Alex Johnson
@shedworking.bsky.social
Writer of non-fiction books. Latest: When Books Go Bad. Online editor at Fine Books magazine, columnist at the Idler. Coined term "shedworking". Half-decent snooker player. https://thewritinghut.substack.com/
New specs. Be honest.
November 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
New specs. Be honest.
Nice to see my latest When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social at the front of the newly revamped @waterstones.bsky.social in St Albans.
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Nice to see my latest When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social at the front of the newly revamped @waterstones.bsky.social in St Albans.
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
Irish PLR details are in - the top three books taken out by library users were Shed Manual (published by Haynes), Menus That Made History (published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social), and A Book of Book Lists (published by @blpublishing.bsky.social). Thanks to all and hope you enjoyed them.
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Irish PLR details are in - the top three books taken out by library users were Shed Manual (published by Haynes), Menus That Made History (published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social), and A Book of Book Lists (published by @blpublishing.bsky.social). Thanks to all and hope you enjoyed them.
Delighted to see that When Books Go Bad is first up on @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Foyles' roundup for Christmas gift books.
November 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Delighted to see that When Books Go Bad is first up on @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Foyles' roundup for Christmas gift books.
@tlocdoc.bsky.social At Vicarage Road this afternoon to see the Hornets take on the mighty M’boro! Hope all well.
November 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
@tlocdoc.bsky.social At Vicarage Road this afternoon to see the Hornets take on the mighty M’boro! Hope all well.
At @britishlibrary.bsky.social today to record some videos explaining why my latest book When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social is the ideal present for anybody who likes books, or indeed just things that are quite red.
October 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
At @britishlibrary.bsky.social today to record some videos explaining why my latest book When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social is the ideal present for anybody who likes books, or indeed just things that are quite red.
Nice shout out for When Books Go Bad from Kate in the latest of her regular video series Whats In The Box Mrs Harris (www.instagram.com/p/DP64ahtCBZS/) who runs the excellent Harris & Harris Books harrisharris.co.uk in Clare, Suffolk.
October 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Nice shout out for When Books Go Bad from Kate in the latest of her regular video series Whats In The Box Mrs Harris (www.instagram.com/p/DP64ahtCBZS/) who runs the excellent Harris & Harris Books harrisharris.co.uk in Clare, Suffolk.
The finished beast
October 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
The finished beast
It's publication for this bad boy, When Books Go Bad, currently on tour at Frankfurt Book Fair. Available at your local independent bookseller, chain, and the usual suspects online such as @blackwells.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 8:39 AM
It's publication for this bad boy, When Books Go Bad, currently on tour at Frankfurt Book Fair. Available at your local independent bookseller, chain, and the usual suspects online such as @blackwells.bsky.social
Equally bold, eerie, and cosmic I feel. Let's go.
October 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Equally bold, eerie, and cosmic I feel. Let's go.
Authors' copies of my latest book When Books Go Bad (published by the fine @blpublishing.bsky.social British Library folks) have arrived. Officially out later this week but I daresay already in a fine bookshop near you.
October 13, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Authors' copies of my latest book When Books Go Bad (published by the fine @blpublishing.bsky.social British Library folks) have arrived. Officially out later this week but I daresay already in a fine bookshop near you.
@chrisroutledge.bsky.social 'Pubworking' seems to finally be becoming a thing! I should never have given up on the idea.
October 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
@chrisroutledge.bsky.social 'Pubworking' seems to finally be becoming a thing! I should never have given up on the idea.
At Vicarage Road this afternoon hoping for a repeat of last Saturday’s result.
October 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
At Vicarage Road this afternoon hoping for a repeat of last Saturday’s result.
Read Magnus Mills's 'Explorers of the New Century' at the weekend. Not only excellent but probably the most remarkable plot twist/reveal of anything I've ever read.
September 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Read Magnus Mills's 'Explorers of the New Century' at the weekend. Not only excellent but probably the most remarkable plot twist/reveal of anything I've ever read.
Thanks to @waterstones.bsky.social Waterstones Newport for including My Year of Reading Welshly on their weekend list of their newest and bestselling hardbacks.
September 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Thanks to @waterstones.bsky.social Waterstones Newport for including My Year of Reading Welshly on their weekend list of their newest and bestselling hardbacks.
New issue of the excellent Idler magazine out today featuring two articles by me, one about snooker player Luca Brecel in the Idle Heros slot, the second about bus shelters in my regular column about sheds.
September 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM
New issue of the excellent Idler magazine out today featuring two articles by me, one about snooker player Luca Brecel in the Idle Heros slot, the second about bus shelters in my regular column about sheds.
It's Agatha Christie's birthday today. Here's how James Oses ilustrated two of her writing spaces in our recent book Rooms of Their Own, her study in Sheffield Terrace in London, and in a tent when she was accompanying her husband Max Mallowan on an archaeological dig.
September 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
It's Agatha Christie's birthday today. Here's how James Oses ilustrated two of her writing spaces in our recent book Rooms of Their Own, her study in Sheffield Terrace in London, and in a tent when she was accompanying her husband Max Mallowan on an archaeological dig.
Elton is in the house. Somewhere.
September 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Elton is in the house. Somewhere.
I really enjoyed it. Reminded me very much of his Ring-a-Ring O'Roses which I very much liked as a nipper.
September 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I really enjoyed it. Reminded me very much of his Ring-a-Ring O'Roses which I very much liked as a nipper.
Latest edition of @finebooks.bsky.social heads into the world on Monday, including a piece by me about Magna Carta (just realised I've failed abysmally to include any reference to Tony Hancock's 'Twelve Angry Men').
September 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Latest edition of @finebooks.bsky.social heads into the world on Monday, including a piece by me about Magna Carta (just realised I've failed abysmally to include any reference to Tony Hancock's 'Twelve Angry Men').