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Gary Dalkin

@garydalkin.bsky.social
2.5K followers 6.1K following 101 posts

UK editor & writer. I write every month for Writing Magazine. Bournemouth Writing Festival. Organising Chaos. Author Events. Editor-at-large at Cadence Publishing. Lots more, including contact details: www.tothelastword.com

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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The Beatles sang, 'When I'm 64'. I am 64. And the 60s began 64 years ago today, on 5 October 1962. Find out why, what James Bond and an old Bournemouth cinema has to do with it, and why October the first wasn't too late. All in my new post on Timepieces: timepieces3.substack.com/p/the-day-th...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Revealing Cadence Timepiece’s latest signing, and it's our first series! Steve Cox is bringing his Tom Tyler English Civil War adventure epic over to us. Find out much more, including an interview with Steve on our substack, Timepieces. timepieces3.substack.com/p/reveal-of-...
Steve Cox about to sign the contract for his Tom Tyler series with Cadence Publishing director, Sophie Beal
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I'll be back at the Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth with Cadence Publishing director Sophie Beal giving our bestselling fireside chat Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Novel. Meanwhile I've a lengthy post on Timepieces about writing, connection and creativity.
timepieces3.substack.com
Writing, Chaos, & Connection
Why the Human Connection Means Everything for Creativity; and Why You Should Come and See Us at the Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
New post on Cadence Publishing's Timepieces Substack, reflections shifting from science fiction to historical fiction, memories of a novel I tried to write when I was 13, real life becoming indistinguishable from ridiculous SF, and a double twist ending. timepieces3.substack.com/p/mirrors-an...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
For Timepieces as Cadence Publishing’s editor-at-large I reflect on my journey from science fiction to historical fiction, from judge of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, to editing Clouds Over Bowland by Rosemary Sturge. I think it's one of my best essays, so do take a look. substack.com/home/post/p-...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Thanks so much for organising this. At the very least, if nothing makes the government protect writers better, many more of us can now say we've been published in the same book as some of the country's most famous and celebrated authors!
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
@bmthwritingfest.bsky.social celebrates #RobertLouisStevenson - 175th birthday at his former home, where he wrote #DrJekyllandMrHyde and #Kidnapped. 13th November - performances, readings, poetry from Stevenson experts. @alibacon.bsky.social www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/networking-e...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Novel originated as a talk I gave with Sophie Beal (Director of Cadence Publishing) at the Bournemouth Writing Festival. It proved so successful we are now doing an extended version for Writing Magazine: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Last night was the July Author Events' Books & Bubbles at Sobo:Sommelier. Bestselling psychological thriller writer @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social (The Quiet Sister) interviewed bestselling psychological thriller Jackie Kabler (The Revenge Plot). I adjudicated the fun and chaotic competition.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
I'm delighted that #WiildaAndTheTrollTrials by #LindaLiebrand, which I worked on last year, is now published. Linda says: 'I wrote Wiilda and the Troll Trials for curious kids who don’t quite fit in. For those who ask too many questions, or dream of adventures no one else sees.'
Author Linda Liebrand standing holding a copy of her novel for children aged 8-12, Wiilda and the Troll Trials, which was published on 2 July 2025.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
I've known about this for a while now, but am delighted to share the news that Andreina Cordani, bestselling, Crime Writers Association Daggar Award-nominated author of #MurderAtTheChristmasEmporium, will continue her seasonally-themed thrillers with #AScroogeMystery. And yes, there will be ghosts.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Really looking forward to this crime writer panel with Andreina Cordani, TH Carrington, Alex Stone, and MA Hunter. @andreinacordani.bsky.social @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social authorevents.co.uk/2025/03/30/2...
social media graphic for Author Events crime writers panel, 24 June 2025.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
New guest post on the #AuthorEvents Substack. From being asked to chair a panel at #RomanceWritingFestivalBournemouth via #Frankenstein to how for a brief while I thought I'd been published by #PrincetonUniversityPress and didn't even know it. #AlexStone authorevents.substack.com/p/the-write-...
Social media image for blog post Romance & Frankenstein by Gary Dalkin on AuthorEvents.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
I’m delighted that I'll be chairing a panel at the first Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth, a sister event to the Bournemouth Writing Festival. The panel will feature the bestselling authors #PhillipaAshley, #HollyMcCulloch, #SueMoorcroft and #JoThomas. tothelastword.com/blog/place
tothelastword.com
Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth - A Sense of Place — To The Last Word
I’m delighted to announce that I will be chairing a panel at the first Bournemouth Romance Writing Festival, a new sister event to the hugely successful Bournemouth Writing Festival, where I’ve been a...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
See more on my blog at: tothelastword.com/blog/the-her...
tothelastword.com
Mark deMeza’s The Heroine of Auschwitz is Published — To The Last Word
Last year my client Mark deMeza’s novel The Thirteenth Child , based on his own family’s history during the Holocaust in Amsterdam, was published to great acclaim and success. The novel currently has...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
My client Mark deMeza’s The Thirteenth Child, based on his family’s history in the Holocaust, was a bestselling success, with a 4.4 rating from over 2000 Amazon customers. Today the sequel, The Heroine of Auschwitz, for which I also provided editorial feedback during development, is published.
