Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Small Publishers Fair @smallpublishers.bsky.social · 1h

Edited by novelist and short story writer @nicholasroyle.bsky.social, Manchester-based @nightjarpress.bsky.social publishes limited edition single short-story chapbooks by individual authors. Browse and buy their titles at #smallpublishersfair25, London, Fri 24 / Sat 25 Oct
smallpublishersfair.co.uk

2 10

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Lucie McKnight Hardy @lmcknighthardy.bsky.social · 1d

Should you be that way inclined, you can pre-order Night Babies from today until Friday 17th October from Waterstones and get 25% off

Just use code OCTOBER 25

www.waterstones.com/campaign/oct...

4 3 10

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 1d

A big Bluesky welcome to my friend and writing buddy @stelabrin.bsky.social, author of the brilliant novel Set in Stone 👇

Stela Brinzeanu @stelabrin.bsky.social · 1d

Not much goes for 99p these days… thank goodness for Kindle deals! 📚
Step into a love story set in medieval Moldova: full of heart, adventure, and unexpected twists.

If you’ve met Mira & Elina already, a quick review means the world to authors like me. 💕
#diversevoices #kindledeals #MoldovanAuthors

1

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 1d

Great to see you here!

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Stela Brinzeanu @stelabrin.bsky.social · 1d

Not much goes for 99p these days… thank goodness for Kindle deals! 📚
Step into a love story set in medieval Moldova: full of heart, adventure, and unexpected twists.

If you’ve met Mira & Elina already, a quick review means the world to authors like me. 💕
#diversevoices #kindledeals #MoldovanAuthors

1 1 6

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Imogen Reid @imogenreid.bsky.social · 1d

It's publication day for this beauty, with stories by David Bevan @iancritchley.bsky.social @pippagoldschmidt.bsky.social, Alison Moore, Okechukwu Nzelu, @simonokotie.bsky.social, C.D. Rose, Iain Sinclair, Naomi Wood, lucky old me! et al. Thank you @nicholasroyle.bsky.social & @saltpublishing.com 🔥

1 8 26

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you, Adrian!

Reposted by Ian Critchley

WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 2d

WoodPig Press is now open for publishing services. Alongside our traditional publishing activities, we’re offering high-quality cover design, editing and formatting from top-notch professionals to indie authors and small presses:

woodpigpress.substack.com/p/publishing...

#writing #books #booksky

Publishing Services Are Now OPEN

Week 10 - in which I deal with contract lawyers, insurers, and doing paid-stuff for other people

woodpigpress.substack.com

5 8

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Gregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 6d

Indie publishing is the ecological niche where literature survives. This is especially true of the short story. @saltpublishing.com needs help to stay healthy in tough times. Can you pitch in - or share this skeet?

Donate to Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026, organized by Christopher Hamilton-Emery

New books and reprints arrive daily at Salty Towers – and we'… Christopher Hamilton-Emery needs your support for Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026

www.gofundme.com

2 17 10

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 2d

Publication day! So chuffed to have a story in this @saltpublishing.com #shortstories

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 2d

Celebration day for editor, Nicholas Royle and all the contributors of Best British Short Stories 2025! 🥳🎉🎈🥂

2 1 18

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Dr Emma K Pey @ekpey.bsky.social · 3d

On my way home!

@saltpublishing.com @nicholasroyle.bsky.social #booksky @ensfr.bsky.social

6 25

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 3d

Every book we publish begins with belief – in writers, in stories, in readers like you. 🌊

We’re raising funds to bring more voices into the world, to keep indie publishing alive and thriving. Please help. 💙

#IndiePress #Writers #Books #SupportIndie #KeepBooksAlive

Donate to Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026, organized by Christopher Hamilton-Emery

New books and reprints arrive daily at Salty Towers – and we'… Christopher Hamilton-Emery needs your support for Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026

gofund.me

5 7

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 3d

So pleased to see my story 'Ghost Walks' mentioned in this review! #shortstories

Nicholas Royle @nicholasroyle.bsky.social · 4d

Lovely review of Best British Short Stories 2025 up at @manchesterreview.bsky.social @saltpublishing.com www.themanchesterreview.co.uk?p=13063

