Leigh Turner writer
@leighturnerwriter.bsky.social
Author ✍️ of “Lessons in Diplomacy” and inspirational speaker. Also novelist. Former British Ambo to Austria and Ukraine.
In Puerto Natales, Patagonia, #Chile. An empanada, sea lion cubs, glaciers and enticing street signs. (“#Patrica” refers to my planned trip from Patagonia to Costa Rica) #lessonsindiplomacy #book #books #booktok #diplomacybooks #booksaboutdiplomacy #writinginspiration #stories #writing #writers
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
In Puerto Natales, Patagonia, #Chile. An empanada, sea lion cubs, glaciers and enticing street signs. (“#Patrica” refers to my planned trip from Patagonia to Costa Rica) #lessonsindiplomacy #book #books #booktok #diplomacybooks #booksaboutdiplomacy #writinginspiration #stories #writing #writers
My #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica) trip starts in Santiago de Chile. A sprawling city surrounded by mountains. Sunrise over #Brazil; crossing the #Andes; and a first (outstanding) Pisco sour. #lessonsindiplomacy. For more, see LinkedIn or TikTok.
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
My #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica) trip starts in Santiago de Chile. A sprawling city surrounded by mountains. Sunrise over #Brazil; crossing the #Andes; and a first (outstanding) Pisco sour. #lessonsindiplomacy. For more, see LinkedIn or TikTok.
Weighing luggage items for my forthcoming trip to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica. Trying to keep the weight down… Hashtag #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica). I like the packaging of the bracelet: “Don’t bite me please”… #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Weighing luggage items for my forthcoming trip to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica. Trying to keep the weight down… Hashtag #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica). I like the packaging of the bracelet: “Don’t bite me please”… #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok
Up early for a train from Amsterdam to Bonn - where I was posted 1998-9 before moving with the German government and the embassy to Berlin in a convoy of removal vans. Lovely sunrise. I’ll be giving talks today and tomorrow (in Düsseldorf) based on my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”.
November 3, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Up early for a train from Amsterdam to Bonn - where I was posted 1998-9 before moving with the German government and the embassy to Berlin in a convoy of removal vans. Lovely sunrise. I’ll be giving talks today and tomorrow (in Düsseldorf) based on my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”.
…(penultimate pic, zoom in) the cafe at Otto Wagner‘s PTT building with its dire warnings for cup-stealers… thanks to all who came to the talks and stay in touch! 🧵 2 of 2
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
…(penultimate pic, zoom in) the cafe at Otto Wagner‘s PTT building with its dire warnings for cup-stealers… thanks to all who came to the talks and stay in touch! 🧵 2 of 2
Busy 3 days in #Vienna: Talks at Army Museum; House of Scotland); Rotary Wien Süd; the Diplomatic Academy and Shakespeare & Co. Also Vienna Woods, Mexicoplatz, Cafe Goldegg and… 🧵 1 of 2
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Busy 3 days in #Vienna: Talks at Army Museum; House of Scotland); Rotary Wien Süd; the Diplomatic Academy and Shakespeare & Co. Also Vienna Woods, Mexicoplatz, Cafe Goldegg and… 🧵 1 of 2
Enjoying the queues, broken conveyor belts, rain and delays of a #Schipol Monday morning. But nice to head for 5 talks about „Lessons in Diplomacy“ in lovely #Vienna! PS I liked the ambitious „duty free“ limits. 110 litres of beer on a flight? As for „Grab and Fly“ as an outlet name, I despair.
October 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Visiting Manchester Grammar School to address alumni today on “How to Survive a Diplomatic Crisis”. Good discussion afterwards. Thanks to all for the invitation and participation - super afternoon. #books #booktok #lessonsindiplomacy #booksaboutdiplomacy
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Visiting Manchester Grammar School to address alumni today on “How to Survive a Diplomatic Crisis”. Good discussion afterwards. Thanks to all for the invitation and participation - super afternoon. #books #booktok #lessonsindiplomacy #booksaboutdiplomacy
RIP Jane Goodall: a class act. She stayed at the Vienna residence often. She was generous, incisive and brilliant, liked a whisky or two, and had a wicked sense of humour. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of primatologists, campaigners and people who want to make a difference.
October 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
RIP Jane Goodall: a class act. She stayed at the Vienna residence often. She was generous, incisive and brilliant, liked a whisky or two, and had a wicked sense of humour. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of primatologists, campaigners and people who want to make a difference.
“She paused, her dark eyes sparkling. Then she placed one hand on my arm and flashed a wicked grin. ‘Body language,’ she purred.”
From Chapter 10 of my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”: “How to know people”.
From Chapter 10 of my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”: “How to know people”.
September 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
“She paused, her dark eyes sparkling. Then she placed one hand on my arm and flashed a wicked grin. ‘Body language,’ she purred.”
From Chapter 10 of my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”: “How to know people”.
From Chapter 10 of my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”: “How to know people”.
