James Bailey
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drjamesbailey.bsky.social
James Bailey
@drjamesbailey.bsky.social
5.8K followers 10K following 280 posts
Writer who lives in Manchester. Rep’d by Creative Artists Agency. LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD, my biography of Muriel Spark, is out in April 2026 🐈‍⬛

https://lnk.to/LikeaCatLovesaBird

Instagram.com/drjamesbailey
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Reposted by James Bailey
lyndseystonebri.bsky.social
Discovering that Muriel Spark adopted Patricia Highsmith's cat, Spider, is all I needed to make a dull day better.
drjamesbailey.bsky.social James Bailey @drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 23d
Some trivia: The cat Spark’s holding on the cover was named Spider; she’d adopted him from Patricia Highsmith. Spider was a fan of fireworks - he found that their booms tended to stun the nearby lizards, making them easy for him to hunt down and kill. I imagine Spark admired this display of cunning…
Muriel Spark, holding a black cat and smiling at the camera Patricia Highsmith, holding the same black cat, and smiling at the camera
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
lieven.bsky.social
Take note, American Sparkites. Sparkettes? Sparkles.
drjamesbailey.bsky.social James Bailey @drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 10h
Great big news!

My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!

🐈‍⬛💘🐦‍⬛
A note in Publishers Marketplace, which reads ‘LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD by James Bailey: Imprint: Princeton University Press, Sceptre James Bailey's LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, a perspective on the life and career of the writer Bailey calls "one of literature's great shapeshifters", to Anne Savarese at Princeton University Press, for publication in spring 2026, by Amelia Atlas at CAA, on behalf of John Ash. Rights also to Charlotte Humphery at Sceptre (UK).’
November 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
drjamesbailey.bsky.social
Great big news!

My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!

🐈‍⬛💘🐦‍⬛
A note in Publishers Marketplace, which reads ‘LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD by James Bailey: Imprint: Princeton University Press, Sceptre James Bailey's LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, a perspective on the life and career of the writer Bailey calls "one of literature's great shapeshifters", to Anne Savarese at Princeton University Press, for publication in spring 2026, by Amelia Atlas at CAA, on behalf of John Ash. Rights also to Charlotte Humphery at Sceptre (UK).’
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
andrewmale.bsky.social
The loneliest man in the world.
wapplehouse.bsky.social Kristi Yamaguccimane @wapplehouse.bsky.social · 1d
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
regretteruane.bsky.social
This gorgeous little book of slides from the Design Council collection has arrived & single handedly saved my sanity
A book with a white cover and a photo of a slide of a traffic island titled projecting British design stuck onto it in red lettering A white book page with a photo of a slide children in animal costumes
November 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
cclarklewes.bsky.social
Ice pond at sunset, 4.05pm
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
jacquiwine.bsky.social
From the archive for Beryl Bainbridge, #BornOnThisDay in 1932, thoughts on THE BOTTLE FACTORY OUTING, a darkly comic novel w/ a note of tragedy.

A group of factory workers go on a company day out. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot as it turns out. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/t...
The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge
First published in 1974, The Bottle Factory Outing was Beryl Bainbridge’s fifth novel. It’s only the third of her books that I’ve read (my first was An Awfully Big Adventure, a darkly comic gem); b…
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by James Bailey
nnedi.bsky.social
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.

This is who it was:
A male Anna’s hummingbird at the door. So nosy! 🤣
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by James Bailey
erikaleesears.bsky.social
In the jungle #art #oilpainting
November 21, 2025 at 8:33 AM
drjamesbailey.bsky.social
News! On 16 April (same day my book comes out) I'll be chatting with @jennashworth.bsky.social at @blackwellsmcr.bsky.social

We'll be talking all about LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, and I’d love it if you could join us. Tickets here! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/like-a-cat...
LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: James Bailey in conversation with Jenn Ashworth
Join us to celebrate the publication of James Bailey's illuminating biography of Muriel Spark
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
heavenalibooks.bsky.social
Oh gosh! I adore Muriel Spark, I shall definitely need to get this when it comes out. 😍
drjamesbailey.bsky.social James Bailey @drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 23d
Here’s the cover for LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, out 16 April with @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Preorder here: lnk.to/LikeaCatLove...

Please share! The book doing well means I can write another (and fulfil my dream of owning a pizza oven), so it’s pretty serious

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛
Orange and pink cover for Like a Cat Loves a Bird, a forthcoming biography of Muriel Spark, with a black and white photo of Spark holding a black cat on the cover
November 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
npitchford.bsky.social
As one who has come late in life to a passionate admiration for Spark’s novels & the intelligence behind them, I look forward very much to reading this. I mean, just look at that photo.
drjamesbailey.bsky.social James Bailey @drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 23d
Here’s the cover for LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, out 16 April with @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Preorder here: lnk.to/LikeaCatLove...

