Jan Carson
@jancarsonwrites.bsky.social
I’m not terrific but I’m competent
All bookings via website www.jancarson.co.uk
All bookings via website www.jancarson.co.uk
In other troubling news, it has come to my attention that David Suchet was 42 when he first started playing Poirot. How can this be the face of a 42 year old man? It’s like Inspector Morse all over again. Please tell me Angela Lansbury wasn’t 37 or something in Murder She Wrote
January 18, 2026 at 11:52 PM
In other troubling news, it has come to my attention that David Suchet was 42 when he first started playing Poirot. How can this be the face of a 42 year old man? It’s like Inspector Morse all over again. Please tell me Angela Lansbury wasn’t 37 or something in Murder She Wrote
Finally got to see Emmylou Harris live, ticking one more thing off a twenty seven year old bucket list.
January 18, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Finally got to see Emmylou Harris live, ticking one more thing off a twenty seven year old bucket list.
A brilliant day @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social discussing how to Survive as a Writer with a bunch of talented folk (I swear there were actually loads of people here). Thanks to all the writers who took time out of their weekend to spend Saturday with me.
January 17, 2026 at 4:46 PM
A brilliant day @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social discussing how to Survive as a Writer with a bunch of talented folk (I swear there were actually loads of people here). Thanks to all the writers who took time out of their weekend to spend Saturday with me.
Beyond excited that the world’s best bookstore, No Alibis is offering a special edition signed copy of #FewAndFarBetween with fancy endpapers, an extra essay and a bespoke print of the Lough Neagh archipelago. Pre-order the hell out of these beauties, when they’re gone, they’re gone.
January 16, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Beyond excited that the world’s best bookstore, No Alibis is offering a special edition signed copy of #FewAndFarBetween with fancy endpapers, an extra essay and a bespoke print of the Lough Neagh archipelago. Pre-order the hell out of these beauties, when they’re gone, they’re gone.
Virginia Wolff dissing Jane Austen in The Voyage Out
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Virginia Wolff dissing Jane Austen in The Voyage Out
Claire Louise Bennett on Christmas. It’s like she took the inside of my head on Boxing Day evening and wrote it down.
January 12, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Claire Louise Bennett on Christmas. It’s like she took the inside of my head on Boxing Day evening and wrote it down.
Great rejoicing… my one true love has finally returned to me.
January 11, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Great rejoicing… my one true love has finally returned to me.
I came to this wee novel via a recommendation from Barbara Pym and it is one of the best and most original things I’ve read in ages. Every other line’s quotable. Like a mash up between Nancy Mitford and Barbara Comyns.
January 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I came to this wee novel via a recommendation from Barbara Pym and it is one of the best and most original things I’ve read in ages. Every other line’s quotable. Like a mash up between Nancy Mitford and Barbara Comyns.
Finished my Barbara Pym/Shirley Jackson inspired murderous road trip round the Isle of Man novella this evening though dear only know what I’m going to do with the blessed thing.
January 10, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Finished my Barbara Pym/Shirley Jackson inspired murderous road trip round the Isle of Man novella this evening though dear only know what I’m going to do with the blessed thing.
I feel a lot of empathy towards this giant gummy bear stuck to the external wall of B&M
January 9, 2026 at 11:32 AM
I feel a lot of empathy towards this giant gummy bear stuck to the external wall of B&M
Next time someone asks me why I don’t like cats, I will show them a picture of this mean-faced beast who is trying to intimidate out of my own home.
January 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Next time someone asks me why I don’t like cats, I will show them a picture of this mean-faced beast who is trying to intimidate out of my own home.
I always trust a book recommendation from @cathybrown746.bsky.social This was an extremely good and mind-expanding read.
January 7, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I always trust a book recommendation from @cathybrown746.bsky.social This was an extremely good and mind-expanding read.
Happy 4th birthday to #TheRaptures which contains the highest body count of any book I’ve written so far.
January 6, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Happy 4th birthday to #TheRaptures which contains the highest body count of any book I’ve written so far.
Buckle up friends, here begins my year of reading Hilary Mantel. Began with his first novel, a new read to me and superb. Full of wry observation, devastatingly good sentences and dark humour. Including this choice passage from a scene in a writing workshop because it was so spot on #MyYearWithHM
January 4, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Buckle up friends, here begins my year of reading Hilary Mantel. Began with his first novel, a new read to me and superb. Full of wry observation, devastatingly good sentences and dark humour. Including this choice passage from a scene in a writing workshop because it was so spot on #MyYearWithHM
Unintentional synchronicity today - two pieces of great art that put a single day under the microscope.
