iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Huge thanks go to Anthony @tinytreebooks.bsky.social for sending a copy of The Adventures of David Daly: The Mirror of Time. Out tomorrow for middle grade readers. #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book, the cover of which shows a terrified-looking blond boy in school uniform stepping through what looks like a swirling purple whirlwind, clutching a jewelled hand mirror in his left hand with a large ferris wheel and the Statue of Liberty behind him and a man in a black suit to the right of the picture glaring at him.

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

ICYMI yesterday this book looks like an utter cracker!

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

So lovely to listen to the brilliant @juditheagle.bsky.social talking about her writing this morning at the Ipswich Book Festival, especially wonderful middle grade The Blitz Sisters and her new read, The Copper Castaways, to which I’m looking forward enormously 🥰

Judith Eagle on the left and me on the right holding a copy of The Blitz Sisters.

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Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal @booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

NEW #BfK article: @darrenchetty.bsky.social discusses the controversy around ‘The Queen’s Christmas Present’, an announcement has not been met with universal approval. #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/on-r...

Graphic to advertise the Queen's Christmas Present with the Queen's crest.

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Ginger Coffee Creams of Horror @gnofhorror.com · 21/07/2026

The Kids Are Alright: Horror Books for 11-12 Year Olds, Part 2 How a school librarian selects the best horror books for 11-12 year olds, based on 11,000 pupil reviews and a reading challenge that changed borrowing habits. gnofhorror.com/the-kids-are... @jonezyboy.bsky.social

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

They are a little older now, but one used to be obssessed with the Japanese Spider Crab.

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Hang on in there. Only the 'Oh, I've finished. Didn't see that coming' stage to go.

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William Hussey @whusseyauthor.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

A universe of possibilities to get kids asking questions and interested in books!

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William Hussey @whusseyauthor.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

2,000+ years of literature and secondary school English departments dress up as Where’s Wally or Scooby Doo. In the National Year of Reading. C’mon folks. Let’s inspire some young readers! A deerstalker and a pipe; fangs and a cape; a Brontë bonnet or a Pullman daemon on your shoulder.

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Clare Weze @clareweze.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

I’m supporting #ReadItForward! Buy UP ABOVE THE CITY during February and @bookshop_org_uk will donate 10% to @BookTrust and @scottishbktrust uk.bookshop.org/p/books/up-a...

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Huge thanks to @simonkidsuk.bsky.social for sending a finished copy of Finn’s Epic Fails by @philearle.bsky.social, illustrated by Al Murphy. Out 29/01, here’s the link to my review to tell you all you need to know: worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/f...

The book and its press release. The cover shows a stressed boy sitting with his hands covering his ears, surrounded by a toilet roll, trainer, tatty maths book and ugly dog.

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Emma Finlayson-Palmer @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Keep a look out for the next #ukteenchat, there's definitely a guest on the 9th December, but there might be one on the 2nd, I'll post as soon as I know 🙂

media.tenor.com

a hamster is peeking out from behind a bottle of coke

ALT: a hamster is peeking out from behind a bottle of coke

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 17/11/2025

The brilliant school librarian @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social uses #MyBookbuzz with his students - and he's giving us a sneak peek at his Bookbuzz diary! In this first instalment, he's sharing how he uses the launch pack to create a buzz around reading for his students 👇 bit.ly/3XuwkhC

A photo of the Bookbuzz books displayed on a table, a photo of Lucas Maxwell, and the words: "My Bookbuzz diary"

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Ian Eagleton @ianeagletonauthor.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

I’m wondering if any children’s publishers need a freelance writer to write reading scheme books for them or branded picture books etc? I’ve written reading scheme books for Star Wars and Disney before! Any shares would be amazing! #BookSky #KidLit

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

A welcome surprise tonight to find that @bexhogan.bsky.social was giving a talk at my son's Duke of Ed award ceremony! 🏆 Bex's description of the (sometimes dark) fairytale-like winding path both life and books can take and what you can learn from all of it was great to listen to. 📚🪄

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Say 'Hi' back, please. :) The memories are flooding back...

