Jarvis Cocker dressed in the style of British Rail tickets. A thread🧵… 1. Northampton (Rail Day Rover)

We've got a treat in store tomorrow (27/02) at 7pm as Eleanor Catton will be here to kick off her UK tour by discussing Birnam Wood with Jenny Niven! 🎉 Sign up (in-person/livestream): theportobellobookshop.com/events/eleanor… Signed & dedicated edition: theportobellobookshop.com/9781783784257-1

On my way to the beautiful The Portobello Bookshop to talk to the brilliant (and she really is properly brilliant) Eleanor Catton. Livestream link below if you can’t come along 😀

Permit me an observation on the controversy surrounding Gary Lineker's view on immigration and asylum as expressed in his now notorious tweet. I worked in the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit for around a decade, adjudicating on complaints that there had been breaches

Seeking asylum is not a crime! No human is illegal! PEACEFUL PROTEST against the deadly, dangerous #ImmigrationBill Monday 13th March, 5-6pm #Edinburgh - outside UK Gov offices: Queen Elizabeth House 1 Sibbald Walk EH8 8FT #StopTheBill #RefugeesWelcome #TogetherForRefugees

This is the best thread ever. Some hard truths in here about the Barry and Derek situ (and a shout out for Sholto which is we can all agree a superlative name, as well as being the name of my middle son, the only Sholto born in Scotland in 2015).

Twitter is basically awful and then once in a while you pop back on and this is going on 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Some news folks!!! Absolutely thrilled to be appointed the new Director Edinburgh International Book Festival as of September. Exciting times ahead!

What an amazing day of well wishing and congratulating and the like - thank you so much folks, absolutely blown away! Cannot tell you how much that will sustain me as I get stuck in. Here’s to new challenges and adventures 🌟🌟🌟 tinyurl.com/mu6b9p32

.Jenny Niven is set to take over as director of Edinburgh International Book Festival from September. Read here: buff.ly/436u9S1

So delighted our gorgeous Push The Boat Out is in excellent shape as I start to make moves to pastures new. Put 24-26th Nov in the diary now 🌟🌟🌟

Today is the day folks!!! Ticket sales for the magnificent Edinburgh International Book Festival are go!

Anna Funder’s Stasiland was a mind blowing account of post-war East Germany. Her new book explores the life of Eileen O’Shaughnessy, who was much more than G Orwell’s wife. Come and hear us Edinburgh International Book Festival edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/w…

China’s Cultural Revolution was a devastating, defining era; Tania Branigan’s eye watering book finds its survivors and traces its impact on contemporary society. Cannot WAIT to talk to her about it Edinburgh International Book Festival tania branigan edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/w…

Jenny Erpenbeck!! Germany’s leading contemporary fiction writer (imho). Read Kairos and all of her backlist immediately! Edinburgh International Book Festival Granta Books edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/w…

Limbering up for this one!! MP Chris Bryant Chris Bryant and The Spectator’s Isabel Hardman blistering takes on contemp politics and politicians - and what the hell we’re going to do about it all. Going to be fiery, and essential. Get involved! Edinburgh International Book Festival edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/w…

This thread is wonderful. 100 tweets of just this would be fine.

Applications for LAS’ fourth Writers’ Advisory Group are open! Are you an under-represented writer living & working in Scotland? We pay £200/meeting for four meetings where you share your expert knowledge & experience on the issues affecting writers today! literaturealliancescotland.co.uk/paid-opportuni…

Brochs!

Blue skies in Auld Reekie… On BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show, 1.30-4pm with Brian Bilston on festive poetry; Jenny Niven and @paulwhitelaw on Christmas telly heists, ghostly tales, and the return of the Wombles; lots of party tunes, and more… 🎄🔥📻