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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 12h

New Drafting Notes is available for our Patreon backers. Today we're talking about great openings: How to write one, what not to do, and discussing some of our favourite opening lines...

Join Patreon now to watch: patreon.com/ukpageone

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STET Podcasts @stetpodcasts.bsky.social · 2d

On today's episode, we are chatting about some brutal Booker comments, looking at how Alchemised has turned fanfic into gold, and wondering if publishers play things too safe with their choices. Plus, we learn why you should never take Marco's gambling advice...

Watch now: youtu.be/7asCokv15s4

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 7d

A new episode of Drafting Notes for our Patreon backers - discussing the dreaded synopsis! What should be included? What should be left out? And while everyone hates writing them, we explain why they can be helpful (and that they do get easier...!)

Join Patreon now to watch: patreon.com/ukpageone

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 16d

We wanted to make it easier to find, so now you can watch the latest episode of Adventures in Publishing-land now on its new home on our YouTube channel, or listen on the Page One podcast feed!

STET Podcasts @stetpodcasts.bsky.social · 16d

On this week's episode, we are talking AI (of course!), wondering whether genre categories like "cosy crime" can be reductive, and discussing whether marketing tricks like 'Hidden Author' reveals (looking at you, Evelyn Clarke) actually make a difference to sales.

Watch now: youtu.be/8Z84UmvVtSU

Cover image for Adventures in Publishing-land with the caption "Authors vs Anthropic: AI Settlement Stalls" and sub headings "Plus: Hidden Authors: Marketing Genius? and Cosy Crime: A Reductive Term?" over images representing the three stories: the Cover of The Ending Writes itself by Evelyn Clark with the two real authors blanked out; a large digital AI symbol with a judge's gavel in front; and a picture of a teacup and books with Richard Osman's The Impossible Fortune in front.

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STET Podcasts @stetpodcasts.bsky.social · 16d

New Adventures in Publishing-Land today, plus a couple of great episodes from @theconversation.bsky.social this week!

Schedule for STET Podcasts: Monday 22 Sept - Adventures in Publishing-Land discussing the latest on the Anthropic AI settlement, Whether Cosy Crime is a reductive term; and we talk about Hidden author reveals and whether marketing gimmicks like that work; Tuesday 23 September - The Conversation with Nadine Matheson Ep. 158: Louise Hegarty; Thursday 25 September: Coffee Break with Jonnie Fielding AKA Bowl of Chalk

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Marco Rinaldi @marcorinaldi.bsky.social · 22d

Here's my winning pitch from @bloodyscotland.bsky.social (still seems mad saying that!)

Sinners meets the gothic unease of Don’t Look Now with the broken investigators of True Detective. At its heart, it's not just about a monster that may destroy a city, but the trauma that can destroy a man.

Mock cover for Dark Waters by Marco Rinaldi - Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect winner 2025, featuring painting of the Grand Canal by Canaletto

A murdered child. A grieving father. A city under siege.

Venice, 1849. The still nascent Republic of San Marco cowers nightly under attack from Austrian artillery. But for Detective Luca Marangon, the battle for the city pales in comparison to the daily battle to just keep going. Only months ago, his daughter died, and he has been drowning ever since.
When he’s called to the scene of an infant’s gruesome murder, he discovers a connection to his own loss: a strange symbol carved at the scene: the same one that has haunted his dreams. Could it be his daughter’s killer? Impossible — that man is already dead by his own hand.

$Ignoring calls to step aside, Luca throws himself into the case, his grief twisting into obsession. A bloody trail of bodies and whispers of forbidden texts and things long forgotten lead him to an asylum on the edge of the Venetian lagoon, where he suspects something more than medical care is being provided. Instead of answers, he stumbles across a girl on the run, and is soon confronted by an eerie vision of his daughter with a warning: something horrifying is awakening in the depths of the lagoon. The murders are but one piece of a larger, terrible jigsaw, with this runaway at its centre. Desperate for some form of absolution, he vows to keep her safe at all costs. But as his sanity fractures, that promise forces him to take lives of his own. Can he save this girl from his daughter’s fate and stop the monstrosity rising from the dark waters of the lagoon before becoming a monster himself?$

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 24d

Thanks!

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you!

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Tariq Ashkanani @tariqashkanani.bsky.social · 24d

Incredible work from Marco!! What a weekend for Page One 😂🥳

Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 24d

This week @bloodyscotland.bsky.social just keeps getting better - after @tariqashkanani.bsky.social's amazing McIlvanney Prize win on Friday, @marcorinaldi.bsky.social has one gone and won the Pitch Perfect prize!

Marco standing with the Pitch Perfect prize judges

Marco and Tariq - somehow both winners?! A mad weekend!

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 24d

This week @bloodyscotland.bsky.social just keeps getting better - after @tariqashkanani.bsky.social's amazing McIlvanney Prize win on Friday, @marcorinaldi.bsky.social has one gone and won the Pitch Perfect prize!

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 25d

And while we are celebrating @bloodyscotland, two-time guest and friend of the pod @davegoodman.bsky.social also won the Debut Prize for his novel The Reluctant Spy! (Listen to/watch episode 201 to hear him talking about it!)

