iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Jonathan Edward Durham @thisone0verhere.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

And in the continuing saga of "Charles Darwin speaks directly to my soul on his bad days" I present to you these excerpts from actual letters he actually wrote to actual people, please enjoy:)

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Bat Terror @mattthr.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

I genuinely can’t quite believe this! 😮🏆 Thank you to @write-mentor.bsky.social for this brilliant opportunity, and to David Higham Associates for judging. I really am in the best company on both the Long and Shortlist, and I salute my fellow writers! 🤩🙌😍 #WritingCommunity #kidlit #believe ✨

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

This was such a great day! Lovely to work with Sara and spend time with a roomful of talented and generous writers 🥰🤩

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Hay Festival @hayfestival.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Schools, it’s here! Today’s Programme for Schools is streaming free online, offering a world of different experiences. Join us! www.hayfestival.org/schools

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

So surprised and pleased to make this shortlist 🥰 It means a lot 🥹 Thanks to all @write-mentor.bsky.social

Announcement of shortlist for Write Mentor Awards 2025

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Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 04/05/2025

The Gilded Age thing I was not fully expecting about our century’s was Spiritualism coming back???

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Just spotted the swifts returning here in Warwickshire this morning! Too high and tiny in the sky to photograph. But they are BACK!! 💙💙

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

So excited to collect @annalieseavery.bsky.social’s new book The Wycherleys from Waterstones this morning!! How gorgeous?!💜💜

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Really enjoyed this unsettling little gem by @orlaowenwriting.bsky.social It’s one of those books that lingers in the back of your mind, long after you lay it down. Not surprised to hear it has been longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award 2025.

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Charlotte Moore-Lambert @charlottereads.com · 22/03/2025

being an indie bookseller in the helltimes has felt both very stable and very stabilizing, and part of me wishes everyone could be on my side of the counter for a little while, because I think it would help some of you be a little less cynical and doomy right now. so here is my VERY anecdotal data:

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

An interesting and important read.

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Mighty Haunter @mightyhunter.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Freddie Mercury didn't go into the studio and nail the vocals for "The Show Must Go On" in one take while dying of AIDS for you to despair and give up now. Take the time you need, but then get up and get back out there. The show must go on.

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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

After playing a fictional member of the Resistance a long time ago, I never could have imagined it ever happening in real life, but here we are.

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Neil Henderson @hendopolis.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

OBSERVER; Starmer set to join Europe crisis summit on Trump Ukraine plan #TomorrowsPapersToday

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Ian Hunter - Children’s Author @ianhcreates.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Exciting news! 🥳 ‘Fyn Carter and the Agents of Eromlos’ has been shortlisted in the Selfies Book Awards 2025 Children’s category! I am so happy, stunned, and excited! (1/2) @bookbrunch.bsky.social #selfiesbookawards #kidlit #middlegradebooks #fyncarter

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Cuts to audio drama at rhe BBC are a real concern. Please read and consider signing. chng.it/cZQT4cxyxt

chng.it

We Can Make an Impact.

Save Audio Drama at the BBC

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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

The deep cultural cost of British university job cuts Arts and humanities are being hit hardest by cuts in higher education, write Prof Thea Pitman and Prof Emma Cayley www.theguardian.com/education/20...

theguardian.com

The deep cultural cost of British university job cuts | Letters

Letters: Arts and humanities are being hit hardest by cuts in higher education, write Prof Thea Pitman and Prof Emma Cayley, and Dr Ronan McLaverty-Head and another letter writer comment on cuts at Ca...

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Dapo Adeola @dapsdraws.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Oh…so they do understand theft of IP?

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Charles Fonge @fongebob.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

In 1647 the city of York unsuccessfully petitioned parliament for a university, warning of the harm of a north south divide and the “ignorance of illiterate men, through whom that sad proverbe is fulfilled upon us: the blinde leade the blinde and both fall into the ditch.”

