Claire Handscombe
@bookishclaire.bsky.social
Reader, writer, epic daydreamer.
4w3/ENFP
🇫🇷🇧🇪🇬🇧
Bookseller, publishing person, West Wing fan.
Forever missing D.C.
4w3/ENFP
🇫🇷🇧🇪🇬🇧
Bookseller, publishing person, West Wing fan.
Forever missing D.C.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Been thinking about how poorly paid the vast majority of jobs are in publishing, and for those of us who gave our 30s and 40s to industry, all I can say is that it gives you no opportunity to build/save for a future ESPECIALLY if you are a single income household. Most salaries = survival money.
December 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Been thinking about how poorly paid the vast majority of jobs are in publishing, and for those of us who gave our 30s and 40s to industry, all I can say is that it gives you no opportunity to build/save for a future ESPECIALLY if you are a single income household. Most salaries = survival money.
The last 25 years — and the next century — would have looked very different if democracy had run its course. It enrages me that in a country which (used to) preach the virtues of democracy, the votes were simply not counted, and the legal system okayed this.
25 years ago today, SCOTUS elected George W Bush president of the United States by blocking completion of a voting canvass in Florida. A subsequent canvass by the Associated Press showed that Bush's rival, Al Gore, had won the race in Florida—and thus the contest for the presidency—by 700 votes.
December 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The last 25 years — and the next century — would have looked very different if democracy had run its course. It enrages me that in a country which (used to) preach the virtues of democracy, the votes were simply not counted, and the legal system okayed this.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
“Today you look very green even for a frog,” said Toad. “Get into my bed and rest.”
Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am resting.”
Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am resting.”
December 11, 2025 at 11:37 AM
“Today you look very green even for a frog,” said Toad. “Get into my bed and rest.”
Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am resting.”
Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am resting.”
Gutted about this.
www.thebookseller.com/obituaries/a...
www.thebookseller.com/obituaries/a...
Author Sophie Kinsella dies aged 55
Author Sophie Kinsella, the pen name used by novellist Madeleine Wickham, has died aged 55 after battling brain cancer.
www.thebookseller.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Gutted about this.
www.thebookseller.com/obituaries/a...
www.thebookseller.com/obituaries/a...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
My #RomanceColumn best romances list for the NYT is live today! It’s impossible to pick just a few books from so many, but as the song says, impossible things are happening every day, so let’s get to it! (Gift link)
#Romancelandia #booksky
#Romancelandia #booksky
The Best Romance Novels of 2025
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
My #RomanceColumn best romances list for the NYT is live today! It’s impossible to pick just a few books from so many, but as the song says, impossible things are happening every day, so let’s get to it! (Gift link)
#Romancelandia #booksky
#Romancelandia #booksky
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
I promise you, no bookseller cares to know how much cheaper you could get something online.
December 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I promise you, no bookseller cares to know how much cheaper you could get something online.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Ready for some seasonal listening? Revist last year's Christmas in Japanese Literature episode.
Why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all?
How is Christmas is celebrated in Japan?
What part does Christmas seems to play in Japanese literature?
Why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all?
How is Christmas is celebrated in Japan?
What part does Christmas seems to play in Japanese literature?
Episode 41—Christmas in Japanese Literature - Read Japanese Literature
Happy holidays! And, in the interest of today’s episode, merri kurisumasu! Today we’re going to start with the origins of Christmas, especially why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all. We’ll move…
https://readjapaneseliterature.com/Podcast/Episode+41—Christmas+in+Japanese+Literature
December 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Ready for some seasonal listening? Revist last year's Christmas in Japanese Literature episode.
Why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all?
How is Christmas is celebrated in Japan?
What part does Christmas seems to play in Japanese literature?
Why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all?
How is Christmas is celebrated in Japan?
What part does Christmas seems to play in Japanese literature?
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Toad wrote on the ground with a stick: Go to Sleep.
Then he crossed out: Go to Sleep.
“There,” said Toad. “Now my day is all crossed out!”
“I am glad,” said Frog. Then Frog and Toad went right to sleep.
Then he crossed out: Go to Sleep.
“There,” said Toad. “Now my day is all crossed out!”
“I am glad,” said Frog. Then Frog and Toad went right to sleep.
December 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Toad wrote on the ground with a stick: Go to Sleep.
Then he crossed out: Go to Sleep.
“There,” said Toad. “Now my day is all crossed out!”
“I am glad,” said Frog. Then Frog and Toad went right to sleep.
