Lynn Valentine

A wee peek at covers of my next poetry book - so grateful to 3 of my favourite poets for their blurbs - the wonderful John Glenday, the amazing Niall Campbell @NiallCPoetry and all the ochs reserved for Cáit O'Neill McCullagh. Cinnamon Press will publish Devil’s Piece Spring 2026

@jackbedell Happy BIG birthday Jack x

Last workout of my 50s. Hitting the big 6-oh! Tomorrow.

Yay, new poetry book is here unexpectedly early - ta to Cinnamon Press for my second collection with them

81 years ago Auschwitz was liberated. More than one million children, women and men were murdered there as part of the Holocaust. A dark lesson of history; humanity owes it to each of the victims to ensure it will never happen again. @AuschwitzMuseum #HolocaustMemorialDay

“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace…” In 60 years’ reporting, I’ve never seen a message like Trump’s to Norway’s PM. We’ve left the realm of diplomacy for somewhere far more disturbing.

On Feb 1 2026, @iamb_uk celebrates six years online. Join @louisepoetical and creator/curator @MarkAntonyOwen on Jan 31 – plus poet guests hand-picked from the 380 who've featured in the journal so far – for a free, fun evening of poetry readings. 🥳🎂 bit.ly/iamb_is_six

Contacts in Gaza are all reporting the same thing tonight: Israeli air strikes have resumed at what feels like full force across the strip. The only reason anyone is still calling this a ceasefire is because not a single shot is being fired at Israel.

@NorthSeaPoets Aaaw, hope it goes well. I can’t afford to join in this time round

Happy New Year! ⭐ We hope you're all feeling rested and ready for another year of poetry. There are just TWO tickets left for our Saturday 'Writing With ...' course. Get all the details at buff.ly/siijxCr. #NorthSeaPoets #Poetry #PoetryWorkshop

Last sunset of the year in my wee Highland corner - wishing all of you the best of the best next year. #Highlands #BlackIsle #HappyNewYear

@donpatersonpoet Oh good for you guys but bad for me. Was hoping I could sign up in the new year after Christmas finances were replenished. I’ll have a word with Miriam…

Today, a 29-day-old baby died at Nasser hospital, southern Gaza, Palestine, just two hours after arriving at the MSF- supported paediatric ward in the early hours of the morning. Despite treatment efforts, he could not be saved. According to the Ministry of Health, he died from hypothermia. "Children are losing their lives because they lack the most basic items for survival. Babies are arriving to the hospital cold, with near-death vital signs: even our best efforts are not enough. They say the war has ended, but people are still having to fight for their lives," says Bilal Abu Saada-Nursing Team Supervisor at Nasser Hospital. The harsh winter weather combined with the already dire living conditions is increasing health risks and MSF teams are consistently seeing high rates of respiratory infections - something which will only increase throughout winter and is particularly dangerous for children under five-years old As Gaza is battered by heavy rains and storms, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians continue to struggle in flooded and broken makeshift tents. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to urgently allow a massive scale up of aid into the Strip.

🔊 ONLINE GUIDE TO SCOTTISH POETS This research tool on the Scottish Poetry Library website is updated every two years. After a process of nomination & selection 15 new poets were chosen to be included. Pages for each, including a selection of work, will be published in 2026.

I’d urge any poet to sign up to the @NorthSeaPoets workshops and substacks - some of the best living poets working today tipping their brain into yours - I’ve learned soooooo much.

Don't miss out on the last #NorthSeaPoets event of the year! 🌊 There's still time to book for The Symbol: how to summon meaning and emotion – with @donpatersonpoet. Book your tickets for £35/£25 🎟️ Get all the details: buff.ly/TnxQNVh #Poetry #PoetryWorkshop

@donpatersonpoet's winter webinars series gets started this Saturday! 🌊 There's still lots of time to get tickets for The Joy of Scansion! Or book all three webinars for £90/£60 ⭐ Get all the details and book tickets: buff.ly/KnyxxuK #NorthSeaPoets #Poetry

I think you’ll find that the BBC , actually , is worth defending. If you’re an employee , past or present , a contractor , a freelancer , if you’ve worked for the BBC in any capacity , please sign my open letter in defence of the BBC at defendthebbc.org

The BBC’s silly and unnecessary editing mistake does not change the FACT that Trump encouraged and inspired the violence that led to death and devastation on Jan 6 after he LOST the election. That should be made clear in all communications to his Mafia style lawyers and to the public. He has zero case and that should be communicated with absolute confidence, with the full and voluble backing of 🇬🇧government. And all those who are encouraging and exhorting a foreign felon leader to take down one of Britain’s greatest institutions should never have the gall to call themselves patriots again. Thank you for your attention to this matter

Winter has arrived in the Black Isle #snow #Highlands

Well!!! Once a Murdoch hack and a Robbie Gibb pal always a Murdoch hack and a Robbie Gibb pal I guess …. This whole BBC nonsense has been a right wing stitch up from start to finish. EXCLUSIVE: Michael Prescott himself doctored Trump quotes thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-exc…

The BBC serves democracy across the world , it serves the people , and we must act to defend it . If you’re an employee , past or present , a contractor , a freelancer , if you’ve worked for the BBC in any capacity , please sign my open letter at defendthebbc.org