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Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

And if you want to support indie publishers… ☺️😂😳

bsky.app/profile/drew...

Drew Gummerson @drewgum.bsky.social · 2d

Mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani is banning hotels from having hidden junk fees.

No hidden junk fees at the Flamingo Hotel.

The new edition of my book is available. £10. Inc P&P

Seven Nights at the Flamingo Hotel by Drew Gummerson www.beardedbadgerpublishing.com/online-store...

"Drew Gummerson is one of the funniest writers around - the PG Wodehouse of the flophouse.
Seven Nights at the Flamingo Hotel is a riot. A crazy pink tribute - the most under of underdogs."
Rónán Hession, author of Leonard and
Hungry Paul
٨٠٨
"A gut-wrenching masterpiece of booze-sodden tragicomedy and a genuine cult classic. Drew Gummerson is an incredibly skilful and versatile writer, coming across in Seven Nights at the Flamingo Hotel like the ghost of Charles Bukowski with a rainbow flag hanging out of his arse pocket."
Stu Hennigan, author of Ghost Signs
"Probably the most original, exciting and creatively invigorating book I've read this year - like On The Buses meets lain Banks." Jamie Mollart, author of Kings of a Dead World
DREW GUMMERSON
SEVENNIGHTS# FLAMINGO HOTEL
"This is it.
You are awake.
Hotel Flamingo's
resident dishwasher.

January 30, 2026 at 9:45 AM

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Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

LAST DAY. SALTBURN. 50% OFF.

NUCLEAR POWER STATION MELTDOWNS
MERMAIDS IN PENNY ARCADES
AQUARIUM WITH NO FISH
A FOETUS MUSEUM
WAR!
KILLER SEALS
RUDE WORDS IN ROCK

*****SALTBURN*****

renardpress.com/books/saltbu...

January 31, 2026 at 1:27 PM

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Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

Lovely article by my publisher… @renardpress.com

“a big part of what makes us different, in my eyes, is that we’re looking for different, and this means looking beyond the mass of published voices”

creativewritingatleicester.blogspot.com/2026/01/five...

Five Years of Publishing Beyond the Mainstream: On Setting Up and Running Renard Press

By Will Dady An unknown wit of years past asks, "How do you make a small fortune in publishing?" Of course the answer is, "Start with a larg...

creativewritingatleicester.blogspot.com

February 1, 2026 at 2:49 PM

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marandina

@marandina.bsky.social

My latest poem (it's been an age)

'Uphill, January 29th 2026'

www.abctales.com/story/marand...

Sanctuary

January 30, 2026 at 11:51 AM

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Rachel Deering

@racheldeering.bsky.social

A poem for February from me.

The Quiet of An Owl’s Wing, February

tinyurl.com/bdcnxrmk

🖼 Owl flying against a moonlit sky, Caspar David Friedrich, c.1836.
#OwlishMonday

As described, painting of owl in flight across moon, clouds parted for full moon.

It begins with the quiet
of an owl's wing, mist muffled,
of river breath hushed
upon frostfangs and
cold, a climbing ivy.
Ask April to lend a word
or two, circles of light,
stars to burn in the darkness,
when the blush of Spring
is in the distance, a ship sailed
on bluster and waves of snowdrop
and crocus. Masts of daffodils still
on horizon, pursued by clans
of swallows, the nightingale, the cuckoo -
apostles returning - remembered in tendon
and bone, all this is heart-pressed,
all this is known.

February 3, 2025 at 7:02 AM

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Black Bough Poetry

@blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

‘we do not test the fragility of joy,
or pit it against the human condition,
when we are beneath the suthering
of a blackbird's wings’ 🪽

@racheldeering.bsky.social from collection ‘In the Shadow of Gods.’

www.blackboughpoetry.com/rachel-deering

January 31, 2026 at 10:59 AM

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Rachel Deering

@racheldeering.bsky.social

A poem of mine from my collection, In the Shadow of Gods. Have a read!

Black Bough Poetry @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social · 1d

‘we do not test the fragility of joy,
or pit it against the human condition,
when we are beneath the suthering
of a blackbird's wings’ 🪽

@racheldeering.bsky.social from collection ‘In the Shadow of Gods.’

www.blackboughpoetry.com/rachel-deering

January 31, 2026 at 12:28 PM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

Our new Inspiration Point is 'silence'. Here's a great response by SoulFire77:

www.abctales.com/story/soulfi...

