Matilda Battersby
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matildabattersby.bsky.social
Matilda Battersby
@matildabattersby.bsky.social
Writer and journalist. Former arts editor at The Independent, and editor of Popshot Quarterly. The Bookseller sometimes
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
We love a bargain! However as gran used to say: "It's not a bargain f you don't want (or need) it."
So even at £29 off and bargain basement price, we shall pass.
January 1, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
I've gotten at least a dozen since last week, and that's just the paid promoters. Tons of people looking to make AI partnerships that stink of scam as well. Keep cautious out there, folks!
December 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
I know a writer who was targeted by several of these scammers....she had a bit of fun with them.

alinaa.substack.com/p/the-book-m...
The Book Marketing Scammer Who Accused Me Of Scamming Him!
A Literal Literary Loser is Accused
alinaa.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Jane Austen receiving an AI email offering to increase Pride and Prejudice's reach is top tier
December 22, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
This year has seen a raft of 'audio-first' acquisitions, suggesting audio is 'no longer the afterthought' it once was 👇
Audio 'no longer an afterthought' as publishers snap up raft of audio-first acquisitions
ebx.sh
December 19, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Moody vibes in Herts today
October 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Another kickass Bookseller piece from my friend @matildabattersby.bsky.social, as a UK follow-up to the equally excellent 'The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem' in The Walrus!

www.thebookseller.com/features/tra...
Tracks of my tears: where does the fault lie when books fail to hit?
Sales data metrics are useful tools to place books in the market, but when a title does not meet expectations, why do authors take most of the blame?
www.thebookseller.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Digital-first publishers and self-published authors have told The Bookseller that book sales have been negatively impacted with “increased volatility in visibility” as a result of algorithm changes to the Amazon marketplace platform 👇 #BookSky
Amazon algorithm changes have led to ‘volatility in visibility’, warn indie authors
ebx.sh
October 15, 2025 at 9:01 AM
I'm doing a reaction piece for @thebookseller.com to this excellent article thewalrus.ca/the-publishi... which suggests authors are unfairly blamed for their sales "track" -- if you want to share experiences, please email me at matildabattersby@gmail.com
The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus
Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it
thewalrus.ca
September 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
So delighted to have won the Shortlist Prize 2025 @firstnovelprize.bsky.social! A huge thank you to the amazing judges and The Literary Studio!📚🎉📚🎉
✨ The wait is over ✨
The First Novel Prize 2025 winners have been announced! 🎉

Lots of ambition and originality in this year's entries. Our judges, Imogen Nelson & @rachelneely.bsky.social, had the tough task of choosing.

See who won 👇
www.firstnovel.co.uk/first-novel-...

#WritingCommunity
September 15, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Not such a helpful editorial assistant today
September 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Anyone else on here whose kid started secondary school for the first time today? I can’t seem to do any work or focus at all wondering how he’s getting on. It was funny sending him off dressed like a tiny banker, having taken half an hour to make his hair lie flat #bigschool #firstday
September 2, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Iiiinteresting. Bloomsbury publishing wants to push for licensing agreements with generative AI companies to use published works for training AI. They are offering their authors opt-IN, as well as 20% of their current royalties. (I still wouldn’t be able to buy a copy of my own book.) #academicsky
August 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in 👇
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in.
ebx.sh
August 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Latest from me for @thebookseller.com >>
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in.
www.thebookseller.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Not a surprising turn of events but still very sad for the Unbound/ Neem Tree authors and the remaining unpaid Unbound creditors. Report by Melina Spanoudi for @thebookseller.com
www.thebookseller.com/news/unbound...
Unbound successor Boundless 'goes into administration' after months of financial uncertainty
Boundless – the publishing company formed after its predecessor Unbound went into administration in March this year – along with its imprint Neem Tree Press have entered administration and ceased trad...
www.thebookseller.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Never enough
July 29, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
Wouldn't like to be in their choux
July 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how the couple behind a bestseller le...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal it was far from the truth
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM