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djcockburn.bsky.social
DJ Cockburn
@djcockburn.bsky.social
30 followers 95 following 51 posts
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djcockburn.bsky.social
Not really a surprise that he was off shirking in the midst of a crisis but... Carrie bought the stumbling bumbler a motorbike? Was she hoping he was going to break his neck before his next marriage?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Shabana Mahmood has a gift for following truth with codswallop.

'I know this country is an open, tolerant and generous place. And I am proud of the fact that we have always offered sanctuary to those fleeing peril'.

1st sentence true. 2nd sentence codwallop.
1/4
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dark forces are stirring up anger in the UK. My asylum reforms are our chance to stop them | Shabana Mahmood
I know some of these measures will face opposition. But a country without secure borders is less safe for those who look like me, says Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:19 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Watch in horror as Bloomsbury boss throws his authors, his editors and his publicity department under the same bus with a few short soundbites. Who says AI can't inspire a good soundbite?

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
AI can help authors beat writer’s block, says Bloomsbury chief
Publisher last week reported jump in revenue in academic and professional arm thanks to AI licensing deal
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
tinytalesdaily.bsky.social
The optometrist clicks between lenses. "Better or worse?" "Better." Click. "Now?" Everything sharpens—too sharp. My husband's lies written on his skin like tattoos. My daughter's fears hovering above her head. Strangers' grief trailing them like exhaust. "Worse," I whisper. She removes the lens. Blessed blur returns. "Most people choose that," she says, making notes. "Twenty-twenty truth isn't covered by insurance." She hands me my old prescription. I sign the paperwork. --- *Enjoyed today's story? Share your thoughts and follow us for more tiny daily tales.* #Truth #Vision #Perception #Reality #Eyes #Lies #Fears #Grief Your daily treat from TinyTalesDaily.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Another event to look forward to.
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Oct 15
Only two days before US-based literary agent Sheyla Knigge @sknigge.bsky.social joins us to comment on pitches and answer questions. Join us online this Friday if you have one of those pitches or questions. Cover charge £5.
#amwriting #amquerying

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1663223750...
Chalk Scribblers meet the agent: Sheyla Knigge
A talk, pitching session and Q&A with Sheyla Knigge, a literary agent at the US-based HighLine Literary Collective.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
This should be good. Sheyla always has interesting and encouraging things to say.

Is this another one that might be interesting to @writingcommunity.bsky.social?
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Oct 7
Would you like to pick the brain of a US-based literary agent? Join us online on Fri 17th Oct when Sheyla Knigge @sknigge.bsky.social of HighLine Literary brings the brain and you bring the pitches and questions. Cover charge £5.
#amquerying #writingcommunity

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1663223750...
Chalk Scribblers meet the agent: Sheyla Knigge
A talk, pitching session and Q&A with Sheyla Knigge, a literary agent at the US-based HighLine Literary Collective.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 2:19 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Another one to look forward to.

Any interest over at @writingcommunity.bsky.social?
September 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Looking forward to this one. Really appreciate it when publishers are willing to talk to writers.

Any interest to @writingcommunity.bsky.social?
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Sep 3
Not long to go before we welcome Ian Whates to tell us all about NewCon press in particular and what writers need to know about independent publishing more generally. Join us online for free at 7pm (UK time).
#writingcommunity #getpublished #amwriting

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1554178903...
Chalk Scribblers meet the publisher: NewCon Press
A talk and Q&A with Ian Whates, founder and director of NewCon Press and award-winning science fiction author.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Would you like to hear some insights from one of Britain's leading independent publishers? Join us online for free at 7pn (UK time) tomorrow when Ian Whates of NewCon Press will share them with us.
#writingcommunity #amwriting

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1554178903...
Chalk Scribblers meet the publisher: NewCon Press
A talk and Q&A with Ian Whates, founder and director of NewCon Press and award-winning science fiction author.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 11:58 AM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Today's #BookQW is TURN so:

“We don't want to turn every stressed-out executive into a corporate psychopath, do we?” She'd actually joked about it back then.

And then self-help pill-popping hilarity ensues in CARESAWAY, published by Annorlunda: annorlundaenterprises.com/books/caresa...
Cover of Caresaway, a novelette published by Annorlunda.
August 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Is this sort of thing of any interest to @writingcommunity.bsky.social ?
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Aug 18
Two days to go before Carmen Peters and Elizabeth Earley of Jaded Ibis @jadedibispress.bsky.social share their experience as both authors and publishers in the world of independent publishing.

