The Border Readers

Always a great time had at Humshaugh Village Hall reading to a full house. Cullercoats Watch House (Queens Head pub)now sold out. Some availability for Bellingham First & Last Tap Room on Wed 4th Nov (6.30) www.firstandlastbrewery.co.uk @joscottheritage.bsky.social

Remaining October #Northumberland gigs...#Humshaugh Village Hall (Fri 23) #Cullercoats Watch House (Fri 30 - sold out) @joscottheritage.bsky.social @nlandnp.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @cpre-northumb.bsky.social @hexhamtv.bsky.social @bookshelfie.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk

Kim's 'Placements' drawings & collages at Dry Water Arts #Amble Exhibition runs to 7 Nov www.drywaterarts.uk/room-with-a-... & our 'Words of Love' plays here Sat 17 Oct (6.30) @joscottheritage.bsky.social #Art #Illustration #Sheep #Farming @culturednortheast.bsky.social @cpre-northumb.bsky.social

Join us at the opening evening of the Kim Lewis 'Placements' exhibition at Dry Water Arts Centre #Amble Fri Oct 9th, 6-7.30. We return there to read with 'Words of Love' on Sat Oct 17th (7pm) More about both events here: Drywaterarts.uk #Art #Reading #Stories @joscottheritage.bsky.social

We had a great time, with the warmest of hospitality, the perfect way to start our borderlands tour!

tour starts this Sat 26 at Elsdon @joscottheritage.bsky.social Wooler Library Tues Oct 6 then 14 other Borderlands venues @nlandnp.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @cpre-northumb.bsky.social @commapress.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social #writingcommunity @bookshelfie.bsky.social

Thrilled to have our friend Jacqueline Phillips @qualityofmercy.bsky.social join us to read for 'Words of Love' at @litandphil.bsky.social (13/10) Dry Water Arts, Amble (17/10) & Humshaugh Village Hall (23/10) #Reading #Literature @joscottheritage.bsky.social

Jeremy Page's 'Plastic Heart' 1 of our 4 short stories touring the Borderlands 26 Sep - 3 Dec. Tour list on webpage. @joscottheritage.bsky.social @commapress.bsky.social @litandphil.bsky.social @nclanews.bsky.social @hexhamtv.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @nlandnp.bsky.social

Third of our 'Words of Love' writers is one of the UK's leading literary lights, Penelope Lively, whose delightfully funny story 'The Row' we are thrilled to be reading on tour across the borderlands this autumn. #Literature #Shortstories #Reading

Helen Hutchinson, author of 'Taking Flight', a poignant tale set in Victorian Perthshire, is the new writing element in this year's line up touring the Borderlands from Sept 26 #literature #reading #shortstories #libraries @joscottheritage.bsky.social @ucuuoc.bsky.social

One of four 'Words of Love' authors...Kerry Andrew kerryandrew.tumblr.com We'll be giving live readings of her wonderful short story 'To Belong To' across the borderlands this autumn @commapress.bsky.social

Our autumn tour @joscottheritage.bsky.social @anncleeves.bsky.social @litandphil.bsky.social @nclanews.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @hexhamtv.bsky.social @cpre-northumb.bsky.social @commapress.bsky.social @librariesconnected.org.uk #shortstories #reading

Just got delivery of flyers & posters for the autumn tour! @joscottheritage.bsky.social @cpre-northumb.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @culturednortheast.bsky.social @nclanews.bsky.social @newwritingnorth.bsky.social #Literature #Art #Reading @commapress.bsky.social Image: www.kimlewisart.co.uk

BR guest reader Justin Webb narrates Sherlock Holmes' 'Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist', directed by Stephen Tomlin, recorded in studio by Terry Walsh at www.twda.co.uk Hear it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKot...

Farewell 'Shore Lines'! Heron Theatre Fri 27th March (7.30) Roberta Stephen & Helen read fab fiction from @anncleeves.bsky.social @joscottheritage.bsky.social Linda Cracknell & Tony Glover theherontheatre.com/whats-on/cat... Booking: Box Office: 015395 64283 www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/venu...

