As part of a project for writers’ group 26 with the Foundling Museum in London, devised by John (with help from Neil) and called 26 Orphans, we’ll be running a creative workshop based on Dark Angels thinking.

On this day (August 12) in 1964, British author and journalist Ian Fleming died in Canterbury, Kent. He’s best known for creating the world’s most famous fictional spy—and his 007 series spanned 12 novels.

In this post we mark the birthday of writer, poet, editor and teacher, Warsan Shire (born 1 August 1988). This Somali British writer became the first Young Poet Laureate of London and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.

This edition is a celebration of the pocket-sized portable reading revelation that is the paperback book. Paperback book day is observed on the 30 July every year as the anniversary of the first Penguin paperbacks published in England in 1935.

This week, we’re bringing a little magic as American writer Elizabeth Gilbert celebrates her 53rd birthday (18 July 1969). Undoubtably, she is most well known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love.

This week we’re celebrating a simple approach to life by observing the birthday of Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862), writer, teacher, nature lover, pencil maker and philosopher.

Hold on to your deerstalker as this week we remember Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930). He was, of course, the creator of irrefutably the most popular detective in literary history.

This week we’re taking a trip back to France and back in time to pay a visit to the life of novelist George Sand. “What a brave man she was, and what a good woman,” said Ivan Turgene.

You’ll notice that we're switching up the content format for the next few months. Rest assured we’ll be rounding the spotlight back on the Dark Angels community in the near future.

It's Gillian Colhoun here. As editor for the past year, I'm bowing out with thanks and gratitude to all of you for continuing to read and contribute to our newsletter.

As this format draws to a close (we have just one more next week), it feels winsomely appropriate to have Dark Angels Managing Director, Neil Baker, share a variety of whatnots with us. 

Elen Lewis wrote the very first edition back in March 2020. To celebrate this landmark, here are a few snippets we’ve enjoyed along the way.

Welcome back to our weekly note. This week we hear from our veritable renaissance man, Craig Watson.

Put the kettle on. You’re going to want to get comfortable as you spend joyous minutes in the company of the extraordinary artist, writer and speaker, Steve Chapman.

Do you fancy a somewhat strange and quirky writing experience? If so, climb aboard the Dark Angels tour bus and join me for a virtual excursion to The Spongleheim Gallery of outsider art on Wednesday May 25th 2022 (2-3pm UK time on Zoom).

Catch up on the latest news from Writer and Executive Coach, Margaret Kenna.

Please say hello to the extremely talented writer, Francesca Tenenbaum. On the verge of an exciting new project, we nabbed her at just the right time.

So wonderful to have the writer Sarah Hill join us this Friday. These are such tender and reflective responses.