iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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PaperBound Magazine @paperboundmag.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

We’re thrilled to share this ‘Day in the Life’ takeover from Zero Override author @steveblackman.bsky.social in collaboration with Scholastic ✍️ 💚 Don’t miss Steve’s article in the latest issue of PaperBound on page 6! 📚 #dayinthelife #books #scholastic #authorlife

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PaperBound Magazine @paperboundmag.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Huge thanks as always to all the writers, illustrators, authors, reviewers and publishers who have helped bring this issue together. @steveblackman.bsky.social @jencarney.bsky.social @cesalter.com @hollywebb.bsky.social @patricknessbooks.bsky.social 2/3

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Emma Finlayson-Palmer @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 11th Aug 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @steveblackman.bsky.social, who will be chatting all about his debut MG - Zero Override. All welcome to come along and join in the chat 🙂 #ZeroOverride #writing #writerslife

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PaperBound Magazine @paperboundmag.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Brilliant book reviewers and behind-the-scenes readers 🎉📖 @steveblackman.bsky.social Jayne Leadbetter, Laura Jones, Lauren Marples, Cat Ould 🌟 And a very special thank you goes out to @stephaniebuosi.com who created the gorgeous front cover for this new issue 🌟

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

VERY exciting book post today! I can't wait to dive into DIRK JONES IS NOT THE CHOSEN ONE, by Gatlin Perrin. It's promising to be fun, spooky, nonbinary, and Welsh – all excellent things. Out October 9th. Thanks @fireflypress.bsky.social

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Have wiser words ever been spoken?

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

I took a cab in the Lakes at the weekend. Our excellent driver revealed that he's a passionate gold panner. In Scotland! And the (plentiful) gold there is heavier, and more valuable than normal. Now my brain can't stop creating plots for stories featuring gold-filled Highland rivers.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

The @paperboundmag.bsky.social team keeps raising the bar. This new issue is STUNNING! I loved reviewing the latest YA – Live – from uber-talented writer and poet Luke Palmer. Music, 3D characters, a propulsive plot, and important themes. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me sing.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

It was such a pleasure! Can't wait to see the new issue.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

It was such a joy to see Julia Armfield talking about her new story Private Rites at Backstory this week. Her extraordinary prose has a Schrödinger effect on me – making me want to give up writing (knowing I’ll never be that good), whilst simultaneously inspiring me to go and write immediately.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

I just finished listening to ALBION, written and read beautifully by Anna Hope. It's stunningly lyrical yet accessible, filled with urgent, essential themes. I sobbed at the end, which the book deserved, but the people in the coffee shop around me didn't. Thanks, Tom Rowley, for the recommendation.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Hang on. I wasn't worried being eaten by trolls before...

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Excellent book post today! Thank you, @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social for sending me this gorgeous copy of The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton @mlinton.bsky.social. Full of dark academia, folk horror and the supernatural, you say? Count me in!

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Writers’ dubious web searches #324: What is the best animal urine for tanning leather?

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

You know it’s an early start when you’ve finished your coffee before the #5amwritersclub

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

It’s 0700 in London. The sky’s a deep blue, and there’s a bright dot low in the western sky that I *think* is #Jupiter. It’s so far away, but so clear, and it’s giving me that vertigo feeling of looking out into space. It’s a lot for a Friday morning.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

So much fun last night with @trientertainment.bsky.social @royalalberthall.bsky.social. Gregg Wallace, Nitro, bookshelves and the World Cup of Christmas tunes. I can’t lie, I was hugely disappointed it only ran 25 minutes over! Thank you, Marina Hyde, @richardosman1.bsky.social and the orchestra.

Marina Hyde in a red dress and Richard Osman in a Fulham FC Christmas jumper on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, surrounded by Christmas presents, and with two brightly illuminated Christmas trees.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Yesterday, over the annual family Christmas lunch, my brother, nephews and I agreed to play #Whamageddon. I officially lost at 18:37 today.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

So, I wasn't able to join #NaNoWriMo this year, but I started a new story today, and have given myself until New Year's Day to complete a first draft. (Yeah, I know.) I'm calling it #ChrimboWriMo. Hop on board if you like; there's loads of room on the magical story sleigh.

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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

You know what would **really** disrupt the publishing industry? Fair contracts and decent pay for authors. No AI training without the creator’s consent. Artists and translators on the cover. No NDAs for ghostwriters.

