JS
@sine1923.bsky.social
Country lover. Aspiring gardener. Passionate reader of fiction, history & anything to do with churches & early 20th century British art. Views all my own.
Reposted by JS
Memories of when I worked at Daunt Books, spending ages with a customer figuring out what book it was they’d seen and vaguely remembered from a Sunday supplement a few weeks back. Finally worked it out and offered to order it. “Oh god no, far too expensive, I’ll get it on Amazon.”
Guy in front of me in the record shop is looking up Discogs prices in front of the shop-owner *after he’s been given a deal on the records.
December 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Memories of when I worked at Daunt Books, spending ages with a customer figuring out what book it was they’d seen and vaguely remembered from a Sunday supplement a few weeks back. Finally worked it out and offered to order it. “Oh god no, far too expensive, I’ll get it on Amazon.”
Reposted by JS
Dear Bluesky. I'm giving away two signed paperbacks of my novel Villager.
All you have to do to enter is share this extract from it & pop a reply below.
You also get a free map!
You might like the book if you like:
Ghosts
Social history
Folklore
Lost music
Rivers
Opinionated hills
Earth magic
All you have to do to enter is share this extract from it & pop a reply below.
You also get a free map!
You might like the book if you like:
Ghosts
Social history
Folklore
Lost music
Rivers
Opinionated hills
Earth magic
December 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Dear Bluesky. I'm giving away two signed paperbacks of my novel Villager.
All you have to do to enter is share this extract from it & pop a reply below.
You also get a free map!
You might like the book if you like:
Ghosts
Social history
Folklore
Lost music
Rivers
Opinionated hills
Earth magic
All you have to do to enter is share this extract from it & pop a reply below.
You also get a free map!
You might like the book if you like:
Ghosts
Social history
Folklore
Lost music
Rivers
Opinionated hills
Earth magic
Reposted by JS
It's #buyastrangerabook day!
@humanaqvi.bsky.social is offering to buy one lucky person a book of their choice up to £15!
So, if there's something in particular you'd like, get in touch!
UK only
@humanaqvi.bsky.social is offering to buy one lucky person a book of their choice up to £15!
So, if there's something in particular you'd like, get in touch!
UK only
Hello my favourite @biggreenbooks.bsky.social 😊 £15 please to #buyastrangerabook 💜
IT'S WEDNESDAY!
It's #buyastrangerabook day.
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
It's #buyastrangerabook day.
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
December 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
It's #buyastrangerabook day!
@humanaqvi.bsky.social is offering to buy one lucky person a book of their choice up to £15!
So, if there's something in particular you'd like, get in touch!
UK only
@humanaqvi.bsky.social is offering to buy one lucky person a book of their choice up to £15!
So, if there's something in particular you'd like, get in touch!
UK only
Reposted by JS
I have another #buyastrangerabook day offer to tell you about.
@magscampbell.bsky.social would like to buy someone a copy of any of the discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
So if there's one you're looking for let us know!
UK only
@magscampbell.bsky.social would like to buy someone a copy of any of the discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
So if there's one you're looking for let us know!
UK only
IT'S WEDNESDAY!
It's #buyastrangerabook day.
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
It's #buyastrangerabook day.
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
Buy A Stranger A Book. #buyastrangerabook - Stuff you might like... - Big Green Bookshop. @biggreenbooks on Twitter. Cheese fan. My Mum says hi.
The Big Green Bookshop an independent online bookshop in selling awesome titles by awesome authors to awesome people
biggreenbookshop.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I have another #buyastrangerabook day offer to tell you about.
@magscampbell.bsky.social would like to buy someone a copy of any of the discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
So if there's one you're looking for let us know!
UK only
@magscampbell.bsky.social would like to buy someone a copy of any of the discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
So if there's one you're looking for let us know!
UK only
Reposted by JS
Absolutely livid every time I read about authors caught up in the Unbound fiasco.
Read and support them when you can. 📚
Read and support them when you can. 📚
THREAD. How A Publisher Almost Killed The Book I Waited My Whole Life To Write.
