Sam Missingham
@samatlounge.bsky.social
Publishing commentator. Founder of Meet The Booktokers, As Seen On Booktok, and The Empowered Author. Trying to disrupt book publishing for 15+ years. Not easy.
Pinned
The largest, most technologically advanced companies in the world NEED quality content to feed their machines. They have also explicitly said they'd like to crush IP laws.
And, given what I've just said about Amazon.
Do you think big 5 publishers are going to come out on top?
And, given what I've just said about Amazon.
Do you think big 5 publishers are going to come out on top?
I’m trying to do some maths for a thing and shit, my brain has slowed down A LOT.
spongebob has a rainbow on his head and the word maths is on the bottom of his face .
ALT: spongebob has a rainbow on his head and the word maths is on the bottom of his face .
media.tenor.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
I’m trying to do some maths for a thing and shit, my brain has slowed down A LOT.
2026 should be the the year of building your own platform, not sure how often we have to see the platforms we rely on ruined, taken over by fascists, allowed to run with zero moderation, and charging us to reach the audiences we have built over the years with our creativity and toil.
January 3, 2026 at 6:14 AM
2026 should be the the year of building your own platform, not sure how often we have to see the platforms we rely on ruined, taken over by fascists, allowed to run with zero moderation, and charging us to reach the audiences we have built over the years with our creativity and toil.
Reposted by Sam Missingham
You should leave Substack in 2026, because they platform fascists regularly, but even before that I am *begging* you to stop referring to your writing as "my Substack" because why give them that agency. It's your writing, your posts, your words, on their platform.
January 3, 2026 at 3:54 AM
You should leave Substack in 2026, because they platform fascists regularly, but even before that I am *begging* you to stop referring to your writing as "my Substack" because why give them that agency. It's your writing, your posts, your words, on their platform.
And yes, illegal. I hope the potential ramifications of this will make tech companies reflect. Doubt it though.
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 8:39 AM
And yes, illegal. I hope the potential ramifications of this will make tech companies reflect. Doubt it though.
Just reading about the Grok image controversy and the fact AI is being used to create sexualised images and video of real women and especially children is yet another reminder that if tech can be used for nefarious reasons it surely will be. A disgrace.
January 2, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Just reading about the Grok image controversy and the fact AI is being used to create sexualised images and video of real women and especially children is yet another reminder that if tech can be used for nefarious reasons it surely will be. A disgrace.
Reminder for dry January folk 👇
I can see a lot of people are already talking about dry January, it's a good time to reflect on how much of yours (and everyone in the UK's) life is based around alcohol/pubs.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
January 2, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Reminder for dry January folk 👇
Morning all. Woke up crazy early and it was snowing. Always feels quite exciting, doesn’t it?
a reindeer from frozen is sticking its tongue out and says ooh snow .
ALT: a reindeer from frozen is sticking its tongue out and says ooh snow .
media.tenor.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Morning all. Woke up crazy early and it was snowing. Always feels quite exciting, doesn’t it?
It’s 1pm on the first day of the year and I’ve already annoyed strangers on the internet.
a little girl in a red jacket is looking up at something in the sky .
ALT: a little girl in a red jacket is looking up at something in the sky .
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:03 PM
It’s 1pm on the first day of the year and I’ve already annoyed strangers on the internet.
The Mamdani swearing in has real Gotham City vibes. Love it.
January 1, 2026 at 7:22 AM
The Mamdani swearing in has real Gotham City vibes. Love it.
Happy New Year everyone, still wishing for a free and just world where everyone gets to live with dignity. ✌️❤️
December 31, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Happy New Year everyone, still wishing for a free and just world where everyone gets to live with dignity. ✌️❤️
We don't talk about this upside enough, especially given how insanely expensive it is to buy alcohol. Onwards x
I found that I suddenly had a whole lot more money to spend, which I could then pile into new hobbies and passions, travelling, and the like.
I still have the occasional drink, but it's perhaps once or twice a year max. Saved so much money though.
I still have the occasional drink, but it's perhaps once or twice a year max. Saved so much money though.
December 31, 2025 at 8:27 AM
We don't talk about this upside enough, especially given how insanely expensive it is to buy alcohol. Onwards x
I can see a lot of people are already talking about dry January, it's a good time to reflect on how much of yours (and everyone in the UK's) life is based around alcohol/pubs.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
December 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM
I can see a lot of people are already talking about dry January, it's a good time to reflect on how much of yours (and everyone in the UK's) life is based around alcohol/pubs.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
One of the hardest things about going sober in the UK is working out WTF to do with your time.
Reposted by Sam Missingham
Calls to strip pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah of his British citizenship pile torment on top of torture.
New piece by me on a dangerous and manufactured storm:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
New piece by me on a dangerous and manufactured storm:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s tweets were wrong, but he is no ‘anti-white Islamist’. Why does the British right want you to believe he is? | Naomi Klein
I have no interest in defending his social media posts, but calls to strip the newly freed activist of British citizenship pile torment on top of torture, says Naomi Klein, Guardian US columnist and c...
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Calls to strip pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah of his British citizenship pile torment on top of torture.
