I hope the Police and Crime Committee give disability and sexual orientation/identity as aggravating factors as much air time as race and religion, in the context of hate crimes. The current legislative approach creates a hierarchy of hate.

I have a vague memory of hearing about those pranks. Thanks for the recommendation.

Interesting. I am reading The Art of Cruelty by Maggie Nelson at the moment and recently read Mothers: An Essay on Love and Cruelty. Sounds like you’ll be wading into the swamp!

Would love a serious book programme on the BBC. One that centres authors and critics.

Is the queue still very enormous?

Thanks, Kerry. Just saw your success with the Bristol Short Story Prize! Amazing! Congratulations right back at you. Team Birkbeck ftw.💪

Pictured is last year’s anthology which comes with a full recommend and includes fantastic work by @jessmoxham.bsky.social, @kerrymead.bsky.social, @kateblincoe.bsky.social and other fantastic writers.

Please buy, boost, bless and believe in The Curae anthology when the prescription (book) is filled (published).

The #Curae prize does not require submissions to be about care, although mine is, but I am looking forward to reading work forged in care’s crucible - work that has been shaped, tempered, and deepened by our shared experience.
Thanks for creating something for us, @bookwormvaught.bsky.social

My piece,
"Metamorphosis" is about my son’s deep phobia of fluttery things, but it also about love, caring and attention. It is about realising that growth and change is possible for both of us, and making space for that as we construct our futures.

Heartfelt thanks to the whole team.💕