Best British Short Stories 2025, edited by Nicholas Royle, reviewed by Paul Anthony Knowles and Sam Cassells - The Manchester Review

A timely reminder of the ability of the contemporary short form to move, shock and surprise its reader in a myriad of ways. Best British Short Stories 2025 | edited by Nicholas Royle | Salt Publishing...

www.themanchesterreview.co.uk

7

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Nicholas Royle @nicholasroyle.bsky.social · 4d

Lovely review of Best British Short Stories 2025 up at @manchesterreview.bsky.social @saltpublishing.com www.themanchesterreview.co.uk?p=13063

Best British Short Stories 2025, edited by Nicholas Royle, reviewed by Paul Anthony Knowles and Sam Cassells - The Manchester Review

A timely reminder of the ability of the contemporary short form to move, shock and surprise its reader in a myriad of ways. Best British Short Stories 2025 | edited by Nicholas Royle | Salt Publishing...

www.themanchesterreview.co.uk

1 11 28

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 4d

Haha, yes, it was serendipitous!

1

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 4d

Delighted to receive a copy of Broken Ground, the first in a new series of anthologies from @uncertainstories.com. Plus a bonus story by @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social!

Broken Ground, an anthology of short stories from Uncertain Stories, plus a short story chapbook by Richard Smyth and two postcards. Artwork by Lucy Scott

1 2 11

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 4d

A fantastic idea. These look stunning

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 5d

This is quite exciting. Over the next year, we’re going to be giving away 12,000 of these little books to help spread the love of short stories:

Little Uncertainties

Little Uncertainties are very short books, each containing just a single story.

www.uncertainstories.com

1 2 6

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Bluemoose Books @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social · 5d

Wars, tariffs , paper, production costs and the battle to get our books seen means there is a crisis in publishing.

Indies do most of the heavy lifting in finding great new stories that the risk averse conglomerates shy away from.

Support Indies!

www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...

Open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK

The industry must work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses.

www.thebookseller.com

28 69

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Small Publishers Fair @smallpublishers.bsky.social · 6d

Directed by @isabellekenyon.bsky.social and based in Manchester, @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social is an independent publisher of political fiction, poetry & anthologies, and winner of Small Press of the Year (North) at British Book Awards 2024. Discover their books at #smallpublishersfair25 24/25 Oct

1 3 7

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Stu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 7d

KESHED LONDON LAUNCH IS CONFIRMED.

Thursday 12th March, Bard Books, @judecook.bsky.social in the host's chair, tix link as soon as i got one. News incoming on the official online launch, more as soon as i have it.

#BookSky #GetKeshed 📚📚📚

6 16 48

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 8d

Help Salt take its publishing to the next level!

Donate to Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026, organized by Christopher Hamilton-Emery

Help Salt Publish Brilliant New Books in 2026 For twenty-… Christopher Hamilton-Emery needs your support for Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026

gofund.me

15 21

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Lara Pawson @larapawson.bsky.social · 9d

Off to Hastings in December to inspire & support other writers. Promise to smile & laugh more than the photo suggests! Please spread the word, literally & metaphorically!
@hastingswrites.bsky.social

Mining For Material — Hastings Writers Workshop

A writers workshop focusing on finding material for writing

www.hastingswritersworkshop.com

6 11

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 10d

We’ve been getting some great responses to our author Q&A series, which we’ll be releasing over the next few weeks. Here’s the first:

Q & A with Flo Ward.

Flo Ward answers some questions for us about writing, reading, and her new short story 'The End of the World'.

www.uncertainstories.com

3 5

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Myriam Frey @dustynewrose.bsky.social · 11d

My first collection of short stories is out this month (17 October) on @nightjarpress.bsky.social ! Very excited. And nervous. But mostly excited.

1 6 22

Reposted by Ian Critchley

Imogen Reid @imogenreid.bsky.social · 18d

My contributor copy has arrived! Extreme excitement on opening my book post this morning! With work by Ian Critchley, Pippa Goldschmidt, Alison Moore, Okechukwu Nzelu, Simon Okotie, C. D. Rose, Iain Sinclair, Naomi Wood, lucky old me et al. Thank you @saltpublishing.com & @nicholasroyle.bsky.social

1 8 66