iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ariel Marken Jack @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Reposted by Allyson Shaw

Aw, thank you for reading my review! I'm glad it spoke to you. I loved your book so much I had to start a newsletter just to have a place of my own to put my feelings about it 🖤

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I'm honoured to have readers as magnificently talented as @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social ! Thank you, Ariel for this review. I was actually in tears reading it.

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

"Allyson Shaw’s Ashes & Stones is a remarkable book, one I imagine I will return to over the years when I want to be reminded of how magic works in literary form." —Ariel Marken Jack, @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social Songs from a River’s Edge buttondown.com/SongsFromaRi... Thank you, Ariel!

buttondown.com

001: Ashes & Stones

I have rarely been as moved by a work of nonfiction as I am by Allyson Shaw’s marvellous book Ashes & Stones: A Scottish Journey in Search of Witches &...

Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Do you have a selkie-witchy-northern-islands loving chum? Someone who loves genre bending, weird books? Share Widdershins with them. There's only 28 hours left of the Kickstarter! #fantasynovel #booksky #projectswelove #witches #scotland kickstarter.com/projects/all...

A genre-bending fantasy novel, a Viking Age time-slip & a selkie retelling spanning a thousand years

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Do you have a selkie-witchy-northern-islands loving chum? Someone who loves genre bending, weird books? Share Widdershins with them! There's 8 days left to back the #kickstarter #projectswelove #speculativefiction #booksky #fantasybook kickstarter.com/projects/all...

A genre-bending fantasy novel, a Viking Age time-slip & a selkie retelling spanning a thousand years

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Thank YOU for the great insights. Looking forward to reading Widdershins!

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Monster Lab @aumonsterlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Our new #MonsterLab is here! A talk with Ashes & Stones author @allysonshaw.bsky.social on Scotland's mass killings of women as #witches & finding the stories of real humans who history has turned into symbols of monstrosity or victimhood. youtu.be/SvO9SO3M4pI?... #historysky #horrorsky #booksky

youtu.be

Ashes & Stones: Allyson Shaw on Scotland's "witch" trials and reclaiming humanity from victimhood

YouTube video by ¡AU! Monster Lab

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Thanks so much, Neal--it was fantastic to be in conversation with you again about my creative nonfiction book Ashes & Stones and my genre bending fantasy novel Widdershins!

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

"The Protestant Reformation in Scotland was forged in people's bodies" A dynamite conversation with @allysonshaw.bsky.social on the atrocities of the Scottish witch trials in the latest episode of @auworks.bsky.social #MonsterLab

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Prashanth Srivatsa @prashanthsrivatsa.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The Nazir story is definitely AI. Way too many tells to refute it. Shambles that an institution like the Commonwealth Foundation Creative is rewarding slop (regional winner ffs!), which in turn is being published blindly by Granta. We're in the end times, fellas.

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Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Brewing scandal about a possible AI-produced short story winning a prize and published by GRANTA. The story doesn’t seem great but it also doesn’t seem totally like the slop I typically see. Twitter is ablaze about it and so I humbly submit it to this more enlightened audience (see thread)

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Todd Dillard @toddedillard.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

GRANTA awarding a prize to AI is not how I expected today to end

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kate wehwalt @katewagner.wehwalt.net · 19/05/2026

are yall talking about the AI granta short story on here yet

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Two weeks into the Kickstarter for my fantasy novel Widdershins, & it's over 800% funded. There are still 3 reward tiers left--have a look!https://kickstarter.com/projects/allysonshaw/widdershins-1 #projectswelove #booksky #fantasyauthor #fantasybook #scottishbook #scottishauthor #orkney #selkie

A genre-bending fantasy novel, a Viking Age time-slip & a selkie retelling spanning a thousand years.

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A week into the Kickstarter & Widdershins is 741% funded! I’ve decided on a stretch goal & When we reach this it unlocks an integral ribbon bookmark for the limited edition hardback. come see: #booksky #fantasyauthor #fantasybook #ProjectWeLove #Kickstarter kickstarter.com/projects/all...

A genre-bending fantasy novel, a Viking Age time-slip & a selkie retelling spanning a thousand years.

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Katie Lumsden @katiejlumsden.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

I get a lot of AI slop book marketing emails, but this is the first time I have ever been . . . mistaken for Jane Austen.

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Claire Mullaly @clairemullaly.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Cork, what a county. Its September 1934 and the Derry Journal reports that at a cinema dance in Buttevant, Co. Cork, all the women there refused to dance with the fascist Blueshirts. A Blueshirt announced that they had paid their way in and if no girls would dance with them.. [1/2]

Fight at cinema dance

Blueshirt threat to clear the hall. Girls refused to dance with them.

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Praise for my genre-bending novel, Widdershins "This book speaks to my soul…it pulled me in. I couldn’t stop reading…witchy and strange and rooted in myth…I already know I’ll be rereading it." —Julie Euman, @honestlybookedjulie on Booktok #booksky #kickstarter #witch kickstarter.com/projects/all...

A genre-bending fantasy novel, a Viking Age time-slip & a selkie retelling spanning a thousand years.

