Gary Dalkin
@garydalkin.bsky.social
UK editor & writer. I write every month for Writing Magazine and am closely involved with the Bournemouth Writing Festival. Senior Associate Editor at Cadence Publishing.
Lots more, including contact details: www.tothelastword.com
Lots more, including contact details: www.tothelastword.com
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Gary Dalkin
@garydalkin.bsky.social
· Nov 18
I work with new and established writers worldwide. If you want to ensure your manuscript as good as it can be before submitting it to an agent, or need a manuscript assessment to develop your book, drop me a line.
'I recommend Gary to anyone.'
Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner, Tricia Sullivan
'I recommend Gary to anyone.'
Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner, Tricia Sullivan
@bmthwritingfest.bsky.social celebrates #RobertLouisStevenson - 175th birthday at his former home, where he wrote #DrJekyllandMrHyde and #Kidnapped.
13th November - performances, readings, poetry from Stevenson experts. @alibacon.bsky.social
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/networking-e...
13th November - performances, readings, poetry from Stevenson experts. @alibacon.bsky.social
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/networking-e...
September 10, 2025 at 8:35 AM
@bmthwritingfest.bsky.social celebrates #RobertLouisStevenson - 175th birthday at his former home, where he wrote #DrJekyllandMrHyde and #Kidnapped.
13th November - performances, readings, poetry from Stevenson experts. @alibacon.bsky.social
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/networking-e...
13th November - performances, readings, poetry from Stevenson experts. @alibacon.bsky.social
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/networking-e...
Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Novel originated as a talk I gave with Sophie Beal (Director of Cadence Publishing) at the Bournemouth Writing Festival. It proved so successful we are now doing an extended version for Writing Magazine:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising...
September 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Novel originated as a talk I gave with Sophie Beal (Director of Cadence Publishing) at the Bournemouth Writing Festival. It proved so successful we are now doing an extended version for Writing Magazine:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising...
Last night was the July Author Events' Books & Bubbles at Sobo:Sommelier. Bestselling psychological thriller writer @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social (The Quiet Sister) interviewed bestselling psychological thriller Jackie Kabler (The Revenge Plot). I adjudicated the fun and chaotic competition.
July 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Last night was the July Author Events' Books & Bubbles at Sobo:Sommelier. Bestselling psychological thriller writer @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social (The Quiet Sister) interviewed bestselling psychological thriller Jackie Kabler (The Revenge Plot). I adjudicated the fun and chaotic competition.
I'm delighted that #WiildaAndTheTrollTrials by #LindaLiebrand, which I worked on last year, is now published. Linda says:
'I wrote Wiilda and the Troll Trials for curious kids who don’t quite fit in. For those who ask too many questions, or dream of adventures no one else sees.'
'I wrote Wiilda and the Troll Trials for curious kids who don’t quite fit in. For those who ask too many questions, or dream of adventures no one else sees.'
July 7, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I'm delighted that #WiildaAndTheTrollTrials by #LindaLiebrand, which I worked on last year, is now published. Linda says:
'I wrote Wiilda and the Troll Trials for curious kids who don’t quite fit in. For those who ask too many questions, or dream of adventures no one else sees.'
'I wrote Wiilda and the Troll Trials for curious kids who don’t quite fit in. For those who ask too many questions, or dream of adventures no one else sees.'
I've known about this for a while now, but am delighted to share the news that Andreina Cordani, bestselling, Crime Writers Association Daggar Award-nominated author of #MurderAtTheChristmasEmporium, will continue her seasonally-themed thrillers with #AScroogeMystery. And yes, there will be ghosts.
Time to reveal the cover of my next festive whodunit, A SCROOGE MYSTERY. Everyone's favourite reformed miser is looking forward to his first merry Christmas and never wants to see another ghost again... Then he finds the body. Thanks for a brilliant cover @ZaffreBooks 😍
July 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I've known about this for a while now, but am delighted to share the news that Andreina Cordani, bestselling, Crime Writers Association Daggar Award-nominated author of #MurderAtTheChristmasEmporium, will continue her seasonally-themed thrillers with #AScroogeMystery. And yes, there will be ghosts.
Really looking forward to this crime writer panel with Andreina Cordani, TH Carrington, Alex Stone, and MA Hunter.
@andreinacordani.bsky.social @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social
authorevents.co.uk/2025/03/30/2...
@andreinacordani.bsky.social @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social
authorevents.co.uk/2025/03/30/2...
June 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Really looking forward to this crime writer panel with Andreina Cordani, TH Carrington, Alex Stone, and MA Hunter.
@andreinacordani.bsky.social @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social
authorevents.co.uk/2025/03/30/2...
@andreinacordani.bsky.social @alexstoneauthor.bsky.social
authorevents.co.uk/2025/03/30/2...
