Prompt for Submissions

The stories we are looking for throughout October, November and December 2021 Calling all writers! I hope you are enjoying the seasonal changes (if you live in the Northern hemisphere, that is) and managing to cosy up inside with a book and your favourite beverage to accompany you. I love watching the trees change colour

Call for Submissions

The stories we are looking for throughout July and August. Calling all readers, writers and reader-writers! A Thousand Lives has enjoyed a lot of success since we started back in December 2020, and it’s been a joy to watch this bookish space grow over that period.  I have learned so much from editing and reading articles

Reading Can Make Us Better People

This is just one of the reasons why we should never neglect it. We’re pretty keen on reading here at A Thousand Lives. You may well have noticed. The truth is, reading isn’t just about escaping into new worlds or discovering new information. It’s about making us better people, too. The act of reading can bring comfort

Working as a Bookseller Convinced me to Always Prioritize Books

At face value, books may seem like merely inanimate objects, but they are far more than that. I’ve always been a reader, but sometimes it has been more of a priority than others due to the course of life. I often tell people I didn’t read for three years whilst I was at university, but

In Conversation with Debut Author Tom Bray

“The real hard work begins once the novel is complete.” Being a writer requires hard work, dedication and a certain degree of persistence. Even then, you’re never guaranteed the traditional route of getting a book deal with a publisher. That in itself can take a lifetime of persistence, which is why self-publishing is becoming more

5 Books to Help You Live through Uncertainty

This selection of heartwarming fiction reads will give you comfort and reassurance in tough times. Uncertainty has become a dominant facet of life over the past year, and many of us have turned to books to heal our anxieties about the current state of the world. Of course, we all read for different reasons —

Audiobooks Aren’t for Me — Here’s Why

Being late to the party, I thought it was time to give them a go, but it’s safe to say I was disappointed. In 2020, audiobooks’ sales grew on average at a rate of 25–30% and made up around a third of the overall book market. As the pandemic set in, people turned to read in

‘The President Show’ Is a Dazzling and Haunting Debut novel

This dystopian world reveals a patriarchal, repressive society that sexualizes women with a culture of compliance. Recently, it feels like it has been hard to be a woman. A few weeks ago, a YouGov poll revealed that 97% of women aged between 18–24 in the UK had experienced sexual harassment in some form. Amidst women

The Value of a Good Book Recommendation

Why it matters, and how it can go a long way. When trying to kick start a new reading habit, sometimes, it can be hard to know where to look for solid recommendations. But on the other hand, the internet is full to the brim of listicles telling you about all the books you should

Costanza Casati on Becoming a Debut Author

An interview with the author of THE PRESIDENT SHOW, a new feminist dystopian novel out this March. Facing rejection is a huge part of being a writer. Whether that’s submitting an article proposal to a publication you are passionate about or sending your first book off to a literary agent. Writing a novel is no easy