Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 2d

Preliminary Dark Tower reading done (going to do Hearts in Atlantis and Everything’s Eventual after book 4) and just finished THE GUNSLINGER. Heard mixed things about it as an introduction to the series but I absolutely LOVED it. Now to also start the @talkscaredpod.bsky.social deep dive episodes.

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 3d

Three of the best books of the year! So excited for this - join us!

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · 4d

TOMORROW NIGHT!

Sam Mills, Ben Pester and Nell Osborne join us in Stockport to discuss THE WATERMARK, THE EXPANSION PROJECT and GHOST DRIVER - three wildly exciting and inventive novels that playfully explore our existential fears of love, work and modern life. Hosted by Valerie O’Riordan. 💙📚

🎫👇🏻

1

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 8d

Absolutely incredible event - powerful, inspiring and full of hope and joy. Len is both an astonishing poet and wonderful person.

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · 8d

Last night we welcomed Len Pennie to Stockport for the launch of her new collection poyums annaw! As well as treating us to some poems, she talked to Terri White about the importance of using poetry to address issues such as domestic violence as well as learning how to incorporate joy into her work.

1

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 8d

September reads…

GHOST DRIVER - Nell Osborne
INSOMNIA - Stephen King
HEART THE LOVER - Lily King
THE EXPANSION PROJECT - Ben Pester
VIGIL and THE VERY PERSISTENT GAPPERS OF FRIP - George Saunders
FLUFFY and HOW TO MAKE LIFE BETTER WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT’S GETTING WORSE - Simone Lia

💙📚

1 9

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 13d

Adding to the Terri love - one of the absolute best!

1 1

Reposted by David Coates

Kat Lister @katlister.bsky.social · 13d

She's not on here but my pal Terri White has made this powerful and moving documentary about child poverty full of heart and muscle. Please watch it, we should all watch it – vital viewing: www.theguardian.com/society/vide...

Raising kids in poverty: The UK’s ‘inhumane’ two child limit

Child poverty in the UK is now at record levels, with 4.5 million kids living in poverty. One of the biggest drivers of this is the controversial two limit child policy, which caps universal credit an...

www.theguardian.com

2 4 8

Reposted by David Coates

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · 16d

TOMORROW NIGHT!

Elliot Sweeney will be joining us in Stockport to talk about WE DON’T USE WORDS LIKE ‘CRAZY’ - a heart-warming, darkly funny and eye-opening account of the state of mental health services in the UK drawn from 20 years of working on the frontline.

🎫👇🏻

1 1 1

Reposted by David Coates

Dr Esther G🎃mez-Sierra @persiana.bsky.social · 21d

A serene evening at @serenitybookshop.bsky.social , with @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social 's hospitality & @andrewmcmillan.bsky.social 's shrewd interviewing of @damianbarr.bsky.social about The Two Roberts. A joyful time (typography fans: I learnt how to say 'florón' in English!). Highly recommended.

2 4

Reposted by David Coates

Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 22d

Here I am in @serenitybookshop.bsky.social today - I will be doing a poetry event with them in 11th November - meanwhile look out for me in Tiverton, Dartmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Plymouth, Penzance and a bunch of Devon libraries - here is a poem about a lost balloon

Robinince.com

2 8 66

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 22d

Tonight was SUCH a joy! Loved, loved, loved hearing Damian talking to Andrew McMillan about The Two Roberts.

Damian Barr @damianbarr.bsky.social · 22d

Had such a beautiful time tonight @serenitybookshop.bsky.social in Stockport. A gorgeous wee shop and a great community feel. I could have talked with Andrew McMillan all night - very hard for me to not switch back into interviewer mode when talking with such brilliant writers. Thanks all!

1 4

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 26d

Finished reading Stephen King’s INSOMNIA this morning. Very much enjoyed it in its own terms but (although I’ve not read the series yet) it also felt a bit like a massive Dark Tower deleted scene.

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Jul 16

Despite having never read any of his books (other than Mr. Mercedes), for a while now I’ve had an urge to read @stephenking.bsky.social’s THE DARK TOWER series but been put off due to the length of the series and the references throughout to his other works. However, I’M GOING IN!

#BookSky 💜📚

3

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · 27d

Lucky enough to have read an early copy of Stu’s Keshed and it’s stunning - a brilliant and brutal beast of a book that will be one of THE novels of 2026 for those who know their stuff. Stu and Terri are a match made in heaven and I cannot wait for this event!

Stu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 27d

In news unrelated to shit mental health, tech hassles or grindcore......Tix now available for the @serenitybookshop.bsky.social Keshed gig in Feb, hosted by the force of nature that is Terri White. Get em while you can 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/sto...

www.ticketsource.co.uk

1 6

Reposted by David Coates

Gretchen Felker-Martin 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · Jul 10

"The labubu -- no, I will not say it. I will not legitimize this absurdity, not even in mockery. A rabbit in a suit, my god, and they sell for how much? I see, and -- no. No. What in the devil is a lafufu? Am I having some species of stroke?"