Please share! The book doing well means I can write another (and fulfil my dream of owning a pizza oven), so it’s pretty serious

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛
Orange and pink cover for Like a Cat Loves a Bird, a forthcoming biography of Muriel Spark, with a black and white photo of Spark holding a black cat on the cover
November 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
drdominicdean.bsky.social
This looks wonderful!
drjamesbailey.bsky.social James Bailey @drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 23d
Here’s the cover for LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, out 16 April with @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Preorder here: lnk.to/LikeaCatLove...

Please share! The book doing well means I can write another (and fulfil my dream of owning a pizza oven), so it’s pretty serious

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛
Orange and pink cover for Like a Cat Loves a Bird, a forthcoming biography of Muriel Spark, with a black and white photo of Spark holding a black cat on the cover
November 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
regretteruane.bsky.social
This perfect duffer is trying out for the role of spokesmodel for this wonder by @drjamesbailey.bsky.social which I’m so looking forward to reading
A black cat lying on a pink floral quilt next to a copy of a book with a red and pink cover called like a cat loves a bird featuring half of cat’s face which bears a great resemblance to the cat in the photo
November 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
phillimilne.bsky.social
My brilliant friend @drjamesbailey.bsky.social has written a book about Muriel Spark. It’s sharp, warm and funny. A joy to read (and ready for pre-order).
🐈‍⬛
October 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
edinburghbookshop.bsky.social
#CoverReveal : We're obviously always delighted to celebrate one of our (very!) local literary stars, Muriel Spark, and Hodder has James Bailey's Like a Cat Loves a Bird, "a spiky and delicious new literary biography", coming next April.

#books #livres #MurielSpark #Edinburgh #Edimbourg
Orange and pink cover for Like a Cat Loves a Bird, a forthcoming biography of Muriel Spark, with a black and white photo of Spark holding a black cat on the cover
October 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
drjamesbailey.bsky.social
Here’s the cover for LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, out 16 April with @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Preorder here: lnk.to/LikeaCatLove...

Please share! The book doing well means I can write another (and fulfil my dream of owning a pizza oven), so it’s pretty serious

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛
Orange and pink cover for Like a Cat Loves a Bird, a forthcoming biography of Muriel Spark, with a black and white photo of Spark holding a black cat on the cover
November 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
drjamesbailey.bsky.social
Proofs are in! A huge thank you to @sceptrebooks.bsky.social for sending these my way. LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK will be out in April, and these proofs will be going out into the world imminently. Terrifying! Exciting! Mostly terrifying!
A photo of me, holding a cover of Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of a Muriel Spark in front of my face. The book has a cat on the front cover, and has been positioned to look like the cat’s face forms half of my own.
October 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
nancycomics.bsky.social
Nancy By Ernie Bushmiller
August 26,1946
NANCY BY ERNIE BUSHMILLER P1-NANCY AND SLUGGO PANEL SEE A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK NANCY: OH, BOY !...A PAIR OF SUN GLASSES SLUGGO :I SAW 'EM FOIST P2-NANCY: LET GO THEY'RE MINE SLUGGO: SOME NOIVE-GIMME ‘EM P3-NANCY: LISTEN --- WHAT'S THE USE OF US FIGHTING LIKE THIS? P4-NANCY AND SLUGGO ARE WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR HEADS TOGETHER SO THAT BOTH CAN WEAR THE SUNGLASSES TOGETHER
October 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Beautiful everyday Ladybird things.
The Trimphone
(How it Works: The Telephone, 1972)
Artist: BH Robinson
Photo realistic illustration of a green trimphone on a beige background.
October 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
drjamesbailey.bsky.social
I love this photo because it looks like it belongs in a life insurance brochure, which is all I’ve ever really wanted, to be honest.
October 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
wormbuxx.bsky.social
Now I’m falling asleep and she’s calling a cob
October 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
vintageaudiolove.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by James Bailey
literaryhub.bsky.social
Francesca Wade examines how Gertrude Stein’s “desire to wring every ounce of meaning from a limited set of words” made the expatriate writer famous in her own country.
Inventing Gertrude Stein, Literary Cubist
Near the beginning of The Making of Americans, Gertrude Stein breaks off abruptly to address her reader—“but truly,” she adds, “I never feel it that there ever can be for me any such a creature, no…
buff.ly
October 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM