Katie Hale - writer
@katiescribbles.bsky.social
❄️ THE EDGE OF SOLITUDE ❄️ / WHITE GHOSTS (2023) / MY NAME IS MONSTER (2019) / Northern Writers' Award 21 & 22 / Aesthetica Prize 23
Pinned
Who are the other folk on here who love books, writing & icy places? ❄️ Please say hello! 👋
Now available to free subscribers, too! Five opportunities for writers - plus this adorable plushie penguin 💕
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 32
Submission opportunities, a stay in a library, and money for work in progress
halekatie.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Now available to free subscribers, too! Five opportunities for writers - plus this adorable plushie penguin 💕
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
New post alert! About rejection, coming so close to winning it almost hurts, and the opportunity for building long-term relationships.
halekatie.substack.com/p/in-praise-...
halekatie.substack.com/p/in-praise-...
In praise of Not Quite Winning the Thing
Or, 3 times ‘not quite’ has led to something more
halekatie.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:28 AM
New post alert! About rejection, coming so close to winning it almost hurts, and the opportunity for building long-term relationships.
halekatie.substack.com/p/in-praise-...
halekatie.substack.com/p/in-praise-...
Popped into the lovely @westwoodbooks.bsky.social in Sedbergh today, to sign copies of The Edge of Solitude! (Plus a copy of My Name is Monster which was hanging out alongside them.) ✍️ Grab them while you can!
July 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Popped into the lovely @westwoodbooks.bsky.social in Sedbergh today, to sign copies of The Edge of Solitude! (Plus a copy of My Name is Monster which was hanging out alongside them.) ✍️ Grab them while you can!
Five more writing opportunities available to free subscribers!
Lots of opportunities for poets - plus some big bucks for theatre writers. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Lots of opportunities for poets - plus some big bucks for theatre writers. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 31
Lots of opportunities for poets - and some big bucks for theatre writers
halekatie.substack.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Five more writing opportunities available to free subscribers!
Lots of opportunities for poets - plus some big bucks for theatre writers. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Lots of opportunities for poets - plus some big bucks for theatre writers. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Currently reading this and dreaming of Antarctica (even in the depths of winter).
I also don't iron the duvet.
I also don't iron the duvet.
The Edge of Solitude is out in paperback today!!! 💫 Penguin the cat says you should grab your copy now, and hold on tight to this hot (ice-cold) commodity! ❄️
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
July 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Currently reading this and dreaming of Antarctica (even in the depths of winter).
I also don't iron the duvet.
I also don't iron the duvet.
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Happy (1 of 2) Publication day!
THE EDGE OF SOLITUDE – @katiescribbles.bsky.social
AVOIDANCE, DRUGS, HEARTBREAK & DOGS – Jordan Stephens
THE CREATIVE ACT – @rickrubin.bsky.social
ODDBODY – Rose Keating
These 4 wonders are out now in all good bookshops & online: uk.bookshop.org/lists/out-to...
THE EDGE OF SOLITUDE – @katiescribbles.bsky.social
AVOIDANCE, DRUGS, HEARTBREAK & DOGS – Jordan Stephens
THE CREATIVE ACT – @rickrubin.bsky.social
ODDBODY – Rose Keating
These 4 wonders are out now in all good bookshops & online: uk.bookshop.org/lists/out-to...
July 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Happy (1 of 2) Publication day!
THE EDGE OF SOLITUDE – @katiescribbles.bsky.social
AVOIDANCE, DRUGS, HEARTBREAK & DOGS – Jordan Stephens
THE CREATIVE ACT – @rickrubin.bsky.social
ODDBODY – Rose Keating
These 4 wonders are out now in all good bookshops & online: uk.bookshop.org/lists/out-to...
