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
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[1] My new book #THIRST will be published by @pushkinpress.com on 11 Sept. It's a teen folk horror about a malevolent river worshipped for generations by the village of Maimsbury. I can't wait for you all to get swept away with Gorse and Faye. This gorgeous cover's by Natalie Smillie. ->
Just two days left for you to bid on a signed and specially dedicated copy of #THIRST! 🚨 Bid by entering my name into the search box at www.jumblebee.co.uk/childreninread2025. Funds raised go to #ChildrenInRead.♥️
November 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Just two days left for you to bid on a signed and specially dedicated copy of #THIRST! 🚨 Bid by entering my name into the search box at www.jumblebee.co.uk/childreninread2025. Funds raised go to #ChildrenInRead.♥️
[1] Though I've now given many a #THIRST presentation, last week I ran my first ever THIRST workshop. 🩸 I couldn't have asked for a better set of guinea pigs than the pupils at #ClaptonGirlsAcademy. After some discussion of folklore's relevance today, they were tasked with inventing folkloric ->
November 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
[1] Though I've now given many a #THIRST presentation, last week I ran my first ever THIRST workshop. 🩸 I couldn't have asked for a better set of guinea pigs than the pupils at #ClaptonGirlsAcademy. After some discussion of folklore's relevance today, they were tasked with inventing folkloric ->
This was fun. After a couple of admittedly tricky chapters, #TheBookOfElsewhere really got going. Kind of Highlander-meets-black-ops. It's got gore and action but there's philosophy and depth too. Makes me wonder what the film franchise will be like...
November 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This was fun. After a couple of admittedly tricky chapters, #TheBookOfElsewhere really got going. Kind of Highlander-meets-black-ops. It's got gore and action but there's philosophy and depth too. Makes me wonder what the film franchise will be like...
Signed copies of #THIRST now available in @pagesofhackney.bsky.social! 📚
Have a scroll through my pics of this gorgeous indie bookshop, which boasts not only a fab selection of fiction and non-fiction for all ages, but also a ton of fascinating zines. 👌
Have a scroll through my pics of this gorgeous indie bookshop, which boasts not only a fab selection of fiction and non-fiction for all ages, but also a ton of fascinating zines. 👌
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Signed copies of #THIRST now available in @pagesofhackney.bsky.social! 📚
Have a scroll through my pics of this gorgeous indie bookshop, which boasts not only a fab selection of fiction and non-fiction for all ages, but also a ton of fascinating zines. 👌
Have a scroll through my pics of this gorgeous indie bookshop, which boasts not only a fab selection of fiction and non-fiction for all ages, but also a ton of fascinating zines. 👌
Reposted by Darren Simpson
We're THRILLED that The Gnome Book has been shortlisted for @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Book of the Year! The gnomes feel so proud to have been recognised in our world 🍬
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
We're THRILLED that The Gnome Book has been shortlisted for @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Book of the Year! The gnomes feel so proud to have been recognised in our world 🍬
Okay, this link's being temperamental on BlueSky, so to access this @readingzone.bsky.social #THIRST review and excerpt, you may have to google "reading zone thirst" and access it that way. That'll sort you out. 👍
"A splendidly gruesome and gripping folk horror set in a village bound by dark secrets and centuries old traditions" 💀
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
November 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Okay, this link's being temperamental on BlueSky, so to access this @readingzone.bsky.social #THIRST review and excerpt, you may have to google "reading zone thirst" and access it that way. That'll sort you out. 👍
"A splendidly gruesome and gripping folk horror set in a village bound by dark secrets and centuries old traditions" 💀
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
November 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
"A splendidly gruesome and gripping folk horror set in a village bound by dark secrets and centuries old traditions" 💀
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
Thanks so much to Clare for her fab review of #THIRST for @readingzone.bsky.social. Read Clare's full review (and a free excerpt!) at readingzone.com/books/thirst 🩸
How would you like an exclusively SIGNED AND DEDICATED Guardian Book of Month/Irish Times Best YA Book for Halloween, in the form of a signed copy of #THIRST from yours truly? 🙌 If you're game, bid at www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/deta... and raise money for @ChildrenInRead. Good luck! 🎉
November 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
How would you like an exclusively SIGNED AND DEDICATED Guardian Book of Month/Irish Times Best YA Book for Halloween, in the form of a signed copy of #THIRST from yours truly? 🙌 If you're game, bid at www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/deta... and raise money for @ChildrenInRead. Good luck! 🎉
So #TheBookOfAccidents by @chuckwendig.bsky.social is a blast. What seemingly begins as a haunted house story soon becomes an epic cosmic horror straddling multiple parallel universes. This is a novel crammed with ideas, horror and humanity. Perfect for the season.