Cover of The Heroine of Auschwitz by Mark deMeza, sequel to The Thirteenth Child. Cover of bestseling The Thirteenth Child by Mark deMeza.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Yes, horrible as it is, I kept thinking about this novel and decided I needed to reread it.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
I've just reread the prologue of #TheSurvivor by #JamesHerbert, first reading it around 45 years ago. The gradual shift from normality to overwhelming horror in just six pages is masterfully done, while the 50 year old story could have been written yesterday... Let's see if the rest holds up.
Cover of The Survivor by James Herbert. The image of a crashing, burning jetliner is merged with that of a man's head.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Quote of the day.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
If someone needs AI to write anything for them for any reason they have no business calling themselves a writer.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
As an editor I can't help but be amazed that no one at Tyrrell's took a look at this packaging and said, 'Hold on a minute...' Because really, I'm not even 25% convinced that crisps made with recycled plastic is the selling point they think it is. #tyrrells #recycling #recycledplastic #editingfail
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
theguardian.com
Shakespeare did not leave his wife Anne in Stratford, letter fragment suggests
Professor says text shows Hathaway lived with playwright in London, upending the established idea of an unhappy marriage
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Some new information about Shakespeare's domestic arrangements for his birthday. #shakespeare #annehathaway
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
Our writing events in Bournemouth, England
All of our writing events taking place in Bournemouth to inspire all writers to write.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
pdsw.org.uk
Organising Chaos: Turning Your Messy Draft Into a Publishable Novel with Gary Dalkin and Sophie Beal Archive - Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW)
Self-editing your book without losing the plot "Following their sold out talk at last year’s BWF, publisher and writer Sophie Beal (Cadence Publishing) and editor and writer Gary Dalkin (To The Last...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
pdsw.org.uk
Organising Chaos: Turning Your Messy Draft Into a Publishable Novel with Gary Dalkin and Sophie Beal Archive - Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW)
Self-editing your book without losing the plot "Following their sold out talk at last year’s BWF, publisher and writer Sophie Beal (Cadence Publishing) and editor and writer Gary Dalkin (To The Last...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Last year I wrote an article for #WritingMagazine, Organising Chaos: How to Turn a Messy First Draft into a Publishable Book, to coincide with my talk with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing at the #BournemouthWritingFestival. On Saturday we are giving an updated version at this year's festival...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
In the light of publicity given to a nude writing workshop at the Bournemouth Writing Festival I must point out that Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book will be fully clothed. That applies to the audience too. Even those right at the back. www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Indeed, and well remembered!
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home
bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
Bournemouth Writing Festival - 25th - 27th April 2025
Tickets now on sale! Three-day literary and writing festival across Bournemouth in Dorset, jam packed with talks, walks, panels, performances and networking. If you're a budding writer or looking to ...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
pdsw.org.uk
Organising Chaos: Turning Your Messy Draft Into a Publishable Novel with Gary Dalkin and Sophie Beal Archive - Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW)
Self-editing your book without losing the plot "Following their sold out talk at last year’s BWF, publisher and writer Sophie Beal (Cadence Publishing) and editor and writer Gary Dalkin (To The Last...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Just three weeks until the #BournemouthWritingFestival, where I'll be co-presenting Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing. Happily the #BWF is far too nice to have anyone like the chap from this #PrivateEye cartoon in our audience...
Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book, with Sophie Beal & Gary Dalkin at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, 26 April 2025Literary festival cartoon from Private Eye
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Members of the Society of Authors are protesting at Meta's London HQ today. societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s... #libgen #meta #dothewritething #bookthieves
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Jane Goodall, the internationally renowned primatologist, environmentalist, activist and author celebrates her 91st birthday today. So here's wishing Bournemouth's most famous living author a very happy birthday. (Photos are from my collection of Jane Goodall's many books.)
The covers of six books written by Jane GoodallTitle page of In The Shadow of Man, with dedication to my wife and myself by Jane GoodallCover of In The Shadow of Man by, as she was at the time, Jane van Lawick-Goodall
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I wrote a piece with Festival Director #DominicWong about the #BournemouthWritingFestival for the May issue of #WritingMagazine. In shops 3 April, available as a print or digital edition online now. www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home www.writers-online.co.uk/store/back-i...
