iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I saved Daggerbound by @tkingfisher.com for after Worldcon. It's great - Learned Edmund! And Zale! Giant pillbugs with speech machines! The Dervish! Totally worth waiting for, but now I have to go back and reread all the White Rat books. And look forward to Shieldborn. #worldofthewhiterat

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Congratulations to @amalelmohtar.com, Best Novella Hugo for The River Has Roots! Folksong fixit fic! did an LACon panel with A and other nominees, @redwombat.bsky.social, @oliviawaite.com, @annaleen.bsky.social, @naominovik.bsky.social, and all on the list are excellent and you should read!

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Samira Ahmed @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Such sad news about Bill Oddie, a Renaissance Man genius, but here's the lovely conversation we had about his amazing comedic musical contribution to The Goodies on Front Row back in 2018. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Riches! @wtpress.bsky.social duo of Kemp and Faulds, and a bit of time to sit down and read

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 15/07/2026

Wildfire risk is real - and it’s already happening. We’ve seen fires break out across London after the heat. Dry grass is a tinderbox. Please do what you can to keep our city safe: take care with barbecues, take litter home and dispose of cigarettes safely. Follow London Fire Brigade's advice:

london-fire.gov.uk

Grass and Wildfires

Wildfires can be devastating. Find out how to prevent them, and what to do if you spot one.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Definitely getting this - love Juliet’s novella already and look forward to its pair!

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

meanwhile, main thing preoccupying us atm (apart from, obv, state of the world) is that Sam our cat has moved out and is living outdoors a couple of streets away and Will Not Be Caught. We are getting lots of help looking after him and trying to get him home, but no joy yet. He is a total teenager.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Should post to say that I did eventually get back into members queue & 4 hours later was able to book tickets. Whole thing way more stressful than expected (was prepared to join the queue early & still find tx I wanted had gone; was not prepared for losing my place & having no way to get back in)

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

very very upset - joined members queue @britishmuseum.bsky.social to book for Bayeux tapestry as it opened at 12.30, waited, timer going down (double checked & def logged in as member), and then wanted re-entry of email and password and bumped me out of the queue. Now have to work, funnily enough.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

there’s still time to support this if you haven’t already - so happy it’s going ahead and looking forward to reading.

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Ariadne Griffin @ariadnereviews.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Following the evidence [No, not THAT evidence]

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Loved Market of Dreams and Destiny, and can't wait for this!

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Iridescence - The 2026 Eastercon @easterconuk.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Display in the Iridescence Art Show. The Art Show at Iridescence is all about celebrating the incredible creativity in our community. It is a space where fans can admire, celebrate, and buy art directly from creators. Full info on the website eastercon2026.org/art-show

Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising upwards with text “Art Show Iridescence eastercon2026.org”

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Iridescence - The 2026 Eastercon @easterconuk.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

We are looking for volunteers. Volunteering is at the heart of Eastercon. It is what makes the convention possible! By giving a little of your time, you help shape the experience for everyone while joining a welcoming, creative community. The form is on our website eastercon2026.org/volunteering

Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising above white text “Volunteer Iridescence eastercon2026.org”

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Really interesting thread about how people can and do change their minds - needed to hear this after a conversation last night with someone struggling with getting a person v close to them to see past the far right narratives.

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Iridescence - The 2026 Eastercon @easterconuk.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Hello lovely Easterconners - We've been busy in the background getting things in place to bring you an amazing Eastercon next year! If you're a member you should have received an update email today. We're sorry if you got it more than once, we're tech wrangling and grateful for your patience.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Really looking forward to reading about your ideas for programme!

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Very excited to be running programme for next year’s Eastercon, now seated, Iridescence 2026. GOHs - RJ Barker - ⁠Dr Karen Lord - ⁠Emma Newman - ⁠John Wilson and Serena Culfeather

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language. The results tell us a lot! Extracts below... 🧵

The front cover of a scientific journal titled Ornithologist, dated 1 April 2025. The main headline reads: “BIRDS: DECODED - Groundbreaking New Science.” Below that, a subheading says: “What are the UK’s birds really saying? Pioneering new research provides the answers.”

