John Ash
@john-ash.bsky.social
Literary agent at CAA, submissions to UKBookSubmissions@caa.com
Reposted by John Ash
Damn, Missouri Wiliams' The Vivisectors is great so far. Out in May.
December 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Damn, Missouri Wiliams' The Vivisectors is great so far. Out in May.
Reposted by John Ash
Got an advance copy of Missouri Williams’s new novel, THE VIVISECTORS, which is stunningly good—the best new work of fiction I’ve read since Benjamín Labatut’s WHEN WE CEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. Williams’s novel publishes 5.26.2026. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Got an advance copy of Missouri Williams’s new novel, THE VIVISECTORS, which is stunningly good—the best new work of fiction I’ve read since Benjamín Labatut’s WHEN WE CEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. Williams’s novel publishes 5.26.2026. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.
Reposted by John Ash
My magnum opus - a unified field theory of why the post-literate society spells disaster for civilisation as we know it
jmarriott.substack.com/p/the-dawn-o...
jmarriott.substack.com/p/the-dawn-o...
The dawn of the post-literate society
And the end of civilisation
jmarriott.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
My magnum opus - a unified field theory of why the post-literate society spells disaster for civilisation as we know it
jmarriott.substack.com/p/the-dawn-o...
jmarriott.substack.com/p/the-dawn-o...
Reposted by John Ash
Isabella Nagg spotted at a bookstore in Millerton: "a messed up fairy tale that's kind of like if Roald Dahl and Terry Pratchett went through a washing machine and the colours all ran" 🧐 maybe this person should be the writer
August 21, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Isabella Nagg spotted at a bookstore in Millerton: "a messed up fairy tale that's kind of like if Roald Dahl and Terry Pratchett went through a washing machine and the colours all ran" 🧐 maybe this person should be the writer
Reposted by John Ash
woof. and that's an (extremely ratty) finished book draft. now all I have to do is write it again but better before I can even start thinking about selling it
August 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
woof. and that's an (extremely ratty) finished book draft. now all I have to do is write it again but better before I can even start thinking about selling it
Reposted by John Ash
Absolutely loved @deathbybadger.bsky.social's debut novel, Isabella Nagg & the Pot of Basil. I guess the best desc of it rn is cosy fantasy? In that there's a cottage and a village and wizardry? But it's cosy f in the same way that Pratchett is high f. All the elements, there but it's much more.
July 6, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Absolutely loved @deathbybadger.bsky.social's debut novel, Isabella Nagg & the Pot of Basil. I guess the best desc of it rn is cosy fantasy? In that there's a cottage and a village and wizardry? But it's cosy f in the same way that Pratchett is high f. All the elements, there but it's much more.
Reposted by John Ash
I’m a little late to this but goodness it’s the most Terry Pratchett thing I’ve read since Sir Terry passed away. An absolute joy, and not a moment too soon.
June 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I’m a little late to this but goodness it’s the most Terry Pratchett thing I’ve read since Sir Terry passed away. An absolute joy, and not a moment too soon.
Reposted by John Ash
The 12 best books of the year so far - chosen by the BBC
Happy to see Catherine Airey’s CONFESSIONS & Florence Knapp’s THE NAMES www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti... @john-ash.bsky.social @florenceknapp.bsky.social
Happy to see Catherine Airey’s CONFESSIONS & Florence Knapp’s THE NAMES www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti... @john-ash.bsky.social @florenceknapp.bsky.social
The 12 best books of 2025 so far
From multigenerational family sagas to speculative dystopias – the very best fiction of the year so far.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 21, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The 12 best books of the year so far - chosen by the BBC
Happy to see Catherine Airey’s CONFESSIONS & Florence Knapp’s THE NAMES www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti... @john-ash.bsky.social @florenceknapp.bsky.social
Happy to see Catherine Airey’s CONFESSIONS & Florence Knapp’s THE NAMES www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti... @john-ash.bsky.social @florenceknapp.bsky.social
Reposted by John Ash
today is the UK release day of Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil ✨🌱 and while this is a big moment for me I really do have to insist that you do NOT eat the goblin fruit. don't do it. not even once. no fruit for you, it's a terrible idea, truly.
hodderscape.co.uk/products/isa...
hodderscape.co.uk/products/isa...
June 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
today is the UK release day of Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil ✨🌱 and while this is a big moment for me I really do have to insist that you do NOT eat the goblin fruit. don't do it. not even once. no fruit for you, it's a terrible idea, truly.
hodderscape.co.uk/products/isa...
hodderscape.co.uk/products/isa...
Reposted by John Ash
got my hands on the UK edition of Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil and. yea. okay. this worked.
(available over here on the 19th June. buy the shiny thing.)
(available over here on the 19th June. buy the shiny thing.)
June 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
got my hands on the UK edition of Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil and. yea. okay. this worked.
(available over here on the 19th June. buy the shiny thing.)
(available over here on the 19th June. buy the shiny thing.)
