iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My new spooky picture-book, beautifully illustrated by @mattschu.bsky.social, is currently in offer on Amazon: link.amazon/B09Qzt0CO

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

The partnership between writer @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and illustrator Thomas Docherty continues to flourish. It Won't Be Forever, their third collaboration, beautifully explores the anxiety young children can often feel when separated from a loved one. Very special indeed.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Very excited to reveal the cover of It Won't Be Forever, my latest collaboration with @thomasdocherty.bsky.social, coming in May from @QuartoKids

The cover of It Won't Be Forever, depicting a father fox, backpack by his side, comforting his cub before going away

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

I love finding out what titles my foreign editions have been given! It turns out that #TheBearShapedHole is published as The Shape of the Void in Greek, and What Will Remain When You Leave, Bear? in German @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social

Covers of the Greek and German editions of The Bear-Shaped Hole, a book for children about loss. Both covers feature a bear-cub holding hands with the silhouette of a lost friend.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

I've just noticed that the river site is doing a promo deal on The Bear-Shaped Hole - almost 50% off. www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Shaped-...

The cover of The Bear-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty. A bear-cub is standing, holding hands with and looking up at the silhouette of an adult bear, which is partially filled with colours and stars to represent good memories.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Thanks so much for sharing, and for all the good work you do. @thomasdocherty.bsky.social

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Brad Jones @bradjones.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

This was excellent (even though I almost couldn't make out the words toward the end through the tears welling up). An extraordinarily beautiful book about grief and rememberance. @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social @thomasdocherty.bsky.social

The Bear Shaped Hole by John and Thomas Dougherty

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Jamie Smart @jamiesmart.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

For goodness sake how are they not getting this. Artists can’t just steal each other’s ideas, so why should non-artists be allowed to. This is maddening.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Publication day! #TheBearShapedHole, companion title to #TheHareShapedHole, is out in the world today!

Cover of The Bear-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty. Illustration shows a bear-cub holding hands with a bear-shaped hole representing the loss of a friend.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

In advance of publication this week of #TheBearShapedHole, thanks to @thomasdocherty.bsky.social and @quartokids.bsky.social for my lovely new t-shirt!

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

@robinince.bsky.social Hi, Robin. Hope all's well with you! I have a small request - something both poetry- & science-related, so (I think) right up your street? Can I contact you a bit more privately? John

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QuartoKids @quartokids.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The Bear-Shaped Hole is publishing this May! 🐻✨ "The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." @jonnybid.bsky.social "powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure." @smithsmm.bsky.social By @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social & @thomasdocherty.bsky.social 🩵

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Simon Smith @smithsmm.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Absolutely lovely bookpost today “The Bear-Shaped Hole” by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is a truly wonderful book for supporting young people in preparing for loss. It’s powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure. Beautiful @quartokids.bsky.social #PicturebookPage

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Unboxing video!!! "The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." - Jon Biddle #BearShapedHole #HareShapedHole #kidlit #loss #grief @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social

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Sally Doherty @sallywrites.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Schools often have differing aims in mind when they book an author visit. But the school I'm visiting virtually on World Book Day this week has asked me to inspire a love of reading. And honestly I think that's absolutely the best use of an author visit. And what I love to do! #kidlituk

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers are happy to visit schools at any time of the year, not just on World Book Day (which is often fully booked months in advance). Celebrate reading on WBD and then arrange an author visit a few weeks later to build on it.

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Jumping Jules Poetry @jumpingjulespoetry.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Thrilled to have 3 poems in Do Poems Grow On Trees? A brilliant new poetry anthology with so many amazing children’s poets inside. I have a few copies if anyone would like one. Please Dm. Thank you! 💛

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Look what’s just arrived! I’ve been looking forward to this one! @attielime.bsky.social @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025. It's been read by almost every class in my school (Y1-Y6) and has received universal acclaim from pupils and staff. uk.bookshop.org/a/3551/97807...

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Helen Docherty @helendocherty.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

This beautiful, heartfelt book by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social will be coming out in 2025 💗✨ Another deeply emotional and important book (following on from The Hare-Shaped Hole) which will help to comfort anyone facing the death of a loved one 💜 #thebearshapedhole

The Bear-Shaped hole, a new picture book by John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty

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Thomas Docherty Illustrator @thomasdocherty.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

So proud of our new book The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and myself . I know that this book is going to help so many people, young and old, to talk about and discuss something that can be so hard to put into words. It has been a wonderful experience to work on this book.

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John Dougherty @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

So lovely to get my first copies of #TheBearShapedHole, by me and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social, to be published by Quarto in March (US, hardback) and May (UK, paperback). #loss #illness #kidlit

Copies of The Bear-Shaped Hole. Cover shows a bear-cub holding hands with the silhouette of an older bear; the silhouette is filling with colours representing memories.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed. (Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).

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