I’m Jon Blake, author of over 60 books for children and teens, and a BBC Talent award-winner for adult radio comedy. But I’ve also been an active socialist for over forty years. This site, aimed at adults, is an attempt to marry the two.
As an author I have written picture books, early readers, middle grade, young adult, adult, comic, serious, contemporary, historical, real-life and imaginative. I’ve also wriiten for radio, TV and the stage. I’ve been published by numerous giants, many indies, and occasionally myself. I’ve had big hits and flops, I’ve been well-known and unknown, and my commitment to social equality and the liberation of the working class have always been clear, not always to my advantage!
As an activist and political blogger, for many years I edited the popular site Cardiff Radical Social Forum, which also organised many educational events. I have been (a highly critical) member of the Labour Party, and before its 2006 split, Workers Power. In the 2000s I built the UK’s largest social forum in Cardiff in concert with Leanne Wood and others, and convened the Roath Stop the War group. Other campaigns in which I’ve been involved include Anti Fascist Action, the Cardiff Three campaign and the Poll Tax campaign. Now with a state pension and on dialysis, with a family which includes a disabled son, I reckon I have a range of experience which is worth sharing.
The site is a work in progress and I’ll be happy to respond to comments and requests. Do feel free to contact me.
Leftist books 