Hoping to announce Searchlight’s longlist for Best Short Story for Children or YA on Tuesday. Best of luck! #WritingCommunity #kidlit #pbchat #shortstory #mg #ya #amquerying #amwriting

More exciting opportunities to get your writing noticed. Go for it!#WritingCommunity #kidlit #pb #mg #ya #amwriting #writingcompetition

Johnny Ball was my first co-presenter on #Playschool 46 years ago and it was lovely catching up with him at #RHSChelsea Flower Show yesterday 💐

Advertising begins. Can’t wait to read the entries! #WritingCommunity #kidlit #writingcompetition #pb #mg #ya #amwriting #amquerying

Everyone deserves a hug like this one

There will always be people who write more books than you, get more sales, receive more reviews, win more awards. But you are the only one who can write like YOU.

Just been past a house in a slightly wooded part of my village, house name: Val d’Enfer, quite literally Valley of Hell…. My imagination is now running wild!!!

"It isn’t glamorous and it isn’t about money, fame or recognition. Make the writing as good as you possibly can, no matter how long it takes—and it will probably take far longer than you think." #amwriting Hazel Prior bit.ly/2YM2btq

Libraries. Staff them. Fund them. theguardian.com/books/2022/sep…

#WednesdayWisdom anyone? Set your goal, then work towards it. It won’t come to you. But by you taking the first step, you’re on your way. #WritingCommunity #writing

I think reading aloud is the most important thing a teacher can do. Sharing a story with a class - bringing it to life for them, every day - that's how you make them fall in love with books. I've seen it so many times - it's total magic, the kind that changes lives. #literacy

That’s handy because usually it’s so hard to get presents for little Ampersand.

Whenever I hear about groups of refugees arriving on UK shores I say *thank god they made it*, because adults and children in need of help are dying for trying to live, ignored or demonised because of their protected characteristics.

Thank you Electra Rhodes - writes a bit/archaeologises a bit

Never forget: READING FOR PLEASURE has the biggest positive impact of any factor on children's life chances. So whatever else you do, please never stop encouraging kids to read the things they love. There is nothing more important! #literacy (Art: Bill Watterson)

Finally. Something I’m good at.

WHERE THE HEART SHOULD BE is Sarah Crossan's latest verse novel for young adults; a lyrical, tender and shocking account set in The Great Hunger of 1845-1852 when 1.5 million Irish starved to death while their British landlords took their wheat and evicted them. 1/3

When students have the freedom of choice and a #library and #librarian to guide them, the most popular #books are often ones you don't see in other forms of media. Very happy these are so popular, get these on your shelves if you can! #booksworthreading

There are two lionesses in a cage at the bottom of our garden and at night I can hear them roaring…. Disturbed by this circus and their cage hidden behind the great tent. In 2024 in France… really?

someone accidentally started a silent book club and I truly believe this could heal our country.