Darren Simpson
@darrensimpson44.bsky.social
Author of SCAVENGERS, THE MEMORY THIEVES, FURTHERMOOR and THIRST. Vivid, unruly fiction for older children and teens.
www.darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
www.darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
Jack Mackay's #GLOAM proved to be a welcome dose of wickedness. It's gleefully creepy and full of unsettling imagery, while also tackling themes of family, legacy and loss in a very moving way. Fab illustrations by Ben Joel Price too. See below for for one of my faves. 👌
January 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Jack Mackay's #GLOAM proved to be a welcome dose of wickedness. It's gleefully creepy and full of unsettling imagery, while also tackling themes of family, legacy and loss in a very moving way. Fab illustrations by Ben Joel Price too. See below for for one of my faves. 👌
Thanks to the wonderful folk at @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social for including #THIRST in their Year 9 recommended reading list for teens aged 13-14! 🤓🙏 Do check out @schoolreadinglist.bsky.socian's awesome (and very discerning, naturally) resources at schoolreadinglist.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Thanks to the wonderful folk at @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social for including #THIRST in their Year 9 recommended reading list for teens aged 13-14! 🤓🙏 Do check out @schoolreadinglist.bsky.socian's awesome (and very discerning, naturally) resources at schoolreadinglist.co.uk
Took the littlun to @waterstones.bsky.social Nottingham to spend some money he got for Christmas and was chuffed to see #THIRST on display. Thanks so much to the staff on this extraordinary top floor dedicated to YA and manga. Signed copies of #THIRST are available there right now! #signedbooks
January 3, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Took the littlun to @waterstones.bsky.social Nottingham to spend some money he got for Christmas and was chuffed to see #THIRST on display. Thanks so much to the staff on this extraordinary top floor dedicated to YA and manga. Signed copies of #THIRST are available there right now! #signedbooks
Reposted by Darren Simpson
For our first online talk of 2026 we are hosting Dr Rob Symmons from @romanpalace.bsky.social who will be discussing the incredible archaeological finds and history of the site, including folklore-filled mosaics!
Thursday 15 Jan, 8pm via Zoom
Tickets £5 + booking fee from
bit.ly/flaevents
Thursday 15 Jan, 8pm via Zoom
Tickets £5 + booking fee from
bit.ly/flaevents
January 3, 2026 at 1:56 PM
For our first online talk of 2026 we are hosting Dr Rob Symmons from @romanpalace.bsky.social who will be discussing the incredible archaeological finds and history of the site, including folklore-filled mosaics!
Thursday 15 Jan, 8pm via Zoom
Tickets £5 + booking fee from
bit.ly/flaevents
Thursday 15 Jan, 8pm via Zoom
Tickets £5 + booking fee from
bit.ly/flaevents
Just a quickie to wish you all the best for the new year. 🎉 Thanks for all the amazing support you've given me and #THIRST over 2025. ♥️ I'll make it up to you with something special for 2026... 🤫
January 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Just a quickie to wish you all the best for the new year. 🎉 Thanks for all the amazing support you've given me and #THIRST over 2025. ♥️ I'll make it up to you with something special for 2026... 🤫
Reposted by Darren Simpson
I've just managed to finish reading this gripping, dripping middle grade folk horror by #NottsKidLit author @darrensimpson44.bsky.social before the year was out!
Like THE WICKER MAN meets SWAMP THING, I would not recommend reading it in the bath.
Like THE WICKER MAN meets SWAMP THING, I would not recommend reading it in the bath.
December 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I've just managed to finish reading this gripping, dripping middle grade folk horror by #NottsKidLit author @darrensimpson44.bsky.social before the year was out!
Like THE WICKER MAN meets SWAMP THING, I would not recommend reading it in the bath.
Like THE WICKER MAN meets SWAMP THING, I would not recommend reading it in the bath.
#MotherNaked by @glenjamesbrown.bsky.social is one of the best books I've ever read. It's smart, poetic, bawdy, satirical and - for all its medieval trappings - contemporary and relevant. And Brown is as wily in his storytelling as Mother Naked himself. A novel I'll be revisiting, for sure.
December 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
#MotherNaked by @glenjamesbrown.bsky.social is one of the best books I've ever read. It's smart, poetic, bawdy, satirical and - for all its medieval trappings - contemporary and relevant. And Brown is as wily in his storytelling as Mother Naked himself. A novel I'll be revisiting, for sure.
An excellent start to the hols with #WrittenOnTheBody by Jeanette Winterson. It's romantic, moving, subversive, beautifully structured and genuinely hilarious. And apparently written at Ruth Rendell's pad!
December 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
An excellent start to the hols with #WrittenOnTheBody by Jeanette Winterson. It's romantic, moving, subversive, beautifully structured and genuinely hilarious. And apparently written at Ruth Rendell's pad!
Happy Friday!
December 19, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Happy Friday!
I had such a fun time talking river lore, folk horror and #THIRST with @folklorepod.bsky.social (a podcast well worth your time). This episode is now available on YouTube and wherever you stream your podcasts. Features a fantastic track from @lunatraktors.bsky.social.👌 @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Episode 184, out now
THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
Listen at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-184....
For more, watch the interview and music video at youtu.be/DLPIzpXBh3w
This episode features river folklore, a discussion with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social & music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
Listen at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-184....
For more, watch the interview and music video at youtu.be/DLPIzpXBh3w
This episode features river folklore, a discussion with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social & music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I had such a fun time talking river lore, folk horror and #THIRST with @folklorepod.bsky.social (a podcast well worth your time). This episode is now available on YouTube and wherever you stream your podcasts. Features a fantastic track from @lunatraktors.bsky.social.👌 @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Reposted by Darren Simpson
A brilliant podcasts is chatting with a brilliant writer, in the shape of @darrensimpson44.bsky.social. Keep your ears peeled for this one. #KidLit #KidLitUK
COMING SOON
The next episode of The Folklore Podcast is out tomorrow.
In THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE I'll be chatting a little bit about some of the folklore associated with rivers, there will be a major guest interview with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social and music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
The next episode of The Folklore Podcast is out tomorrow.
In THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE I'll be chatting a little bit about some of the folklore associated with rivers, there will be a major guest interview with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social and music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
A brilliant podcasts is chatting with a brilliant writer, in the shape of @darrensimpson44.bsky.social. Keep your ears peeled for this one. #KidLit #KidLitUK
This'll be out today! Watch this space...
COMING SOON
The next episode of The Folklore Podcast is out tomorrow.
In THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE I'll be chatting a little bit about some of the folklore associated with rivers, there will be a major guest interview with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social and music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
The next episode of The Folklore Podcast is out tomorrow.
In THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE I'll be chatting a little bit about some of the folklore associated with rivers, there will be a major guest interview with @darrensimpson44.bsky.social and music from @lunatraktors.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 8:25 AM
This'll be out today! Watch this space...
Reposted by Darren Simpson
Always meant to catch up with @aptshadow.bsky.social back catalogue and here's a perfect way that also helps charity
www.humblebundle.com/books/adrian...
www.humblebundle.com/books/adrian...
Humble Book Bundle: Adrian Tchaikovsky's Epic Fantasy by Macmillan
Fantasy fans won’t want to miss this Adrian Tchaikovsky bundle, featuring the Shadows of the Apt series and more! Every purchase supports Cancer Research UK!
www.humblebundle.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Always meant to catch up with @aptshadow.bsky.social back catalogue and here's a perfect way that also helps charity
www.humblebundle.com/books/adrian...
www.humblebundle.com/books/adrian...
A tad late to this, but just spotted that #THIRST was an Ousedale School Book of the Week! 🎉 Thank you to all at Ousedale. 🙏🩸 @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A tad late to this, but just spotted that #THIRST was an Ousedale School Book of the Week! 🎉 Thank you to all at Ousedale. 🙏🩸 @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Go on. Climb in. I dare you.
December 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Go on. Climb in. I dare you.
Wahey, #THIRST has been longlisted for the @sparkbookaward.bsky.social!🎉 These awards are voted for by pupils from across hundreds of schools, so I'm pleased as pie to be part of this. Happy reading, all! 📚♥️
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Day 5, 11+ Fiction: 'Thirst' by @darrensimpson44.bsky.social. Welcome to Maimsbury, where the rituals are old, the woods are watching, and the river always takes its due. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚
December 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Wahey, #THIRST has been longlisted for the @sparkbookaward.bsky.social!🎉 These awards are voted for by pupils from across hundreds of schools, so I'm pleased as pie to be part of this. Happy reading, all! 📚♥️
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Goodness, I had such a massive ugly-cry when I finished this book. And the tears seemed to rush up from nowhere! The result of a slowburn swell of investment and emotion. 👌 #Lessons by Ian McEwan is a testament to the epicness of every person's life. Superb.
December 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Goodness, I had such a massive ugly-cry when I finished this book. And the tears seemed to rush up from nowhere! The result of a slowburn swell of investment and emotion. 👌 #Lessons by Ian McEwan is a testament to the epicness of every person's life. Superb.
Reposted by Darren Simpson
My thanks to @darrensimpson44.bsky.social for joining me this morning to discuss river folklore, folk horror and more.
You'll be able to listen to this soon. In the meantime, here's a trailer for Darren's book THIRST, which formed part of our discussion.
youtu.be/9eM_R1tdj6I
@pushkinpress.com
You'll be able to listen to this soon. In the meantime, here's a trailer for Darren's book THIRST, which formed part of our discussion.
youtu.be/9eM_R1tdj6I
@pushkinpress.com
Book trailer for Thirst
YouTube video by Darren Simpson
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 11:28 AM
My thanks to @darrensimpson44.bsky.social for joining me this morning to discuss river folklore, folk horror and more.
You'll be able to listen to this soon. In the meantime, here's a trailer for Darren's book THIRST, which formed part of our discussion.
youtu.be/9eM_R1tdj6I
@pushkinpress.com
You'll be able to listen to this soon. In the meantime, here's a trailer for Darren's book THIRST, which formed part of our discussion.
youtu.be/9eM_R1tdj6I
@pushkinpress.com
[1] Delivered my last #THIRST launch event last week at Alderman White School. I couldn't have asked for a better final stop. I've had so much fun touring this book across schools and festivals. What a treat to meet so many pupils, librarians, booksellers and booklovers to talk #THIRST, folklore ->
November 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Anyone know what sort of cone this is?
November 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Anyone know what sort of cone this is?
November 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Always a privilege to help someone out of their reading slump! 🎉 #THIRST
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Have been in a slight reading slump of late and this just blew me right out of it! Absolutely brilliant YA folk horror by @darrensimpson44.bsky.social. A creepy, dark tale about folklore, nature and what people will do to survive. A must-read!
📚👍 #yalit #kidslit #schoollibraries
📚👍 #yalit #kidslit #schoollibraries
November 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Always a privilege to help someone out of their reading slump! 🎉 #THIRST
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Watched #SaintMaud last night, and this is the most I've been haunted by a horror movie since It Follows. Strange, unsettling and so very sad. A brilliant film.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Watched #SaintMaud last night, and this is the most I've been haunted by a horror movie since It Follows. Strange, unsettling and so very sad. A brilliant film.