At the Cambridge University alumni festival. Looking forward to talking about “Lessons in diplomatic tradecraft” - in good company. Cambridge catering seems to have made little progress in 49 years…🍟🍳🍕
September 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
At the Cambridge University alumni festival. Looking forward to talking about “Lessons in diplomatic tradecraft” - in good company. Cambridge catering seems to have made little progress in 49 years…🍟🍳🍕
Heading to London this morning from #Amsterdam. The usual crack of dawn start… hoping the @eurostar gods will smile on us timing- and connection-wise…
September 20, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Heading to London this morning from #Amsterdam. The usual crack of dawn start… hoping the @eurostar gods will smile on us timing- and connection-wise…
that they are never to confess.”
Who said this? Soviet agent Kim Philby, in a talk to trainees of the East German security service, the Stasi, in 1981. “Lessons in “Diplomacy” from all good bookshops #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read #diplomacy #diplomat 🧵 ends
Who said this? Soviet agent Kim Philby, in a talk to trainees of the East German security service, the Stasi, in 1981. “Lessons in “Diplomacy” from all good bookshops #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read #diplomacy #diplomat 🧵 ends
September 16, 2025 at 8:59 AM
“Lessons in Diplomacy”, published in paperback TODAY 16 September, has much advice applicable to current events. For example: “If they confront you…with a document with your own handwriting then it’s a forgery – just deny everything… So my advice to you is to tell all your agents… 🧵1 of 2
September 16, 2025 at 8:59 AM
“Lessons in Diplomacy”, published in paperback TODAY 16 September, has much advice applicable to current events. For example: “If they confront you…with a document with your own handwriting then it’s a forgery – just deny everything… So my advice to you is to tell all your agents… 🧵1 of 2
3, 2, 1 day to go! The paperback of “Lessons in Diplomacy” is out on 16 SEPTEMBER. Everything you wanted to know about diplomacy but were afraid to ask… Also from @brisunipress.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social and Amazon #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read
September 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
3, 2, 1 day to go! The paperback of “Lessons in Diplomacy” is out on 16 SEPTEMBER. Everything you wanted to know about diplomacy but were afraid to ask… Also from @brisunipress.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social and Amazon #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read
Enjoying a cornucopia of good things at “The End” bar on Faneromeni Beach on Lesbos. Writing course: delivered. Sun: shining. Beer: cold. On the sound track of the bar, echoing across the beach: Rammstein’s “Sonne” and Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”. Quite the package. I think I feel a story coming on…
September 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Enjoying a cornucopia of good things at “The End” bar on Faneromeni Beach on Lesbos. Writing course: delivered. Sun: shining. Beer: cold. On the sound track of the bar, echoing across the beach: Rammstein’s “Sonne” and Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”. Quite the package. I think I feel a story coming on…
The paperback of “Lessons in Diplomacy” is out on 16 SEPTEMBER. First copies arriving in shops now. Everything you wanted to know about diplomacy but were afraid to ask… Also from @brisunipress.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social and Amazon #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read
September 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The paperback of “Lessons in Diplomacy” is out on 16 SEPTEMBER. First copies arriving in shops now. Everything you wanted to know about diplomacy but were afraid to ask… Also from @brisunipress.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social and Amazon #writing #books #writers #booktok #write #read
As I prepare to deliver my writing course on #Lesbos, here is a shot of a “Hotel Story” actually being written. Tip: this story is not (yet) among the 12 “Hotel Stories”
Published so far. But you can find all the others on Amazon either as individual stories or in collections. #stories #books #book
Published so far. But you can find all the others on Amazon either as individual stories or in collections. #stories #books #book
September 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Seen in #Amsterdam today. Someone had enough of their boyfriend or husband? #boyfriend #husband #rubbish
September 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Seen in #Amsterdam today. Someone had enough of their boyfriend or husband? #boyfriend #husband #rubbish
Good to see. If you subscribe to the Bristol University Press website you can get a useful 25% discount on a pre-order of the paperback version of "Lessons in Diplomacy" right now. Must be good! @brisunipress.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Good to see. If you subscribe to the Bristol University Press website you can get a useful 25% discount on a pre-order of the paperback version of "Lessons in Diplomacy" right now. Must be good! @brisunipress.bsky.social
Flying back from Bali over the Indian Ocean, dawn, 31.8.25.
September 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Flying back from Bali over the Indian Ocean, dawn, 31.8.25.
Good to be in the “i” newspaper today (and online) commenting on #Ukraine and #Russia and #Trump. Not my headline of course! Doing quite a few radio and TV interviews at the moment but turning down most as I’m visiting my mum in Manchester. Not v optimistic about the Trump/#Putin meeting tomorrow.
August 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Warning: after my 7 May talk at @reigategrammar.bsky.social, one mother commented: "My son commented that this was the most interesting and valuable lecture he's ever attended! Aspirations to become a diplomat, now". geni.us/LessonsinDip...
August 3, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Warning: after my 7 May talk at @reigategrammar.bsky.social, one mother commented: "My son commented that this was the most interesting and valuable lecture he's ever attended! Aspirations to become a diplomat, now". geni.us/LessonsinDip...