My novel Villager came out in 2022. It was published by Unbound, who had little marketing/sales power. But I was excited & proud, since I worked so f-ing hard on it.
Here's an extract: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
My novel Villager came out in 2022. It was published by Unbound, who had little marketing/sales power. But I was excited & proud, since I worked so f-ing hard on it.
Here's an extract: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
December 3, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Absolutely livid every time I read about authors caught up in the Unbound fiasco.
Read and support them when you can. 📚
Read and support them when you can. 📚
Reposted by JS
OOH!
#buyastrangerabook legend @melissaschuh.bsky.social has a new book out!
To celebrate, she's offering to buy 3 lucky people a book each.
Here's the deal.
Let Melissa know what kinda books you like reading & she'll offer you a selection of titles to choose from.
GO.
UK only
#buyastrangerabook legend @melissaschuh.bsky.social has a new book out!
To celebrate, she's offering to buy 3 lucky people a book each.
Here's the deal.
Let Melissa know what kinda books you like reading & she'll offer you a selection of titles to choose from.
GO.
UK only
It’s a special week for me because my own book was published recently: link.springer.com/book/9783032... 🎉
For extra celebration I’ll #BuyAStrangerABook (3 strangers) 🤗
Personalised recommendations are my jam, so tell me what you like to read and I’ll suggest things📚
@biggreenbooks.bsky.social
For extra celebration I’ll #BuyAStrangerABook (3 strangers) 🤗
Personalised recommendations are my jam, so tell me what you like to read and I’ll suggest things📚
@biggreenbooks.bsky.social
Literary Autobiography
This book offers a theoretically elegant and literarily sensitive rethinking of the fraught relationship between the novel and autobiography
link.springer.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
OOH!
#buyastrangerabook legend @melissaschuh.bsky.social has a new book out!
To celebrate, she's offering to buy 3 lucky people a book each.
Here's the deal.
Let Melissa know what kinda books you like reading & she'll offer you a selection of titles to choose from.
GO.
UK only
#buyastrangerabook legend @melissaschuh.bsky.social has a new book out!
To celebrate, she's offering to buy 3 lucky people a book each.
Here's the deal.
Let Melissa know what kinda books you like reading & she'll offer you a selection of titles to choose from.
GO.
UK only
Reposted by JS
"The Festive Book Swap"
Fifteen quid.
You'll get:
A book picked especially for you.
Choc picked especially for you.
Tea. Yeah, tea.
Fifteen quid!
I can even match you up with a new book buddy too, if you like.
Ho Ho Ho, etc.
More info here.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php
Fifteen quid.
You'll get:
A book picked especially for you.
Choc picked especially for you.
Tea. Yeah, tea.
Fifteen quid!
I can even match you up with a new book buddy too, if you like.
Ho Ho Ho, etc.
More info here.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php
December 2, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"The Festive Book Swap"
Fifteen quid.
You'll get:
A book picked especially for you.
Choc picked especially for you.
Tea. Yeah, tea.
Fifteen quid!
I can even match you up with a new book buddy too, if you like.
Ho Ho Ho, etc.
More info here.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php
Fifteen quid.
You'll get:
A book picked especially for you.
Choc picked especially for you.
Tea. Yeah, tea.
Fifteen quid!
I can even match you up with a new book buddy too, if you like.
Ho Ho Ho, etc.
More info here.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php
Reposted by JS
This is what I love about social media. A story in a paper that you know doesn't add up, but you dont know how to work it out. So along comes Emma and explains it all for you. Yet again sterling work and much appreciated.
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This is what I love about social media. A story in a paper that you know doesn't add up, but you dont know how to work it out. So along comes Emma and explains it all for you. Yet again sterling work and much appreciated.
Reposted by JS
I sell books by the way.
If you'd like to buy one from me, that'd be great.
I'd really appreciate it.
Ta.
If you'd like to buy one from me, that'd be great.
I'd really appreciate it.
Ta.
November 30, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I sell books by the way.
If you'd like to buy one from me, that'd be great.
I'd really appreciate it.
Ta.
If you'd like to buy one from me, that'd be great.
I'd really appreciate it.
Ta.
Reposted by JS
Meet Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s @commissionerhr.coe.int
As we mark 75 years of the European Convention on #HumanRights, find out what the #ECHR means to him, both personally and professionally?
As we mark 75 years of the European Convention on #HumanRights, find out what the #ECHR means to him, both personally and professionally?
December 1, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Meet Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s @commissionerhr.coe.int
As we mark 75 years of the European Convention on #HumanRights, find out what the #ECHR means to him, both personally and professionally?
As we mark 75 years of the European Convention on #HumanRights, find out what the #ECHR means to him, both personally and professionally?
Reposted by JS
Quick note to anyone thinking of buying my books: please purchase the new Swift Press versions, NOT the relatively small number of Unbound versions still knocking about, & being sold by OOINYA. Unbound stopped paying me for my work early in 2024 and I will never see a penny for these books.
November 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Quick note to anyone thinking of buying my books: please purchase the new Swift Press versions, NOT the relatively small number of Unbound versions still knocking about, & being sold by OOINYA. Unbound stopped paying me for my work early in 2024 and I will never see a penny for these books.
Reposted by JS
🧵 - Tom's books make wonderful Christmas gifts by the way.
Quick note to anyone thinking of buying my books: please purchase the new Swift Press versions, NOT the relatively small number of Unbound versions still knocking about, & being sold by OOINYA. Unbound stopped paying me for my work early in 2024 and I will never see a penny for these books.
December 1, 2025 at 7:58 AM
🧵 - Tom's books make wonderful Christmas gifts by the way.
Reposted by JS
FESTIVE BOOK FUN!
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
FESTIVE BOOK FUN!
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
Reposted by JS
Simon has been doing this for me for a couple of years. It's always really fun and he picks great books that match my reading tastes 💙📚
November 2, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Simon has been doing this for me for a couple of years. It's always really fun and he picks great books that match my reading tastes 💙📚
Reposted by JS
Where the veil between seasons and legends is thin. Wayland's Smithy is cradled by a blazing ring of fall foliage. The very definition of a timeless landscape. 🍁 #History #Mythology
October 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Where the veil between seasons and legends is thin. Wayland's Smithy is cradled by a blazing ring of fall foliage. The very definition of a timeless landscape. 🍁 #History #Mythology
Reposted by JS
The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an unsafe haven trib.al/SEAXC1c
The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an u...
The violence in Manchester and the language in Whitehall are ruptures in the social fabric that has made Britain a beacon of freedom and safety
trib.al
October 7, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an unsafe haven trib.al/SEAXC1c
Reposted by JS
I am not sure how much influence reviews have these days, and don't really expect any for my books, but a few nice ones have come in for this.
October 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I am not sure how much influence reviews have these days, and don't really expect any for my books, but a few nice ones have come in for this.
Reposted by JS
🚨 POLICE TOOK OUR TRUMP & EPSTEIN VAN
They're obviously terrified of THIS photo of Donald with the world’s most notorious paedophile making headlines while Trump visits the King.
So whatever you do - DO NOT SHARE THIS VIDEO
Location: Windsor High Street, UK
#trump #epstein
They're obviously terrified of THIS photo of Donald with the world’s most notorious paedophile making headlines while Trump visits the King.
So whatever you do - DO NOT SHARE THIS VIDEO
Location: Windsor High Street, UK
#trump #epstein
September 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by JS
Sometimes you just can't give away books.
Maybe I should try and sell some instead.
Maybe I should try and sell some instead.
It's #buyastrangerabook day!
@bwianair.bsky.social
is offering to buy someone the book of their choice, up to £20!
Yes, that's right.
TWENTY POUNDS.
So, if there's a particular book you're after, get in touch.
UK only.
@bwianair.bsky.social
is offering to buy someone the book of their choice, up to £20!
Yes, that's right.
TWENTY POUNDS.
So, if there's a particular book you're after, get in touch.
UK only.
I'll offer a book up to £20 Simon.
September 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Sometimes you just can't give away books.
Maybe I should try and sell some instead.
Maybe I should try and sell some instead.