November 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
So #TheBookOfAccidents by @chuckwendig.bsky.social is a blast. What seemingly begins as a haunted house story soon becomes an epic cosmic horror straddling multiple parallel universes. This is a novel crammed with ideas, horror and humanity. Perfect for the season.
Reposted by Darren Simpson
Episode 181 - OUT NOW!
THE TRAITORS: WHIMSY OR WITCH HUNT?
Listen free at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-181....
Watch on YouTube at youtu.be/vSl9d7db1Zo
I gather together a gaggle of witchcraft historians to discuss the cult TV gameshow 'The Traitors' and its parallels with the witch hunts
THE TRAITORS: WHIMSY OR WITCH HUNT?
Listen free at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-181....
Watch on YouTube at youtu.be/vSl9d7db1Zo
I gather together a gaggle of witchcraft historians to discuss the cult TV gameshow 'The Traitors' and its parallels with the witch hunts
October 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Episode 181 - OUT NOW!
THE TRAITORS: WHIMSY OR WITCH HUNT?
Listen free at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-181....
Watch on YouTube at youtu.be/vSl9d7db1Zo
I gather together a gaggle of witchcraft historians to discuss the cult TV gameshow 'The Traitors' and its parallels with the witch hunts
THE TRAITORS: WHIMSY OR WITCH HUNT?
Listen free at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-181....
Watch on YouTube at youtu.be/vSl9d7db1Zo
I gather together a gaggle of witchcraft historians to discuss the cult TV gameshow 'The Traitors' and its parallels with the witch hunts
[1] Imagine arriving for a school event and being greeted by this! That's what happened to me just before the hols. 😮 Thanks to pupils of #AldridgeSchool for making this #SCAVENGERS masterpiece (which cleverly incorporates lots of recycled rubbish) in art class. 👏 This was -->
November 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
[1] Imagine arriving for a school event and being greeted by this! That's what happened to me just before the hols. 😮 Thanks to pupils of #AldridgeSchool for making this #SCAVENGERS masterpiece (which cleverly incorporates lots of recycled rubbish) in art class. 👏 This was -->
Obligatory #Halloween #THIRST post! 💀 It's brought me a lot of satisfaction to see readers genuinely shocked and creeped out by THIRST. If you know of any teens or adults who crave real tension and scares, they may like to open THIRST's pages and visit Maimsbury.🩸
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Obligatory #Halloween #THIRST post! 💀 It's brought me a lot of satisfaction to see readers genuinely shocked and creeped out by THIRST. If you know of any teens or adults who crave real tension and scares, they may like to open THIRST's pages and visit Maimsbury.🩸
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
A quick but wholehearted thanks to #SabatPublishing for publishing #SCAVENGERS in Azerbaijan, and also to the good folk who've been championing my debut since...2019! ♥️ Special mention goes to Laura at the Susijn ⁸Agency for getting my stories out into the world. 🙏
October 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A quick but wholehearted thanks to #SabatPublishing for publishing #SCAVENGERS in Azerbaijan, and also to the good folk who've been championing my debut since...2019! ♥️ Special mention goes to Laura at the Susijn ⁸Agency for getting my stories out into the world. 🙏
I’d planned to ration #Wyrdwood over Halloween but kept getting into a “one-more-chapter” situation. Now I’ve finished it early. @curtisjobling.bsky.social evokes a wonderful sense of place. I love the way the scares build up to a perfect storm of action and thrills. Immersive, thorny folk horror.
October 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I’d planned to ration #Wyrdwood over Halloween but kept getting into a “one-more-chapter” situation. Now I’ve finished it early. @curtisjobling.bsky.social evokes a wonderful sense of place. I love the way the scares build up to a perfect storm of action and thrills. Immersive, thorny folk horror.
A lovely bit of news from the weekend: #THIRST was highlighted in the Irish Times as a Best YA Read for Halloween! 🩸🎉
I'm over the moon. Heartfelt thanks to @chennessybooks.bsky.social for including #THIRST among her excellent picks and for writing such a thoughtful review. 🙏
I'm over the moon. Heartfelt thanks to @chennessybooks.bsky.social for including #THIRST among her excellent picks and for writing such a thoughtful review. 🙏
October 28, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A lovely bit of news from the weekend: #THIRST was highlighted in the Irish Times as a Best YA Read for Halloween! 🩸🎉
I'm over the moon. Heartfelt thanks to @chennessybooks.bsky.social for including #THIRST among her excellent picks and for writing such a thoughtful review. 🙏
I'm over the moon. Heartfelt thanks to @chennessybooks.bsky.social for including #THIRST among her excellent picks and for writing such a thoughtful review. 🙏
On the joys of #THIRST, superpowers and...goats! 🐐 Thanks to @virtualauthorsuk.bsky.social for having me for this snappy Q&A: virtualauthors.co.uk/2025/10/20/1.... And schools: do check out @VirtualAuthorUK's comprehensive listings of virtual author events for all key stages! 📚♥️
October 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
On the joys of #THIRST, superpowers and...goats! 🐐 Thanks to @virtualauthorsuk.bsky.social for having me for this snappy Q&A: virtualauthors.co.uk/2025/10/20/1.... And schools: do check out @VirtualAuthorUK's comprehensive listings of virtual author events for all key stages! 📚♥️
Reposted by Darren Simpson
It's sunday so I am finally reading the links I opened during the week. Or possibly last week. Anyway, this one is worth your time (should be a free link, it was for me at least). Katherine Rundell on reading for pleasure. #UKKidLit #KidLitUK www.thetimes.com/uk/get-brita...