Article by Gary Dalkin and Festival Director Domnic Wong about Bournemouth Writing Festival, published in the May 2025 issue of Writing Magazine
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Congratulations to Alex Stone on the launch of her new novel, The Quiet Sister. Dark deeds afoot on Boscombe beach, where I've spent many happy hours and days. #alexstone #thequietsister #psychologicalthriller #bournemouth #boscombe
bournemouthecho.co.uk
Bournemouth author bases psychological thriller on popular beach
A Bournemouth author has based their new thriller on the 'idyllic' Boscombe beach.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
In Great Expectations Charles Dickens perfectly captures today. In the sun it feels like the first day of summer, and I have my office doors open for the first time this year. In the shade, that breeze still has a wintery bite.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Come and see me and Cadence Publishing CEO Sophie Beal at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, where we will be Organising Chaos again. We sold out last year, so get your tickets for the finest editor/publisher double act in town. Meanwhile the festival programme has just gone live online.
online.fliphtml5.com
Bournemouth Writing Festival 2025 Programme
100 free and ticketed events over three days in Bournemouth Town Centre to inspire writers to write. 25th to 27th April 2025.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is offering a 15% off discount until the end of February, which includes the talk I am giving with Cadence Publishing director Sophie Beal - Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book. Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Meet me, and lots of other publishing industry professionals and authors, at the Author Marketplace at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, 27 April. If you are looking for an editor, want some writing advice, or to chat about your writing, come along and say hello. authorevents.co.uk/2025/02/12/t...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
JD Vance is given a theology lesson by Rory Stewart, and the result is magnificent.
thepoke.com
JD Vance trolled Rory Stewart for having a 'low IQ' and his comeback had Brits everywhere cheering
Surely the least impressive vice president since Dan Quayle, JD Vance turned to the Bible in an attempt to justify Donald Trump and his government’s determination to put America first to the expense o...
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
The audiobook of Mark deMeza's The Thirteenth Child, read by Maria Cusick, is published for #HolocaustMemorialDay (27 January). The print edition has a 4.4 score on Amazon from 1820 customer ratings, probably the most successful self-published book I have edited. www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteenth-C...
The cover of the paperback edition of The Thirteenth Child by Mark deMeza.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Spotted on this morning's walk, bringing an important question to mind. What if the CS Lewis' Narnia wardrobe was a TARDIS with a working chameleon circuit? #cslewis #narnia #thelionthewitchandthewardrobe #doctorwho #tardis #chameloncircuit
A photo of an abandoned wardrobe on a street corner. Or is it?
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Sue Barrow's SOLD ("compulsively readable" - The Guardian) is currently 99 cents as an e-book on Amazon US. The School Library Association (UK) picked SOLD as their recommended summer read for 13-16 year olds. www.amazon.com/SOLD-What-wi... #cadencepublishing #childtrafficking #suebarrow
Cover of SOLD by Sue Barrow, published by Cadence Publishing.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Today, on the US public holiday held in his honour, I will be remembering the great civil rights campaigner, husband, father, Baptist minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner, racist assassin's victim, Dr Martin Luther King Jr.. thekingcenter.org/king-holiday... #MartinLutherKingJrDay
thekingcenter.org
King Holiday 2025
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Surely the world's first combined seven word existential time travel paradox story and advert for proofreading.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
I'm shocked by the speed of the complicity, but equally by the abandonment of decency and denial of truth which makes that complicity possible. Of course, for some, it was always just about hatred and power. #complicity
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
#ElanorMcBay, #NickBeal, #AlexStone (The Perfect Daughter), #SophieBeal, director of #CadencePublishing, #SteveCouch (Foul and Fair) and myself at the 2025 #BournemouthWritingFestival launch. Photo by BWF director #DominicWong. @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
ElanorMcBay, NickBeal, AlexStone (The Perfect Daughter), SophieBeal, director of Cadence Publishing,  Steve Couch (Foul and Fair) and Gary Dalkin at last night's 2025 Bournemouth Writing Festival launch. Photo by BWF director Dominic Wong.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
It's the launch of the 2025 Bournemouth Writing Festival on Thursday. Here are some photos from past BWF networking events, including Sophie Beal of Cadence Publishing, Sar Mor, Curie Scott, Alex Stone and Festival Director Dominic Wong. @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social #bournemouthwritingfestival
Bournemouth Writing Festival networking meeting with Dr Curie ScottBournemouth Writing Festival networking meeting with Sar MorBournemouth Writing Festival networking meeting with Festival Director Dominic Wong and crime novelist Alex StoneBournemouth Writing Festival networking meeting with Cadence Publishing director, Sophie Beal.
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Gary Dalkin @garydalkin.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Tickets are now on sale for the 3rd Bournemouth Writing Festival, 25-27 April. I will be teaming up again with Sophie Beal, director of Cadence Publishing, to present Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft Into a Publishable Book. Our talk sold out last year... www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk
Bournemouth Writing Festival - 25th - 27th April 2025
Tickets now on sale! Three-day literary and writing festival across Bournemouth in Dorset, jam packed with talks, walks, panels, performances and networking. If you're a budding writer or looking to ...
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