Join us online for free 7pm (UK time) this Wed.
#writingcommunity

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1534095413...
Chalk Scribblers meet the publisher: Jaded Ibis
A evening with Carmen Peters and Elizabeth Earley, published authors and staff members at independent publisher Jaded Ibis.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Only a fee hours to go before Peadar Ó Guilín @thecallya.bsky.social talks about his YA novels full of really, really nasty sidhe. Join us online for free.
#writingcommunity #WritersLife #YAfantasy

Meetup: www.meetup.com/chalk-scribb...
Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1428920903...
Chalk Scribblers meet the author: Peadar Ó Guilín, Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 7:00 PM | Meetup
Peadar Ó Guilín is an Irish author of short and long-form fiction. The first of his five YA novels, *The Inferior*, was published in 2007 and the most recent, *The Invasion
www.meetup.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Book quote Wednesday's word is ORDER which made me think of poor old Rex Harme, trying to catch a criminal in a pool of suspects who own the law.
#bookqw

annorlundaenterprises.com/books/arctic...
None of the securitati reported anyone scurrying down a corridor looking furtive. “Nguyen,” I said. “Sir?” “Next time you see a murder in progress, you have my permission to interrupt your superior officers. In fact, that’s an order.” Quote from Arctic Adagio by DJ Cockburn
July 9, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Our next speaker will be Neil Clarke of Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com, who talk about two decades editing one of the top short fiction venues around plus a few anthologies. Join us online this Wed for free.
#writingcommunity #amwriting #getpublished

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1382424742...
Chalk Scribblers meet the publisher: Neil Clarke
An evening with Neil Clarke, editor of the Clarkesworld and Forever magazines and numerous anthologies.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 1, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Only a few hours away from a reading and conversation with thriller author Wendy Heard @wendydheard.bsky.social. Join us online for free at 7pm (UK time).

It's going to be thrilling.

#writingcommunity #author #thriller

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1302623565...
Chalk Scribblers meet the author: Wendy Heard
A reading from and conversation with thriller author Wendy Heard.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 23, 2025 at 2:19 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Really enjoyed reading You Can Trust Me so the chance to talk with the author is the best Easter egg I'll get this year.
April 21, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Ever wondered how a thriller author thrills a thriller reader? Join us online for free this Wed when Wendy Heard @wendydheard.bsky.social, reads from Youn Can Trust Me and spills all the beans.
#WritingCommunity #Author #Thriller #Booksky

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1302623565...
Chalk Scribblers meet the author: Wendy Heard
A reading from and conversation with thriller author Wendy Heard.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Would you like to spend this evening immersed in the world of air and nothingness @aanpress.bsky.social where Todd Sanders @lackriver.bsky.social makes magic with indy publishing?

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1112464755...
Chalk Scribblers meet the publisher: Air and Nothingness Press
Todd Sanders will be telling us all about his independent publishing adventures in Air and Nothingness Press
www.eventbrite.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Samar is great, and she'll look at stuff that other agents don't consider commercial. Looking forward to this one.
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Nov 20
Ever wondered what a literary agent might make of your work in progress? If you can pitch it in 2min and join us online tomorrow evening, Samar Hammam of Rocking Chair Books will tell you:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7421825369...
November 20, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Would you like a boutique agent’s view of publishing? Or of your 2min pitch? Of course you would. So join us online at 7pm on Tue and get it all from Samar Hammam of the Rocking Chair agency.

On Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7421825369...

And Meetup: www.meetup.com/chalk-scribb...
November 15, 2023 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by DJ Cockburn
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Are you a writer who wants to know how to get your words in a bookshop? Join us online tomorrow when Aitken Alexander agent Monica MacSwan joins us to talk publishing, pitches and anything else you want to ask her about:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7235751216...
October 16, 2023 at 9:20 PM
djcockburn.bsky.social
Very much looking forward to hosting this one
chalkscribblers.bsky.social Chalk Scribblers @chalkscribblers.bsky.social · Oct 11
Care to know what a literary agent thinks of your WiP? If you can pitch it in 2min, join us online of Tuesday and Monica MacSwan of Aitken Alexander will tell you. The price is a very reasonable nothing at all.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7235751216...
Chalk Scribblers meet the agent: Monica MacSwan
Talk, Q&A and pitching with literary agent Monica MacSwan
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 11, 2023 at 1:15 PM