Reposted by JS
Here's another #buyastrangerabook day offer.
If you let @stevenkeevil.bsky.social know what kind of books you enjoy, Steve will make a few suggestions and buy you the one you like the sound of best!
So, get in touch.
UK only
If you let @stevenkeevil.bsky.social know what kind of books you enjoy, Steve will make a few suggestions and buy you the one you like the sound of best!
So, get in touch.
UK only
Hi @biggreenbooks.bsky.social
Let’s pay it forward
Get somebody to tell me what they like
I will make suggestions
Etc
Let’s pay it forward
Get somebody to tell me what they like
I will make suggestions
Etc
September 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Here's another #buyastrangerabook day offer.
If you let @stevenkeevil.bsky.social know what kind of books you enjoy, Steve will make a few suggestions and buy you the one you like the sound of best!
So, get in touch.
UK only
If you let @stevenkeevil.bsky.social know what kind of books you enjoy, Steve will make a few suggestions and buy you the one you like the sound of best!
So, get in touch.
UK only
Reposted by JS
Interesting.
Dan Brown is the number one bestselling author in the UK this week.
But if you offer to give his book away, nobody wants it.
There's something fishy going on here.
Maybe Dan can write a book about it?
Anyway.
JUST ASK!
#buyastrangerabook
Dan Brown is the number one bestselling author in the UK this week.
But if you offer to give his book away, nobody wants it.
There's something fishy going on here.
Maybe Dan can write a book about it?
Anyway.
JUST ASK!
#buyastrangerabook
September 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Interesting.
Dan Brown is the number one bestselling author in the UK this week.
But if you offer to give his book away, nobody wants it.
There's something fishy going on here.
Maybe Dan can write a book about it?
Anyway.
JUST ASK!
#buyastrangerabook
Dan Brown is the number one bestselling author in the UK this week.
But if you offer to give his book away, nobody wants it.
There's something fishy going on here.
Maybe Dan can write a book about it?
Anyway.
JUST ASK!
#buyastrangerabook
Reposted by JS
When you sign up for Substack, it suggests £7 per month as a price to charge subscribers & takes 10% of that (on top of Stripe fees).
I got rid of Substack and am now on Ghost.
There is an option to pay more but for £1 a month you can read everything I write on here (a lot).
I hope that seems fair.
I got rid of Substack and am now on Ghost.
There is an option to pay more but for £1 a month you can read everything I write on here (a lot).
I hope that seems fair.
I'm pinning this link, where you can subscribe to my writing: the-villager.ghost.io. I work very hard on it, it's how I pay the rent, and it's algorithm-free. I'm hoping those of you here who enjoy what I do will check out my archive/subscribe/share, as it's where I will mostly be from now on.
September 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
When you sign up for Substack, it suggests £7 per month as a price to charge subscribers & takes 10% of that (on top of Stripe fees).
I got rid of Substack and am now on Ghost.
There is an option to pay more but for £1 a month you can read everything I write on here (a lot).
I hope that seems fair.
I got rid of Substack and am now on Ghost.
There is an option to pay more but for £1 a month you can read everything I write on here (a lot).
I hope that seems fair.
Reposted by JS
11th September 2025 19.15
September 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
11th September 2025 19.15
Reposted by JS
11th September 2025 19.19
September 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
11th September 2025 19.19
Reposted by JS
Also: writers SHOULD be paid for their work. Substack encourage writers to charge high rates then take 10% of that. I decided to fuck that system off. You can read over 100,000 words of my writing for £10 a year. If you want to pay more, great. If you don't, also great. Thanks for the support.
I deleted my Substack: a decision which might well fuck up my financial security/book sales/various other things but I've decided it's the right decision & I'm sticking with it. My newsletter now goes out via Ghost & you can subscribe to it for as little as as £10 a year: the-villager.ghost.io
September 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Also: writers SHOULD be paid for their work. Substack encourage writers to charge high rates then take 10% of that. I decided to fuck that system off. You can read over 100,000 words of my writing for £10 a year. If you want to pay more, great. If you don't, also great. Thanks for the support.