THE EDGE OF SOLITUDE – @katiescribbles.bsky.social
AVOIDANCE, DRUGS, HEARTBREAK & DOGS – Jordan Stephens
THE CREATIVE ACT – @rickrubin.bsky.social
ODDBODY – Rose Keating
These 4 wonders are out now in all good bookshops & online: uk.bookshop.org/lists/out-to...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Set in a time of acute climate crisis, The Edge of Solitude is a powerful story about the collision of ambition and principle and its devastating repercussions, set aboard a lone vessel bound south
'Beautifully written and exquisitely tense' C.J. COOKE
'A masterwork of vision and power' MANDA SCOTT
'Beautifully written and exquisitely tense' C.J. COOKE
'A masterwork of vision and power' MANDA SCOTT
July 3, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Set in a time of acute climate crisis, The Edge of Solitude is a powerful story about the collision of ambition and principle and its devastating repercussions, set aboard a lone vessel bound south
'Beautifully written and exquisitely tense' C.J. COOKE
'A masterwork of vision and power' MANDA SCOTT
'Beautifully written and exquisitely tense' C.J. COOKE
'A masterwork of vision and power' MANDA SCOTT
The Edge of Solitude is out in paperback today!!! 💫 Penguin the cat says you should grab your copy now, and hold on tight to this hot (ice-cold) commodity! ❄️
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
July 3, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The Edge of Solitude is out in paperback today!!! 💫 Penguin the cat says you should grab your copy now, and hold on tight to this hot (ice-cold) commodity! ❄️
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
(I know, we don’t iron our duvet covers. Life’s too short when there are books to be written & read.)
www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-...
Come join me for a book launch & quiz! There are prizes to be won, and a chance to celebrate the paperback launch of The Edge of Solitude!
Proceeds go to support the wonderful @antarcticheritage.bsky.social. It'd be lovely to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
Proceeds go to support the wonderful @antarcticheritage.bsky.social. It'd be lovely to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
June 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Come join me for a book launch & quiz! There are prizes to be won, and a chance to celebrate the paperback launch of The Edge of Solitude!
Proceeds go to support the wonderful @antarcticheritage.bsky.social. It'd be lovely to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
Proceeds go to support the wonderful @antarcticheritage.bsky.social. It'd be lovely to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
'It’s an important reminder that quality and integrity remain unmistakably human. In an era of machine-made content, those values are more crucial than ever.' 👇 #writers #amwriting #writingcommunity
An AI-related definition of the word ’slop’ has entered the Cambridge Dictionary for the first time, ’reflecting growing concerns about increasing amounts of low-quality content created by AI’ 👇 #BookSky
Cambridge Dictionary adds new definition for 'slop' to reflect 'low-quality content created by AI'
ebx.sh
June 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
'It’s an important reminder that quality and integrity remain unmistakably human. In an era of machine-made content, those values are more crucial than ever.' 👇 #writers #amwriting #writingcommunity
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data)
• about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
June 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data)
• about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Fancy £1000 or so for your writing? This week's Five Things Friday is fully to bursting with big-paying prizes & opportunities!
From @poetrylondon.bsky.social @frazzledlit.bsky.social and more!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
From @poetrylondon.bsky.social @frazzledlit.bsky.social and more!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 29
5 prizes & submission opportunities - worth thousands of pounds!
halekatie.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Fancy £1000 or so for your writing? This week's Five Things Friday is fully to bursting with big-paying prizes & opportunities!
From @poetrylondon.bsky.social @frazzledlit.bsky.social and more!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
From @poetrylondon.bsky.social @frazzledlit.bsky.social and more!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
On this very hot long summer day, a polar stack from our #IndieBookshopWeek guest bookseller @katiescribbles.bsky.social, who last night won the @societyofauthors.bsky.social Tom Gallon short story prize. Cool down with one of these polar novels, the last of her 3 piles of #RecommendedReads
June 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
On this very hot long summer day, a polar stack from our #IndieBookshopWeek guest bookseller @katiescribbles.bsky.social, who last night won the @societyofauthors.bsky.social Tom Gallon short story prize. Cool down with one of these polar novels, the last of her 3 piles of #RecommendedReads
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Book 23 of 2025: ‘My Phantoms’ by Gwendoline Riley.
