Don’t look away! Why writers need to shout about Africa’s migration crisis

Many sub-Saharan Africans feel they have no choice but to leave home, myself included. I wanted them to know that their lives – and stories – matter, says novelist Samuel Kọ́láwọlé

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, study finds

Social media distraction, lack of time and difficulty focusing are factors in the decline of leisure reading

Emerging playwright schemes should include over 40s, say UK theatre figures

Ageism standing in way of older writers breaking into the industry, playwrights claim

A Netflix film, statue and a newly discovered first edition: joy at celebrations of Aphra Behn

As the career of the pioneering writer is remembered, an 1688 copy of her novel Oroonoko is the cherry on the cake

Game of Thrones’ George RR Martin falls foul of Glasgow sci-fi event’s strict rules

Author’s efforts to take part apparently stymied by application protocol, but he still plans to attend Worldcon

National Trust appoints first writer in residence at Brimham Rocks

Natalie Anastasia Davies to create works inspired by the ‘mysterious rock formations’ at North Yorkshire site

Billie Eilish latest star to read CBeebies bedtime story

Oscar-winning singer chooses book by Oliver Jeffers that highlights importance of protecting nature

Credit at last for female screenwriter airbrushed from Hollywood history

Despite her activism during the golden age of cinema, Mary C McCall Jr was all but forgotten. Now a new book is about to set the record straight

End of the librarian? Council cuts and new tech push profession to the brink

Staff in England’s public libraries under threat of being replaced by automated checkouts amid budget pressures

Naomi Alderman: ‘Whatever happened to talking? We’ve lost the ability to swap ideas’

Before her Radio 4 series this week, the dystopian author explains how the internet is eroding communication skills

Stunned silence, hugs and a very big kiss: at home with the Starmers on election night

The PM’s biographer spent the evening of 4 July with the Labour leader and his family. Here he describes the occasion – and examines the battles ahead for Starmer

Is it time to turn the British Museum into the world’s great lending library?

With a new government will come grown-up conversations about our colonial history’s part in the acquiring of artefacts

Football, faith and Fabianism: what books by the new frontbenchers tell us about the way Labour will govern

Ed Miliband’s ideas are more radical than his party’s; Emily Thornberry is alarmed by Trump; Rachel Reeves has an unlikely role model. What else do the new cabinet’s tomes reveal?

Self-help was meant to make me feel better. Instead it turned toxic – and borderline dangerous

For 15 years I read the books, took the courses and downloaded the apps to try to become a better person. None of it helped, says writer Emily Goddard

Following in the footsteps of David Nicholls’ characters turned out to be good for our soles

A trip to a local, well-known outdoors outlet proved that the spirit of Michael and Marnie is alive and well in Penrith