#OnThisDay 1960: A British schoolgirl cheerily told Judith Chalmers about her holiday, which involved accidentally getting arrested in East Germany.

And the countdown begins…

7 days until we announce the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize 2024. Are you excited? We’re excited.
Just some thoughts from our judges to tie you over until the big day!

🎟️: bit.ly/49Lrdxm

What could be nicer - a chance to meet an author informally and chat about a book - some spaces left (and it’s free!)

Couldn't be prouder of the team at Canongate who've worked for 3 years to make this happen. That books are important can never be in doubt, but we can't forget publishers have an impact in many other ways too - and it's a choice as to whether that impact is positive or negative.

📣 For Writers over 50, the Speculative Literature Foundation is currently inviting applications for the Older Writers Grant to help writers working with speculative literature from all over the world.

📅: 31 May 2024
🔗: bit.ly/3wlT3CJ

Faber is looking for a creative and organised editor to provide maternity cover for Faber’s classics and heritage publishing, on a 12 month fixed-term contract. Apply by 26 May.

faber.co.uk/careers/editor…

Impressive author, impressive man. If you can, tune in TODAY to Percival Everett talking with readers from around the world about The Trees: BBC World Book Club BBC World Service right after the midday news. Or free to download thereafter bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3c…

I’ve already read half of these stories - terrific. Lucy Caldwell sings more brilliantly with each collection. Happy publication day!

Damn right it is the Stella winner!
Also currently shortlisted for the 2024 Dublin Literary Award & the 2024 James Tait Black Prize.
ALSO under consideration for the Booker Prize this year. Crossing a lot of fingers still, but for now: raising a glass to Praiseworthy!

👏Congratulations to Edinburgh writer Jenni Fagan on being selected for the inaugural Island to Island residency exchange, offered in collaboration with British Council and Edinburgh International Book Festival (@edbookfest) - Moniack Mhor Verb Wellington

🔗verbwellington.nz/island-to-isla…

We're live in the BBC Radio Theatre, part of #WorldServicePresents exploring press freedom and going behind the 'information iron curtain' with Francis Scarr, Kerry Allen 凯丽, Joe Tidy, Suzanne Raine, Evie Aspinall, Jonathan Munro, Fabian Falch & Kia Atri bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

A brilliant chance to join our 2023 winner Lucy Caldwell, author of THESE DAYS (@FaberBooks), at a live recording of BBC Radio 4 Bookclub on 15 May! Here's how to get your ticket >> #booktok #bookclub #BBCRadio4

I’ll be part of this later, talking to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Stella Assange. Livestream details 🔽
bbc.co.uk/academy/events…

On the eve of #NoMowMay (and beyond!) here’s a little thread on why both mowing AND not mowing different parts of your lawn can be brilliant for wildlife. Sounds perverse? It’s all about long-grass and short-grass, and why you want both…

Terrific list with depth and breadth. Congratulations to all six writers! Good luck to the judges. And congratulations to you and the team Kate Mosse on 29 years!

Another chance to hear my series of The Essay on writers graves (and the often strange stories behind them) this week on BBC Radio 3 ... Last night it was Lauren Elkin on Oscar Wilde, tonight at 21.45 Paul Muldoon on WB Yeats bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

We're hiring The Booker Prizes! We are looking for a Communications Manager and Digital Product Manager – do have a read below! Deadline is 10 May. thebookerprizes.com/work-with-us

'When Krause listened through his archive, he realised a story was emerging: a subtle but noticeable loss in the density and variety of natural sounds.'

Vital piece on the silencing of what soundscape recordist Bernie Krause calls 'biophony.' Katherine Krause
theguardian.com/environment/20…

My French editor mentioned she was publishing the new Rushdie book.

Me: It's called 'The Knife', right?
Her (appalled): No! Just 'Knife.'
Me: What's that in French? Couteau?
Her (far more appalled): NO! 'Le Couteau!'

And you can hear it, beautifully read by Art Malik, on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds from next Monday. It will make you pause.