Then he crossed out: Go to Sleep.
“There,” said Toad. “Now my day is all crossed out!”
“I am glad,” said Frog. Then Frog and Toad went right to sleep.
Thank for those RF Kuang questions, University Challenge! Making me feel momentarily less stupid…
December 8, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Thank for those RF Kuang questions, University Challenge! Making me feel momentarily less stupid…
Thank for those RF Kuang questions, University Challenge! Making me feel momentarily less stupid…
December 8, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Thank for those RF Kuang questions, University Challenge! Making me feel momentarily less stupid…
Not sure what to buy for friends and family this festive season? Made you a list of suggestions on @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social.
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
December 8, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Not sure what to buy for friends and family this festive season? Made you a list of suggestions on @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social.
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Boundless/Unbound authors: I would be delighted to do a one-hour q&a about Kickstarter for you all. If you’re interested, please reply or DM and I’ll get some potential US/UK friendly times out there. (Would be happy to have other authors if it isn’t too full.) cc @alicefraser.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Boundless/Unbound authors: I would be delighted to do a one-hour q&a about Kickstarter for you all. If you’re interested, please reply or DM and I’ll get some potential US/UK friendly times out there. (Would be happy to have other authors if it isn’t too full.) cc @alicefraser.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
*youth pastor voice*
Let me tell you kids about another carpenter who wasn’t very popular with the authorities
Let me tell you kids about another carpenter who wasn’t very popular with the authorities
Sabrina Carpenter made the White House delete their fuck ass tweet.
December 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
*youth pastor voice*
Let me tell you kids about another carpenter who wasn’t very popular with the authorities
Let me tell you kids about another carpenter who wasn’t very popular with the authorities
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
“Blah,” said Toad.
December 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
“Blah,” said Toad.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Boss quit at the OBR so we’ve wheeled a big TV into the office and we’re going to watch Christmas films until the end of the year
December 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Boss quit at the OBR so we’ve wheeled a big TV into the office and we’re going to watch Christmas films until the end of the year
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
For context the 'Middle England' referred to here is the 0.5% of households living in homes worth more than £2 million
November 30, 2025 at 10:27 PM
For context the 'Middle England' referred to here is the 0.5% of households living in homes worth more than £2 million
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
After the sudden death of Jonathan Main at @booksellercrow.bsky.social, some local authors decided to organise a Christmas signing to help the bookshop make some much-needed ££. If you'd like to help, come on down! And preorder books! booksellercrow.co.uk/shop-tag/lou... I'm on at 2pm!
December 1, 2025 at 9:07 AM
After the sudden death of Jonathan Main at @booksellercrow.bsky.social, some local authors decided to organise a Christmas signing to help the bookshop make some much-needed ££. If you'd like to help, come on down! And preorder books! booksellercrow.co.uk/shop-tag/lou... I'm on at 2pm!
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary:
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
November 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary:
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
🚨BUDGET REACTION: Another Budget which shields the super-rich. The Chancellor “remains out of touch” while the public “pay the price.”
Full statement: bit.ly/4pt3WIB.
Full statement: bit.ly/4pt3WIB.
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
🚨BUDGET REACTION: Another Budget which shields the super-rich. The Chancellor “remains out of touch” while the public “pay the price.”
Full statement: bit.ly/4pt3WIB.
Full statement: bit.ly/4pt3WIB.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
Ugh, the manufactured outrage on the News Agents is unbearable. Good for Torsten Bell for not letting them get away with it.
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Ugh, the manufactured outrage on the News Agents is unbearable. Good for Torsten Bell for not letting them get away with it.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Looking for a gift? Edward Carey (my ball-&-chain) is selling original drawings of birds (grackle, barn, owl, even curlews) here:
edwardcarey.bigcartel.com?utm_source=i...
edwardcarey.bigcartel.com?utm_source=i...
EdwardCarey
Original art by Edward Carey, author of Little, The Swallowed Man, Iremonger Trilogy, Edith Holler and B: A Year in Plagues and Pencils.
edwardcarey.bigcartel.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Looking for a gift? Edward Carey (my ball-&-chain) is selling original drawings of birds (grackle, barn, owl, even curlews) here:
edwardcarey.bigcartel.com?utm_source=i...
edwardcarey.bigcartel.com?utm_source=i...
Lattes?! There’s no sugar in lattes. As if they didn’t cost enough already!!
November 26, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Lattes?! There’s no sugar in lattes. As if they didn’t cost enough already!!