Mark Leggatt
@markleggattbskysoc.bsky.social
Writer, editor and freelance jute spinner.
I edit for Reedsy, Jericho Writers, The Writing Coach and Cornerstones. CIEP member.
Lochee for ever. You look smashing.
Pinned
If you love Edinburgh, its history, architecture and people, and are also attracted like a moth to a candle by corruption, crime and violent death, this one’s for you. And to quote a well-loved Christmas movie, “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal."
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Deep dive into the Unbound disaster
The Observer is on a bit of a roll with exposing publishing bullshit. I hope they dig further into Unbound and specifically who spent the author royalties.
Death of a publishing dream: how the Unbound revolution b...
The literary disrupters enjoyed great success with their crowdfunding model, signing authors that other publishers overlooked. And then the money ran out…
share.google
August 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Deep dive into the Unbound disaster
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Now there's a headstone full of life's adventures...
A tombstone in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, photographed by Andy Darby.
Note the border inscription.
Note the border inscription.
August 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Now there's a headstone full of life's adventures...
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Two weeks to go before we cast off the bowlines!
The 5th #JonasFlynt #adventure #thriller sets sail on August 21 in #hardback & #ebooks
@canelobooks.bsky.social
@belllomaxmoreton.bsky.social
The 5th #JonasFlynt #adventure #thriller sets sail on August 21 in #hardback & #ebooks
@canelobooks.bsky.social
@belllomaxmoreton.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Two weeks to go before we cast off the bowlines!
The 5th #JonasFlynt #adventure #thriller sets sail on August 21 in #hardback & #ebooks
@canelobooks.bsky.social
@belllomaxmoreton.bsky.social
The 5th #JonasFlynt #adventure #thriller sets sail on August 21 in #hardback & #ebooks
@canelobooks.bsky.social
@belllomaxmoreton.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
That’s a wrap on The Good Father book tour. I may go for a wee lie down. Thanks to everyone who came along…💙📚
August 8, 2025 at 1:26 AM
That’s a wrap on The Good Father book tour. I may go for a wee lie down. Thanks to everyone who came along…💙📚
I'm going to the kitchen, would anyone like a cup of tea?
August 9, 2025 at 8:50 AM
I'm going to the kitchen, would anyone like a cup of tea?
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Look at the splendid line up of new and emerging authors who'll be battling their nerves as they take to the stage in front of our headlining Albert Halls crowds in this year's Crime in the Spotlight slots! Full line up here bloodyscotland.com/crime-in-the...
Crime in the Spotlight 2025 - Bloody Scotland
The authors have been announced for our Crime in the Spotlight slots this year. Come and hear from this marvellous […]
bloodyscotland.com
August 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Look at the splendid line up of new and emerging authors who'll be battling their nerves as they take to the stage in front of our headlining Albert Halls crowds in this year's Crime in the Spotlight slots! Full line up here bloodyscotland.com/crime-in-the...
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
The Scottish ballads are one of the wellsprings of Tartan Noir. They loom large in my own new novel, The Good Father. I wrote about them for Shots Magazine…💙📚
The Steel and Bite of the Ballads by LIAM McILVANNEY
www.shotsmag.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The Scottish ballads are one of the wellsprings of Tartan Noir. They loom large in my own new novel, The Good Father. I wrote about them for Shots Magazine…💙📚
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
New #WriterBeware blog post: Publisher bankruptcies are terrible for authors. The recent implosion of Unbound (now Boundless Publishing) is especially awful, w/ over 200 authors owed thousands; but the less high-profile failure of Albert Whitman is pretty bad too writerbeware.blog/2025/06/06/b...
Bankruptcies of Unbound and Albert Whitman & Co Put Authors Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Writer Beware
A Hellacious Mess: Unbound Established in 2011, UK-based crowdfunded publisher Unbound styled itself the Kickstarter for books and was widely heralded as the next big idea in publishing. Heady words l...
writerbeware.blog
June 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: Publisher bankruptcies are terrible for authors. The recent implosion of Unbound (now Boundless Publishing) is especially awful, w/ over 200 authors owed thousands; but the less high-profile failure of Albert Whitman is pretty bad too writerbeware.blog/2025/06/06/b...
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Thank you so much, @portybelle.bsky.social!
Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Uncharted Island by Olga Wojtas | #bookreview | @sarabandbooks @olgawojtas.bsky.social @saraband-books.bsky.social
I always look forward to the publication of a new book in Olga Wojtas's wonderful Miss Blaine's Prefect series and this latest book did not disappoint.…
I always look forward to the publication of a new book in Olga Wojtas's wonderful Miss Blaine's Prefect series and this latest book did not disappoint.…
Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Uncharted Island by Olga Wojtas | #bookreview | @sarabandbooks @olgawojtas.bsky.social @saraband-books.bsky.social
I always look forward to the publication of a new book in Olga Wojtas's wonderful Miss Blaine's Prefect series and this latest book did not disappoint. This time, Shona finds herself on the uncharted island of the title and as usual has no idea why Miss Blaine has sent her there or what she has been sent to do. If you haven't come across Shona before what you need to know is that she is a time-travelling librarian who works at Morningside library here in Edinburgh.
portobellobookblog.com
June 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Thank you so much, @portybelle.bsky.social!