Reposted by John Ash
this is one of those reviews you put on a wall and when someone visits you say "oh that old thing yes I suppose it was rather nice" as you drink in their delicious envy
Oliver Darkshire's Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a delightful, Pratchett-esque story brimming with footnotes and satire, and inspired by one character in Boccaccio’s The Decameron. Read @vfarmstrong.com's review!
reactormag.com/book-review-...
reactormag.com/book-review-...
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire Is a Joyful Wizard's Journey - Reactor
A cozy fantasy about self-discovery—as well as fungus, capitalism, and sorcery…
reactormag.com
May 28, 2025 at 7:31 PM
this is one of those reviews you put on a wall and when someone visits you say "oh that old thing yes I suppose it was rather nice" as you drink in their delicious envy
Reposted by John Ash
Oliver Darkshire's Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a delightful, Pratchett-esque story brimming with footnotes and satire, and inspired by one character in Boccaccio’s The Decameron. Read @vfarmstrong.com's review!
reactormag.com/book-review-...
reactormag.com/book-review-...
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire Is a Joyful Wizard's Journey - Reactor
A cozy fantasy about self-discovery—as well as fungus, capitalism, and sorcery…
reactormag.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Oliver Darkshire's Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a delightful, Pratchett-esque story brimming with footnotes and satire, and inspired by one character in Boccaccio’s The Decameron. Read @vfarmstrong.com's review!
reactormag.com/book-review-...
reactormag.com/book-review-...
Reposted by John Ash
Well that was a *mad week*. Really looking forward to our book launching on thursday!! (no book launch though because I'm a wet blanket)
May 26, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Well that was a *mad week*. Really looking forward to our book launching on thursday!! (no book launch though because I'm a wet blanket)
Reposted by John Ash
something very surreal, or maybe disturbingly tangible, about holding finished copies of your first novel. it glitters, like fool's gold. i have wanted this for a very, very long time. I did good.
[Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is out in the US on May 13th — wwnorton.com/books/978132... ]
[Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is out in the US on May 13th — wwnorton.com/books/978132... ]
May 8, 2025 at 11:09 AM
something very surreal, or maybe disturbingly tangible, about holding finished copies of your first novel. it glitters, like fool's gold. i have wanted this for a very, very long time. I did good.
[Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is out in the US on May 13th — wwnorton.com/books/978132... ]
[Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is out in the US on May 13th — wwnorton.com/books/978132... ]
Reposted by John Ash
The news is out! We are so excited to see Green Dot by Madeleine Gray shortlisted for Book of the Year in the #BritishBookAwards Debut Fiction category 🟢
Huge congratulations to all the selected authors!
#Nibbies #GreenDot #wnbooks
@thebookseller.com
Huge congratulations to all the selected authors!
#Nibbies #GreenDot #wnbooks
@thebookseller.com
March 7, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The news is out! We are so excited to see Green Dot by Madeleine Gray shortlisted for Book of the Year in the #BritishBookAwards Debut Fiction category 🟢
Huge congratulations to all the selected authors!
#Nibbies #GreenDot #wnbooks
@thebookseller.com
Huge congratulations to all the selected authors!
#Nibbies #GreenDot #wnbooks
@thebookseller.com
Reposted by John Ash
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social - highly recommended and review coming soon to the @britfantasysoc.bsky.social
I think my Greton would fit in very well with the world Oliver's created, and I think people in need of a little cosy are going to love it.
I think my Greton would fit in very well with the world Oliver's created, and I think people in need of a little cosy are going to love it.
February 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by @deathbybadger.bsky.social - highly recommended and review coming soon to the @britfantasysoc.bsky.social
I think my Greton would fit in very well with the world Oliver's created, and I think people in need of a little cosy are going to love it.
I think my Greton would fit in very well with the world Oliver's created, and I think people in need of a little cosy are going to love it.
Reposted by John Ash
“People are just like books—full of hidden meanings that need to be unearthed by an attentive reader.” -THE BOYHOOD OF CAIN 🩵
Michael Amherst's tender and glistening debut is finally on shelves today! Start reading: bit.ly/4ibQAOr
#books #debutbooks #literaryfiction #comingofage
Michael Amherst's tender and glistening debut is finally on shelves today! Start reading: bit.ly/4ibQAOr
#books #debutbooks #literaryfiction #comingofage
February 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
“People are just like books—full of hidden meanings that need to be unearthed by an attentive reader.” -THE BOYHOOD OF CAIN 🩵
Michael Amherst's tender and glistening debut is finally on shelves today! Start reading: bit.ly/4ibQAOr
#books #debutbooks #literaryfiction #comingofage
Michael Amherst's tender and glistening debut is finally on shelves today! Start reading: bit.ly/4ibQAOr
#books #debutbooks #literaryfiction #comingofage
Reposted by John Ash
"With The Boyhood of Cain, a star is born." 📖 ⭐
Me on Michael Amherst's debut novel of exceptional poise and confidence.👇 It has the surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit of JM Coetzee, and the most affecting ending I've read in ages.
Me on Michael Amherst's debut novel of exceptional poise and confidence.👇 It has the surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit of JM Coetzee, and the most affecting ending I've read in ages.