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K.M. 🛋️📚✍️ @kdscribbles.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Just backed this at the Selkie tier! Woooo - so excited!! And congrats Allyson - I loved your “Ashes & Stones”, so am sure this will be fabulous. 📚 🦭 ✨

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Yesterday I launched my literary fantasy novel Widdershins on Kickstarter & it was fully funded in 13 minutes. It's a Kickstarter 'Project We Love'-- come see what it's all about kickstarter.com/projects/all... #speculativefiction #orkney #booksky #scottish #folklore #fairytales #fantasybook

two editions of widdershins over a floral, dark blue background. Both covers feature fluid lines and deep colours. One is full colour while the other is silver foil. Two badges say 100% funded in 13 minutes & Projecte we love -- Kickstarter

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Ariel Marken Jack @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I recently started reading Allyson's absolutely stunning nonfiction book, Ashes and Stones, and I was *stoked* to see that she's got a novel coming out this summer that looks just perfectly up my very particular alley! I am so, so, so excited to get my copy 🖤🖤🖤

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Forget life is short--what if you had all the time in the world? Widdershins COVER REVEAL. Kara's story is vibrant retelling of the selkie myth and an epic tale of connected lives spanning a thousand years. Sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live: www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...

A collage of the cover illustration of widdershins, a white woman looking sidelong in black and white and a seal looking at the viewer. Behind is the north sea and over all it says KICKSTARTER

WIDDERSHINS is
-Viking Age time slip
-literary fantasy
-weird girl fiction
-subversive folklore
-selkie myth retelling
-cozy apocalypse
-atmospheric islands
-dark academia vibes
-Scotland, but riddled with fairies
-poetic survival story
-a smattering of spice

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Just FIVE days till 🚀! My literary fantasy novel will be crowdfunded on Kickstarter. The LE HB will be signed and numbered, with a foil cover by @iainmacarthurart.bsky.social Find out more: kickstarter.com/projects/all... #booksky #fantasysky #scottishbluesky #booksky📚

A picture of a book with a swirling modern design of aquatic motifs. A list of trops next to it says Widershins is Viking Age Time Slip/-literary fantasy
-weird girl fiction
-subversive folklore
-selkie myth retelling
-cozy apocalypse
-atmospheric islands
-dark academia vibes
-Scotland, but riddled with fae traps
-poetic survival story

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

This is an exciting new project from Miranda!

Miranda Keeling @mirandakeeling.com · 09/02/2026

Reposted by Allyson Shaw

Excited to get stuck into this wonderful, important piece of work by @allysonshaw.bsky.social! Beautiful cover by @iainmacarthurart.bsky.social too 💜

A photo of the Ashes & Stones by Allyson Shaw (paperback). Propped in my fireplace with fairy light behind. Book is navy wit purple thistles and an owl and a moon in grey. Title is in gold.

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

This is me reading the middle page of my forthcoming novel, Widdershins, at the point when the narrative hovers, before beginning to circle backward. #booktrailer #speculativefiction #scottishbook youtube.com/shorts/98ADk...

youtube.com

Early 2026 I’ll be launching a Kickstarter for my novel Widdershins

YouTube video by Allyson Shaw

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

First, what's a Monster Of The Month talk? Cuz that sounds amazing & just the kind of thing we're trying to do at Monster Lab (which launches tomorrow; see my pinned post). Also I've just started reading @allysonshaw.bsky.social's tremendous book Ashes & Stones on this very thing. Highly recommend.

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Laure Meloy @lauremeloy.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Couldn’t resist: Sally Mann book purchase inspired by The Great Women Artists Podcast, Ashes & Stones retrieved from my wish list on Bookshop

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

My friend, the brilliant @nromanek.bsky.social & ¡AU! are kicking off a series of talks about monsters and the creative process. It's going to be fascinating. It launches with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Esdi Reich THIS SATURDAY. #monsters #writingcommunity www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/monster-la...

eventbrite.co.uk

Monster Lab: Incarnation One - with guests Surekha Davies & Esti Reich

Monster Lab is an event series from ¡AU! where creatives and fans learn how to understand, create, and tame bad guys.

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Absolutely over the moon about this, esp. having just finished The Tombs of Atuan. Ursual La Guins maps, devised by her for Earthsea et al, are available in a London exhibition running till December. www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...

aaschool.ac.uk

AA School

Architectural Association School of Architecture's website homepage is the online entrance into the AA; to its courses from Foundation to PhD for undergraduate and postgraduate students; its open publ...

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Our new monster event at ¡AU!, which kicks off Oct. 18. It's going to be a mix of fun and deep monster study. Still working out what the frequency will be, but we'll be doing Monster Lab regularly. Ticket prices are absurdly low for this first outing. Join us.

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

"...a landmark $1.5bn settlement of this copyright class action brought by a group of US authors against Anthropic over the use of their works in the training of Anthropic’s large language model, Claude." societyofauthors.org/2025/09/26/a... #GenAI #AI #Anthropic #WritingCommunity

societyofauthors.org

A win for authors? - The Society of Authors

The latest on the US Anthropic case

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Nichole Louise @nichole-louise.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

My train from Inverness to Glasgow ran into some issues resulting in a 2 hour delay, so the extra time sitting on the track meant I was able to get through half of Ashes & Stones by @allysonshaw.bsky.social 🧹🐈‍⬛ (bought at Leakey's in Inverness!) #booksky #scotland

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Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Drawing Hands, M C Escher. This image encapsulates #dyslexia for me--the good side of being #neurodiverse in this way is that even two dimensional things like text are three dimensional, or spacial in a way that is nonlinear. It feels a lot like the visual puzzle of Escher's work. #neurospicy

A drawing of two hands drawing each other. The hands are very realistic, and each holds a pencil drawing the minimal lines of the cuffs below the wrists--as if the hands are surfacing from the drawing, coming alive

Allyson Shaw @allysonshaw.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Memory foam pillows are being marketed to M and I on social media. I said, I don’t know why memory foam freaks me out. And M says, ‘I mean what else is it remembering?’