S J Baker
@sjbakerauthor.bsky.social
Writer, book lover, storyteller, English teacher, author with Neem Tree Press
I was pleased to be asked to write an article for the Prep School Magazine - and have just received the latest issue with my article in it! The full magazine (complete with my contribution on page 35) can be found at heyzine.com/flip-book/PS...
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I was pleased to be asked to write an article for the Prep School Magazine - and have just received the latest issue with my article in it! The full magazine (complete with my contribution on page 35) can be found at heyzine.com/flip-book/PS...
Reposted by S J Baker
I'm in @thebookseller.com today talking about how we can get more young people interested in publishing and writing careers.
Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...
Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...
September 19, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I'm in @thebookseller.com today talking about how we can get more young people interested in publishing and writing careers.
Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...
Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...
Honoured to have taken part in this Northern Voices podcast with 6 of my students, discussing 'Calm', Beta reading and how young people in Hull feel about stereotypes of northerners and access to writing and publishing opportunities. With @jenbowden12.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...
Episode 93: Susan (S.J.) Baker with Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia
This week's episode is something a little different, because as well as YA author Susan (S.J.) Baker, I'm also joined by six of her students – Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia. We discuss ho
soundcloud.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Honoured to have taken part in this Northern Voices podcast with 6 of my students, discussing 'Calm', Beta reading and how young people in Hull feel about stereotypes of northerners and access to writing and publishing opportunities. With @jenbowden12.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...
Sad news in the last couple of weeks that Neem Tree Press has gone under. Like other NTP and Unbound authors, I'm now looking for new representation/publication - with the sequel to 'Calm' ready to go. #unbound #boundless #neemtreepress #yadystopia #authorlife
August 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Sad news in the last couple of weeks that Neem Tree Press has gone under. Like other NTP and Unbound authors, I'm now looking for new representation/publication - with the sequel to 'Calm' ready to go. #unbound #boundless #neemtreepress #yadystopia #authorlife
Almost lost for words. It's the time of year when we say goodbye to Year 11 students - and one of them turned up at my door this morning with this cake! I confess that tears were shed. #teacherjoys #yadystopia #authorjoys #neemtreepress
June 17, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Almost lost for words. It's the time of year when we say goodbye to Year 11 students - and one of them turned up at my door this morning with this cake! I confess that tears were shed. #teacherjoys #yadystopia #authorjoys #neemtreepress
This from a teacher who's reading 'Calm' with her class, discussing the novel's premise (all passion suppressed by a drug in the water). Writing dystopias these days feels very relevant: what happens when we suppress all compassion, all empathy? Go Student 2!
#neemtreepress #yadystopias #authorlife
#neemtreepress #yadystopias #authorlife
June 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
This from a teacher who's reading 'Calm' with her class, discussing the novel's premise (all passion suppressed by a drug in the water). Writing dystopias these days feels very relevant: what happens when we suppress all compassion, all empathy? Go Student 2!
#neemtreepress #yadystopias #authorlife
#neemtreepress #yadystopias #authorlife
Reposted by S J Baker
Calm - @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social's dystopian YA thriller - is back in stock!
'A gripping examination of our human need to feel' - Kirkus starred review
Available in paperback from Macmillan (MDL) or your usual supplier (PB 9781911107934)
#Calm #YAbook #YAfiction #dystopianYA
'A gripping examination of our human need to feel' - Kirkus starred review
Available in paperback from Macmillan (MDL) or your usual supplier (PB 9781911107934)
#Calm #YAbook #YAfiction #dystopianYA
May 19, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Calm - @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social's dystopian YA thriller - is back in stock!
'A gripping examination of our human need to feel' - Kirkus starred review
Available in paperback from Macmillan (MDL) or your usual supplier (PB 9781911107934)
#Calm #YAbook #YAfiction #dystopianYA
'A gripping examination of our human need to feel' - Kirkus starred review
Available in paperback from Macmillan (MDL) or your usual supplier (PB 9781911107934)
#Calm #YAbook #YAfiction #dystopianYA
Very random, but I find myself singing the first line of a certain song every time I log on to this app... Though I can't match the inimitable Ella!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAa4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAa4...