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Once my books started being seen as pitching towards Key Stage 3, I got away with one 'arse' in the finale of book 3. It was a big moment. Maybe you need a post-9pm version of Loki like Hollyoaks?

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Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Day 26 and 27 of my favourite Black authored books and next up are two compelling thrillers. Ace of Spades looks at the weaponisation of racism in a prestigious boarding school. And Where Sleeping Girls Lie looks at SA in a boarding school setting with Mean Girl vibes. Both are excellent.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

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Finn Longman is only here occasionally @finnlongman.com · 27/10/2025

The Wolf and His King comes out in ONE MONTH today! (Or three months today if you're in the US.) This book is a retelling of the medieval French poem 'Bisclavret', about a werewolf knight and the king who loves him. More info and preorder links: finnlongman.com/books/the-wo...

An ARC of The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman, against a backdrop of autumn leaves through which some blue sky is visible.

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Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Day 25 of my favourite Black authored books and back to middle grade with one of my favourite fantasy series. This is about found families and mixed heritage identity. There’s a Black Arthurian Knight, changelings and a children’s home based on a real piece of history. I love it!

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

So, now there's a booker prize for 8-12 year old kidlit, let's have one for YA and picture books. The PB one I already have a name for. The Picture Booker.

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Emma Finlayson-Palmer @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

So pleased to see copies of Grimogen Darkstar have magicked their way to @waterstoneswton.bsky.social 😊 I'll be at the shop on the 31st October 12-1pm for some spooky crafts 🦇🐈‍⬛📚🎉 #grimogendarkstar #kidlit #childrensbooks #spooky #halloween #autumn #spookyseason #halfterm @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

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Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

My Black book for today is (and excuse the blowing of one’s own trumpet) my own. Because it won the Readers Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards last night and I’m still feeling v emotional about it! This explores Black Tudor history through time travel and I’m so bloody proud of it!

Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief by Claire Linney

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Wonderland Bookshop @wonderlandbookshop.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

LOVED this book so much!

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hux | aka Lizzie Huxley-Jones @littlehux.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

The news is official! I can finally tell you that my next romcom Reality Check will be out in April next year!

A sunny selfie of Hux, a white person with auburn hair and green glasses, holding up a postcard to their face. The postcard is pink and purple and says Reality Check.

A screenshot of the Bookseller announcement for my new novel. Simon and Schuster UK swoons for Lizzie Huxley-Jones’
‘escapist’ reality show romance
RIGHTS
OCT 9, 2025
BY CASSIDY BAILEY.

The photo shows Hux a white person with light auburn hair sitting on a couch in a green lead patterned suit, eyes closed and laughing.

Simon & Schuster UK has acquired two new novels by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, who was previously published by Hodder & Stoughton. Deputy publishing director Molly.
Crawford acquired world all-language rights in a two-book deal from Abi Fellows at DHH Literary Agency.
The first of the two novels, Reality Check, is a "funny, escapist" romance between two women who share a kiss behind the scenes of a reality TV show and find themselves choosing between on-screen fame or true love. Reality Check will publish in all formats in April 2026.
Crawford said: "I've long been obsessed with Lizzie's Christmas romances so am absolutely thrilled to be able to welcome them to the S&S list. Reality Check satiates a universal need for realistic romance elevated by unusual circumstance rather than narrative necessity.
Lizzie captures the chaos and charm of reality TV, weaving a love story that delivers kick-your-feet romance alongside punch-in-the-gut relatable detail. It centres and celebrates queer love, living with chronic illness and freeing ourselves from life's filters. It's a novel you can't help but press into the hands of friends and I'm so excited to take it to market."

