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

I’m Not Racist — But I’m Not Sure I’m Anti-Racist

What ‘Me and White Supremacy’ taught me about racism and anti-racism. White supremacy brings to mind images of the Ku KLUX Klan. I am not a member of the KKK. I am not racist. Then I read Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. And I had to ask myself if I AM part of the problem, part

The Books on my Table Make Me Think About Life

Books are wonderful because they make me think. The book pile on my table is there for a reason. They want me to think. Actually, no, I should not say that. The books are there to challenge how I think about myself. Every title sitting on my working desk suggests one thing to me. I

Why I Read the Last Line of a Book Before I Finish It, and Why You Should Too

A new and fun challenge to spice up your reading and writing habit. When you pick up a book at the store, the first thing you probably do is read the first few lines to get a feel of the story. Your mind does not even consider reading the last line because it probably contains spoilers,

Books That Would Be on Rory Gilmore’s Reading List in 2021

What pop culture’s favourite reader would have on her TBR today. Along with Hermoine and Belle, Rory Gilmore is one of the most-loved fictional characters obsessed with reading. Rory constantly has a book nearby, and even when she isn’t reading, someone else on Gilmore Girls is probably referencing a book. The original show mentioned over 300 books

84, Charing Cross Road: A Timeless Classic from a Bygone Era

This year marks the 51st anniversary of the publication of what may be the most unlikely New York Times bestseller ever: Helene Hanff’s 84, Charing Cross Road. It is not even a book in the conventional sense, but rather a collection of letters exchanged by Ms Hanff and London bookseller Frank Doel between 1949 and 1969. The fact

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