Our final paper is from my former student Ninnaku Oberholzer, who is sharing part of her doctoral research on 'Bodies that Heal: The Haemorrhoïssa, Sacred Touch, and Reparative Visual Criticism' #BNTS2026

Our final Reception, Critical Theory and Interdisciplinary Studies session of #BNTS2026 is underway, with @profpaulmiddleton.bsky.social presenting on music as exegesis in Walton‘s Belshazzar‘s Feast (which of course draws on themes from the book of Revelation as well as Daniel).

Our metal music morning continues with Tobias Ålöw who is presenting “Given to You by Mother Earth” Entextualization and Ideological Inversion of 1 John 2:16 in Ghost’s “Umbra” #BNTS2026

First up we have Julia Lindenlaub and Charlotte Naylor-Davis presenting The “Perennial” Sophia from Ancient Gnostic Literature to Modern Metal Music: The Sophia Myth and the Dragon Rouge in Therion’s ‘Gothic Kabbalah’ (2007). #BNTS2026

The Reception Critical Theory and Interdisciplinary Studies section is kicking off #BNTS2026 with a panel on metal music and the New Testament.

I think that’s what they call burying the lede, so for the avoidance of doubt: Reimaging the Magdalene is now available in paperback and ebook, courtesy of @bloomsburyrs.bsky.social and @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/reimaging... (You’re allowed to buy it now!)

While I was on leave, a lovely review of my first book by Caroline Vander Stichele was published in RBL. I’m very grateful to Caroline for her careful and supportive reading, not least because it would have put a real dampener on today’s paperback release if she hated it!

Proofs day never gets old... Very much looking forward to reading the full catalogue and seeing the show in Frankfurt when it opens next month! www.staedelmuseum.de/en/mary-magd...

Happy Feast of St Mary Magdalene to all who celebrate! Seems like a perfect day to share that Mary Magdalene: Woman and Myth, a National Gallery touring exhibition will be coming in 2027.

🎉 New book day! It’s been available early in National Gallery shops for a couple of weeks now but yesterday was official publication day for Saints. Available now at all good book shops and the billionaire bad ones too.

Learned from my publisher that my new book dropped early in the National Gallery shops today! If you would like to look at nice pictures of Saints and learn fun things about them, this is the one for you.

A fun afternoon dropping in to moan about the Mary movie and have some great conversation with John Dunne and Jeannine Brown's Jesus Film Class at Bethel. Luckily they weren't offended when I plugged @mattpagefilm.bsky.social's book immediately after talking about their new volume!

My chapter has been online for a little while now, but always nice to see these things in print.

Excited to receive my hard copy of the Oxford Handbook of Mary Magdalene in the post!

Fancy a little day out to Chester to see some Mary Mag art at @chestercathedral.bsky.social? @dawnllewellyn.bsky.social and I are talking about faith, art and feminism tomorrow at 2pm. It's free but you need to book. Some extra tickets have just been released! chestercathedral.com/events/event...

Rounding off this busy week, I’m looking forward to presenting this year’s Peake Lecture with my friend and colleague Samuel Hildebrandt tomorrow on our current research: ‘From Miriam to the Magdalene: Women Witnesses in the Bible and Beyond’ (no points for guessing which bit I’ll be covering!).

It's been a busy old week - starting with a wonderful launch of Encountering Biblical Bodies with @uomreligion.bsky.social and celebrating our exhibition of Sarah Lightman's art with @uomcreativemcr.bsky.social, as illustrated by the wonderful Len Grant.

📣 Yesterday, Holly Morse and I were thrilled to install Encountering Biblical Bodies: Sarah Lightman's Biblical Women in the Glass Corridor Gallery at The University of Manchester.

Last week I presented at an interdisciplinary seminar about faces as part of the UMRI 2025 project ‘Challenging the Impossible’.Definitely the most eclectic lineup I’ve been a part of! multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com/2025/09/20/f...

📣 New Book Day! 📣 Delighted to share a sneak peek at Saints, my new picture book for grown ups. She’s a beauty, written with everyone who‘s ever wandered round the NG with me in mind Coming this June to the NG shop and online, but available for preorder now: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9781857...

As well as reporting the post, can I suggest those who are rightly appalled by this post from the URC contact them directly: urc.org.uk/contact-us/

Psyched that the CfP for Maryanne Saunders’ NG colloquium, exploring expansive ideas about familial ties as represented in art, is now live! www.nationalgallery.org.uk/research/sem... Abstracts up to 300 words with a short bio due by Monday 26 January 2026. Please share widely!

Wrapped up my National Gallery short course on Saints this week. It’s been such a joy, and I love that more than 350 people want to learn about holy pictures on a Wednesday afternoon.

Two sessions, two papers. ☑️ Now time to enjoy the rest of #AARSBL25

Headed to day one of #AARSBL25 proper, and kicking off with bringing Titian to the Connecting John show and tell with @JuliaLindenlaub

Such a treat to have @katieturnerphd.com at @uomreligion.bsky.social today for our Ehrhardt Seminar sharing her brilliant research.

A very happy Feast of St Mary Magdalene to all who celebrate! The winner of the book giveaway is @michaeldevries.bsky.social - congratulations! Thanks to all who took part. Hopefully you can persuade your librarian to acquire a copy, but if you have difficulty, please DM me for assistance...

Last week @tdbiii.bsky.social and I hosted a workshop in Soeterbeeck about contemporary feminist biblical reception. It was also the eighth hottest day since Dutch records began. Feeling very grateful for friends and colleagues able to be brilliant in extreme conditions and for what’s coming next!

Looking forward to my second paper of #EABSBL, in the final slot of the conference. Sure, it might just be me and the chair but at least we both have ~thoughts about this film!

First presentation of #EABSBL for me is about to begin - looking forward to it!