1 That howsoever the kingdome enjoyes the benefit and blessing of two most
famous universities, which as they are so wee still hope they shall continue the
glory of Europe, yet wee humbly conceive that they are not commensurate to
the largenes and necessity of the kingdome which appears by the deplorable
want of a learned and faithfull ministry in very many congregations, which for
want of schollers or choice of scholars are betrayed to the ignorance of illiterate
men, through whom that sad proverbe is fulfilled upon us: the blinde leade the
blinde and both fall into the ditch.

Borthwick Institute for Archives, MD.145.

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Hannah Sheppard @hannahlitagent.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Many years ago when I was an editor I went to my boss and asked why we were allowing ourselves to become so reliant on Amazon...I suggested that publishers could mutually invest in a central bookselling website where orders were sent direct to relevant hubs and the amount we'd save because...

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Sarah Churchwell @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Thrilled to announce next week the publication of a centenary edition of The Great Gatsby, with the fine folks at @cambridgeup.bsky.social. I wrote the introduction, and the maestro James LW West III edited the authoritative text. I think it is a thing of beauty. www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...

cambridge.org

The Cambridge Centennial Edition of The Great Gatsby

Cambridge Core - Literary Texts - The Cambridge Centennial Edition of The Great Gatsby

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Liz Hyder @londonbessie.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Well, this is a surprise! I was over the moon just to be on the shortlist, but this is nuts. Makes up for waking up at 5am with a migraine! I’m off to try and digest this over a large Americano. Meanwhile, check out the other category winners! Honoured and chuffed to be amongst them! x

Front cover of The Twelve by Liz Hyder with illustrations and cover artwork by Tom de Freston. Above, it says Winner of a Nero Book Award

The four category winners of the Nero Book awards. Lost in the Garden by Adam S Leslie, The Twelve by me! Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Ellie’s and Wild Houses by Colin Barrett.

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairc.com · 20/01/2025

I'm so delighted to share the amazing cover for I AM RAVEN, coming 10th April! With brilliant illustration from #KaritasGunnirsdottir and design by #RayTierney, I can't wait to see it out in the world! 🐦‍⬛ @nosycrow.bsky.social #KidLitUK #IAmRaven #FlightOrFight alastairc.com/blog/2025012...

alastairc.com

I Am Raven cover reveal!

The cover for Alastair Chisholm's new sci-fi adventure, I AM RAVEN, has been revealed.

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Just read King of Nothing and Steady for this by Nathanael Lessore and I cannot tell you how much I loved both books. Fresh and authentic, genuinely hilarious, charming and thoughtful. Excellent for young teens. Such a gap for this age group and these books are perfect 💜

Book covers of King of Nothing and Steady for This

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

The Sleeping Beauty- my latest cartoon for @theguardian.com

Title: The Sleeping Beauty

Panel 1: A knight on a horse spots a castle behind a great hedge of thorns and says "I've never noticed that before"

Panel 2 and 3: The knight enters the castle with sword drawn and finds a guard slumped on a bench. "Everyone's asleep?" he says to himself.

Panel 4 and 5: The knigt approaches a room marked LIBRARY and goes in. The room is empty and he murmurs "So lovely and quiet in here."

Panel 6 and 7: He sits in a comfortable chair and says "I'll read for a while, then explore the rest of the castle". He leafs through a book and yawns then drops off to sleep.

Panel 8: The sound of his gentle snoring rises from the castle.

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Prof Dave O'Brien @drdaveobrien.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

“The fear is that as they disappear – mainstream universities are also cutting their creative arts courses – a drama school training will become once again the preserve of the wealthiest who can afford to pay to go to private institutions.” www.theguardian.com/education/20... (1/2)>

theguardian.com

‘National catastrophe’: drama school funding crisis in England sparks concern

Actors Samuel West and Paapa Essiedu join calls for urgent action to protect and expand access to arts

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JRR Jokien (joshcarlosjosh) @www.jrrjokien.com · 11/01/2025

me when any program's AI assistant asks me if I want help writing:

Gandalf the White saying, "Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth"

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Amy Sparkes @amysparkes.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

**Free mentoring opportunity for children's authors** Looking for 4 writers who consider themselves from a working class background & in a financially disadvantaged situation. Mentoring is online, primarily in a group setting with some 1:1. More info: www.storygodmother.co.uk/index.php/op...