February 1, 2026 at 2:56 PM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

Our Pick of the Day is Veraclark’s brilliant poem, Sisters of Snow

“During conflict they were
used to de-ice tanks
but eat them and die.”

www.abctales.com/story/veracl...

Photo, black and white of snowdrops in a vase.

January 31, 2026 at 6:27 PM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

This gorgeous, uplifting poem from Penny4athought is Pick of the Day! Please do share if you can

www.abctales.com/story/penny4...

Dawn photo: snow lined road by water, trees and hill in distance.

January 30, 2026 at 9:40 PM

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Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

New Substack up, featuring @stuhennigan.bsky.social @ortacpress.bsky.social @galleybeggars.bsky.social @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social @davidcollard.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @renardpress.com Laurel and Hardy, Some Like it Hot. And me.

open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...

On Being Down and Out. Almost.

It’s always interesting to see what sofa, item of rubbish, general detritus from everyday life, has appeared on my street each night.

open.substack.com

January 29, 2026 at 9:51 AM

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Paul

@paulwritespoems.bsky.social

This Weeks Book Bag is Circulaire by
@poetbex.bsky.social published by
@writtenoffbooks.bsky.social

Also shoutouts/news @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
@iamb.uk @louisepoetical.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @thebrokenspine.co.uk

And more

Paul @paulwritespoems.bsky.social · 7d

This week in The Book Bag, Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth published by Written Off Publishing.

Take 5 and settle in.

'... in my opinion is a masterclass on poetry about life'

Plus news, opps, shoutouts and of course an eclectic playlist.

#TheBookBag

The Book Bag: Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. What a week. Bristol for a conference and back again. A lot of train travel (where I got to talk to some great people and listen to their stories). It did mean I got to meet up with the man, the myth, Matthew MC Smith for a catchup. Did I get lost walking to the restaurant I had picked? Yes! Was it a good choice though? Yes! Aside from my whistle stop 23 hours in Bristol, I spent a little time editing some of my own work and emailing all the wonderful poets who submitted to the Unwhispered Legacy Anthology.

paulwritespoems.com

January 25, 2026 at 8:14 AM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

Odd, disturbing and as visceral ever, this is fine stuff. Anything referencing Kafka and coining a word like "baskination" does it for me. So that's why A Book Report Influenced by the Absurdity of Life by TJW is today's pick of the day.

Do please share.
www.abctales.com/story/tjw/bo...

January 30, 2026 at 1:20 AM

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Bex Hainsworth

@poetbex.bsky.social

So chuffed about this wonderfully thoughtful review of my latest chapbook, Circulaire, by @paulwritespoems.bsky.social! 💛

I still have signed copies available. If poetry about home, love, and womanhood is your jam, drop me a DM! (£10 via PayPal, I cover p&p) ☕️

paulwritespoems.com/2026/01/25/t...

The Book Bag: Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. What a week. Bristol for a conference and back again. A lot of train travel (where I got to talk to some great people and listen to th…

paulwritespoems.com

January 28, 2026 at 6:34 PM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

He’s been delving into his family tree.

luigi_pagano is one of the doyens of ABCtales.com so read all about his research in:

‘Relatively Speaking’

It is today’s Pick of the Day.

www.abctales.com/story/luigip...

Please share if you can.

January 28, 2026 at 7:44 PM

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Bex Hainsworth

@poetbex.bsky.social

Delighted to have a poem in Issue 34 of Sky Island Journal! 🐍

You can read 'Portrait of My Sensory Overload as Two
Minor Cobra-Headed Egyptian Goddesses' below and the rest of the wonderful issue here:
skyislandjournal.com/issues#/issu...

Portrait of My Sensory Overload as Two
Minor Cobra-Headed Egyptian Goddesses
Bex Hainsworth

I: Meretseger

Her name means ‘she who loves silence,’
which makes sense when you have only

the dead for company. She protects
the Theban necropolis, haunts the blissfully

empty uncoiling of the desert. Patron
of artisans, I wish I had her patience.

