Jim Martin
@jimspim.bsky.social
Publishing Director, Bloomsbury. Pop-science, natural history. Gonzo editor; zoo-LOL-ogist; supplier of bookish news, animal facts, regular swearing. Views my own.
Interesting choice of Yellow Wagtail to illustrate this BBC report.
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
November 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Interesting choice of Yellow Wagtail to illustrate this BBC report.
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?
A sudden flurry of excellent book ideas and proposals. The pre-Santa bounce. A reminder of why I enjoy my job.
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A sudden flurry of excellent book ideas and proposals. The pre-Santa bounce. A reminder of why I enjoy my job.
It is just too cold, wet and horrible outside to go watch football. Will sit by the fire and doom-scroll instead.
November 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
It is just too cold, wet and horrible outside to go watch football. Will sit by the fire and doom-scroll instead.
Rather shamelessly heading on the tube with an award I collected on someone else's behalf at a ceremony earlier. Fun to see people clock the award, then try to figure out if I'm famous. Bad luck, fuckers. 10/10, would recommend.
November 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Rather shamelessly heading on the tube with an award I collected on someone else's behalf at a ceremony earlier. Fun to see people clock the award, then try to figure out if I'm famous. Bad luck, fuckers. 10/10, would recommend.
@sophiepavs.bsky.social from this week's Beano.
November 17, 2025 at 10:50 PM
@sophiepavs.bsky.social from this week's Beano.
We are watching K-Pop Demon Hunters.
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
We are watching K-Pop Demon Hunters.
It is genuinely amazing just how much work I can get done – and how much happier I feel as a result – when I can get on with some actual work and not be in sat in meetings all day.
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It is genuinely amazing just how much work I can get done – and how much happier I feel as a result – when I can get on with some actual work and not be in sat in meetings all day.
I will be limping in to work tomorrow. Pulled a muscle in my arse clambering through the softplay. Tough times.
November 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I will be limping in to work tomorrow. Pulled a muscle in my arse clambering through the softplay. Tough times.
Forced to go inside the giant soft-play ziggurat. Failed to stretch beforehand. Serious muscle strain the inevitable result.
November 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Forced to go inside the giant soft-play ziggurat. Failed to stretch beforehand. Serious muscle strain the inevitable result.
Wild that Picador have restoked the Kate Clanchy affair (see @thebookseller.com). Why? This pandemic-era fiasco was basically forgotten.
November 5, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Wild that Picador have restoked the Kate Clanchy affair (see @thebookseller.com). Why? This pandemic-era fiasco was basically forgotten.
Waiting for a train at Waterloo means time spent in @foyles picking holes in the output of rival publishers. A rare joy.
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Waiting for a train at Waterloo means time spent in @foyles picking holes in the output of rival publishers. A rare joy.
I've tried to like this. I really have. The subject is something I'm really interested in. But the author is just too boasty-humble braggy, and I've had to knock it on the head. His editors haven't done him any favours here.
November 3, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I've tried to like this. I really have. The subject is something I'm really interested in. But the author is just too boasty-humble braggy, and I've had to knock it on the head. His editors haven't done him any favours here.
Reposted by Jim Martin
This Friday, 7pm Halloween night, Bev the Haunted Doll and I will be at Waterstones Aberystwyth to talk about Ghosted. Will anyone be brave enough to shake her little haunted hand? 👻
Tickets and info: www.waterstones.com/events/alice...
Tickets and info: www.waterstones.com/events/alice...
Alice Vernon launches Ghosted | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Alice Vernon launches Ghosted today.
www.waterstones.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This Friday, 7pm Halloween night, Bev the Haunted Doll and I will be at Waterstones Aberystwyth to talk about Ghosted. Will anyone be brave enough to shake her little haunted hand? 👻
Tickets and info: www.waterstones.com/events/alice...
Tickets and info: www.waterstones.com/events/alice...
Reposted by Jim Martin
Telling scary stories around the campfire to young people:
"...and you had no way of knowing who was calling. You just had to pick it up."
"...co...couldn't you put it on silent?"
"There was no silent. And anyone in the house could answer. Even if the call was for you."
"...and you had no way of knowing who was calling. You just had to pick it up."
