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saltpublishing.com
Salt Books
@saltpublishing.com
51K followers 9.3K following 970 posts
Independent publisher of literary fiction and short stories since 1999. New titles, backlist gems, and rewards for readers.
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saltpublishing.com
Smelling of Rooks began on Sunday evenings, as a way of easing ‘the sadness of my suddenly empty house’. Nine years of posts later, it’s a book. What’s your Sunday-evening ritual? £12.99 www.saltpublishing.com/products/sme... #BookSky
Dark green quote card reading 'the sadness of my suddenly empty house', the line from which Louis de Bernières's Smelling of Rooks began as Sunday-evening messages. The book cover and Salt logo are included.
November 1, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
judecook.bsky.social
A late-October Substack essay from me, on the last day of the month, about the pleasures and pitfalls of writing a Novel of Ideas. Read Getting Lost: Do Philosophy and Fiction Mix? for FREE here: judecook.substack.com/p/getting-lost @saltpublishing.com
Getting Lost
Do Philosophy and Fiction Mix?
judecook.substack.com
October 31, 2026 at 5:06 PM
saltpublishing.com
One of Twenty, no. 3: Graham Greene’s ‘Reading at Night’, written in 1962 and unearthed in the Harry Ransom Center archive. A fitting title for Halloween. Best British Short Stories 2026, ed. Nicholas Royle. £10.99 www.saltpublishing.com/products/bes...
Graphic on lime green: ‘One of Twenty’ above a large white ‘03’, then ‘Reading at Night’ in white capitals and ‘Graham Greene’ in gold, with a note that the story was written in 1962 and unpublished until 2025. The foot reads ‘Best British Short Stories 2026’.
October 31, 2026 at 12:35 PM
saltpublishing.com
'Philosophy drives a smart existential thriller' – James Smart in the Guardian on Time Being by Jude Cook. A philosophy professor faces a moral dilemma of her own, with her career, health and a police investigation all closing in. Published by Salt, £10.99.

#TimeBeing #JudeCook #ReadIndie
October 31, 2026 at 12:11 PM
saltpublishing.com
The last day of October – the right moment to mention a book called Not Even October. Tim Relf’s debut collection of poems is out on 9 November. ‘Incisive and moving’ (Richard E. Grant). £10.99 www.saltpublishing.com/products/not...
Graphic on cream: the words ‘The last day of October.’ in tall navy capitals and ‘Fitting, for a book called Not Even October.’ in coral, beside the cover of Not Even October by Tim Relf, an illustration of waves, autumn leaves and a leaping trout. Text reads ‘Out 9 November’.
October 31, 2026 at 9:05 AM
saltpublishing.com
Some heroes wear capes. In Venice in 1817, they wear very good hats. 🎩 The Puffin by Michelle Lovric: a revolutionary milliner, a poet, an assassin and one very clever puffin. Out now, £14.99. www.saltpublishing.com/products/the... #BookSky
Dark olive graphic with the words 'Some heroes wear capes. These wear very good hats.' The cover of The Puffin by Michelle Lovric, a puffin in a gilded frame before Venice, sits beside a line about a milliner, a poet, an assassin and a clever puffin. A gold band quotes Elizabeth Gilbert and carries the Salt logo.
October 30, 2026 at 10:05 AM
saltpublishing.com
Out on Monday: Two Hopes (Dve Nadezdi) by Nadezda Bobyleva – a memoir of two women, two journeys home and a thin green notebook carried from Berlin to Kharkiv. £10.99 www.saltpublishing.com/products/two...
Graphic on dark slate: the words ‘Monday, a thin green notebook goes out into the world.’ in large white and amber capitals, beside the cover of Two Hopes (Dve Nadezdi) by Nadezda Bobyleva, which shows a woman walking away along railway tracks under a grey sky. Text reads ‘Out on Monday, 2 November’.
October 30, 2026 at 9:05 AM
saltpublishing.com
Twenty stories, one year of British short fiction – including a lost Graham Greene story, written in 1962 and unpublished until 2025. Best British Short Stories 2026, ed. Nicholas Royle. £10.99. www.saltpublishing.com/products/bes...
Salt announcement graphic on lime green: the words ‘Twenty stories. One year of British short fiction.’ in tall white capitals, beside the cover of Best British Short Stories 2026 edited by Nicholas Royle, with the line ‘Including a lost story by Graham Greene.’
October 29, 2026 at 12:35 PM
saltpublishing.com
This afternoon, 2 p.m.: Louis de Bernières is at The Oundle Bookshop signing copies of Smelling of Rooks. Come and say hello – and take home a signed copy. 🐦‍⬛ #BookSky @oundlebookshop.bsky.social
October 29, 2026 at 8:35 AM
saltpublishing.com
Today, 2 p.m.: Louis de Bernières signs Smelling of Rooks at Kibworth Books. £12.99 buys the book, the signing and tea and cake – ring the shop for any last tickets. 📚 #BookSky @kibworthbooks.bsky.social
Graphic announcing that Louis de Bernières signs copies of Smelling of Rooks at Kibworth Books today at 2 p.m. Tickets cost £12.99 and include the book, the signing, and tea and cake. The sage-green book cover is shown beside the Salt Publishing logo.
October 28, 2026 at 8:35 AM
saltpublishing.com
‘A fine portrait of a wounded midlife.’ James Smart in the Guardian on Time Being by Jude Cook – a philosopher, a terrible mistake and the biggest questions. £10.99 from Salt.