Listen for the click of copper and faience,
the hiss of crumbling sand. When the world

swells, I shrink it to the grains rubbing
the feet of her small rock temple,

picture myself lying down in the heat there
and curling my limbs into a sun disk.

II: Renenutet

Surrogate mother, goddess of fertility
and fields. Like you, I am childless

with many children. You wrapped pharaohs
in your glittering skin, held them from

death to birth. I lay out the exam papers
like flattened sheaves, imagine

Yorkshire wheat, childhood
games of hide and seek.

I close the curtains, my desk
becomes an altar, your shrine

inside the cool stone of a granary.
I am ready to sift and grind.

January 27, 2026 at 6:42 PM

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Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

Last few days of Saltburn being in Renard Press’ Best of 2025 promotion.

50% off
£5

renardpress.com/books/saltbu...

Dave Appleby ...
5 books • 11 followers
Following
大
April 16, 2025
In terms of sheer invention, this might be one of the most creative books I have ever read. Saltburn is a set of six overlapping stories in which the weird and wonderful is everyday. Except for Stick of Rock, each story is a surreal bildungsroman of a young boy (at least to start with) involving poverty, parental loss and sexual awakening amid a series of ever more extraordinary adventures.

Ryan Dennis ...
2 books • 27 followers
Friends
**
January 2, 2026
Reading Saltburn, as with all of Gummerson's books, is like having a best friend with you...one that will say outrageous things, continually surprise you, and never let you get sick of them. I highly recommend it.
1 like
Like O Comment

Adam ...
4 books • 16 followers
Friends
**
October 29, 2025
This collection of interwoven stories is like a fever dream and Gummerson is an English Vonnegut. I assure you that this statement will make complete sense to you by the time you've reached, I'd say, page 6. What a bloody delight.
3 likes
うるト

Robert Welbourn
...
4 books • 15 followers
Following
*
June 17, 2025
a fantastic collection of intertwining stories.
Gummerson's writing and sense of humour are reminiscent of Vonnegut at his finest; his writing is as heartfelt as it is hilarious, and these tales will entertain and comfort every reader. I cannot recommend this book more.

January 27, 2026 at 10:24 AM

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marandina

@marandina.bsky.social

My latest story:

'The Devil's Bridge'

www.abctales.com/story/marand...

A salutary tale of eternity

January 27, 2026 at 3:24 PM

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philwhiteland

@philwhiteland.bsky.social

This should have appeared over the weekend but, it just didn't feel the right time for anything frivolous. it's not much better now, but...
'Digging' - Dolly gets a message, Aefelthrith gets the hump, Gwladys & 'Arry see what they can unearth!
www.abctales.com/story/philwh...
@abctales.bsky.social

January 27, 2026 at 7:43 PM

ABCtales

@abctales.bsky.social

Ever wondered what powers your favourite writing website? Makis has been down in the ABC catacombs! www.abctales.com/story/makis/...

January 27, 2026 at 4:06 PM

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Paul

@paulwritespoems.bsky.social

This week in The Book Bag, Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth published by Written Off Publishing.

Take 5 and settle in.

'... in my opinion is a masterclass on poetry about life'

Plus news, opps, shoutouts and of course an eclectic playlist.

#TheBookBag

The Book Bag: Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. What a week. Bristol for a conference and back again. A lot of train travel (where I got to talk to some great people and listen to their stories). It did mean I got to meet up with the man, the myth, Matthew MC Smith for a catchup. Did I get lost walking to the restaurant I had picked? Yes! Was it a good choice though? Yes! Aside from my whistle stop 23 hours in Bristol, I spent a little time editing some of my own work and emailing all the wonderful poets who submitted to the Unwhispered Legacy Anthology.

paulwritespoems.com

January 25, 2026 at 7:57 AM

Reposted by ABCtales

Drew Gummerson

@drewgum.bsky.social

It’s the last week of Saltburn being 50% off in Renard Press’s Best of 2025 promotion. Book your visit for £5.

It’s one novella, four novelettes, and a short story. It’s queer. It’s bonkers. It has killer seals. It has mermaids.

renardpress.com/books/saltbu...

open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...