January 3, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Unintentional synchronicity today - two pieces of great art that put a single day under the microscope.
Trying to go with my guts more in 2025. The Dead of Jericho it is tonight. Screenplay by Anthony Minghella
January 3, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Trying to go with my guts more in 2025. The Dead of Jericho it is tonight. Screenplay by Anthony Minghella
Today would’ve been John Thaw’s 84th birthday. The first episode of Morse aired on January 6th 1987 at which point Thaw had just turned 45. As someone about to turn 46 I find this fact endlessly heartening.
January 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Today would’ve been John Thaw’s 84th birthday. The first episode of Morse aired on January 6th 1987 at which point Thaw had just turned 45. As someone about to turn 46 I find this fact endlessly heartening.
Spent the last few days with this beautifully written slowburn of a novel about books and faith and art and all the other important things. From the pen of the brilliant Andrew Cunning. Published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social early summer.
January 2, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Spent the last few days with this beautifully written slowburn of a novel about books and faith and art and all the other important things. From the pen of the brilliant Andrew Cunning. Published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social early summer.
A whole week of jigsaw building only to find there’s a piece missing. Raging.
January 1, 2026 at 11:27 PM
A whole week of jigsaw building only to find there’s a piece missing. Raging.
Happy New Year - here’s a little New Year Postcard Story from 2015 with a gorgeous illustration by Benjamin Phillips. New microfiction is coming in 2026. Watch this space for news.
January 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Happy New Year - here’s a little New Year Postcard Story from 2015 with a gorgeous illustration by Benjamin Phillips. New microfiction is coming in 2026. Watch this space for news.
Here’s my final 8 films of the year.
December 31, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Here’s my final 8 films of the year.
Very quickly before the clock hits twelve, here are my top films of 2025. It was a brilliant year for cinema and I struggled to get my list down to 20. Sorry Baby and A Complete Unknown were probably my stand outs. Thanks to the good folk at the QFT for putting up with my constant loitering.
December 31, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Very quickly before the clock hits twelve, here are my top films of 2025. It was a brilliant year for cinema and I struggled to get my list down to 20. Sorry Baby and A Complete Unknown were probably my stand outs. Thanks to the good folk at the QFT for putting up with my constant loitering.
Tomorrow morning I’ll be kicking off my year of reading Flannery O’Connor and Hilary Mantel. Let’s be seeing what they inspire. #MyYearWithHM #MyYearWithFOC
December 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Tomorrow morning I’ll be kicking off my year of reading Flannery O’Connor and Hilary Mantel. Let’s be seeing what they inspire. #MyYearWithHM #MyYearWithFOC
Finishing my year of reading Barbara Pym off with this “excellent” and very comprehensive biography. Reading Pym’s inspired me to write a Pym-esque novella about two ladies on a murderous roadtrip round the Isle of Man and she’s given me several essay ideas. Watch this space #MyYearWithBP
December 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Finishing my year of reading Barbara Pym off with this “excellent” and very comprehensive biography. Reading Pym’s inspired me to write a Pym-esque novella about two ladies on a murderous roadtrip round the Isle of Man and she’s given me several essay ideas. Watch this space #MyYearWithBP
Last book round up of the year.
2025 wasn’t a stand out year for novels (in my opinion) but these 12 new(ish) reads really stood out to be. Special shout out to Caleb Klaces whose writing I think is ludicrously underrated and Helm which I think should have got way more attention.
2025 wasn’t a stand out year for novels (in my opinion) but these 12 new(ish) reads really stood out to be. Special shout out to Caleb Klaces whose writing I think is ludicrously underrated and Helm which I think should have got way more attention.
December 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Last book round up of the year.
2025 wasn’t a stand out year for novels (in my opinion) but these 12 new(ish) reads really stood out to be. Special shout out to Caleb Klaces whose writing I think is ludicrously underrated and Helm which I think should have got way more attention.
2025 wasn’t a stand out year for novels (in my opinion) but these 12 new(ish) reads really stood out to be. Special shout out to Caleb Klaces whose writing I think is ludicrously underrated and Helm which I think should have got way more attention.