Huxley-Jones is the author of the queer holiday romcoms Make You Mine This Christmas and Under the Mistletoe with You, the young adult summer romance Hits Different co-written with Tasha Ghouri, and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize-shortlisted fantasy series Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend. Reality Check is their third adult romance novel.
Huxley-Jones said: "Reality Check brings together my deep fascination with reality television, with the concept of persona and masking, through the experiences of two queer women who just cannot seem to escape each other. There's hijinks and fake-dating arrangements and an autistic girl unravelling 'comphet' all within the bounds of a wedding-themed dating show. It's been a book in my heart for years and I'm so glad it will reach readers next year.
"It is such a thrill and honour to bring my romcoms to the incredible team at Simon & Schuster, especially my wonderful editor Molly Crawford. They are not only a team who understand and respect commercial romance fiction, but one that deeply cares for their authors. It's been such a joy to work with them on Reality Check, my most ambitious romcom to date, and to see their enthusiasm at every step. I'm so thankful for my agent Abi Fellows finding my work such an enriching home."

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James Turner @patchworkofregrets.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Toby and the Pixies: Worst King Ever has been included in this year's Great Books Guide from BookTrust that will be going out to schools all over the country! So many brilliant books in this, I'm very pleased to be included - see the full list here: www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Reminds me of my first dog. If you threw her a frisbee, she'd let it hit her in the face and then pick it up off the ground.

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 12/09/2025

We were delighted to team up with National Fostering Group for an episode of their Voices of Fostering podcast, featuring our former Writer in Residence @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social! 🎧 Find it wherever you get your podcasts or on this link: bit.ly/4gjaCG0

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P.G. Bell @pgbellwriter.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

"What big teeth you've got!" Check out the animated trailer for The Big Bad Wolf Murder, a fairytale whodunnit coming this September. Action-packed noir with bite, for readers aged 7+. Read the first chapter and pre-order here: www.pgbellwriter.com/the-big-bad-... #KidLit #KidLitUK

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Hugely excited to have received a copy of Letters from the Upside, the latest middle grade from Katya Balen. Out 25/09 from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social, enormous thanks go to Beatrice Cross 🌻 #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book and its press release. The cover shows a boy wearing a blue hoodie holding a pigeon with both hands in front of a greenhouse and some potted plants.

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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit Another brilliant Authors Live is coming up. Open to schools/individuals with access to iPlayer. Register to watch below…

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Scottish Book Trust @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

The international bestselling Skandar author @afsteadman.bsky.social is coming to Authors Live this September! 🐲 Book digital seats for your P6–S3s and join us for this exciting live event. 🎟️ www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and...

A GIF publicising Authors Live with AF Steadman. We see a picture of the author and all their book jackets.

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Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Our Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers is open for applications! Four talented writers will be awarded nine months of mentoring from a published author-mentor and a tutorial with a literary agent. Apply by 2 Nov: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/break...

curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers

Four talented disabled writers will receive nine months of mentoring from a published author, plus a tutorial with a literary agent.

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P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

I edit the previous day's draft zero before I write the next bit - gets my head into the story and means my first proper redraft isn't dealing with the real knuckle-head stuff.

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Draft one SENT! Book six is away!

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Tom Griffiths @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Why must you preorder the incredible Letters from the Upside? If you’ve read any of the other books here then I bet the latest from Katya Balen will be right up your street 🐦 Out 25/9 for 9+. @bloomsburyed.bsky.social #kidlituk

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Have just published a short blog about some of the books selected for the packs I created with Pandora Books. A lot of thought went into the choices so I hope they're a useful starting point for schools. www.pandorabooks.co.uk/more-from-jo...

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SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

"When I was a child, my favourite books were the ones that took me seriously as a reader; the ones that were honest, and didn’t try to soften or simplify the truth, even when they dealt with difficult things. So that’s the kind of book I always want to write myself." dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...

dailybulldog.com

An Interview With SF Said

A remarkable book is being released in the U.S. today. Tyger by SF Said won the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year when it was published in the U.K. in 2023…

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Darren Chetty @darrenchetty.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Lovely couple of days in Cardiff, talking with @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social about Beyond the Secret Garden for the National Literacy Trust, and then at the Senedd talking to the @bameednetwork.bsky.social Wales group.

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