Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 18h

'Northern creatives need to set their sights further afield than just London.'

Podcaster and horror writer Neil McRobert @talkscaredpod.bsky.social joins me to discuss publishing, the North and having Stephen King as a writing friend. @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social

on.soundcloud.com/ExqvbmvBS3b0...

A greyscale photo of Neil from the shoulders up looking directly into the camera. His expression is serious and he is wearing headphones with wires. He has a beard and his hair is tied back.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 6d

I have a group of ladies just like this in my novel MS and this picture is such a perfect representation of what I had in my head when I was writing them.

Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 7d

Four ladies at the seaside, photo by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen. From Writing In The Sand, a celebration of the life of beaches in north-east England, 1973-98.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 7d

'Being published isn't the end of the road and it can be rough on your mental health.'

Writer Dan Spencer @atlanticbooks.bsky.social joins me on Northern Voices today to discuss his novel, Cat Lover, the publishing process and feline intuition.

on.soundcloud.com/W7g9VDfmHuFa...

A photo of Dan from the waist up. He is standing in front of a rainbow-coloured shutter and is wearing a blue jacket and lighter blue jumper. He has a beard and a moustache and is wearing glasses. He has short sandy brown hair and is looking at the camera, smiling slightly.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks for a great conversation! #dialectnerdsunite!

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 14d

I don't know what's happening here, but this book is phenomenal so it's bound to be good news. Very exciting.

Ted Northodox @tednorthodox.bsky.social · 15d

We're waving goodbye to our biggest and most celebrated book this Sunday. Grab a copy while you can, it won't be available for a while!

Northodox Press 📖 @northodoxpress.bsky.social · 15d

🚨HUGE NEWS🚨

It is with equal sadness and excitement that we must announce The Mare will be coming off sale after this Sunday for reasons Angharad Hampshire will be making clear soon!

You have the next few days to grab a copy of this sensational Walter Scott nominated novel!

Don't miss out!

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 14d

This is the kind of news I live for. UK trip upcoming and high on the list is introducing Justin to a Greggs corned beef pasty.

shorturl.at/ttdtI

Two Greggs branches granted licence to open 24 hours a day despite police fears

Officers feared the new rules could make the stores a "focal point" for crime

shorturl.at

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 14d

'Why is it a local history when it's about the North but when it's about London it's not a local history?'

Academic and writer E. Jay Gilbert @jaylikesthings.bsky.social on her book Haunted @manillapress.bsky.social, history and the linguistic ambiguity of Hagrid.

on.soundcloud.com/Xwb7WxWcnURO...

A photo of Jay from the shoulders up standing against a light beige stone wall. She has a centre-parted fringe and her dark hair is tied back. She has a small stud in the top pf her ear and is wearing red lipstick. She is wearing a black top and jacket and isn't smiling.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 20d

I'm in @thebookseller.com today talking about how we can get more young people interested in publishing and writing careers.

Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.

www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks for a great episode :)

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 21d

'You have to turn that isolation around and say these are experiences I can bring to an industry that doesn't have them.'

The vibrant Daisy May Johnson @chaletfan.bsky.social on baking, books and being proactive in publishing. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

on.soundcloud.com/ua4HeJlkoXYX...

A close up photo of Daisy showing her from the neck up. She is smiling at the camera and behind her is a wall of dark green leaves. She is wearing glasses, a black top and has short wavy brown hair.

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Reposted by Jen Bowden

Liam Thorp @liamthorp.bsky.social · 23d

It was one of the biggest honours of my career to be inside Downing Street and Parliament today to watch as the Hillsborough families made history

My write-up from an important and emotional day 👇

Inside Downing Street as the Hillsborough families made history

The ECHO was privileged to watch on as four of the key Hillsborough family members met with the Prime Minister before heading to the House of Commons to watch the historic moment that the new law they...

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

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Reposted by Jen Bowden

Nadia Whittome MP @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social · 23d

The Hillsborough Law, introduced by the government today, is a long-overdue step toward justice for the families of 97 people who tragically lost their lives.

The new law makes it a crime for public officials to lie about major disasters.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 22d

I've got this on my Kindle to go up next after a friend's book. Interested to see what it's like now you've said this. :)

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 27d

Working on a new novel but it's 1 week to the state band contest and my brain won't think of words and just keeps humming test pieces. Love being a brass bander, but man contests don't half creatively zap you.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 28d

You can also listen to her performing her poetry on her YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCeF...

Ella Frances Tallon formally Sanderson

"Unique, poetic voice” Huw Stephens I post videos with me performing my poetry and talking about autism. My twitter is @EllaSanderson18. Website https://ellasandy16.wixsite.com/aspie

www.youtube.com

Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 28d

'I couldn't write about autism until I was old enough to look at myself from the outside.'

On Northern Voices this week, poet Ella Frances Sanderson talks about accessibility, her creative inspiration and why she loves performing her work.

on.soundcloud.com/rJozfVEo0VH5...

Ella stands holding a mic with one hand and sheets of paper with the other. Behind her are blurred wooden bannisters and bookshelves. She has long straight blonde hair and glasses. In the photo she is speaking into the mic, performing her poetry. She is wearing a deep red blouse.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · 28d

Thanks Anna! I guess there's no rush given how slow the publishing industry is to make changes 😅😉

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Reposted by Jen Bowden

Stu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · Aug 4

A pinned thread about my new novel, Keshed, publishing on 12th Feb 2026 with @ortacpress.bsky.social. Pre-orders available now from all the usual bookshops/websites. See thread for some early pre-press takes from some AMAZING writers and links to other stuff.

www.ortacpress.com/product-page...

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Sep 5

This is gorgeous and embodies the spirit of the North so well. So much for 'it's grim up North', eh? :)

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Sep 4

This sounds amazing.

Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Sep 4

'Writing became something just for me, for my own wellbeing.'

Novelist and Write on the Tyne director Helen Aitchison is on Northern Voices today discussing accessibility, writing as therapy and taking matters into your own hands.

on.soundcloud.com/OjqL1sjV81oR...

A photo of Helen from the chest up standing in front of a slatted wooden wall. She has brown eyes and long wavy dark hair and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black, pink and white printed floral blouse.

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Reposted by Jen Bowden

S J Baker @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social · Aug 30

Honoured to have taken part in this Northern Voices podcast with 6 of my students, discussing 'Calm', Beta reading and how young people in Hull feel about stereotypes of northerners and access to writing and publishing opportunities. With @jenbowden12.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...

Episode 93: Susan (S.J.) Baker with Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia

This week's episode is something a little different, because as well as YA author Susan (S.J.) Baker, I'm also joined by six of her students – Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia. We discuss ho

soundcloud.com

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Aug 28

3/3 Publishers, writers, book industry professionals – if you won't listen to me and others, at least listen to the younger generation of Northern writers here. Many of them feel a creative future is not for them. That writing is not for them.

Are you ready to change that, yet?

Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Aug 28

2/ And it's not just publishing, but writing and the book industry in the UK in general that these students feel is just not accessible to them. And that's before we even get onto creativity in the curriculum.
If you do nothing else today, have a listen to this.

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Jen Bowden @jenbowden12.bsky.social · Aug 28

'There's a real lack of guidance on where you can start out. Publishing is an industry behind closed doors.'

These are the words from one of @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social English students, six of whom feature on today's episode of Northern Voices alongside Susan. 1/

on.soundcloud.com/SVXzImbzMdF5...

A photo of Susan standing in front of a brown/beige wall. She is visible from the chest up and is wearing a navy top and blood-red textured jacket. She has short, cropped white hair and is wearing dangly earrings. She is smiling at the camera.

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