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Christine Kooi @christinekooi.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The techbroligarchy wants us all to be dumber.

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Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · 05/01/2025

Very good advice. Every story has the right size container, you just need to find it. I wrote My Name is Leon as a short story first. It didn’t work until it became a novel.

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Chris Addison @mrchrisaddison.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

From tomorrow, for six Saturdays, I’m presenting Music Matters on Radio 3. We’re calling it ‘Satire & The Stave’. There’s some fabulous and very interesting music that I hope you’ll get a kick out of. Will be on BBC Sounds and all that, natch. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Satire and the Stave, Satire and the State

Chris Addison explores how composers have used music to challenge the power of the state.

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Ed Zitron @edzitron.com · 28/12/2024

What are we DOING here? We're just meant to sit and act like this insane plagiarism and climate threat that requires more money than anything has ever cost is worth it? Are we meant to pretend that ChatGPT is worth this aimless, meaningless destruction of capital and our environment? For what?

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 13/12/2024

Waterstones Children's Laureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social is a total force for good - here's a reminder of what his time in the role is all about! And he has big plans for 2025, kicking off by bringing together key figures for a #ReadingRights summit in January! Stay tuned...

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

I suppose what I'm trying to say is don't listen to your brain when they say a creative task is impossible. Your brain is lying. #KidLitUK

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Culture Crave 🍿 @culturecrave.co · 13/12/2024

Happy 99th Birthday to Dick Van Dyke 🎂

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

The wolves are running! Feeling so festive and wintery watching the real snow scenes in the 40th anniversary showing of John Masefield's 'The Box of Delights' on BBC4 - what a treat! #TheBoxofDelights #UKKidlt www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bbc.co.uk

The Box of Delights

Can the wonders of Christmas be saved? Entrusted with an ancient magical box, a child goes on a thrilling journey in time and space. The much-loved, groundbreaking festive classic.

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Baroness Floella Benjamin @floellabenjamin.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Thought for the day: ‘Be the voice of encouragement and kindness, especially to children who need our unconditional love and support’ ❤️❤️

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Adam Sharp @adamcsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

The meanings of the word for a wren, from eight different languages... 8. Little walnut (Bulgarian) 7. Little bird in the ditch (Japanese) 6. Thumbling (Finnish) 5. Fence-skedaddler (Danish) 4. Fence-master (Hebrew) 3. Druid bird (Irish) 2. Mouse-brother (Faroese) 1. Little king of winter (Dutch)

Photo of a tubby little wren (what I like to call a "little dumpling birb") perched on an icy branch, taken by Jeff Cohen

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SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Why read books? Because reading opens minds & hearts. It helps us imagine different lives and different worlds; it can help us build a better world. So please keep reading books with kids, and encouraging them to read. There is nothing more important. #literacy #books #reading

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Joanna Moult @joannamoult.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I've got some UK children's book publishers, reviewers and literary agents here, Darren: go.bsky.app/kRfNFe

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

You know that thing where you finish a book, and you have to sit and stare at the wall for a while, because it was just so good. Yeah. That.

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SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Every single school should have a library & a librarian, to help every single child find the books that will make them readers, and give them all the lifelong benefits of literacy. Libraries & librarians change children's lives FOREVER! #literacy #libraries #librarians

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Jo Cotterill/Kenrick @jocotterillbook.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

This is so true. The #kidlituk community is incredibly supportive and I've made lifelong friends through it. (There are always outliers, of course, but on the whole, we are very happy to big up each others' books! Also, it's easier to promote other ppl's books than your own 🫣)

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Claire Lomas @clairelomas.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Honestly, why have I waited so long to read this?! #NowReading

Photograph of book cover of Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel.

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