What a sad and honest-feeling book. I felt for every single character.
What a sad and honest-feeling book. I felt for every single character.
June 18, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Book 23 of 2025: ‘My Phantoms’ by Gwendoline Riley.
What a sad and honest-feeling book. I felt for every single character.
What a sad and honest-feeling book. I felt for every single character.
I had the loveliest day on Saturday, cosplaying as a bookseller for the afternoon at @samreadbookseller.bsky.social, to celebrate #IndieBookshopWeek!
Chatted to some lovely people about my book, and met an excellent dog called Pretzel.
Chatted to some lovely people about my book, and met an excellent dog called Pretzel.
We thoroughly enjoyed training up Cumbrian novelist and poet @katiescribbles.bsky.social as an #IndieBookshopWeek guest bookseller today. She's left us some recommended reads which we'll share in the week, and some early signed copies of the paper of her brilliant 2nd novel #TheEdgeOfSolitude.
June 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I had the loveliest day on Saturday, cosplaying as a bookseller for the afternoon at @samreadbookseller.bsky.social, to celebrate #IndieBookshopWeek!
Chatted to some lovely people about my book, and met an excellent dog called Pretzel.
Chatted to some lovely people about my book, and met an excellent dog called Pretzel.
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Did you know #IndieBookshopWeek starts tomorrow? We're kicking off in style with a visit from Cumbrian poet and novelist @katiescribbles.bsky.social who will be moonlighting as a trainee bookseller for us from 2pm tomorrow, Saturday 14th. #ChooseBookshops #CumbriaCulture #BooksAreMyBag #ShopLocal
June 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Did you know #IndieBookshopWeek starts tomorrow? We're kicking off in style with a visit from Cumbrian poet and novelist @katiescribbles.bsky.social who will be moonlighting as a trainee bookseller for us from 2pm tomorrow, Saturday 14th. #ChooseBookshops #CumbriaCulture #BooksAreMyBag #ShopLocal
What’s that, you say? An online book launch? AND a quiz?? With prizes??? And pictures of penguins????
On 2nd July, help me send the paperback of The Edge of Solitude out into the world! (And maybe win a copy, too…?) Proceeds to @antarcticheritage.bsky.social.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
On 2nd July, help me send the paperback of The Edge of Solitude out into the world! (And maybe win a copy, too…?) Proceeds to @antarcticheritage.bsky.social.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
The Edge of Solitude: book launch & polar quiz!
Love books? Fascinated by Antarctica? Just think penguins are cute? If the answer to any of these is YES! then this event is for you!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM
What’s that, you say? An online book launch? AND a quiz?? With prizes??? And pictures of penguins????
On 2nd July, help me send the paperback of The Edge of Solitude out into the world! (And maybe win a copy, too…?) Proceeds to @antarcticheritage.bsky.social.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
On 2nd July, help me send the paperback of The Edge of Solitude out into the world! (And maybe win a copy, too…?) Proceeds to @antarcticheritage.bsky.social.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-edge-o...
Fancy a month writing in a hobbit pod? Or penning a story for Doctor Who? Or making a really cool zine?
Five more excellent writing opportunities in this little round-up. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five more excellent writing opportunities in this little round-up. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 27
Zines, TV & Doctor Who! - plus a residency in a hobbit pod
halekatie.substack.com
June 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Fancy a month writing in a hobbit pod? Or penning a story for Doctor Who? Or making a really cool zine?
Five more excellent writing opportunities in this little round-up. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five more excellent writing opportunities in this little round-up. Good luck!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Inspired by the behind-the-scenes photos @katiescribbles.bsky.social took of me taking photos of the newly arrived paperback of her brilliant novel #TheEdgeOfSolitude, I've written my 1st blog post in an era or two. pollyatkin.com/2025/06/01/o...
