Philippa on the left and an old crone on the right.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 01/12/2025

Sometimes, I'm too easily distracted.

The face of an author behind a laptop pretending to work while side-eyeing an advent calendar full of gin.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 09/10/2025

Reason number 1,567,982 to love school librarians ... They ALWAYS create a buzz around their library and books. A vital role carried out with so much enthusiasm. Thank you, Sharleene 👊

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 22/09/2025

Graphic novels are a dynamic way to enjoy stories. It was a joy to create 12 action packed adventures with amazing artist, Amit Tayal. Amit took my wacky escapades & turned them into unbelievably vibrant artwork that makes every page fizzle with excitement. www.chris-callaghan.com/shinoy-and-t...

Several covers of graphic novels including titles such as 'Mission: Submarine Scare' & 'Mission: Lunar Launch'. Snippets of the comic book panels showing a family and members of the Chaos Crew being thrown around inside space ship type interior, an evil looking half robot/half man, and a winged person flying around a shopping mall with electricity arcing around them.

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CNN @cnn.com · 08/09/2025

Millions of years ago, an apex predator resembling a giant crocodile stalked the humid freshwater floodplains of southern Patagonia. It ate whatever it could catch, including some dinosaurs. Near the southern tip of South America, scientists recently discovered a skeleton of this hypercarnivore

cnn.com

Researchers unearthed skeleton of extinct ‘hypercarnivore’ that had a taste for dinosaurs | CNN

Scientists found the skeleton of an extinct hypercarnivore in Argentina’s southern Patagonia. The apex predator feasted on dinosaurs, they propose.

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Kit Butler (Author) @kitbutlermagster.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

A huge thank you to Tami Wylie, for this lovely review of Magster and the Auriaku Koi. 😍 #ukkidlit #kidlituk #Magster #magsterandtheauriakukoi

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 08/09/2025

We visited the University of East London's Baby Lab with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social to discover how reading can play a key role in children's healthy development. We're calling on partners across sectors to join #ReadingRights and make sure every child experiences this: bit.ly/41hIdda

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

I'm coming to West London the following monday after school, 15th Sept. You can get a book and ticket here at @alligatorsmouth.bsky.social! @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/event-detail...

thealligatorsmouth.co.uk

Louie Stowell: Loki Book Signing | Alligator's Mouth

4:00-5:00pm - Meet Louie Stowell after school to have the latest Loki book signed!

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Meredith Vigh Author @meredithvighauthor.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

This is out today with the latest Jellycat Christmas drop! Ocean Hughes has outdone herself with these gorgeous, wintry illustrations.

Cover of picture book ‘Bartholomew Bear and the Snow Giants’ by Jellycat Books

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Lovely review for Beastie Bros: Dungeons & Dragonflies! Out on August 15th. 🐌🐉#kidlituk

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Philip Reeve @philipreeve.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Why not take a holiday in the world of #MortalEngines this summer? ‘Thunder City’ takes you to floating seaside resorts, deadly amusement arcades, airborne spa towns, Parisian prisons and the floating pubs of Gibraltar. (And you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your sofa or sun lounger.)

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Today is the start of #SouthAsianHeritageMonth which runs until 17th August in the U.K. & celebrates the rich cultures of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan & The Maldives. Here are some #kidlit reading suggestions! (Titles & authors in alt) #kidlituk #ukkidlit

Book covers for SAHM:
Noor un Nissa Inayat Khan by Safia Ahmed
Torn Apart Swapna Haddow
When Secrets Set Sail Sita Brahmachari
The Line They Drew Through Us Hiba Noor Khan
The Wheel of Surya Jamila Gavin
Escape from Amritsar Bali Rai
South Asian Folk Tales Sarah Shaffi
Nush and the Stolen Emerald Jas Bilan
Animal Tales from India Nikita Gill & Chaya Prabhat
Lands of Belonging Vikesh and Donna Amey Bhatt & Salini Perera
South Asian Super Kids Raj Kaur Khaira
Amazing Muslims Who Changed the World Burhana Islam

Book covers for South Asian Heritage Month:
The Destiny of Minou Moonshine Gita Ralleigh
Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom Sangu Mandanna
City of Stolen Magic Nazneen Ahmed Pathak
When the River Runs Gold Sita Brahmachari
Magic Has No Borders ed Sonia Chairaipotra
The Shell Keepers Truly Johnston
Nura and the Immortal Palace MT Khan
Tariq and the Drowning City Sarwat Chadda
Dream Hunters Nazima Pathan
Pashmina Nidhi Chanani
Shakti SJ Sindu

Book Covers for South Asian Heritage Month:
Ellie Pillai is Brown Christine Pillainayagam
Desi Girl Speaking A S Hussain
Bringing Back Kay-Kay Dev Kothari
The Mercury in Me Rachael Fernandes
Rani Reports on the Tropical Island Treasure Gabrielle Shewhorak and Satish Shewhorak
The Hidden Story of Estie Noor Nadine Aisha Jassat
Nikhil & Jay Off to India Chitra Soundar
The Cure for a Crime Roopa Farooki
This is Who I am Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Ruchi Mhasane
Super Nani and Captain Yaz Saira Shah & Maria Gabriela Gama
I’m Going to Make a Friend Darren Chetty & Sandhya Prabhat

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 11/07/2025

Just wondering … On a really, really hot day, when no one else is in the house, is it common practice for someone to open the fridge and, for just a little while, rest their bare bum cheeks on the shelf next to the vegan chicken free slices?