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
October 27, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
iancritchley.bsky.social
Sunday morning reading @saltpublishing.com
Best British Short Stories 2026, edited by Nicholas Royle, published by Salt. Typographic cover, white text on green background
October 25, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Salt Books
iancritchley.bsky.social
". . . he appeared relatively well adjusted. He had introduced me to my first bong."

@kieranstories.bsky.social's story 'Why Do You Let Me Lie Here Wastefully?' starts with a bike theft and then takes a brilliantly unexpected and surreal turn. Superb.

#shortstories @saltpublishing.com
Best British Short Stories 2026
October 25, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by Salt Books
chrisemery.me
The Branch
The Branch When you lick it into shape scraping down nicks and burrs where eighth-of-an-inch twigs had spread, that you trimmed with a crescent-knife, understanding all the give and take, the nip, the fall into a pile of curling bark scraps, as now you break into a sweat, waxing the entire limb, tip to tip, rubbing out another day’s guilt, straightening what’s imperfectible, lifting it to check it with your good eye squinting all along the white stripped shaft – changing focus to see your father’s muck yard, and then the yarrow littered hill in all-day mordant rain which still commands its slurring crown of field maples, and soon enough, you’ll be stood up there among them in the bells of the evening, with the last dog skittering low beside you in all that run off; it will lick you into shape.
October 24, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Salt Books
suzannafitzpatrick.bsky.social
#TheDeeperRead 42 features "Mammogram" from Emma Simon's Shapeshifting for Beginners from @saltpublishing.com, twinned with my poem of the same title from the Ver Poets Prize 2026 anthology, selected by @nessalampert.bsky.social: suzannafitzpatrick.substack.com/p/the-deeper...
October 24, 2026 at 11:15 AM
saltpublishing.com
What Happens When Fiction Walks Into a Milliner's Studio

‘Sometimes a character arrives before the hat does.

That is how it felt when I began working with Michelle Lovric on her novel The Puffin.’
What Happens When Fiction Walks Into a Milliner's Studio
Art work by Mary Ritzman
www.bea-evie.com
October 23, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
livimichael.bsky.social
look what a good friend sent me - as seen in Didsbury library!
@saltpublishing.com
@nicholasroyle.bsky.social
@cathstaincliffe.bsky.social
October 22, 2026 at 7:45 AM
saltpublishing.com
Terrific review of Time Being by @judecook.bsky.social in The Jewish Chronicle.

www.thejc.com/life/books/t...
October 21, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
agentmancuso.bsky.social
Things newly read:

'The Existential Detective' by Alice Thompson.

#Books
#BookSky
📚🖋️💙📚
@saltpublishing.com
Book cover of 'The Existential Detective' by Alice Thompson.
October 21, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
robpalk.bsky.social
I hope you're all carefully noting the differences between the Salt and Sandstone texts, perhaps preparing your own definitive hybrid version of Animal Lovers for use in the eventual OUP edition
saltpublishing.com Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 13d
Happy publication day, Rob Palk! 🦡 Animal Lovers is out today: a very funny, quietly devastating novel about a man whose wife leaves him for the badgers. ‘Hilarious, poignant’ – Daily Mail

www.saltpublishing.com/products/ani...

#AnimalLovers #NewBooks #IndiePublishing
Congratulations to Rob Palk on the publication of Animal Lovers
October 19, 2026 at 5:21 PM
saltpublishing.com
A terrific afternoon at Kemps Books in Malton, as Louis de Bernières signed copies of Smelling of Rooks: Nine Years in the Norfolk Alps – and plenty of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Thanks to Liz and the team, and to everyone who came along. #IndieBookshop #LouisdeBernieres
October 19, 2026 at 9:52 AM
saltpublishing.com
Happy publication day, Rob Palk! 🦡 Animal Lovers is out today: a very funny, quietly devastating novel about a man whose wife leaves him for the badgers. ‘Hilarious, poignant’ – Daily Mail

www.saltpublishing.com/products/ani...

#AnimalLovers #NewBooks #IndiePublishing
Congratulations to Rob Palk on the publication of Animal Lovers
October 19, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Reposted by Salt Books
saltpublishing.com
Superb review of The Puffin on the Daily Mail! Huge thanks to Eithne Farry!
October 16, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Salt Books
saltpublishing.com
Michelle Lovric’s The Puffin reviewed in The Times! 🤩
Michelle Lovric’s The Puffin reviewed in The Times
October 17, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Salt Books
saltpublishing.com
Join writer Michelle Lovric and Mark Oakley to celebrate the release of Michelle's latest book: 'The Puffin'

26 October 6.30 p.m. The Library, Southwark Cathedral

Buy your tickets now
cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/261...
October 17, 2026 at 11:22 AM