Ian Ridley
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ianridley1.bsky.social
Ian Ridley
@ianridley1.bsky.social
Writer, publisher. Founder Floodlit Dreams and V Books publishing houses. Sport, politics, music, literature, life, inc my beloved, late Vikki.
https://iridley.substack.com
https://www.v-books.co.uk
I wrote about #BruceSpringsteen, turning down a ticket 50 years ago this month, and a notion, a notion deep inside... I know everyone else has written about Bruce but there's something else I felt I needed to say too.
iridley.substack.com/p/my-cancers...
November 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A bitter sweet symphony blending (almost) seamlessly Richard Hawley, AI, sore nipples and lumpy moobs... iridley.substack.com/p/my-cancers...
September 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
After long reflection, decided to share the start of a novel that Vikki wrote and I discovered in a drawer after her death. I think it's intriguing and rather beautiful.
iridley.substack.com/p/meetings-i...
August 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The world feels a lot better when I write something. Well my world, anyway. Hope yours is today. And hope features in this. Maybe have a read in the shade...
iridley.substack.com/p/my-cancers...
July 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I wrote a little story for my grandchildren, Amelia and Harry. I then asked my great friend @mikemcmonagle.com to illustrate it. So good were his drawings, I decided to publish it. For the toddler in your life. And there's plenty of us. #WheresGrandadsHat

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/173963963...
July 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
May 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
First Sir Chris Hoy, now Joe Biden... I'm keeping fine company these day. Something wot I rote... iridley.substack.com/p/my-cancers...
May 20, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Thanks to @jonathancoe.bsky.social and @valmcdermid.bsky.social for a fascinating hour talking books, crime writing, state of the nation and more at the Oxford Lit Fest this evening. Sorry if I went a bit fanboy as you both signed my books. Do love #TheProofOfMyInnocence.
March 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"I love it when she ignores our ‘no’s’ and runs off in her socks on wet grass..." I wrote something about my grandkids and how they've helped to fill the void of loss.
iridley.substack.com/p/notes-from...
March 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Back in the old home town. #SunnySunnyWeymouth
March 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Wrote this book about 20 years ago. Recently, an American screenwriter named @anthonytoohey.bsky.social contacted me to say he'd like to turn it into a script and maybe get a movie of it made. Now he's written a lovely piece about sport, movies and #FloodlitDreams.
anthonywrites.com/2025/02/20/s...
February 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Something I wrote as my final essay for my Cambridge Uni Masters, about crime thrillers and whether men can write women... Naturally Vikki, muse and inspiration for my main character, figures very prominently.

iridley.substack.com/p/the-sixth-...
February 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Vikki died six years ago today. Still miss her like crazy but oh, those memories...

🎼 I love Paris every moment
Every moment of the year...
...Why, oh, why do I love Paris?
Because my love is near 🎼

#TheBreathOfSadness 🧡
February 6, 2025 at 8:10 AM
My reading mojo is back, thanks to this. Clever, intricate and with much to say about the nation, as usual. Also a neat satire on the publishing industry and modern tastes, I reckon. The sort of novel I would write if I just had the prodigious talent of @jonathancoe.bsky.social.
February 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Seven years today since we lost the nicest, best man I ever met in football. Was grateful to have known him. This hangs proudly on a wall at my home. Thank you for everything you did and were to so many of us, Jimmy. #Blackpool #England
January 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Happy Christmas to all, even if you didn't buy any of my books this year. 😉 And for those who grieve, my solidarity. It never leaves - it is, after all, the price of love - but it eases. Warm memories trump cold pain.
December 25, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Lovely afternoon at #Arsenal, courtesy of TonyAdams. He and my old #Everton -supporting pal Jimmy Mulville have offered the most touching help and support to me through so much and for so long. And after seeing much #Spurs mayhem lately, I even enjoyed the 0-0 draw. #ARSEVE
December 14, 2024 at 8:02 PM
She'd be delighted that #SheffieldUnited are top of the #EFLChampionship table but my Vikki will always be the star at the top of the tree. #TheBreathOfSadness #MissingYouV
December 14, 2024 at 9:07 AM
We had a jolly launch party this week for David Winner's
brilliant new book in the #FootballShorts series on #GarethSouthgate, Excerpts from a new England. Details and pictures here...
football-shorts.co.uk/news.
Nice little prezzie for the football fans in your life. Or yourself.
December 13, 2024 at 8:45 PM
Feet up time with mince pies, tea and the brilliant
@ccmatters.bsky.social Christmas edition. Reckon more magazines might sell better if they penned a personal note to subscribers, as the dedicated @anniechave.bsky.social always does. It's appreciated Annie.
December 9, 2024 at 6:28 PM
It's been a difficult week so naturally I wrote about it...

iridley.substack.com/p/my-cancers...
December 8, 2024 at 9:06 PM
A moody kind of year… #SpotifyWrapped
December 5, 2024 at 9:29 AM
Some books wot I rote the last few years - a memoir, two crime thrillers and a literary novel - for just £5 each on this #BlackFriday, on the link. I'm being a fool to myself but what's new there?
v-books.co.uk/shop
November 29, 2024 at 4:20 PM
ust to say, if you're enjoying #RevRichardColes
on #ImACeleb, he generously gave me a cover quote for my crime thriller #DontTalk, you know. #NonSequitur #ShamelessPlug. (Available for a fiver here: v-books.co.uk/shop/p/dont-...)
November 23, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Any author (well, of my status) will tell you how tough it is to sell books these days. So I'm on the #BlackFriday bandwagon. A fiver each my recent books. THAT'S JUST £5. (Crime series £8 the pair.)Great Christmas prezzies, Secret Santa etc.
#AintTooProudToBeg
v-books.co.uk/shop
November 22, 2024 at 10:20 AM