And, breathe... A whole week of just being a writer. Bliss. #writerslife #writingcommunity #Swanwick2026

My local yarn-bomb, the cutest little bookworm, outside a second-hand bookshop. He makes me smile every time I walk past 🥰📚🪱 #booksky

I’m so excited this morning - opened my latest issue of Writing Magazine, flick to the “In the Spotlight” page, and eep! My poem Locally Unheroic? has been shortlisted! A lovely thing to add to the Submissions Spreadsheet 🥰 #amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunity

Writers! The next North Tyneside Writers' Circle is Saturday 15th August, 1000-1200, North Shields Library - and we're being taken over by the Whitley Bay Poetry Trail! www.facebook.com/events/25074... See you there for writing prompts, news, and natter! #amwriting #writingcommunity

How did you write your first novel? The Raided Heart was written in Excel of all things, since my accountant mum only had that loaded on her work laptop! (I was 13...). It was much easier, editing it in Word, 20yrs later! www.amazon.co.uk/Raided-Heart... #histfic #amreading #booksky

We visited the fabulous Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery OTD last year, and honestly, this might be the coolest suit of armour I've ever encountered...

It’s just over a week until the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, which means tomorrow is “Pick What Courses We’re Going To Do Day” with the girls! There may (will) be fizz. Which, to be fair, is why we lose the notes we’ve only just made… Still, it’s a cracking day 😎🍾🥂 #writerslife

An evening stroll, to 'collect' this lovely bunny in Northumberland Park. We're currently sitting at 62/96, and very much on track for another certificate...

Listening to Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics, and lovely to hear them talking about this gorgeous headstone for Regina, a freed slave woman from the south of England remembered by her Syrian husband, which we saw in Arbeia, South Shields, a couple of weeks ago… #RomanHistory #History

Me and @alexiconman.bsky.social monitoring the slightly daft gulls in our neighbourhoods as they're starting to mature, but haven't quite grasped where is and is not sensible to sit...

Be transported to the world of the border reivers, and find out if love really can conquer all... www.amazon.co.uk/Warriors-Pri... #historicalromance #histfic #historicalfiction #booksky #amreading

Hello to the lovely writers on/near North Tyneside! It’s July’s North Tyneside Writers’ Circle this Saturday, North Shields Library, 1000-1200. We’ll have writing prompts, news, and natter, and it’d be great to see you there! #amwriting #creativewriting #writingcommunity #writerslife

I know I'm miles behind the curve, but our latest binge-watching is #TheSerpentQueen, and I'm addicted. I'm also addicted to reading down rabbit-holes for the truth behind the drama... French royal history and dynasties were complex things! #history #FrenchHistory #Medici

It's too hot, so why not escape into a lovely little festive novella... www.amazon.co.uk/Twelve-Dates... #ChristmasInJuly #romancereads #romancebooks #amreading

I haven't posted any of my “things through things” photos recently (not enough castle visits, sad times…), so here are two double shots, from the mighty Middleham, this weekend just gone! #history #MiddlehamCastle

Getting started on my next paperback read this evening, onr I've been looking forward to reading for months, but was waiting to align with a sea-based virtual retreat this Sunday... #amreading #nonfiction

Back to my desk today, and determined to finish a half-started piece, about the mighty salmon...

And yes, I did get slightly excited at bumping into King Richard himself...

With time to kill on Tuesday evening in North Shields, I enjoyed some churchyard shade. Had never spotted these repurposed gravestones before, used as a wall / footpath-boundary...

New Notebook Day! And, having been bought in Abbotsford, I'm hoping for some particularly good inspiration to flow... #amwriting #writerslife #historicalfiction

Another musical treat today, the Royal Northern Sinfonia on their summer tour, at St George's, Cullercoats. Absolutely gorgeous.

This Friday/Saturday - the Jesmond Library Readathon! I'm reading on Friday night, and am currently thinking some children's storytime, then my favourite historical fiction... All support welcome, donate here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/rea...

This Saturday! North Tyneside Writers' Circle, North Shields Library... Come along for writing news, natters, and prompts to get the worlds flowing! www.facebook.com/events/17623...

An excellent day at Cullercoats Festival yesterday - and the rain stayed away... 😎

I #amwriting bright and early this morning, and making a tentative start on a new project... #historicalfiction #history

A new pin-badge, a present from my parents - I was NOT brave enough to wear it to the office today...

An excellent start to a lovely, restful weekend; reading, writing, an evening lecture, and a haircut. I love adventures, but calm can also be divine...

Gorgeous skies over North Shields last night, watching the car transporter being escorted out the Tyne 🌞

The fireplace hadn't looked like a time-portal (because when do they ever?)... www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Plantag... How would you cope, being thrown in a heartbeat to the medieval court of #RichardIII? Find out how Kate handles it... #historicalfiction #timeslip #historicalromance #booksky

That. Was. Fabulous. Also ridiculous, yes, but mostly fabulous. And well done to @alexiconman.bsky.social for guessing the murderer before me! #TheSheepDetectives #FilmNight