Andrew Crowther
@andrewcrowther.bsky.social
Unprofessional writer, author of "Down to Earth" published by Stairwell Books and also "Stupid Stories for Tough Times" published by Renard Press, Secretary of the W S Gilbert Society, brunch liberal, and twit
Bradford, Yorkshire
Bradford, Yorkshire
Pinned
It's no use denying that part of the reason I'm on Bluesky is to publicise myself as a writer. I don't really know how to do it, but I'm guessing the best thing is to let people know what my books are like & how to get them; give an idea of my style and viewpoint; & warn them that I look like this:
Writers are lamenting that posting on Bluesky doesn't boost their book sales as in the old days on Twitter; but that isn't my experience. Being on Twitter didn't make the slightest difference to my sales either.
November 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Writers are lamenting that posting on Bluesky doesn't boost their book sales as in the old days on Twitter; but that isn't my experience. Being on Twitter didn't make the slightest difference to my sales either.
As I understand it, my best chance to make a living as a writer is to invent a time machine and get published in the 1990s.
November 25, 2025 at 11:43 AM
As I understand it, my best chance to make a living as a writer is to invent a time machine and get published in the 1990s.
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
And FWIW professional PR advice to me recently has been that personal mailing lists are now more effective than the social media platforms. (Obvs people can just enjoy the social aspect; but as an indicator of reach and use this is quite striking).
Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the fact that in until a few years ago a Social Media strategy was considered absolutely central to most arts PR and marketing; but increasingly theatres/orchestras/opera houses seem to be just going through the motions if that…
I woud say 80% of the people I used to chat to on social media have either left, or post minimally. "Zero posting" is here. But people are "posting" somewhere else ... www.thetimes.com/magazines/th...
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
And FWIW professional PR advice to me recently has been that personal mailing lists are now more effective than the social media platforms. (Obvs people can just enjoy the social aspect; but as an indicator of reach and use this is quite striking).
Is it just me, or do the words "hugely" and "impartial" not really belong together?
November 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Is it just me, or do the words "hugely" and "impartial" not really belong together?
When people write about Kurt Weill, they can't resist dividing his "Berlin" and "Broadway" years. But there's not so much dividing, say, a Berlin piece like "Happy End" from a Broadway show like "One Touch of Venus": they're palpably the works of the same composer, sometimes sharing the same tunes.
November 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
When people write about Kurt Weill, they can't resist dividing his "Berlin" and "Broadway" years. But there's not so much dividing, say, a Berlin piece like "Happy End" from a Broadway show like "One Touch of Venus": they're palpably the works of the same composer, sometimes sharing the same tunes.
What a peculiar way to put it.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
What a peculiar way to put it.
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
“Naught can assail me”
Another divine Jill McDonald Puffin Post cover, full of her characteristic sense of capering, madcap motion and joyful atmosphere always edged with something a little darker & more surreal
November 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
“Naught can assail me”
I had mercifully blotted out of my memory that Alan Jay Lerner and John Barry once collaborated on a musical version of “Lolita”.
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I had mercifully blotted out of my memory that Alan Jay Lerner and John Barry once collaborated on a musical version of “Lolita”.
If only there was some way of asking him
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If only there was some way of asking him
The still relevant satirical ditty "Economics" from @operanorth.co.uk's new recording of Weill's "Love Life":
youtu.be/naEkGadS_ZM?...
youtu.be/naEkGadS_ZM?...
Love Life, Pt. 1: Economics (Quartet, Sam, Susan)
YouTube video by Release - Topic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The still relevant satirical ditty "Economics" from @operanorth.co.uk's new recording of Weill's "Love Life":
youtu.be/naEkGadS_ZM?...
youtu.be/naEkGadS_ZM?...