Excited by making our debut with 'Shore Lines' at the old library, Auckland Bishop's Palace Fri 13th March 7pm aucklandproject.org/event/shore-... @joscottheritage.bsky.social @anncleeves.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social @durham.ac.uk @culturednortheast.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk

A fantastic time last Wed night making our debut at First & Last Brewery Tap Room Bellingham with 'Dark Sky Tales', one of many events in the first ever North East Dark Skies Festival #Northumberland @joscottheritage.bsky.social @cpre-northumb.bsky.social @nlandnp.bsky.social

Join us in the F&L Brewery tap room Bellingham on Wed 18th Feb (6.30) for some awesome intimate fictional story readings Tickets www.firstandlastbrewery.co.uk/products/dar... @joscottheritage.bsky.social @hexhamtv.bsky.social @nlandnp.bsky.social @nlandgreens.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk

Every best wish of the season to our wonderful writers, bookers, audiences and well wishers. 'Shore Lines' was a great hit in 2025 and we're looking forward to bringing more intimate short story readings to community venues across the borderlands in 2026! #Culture #Reading #Arts #Literature

Our tour has ended on another high note with fantastic full houses for Shore Lines in venues old & new...Big thanks to writers @anncleeves.bsky.social Linda Cracknell @saraband-books.bsky.social Tony Glover & @joscottheritage.bsky.social We'll be back autumn '26 with a new themed literary tour!

2 sell out shows this past week: Gregson Centre #Lancaster & The Vault #Hexham Last Shore Lines tour gig is at The Pheasant Inn Cumwhitton #Cumberland Thurs 4 Dec (8pm) Short stories from @joscottheritage.bsky.social @anncleeves.bsky.social Linda Cracknell @saraband-books.bsky.social & Tony Glover

The writer as reader...Jo @joscottheritage.bsky.social steps in last minute to cover brilliantly for injured colleague at Allendale Library (left) & at Dennis Kilgallon Gallery on our 'Shore Lines' tour #Northumberland #Literature #Art #Reading #Shortstories

Back touring #Northumberland this week...Allendale Library Thurs 6th (7pm) & Kilgallon Gallery Whitfield Sat 8th (7pm) Tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk #Culture #Reading #Art @nlandnp.bsky.social @librariesconnected.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @hexhamtv.bsky.social

Aberystwyth named Unesco City of Literature. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A full on 4 days touring 'Shore Lines' last week: Lit & Phil, Seaton Sluice Library, Wingates Village Institute & Amble Dry Arts...Great Fun & lovely listening audiences everywhere! #Literature #Reading #Northumberland #Newcastle

'Shore Lines' tour continues...Wallington @nationaltrust.org.uk last week was fab. This week we're at @litandphil.bsky.social Tues (6pm) Seaton Sluice Library Wed (6.30) Wingates Village Inst. Thurs (7.30) & Amble Dry Water Arts (6.30) #Literature #Reading #Performance

We had a fab time last night reading 'Shore Lines' before a lovely all ears full house at #Wooler Library #Northumberland @librariesconnected.bsky.social #Reading #Libraries @anncleeves.bsky.social @joscottheritage.bsky.social

'We owe it to the citizens of today and in the future to renew our library system', says @richove.bsky.social in @theobserveruk.bsky.social. Public libraries are 'palaces for the people' whose 'ramparts need defending'. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

This week we're at Cheviot Centre #Wooler (Tues 07) Wallington @nationaltrust.org.uk (Thurs 09) & #Felton Gallery Forty5 (Fri 10) Join us if you can! @joscottheritage.bsky.social @anncleeves.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk #Reading #Shortstories #Northumberland

Now appearing in the trap, Angle Shades, autumn leaf...moth of the month

Train trip to #Edinburgh today for Andy Goldsworthy Fifty Years...creative genius on show @nationalgalleries.bsky.social Catch it if you can 'til 02/11 #Art #Landscape #Nature

Great night reading 'Shore Lines' stories to fab listening audience in historic St Cuthbert's church #Elsdon #Northumberland Big thanks @joscottheritage.bsky.social for hosting. Only 15 more gigs to go...Join us if you can! @nlandnp.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social #Literature #Reading

BBC 500 Words, the UK’s biggest children’s story-writing competition is back and open for submissions. Entries close at 9pm on Friday 7 November 2025. For more details and to read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notices go to bbc.co.uk/500words.

