Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 10d

I remember. 😅

1

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 10d

Good choice.

1 1

Reposted by P J Canning

Emma Finlayson-Palmer @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 11d

So pleased to see copies of Grimogen Darkstar have magicked their way to @waterstoneswton.bsky.social 😊 I'll be at the shop on the 31st October 12-1pm for some spooky crafts 🦇🐈‍⬛📚🎉

#grimogendarkstar #kidlit #childrensbooks #spooky #halloween #autumn #spookyseason #halfterm
@tinytreebooks.bsky.social

Waterstones Wolverhampton @waterstoneswton.bsky.social · 11d

🦇🐈‍⬛️ We're so pleased to welcome Grimogen Darkstar: Bat-Cat-Tastrophe into stock at Waterstones #Wolverhampton, from local favourite, Emma @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social FinlaysonPalmer! A perfect #SpookySeason treat for younger readers! 🦇🐈‍⬛️ #Halloween #GrimogenDarkstar

3 4

Reposted by P J Canning

Darren Simpson @darrensimpson44.bsky.social · 11d

#Take10ToRead, peeps! It'll do you wonders in so many ways.

2 2

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 11d

👏👏👏

1

Reposted by P J Canning

Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 11d

My Black book for today is (and excuse the blowing of one’s own trumpet) my own. Because it won the Readers Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards last night and I’m still feeling v emotional about it! This explores Black Tudor history through time travel and I’m so bloody proud of it!

Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief by Claire Linney

1 6 11

Reposted by P J Canning

Wonderland Bookshop @wonderlandbookshop.bsky.social · 11d

LOVED this book so much!

Claire Linney Author @clairelinney.bsky.social · 12d

Continuing sharing a whole month of great Black authored kids books. Today is Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun - one of the first books that really got me into reading middle grade. I mean it’s Balck girl scifi and her Afro hair is her superpower. I could not love this series more.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tola Okogwu

1 5

Reposted by P J Canning

hux | aka Lizzie Huxley-Jones @littlehux.bsky.social · 12d

The news is official! I can finally tell you that my next romcom Reality Check will be out in April next year!

A sunny selfie of Hux, a white person with auburn hair and green glasses, holding up a postcard to their face. The postcard is pink and purple and says Reality Check.

A screenshot of the Bookseller announcement for my new novel. Simon and Schuster UK swoons for Lizzie Huxley-Jones’
‘escapist’ reality show romance
RIGHTS
OCT 9, 2025
BY CASSIDY BAILEY.

The photo shows Hux a white person with light auburn hair sitting on a couch in a green lead patterned suit, eyes closed and laughing.

Simon & Schuster UK has acquired two new novels by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, who was previously published by Hodder & Stoughton. Deputy publishing director Molly.
Crawford acquired world all-language rights in a two-book deal from Abi Fellows at DHH Literary Agency.
The first of the two novels, Reality Check, is a "funny, escapist" romance between two women who share a kiss behind the scenes of a reality TV show and find themselves choosing between on-screen fame or true love. Reality Check will publish in all formats in April 2026.
Crawford said: "I've long been obsessed with Lizzie's Christmas romances so am absolutely thrilled to be able to welcome them to the S&S list. Reality Check satiates a universal need for realistic romance elevated by unusual circumstance rather than narrative necessity.
Lizzie captures the chaos and charm of reality TV, weaving a love story that delivers kick-your-feet romance alongside punch-in-the-gut relatable detail. It centres and celebrates queer love, living with chronic illness and freeing ourselves from life's filters. It's a novel you can't help but press into the hands of friends and I'm so excited to take it to market."

Huxley-Jones is the author of the queer holiday romcoms Make You Mine This Christmas and Under the Mistletoe with You, the young adult summer romance Hits Different co-written with Tasha Ghouri, and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize-shortlisted fantasy series Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend. Reality Check is their third adult romance novel.
Huxley-Jones said: "Reality Check brings together my deep fascination with reality television, with the concept of persona and masking, through the experiences of two queer women who just cannot seem to escape each other. There's hijinks and fake-dating arrangements and an autistic girl unravelling 'comphet' all within the bounds of a wedding-themed dating show. It's been a book in my heart for years and I'm so glad it will reach readers next year.
"It is such a thrill and honour to bring my romcoms to the incredible team at Simon & Schuster, especially my wonderful editor Molly Crawford. They are not only a team who understand and respect commercial romance fiction, but one that deeply cares for their authors. It's been such a joy to work with them on Reality Check, my most ambitious romcom to date, and to see their enthusiasm at every step. I'm so thankful for my agent Abi Fellows finding my work such an enriching home."

8 15 62

Reposted by P J Canning

James Turner @patchworkofregrets.bsky.social · 13d

Toby and the Pixies: Worst King Ever has been included in this year's Great Books Guide from BookTrust that will be going out to schools all over the country! So many brilliant books in this, I'm very pleased to be included - see the full list here: www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

4 11

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · 21d

Reminds me of my first dog. If you threw her a frisbee, she'd let it hit her in the face and then pick it up off the ground.

WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 22d

This is Gus. His brother Walter is trying to teach him how to catch a treat. Sadly it may be a lost cause. Still 13/10 for both (IG: waltandgusthebernese)

Reposted by P J Canning

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · Sep 12

We were delighted to team up with National Fostering Group for an episode of their Voices of Fostering podcast, featuring our former Writer in Residence @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social!

🎧 Find it wherever you get your podcasts or on this link:

https://bit.ly/4gjaCG0

4 5

Reposted by P J Canning

P.G. Bell @pgbellwriter.bsky.social · May 20

"What big teeth you've got!" Check out the animated trailer for The Big Bad Wolf Murder, a fairytale whodunnit coming this September. Action-packed noir with bite, for readers aged 7+. Read the first chapter and pre-order here: www.pgbellwriter.com/the-big-bad-... #KidLit #KidLitUK

6 12 23

Reposted by P J Canning

Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · Sep 8

Hugely excited to have received a copy of Letters from the Upside, the latest middle grade from Katya Balen. Out 25/09 from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social, enormous thanks go to Beatrice Cross 🌻

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

The book and its press release. The cover shows a boy wearing a blue hoodie holding a pigeon with both hands in front of a greenhouse and some potted plants.

3 8

Reposted by P J Canning

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Aug 29

I have a book out in two weeks. So....one repost of this and I'll drop one fact/spoiler/detail about the book. @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social www.walker.co.uk/978152951581...

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Causing Chaos - Walker Books

PRE-ORDER NOW! THE BRAND-NEW HILARIOUS DOODLE-PACKED DIARY IN THE BESTSELLING LOKI SERIES.‘Tom Gates and Wimpy Kid fans need look no further than this laug...

www.walker.co.uk

12 130 200

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · Aug 27

Boosting! 👇

Finn Longman @finnlongman.com · Aug 27

THE WOLF AND HIS KING comes out in the UK in 3 months today, so I'm giving away one paperback ARC!

To enter: follow me and reskeet this. Bonus: add TWAHK on GR/Storygraph & drop a screenshot in the comments. Extra bonus: tell me your favourite medieval story.

UK only (sorry). Closes midday 29/08.

An ARC of THE WOLF AND HIS KING by Finn Longman.

1 2

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · Aug 23

What would guess she's thinking?

2

Reposted by P J Canning

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · Aug 23

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit Another brilliant Authors Live is coming up. Open to schools/individuals with access to iPlayer. Register to watch below…

Scottish Book Trust @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social · Aug 21

The international bestselling Skandar author @afsteadman.bsky.social is coming to Authors Live this September! 🐲

Book digital seats for your P6–S3s and join us for this exciting live event. 🎟️

www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and...

A GIF publicising Authors Live with AF Steadman. We see a picture of the author and all their book jackets.

6 9

Reposted by P J Canning

Scottish Book Trust @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social · Aug 21

The international bestselling Skandar author @afsteadman.bsky.social is coming to Authors Live this September! 🐲

Book digital seats for your P6–S3s and join us for this exciting live event. 🎟️

www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and...

1 3

Reposted by P J Canning

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · Aug 15

Our Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers is open for applications!

Four talented writers will be awarded nine months of mentoring from a published author-mentor and a tutorial with a literary agent.

Apply by 2 Nov: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/break...

Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers

Four talented disabled writers will receive nine months of mentoring from a published author, plus a tutorial with a literary agent.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1 26 34

P J Canning @pjcanningauthor.bsky.social · Aug 15

I edit the previous day's draft zero before I write the next bit - gets my head into the story and means my first proper redraft isn't dealing with the real knuckle-head stuff.

Reposted by P J Canning

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Aug 15

Draft one SENT! Book six is away!

9 2 100

Reposted by P J Canning

Tom Griffiths @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social · Aug 11

Why must you preorder the incredible Letters from the Upside? If you’ve read any of the other books here then I bet the latest from Katya Balen will be right up your street 🐦 Out 25/9 for 9+. @bloomsburyed.bsky.social #kidlituk

1 5 12

Reposted by P J Canning

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · Jul 23

Have just published a short blog about some of the books selected for the packs I created with Pandora Books. A lot of thought went into the choices so I hope they're a useful starting point for schools.
www.pandorabooks.co.uk/more-from-jo...

4 12

Reposted by P J Canning

SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · Jul 21

"When I was a child, my favourite books were the ones that took me seriously as a reader; the ones that were honest, and didn’t try to soften or simplify the truth, even when they dealt with difficult things. So that’s the kind of book I always want to write myself."
dailybulldog.com/arts/an-inte...

An Interview With SF Said

A remarkable book is being released in the U.S. today. Tyger by SF Said won the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year when it was published in the U.K. in 2023…

dailybulldog.com

6 30

Reposted by P J Canning

Darren Chetty @darrenchetty.bsky.social · Jul 13

Lovely couple of days in Cardiff, talking with @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social about Beyond the Secret Garden for the National Literacy Trust, and then at the Senedd talking to the @bameednetwork.bsky.social Wales group.

3 12