New piece by me on a dangerous and manufactured storm:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
New piece by me on a dangerous and manufactured storm:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Yawn
Author Richard Osman, Pan Macmillan CEO Joanna Prior and author and founder of the Business Book Awards Lucy McCarraher are among those named on the 2026 New Year Honours list.
👉https://www.thebookseller.com/news/richard-osman-and-joanna-prior-awarded-obes-in-2026-new-year-honours
👉https://www.thebookseller.com/news/richard-osman-and-joanna-prior-awarded-obes-in-2026-new-year-honours
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Yawn
Reposted by Sam Missingham
Happily Waterstones withdrew their plans after the widespread negative response to the news.
bsky.app/profile/argo...
bsky.app/profile/argo...
Thank you all, the update than we can barely believe we get to make.
To everyone who supported us through this last month, we couldn’t have even come close to this outcome without you all.
Have a peaceful festive period, we’ll see you in the bookshop soon 🧡
To everyone who supported us through this last month, we couldn’t have even come close to this outcome without you all.
Have a peaceful festive period, we’ll see you in the bookshop soon 🧡
December 30, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Happily Waterstones withdrew their plans after the widespread negative response to the news.
bsky.app/profile/argo...
bsky.app/profile/argo...
Not cool, have you told @thebookseller.com about this?
Please share this as widely as you can, tag your local indies too, and help us get the word about about this news.
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
December 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Not cool, have you told @thebookseller.com about this?
Watched the new Knives Out film yesterday, well actually slept for an hour of it and still found it insanely drawn out and a bit shit. Idea: instead of making one 2.5 hr film, make two shorter ones.
December 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Watched the new Knives Out film yesterday, well actually slept for an hour of it and still found it insanely drawn out and a bit shit. Idea: instead of making one 2.5 hr film, make two shorter ones.
Happy Christmas beautiful people, wishing you all a lovely day and better times for everyone in 2026. ✌️🙏🤩
December 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Happy Christmas beautiful people, wishing you all a lovely day and better times for everyone in 2026. ✌️🙏🤩
Polite reminder: if you’ve had a good year (and thankfully I have) don’t forget to share your blessings. 🙏
December 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Polite reminder: if you’ve had a good year (and thankfully I have) don’t forget to share your blessings. 🙏
When is the world (the West) going to finally admit the truth that Israel is committing a genocide and then stop them?
Irrespective of all of the evidence right in front of us, their government admits it daily.
The gaslighting, lies and complicity MUST stop.
Irrespective of all of the evidence right in front of us, their government admits it daily.
The gaslighting, lies and complicity MUST stop.
December 23, 2025 at 12:17 PM
When is the world (the West) going to finally admit the truth that Israel is committing a genocide and then stop them?
Irrespective of all of the evidence right in front of us, their government admits it daily.
The gaslighting, lies and complicity MUST stop.
Irrespective of all of the evidence right in front of us, their government admits it daily.
The gaslighting, lies and complicity MUST stop.
London is great over Christmas - loads of people have left, so all a bit less hectic. Happy Days.
December 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
London is great over Christmas - loads of people have left, so all a bit less hectic. Happy Days.
Sorry, but it fucking annoys me when I see a puff piece from a big 5 publisher talking about being 'author-centric' and guaranteeing AI will only be used for the good of authors etc.
It's bullshit.
It's bullshit.
December 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Sorry, but it fucking annoys me when I see a puff piece from a big 5 publisher talking about being 'author-centric' and guaranteeing AI will only be used for the good of authors etc.
It's bullshit.
It's bullshit.
Reposted by Sam Missingham
Devil in the detail made flesh.
Hachette says against "the creative work of a human author, designer, illustrator, translator or photographer" being replaced by AI but is open to AI in everything else. I want human marketing and sales. I want to know my book is assessed by humans.
Hachette says against "the creative work of a human author, designer, illustrator, translator or photographer" being replaced by AI but is open to AI in everything else. I want human marketing and sales. I want to know my book is assessed by humans.
December 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Devil in the detail made flesh.
Hachette says against "the creative work of a human author, designer, illustrator, translator or photographer" being replaced by AI but is open to AI in everything else. I want human marketing and sales. I want to know my book is assessed by humans.
Hachette says against "the creative work of a human author, designer, illustrator, translator or photographer" being replaced by AI but is open to AI in everything else. I want human marketing and sales. I want to know my book is assessed by humans.
Just read this - 'We are committed to navigating this period of change not with fear, but with a clear, author-centric strategy.' Sara Lloyd, Head of AI, PanMac
Out of curiosity, have any PanMac authors had their AI strategy or plans explained to them?
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
Out of curiosity, have any PanMac authors had their AI strategy or plans explained to them?
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
An open letter: upholding human creativity in the age of AI
Clementine Collett’s report, 'The impact of Generative AI on the novel', demands a response.
www.thebookseller.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Just read this - 'We are committed to navigating this period of change not with fear, but with a clear, author-centric strategy.' Sara Lloyd, Head of AI, PanMac
Out of curiosity, have any PanMac authors had their AI strategy or plans explained to them?
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
Out of curiosity, have any PanMac authors had their AI strategy or plans explained to them?
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...