There is a silver bullet for childhood happiness: a love of reading
Bestselling children’s author Katherine Rundell says to reverse the reading crisis we must let young people rediscover the enjoyment of books — whatever they may be
www.thetimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:10 AM
It's sunday so I am finally reading the links I opened during the week. Or possibly last week. Anyway, this one is worth your time (should be a free link, it was for me at least). Katherine Rundell on reading for pleasure. #UKKidLit #KidLitUK www.thetimes.com/uk/get-brita...
"Creepy, compelling YA folk horror"🩸
Huge thanks to @imogenrw.bsky.social for including #THIRST in the @theguardian.com's roundup of the best new books for children and teens. 🙏 This is a cracking start to the weekend. I'll be celebrating tonight with Maimsbury's finest cider.
Huge thanks to @imogenrw.bsky.social for including #THIRST in the @theguardian.com's roundup of the best new books for children and teens. 🙏 This is a cracking start to the weekend. I'll be celebrating tonight with Maimsbury's finest cider.
October 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"Creepy, compelling YA folk horror"🩸
Huge thanks to @imogenrw.bsky.social for including #THIRST in the @theguardian.com's roundup of the best new books for children and teens. 🙏 This is a cracking start to the weekend. I'll be celebrating tonight with Maimsbury's finest cider.
Huge thanks to @imogenrw.bsky.social for including #THIRST in the @theguardian.com's roundup of the best new books for children and teens. 🙏 This is a cracking start to the weekend. I'll be celebrating tonight with Maimsbury's finest cider.
Reposted by Darren Simpson
Spooky season is underway at Magster Towers, and The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social is a welcome party guest.
The spirit of The Village of the Damned flows, wrapped up in a completely different mystery. Sharply paced,building to a terrifying crescendo. Love this series! ☠
The spirit of The Village of the Damned flows, wrapped up in a completely different mystery. Sharply paced,building to a terrifying crescendo. Love this series! ☠
October 23, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Spooky season is underway at Magster Towers, and The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social is a welcome party guest.
The spirit of The Village of the Damned flows, wrapped up in a completely different mystery. Sharply paced,building to a terrifying crescendo. Love this series! ☠
The spirit of The Village of the Damned flows, wrapped up in a completely different mystery. Sharply paced,building to a terrifying crescendo. Love this series! ☠
Ghoulish thanks to #SuffolkCommunityLibraries for including #THIRST among their YA #Halloween highlights! 🩸Visit suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/halloween-bo... for the full (and very super) list. 💀
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Ghoulish thanks to #SuffolkCommunityLibraries for including #THIRST among their YA #Halloween highlights! 🩸Visit suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/halloween-bo... for the full (and very super) list. 💀
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Last night I finished Jodie Matthews' #MeetMeAtTheSurface. It's brilliant literary folk horror. With the leaves now starting to fall and return to the soil, I read this at just the right time. It’s a dank, earthy fever dream of a novel. I mean that in the nicest possible way.
October 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Last night I finished Jodie Matthews' #MeetMeAtTheSurface. It's brilliant literary folk horror. With the leaves now starting to fall and return to the soil, I read this at just the right time. It’s a dank, earthy fever dream of a novel. I mean that in the nicest possible way.
For a limited time only, the e-book of #THIRST is available for just 99p! That's a whole lot of teen folk horror for what used to be the price of a whippy plus chocolate flake. Go buy it in time for #Halloween! 💀🩸
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
For a limited time only, the e-book of #THIRST is available for just 99p! That's a whole lot of teen folk horror for what used to be the price of a whippy plus chocolate flake. Go buy it in time for #Halloween! 💀🩸
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
@pushkinchildrens.bsky.social
Recently finished #VenonusLumpsucker – a satirical sci fi novel based around the “extinction industry” of the near future. This book is as sharp, funny and entertaining as it is resonant and troubling. A hugely enjoyable read. I'll certainly be checking out more by @nedbeauman.bsky.social.
October 21, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Recently finished #VenonusLumpsucker – a satirical sci fi novel based around the “extinction industry” of the near future. This book is as sharp, funny and entertaining as it is resonant and troubling. A hugely enjoyable read. I'll certainly be checking out more by @nedbeauman.bsky.social.