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Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social a reminder. Because apparently you need it.

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Past and Present @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Applications are open for the 2025-27 Past & Present Fellowships @ihr.bsky.social are open Applications close on 31st Jan 2025 Fellows appointed will commence on 1st Oct 2025 and be tenable for 24 months Please share with your network www.history.ac.uk/fellowships/...

history.ac.uk

Past & Present Fellowships

Past & Present Fellowships are available for two years, and open to researchers who have completed a doctorate in history.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

For new people, here’s a new #proofofcat. This is Sam

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CR Fields @crfields.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Just discovered this gem and deem it worthy of my first reskeet (re-skeet?) 🙌 It has it all! History, humor, cats!

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Karen Lord @drkarenlord.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

Fall 2025, Saga Press. Mark your calendars!

Acquisition announcement. [Three photos of the editors Lord, Newitz, and Older] WE WILL RISE AGAIN: Speculative Stories About Political Protest, Resistance, and Hope. Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, and Malka Older. Coming Fall 2025. Saga Press.

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Wizard's Tower Press @wtpress.bsky.social · 21/10/2024

It's up on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/...

Cover of The Green Man's War by Juliet E McKenna. Image features a white wyrm against a forested background.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 09/07/2024

The Green Man series are brilliant books - I've reread all at least once and will do again. Love the way McKenna uses specific local folklore & thinks about how swan maidens, dryads, naiads and wyrms might live in the present day. (Also cover art I like so much I made fan pottery of the first one.)

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 09/07/2024

Really looking forward to listening to this - was there for the recording and it was great (and I immediately ordered The Masters of Solitude as recommended by @tadethompson.bsky.social - have been slightly distracted by Hugo reading but it's at the top of the tottering TBR pile).

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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 22/05/2024

Let’s boost this again. You will need photo ID to vote in a UK election because the Conservatives have tried to minimise the defeat they robustly deserve. Get it free from the link below.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 19/05/2024

What’s up has mostly been gardening, that’s what. Weeding and chopping and today is planting things out

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Navy Records Society @navyrecords.bsky.social · 02/05/2024

'Yesterday we had the single sticks on the quarterdeck and some of us fenced a little….This afternoon just as I was going off to a nice sleep the captain sent for me and asked me if I would like to go ashore with him, so, of course, I had to say yes...' www.navyrecords.org.uk/magazine_pos...

navyrecords.org.uk

The Godfrey-Faussett Papers Part 2: HMS Dido Cape Coast Castle to Gabon 1880. – The Navy Records Society

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British History Online @bho.bsky.social · 06/10/2023

Simon Newman's excellent Freedom Seekers, on escapees from slavery in Great Britiain, can be downloaded from: uolpress.co.uk/book/freedom... #OpenAccess #History

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 12/10/2023

Hooray, I have had Covid and flu jabs! Very quiet hurray as I am having a small reaction to them and need to lie down for a bit, but happy that it's done.

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 30/09/2023

Bit deaf and a bit achey this morning after seeing the Blue Aeroplanes last night but they were amazing and worth every ‘what?’ and every twinge. @phildyson.bsky.social

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 28/09/2023

I have booked my Covid booster (eligible for regular contact with person with immune issues). Check here if you can get it: www.nhs.uk/get-vaccinat...

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 21/09/2023

So happy to be back at pottery this evening in Studio1 Ceramics new home which is much nearer me! Started a soap dish for the bath and played with paper porcelain.

Paper porcelain cylindrical form around a cardboard tube

Upside down triangular soap dish in grey clay

Small cylindrical paper porcelain pot with added flanges on one side

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Virginia Preston @coughingbear.bsky.social · 17/09/2023

I'm so looking forward to the next Green Man book by Juliet McKenna! Highly recommended if you haven't read them yet.

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🎃 Trip Ghouley 🎃 @trip.bsky.social · 11/09/2023

Love fairies, goblins, the Victorian era, gay boys, talking cats, and workers’ revolts? Come to my debut book launch in London this Wednesday evening at the amazing queer bookshop The Common Press! Tix are pay what you can. 🥳 bit.ly/3La2IR1

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