John Boyne

@kanikagupta Thank you! Delighted you enjoyed it.

So smartly written! Could not put it down! #recommendedreading 📚 #Theelements #Earth #Fire #Air #Water @JohnBoyne

@ModernShy @SpeechUnion Ok, fair enough.

@JohnBoyne @SpeechUnion Or at least “we aim to help all members and if this person joins… etc etc”

Speaking ill of the dead is not an offence, however offensive. If Heather Herbert joins the @SpeechUnion, we will do our best to help.

@ModernShy @SpeechUnion True, but the Free Speech Union has only so many resources, so why waste them on someone who is so clearly a despicable human being? Why not direct those resources to someone more deserving?

@JohnBoyne @SpeechUnion Free speech curtailed for one is free speech curtailed for all. Kindness shouldn’t have to come into it.

@RolandOrzabal_ Alone, by Heart.

What’s the one pop rock song that never gets old, no matter how many times you hear it?

@CeptaCeptar @forr11469 Thank you very much! x

@forr11469 @JohnBoyne I don’t think John could write a mediocre book. All his books are compelling and stay with you for a long time.

I bought a heap of @JohnBoyne novels when he courageously spoke out in support of women and LGB rights. It’s a happy coincidence (for me) to discover he’s an incredible writer, this book was funny, compelling and deeply moving, what a legend 🙌🏻

@forr11469 Wow! That's one of the best messages I've ever received on this site. Thank you very much! 🙏

@BoyGeorge @MisterMarilyn JK Rowing is what @jk_rowling does when she takes an early morning single scull down the Water of Leith.

Nothing surprises me when I live in a world where @MisterMarilyn praises JK Rowing?

I rarely post on here anymore, but I have to say to @PeterTatchell: It shouldn't take the news that an elderly woman was murdered rather than dying of natural causes to change a post from revelry & name-calling to 'R.I.P. Ann.' The sheer hypocrisy of that cannot be lost on any person of good character. This is why so many people - gay, straight and anywhere in between - find your rhetoric misogynist, divisive & hateful. People are allowed hold different opinions. We can disagree with them, we can even judge them, but every life is of value and we all leave loved ones behind. A little bit of kindness, compassion and, quite honestly, basic human decency can go a long way.

Your opening line ended with '!' which suggests humour. Then you finished with 'BIGOT!' You were revelling in her death, which turns out to be a murder. And now you're saying 'RIP Ann' after posting something so disgusting. But if we've learned anything in recent years, it's that violence against women is not something people like you care about. I am part of that vast community of gays and lesbians who you do not speak for.

@IainDale Well said.

I will curb my language but that tweet is disgusting. You profess to be an advocate of human rights, and the right to be treated with dignity after death is a basic human right everyone should have, yet you rejoice in her death. Yes, her religion guided her views on equality issues, and I had many disagreements with her, but as a gay man I counted her as a friend, as did many others. She was actually a profoundly kind person. She endorsed my candidacy knowing of my sexuality. She softened her views on equal marriage and told me in 2019 she would not support reversing it. So be ashamed of yourself today, Peter. You do some great work, but in this instance it's you that's the bigot. Bigoted against the dead, and bringing upset to those of us who counted Ann as a friend. Think on that.

@PeterTatchell I'm a gay man so naturally didn't agree with Ann Widdecombe's views, but to revel in another human being's death is despicable. You do no service to gay men or lesbians by posting something like this. I don't know if you feel shame, but you should. Rest in peace Ann Widdecombe.

These 5 boxes all contain the title page of thousands of copies of THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS, each one to be signed… that will keep me busy!! ✍️ Pre-order the novel here: linktr.ee/JohnBoyneAuthor

A second hugely positive advance review for THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS from @KirkusReviews. 'A witty and melancholy act of literary resurrection.' The novel will be published in September by @DoubledayUK @PenguinUKBooks and @HenryHolt in the States. kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/j…

@nat_avidreader Thank you! Delighted you enjoyed it! 👻

Spent the whole day completely absorbed in the pages of This House is Haunted by @JohnBoyne a perfectly chilling 5 ⭐️ ghost story. Set in Norfolk in 1867 following Eliza Caine in her new role as governess. With spine chilling twists I couldn't put it down & THAT final page! 😱

@AlanVRK I'm not employed by any newspaper so have no column to fill. I'm a novelist. When I feel strongly about a subject, I write about it & am lucky enough to have papers willing to publish. You can agree or disagree, debate is good, but name-calling should be beneath you. Take care.

@JohnBoyne @VinesMatthew You're not actually agreeing. You're saying you don't like the word, not attempting to redefine it like Matthew Vines. This is all very Andrew Sullivan c. 1992, but you weirdos they employ have gotta write something to fill the column I suppose.

I'm in print in The New York Times today: "I'm Gay, Not Queer. It Matters." So many gay (and bisexual and transgender) people agree with me, but we have felt it nearly impossible to speak up without being shouted down. But the tides are now starting to turn. I'm very grateful.

In the mid 1990s, I travelled to London to meet a literary agent named Simon Trewin to whom I’d sent samples of my work. We were both young, in our twenties, I an aspiring writer and he a relatively new agent building a list. We hit it off and he took me on as a client. I’ll soon publish my thirtieth book. He agented every single one of them. He was by my side through good times and bad, literary hits and misses, personal traumas and professional dramas. Across three decades he became more than just a trusted colleague; he became one of my dearest friends. Simon’s passion was always for his authors. He supported us, believed in us, and did everything he could to help bring our books to a wide audience. He was a man of the utmost integrity, humour and wisdom. I owe him so much. We lost Simon last Thursday at the far too young age of 60. He leaves behind his beloved wife Helen, his adored son Jack, an industry that held him in the highest regard, and so many writers who benefitted from his encouragement, dedicated work and kindness. I will miss him enormously. Rest in Peace, my dear friend, Simon Trewin. thebookseller.com/obituaries/sim…

@AlisonMoyet amazing! congrats x

New York. Radio City Music Hall. Has Been there last night :-)

A nice piece by @_LiamMcInerney for the @IrishMirror on some of his favourite Irish novels, including THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIES. 🙂 irishmirror.ie/whats-on/arts-…