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
Laurence Sterne born #Onthisday 1713 "The freest spirit of the eighteenth century" (Goethe) "The most liberated spirit of all time" (Nietzsche) #LaurenceSterne #C18th #OTD
www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/sterne/
www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/sterne/
November 24, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Laurence Sterne born #Onthisday 1713 "The freest spirit of the eighteenth century" (Goethe) "The most liberated spirit of all time" (Nietzsche) #LaurenceSterne #C18th #OTD
www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/sterne/
www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/sterne/
I'm very pleased with this. It would have been nice to get a studio recording (this is from a live performance), and there are certain points (e.g. the Divorce Ballet) where I wish they had felt able to let rip as I believe the music demands; but it's a decent record of an extraordinary work.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I'm very pleased with this. It would have been nice to get a studio recording (this is from a live performance), and there are certain points (e.g. the Divorce Ballet) where I wish they had felt able to let rip as I believe the music demands; but it's a decent record of an extraordinary work.
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
Happy Doctor Who day!
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Happy Doctor Who day!
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
Few years ago I did comic adaptation of Karel Čapek sci-fi play R.U.R. ...next month is that comicbook going to be published in Albania, so I have excuse to post some pages here:
November 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Few years ago I did comic adaptation of Karel Čapek sci-fi play R.U.R. ...next month is that comicbook going to be published in Albania, so I have excuse to post some pages here:
You don't have to be an expert to realise this would indeed be a major flaw
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
You don't have to be an expert to realise this would indeed be a major flaw
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
There are of course many problems connected with life, of which some of the most popular are Why are people born? Why do they die? Why do they want to spend so much of the intervening time wearing digital watches?
November 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
There are of course many problems connected with life, of which some of the most popular are Why are people born? Why do they die? Why do they want to spend so much of the intervening time wearing digital watches?
Good to know it’s still a place devoted to selling yarns.
November 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Good to know it’s still a place devoted to selling yarns.
When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie
That’s The Hopkins Manuscript
Like a big pizza pie
That’s The Hopkins Manuscript
November 22, 2025 at 7:42 AM
When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie
That’s The Hopkins Manuscript
Like a big pizza pie
That’s The Hopkins Manuscript
Reposted by Andrew Crowther
When I worked at a bookstore, I quickly learned that people cannot tell the difference between Xmas music and any Baroque or Elizabethan music album that doesn't get too organ-ish. I used this to my advantage.
One customer caught on... AND THANKED ME
One customer caught on... AND THANKED ME
If we had to hear “Baby Shark” everywhere we went for two whole months out of the year we’d throw a fit, right?
And rightfully so.
So tell me, why do we put up with it when the song is “Frosty the Snowman”?
And rightfully so.
So tell me, why do we put up with it when the song is “Frosty the Snowman”?
November 22, 2025 at 3:52 AM
When I worked at a bookstore, I quickly learned that people cannot tell the difference between Xmas music and any Baroque or Elizabethan music album that doesn't get too organ-ish. I used this to my advantage.
One customer caught on... AND THANKED ME
One customer caught on... AND THANKED ME
Drummergeddon
Join me in my annual game. There is just one goal: Avoid hearing Drummer Boy. Last person standing wins.
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Drummergeddon
Generally I prefer to understate; I could easily put it much more strongly. Like the Cinderella character in “Into the Woods”, he made his decision, which was not to decide—a grotesque abdication of responsibility at the exact time the opposite attitude was most needed.
November 21, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Generally I prefer to understate; I could easily put it much more strongly. Like the Cinderella character in “Into the Woods”, he made his decision, which was not to decide—a grotesque abdication of responsibility at the exact time the opposite attitude was most needed.
I can’t see any reason why not to bring charges of, at the very least, involuntary manslaughter against Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, Dominic Cummings, probably others as well. By any measure, what happened was a crime of horrible magnitude.
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I can’t see any reason why not to bring charges of, at the very least, involuntary manslaughter against Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, Dominic Cummings, probably others as well. By any measure, what happened was a crime of horrible magnitude.
At last, a happy end to the “Love Life“ saga
November 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
At last, a happy end to the “Love Life“ saga
Bugs’s horse imitates him too….
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Bugs’s horse imitates him too….
“Let ‘em Eat Cake“ was a warning, not a blueprint
This is not a man who should be President of the United States.
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
“Let ‘em Eat Cake“ was a warning, not a blueprint