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Dapo Adeola @dapsdraws.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

ITS A SCAM! Publishers DON’T charge YOU to make YOUR books, they PAY you. These guys aren’t tryna “Disrupt” anything, they’re depending on people who are desperately looking to be published to part with their money. It’s far cheaper to learn to write or self publish.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Thank you, Chicken House, for today's exceptional book post. That's my reading needs sorted for a little while! Can't wait to dive in to: THE ZOMBIE PROJECT @alicenuttallbooks.bsky.social and THE WILDERNESS OF GIRLS @madelineclaire.bsky.social. Reviews to follow!

The covers of two new books. The Zombie Project shows two purposeful teenage kids, and a friendly-looking teenage zombie, who's holding her hand out to a bee. The Wilderness of Girls shows four young women and two wolves under a full moon, against a stylised forest background.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I was attacked in the street a moment ago! Out of nowhere my head was nudged hard from behind, and something scratched my scalp. I turned, just as the raven that had flown into me fluttered past and landed on the ground. The stink-eye he gave me made it clear he thought it was my fault. Bully.

media.tenor.com

a black and white photo of a crow with its wings spread

Alt: A black and white photo of a raven with its wings spread.

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ᵁⁿᵏⁱᵉᴹᵒⁿᵏⁱᵉ @unkiemonkie.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Well said John Bothwell from Durham. Well said indeed! 😆

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I’m writing while listening to the @mynoise.bsky.social soundscape of The Name of the Rose. I’ve set my earbuds to ‘immersive’ and it is like I’m there! Thanks @joannaoldman.bsky.social for the intro.

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PaperBound Magazine @paperboundmag.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

...our cover artist Rachael Robertson. A big shout out to our book reviewers too: Maisie Fish, @steveblackman.bsky.social, Diane Englert, Lauren Marples, @wydobson.bsky.social and Laura Jones. We are new here on Bluesky, so if we've missed tagging you, let us know! Happy Reading!

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Jodie Hodges @jodiehodges.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

We don't seem to be taking this seriously enough. And it's not enough to say "just publish good books" - we do that...loads in fact. We have to make sharing books then reading books independently not just a 'nice' thing but a vital thing. Like "5 A Day" did for healthy eating awareness.

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Jodie Hodges @jodiehodges.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Trying not to feel existential at the urgency needed to turn everyone's attention to the gradual decline in reading evidenced through tons of data about children's reading - and now even the children who are reading will be fed crap from platforms like this. If not this lot then something else.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

This isn't disruptive. It's a cynical reframing of vanity publishing but on a digital platform. Depressing and irritating. Was their brief to the photographer: 'try to make us look as much like a stock photo as possible'? tinyurl.com/e5rv3d66

tinyurl.com

New publisher Spines aims to 'disrupt' industry by using AI to publish 8,000 books in 2025 alone

A new publisher has claimed it aims to “disrupt” the books industry by publishing 8,000 books in 2025 alone using artificial intelligence.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

It's always such a treat to be involved – even in a tiny way – with this glorious magazine, and this issue (Chaos & Calm) is a stunner. As always it's filled with the best writers and illustrators; hope you enjoy my review of Brian Dungan's action-packed new book Wintour's Game.

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PaperBound Magazine @paperboundmag.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

🔥😎OUR CHAOS & CALM ISSUE IS OUT NOW😎🔥 Packed full of new author interviews, #illustrations, #BookRecommendations, #WritingTips and more, we're delighted to share this brand new issue - FREE - with our readers here👇 paperboundmag.com/issues

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I love names that are also sentences, so was delighted to have proof that Harriet Waters (in Silo). Does anyone have evidence that Jeremy Irons, or that Britney Spears? Any others?

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Still buzzing after seeing Juno & the Paycock at the Gielgud yesterday. The entire cast was on its A-game for the final day. Mark Rylance in particular gave a stunning performance as the malingering Captain Jack – masterful physical comedy that was also quietly heartbreaking. Much like the play.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Take a moment to subscribe to Kesia's newsletter and receive absolute gems like this one. Go on, you deserve it.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Is there a word for the feeling you’re left with when you read a widely-loved story but really don’t understand what all the fuss is about? (Apart from disappointment?)

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Why has there never been a Four Weddings sequel: Four Funerals and a Wedding?

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Breaking news. Bristol’s amazing! End of report.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

My hope is that we can retain a corner here that’s filled only with kind people and bookish chat. Much like life, really.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Such a treat to hear Andrew O’Hagan discussing #CaledonianRoad at @BackstoryLdn. But the real joy was the wider discussion about London, knitting, Drill, and writing on his shirt. Like his stories, Andrew is full of insight, humour, generosity, and a great love for people.

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Steve Blackman @steveblackman.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Right then. Let’s try this again, shall we?

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