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
📢 Tickets are NOW LIVE for #Cymera2025 events—such as panels, workshops, agent one-to-ones, live performances and more 📢
There are a variety of in-person and digital events to choose from, plus livestream tickets for our in-person panels: www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-eve...
There are a variety of in-person and digital events to choose from, plus livestream tickets for our in-person panels: www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-eve...
April 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
📢 Tickets are NOW LIVE for #Cymera2025 events—such as panels, workshops, agent one-to-ones, live performances and more 📢
There are a variety of in-person and digital events to choose from, plus livestream tickets for our in-person panels: www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-eve...
There are a variety of in-person and digital events to choose from, plus livestream tickets for our in-person panels: www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-eve...
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Drum roll, please! We have five outstanding novels shortlisted for this year's Debut Prize - Congratulations to @davegoodman.bsky.social @nataliejayneclark.bsky.social Foday Mannah @byclairewilson.bsky.social and @richardstrachan.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Drum roll, please! We have five outstanding novels shortlisted for this year's Debut Prize - Congratulations to @davegoodman.bsky.social @nataliejayneclark.bsky.social Foday Mannah @byclairewilson.bsky.social and @richardstrachan.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Crying
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you 🤩
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you 🤩
Drum roll, please! We have five outstanding novels shortlisted for this year's Debut Prize - Congratulations to @davegoodman.bsky.social @nataliejayneclark.bsky.social Foday Mannah @byclairewilson.bsky.social and @richardstrachan.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Crying
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you 🤩
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you 🤩
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
If you are a Westminster-based analyst who has paid no heed to Scotland since 2014, please, I beseech you, there is no need to change that pattern today.
June 6, 2025 at 7:08 AM
If you are a Westminster-based analyst who has paid no heed to Scotland since 2014, please, I beseech you, there is no need to change that pattern today.
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
As someone who has been tracking, writing about, nerding out about publishing news for over 15 years, I can't think of a worse scandal especially in terms of the money owed to authors.
And, if the theft from staff pensions proves to be true, then fuck me, this is truly a massive scandal.
And, if the theft from staff pensions proves to be true, then fuck me, this is truly a massive scandal.
Thing is, it feels on Bluesky like EVERYONE knows about this Unbound scandal now. But they don't. In the grand scheme of things - the grand scheme of UK book lovers, even - what this publisher has done to its authors is still relatively little-known. Coverage like this is an important step.
I was invited onto BBC Radio 4's You And Yours today to talk about Unbound, who owe me and their other authors around £650,000 in total, which is not even taking into account the readers they have refused to refund. You can listen to it here (begins around 19 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
June 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
As someone who has been tracking, writing about, nerding out about publishing news for over 15 years, I can't think of a worse scandal especially in terms of the money owed to authors.
And, if the theft from staff pensions proves to be true, then fuck me, this is truly a massive scandal.
And, if the theft from staff pensions proves to be true, then fuck me, this is truly a massive scandal.
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Don't forget—the #Cymera25 Charity Auction is still live! 🤩
Bids will close on Fri 6 Jun at 11am BST. All funds raised will go toward supporting Cymera: www.32auctions.com/organization...
Bids will close on Fri 6 Jun at 11am BST. All funds raised will go toward supporting Cymera: www.32auctions.com/organization...
June 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Don't forget—the #Cymera25 Charity Auction is still live! 🤩
Bids will close on Fri 6 Jun at 11am BST. All funds raised will go toward supporting Cymera: www.32auctions.com/organization...
Bids will close on Fri 6 Jun at 11am BST. All funds raised will go toward supporting Cymera: www.32auctions.com/organization...
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Freelance work is slow at the mo, so a reminder that I'm available for all sorts of typesetting, ebook creation and general publishing/production assistance for those self-publishing & general publishers.
Services: www.lauraflojo.com
via Reedsy (though I prefer direct!): reedsy.com/jones-laura
🙏
Services: www.lauraflojo.com
via Reedsy (though I prefer direct!): reedsy.com/jones-laura
🙏
May 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Freelance work is slow at the mo, so a reminder that I'm available for all sorts of typesetting, ebook creation and general publishing/production assistance for those self-publishing & general publishers.