Blue Skies
YouTube video by Ella Fitzgerald - Topic
www.youtube.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Very random, but I find myself singing the first line of a certain song every time I log on to this app... Though I can't match the inimitable Ella!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAa4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAa4...
'Loveliest of trees, the cherry now/Is hung with blooms on every bough...' Springtime in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and it's gorgeous! #springtime #poetry #naturalworld #blueskypoetry
April 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
'Loveliest of trees, the cherry now/Is hung with blooms on every bough...' Springtime in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and it's gorgeous! #springtime #poetry #naturalworld #blueskypoetry
Just read 'Small Bomb at Dimperley' and absolutely loved it. It was a Christmas present and it definitely goes on the 'will read this again' pile - it's humane, humorous, engaging, beautifully observed, convincing and moving. Highly recommended - I'll be hunting down more of her books!
April 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Just read 'Small Bomb at Dimperley' and absolutely loved it. It was a Christmas present and it definitely goes on the 'will read this again' pile - it's humane, humorous, engaging, beautifully observed, convincing and moving. Highly recommended - I'll be hunting down more of her books!
Celebrating the US and Rest of the World launch of 'Calm' today! #neemtreepress #boundlesspublishing #booksky #blueskybooks #authormilestones #yadystopia #readingmatters
April 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Celebrating the US and Rest of the World launch of 'Calm' today! #neemtreepress #boundlesspublishing #booksky #blueskybooks #authormilestones #yadystopia #readingmatters
'Calm' is published in the US and Rest of the World tomorrow: "A gripping examination of our human need to feel" (Kirkus Review).
#Booksky #authorlife #yadystopia #Blueskybooks #author #booklaunch
#Booksky #authorlife #yadystopia #Blueskybooks #author #booklaunch
April 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
'Calm' is published in the US and Rest of the World tomorrow: "A gripping examination of our human need to feel" (Kirkus Review).
#Booksky #authorlife #yadystopia #Blueskybooks #author #booklaunch
#Booksky #authorlife #yadystopia #Blueskybooks #author #booklaunch
'Calm' has its US and RoW launch on 22/04.
"Whilst aware of the danger of naïve idealism, I wanted to assert that – though evil exists and seems to flourish – people can retain compassion and humanity; they can make selfless choices; they can fight for what is right and good and true." (Author blog)
"Whilst aware of the danger of naïve idealism, I wanted to assert that – though evil exists and seems to flourish – people can retain compassion and humanity; they can make selfless choices; they can fight for what is right and good and true." (Author blog)
April 18, 2025 at 10:50 AM
'Calm' has its US and RoW launch on 22/04.
"Whilst aware of the danger of naïve idealism, I wanted to assert that – though evil exists and seems to flourish – people can retain compassion and humanity; they can make selfless choices; they can fight for what is right and good and true." (Author blog)
"Whilst aware of the danger of naïve idealism, I wanted to assert that – though evil exists and seems to flourish – people can retain compassion and humanity; they can make selfless choices; they can fight for what is right and good and true." (Author blog)
A real thrill to see this today - as a debut author, it still amazes me that my book is out there! #ya #dystopia #booksky #authorlife
Saturday - chill day. Found the perfect reading spot and here with the teen. Currently reading #ya Calm @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social @neemtreepress.bsky.social (“no spoilers mum”)
April 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
A real thrill to see this today - as a debut author, it still amazes me that my book is out there! #ya #dystopia #booksky #authorlife
'Calm' has made it to the local Oxfam bookshop! Somewhat bizarrely, it's labelled as 'History' - I know the world has a dystopian feel just now, but I don't think 'Calm' has become reality yet... #authormilestone #blueskybooks #yafiction #oxfambookshops #oxfam #yadystopia #booksky
April 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
'Calm' has made it to the local Oxfam bookshop! Somewhat bizarrely, it's labelled as 'History' - I know the world has a dystopian feel just now, but I don't think 'Calm' has become reality yet... #authormilestone #blueskybooks #yafiction #oxfambookshops #oxfam #yadystopia #booksky
On Friday I stood in the school where I had been a student in the 1970s and talked with current students about my novel. I wonder what the teenage me, secretly nurturing an ambition to write, would have thought?
