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Jo McMillan

@jomcmillan.bsky.social

360 followers 310 following 310 posts

Fan of alphabets and characters - complex and simplified. Have called Beijing, Melaka and London home. Looking for Utopia. Currently in Berlin.

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · May 14

The Accidental Immigrants: A story of what happens when there’s talk of ‘an island of strangers’...

This book was only possible with the support and courage and imagination of the lovely people at Bluemoose. Thank you Kevin, Lin and Hetha!

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
@orwellprize.bsky.social

The Accidental Immigrants is a finalist for the Orwell Prize 2025

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · 15d

Happy Publication Day Colette! 💙

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · 27d

Congratulations and best wishes to you both! 💙

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Sep 5

The undermining social democratic
Downhill slide into abysmal

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Sep 1

"...unknown author..." 🤨

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 30

Great to see the growing enthusiasm for The Accidental Immigrants up and down the country:

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Homages to The Accidental Immigrants cover

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 26

A vital novel whose complex characters struggle against their own and their family’s expectations, against a society that doesn’t see or value them, and against the random cruelties of the UK immigration system. A thoughtful and touching must-read.

@tawseefkhan.bsky.social
shorturl.at/topdh

Determination

‘A compassionate, beautifully told portrait’ Guy Gunaratne ‘Absorbing, witty, eloquent fiction, as well as a trenchant political critique’ Tom Benn’A hymn to empathy, …

shorturl.at

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 19

My pleasure!

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sanctuary is funny, sweet, passionate and committed – a much-needed moral tale (though without any sense of moralising). It shows what you can do if uncertainty no longer scares you, and you take a stand against an abusive system that prioritises profit over people.

@tomgaisfordwriter.bsky.social

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 18

The novel weighs in against the ‘impenetrable cesspit’ that is the Home Office, and gives generously in its take on love – for the people on the move in desperate need of defence, and for those battling against the odds to defend them.

@tomgaisfordwriter.bsky.social‬

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Insider knowledge makes this novel special. Years of experience in asylum and immigration law have been turned into a drama that’s propulsive and intricately plotted, has razor-sharp dialogue and is just waiting to be brought to the screen.

shorturl.at/o0fBX
@tomgaisfordwriter.bsky.social

Sanctuary, the debut novel by Tom Gaisford

Can novice refugee lawyer, Alex, prove himself worthy of the job and the woman he adores? In SANCTUARY, desperation reigns, art mirrors life and twisty thriller meets witty love story.

shorturl.at

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 17

Animal Farm at Eighty

“I took it out of the library, and read it quietly, in bed, under the covers.”

On the 80th anniversary of its publication, read my first encounter with Orwell’s Animal Farm:

orwellfoundation.substack.com/p/it-all-mad...

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
@orwellprize.bsky.social

"It all made such shockingly perfect sense." Animal Farm at Eighty

Friends of the Foundation recall their first encounters with George Orwell's masterpiece

orwellfoundation.substack.com

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 3

Great cover 🤎

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Aug 3

A lovely perceptive video review of The Accidental Immigrants from Bob The Bookerer. Thank you!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Y5...

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up: Betrayal, Love, and Jumping Through Hoops

YouTube video by Bob The Bookerer

www.youtube.com

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thanks Sally!

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 31

Happy publication day Lulu! ❤️🖤❤️

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 25

Many thanks to Sam Reid from Fieldzine for a great conversation about The Accidental Immigrants.

We talk about the myths of immigration, the far right – and rage, resistance and writing.

Listen to the podcast here tinyurl.com/2z4vu57z

@fieldzine.bsky.social
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 23

Just arrived in Berlin!

Determination by @tawseefkhan.bsky.social

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 18

Ta Orla!

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 17

Marvellous! 👹

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 15

"Great writing and extremely timely ... a gripping read with some memorable characters and set-pieces that deserves the wide praise it has received to date."

www.ontheprize.co.uk/blog/the-acc...

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Many thanks to ontheprize.co.uk

The Accidental Immigrants (2025) by Jo McMillan - Book Review — Eyes on the Prize

Reviewing The Accidental Immigrants, nominated for the 2025 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction and tackling the rise of the Far Right in contemporary Britain and Europe.

www.ontheprize.co.uk

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 8

Great stuff Drew! 💙

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 7

👇

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Nicola Kelly @nicolakellywrites.bsky.social · Jul 7

Book post! Looking forward to these by @jomcmillan.bsky.social and @tomgaisfordwriter.bsky.social.

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 6

Thanks for your support Chuck! 💙

Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 5

👇 💥

@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Paul Holloway @paulholloway74.bsky.social · Jul 5

Wow! The Accidental Immigrants by @jomcmillan.bsky.social
What a harrowing but thought provoking read. Very relevant (sadly), but utterly brilliant. My book of the year so far, a must read.

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Jo McMillan @jomcmillan.bsky.social · Jul 5

Thank you Paul! 💙