18 240 1.2K

Reposted by David Coates

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · Sep 4

Happy publication day to @damianbarr.bsky.social and THE TWO ROBERTS - his captivating and beautiful novel about art, class and queer love based on the true story of working class artists Robert Colquhoun and Bobby MacBryde.

Don’t miss Damian at our Stockport shop on Tuesday 16th September

💜📚

🎫👇🏻

2 1 3

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Sep 1

A great month of events coming up at Serenity Booksellers! Super excited to meet Damian Barr and Len Pennie and hear them discuss their work with two of my faves - Andrew McMillan and Terri White!

Utter highlight of the year though is getting to welcome the wonderful Nadia Shireen to Romiley!

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · Sep 1

📣 SEPTEMBER EVENTS 📣

Romiley:

9/9: KJ Whittle w/ Chris McDonald

11/9: Martin Edwards

15/9: Ali Harris w/ Jennie Agg

19/9: Nadia Shireen

Stockport:

13/9: Carly Gledhill

16/9: Damian Barr w/ Andrew McMillan

23/9: Elliot Sweeney

29/9: Len Pennie w/ Terri White

#BookSky 💜📚

🎫👇🏻

1 2

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 31

Married 24 years today… ❤️

8

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 31

August reads…

‘SALEM’S LOT - Stephen King

THE EYES OF THE DRAGON - Stephen King

THE MEGA-COMPLICATED CRUSHES OF LOTTIE BROOKS - Katie Kirby

THE WATERMARK - Sam Mills

TONYINTERRUPTOR - Nicola Barker

GLORIOUS EXPLOITS - Ferdia Lennon

CONFESSION - Catherine Airey

#BookSky 📚💜

8

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 28

Absolute (fever) dream of an event last night with Samanta Schweblin. A beautifully eloquent conversation with the fabulous Jodie Matthews discussing her new collection GOOD AND EVIL AND OTHER STORIES, the uncanny, storytelling traditions in Argentina, working with translators and so much more!

3

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 20

The BESTEST evening eating pizza and watching Moulin Rouge! with Emily! God I love this show - going to be hard not going to every night whilst it’s on in Manchester!

2

Reposted by David Coates

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · Aug 20

We have a very special #WomeninTranslationMonth event coming up with Samanta Schweblin next week! The International Booker Prize shortlisted author of FEVER DREAM will be joining us in Stockport on Wednesday 27th August for the launch her new book of GOOD AND EVIL AND OTHER STORIES.

#BookSky 📚💜

🎫👇🏻

1 1 5

Reposted by David Coates

Sachaaaargh Coward 👻 @sachacoward.bsky.social · Aug 15

I am one of the 14 authors who chose to leave the Polari Prize, and I find myself frustrated and saddened at the way this entire story has been represented. 1/

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 14

John Boyne says LGBTQ+ fiction prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’

Gender critical novelist urges writers to reenter prize they boycotted and may ask judges not to shortlist his novella The gender critical Irish novelist John Boyne has said he has been brought “very close to the edge” by the backlash to his inclusion on the longlist for a literary prize for LGBTQ+ authors. Ten authors and two judges withdrew from the Polari prize and more than 800 writers and publishing industry workers signed a petition calling on Polari to remove Boyne’s novella Earth from its longlist. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

120 2.4K 6.3K

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 14

Should have a copy early next week hopefully - Baltasar vibes has me even more excited!

1

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 14

This is going to be quite the event!

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · Aug 14

Ben Pester’s THE EXPANSION PROJECT and the paperback of Sam Mills’ THE WATERMARK are released by @grantabooks.bsky.social today and we’re thrilled to be welcoming both Ben and Sam Stockport on Monday 6th October when they’ll be discussing their books with Valerie O’Riordan and Nell Osborne.

🎫👇🏻

2 1 6

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 13

Until proven otherwise, I’m choosing to believe that this is father and son and Magnolia and Weapons are set in the same cinematic universe…

3

David Coates @oziasmidwinter.bsky.social · Aug 13

Cannot wait for this! Absolutely LOVED Fever Dream and Little Eyes!

#Booksky 💜📚

Serenity Booksellers @serenitybookshop.bsky.social · Aug 13

NEW EVENT!

We are thrilled to be welcoming the three time International Booker Prize nominee @samantaschweblin.bsky.social to Stockport on Wed 27th August for the launch of her new short story collection GOOD AND EVIL AND OTHER STORIES. Samanta will be in conversation with Jodie Matthews.

🎫👇🏻

1 4