A few people have asked where is the 'best' place to buy my new book, No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy. I'm told it be here: uk.bookshop.org/books/no-one-r…

Another great review, in the Irish Times.

It would seem apt today to remind folks of a programme I made for BBC Radio 4 five years ago featuring the lovely Jack Smethurst, with great contributions from Lemn Sissay, Terry Christian. Gina Ashari and David Hinds of the wonderful Steel Pulse: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0…

Thank you, the good people (organisers and attendees) of Stratford-upon-Avon, Glasgow, Bath and Hexham for inviting me to their festivals. It was my first time at such forums and I found it surprisingly enjoyable, mainly because everyone was so supportive and enthusiastic.

The success of ‘No One Round Here…’ has led to many checking out my previous books. Most have now sold out on Amazon but are available (and cheap!) via Pomona: pomonauk.com/shop/store.php Anyone ordering a copy of any of my books will also be sent a free copy of my last CD album.

Pitch has done a great job with my new book, The Longest Winter. It is published on Monday 15 August but available to pre-order very soon. Details to follow.

Great new book due soon on fanzines called We Peaked at Paper. I'm interviewed relating my days as a post-punk co-editor of Untermensch and, later, Intense. Feel the passion: boatwhistle.com/we-peaked-at-p…

I’ll be appearing at #CheltLitFest this October 📚 🍂 Tickets go on-sale on 7 September. See What’s On: cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/wha…

Just read this belter by my mate, Nige Tassell: Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? Warm, unpretentious reportage as he tracks down plectrum kings such as The Bodines, McCarthy, A Witness etc. He unearths lots of life stories, happy to sad. Top read.

Thank you, the good people (organisers and attendees) of Cheltenham Festivals and Ilkley Literature Festival. The turnout at both was unexpectedly high and flattering. Wonderful to be among book people and receive such support.

"The Longest Winter provides a vivid picture of a traumatic football season at a time of great social, economic and political unrest." - The Football League Paper

And a great review in the Irish Times: irishtimes.com/culture/books/…

Always great when your 16-year-old self comes back into view. From the latest issue of Record Collector...

The Guardian has picked up a piece I did for When Saturday Comes: theguardian.com/football/when-…

Great piece in Backpass about The Longest Winter.

Due very soon in paperback. Ideal for beach reading or while waiting at a bus stop in Rochdale: canongate.co.uk/books/3242-no-…

Similar but (slightly) different cover for the paperback of No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy, published on 4 May, 2023 by Canongate. Big thanks to @BenMyers1 and Mark Radcliffe for their kind words. Still wearing that ace jumper.

The programme I made a few years ago where I rooted out some self-financed 7-inch singles and tracked down the musicians is repeated this Friday on BBC Radio 4 Extra, 8pm. Especially interesting for David Gedge, Adam Ant and #DonaldPleasence bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04…

Happy day. The paperback version of No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy, Memoirs of a Working-Class Reader is published today by Canongate. It looks all lovely in its new colours, similar to your favourite football team's away kit.

The Chinese edition (yes, Chinese) of No One Round Here... is published in March 2024. I don't quite get how this cover works or relates, beyond it including a picture of a kid reading a book, but they knows their market, so I salute them on high.