The Shore Lines tour set sail at The Word, South Shields last night...Big thanks to our brilliant short story authors @anncleeves.bsky.social Linda Cracknell @saraband-books.bsky.social Tony Glover & @joscottheritage.bsky.social Join us if you can at readings across #Northumberland & #Cumbria

So exciting to join the audience at The Word as Shore Lines sets sail for the first time this year! Four salty coastal tales beautifully told by Stephen Tomlin and Janine Birkett. Don't miss your chance to be transported to the seaside... Border Readers lay anchor in #Elsdon on Friday ⚓⛵🌊

We set sail with 'Shore Lines' at The Word, South Shields on Mon 22 and Elsdon Fri 26 @joscottheritage.bsky.social with lots of gigs across the Borderlands to follow...Join us if you can! #Literature #Culture #Stories #Reading #Art

theworduk.org/write-festiv... So excited for my sailing #ShortStory Touch & Go to premiere at The Word, Sth Shields on Mon 22 Sept! Part of brilliant @theborderreaders.bsky.social salty storytelling evening #Shorelines. See you there! @anncleeves.bsky.social @tonyglover1.bsky.social #LindaCracknell

Anchored in Amble, will Jenny ever set sail?...Jo Scott's witty new romance 'Touch & Go' is part of the autumn Shore Lines tour @joscottheritage.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @culturednortheast.bsky.social @nclanews.bsky.social @anncleeves.bsky.social @newwritingnorth.bsky.social #Amble

Delighted to be part of this fine festival with 'Shore Lines' at #Wooler library on Tues 7th Oct (7pm) Ace stories by @anncleeves.bsky.social @joscottheritage.bsky.social Tony Glover & Linda Cracknell @saraband-books.bsky.social Tickets via www.berwickliteraryfestival.com @visitberwick.bsky.social

More murder coming your way...We'll be reading 'Mud' by Ann Cleeves as part of this autumn's 'Shore Lines' tour of 17 venues across the Borderlands @anncleeves.bsky.social #Reading #fiction #stories #culture #Literature #entertainment #Northumberland #Cumbria

We open the autumn tour of 'Shore Lines' at The Word, South Shields, the National Centre for the Written Word, down by the waters of Tyne. Monday 22nd Sept @6pm - Tickets a bargain at £3 theworduk.org/write-festiv... #Literature #Shortstories #Culture #SouthTyneside #Libraries #Reading

'Crossing the Bar' by Linda Cracknell @saraband-books.bsky.social 1 of 4 great writers whose short stories we'll be showcasing this autumn across #Northumberland #Cumbria & #Lancaster #Literature #Reading

Really must sit out in the garden more...

Shore Lines is touring this autumn...Catch us if you can! Stories from @joscottheritage.bsky.social Linda Cracknell @anncleeves.bsky.social & Tony Glover @nclanews.bsky.social @litandphil.bsky.social @culturednortheast.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk #Reading #Cumbria #Lancaster #Northumberland

On a quiet riverbank a boy meets a stranger going through a rough patch, as the two keep tabs on a controversial rewilding project Currently on BBC Sounds: “The Give & Take”, by Linda Cracknell www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

We're delighted to share the cover for Sea Marked by Linda Cracknell, publishing in September Cracknell charts a family and community history of sea-faring, illuminating the lives of her ancestors that are inextricably linked to and defined by the sea saraband.net/sb-title/sea... #Booksky 📚💙

I'm so excited that one of my short stories is featuring again in this year's tour! Thank you, Stephen, and I'm hugely honoured to be there alongside such prestigious writers 😍 @anncleeves.bsky.social, Linda Bracknell & @tonyglover.bsky.social

Our autumn 2025 tour is now in place! we'll be taking 'Shore Lines' to 17 venues across the Borderlands: arts centres, libraries, theatres, village halls, art galleries, a pub and a church. More info here as we go. Full tour list on the website: www.theborderreaders.co.uk

Our mini Spring tour of 'Land Lines' ended at Acorn Bank, Penrith for @nationaltrust.org.uk Grace & Stephen reading to a keen listening audience. Thanks to Heather & the team of volunteers for hosting at this delightfully intimate historic country venue! #Literature #Reading

Join actors Grace Kirby & Stephen Tomlin giving intimate readings of countryside short stories in the drawing room at Acorn Bank @nationaltrust.org.uk Tues 29 April 7pm More at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-d... #Literature #Reading #Culture #Cumbria #Storytelling