New guest post on the #AuthorEvents Substack. From being asked to chair a panel at #RomanceWritingFestivalBournemouth via #Frankenstein to how for a brief while I thought I'd been published by #PrincetonUniversityPress and didn't even know it. #AlexStone
authorevents.substack.com/p/the-write-...
authorevents.substack.com/p/the-write-...
June 20, 2025 at 8:46 AM
New guest post on the #AuthorEvents Substack. From being asked to chair a panel at #RomanceWritingFestivalBournemouth via #Frankenstein to how for a brief while I thought I'd been published by #PrincetonUniversityPress and didn't even know it. #AlexStone
authorevents.substack.com/p/the-write-...
authorevents.substack.com/p/the-write-...
I’m delighted that I'll be chairing a panel at the first Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth, a sister event to the Bournemouth Writing Festival.
The panel will feature the bestselling authors #PhillipaAshley, #HollyMcCulloch, #SueMoorcroft and #JoThomas.
tothelastword.com/blog/place
The panel will feature the bestselling authors #PhillipaAshley, #HollyMcCulloch, #SueMoorcroft and #JoThomas.
tothelastword.com/blog/place
Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth - A Sense of Place — To The Last Word
I’m delighted to announce that I will be chairing a panel at the first Bournemouth Romance Writing Festival, a new sister event to the hugely successful Bournemouth Writing Festival, where I’ve been a...
tothelastword.com
June 20, 2025 at 7:39 AM
I’m delighted that I'll be chairing a panel at the first Romance Writing Festival Bournemouth, a sister event to the Bournemouth Writing Festival.
The panel will feature the bestselling authors #PhillipaAshley, #HollyMcCulloch, #SueMoorcroft and #JoThomas.
tothelastword.com/blog/place
The panel will feature the bestselling authors #PhillipaAshley, #HollyMcCulloch, #SueMoorcroft and #JoThomas.
tothelastword.com/blog/place
My client Mark deMeza’s The Thirteenth Child, based on his family’s history in the Holocaust, was a bestselling success, with a 4.4 rating from over 2000 Amazon customers. Today the sequel, The Heroine of Auschwitz, for which I also provided editorial feedback during development, is published.
June 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
My client Mark deMeza’s The Thirteenth Child, based on his family’s history in the Holocaust, was a bestselling success, with a 4.4 rating from over 2000 Amazon customers. Today the sequel, The Heroine of Auschwitz, for which I also provided editorial feedback during development, is published.
I've just reread the prologue of #TheSurvivor by #JamesHerbert, first reading it around 45 years ago. The gradual shift from normality to overwhelming horror in just six pages is masterfully done, while the 50 year old story could have been written yesterday... Let's see if the rest holds up.
June 18, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I've just reread the prologue of #TheSurvivor by #JamesHerbert, first reading it around 45 years ago. The gradual shift from normality to overwhelming horror in just six pages is masterfully done, while the 50 year old story could have been written yesterday... Let's see if the rest holds up.
Quote of the day.
June 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Quote of the day.
As an editor I can't help but be amazed that no one at Tyrrell's took a look at this packaging and said, 'Hold on a minute...' Because really, I'm not even 25% convinced that crisps made with recycled plastic is the selling point they think it is.
#tyrrells #recycling #recycledplastic #editingfail
#tyrrells #recycling #recycledplastic #editingfail
April 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
As an editor I can't help but be amazed that no one at Tyrrell's took a look at this packaging and said, 'Hold on a minute...' Because really, I'm not even 25% convinced that crisps made with recycled plastic is the selling point they think it is.
#tyrrells #recycling #recycledplastic #editingfail
#tyrrells #recycling #recycledplastic #editingfail
Some new information about Shakespeare's domestic arrangements for his birthday.
#shakespeare #annehathaway
#shakespeare #annehathaway
April 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Some new information about Shakespeare's domestic arrangements for his birthday.
#shakespeare #annehathaway
#shakespeare #annehathaway
Last year I wrote an article for #WritingMagazine, Organising Chaos: How to Turn a Messy First Draft into a Publishable Book, to coincide with my talk with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing at the #BournemouthWritingFestival. On Saturday we are giving an updated version at this year's festival...
April 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Last year I wrote an article for #WritingMagazine, Organising Chaos: How to Turn a Messy First Draft into a Publishable Book, to coincide with my talk with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing at the #BournemouthWritingFestival. On Saturday we are giving an updated version at this year's festival...
In the light of publicity given to a nude writing workshop at the Bournemouth Writing Festival I must point out that Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book will be fully clothed. That applies to the audience too. Even those right at the back.
www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
April 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In the light of publicity given to a nude writing workshop at the Bournemouth Writing Festival I must point out that Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book will be fully clothed. That applies to the audience too. Even those right at the back.
www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
Just three weeks until the #BournemouthWritingFestival, where I'll be co-presenting Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing. Happily the #BWF is far too nice to have anyone like the chap from this #PrivateEye cartoon in our audience...