Services: www.lauraflojo.com
via Reedsy (though I prefer direct!): reedsy.com/jones-laura
🙏
Services: www.lauraflojo.com
via Reedsy (though I prefer direct!): reedsy.com/jones-laura
🙏
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
And now #thefridaygirl has cracked the top 100 overall! Can we keep it going? Come on, folks! Let's go! #booksky #scottishcrime @bwpublishing.bsky.social #kindledailydeal
May 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
And now #thefridaygirl has cracked the top 100 overall! Can we keep it going? Come on, folks! Let's go! #booksky #scottishcrime @bwpublishing.bsky.social #kindledailydeal
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
#Edinburgh peeps - @ifecosse.bsky.social & La Belle Adventure (Franco-Scottish comics shop on Leith Walk) are holding the Auld Alliance Comics Festival in July, celebrating Scottish & French creators www.ifecosse.org.uk/events-agend...
#Ecosse #Scotland #France #comics #BandeDessinee #Edimbourg
#Ecosse #Scotland #France #comics #BandeDessinee #Edimbourg
Auld Alliance Comics Festival - Institut français · Écosse
Join us for a vibrant weekend celebrating the rich worlds of French and Scottish comics! Discover incredible graphic novels, meet talented authors and illustrators from both countries, attend live dra...
www.ifecosse.org.uk
May 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
#Edinburgh peeps - @ifecosse.bsky.social & La Belle Adventure (Franco-Scottish comics shop on Leith Walk) are holding the Auld Alliance Comics Festival in July, celebrating Scottish & French creators www.ifecosse.org.uk/events-agend...
#Ecosse #Scotland #France #comics #BandeDessinee #Edimbourg
#Ecosse #Scotland #France #comics #BandeDessinee #Edimbourg
THE COLONY, by Daniel Pollock. Five stars, and will be one of my books of the year.
The story of the Darien Scheme, superbly told in a thrilling ride through a part of Scotland's shadowy, shameful history.
Five stars, a cracking read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Colony-Danie...
The story of the Darien Scheme, superbly told in a thrilling ride through a part of Scotland's shadowy, shameful history.
Five stars, a cracking read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Colony-Danie...
The Colony : Pollock, Daniel: Amazon.co.uk: Books
The Colony : Pollock, Daniel: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
THE COLONY, by Daniel Pollock. Five stars, and will be one of my books of the year.
The story of the Darien Scheme, superbly told in a thrilling ride through a part of Scotland's shadowy, shameful history.
Five stars, a cracking read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Colony-Danie...
The story of the Darien Scheme, superbly told in a thrilling ride through a part of Scotland's shadowy, shameful history.
Five stars, a cracking read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Colony-Danie...
According to that great British newspaper @theguardian.com nothing has happened in Scotland for five days. Nothing.
May 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
According to that great British newspaper @theguardian.com nothing has happened in Scotland for five days. Nothing.
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Nice to see Muriel taking an interest in fire safety.
May 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Nice to see Muriel taking an interest in fire safety.
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical "Rerum Novarum" (On Capital and Labour)
May 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical "Rerum Novarum" (On Capital and Labour)
The marketing money spent by the Big 5 on sponsoring panels at literary festivals to showcase their authors, a vital earner for those festivals, will diminish due to said budget being diverted to influencer campaigns, pop-ups, blog tours and social media events.
Discuss.
Discuss.
May 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The marketing money spent by the Big 5 on sponsoring panels at literary festivals to showcase their authors, a vital earner for those festivals, will diminish due to said budget being diverted to influencer campaigns, pop-ups, blog tours and social media events.
Discuss.
Discuss.
Reposted by Mark Leggatt
Hit wis da swans, dat’s whit it wis.
Dat’s whit set da day apairt…
—Maxine Rose Munro, “A fine day”
published in NEW SHETLANDER #295, 2021
#Scots #poem #Shetland #Shetlandic
Listen to Maxine read the poem here, via @byleaveswelive.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/scottishpoet...
Dat’s whit set da day apairt…
—Maxine Rose Munro, “A fine day”
published in NEW SHETLANDER #295, 2021
#Scots #poem #Shetland #Shetlandic
Listen to Maxine read the poem here, via @byleaveswelive.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/scottishpoet...
May 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Hit wis da swans, dat’s whit it wis.
Dat’s whit set da day apairt…
—Maxine Rose Munro, “A fine day”
published in NEW SHETLANDER #295, 2021
#Scots #poem #Shetland #Shetlandic
Listen to Maxine read the poem here, via @byleaveswelive.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/scottishpoet...
Dat’s whit set da day apairt…
—Maxine Rose Munro, “A fine day”
published in NEW SHETLANDER #295, 2021
#Scots #poem #Shetland #Shetlandic
Listen to Maxine read the poem here, via @byleaveswelive.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/scottishpoet...