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Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

“Superman is too woke!” Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 10/07/2025

My new book 'When the War Comes In' is set in my hometown of Wallsend where Sting also grew up. This is the house where he lived in as a boy, just a stone's throw away from shipyard which plays a vital part in my book. I think they missed a trick by not calling it 'Woksanne'.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 30/06/2025

Forget the heatwave, it’s these 6am dog walks that I’m struggling with.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 28/06/2025

Marking Armed Forces Day with a blast from my own past. These scallywags were part of the UN Peacekeeping Forces during the Bosnian War. Mad days. Proud to have served but thinking of those who suffered or made the ultimate sacrifice for peace & freedom. Respect to all currently serving. Stay safe.

Showing the front half of a Tornado F3 jet fighter with five guys hanging around it grinning awkwardly.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 26/06/2025

Dragontastic evening celebrating the launch of @cressidacowell.bsky.social's 'How To Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing'. It was lovely to chat with so many fabulous folk. We were all in awe of how Cressida's stories have captured young (and old) imaginations in so many ways.

The fabulous Cressida Cowell standing next to geeky author bloke, both seemingly fighting over a copy of her book, 'How to Train Your Dragon School'. In a luxurious setting.

close up of book cover 'How to Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing' showing a huge blueish dragon's head with Hiccup and Toothless (much smaller) flying away.

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Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · 19/06/2025

Just been championing audiobooks on The Today programme. No surprise to those of us with dyslexia children or parents with poor eyesight. Nor to anyone that works with vulnerable readers. Or good readers like me who just love them. Close your eyes and listen or vacuum or drive. Brilliant.

theguardian.com

UK audiobook revenue up by almost a third last year

Income from audiobooks reached a record £268m in 2024, according to figures from the Publishers Association

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 19/06/2025

Guy walks past my open window 'singing'. At first I couldn't make it out, but he got closer ... "This is what you'll get." I know that. What is it? He continues, "This is what you'll get ... when you meeeeesss with us." Radiohead's Karma Police - the even creepier version! I'm shutting the window.

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 17/06/2025

We unveiled our #BookTrustStorytime Prize shortlist today - but did you know that 60,000 children took part last year? Our new report explores the impact of BookTrust Storytime - but also shares librarians' views on the challenges facing families 👇 www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/new...

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Gabrielle Kent @gabriellekent.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Yup⤵️ Many earn far less and celebs skew stats. From what I'm hearing at the moment for middle grade, many folks are typically getting 3-6k advance, which is split into three payments which can span years, and from which agents are paid 15%. This is why there are so few full-time authors.

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Tomas @m0byduck.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Please enjoy this photo of our new kitten Bobby and our mostly confused dog Ralph

A small grey and white kitten standing up with his paws in the air in front of a beige fluffy medium sized dog with big pointy ears

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders? The average author income is about seven grand a year.

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Gabrielle Kent @gabriellekent.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

A procrastination of authors is touring Northern bookshops on Saturday 21st June, times below! Shops may have advance copies of Rani Reports on the Tropical Island Treasure, and I'm MORE than happy to sign copies of Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch and generally geek out over Discworld!

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 28/05/2025

Joining in with the #CollinsBigCat 20th Anniversary celebrations. It's been a joy working with their amazing team who work so hard to bring such a diverse range of books to entertain & inspire young & curious imaginations. Flattered to have my books on this impressive 20 year long journey. #KidLitUK

A winding road map starting at Jan 2005 and ending in 2025 showing books produced at various years in between.

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 09/05/2025

Bit disappointed we didn't get a pope bi-generation. We could've had the Doctor XIV (David Tennant) & Leo XIV (Bob Provost) both battling monsters in swooshy clothing.

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Miranda Dickinson @wurdsmyth.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

And Then There Was… a BOOK LAUNCH! My new book, #AndThenThereWasYou, will be launched officially at the gorgeous @waterstoneswton.bsky.social on SATURDAY 6th SEPTEMBER from 1pm. It’s FREE - come and help me celebrate my fifteenth novel! Details: www.waterstones.com/events/miran... #BookSky 💙📚

An event poster for the launch of my new novel, And Then There Was You, on Saturday 16th September in Waterstones Wolverhampton, 13-15 Victoria Street, Wolverhampton WV3 7ND from 1pm. It’s a free event and I will also be signing copies of my MJ White crime thrillers.