"...co...couldn't you put it on silent?"
"There was no silent. And anyone in the house could answer. Even if the call was for you."
October 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Telling scary stories around the campfire to young people:
"...and you had no way of knowing who was calling. You just had to pick it up."
"...co...couldn't you put it on silent?"
"There was no silent. And anyone in the house could answer. Even if the call was for you."
"...and you had no way of knowing who was calling. You just had to pick it up."
"...co...couldn't you put it on silent?"
"There was no silent. And anyone in the house could answer. Even if the call was for you."
Today I'm trapped in a Welsh airbnb with no heating. The curse of the 'smart' thermostat. Sat in my coat under a duvet. A long and difficult night ahead.
October 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Today I'm trapped in a Welsh airbnb with no heating. The curse of the 'smart' thermostat. Sat in my coat under a duvet. A long and difficult night ahead.
I'm trapped at London Waterloo. Trains are few on a Sunday. There are worse places to be stuck. The pub 'The Victory' is really very nice and the football's on.
October 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I'm trapped at London Waterloo. Trains are few on a Sunday. There are worse places to be stuck. The pub 'The Victory' is really very nice and the football's on.
I am on my second Yakult of the day. #NewScientistLive doing its bit for gut health. Currently learning about witness mis-remembering with @ciaragreene.bsky.social and @gillian-murphy.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I am on my second Yakult of the day. #NewScientistLive doing its bit for gut health. Currently learning about witness mis-remembering with @ciaragreene.bsky.social and @gillian-murphy.bsky.social
Back at New Scientist Live this morning. @helenczerski.bsky.social on earth energetics is a good way to start the day.
October 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Back at New Scientist Live this morning. @helenczerski.bsky.social on earth energetics is a good way to start the day.
Main learning of the day: Gravity isn't a force. Got told this three times in three talks by three professors, so I am guessing it's true. Did everyone know this but me? Must up my physics game. #NewScientistLive
October 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Main learning of the day: Gravity isn't a force. Got told this three times in three talks by three professors, so I am guessing it's true. Did everyone know this but me? Must up my physics game. #NewScientistLive
Final talk of the day at #NewScientistLive. I have drunk a lot of Yakult. Bought a book about fermentation. Handful of book ideas. Doze on the train home to come.
October 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Final talk of the day at #NewScientistLive. I have drunk a lot of Yakult. Bought a book about fermentation. Handful of book ideas. Doze on the train home to come.
Busy at #NewScientistLive. Gravitational waves first thing, and now it's the gut/brain connection. Yakult is sponsoring. Lots of free Yakult. I am expecting a first-class gut lining by teatime.
October 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Busy at #NewScientistLive. Gravitational waves first thing, and now it's the gut/brain connection. Yakult is sponsoring. Lots of free Yakult. I am expecting a first-class gut lining by teatime.
I am at the Excel centre for New Scientist Live. National Wedding Show is next door, and the other side is MUSICAL-CON. Which looks a lot of fun. Much cosplaying. I'm cosplaying for New Scientist as Peter Higgs.
October 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I am at the Excel centre for New Scientist Live. National Wedding Show is next door, and the other side is MUSICAL-CON. Which looks a lot of fun. Much cosplaying. I'm cosplaying for New Scientist as Peter Higgs.
My favourite news story of the decade to date. #trains #time #GBR www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Timely arrival: Great British Railways clock launches at London Bridge
Digital timepiece is UK rail’s first national clock in more than 50 years and will be seen at stations across the country
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My favourite news story of the decade to date. #trains #time #GBR www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I do quite like a bit of SpongeBob SquarePants.
October 16, 2025 at 8:54 AM
I do quite like a bit of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Reposted by Jim Martin
Why look: a box of some sort of newish, bookish things arrived this morning. Seems to be about spinosaurid #dinosaurs... coauthored with @davehone.bsky.social... and published by Bloomsbury. Available 6th of November In the UK; then worldwide in early 2026.
October 15, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Why look: a box of some sort of newish, bookish things arrived this morning. Seems to be about spinosaurid #dinosaurs... coauthored with @davehone.bsky.social... and published by Bloomsbury. Available 6th of November In the UK; then worldwide in early 2026.