Heidi James
@heidijames.bsky.social
Writer (The Sound Mirror, So the Doves)
Podcast (First Graft)
Academic
Podcast (First Graft)
Academic
Reposted by Heidi James
Twenty years ago Heth & I remortgaged our house to start a publishing company that would find great new stories others thought too risky to publish.
Our books have been short listed and won awards and two have been adapted into TV series.
Today we paid that mortgage off
Magic!
Our books have been short listed and won awards and two have been adapted into TV series.
Today we paid that mortgage off
Magic!
October 24, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Twenty years ago Heth & I remortgaged our house to start a publishing company that would find great new stories others thought too risky to publish.
Our books have been short listed and won awards and two have been adapted into TV series.
Today we paid that mortgage off
Magic!
Our books have been short listed and won awards and two have been adapted into TV series.
Today we paid that mortgage off
Magic!
That blinking-eyed strange state when you emerge from the deep flow/trance of writing… where am I?
Anyway, ms of new novel delivered
Anyway, ms of new novel delivered
October 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
That blinking-eyed strange state when you emerge from the deep flow/trance of writing… where am I?
Anyway, ms of new novel delivered
Anyway, ms of new novel delivered
Reposted by Heidi James
Having some Shakshuka for breakfast in our hotel in Belfast and Jeremy Vine from BBC Radio 2 phones about Julia Roberts and Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social
Rónán will be on @bbcradio2bot.bsky.social at 1.30 this afternoon.
Magic.
Rónán will be on @bbcradio2bot.bsky.social at 1.30 this afternoon.
Magic.
October 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Having some Shakshuka for breakfast in our hotel in Belfast and Jeremy Vine from BBC Radio 2 phones about Julia Roberts and Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social
Rónán will be on @bbcradio2bot.bsky.social at 1.30 this afternoon.
Magic.
Rónán will be on @bbcradio2bot.bsky.social at 1.30 this afternoon.
Magic.
Reposted by Heidi James
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 999:
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
October 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 999:
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
Reposted by Heidi James
New client testimonial for Elspells Writing Feedback!
I still have some spaces left in October if you're after affordable, helpful, honest feedback on your work-in-progress ✍️
www.elspells.com
I still have some spaces left in October if you're after affordable, helpful, honest feedback on your work-in-progress ✍️
www.elspells.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
New client testimonial for Elspells Writing Feedback!
I still have some spaces left in October if you're after affordable, helpful, honest feedback on your work-in-progress ✍️
www.elspells.com
I still have some spaces left in October if you're after affordable, helpful, honest feedback on your work-in-progress ✍️
www.elspells.com
Reposted by Heidi James
ICYMI tix now available for the official Keshed launch on publication day in Feb. Heads up the link for general tix which don't include a book, isn't working but i've told them do should be fixed soon. But if you want the tix w/a book (i'll sign after obvs), crack on 🙏👌
KESHED LAUNCH ALERT.
Tix now on sale for the official launch event on publication day, 12th Feb 2026, at Waterstones in Leeds, Terri motherfucking White in the interviewer's chair, it's gonna be awesome. Early chance to see my "performance" of the intro too 👀📚
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
Tix now on sale for the official launch event on publication day, 12th Feb 2026, at Waterstones in Leeds, Terri motherfucking White in the interviewer's chair, it's gonna be awesome. Early chance to see my "performance" of the intro too 👀📚
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
An evening with Stu Hennigan for Keshed in Leeds | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about An evening with Stu Hennigan for Keshed in Leeds today.
www.waterstones.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:11 AM
ICYMI tix now available for the official Keshed launch on publication day in Feb. Heads up the link for general tix which don't include a book, isn't working but i've told them do should be fixed soon. But if you want the tix w/a book (i'll sign after obvs), crack on 🙏👌
Reposted by Heidi James
There are two ticket types for this, one that includes a copy of the book (signed if ye come see us after, obvs) and a general admission one that doesn't. Someone said earlier the link to the second one wasn't working, I've told them about it but might not be fixed so flagging if anyone's after them
KESHED LAUNCH ALERT.
Tix now on sale for the official launch event on publication day, 12th Feb 2026, at Waterstones in Leeds, Terri motherfucking White in the interviewer's chair, it's gonna be awesome. Early chance to see my "performance" of the intro too 👀📚
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
Tix now on sale for the official launch event on publication day, 12th Feb 2026, at Waterstones in Leeds, Terri motherfucking White in the interviewer's chair, it's gonna be awesome. Early chance to see my "performance" of the intro too 👀📚
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
An evening with Stu Hennigan for Keshed in Leeds | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about An evening with Stu Hennigan for Keshed in Leeds today.
www.waterstones.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:30 PM
There are two ticket types for this, one that includes a copy of the book (signed if ye come see us after, obvs) and a general admission one that doesn't. Someone said earlier the link to the second one wasn't working, I've told them about it but might not be fixed so flagging if anyone's after them
Reposted by Heidi James
Shouts to @robtruestories.bsky.social @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social Naomi Booth @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social @jamesscudamore.bsky.social @leebrackstone.bsky.social @regretteruane.bsky.social Terri White, Juno Roche, Jae Auxjera @markabowles.bsky.social angarrad Hampshire @susannacrossman.bsky.social
New thing here collating all the blurbs for the book, pre-order etc.
stuhennigan.substack.com/p/blatant-se...
stuhennigan.substack.com/p/blatant-se...
Blatant self-promotion alert!
Oh please fuck off with that.......
stuhennigan.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Shouts to @robtruestories.bsky.social @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social Naomi Booth @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social @jamesscudamore.bsky.social @leebrackstone.bsky.social @regretteruane.bsky.social Terri White, Juno Roche, Jae Auxjera @markabowles.bsky.social angarrad Hampshire @susannacrossman.bsky.social
Reposted by Heidi James
New blogpost/newsletter here. If anyone wants to sign up, it's free, rarely gets updated and you won't get spammed with shite; but once it all kicks off with Keshed this is where you'll find all the info about events, upcoming publications etc.
open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...
open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...
Everybody Must Get Keshed
But only when you want to. For now.
open.substack.com
August 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
New blogpost/newsletter here. If anyone wants to sign up, it's free, rarely gets updated and you won't get spammed with shite; but once it all kicks off with Keshed this is where you'll find all the info about events, upcoming publications etc.
open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...
open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...
Reposted by Heidi James
Last ping for the time being to say pre-order for Keshed are up now so if you like the idea of some fucked-up, gnarly, realist fiction with a northern working class bent, the link is here. Overseas folk can order from Blackwells, as a coupla folk have said.
www.ortacpress.com/product-page...
www.ortacpress.com/product-page...
Keshed | Ortac Press
In the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless, haunted by the chain of events that led him there. Dark, compl...
www.ortacpress.com
June 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Last ping for the time being to say pre-order for Keshed are up now so if you like the idea of some fucked-up, gnarly, realist fiction with a northern working class bent, the link is here. Overseas folk can order from Blackwells, as a coupla folk have said.
www.ortacpress.com/product-page...
www.ortacpress.com/product-page...
Now this is a bumper delivery!
@stuhennigan.bsky.social @ortacpress.bsky.social
I read Keshed as a ms, but seeing the finished (beautifully typeset) book is fantastic. Do yourself a favour and preorder this exceptional, visceral novel. #keshed
@stuhennigan.bsky.social @ortacpress.bsky.social
I read Keshed as a ms, but seeing the finished (beautifully typeset) book is fantastic. Do yourself a favour and preorder this exceptional, visceral novel. #keshed
May 31, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Now this is a bumper delivery!
@stuhennigan.bsky.social @ortacpress.bsky.social
I read Keshed as a ms, but seeing the finished (beautifully typeset) book is fantastic. Do yourself a favour and preorder this exceptional, visceral novel. #keshed
@stuhennigan.bsky.social @ortacpress.bsky.social
I read Keshed as a ms, but seeing the finished (beautifully typeset) book is fantastic. Do yourself a favour and preorder this exceptional, visceral novel. #keshed
@stuhennigan.bsky.social had a preview of Keshed… what an achievement. Brilliant work. Congratulations mate!
May 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
@stuhennigan.bsky.social had a preview of Keshed… what an achievement. Brilliant work. Congratulations mate!
Reposted by Heidi James
Writers, come and join us for the next session of Elspells Writing Workshops on Saturday 26th April when we will be looking at Editing: The Big Picture. It's online, it's FREE, and we're a friendly bunch!
Email me to book your spot!
#WritingCommunity ✍
Email me to book your spot!
#WritingCommunity ✍
April 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Writers, come and join us for the next session of Elspells Writing Workshops on Saturday 26th April when we will be looking at Editing: The Big Picture. It's online, it's FREE, and we're a friendly bunch!
Email me to book your spot!
#WritingCommunity ✍
Email me to book your spot!
#WritingCommunity ✍
Reposted by Heidi James
In this latest episode of First Graft @heidijames.bsky.social talks to @adellestripe.bsky.social about the creative process.
And decorating.
And gardening.
It’s quite joyous, these two friends talking.
Have a listen.
open.spotify.com/episode/54ae...
And decorating.
And gardening.
It’s quite joyous, these two friends talking.
Have a listen.
open.spotify.com/episode/54ae...
March 31, 2025 at 9:47 AM
In this latest episode of First Graft @heidijames.bsky.social talks to @adellestripe.bsky.social about the creative process.
And decorating.
And gardening.
It’s quite joyous, these two friends talking.
Have a listen.
open.spotify.com/episode/54ae...
And decorating.
And gardening.
It’s quite joyous, these two friends talking.
Have a listen.
open.spotify.com/episode/54ae...
Reposted by Heidi James
Lovely lunchtime listen to @heidijames.bsky.social & Naomi Booth talking about their writing - really recommend this podcast #FirstGraft 📚🧡📚
#books #BookSky
#books #BookSky
First Graft with Naomi Booth
First Graft Podcast · Episode
open.spotify.com
April 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Lovely lunchtime listen to @heidijames.bsky.social & Naomi Booth talking about their writing - really recommend this podcast #FirstGraft 📚🧡📚
#books #BookSky
#books #BookSky
In the latest (and last of this series) episode of First Graft Adelle Stripe and I talk about her writing process, living with another writer, working through self-doubt and the punk rock gardening club. We also give a shout out to 3:AM, Andrew Gallix, Ben Myers and Lee Rourke.
March 31, 2025 at 8:03 AM
In the latest (and last of this series) episode of First Graft Adelle Stripe and I talk about her writing process, living with another writer, working through self-doubt and the punk rock gardening club. We also give a shout out to 3:AM, Andrew Gallix, Ben Myers and Lee Rourke.
Reposted by Heidi James
It’s PAYDAY!
You’ve stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.
‘Probably the most original, exciting, and creatively invigorating book I've read this year.’ Jamie Mollart, author of Kings of a Dead World
Why not take a trip to Saltburn?
£10. All in.
Seaside frolics.
renardpress.com/books/saltbu...
You’ve stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.
‘Probably the most original, exciting, and creatively invigorating book I've read this year.’ Jamie Mollart, author of Kings of a Dead World
Why not take a trip to Saltburn?
£10. All in.
Seaside frolics.
renardpress.com/books/saltbu...
March 28, 2025 at 5:43 AM
It’s PAYDAY!
You’ve stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.
‘Probably the most original, exciting, and creatively invigorating book I've read this year.’ Jamie Mollart, author of Kings of a Dead World
Why not take a trip to Saltburn?
£10. All in.
Seaside frolics.
renardpress.com/books/saltbu...
You’ve stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.
‘Probably the most original, exciting, and creatively invigorating book I've read this year.’ Jamie Mollart, author of Kings of a Dead World
Why not take a trip to Saltburn?
£10. All in.
Seaside frolics.
renardpress.com/books/saltbu...
Out on Monday, First Graft with the extraordinary Adelle Stripe (with shout outs to Andrew Gallix, Lee Rourke and Ben Myers) #podcast #firstgraft #basenotes
March 27, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Out on Monday, First Graft with the extraordinary Adelle Stripe (with shout outs to Andrew Gallix, Lee Rourke and Ben Myers) #podcast #firstgraft #basenotes
Reposted by Heidi James
'This type of horror is less about scaring you out of your wits and more about deliberately not conforming; it is using an intelligent, reactionary and political genre to creatively explore uncomfortable truths.'
www.thebookseller.com/comment/good...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/good...
Goodbye cosy, hello weird
Female and non-binary writers are driving a vibrant new sub-genre featuring strange, unhinged underdogs.
www.thebookseller.com
March 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
'This type of horror is less about scaring you out of your wits and more about deliberately not conforming; it is using an intelligent, reactionary and political genre to creatively explore uncomfortable truths.'
www.thebookseller.com/comment/good...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/good...
Latest episode of First Graft out now: I talk with Naomi Booth about how place sparks inspiration, enmeshment, resistance to and the demands of the creative impulse and how vital it is to decolonise our minds from patriarchal capitalism if we are to create.
March 24, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Latest episode of First Graft out now: I talk with Naomi Booth about how place sparks inspiration, enmeshment, resistance to and the demands of the creative impulse and how vital it is to decolonise our minds from patriarchal capitalism if we are to create.
Reposted by Heidi James
Out on the 24th March, I talk to Naomi Booth about writing place, enmeshment and decolonising the mind.
March 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Out on the 24th March, I talk to Naomi Booth about writing place, enmeshment and decolonising the mind.
Out on the 24th March, I talk to Naomi Booth about writing place, enmeshment and decolonising the mind.
March 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Out on the 24th March, I talk to Naomi Booth about writing place, enmeshment and decolonising the mind.
In the latest episode of First Graft I talk to Cauvery Madhavan about self doubt, claiming your voice, and the importance of naming in finding your characters.
Out now where’s you listen to your podcasts.
Out now where’s you listen to your podcasts.
March 17, 2025 at 8:37 AM
In the latest episode of First Graft I talk to Cauvery Madhavan about self doubt, claiming your voice, and the importance of naming in finding your characters.
Out now where’s you listen to your podcasts.
Out now where’s you listen to your podcasts.