Jim Martin
@jimspim.bsky.social
Publishing Director, Bloomsbury. Pop-science, natural history. Gonzo editor; zoo-LOL-ogist; supplier of bookish news, animal facts, regular swearing. Views my own.
Dyeing son's hair. Had a tott up and realised it's 35 years since I last did mine. Slightly soul-crushing, but anyway.
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Dyeing son's hair. Had a tott up and realised it's 35 years since I last did mine. Slightly soul-crushing, but anyway.
Jenrick ... he truly is shameless. A corrupt Vance wannabe. Imagine ending up like that.
January 15, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Jenrick ... he truly is shameless. A corrupt Vance wannabe. Imagine ending up like that.
While objectively the Jenrick news is of course hilarious, you do have to grudgingly hand it to Badenoch for firm, swift decisiveness that has holed her opponent well beneath the waterline. Jenrick has now been comprehensively sunk.
January 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
While objectively the Jenrick news is of course hilarious, you do have to grudgingly hand it to Badenoch for firm, swift decisiveness that has holed her opponent well beneath the waterline. Jenrick has now been comprehensively sunk.
This will be the first of many. Lazy institutions taking short cuts, getting caught, then lying. Always the cover-up that leads to heads rolling.
January 14, 2026 at 10:35 AM
This will be the first of many. Lazy institutions taking short cuts, getting caught, then lying. Always the cover-up that leads to heads rolling.
A colossal scandal breaking. West Midlands police used AI to 'sex up' grounds to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. AI invented a load of stuff. Police went ahead with the ban anyway. Chief Constable of West Midlands now will have to resign for lying about it. Amazing.
January 14, 2026 at 9:47 AM
A colossal scandal breaking. West Midlands police used AI to 'sex up' grounds to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. AI invented a load of stuff. Police went ahead with the ban anyway. Chief Constable of West Midlands now will have to resign for lying about it. Amazing.
@wiwildlife.bsky.social hello, Steve. We would like to use one of your photos in a forthcoming book - would you mind dropping me an email so I can discuss the details with you? It's jim.martin@bloomsbury.com. Thank you.
January 13, 2026 at 1:39 PM
@wiwildlife.bsky.social hello, Steve. We would like to use one of your photos in a forthcoming book - would you mind dropping me an email so I can discuss the details with you? It's jim.martin@bloomsbury.com. Thank you.
First day back at school. Numerous crying children at the school gate. I shared their sorrow.
January 6, 2026 at 9:26 AM
First day back at school. Numerous crying children at the school gate. I shared their sorrow.
West Ham really are hilariously bad, aren't they. Wolves have scored as many goals in one half as they have points. Both teams doomed to the drop.
January 3, 2026 at 4:10 PM
West Ham really are hilariously bad, aren't they. Wolves have scored as many goals in one half as they have points. Both teams doomed to the drop.
Inexplicably, one of the lead stories on the BBC website. Magpie Inkcap is toxic. None of this makes a lick of sense.
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report
Former PC Christopher Vickers was found to have committed gross misconduct over how he issued and recorded a community resolution report.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Inexplicably, one of the lead stories on the BBC website. Magpie Inkcap is toxic. None of this makes a lick of sense.
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Post-Christmas deep dive into Guinness Book of Records reveals that the world's oldest person, Surrey phenomenon Ethel Caterham, is three YEARS older than anyone else alive. What a woman.
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Post-Christmas deep dive into Guinness Book of Records reveals that the world's oldest person, Surrey phenomenon Ethel Caterham, is three YEARS older than anyone else alive. What a woman.
But I was so cold, Steph. So cold.
December 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM
But I was so cold, Steph. So cold.
I left at half time due to misery caused by the biting cold. Missed four goals and a 95th minute winner. Football eh. @isthmianleague.bsky.social
December 27, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I left at half time due to misery caused by the biting cold. Missed four goals and a 95th minute winner. Football eh. @isthmianleague.bsky.social
In other news, dreamt I had to re-sit my GCSE Maths. 35 years on, psyche still scarred.
December 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
In other news, dreamt I had to re-sit my GCSE Maths. 35 years on, psyche still scarred.
Today I am at the Kent Coast derby - @ramsgatefc.bsky.social v @fifc.bsky.social. missed kick-off due to queues. Ground packed. Programmes long since sold out. Spicy.
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today I am at the Kent Coast derby - @ramsgatefc.bsky.social v @fifc.bsky.social. missed kick-off due to queues. Ground packed. Programmes long since sold out. Spicy.
Starting to wonder whether the monarchy will survive this.
December 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Starting to wonder whether the monarchy will survive this.
Looking forward to the full suite of HarperCollins stories starting to bubble out.
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Looking forward to the full suite of HarperCollins stories starting to bubble out.
Fun fact: Stanley's middle name was Livingstone. Parents had a sense of humour.
December 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Fun fact: Stanley's middle name was Livingstone. Parents had a sense of humour.
Must admit I was astounded to learn that Stanley Baxter was still alive.
December 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Must admit I was astounded to learn that Stanley Baxter was still alive.
HarperCollins eh. What on earth is going on? Some high-level top-brass internecine warfare by the looks of it.
HarperCollins group sales and rights director Anna Derkacz is set to leave the publisher 👇 #BookSky
HarperCollins group sales and rights director Anna Derkacz leaves publisher
ebx.sh
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
HarperCollins eh. What on earth is going on? Some high-level top-brass internecine warfare by the looks of it.
Controversial I know but the Christmas Tree is already up. Elf already sitting on the shelf.
November 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Controversial I know but the Christmas Tree is already up. Elf already sitting on the shelf.
Interesting choice of Yellow Wagtail to illustrate this BBC report.
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
November 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Interesting choice of Yellow Wagtail to illustrate this BBC report.
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
A sudden flurry of excellent book ideas and proposals. The pre-Santa bounce. A reminder of why I enjoy my job.
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A sudden flurry of excellent book ideas and proposals. The pre-Santa bounce. A reminder of why I enjoy my job.