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.
Gorton & Denton bookmaker's odds are fascinating. The very impressive Green candidate is 4/9 favourite. Reform's parachuted-in GB News oddball is 3/1. Then the real fun – Labour 5/1, Lib Dems and Tories 150/1. All three will do well to retain their deposit. Remarkable.
February 18, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Gorton & Denton bookmaker's odds are fascinating. The very impressive Green candidate is 4/9 favourite. Reform's parachuted-in GB News oddball is 3/1. Then the real fun – Labour 5/1, Lib Dems and Tories 150/1. All three will do well to retain their deposit. Remarkable.
I'm considering simply ignoring or deleting all emails that don't start with 'Hello Jim', or similar. The fightback against copying-in culture starts here.
February 17, 2026 at 10:56 AM
I'm considering simply ignoring or deleting all emails that don't start with 'Hello Jim', or similar. The fightback against copying-in culture starts here.
A glimpse of spring. Singing Cetti's Warbler on the walk to school. The bird has clearly decided enough is enough and it's time to push on.
February 11, 2026 at 8:54 AM
A glimpse of spring. Singing Cetti's Warbler on the walk to school. The bird has clearly decided enough is enough and it's time to push on.
Utterly irrelevant in the broad sweep of history unfolding, of course, but it seems Mandelson sent his book to Epstein, who slated it brutally. Mandelson prickly in response - the only mail we've seen that hasn't been gushing.
February 5, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Utterly irrelevant in the broad sweep of history unfolding, of course, but it seems Mandelson sent his book to Epstein, who slated it brutally. Mandelson prickly in response - the only mail we've seen that hasn't been gushing.
Christmas decorations and tree now coming down. We felt February was late enough.
February 1, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Christmas decorations and tree now coming down. We felt February was late enough.
London Book Fair heading to the Excel. I remember the last time it was there (OMG 20 years ago). People fucking hated it. They were still moaning about it in the year of the Icelandic Volcano. www.thebookseller.com/news/the-lon...
www.thebookseller.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:42 AM
London Book Fair heading to the Excel. I remember the last time it was there (OMG 20 years ago). People fucking hated it. They were still moaning about it in the year of the Icelandic Volcano. www.thebookseller.com/news/the-lon...
Still not taken the Christmas tree down.
January 26, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Still not taken the Christmas tree down.
Dyeing son's hair. Had a tott up and realised it's 35 years since I last did mine. Slightly soul-crushing, but anyway.
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Dyeing son's hair. Had a tott up and realised it's 35 years since I last did mine. Slightly soul-crushing, but anyway.
Jenrick ... he truly is shameless. A corrupt Vance wannabe. Imagine ending up like that.
January 15, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Jenrick ... he truly is shameless. A corrupt Vance wannabe. Imagine ending up like that.
While objectively the Jenrick news is of course hilarious, you do have to grudgingly hand it to Badenoch for firm, swift decisiveness that has holed her opponent well beneath the waterline. Jenrick has now been comprehensively sunk.
January 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
While objectively the Jenrick news is of course hilarious, you do have to grudgingly hand it to Badenoch for firm, swift decisiveness that has holed her opponent well beneath the waterline. Jenrick has now been comprehensively sunk.
A colossal scandal breaking. West Midlands police used AI to 'sex up' grounds to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. AI invented a load of stuff. Police went ahead with the ban anyway. Chief Constable of West Midlands now will have to resign for lying about it. Amazing.
January 14, 2026 at 9:47 AM
A colossal scandal breaking. West Midlands police used AI to 'sex up' grounds to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. AI invented a load of stuff. Police went ahead with the ban anyway. Chief Constable of West Midlands now will have to resign for lying about it. Amazing.
@wiwildlife.bsky.social hello, Steve. We would like to use one of your photos in a forthcoming book - would you mind dropping me an email so I can discuss the details with you? It's [email protected]. Thank you.
January 13, 2026 at 1:39 PM
@wiwildlife.bsky.social hello, Steve. We would like to use one of your photos in a forthcoming book - would you mind dropping me an email so I can discuss the details with you? It's [email protected]. Thank you.
First day back at school. Numerous crying children at the school gate. I shared their sorrow.
January 6, 2026 at 9:26 AM
First day back at school. Numerous crying children at the school gate. I shared their sorrow.
West Ham really are hilariously bad, aren't they. Wolves have scored as many goals in one half as they have points. Both teams doomed to the drop.
January 3, 2026 at 4:10 PM
West Ham really are hilariously bad, aren't they. Wolves have scored as many goals in one half as they have points. Both teams doomed to the drop.
Inexplicably, one of the lead stories on the BBC website. Magpie Inkcap is toxic. None of this makes a lick of sense.
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report
Former PC Christopher Vickers was found to have committed gross misconduct over how he issued and recorded a community resolution report.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Inexplicably, one of the lead stories on the BBC website. Magpie Inkcap is toxic. None of this makes a lick of sense.
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Leicestershire officer committed gross misconduct over mushroom foraging report - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Post-Christmas deep dive into Guinness Book of Records reveals that the world's oldest person, Surrey phenomenon Ethel Caterham, is three YEARS older than anyone else alive. What a woman.
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Post-Christmas deep dive into Guinness Book of Records reveals that the world's oldest person, Surrey phenomenon Ethel Caterham, is three YEARS older than anyone else alive. What a woman.
In other news, dreamt I had to re-sit my GCSE Maths. 35 years on, psyche still scarred.
December 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
In other news, dreamt I had to re-sit my GCSE Maths. 35 years on, psyche still scarred.
Today I am at the Kent Coast derby - @ramsgatefc.bsky.social v @fifc.bsky.social. missed kick-off due to queues. Ground packed. Programmes long since sold out. Spicy.
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today I am at the Kent Coast derby - @ramsgatefc.bsky.social v @fifc.bsky.social. missed kick-off due to queues. Ground packed. Programmes long since sold out. Spicy.
Starting to wonder whether the monarchy will survive this.
December 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Starting to wonder whether the monarchy will survive this.
Looking forward to the full suite of HarperCollins stories starting to bubble out.
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Looking forward to the full suite of HarperCollins stories starting to bubble out.
Must admit I was astounded to learn that Stanley Baxter was still alive.
December 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Must admit I was astounded to learn that Stanley Baxter was still alive.
HarperCollins eh. What on earth is going on? Some high-level top-brass internecine warfare by the looks of it.
HarperCollins group sales and rights director Anna Derkacz is set to leave the publisher 👇 #BookSky
HarperCollins group sales and rights director Anna Derkacz leaves publisher
ebx.sh
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
HarperCollins eh. What on earth is going on? Some high-level top-brass internecine warfare by the looks of it.
Controversial I know but the Christmas Tree is already up. Elf already sitting on the shelf.
November 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Controversial I know but the Christmas Tree is already up. Elf already sitting on the shelf.