Hello and welcome.

I’m Mark Diacono, a writer, cook, gardener, walker and photographer. I live in the south west of England.

I write about life, mostly through food and everything connected with it. You’ll find stories, recipes and much about growing and cooking incredible flavours.

I teach writing, so I’m here to help if you are looking to take your writing to another level, to engage with the publishing process in all its forms, and to create a substack that works for you.

Why subscribe

• 2-3 times a month, I publish the latest instalment of ABUNDANCE: Eating and Living With The Seasons, an extension of the book I wrote live here - many are free to read, at least for a week

• Every month, I publish The Compendium - a collection of exceptional writing, a playlist or two, recipes, a plant thats’s great to plant or eat right now, and much more. These are free to enjoy

• Once a month, I hold an Author ‘Live’ event - a live conversation with an author, about their life in writing, their book/s and whatever else takes our fancy. The first few include Claudia Roden (yes, the Claudia Roden). Some of these events will be free, others limited to paid subscribers

• Every month, I hold a Writing Process ‘Live’ event with someone, I admire to talk about their involvement in the writing process - it might be a commissioning editor, agent, photographer, journalist, designer, or whoever: you get the picture. Some of these events will be free, others limited to paid subscribers

• This is where I announce and reveal everything from book covers to events, offers and workshops

• As a reader, you give this a point, a purpose, and I value that - and your support - immensely

• You’ll become a valued part of this wonderful, friendly, supportive community of writers and readers

Additionally, for paid subscribers

• Access to all my posts from the first to the most recent

• Paid subscribers can ask the guest questions at Author ‘Live’ events1

• Paid subscribers can ask the guest questions at Writing Process ‘Live’ events

• Author Lives and Writing Process Lives will also be available to watch after the event for paid subscribers

• Once a month, I run an Ask Me Anything ‘Live’, where you can ask me about any aspect of writing a book, writing for other publications, or creating, developing and maintaining a Substack - in short, anything to do with the process of writing, reaching decision makers (such as publishers), the practicalities of developing ideas, and becoming a better writer. These are free for paid subscribers

• Every month, I hold a Writers Gathering: I set a writing prompt and during the later zoom gathering everyone has the opportunity to discuss what they wrote, and anything that came up. There will also be chance for some to read their work. These are free for paid subscribers

• Paid subscribers can have a digital PDF of my book A Taste of the Unexpected, which won Food Book of the Year in the UK. To have this sent to you, email me once you are a paid subscriber

• Paid subscribers can claim 25% off plants and seeds from the Otter Farm nursery website if you live in mainland UK. For more about this, click here

• Paid subscribers can buy a signed copy of my book SPICE (RRP £25) for only £3.50 +p&p from my website, if you live in mainland UK. Instructions as to how, here

• 25% off mentoring fees

• the cost of an annual subscription deducted from writing retreats I run every year. Email me for more information.

It may not have escaped your notice that if you come to one of the online events I run for paid subscribers, or buy the book and a few plants, just the discount from that will easily cover the cost of an annual subscription.

About me

Writing

I’ve written over a dozen books, winning 14 writing and 4 photography awards, including Food Book of the Year twice, and Garden Book of the Year twice. My book SOUR was shortlisted for a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award in 2020.

I write a monthly food column for The Sunday Times, and a monthly gardening column for Country Life magazine. For many years, I wrote the Cookbook of the Month column for Delicious magazine.

My latest book Abundance was published in August 2025, having largely been written live, here. The writing here won the Garden Media Guild Digital Writing Award in 2024, as well as being shortlisted for the Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Award for Online Writing, and the Guild of Food Writers Awards for Online Writing in 2024.

I teach writing as part of what I do here, as well as at retreats - often with the inspirational Diana Henry.

More besides

I host Cafe Murano Book Club and Limewood Book Club, with the wonderful Angela Hartnett.

I once led the garden team at River Cottage2 and I created the groundbreaking Otter Farm3.

I am very happy to say I’m an Honorary Professor at Liverpool University.

Before that

Having woken from a sustained period of idleness, a million gigs and the occasional foray abroad, I took a degree followed by a Masters in Environmental Management, and ran a consultancy advising government agencies and local authorities in sustainably managing the landscape at a regional and national level.

Lastly…

Thank you for thinking of subscribing and being a valued part of this vibrant community of people who share some of your interests, who have insights and experiences that might enrich your life and vice versa.

I’d be delighted to have you along.

Mark