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corambeanstalk.bsky.social @corambeanstalk.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Great to chat to Dave Robson on @zetlandfm.bsky.social this morning about our mission to help every child become a reader & our need for more volunteers in #Redcar & #Cleveland Listen in at 2.20 -2.34 to find out more! www.mixcloud.com/zetlandfm/ze...

mixcloud.com

Zetland Fm Morning Mix - Wednesday 7 May 2025

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Sarah Merrett 🫧A Place of a Thousand Wishes @sarahmerrett1.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

My second book is out in 3 weeks, and I finally have a website! Feel free to check it out - I’m offering free virtual Q&As. Link here: sarahmerrettauthor.wordpress.com @everywithwords.bsky.social #MG #kidlit #kidlituk #UKKidlit #booksky #childrensbooks

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

I grew up knowing nothing of this – luckily there are now great books for teachers, educators and parents with a global perspective on WW2 for young readers. (personally have mixed feelings about VE/VJ day and would prefer the International Day of Peace (21st September) marked instead) #kidlituk

Graphic with covers of WW2 themed kids books: Anne Frank's Diary, Soul Lanterns, Safiyyah's War, Mohinder's War, Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Lily Renée Escape Artist, Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan, Now or Never

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 02/05/2025

Thrilled to receive my author copies of 'When the War Comes In'. My little story set in the Tyneside shipyards of my hometown during World War II. Proud to be part of the Collins Big Cat Read On range. Glorious illustrations from Isabella Grott. Available now! #KidLitUK #BookSky #EduSky

Several copies of the same book spread out. Cover shows a battleship next to the end of a row of terraced houses with cranes in the background. Open page shows illustration of happy boys in a back lane playing football with the battleship at the end of the lane.

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Scholastic UK @scholasticuk.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Welcome! What better book for our very first post? Welcome is a joyful picture book about friendship by Alison Green and illustrated by Axel Scheffler A donation from every copy sold goes to Three Peas charity @threepeashelp.bsky.social 🌼 Publishing one month today on 5th June 🌼

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Mr. H @owlhandsondeck.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Short stories are brilliant. They make excellent class reads and the children love them. Also, they’re great tools for getting out of a jam. Class book finished with a week to go? Need a story for transition day? Lesson gone to pot? Here’s my top 3 short story collections…

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Patrick Ness @patricknessbooks.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Companies! Not too long ago a rainbow sticker indicated your store was a safe place for LGBTQ people. Time to start doing the same specifically for trans people. A little trans flag sticker in your window. I’d make a point to shop there.

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

If you need a gift for a child, I'm part of an auction of SFF writers, money going to @goodlawproject.bsky.social and a South African LGBT charity. Please give out of all proportion with how much you like Loki. (Obv loki thinks this lot should go for £1m) #KidLitUK #TransRights

Line drawing of my character, Loki, who is a god in the body of an 11 year old child with spiky black hair. Loki is saying: Win ME! The picture has my signature on it.

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Book Clubs in Schools @bookclubsinschools.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Calling all fans of #ReadingForPleasure 📣 Read our newsletter: 🎈 Book Clubs in Schools Day is THIS Thursday ☀️ Summer Book Club 🎤 Jason Reynolds at @britishlibrary.bsky.social 📚 Barnes Children's Literature Festival @barneskidslitfest.bsky.social - tickets on sale now! ➡️ bit.ly/4iAigv9

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Chris Callaghan @chris-callaghan.com · 25/04/2025

I'm soon going to get my hair cut at an actual barbers. My first time since the pandemic (my wife has been doing it). I didn't think I'd be this nervous. Will I have to chat? What about? I'm going to have to sit looking into the mirror at my stupid face. Why am I doing this??

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Hooray! This is so exciting! Open to all schools with access to iPlayer, not just in Scotland. It’s going to be awesome. #KidLitUK

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Jonathan Emmett @jonathanemmett.com · 25/04/2025

#PopUpOfTheWeek is from STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, by Matthew Reinhart. Skilful paper engineering is often as much about animation as 3D modelling. The way that the main pop, Jabba the Hutt’s Rancor, moves as the book is opened is very satisfying. Some great mini-pops too. #KidLitUK

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P.G. Bell @pgbellwriter.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

In case you haven't found them yet, the wonderful @endpapers.bsky.social are now on BlueSky. #KidLit #KidLitUK

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Book Clubs in Schools @bookclubsinschools.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

The very talented David Litchfield has recorded a 25-minute session for years 1-3. He'll be reading 'The Bear and The Piano' and showing children how to draw their own bear. Register to stream it for free on 1 May: bit.ly/4hsZkOA @dc-litchfield.bsky.social #KidLitUK #BookClubsInSchoolsDay

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