Ideas, updates & resources
Writing on self-publishing, book editing, UK civic data, and local democracy — for authors, readers, and residents.
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We've launched a comprehensive frontend for exploring UK local authority data. Browse all 350+ councils, their councillors, and decision-making bodies in one searchable interface — no login or account required. Here's what's in it and how to use it.
New local Bristol authors and titles added to the curated bookshop list. If you're looking for fiction, non-fiction, or children's books rooted in Bristol culture and history, this is a good place to start.
Self-publishing can feel like stepping off a cliff. A structured manuscript evaluation — covering structure, pacing, voice, and market positioning — can save months of revision and give you real confidence before you hit publish. Here's how the service works.
The West of England Combined Authority makes decisions that affect transport, housing, and economic development across Bristol, Bath, and South Gloucestershire. Here's what I found when I built a searchable tracker of their decision records — and what it reveals about how the authority operates.
Scraping, cleaning, and cross-referencing data on 18,000+ councillors taught me a great deal about the state of open data in UK local government — both how much is technically available, and how awkward most of it is to actually use. Some notes on the process.