And yes, we take full credit for both winners 😂

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 25d

He only went and bloody won it! So proud of @tariqashkanani.bsky.social for his deserved McIlvanney Prize win last night @bloodyscotland! Buy The Midnight King now if you haven't already!

Screen showing The McIlvanney Prize 2025 winner - The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani

McIlvanney Prize winner 2025 Tariq Ashkanani and Debut prize winner 2025 David Goodman holding their trophies

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Adam Christopher @adamchristopher.me · 29d

My interview with them is ancient, but @ukpageone.bsky.social is the best writing podcast around. They’ve now amassed a fascinating collection of interviews across so many genres. Well worth a listen.

Out of Order Book Club @outoforderbookclub.bsky.social · 29d

On this Saturday's podcast, I'll be looking at a book from the LA Trilogy by @adamchristopher.me. Since I mention his interview with @ukpageone.bsky.social quite a lot in the podcast I thought I'd share it here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H86T...

Adam Christopher on approaching publishers with an agent, writing franchise novels, and more!

YouTube video by Page One - The Writer's Podcast

www.youtube.com

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 29d

Thanks Adam!

Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · 29d

Thanks for spreading the word!

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Out of Order Book Club @outoforderbookclub.bsky.social · 29d

@ukpageone.bsky.social have got a new one 'Adventures in Publishing-Land' with @nadinematheson.com which I'd recommend as well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=13WP...

AI Victory for Authors? Plus, US Import Chaos & James Patterson’s Giveaway for Authors

YouTube video by STET Podcasts

www.youtube.com

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Ghostly Bree @mostlybree.kitrocha.com · Sep 8

Update: we just received a statement from Macmillan/Tor taking full responsibility for failing to register copyright, promising to make us whole and pay us any settlement money we lost out on due to that error, and promising to find & correct the lapses that caused this.

Every pub should do this.

Ghostly Bree @mostlybree.kitrocha.com · Sep 7

this part right here is gonna create massive resentment in the industry. the copyright registration system and the fact that you apparently have to pay a bonus fee for protection from big companies pirating your work (and that tons of publishers never paid the bonus fee...)

Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · Sep 7

Instead of working to include as many writers as possible in the settlement, the plaintiffs instead agreed on arbitrary and minimal definitions of which books would be included. It’s almost like they wanted a quick win – any win – even if they screwed over most authors. 4/

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · Sep 8

Discussing the big Anthropic AI settlement on today's episode of Adventures in Publishing-Land...

STET Podcasts @stetpodcasts.bsky.social · Sep 8

On today's Adventures in Publishing-Land, we discuss the big Anthropic AI settlement; look at how US tariffs are affecting UK publishers and authors, and discuss James Patterson's altruistic side...

Watch now on YouTube: youtu.be/13WP_dbupUw
Or listen on your favourite app (links below)

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STET Podcasts @stetpodcasts.bsky.social · Sep 8

A new episode of Adventures in Publishing-land out later today, looking at the Anthropic AI settlement among other things, as well as the first in a new season of @theconversation.bsky.social!

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Viper Books @viperbooks.bsky.social · Sep 5

#TheMidnightKing by @tariqashkanani.bsky.social has been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, celebrating the best in Scottish crime writing.

A dark thriller about family, trauma and the secrets we hide within, we are delighted to see Tariq on the shortlist!

www.thebookseller.com/news/ian-ran...

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Tariq Ashkanani @tariqashkanani.bsky.social · Sep 5

Super excited to have made the shortlist for this! Bloody Scotland is one of my favourite festivals, can’t wait for next weekend (win or lose, but hopefully win)!

Bloody Scotland @bloodyscotland.bsky.social · Sep 5

Announcing our McIlvanney Prize finalists:
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏

Picture showing the finalists of The McIlvanney Prize 2025 - Tariq Ashkanani. Liam McIlvanney, Callum McSorley, Denise Mina and Ian Rankin

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · Sep 5

So delighted and proud that our very own @tariqashkanani.bsky.social is on the shortlist for the McIlvanney prize! Incredible achievement for an incredible book!

Bloody Scotland @bloodyscotland.bsky.social · Sep 5

Announcing our McIlvanney Prize finalists:
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · Sep 3

On today's Drafting Notes (the last before a short break!), we are talking about ideas! Not how you find them, but whether you should stuff them all into that one story, or save some for later.

Watch now: youtu.be/2LObwIjK0P0
Or listen on your favourite podcast app: linktr.ee/ukpageone

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Tariq Ashkanani @tariqashkanani.bsky.social · Aug 30

open.spotify.com/episode/1HHS...

Loved going on the Off the Shelf podcast to chat about The Midnight King and the upcoming McIlvanney award - check out all their interviews with every longlisted author!

128. Tariq Ashkanani, Author

open.spotify.com

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Page One @ukpageone.bsky.social · Aug 29

Here's a clip of Elodie talking about that decision to take her writing in a different direction

Watch the full episode on YouTube: youtu.be/MIrHKvn85SA

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