April 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Just three weeks until the #BournemouthWritingFestival, where I'll be co-presenting Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book with #SophieBeal of #CadencePublishing. Happily the #BWF is far too nice to have anyone like the chap from this #PrivateEye cartoon in our audience...
Members of the Society of Authors are protesting at Meta's London HQ today.
societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...
#libgen #meta #dothewritething #bookthieves
societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...
#libgen #meta #dothewritething #bookthieves
April 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Members of the Society of Authors are protesting at Meta's London HQ today.
societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...
#libgen #meta #dothewritething #bookthieves
societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...
#libgen #meta #dothewritething #bookthieves
Jane Goodall, the internationally renowned primatologist, environmentalist, activist and author celebrates her 91st birthday today. So here's wishing Bournemouth's most famous living author a very happy birthday. (Photos are from my collection of Jane Goodall's many books.)
April 3, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Jane Goodall, the internationally renowned primatologist, environmentalist, activist and author celebrates her 91st birthday today. So here's wishing Bournemouth's most famous living author a very happy birthday. (Photos are from my collection of Jane Goodall's many books.)
I wrote a piece with Festival Director #DominicWong about the #BournemouthWritingFestival for the May issue of #WritingMagazine. In shops 3 April, available as a print or digital edition online now.
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home
www.writers-online.co.uk/store/back-i...
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home
www.writers-online.co.uk/store/back-i...
April 2, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I wrote a piece with Festival Director #DominicWong about the #BournemouthWritingFestival for the May issue of #WritingMagazine. In shops 3 April, available as a print or digital edition online now.
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home
www.writers-online.co.uk/store/back-i...
www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/home
www.writers-online.co.uk/store/back-i...
Congratulations to Alex Stone on the launch of her new novel, The Quiet Sister. Dark deeds afoot on Boscombe beach, where I've spent many happy hours and days.
#alexstone #thequietsister #psychologicalthriller #bournemouth #boscombe
#alexstone #thequietsister #psychologicalthriller #bournemouth #boscombe
Bournemouth author bases psychological thriller on popular beach
A Bournemouth author has based their new thriller on the 'idyllic' Boscombe beach.
www.bournemouthecho.co.uk
March 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Congratulations to Alex Stone on the launch of her new novel, The Quiet Sister. Dark deeds afoot on Boscombe beach, where I've spent many happy hours and days.
#alexstone #thequietsister #psychologicalthriller #bournemouth #boscombe
#alexstone #thequietsister #psychologicalthriller #bournemouth #boscombe
In Great Expectations Charles Dickens perfectly captures today. In the sun it feels like the first day of summer, and I have my office doors open for the first time this year. In the shade, that breeze still has a wintery bite.
March 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
In Great Expectations Charles Dickens perfectly captures today. In the sun it feels like the first day of summer, and I have my office doors open for the first time this year. In the shade, that breeze still has a wintery bite.
Come and see me and Cadence Publishing CEO Sophie Beal at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, where we will be Organising Chaos again. We sold out last year, so get your tickets for the finest editor/publisher double act in town. Meanwhile the festival programme has just gone live online.
Bournemouth Writing Festival 2025 Programme
100 free and ticketed events over three days in Bournemouth Town Centre to inspire writers to write. 25th to 27th April 2025.
online.fliphtml5.com
March 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Come and see me and Cadence Publishing CEO Sophie Beal at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, where we will be Organising Chaos again. We sold out last year, so get your tickets for the finest editor/publisher double act in town. Meanwhile the festival programme has just gone live online.
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is offering a 15% off discount until the end of February, which includes the talk I am giving with Cadence Publishing director Sophie Beal - Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book.
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
February 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is offering a 15% off discount until the end of February, which includes the talk I am giving with Cadence Publishing director Sophie Beal - Organising Chaos: Turn a Messy Draft into a Publishable Book.
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
Booking link: www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/org...
Meet me, and lots of other publishing industry professionals and authors, at the Author Marketplace at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, 27 April. If you are looking for an editor, want some writing advice, or to chat about your writing, come along and say hello.
authorevents.co.uk/2025/02/12/t...
authorevents.co.uk/2025/02/12/t...
February 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Meet me, and lots of other publishing industry professionals and authors, at the Author Marketplace at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, 27 April. If you are looking for an editor, want some writing advice, or to chat about your writing, come along and say hello.
authorevents.co.uk/2025/02/12/t...
authorevents.co.uk/2025/02/12/t...
JD Vance is given a theology lesson by Rory Stewart, and the result is magnificent.
JD Vance trolled Rory Stewart for having a 'low IQ' and his comeback had Brits everywhere cheering
Surely the least impressive vice president since Dan Quayle, JD Vance turned to the Bible in an attempt to justify Donald Trump and his government’s determination to put America first to the expense o...
www.thepoke.com
February 1, 2025 at 7:52 AM
JD Vance is given a theology lesson by Rory Stewart, and the result is magnificent.