On books in the landscape
Some time in the mid twenty-teens, when twitter was still twitter, and still a place to make connections and jokes, my partner Will stepped out of the bookshop where he had been working part-time f…
pollyatkin.com
June 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Inspired by the behind-the-scenes photos @katiescribbles.bsky.social took of me taking photos of the newly arrived paperback of her brilliant novel #TheEdgeOfSolitude, I've written my 1st blog post in an era or two. pollyatkin.com/2025/06/01/o...
Fancy publication? Development opportunities? A really impressive-looking (and well-paid) fellowship? All here in this week's Five Things Friday!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 26
Publication, development - and an impressive looking fellowship!
halekatie.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Fancy publication? Development opportunities? A really impressive-looking (and well-paid) fellowship? All here in this week's Five Things Friday!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
I've been reading a lot of poems lately. Like, a lot a lot. Reading them, and judging them.
Here are some of my findings on what makes a poem more likely to be discarded - and some red flag words that could be indicators of deeper problems within a poem.
halekatie.substack.com/p/3-words-th...
Here are some of my findings on what makes a poem more likely to be discarded - and some red flag words that could be indicators of deeper problems within a poem.
halekatie.substack.com/p/3-words-th...
3 words that could be red flags for your poems
I’ve been sifting for a major poetry prize. Here are 3 words that often appear in poems that don’t make it to the shortlist.
halekatie.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
I've been reading a lot of poems lately. Like, a lot a lot. Reading them, and judging them.
Here are some of my findings on what makes a poem more likely to be discarded - and some red flag words that could be indicators of deeper problems within a poem.
halekatie.substack.com/p/3-words-th...
Here are some of my findings on what makes a poem more likely to be discarded - and some red flag words that could be indicators of deeper problems within a poem.
halekatie.substack.com/p/3-words-th...
Fancy some money for your writing? Or an awesome-looking fellowship with the British Library? Check out the latest Five Things Friday opportunities! halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 25
Prizes, publication & printing - including an incredibly cool-looking fellowship!
halekatie.substack.com
May 26, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Fancy some money for your writing? Or an awesome-looking fellowship with the British Library? Check out the latest Five Things Friday opportunities! halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Reposted by Katie Hale - writer
Book 21 of 2025: ‘Life Cycle of a Moth’ by Rowe Irvin.
A gorgeously tense & tender novel. If you enjoyed My Name is Monster, you’ll love this book! Out next month from @canongate.co.uk.
A gorgeously tense & tender novel. If you enjoyed My Name is Monster, you’ll love this book! Out next month from @canongate.co.uk.
May 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Book 21 of 2025: ‘Life Cycle of a Moth’ by Rowe Irvin.
A gorgeously tense & tender novel. If you enjoyed My Name is Monster, you’ll love this book! Out next month from @canongate.co.uk.
A gorgeously tense & tender novel. If you enjoyed My Name is Monster, you’ll love this book! Out next month from @canongate.co.uk.
The news is out, and I’m DELIGHTED to have been shortlisted for the #SoAwards Tom Gallon Trust Award for a short story!
What a total dream - and a what a shortlist to be on! 💫
@societyofauthors.bsky.social @canongate.co.uk
What a total dream - and a what a shortlist to be on! 💫
@societyofauthors.bsky.social @canongate.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The news is out, and I’m DELIGHTED to have been shortlisted for the #SoAwards Tom Gallon Trust Award for a short story!
What a total dream - and a what a shortlist to be on! 💫
@societyofauthors.bsky.social @canongate.co.uk
What a total dream - and a what a shortlist to be on! 💫
@societyofauthors.bsky.social @canongate.co.uk
Fancy a residency in Virginia? Or some money to work on your novel? Last week's Five Things Friday opportunities are now available to free subscribers!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five Things Friday: issue 24
Grants, international residencies - and opportunities for new voices
halekatie.substack.com
May 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Fancy a residency in Virginia? Or some money to work on your novel? Last week's Five Things Friday opportunities are now available to free subscribers!
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...
halekatie.substack.com/p/five-thing...