Most debut novels are ho-hum, but this one is gosh-wow
A literary star is born: The Boyhood of Cain by Michael Amherst is a dazzling coming-of-age story about a sensitive boy
www.thetimes.com
February 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
"With The Boyhood of Cain, a star is born." 📖 ⭐
Me on Michael Amherst's debut novel of exceptional poise and confidence.👇 It has the surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit of JM Coetzee, and the most affecting ending I've read in ages.
Me on Michael Amherst's debut novel of exceptional poise and confidence.👇 It has the surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit of JM Coetzee, and the most affecting ending I've read in ages.
Reposted by John Ash
'A literary star is born.' The Times
A rave review for Michael Amherst's 'brilliant' debut novel, The Boyhood of Cain - 'the most affecting, satisfying finish to a novel I’ve read in a long time.' Out next week.
thetimes.com/culture/books/article/boyhood-cain-michael-amherst-review-wlh70dv55
A rave review for Michael Amherst's 'brilliant' debut novel, The Boyhood of Cain - 'the most affecting, satisfying finish to a novel I’ve read in a long time.' Out next week.
thetimes.com/culture/books/article/boyhood-cain-michael-amherst-review-wlh70dv55
Most debut novels are ho-hum, but this one is gosh-wow
A literary star is born: The Boyhood of Cain by Michael Amherst is a dazzling coming-of-age story about a sensitive boy
www.thetimes.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
'A literary star is born.' The Times
A rave review for Michael Amherst's 'brilliant' debut novel, The Boyhood of Cain - 'the most affecting, satisfying finish to a novel I’ve read in a long time.' Out next week.
thetimes.com/culture/books/article/boyhood-cain-michael-amherst-review-wlh70dv55
A rave review for Michael Amherst's 'brilliant' debut novel, The Boyhood of Cain - 'the most affecting, satisfying finish to a novel I’ve read in a long time.' Out next week.
thetimes.com/culture/books/article/boyhood-cain-michael-amherst-review-wlh70dv55
Reposted by John Ash
my brilliant pal Michael Amherst's debut THE CHILDHOOD OF CAIN, out Thurs @faberbooks.bsky.social, has received a *wonderful* @thetimes.com review from John Self. 'A literary star is born' 'dazzling' 'Amherst has Coetzee’s surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit'
February 7, 2025 at 10:42 AM
my brilliant pal Michael Amherst's debut THE CHILDHOOD OF CAIN, out Thurs @faberbooks.bsky.social, has received a *wonderful* @thetimes.com review from John Self. 'A literary star is born' 'dazzling' 'Amherst has Coetzee’s surface calmness, inner turbulence, understated emotion and muted wit'
Reposted by John Ash
looks like we have both covers for ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL [May 25], US cover (left) and UK cover (right). apparently americans like cats and the british like goblins? please lament that the cover you want is not in your area, and preorder so I don't look like jimmy no-mates (links below)
January 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
looks like we have both covers for ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL [May 25], US cover (left) and UK cover (right). apparently americans like cats and the british like goblins? please lament that the cover you want is not in your area, and preorder so I don't look like jimmy no-mates (links below)
Reposted by John Ash
Can I just reiterate how lovely @deathbybadger.bsky.social's ONCE UPON A TOME is? Anyone involved in collecting, collections, books, or places inhabited by those long since gone will find it a joy.
Museum folks, it resonated all too well 😂
Museum folks, it resonated all too well 😂
January 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Can I just reiterate how lovely @deathbybadger.bsky.social's ONCE UPON A TOME is? Anyone involved in collecting, collections, books, or places inhabited by those long since gone will find it a joy.
Museum folks, it resonated all too well 😂
Museum folks, it resonated all too well 😂
Reposted by John Ash
Kevin Power on Confessions by Catherine Airey: A remarkably confident, complex and nuanced debut novel - This multigenerational, transatlantic family saga starts with 9/11 and swerves back in time to Donegal in the 1970s
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Confessions by Catherine Airey: A remarkably confident, complex and nuanced debut novel
This multigenerational, transatlantic family saga starts with 9/11 and swerves back in time to Donegal in the 1970s
www.irishtimes.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Kevin Power on Confessions by Catherine Airey: A remarkably confident, complex and nuanced debut novel - This multigenerational, transatlantic family saga starts with 9/11 and swerves back in time to Donegal in the 1970s
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by John Ash
I interviewed the debut novelist Catherine Airey for today's @irishtimes.com.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Novelist Catherine Airey: ‘Growing up in a Catholic family, there is always a lot of stuff that’s not talked about’
The debut novelist left her career in London behind to write fiction in west Cork, where she started to grapple with her demons
www.irishtimes.com
January 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I interviewed the debut novelist Catherine Airey for today's @irishtimes.com.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by John Ash
I have a proof copy of my first novel and I'm so chuffed, now I just need to blackmail famous people into saying nice things, sell a sensible million copies, easy peasy, realistic goals - ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL is out in May (calliope for scale)
January 11, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I have a proof copy of my first novel and I'm so chuffed, now I just need to blackmail famous people into saying nice things, sell a sensible million copies, easy peasy, realistic goals - ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL is out in May (calliope for scale)