#booksky #yafiction #schoollibraries #authorvisits #yadystopia #authorlife
#booksky #yafiction #schoollibraries #authorvisits #yadystopia #authorlife
March 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
On Friday I stood in the school where I had been a student in the 1970s and talked with current students about my novel. I wonder what the teenage me, secretly nurturing an ambition to write, would have thought?
#booksky #yafiction #schoollibraries #authorvisits #yadystopia #authorlife
#booksky #yafiction #schoollibraries #authorvisits #yadystopia #authorlife
Delighted to have been asked to write a blog for New2theScene, a website that supports new authors! www.new2thescene.co.uk/blog/s-j-bak...
S.J. Baker: YA novel
Author S.J. Baker tells of her origins. S.J. Baker journey to being an author. Becoming a first time author. How to write your first novel with S.J. Baker.
www.new2thescene.co.uk
March 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Delighted to have been asked to write a blog for New2theScene, a website that supports new authors! www.new2thescene.co.uk/blog/s-j-bak...
We teach this each year to our GCSE students. For some reason, it has been on my mind in recent days.
March 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
We teach this each year to our GCSE students. For some reason, it has been on my mind in recent days.
As a book-loving child growing up in Kent, a trip to London was a rare treat - and if I was lucky, we went to Foyles Bookshop - the biggest bookshop I'd ever seen. I could never have dreamt that half a century later, my son would find my own book on sale there. My heart is full!
February 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
As a book-loving child growing up in Kent, a trip to London was a rare treat - and if I was lucky, we went to Foyles Bookshop - the biggest bookshop I'd ever seen. I could never have dreamt that half a century later, my son would find my own book on sale there. My heart is full!
Delighted and somewhat reeling to learn that 'Calm' has been awarded a coveted Kirkus Star prior to its release in the US: #unbound #neemtreepress #yafiction #dystopia #kirkusstar #kirkusreviews
January 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Delighted and somewhat reeling to learn that 'Calm' has been awarded a coveted Kirkus Star prior to its release in the US: #unbound #neemtreepress #yafiction #dystopia #kirkusstar #kirkusreviews
Signing copies today in @waterstones.bsky.social in Hull - thank you for being so welcoming! #yafiction #yadystopia #authorlife #readingmatters
December 21, 2024 at 6:44 PM
Signing copies today in @waterstones.bsky.social in Hull - thank you for being so welcoming! #yafiction #yadystopia #authorlife #readingmatters
One of my students today: "I've just read your book, Miss. It's sick." (I think that's a compliment).
December 19, 2024 at 6:13 PM
One of my students today: "I've just read your book, Miss. It's sick." (I think that's a compliment).
One of the challenges I've really enjoyed in writing 'Calm' and now working on its sequel is to try and conjure an abandoned countryside, left to itself for 15 years. Yesterday I was hunting synonyms for 'brambles' (there aren't many!).
December 15, 2024 at 6:08 PM
One of the challenges I've really enjoyed in writing 'Calm' and now working on its sequel is to try and conjure an abandoned countryside, left to itself for 15 years. Yesterday I was hunting synonyms for 'brambles' (there aren't many!).
Very chuffed to have made it on to the table display in @waterstones.bsky.social in Hull. #unbounders #neemtreepress #childrensbooksnorth
December 5, 2024 at 5:32 PM
Very chuffed to have made it on to the table display in @waterstones.bsky.social in Hull. #unbounders #neemtreepress #childrensbooksnorth
So many interesting questions from 180 Y9 students at King's School, Peterborough, today. We talked reading, writing, dystopias, titles... and pet rabbits, for some reason. A huge privilege to talk books with young people. #unbounders #neemtreepress #authorvisits #schoolvisits #yafiction #dystopias
November 29, 2024 at 8:47 PM
So many interesting questions from 180 Y9 students at King's School, Peterborough, today. We talked reading, writing, dystopias, titles... and pet rabbits, for some reason. A huge privilege to talk books with young people. #unbounders #neemtreepress #authorvisits #schoolvisits #yafiction #dystopias