iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

As we're heading into three months of celebrations with intense gift-giving or home-decorating cultural expectations, here's a reminder that a) you don't need to gift things to show people you love them and/or prove you are successful, and b)...

Light green graphic with moon motif reading "Billionaires
hate this one
small trick!
Don’t buy from their companies. Try out a small business, a one-person set up, a
market stall.
Your money will go to better use than a yacht."

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

People of Burnham, I want to help you reconnect with your creativity. I’m teaching a brand new storytelling workshop on Saturday 17th October at @burnhambookfest.co.uk. CHARACTERS & CONSEQUENCES is an interactive session where I’ll be teaching the hero’s journey and character archetypes...

theprincesstheatre.co.uk

Characters and Consequences - The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre

This event will be held in the Mendip at The Princess Theatre What makes different stories interesting to read or watch? How do we know our heroes from our villains, and all in between? In…

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

If you used to be on my newsletter and don't think you've opened one for a while... I scrubbed my list, so you definitely won't open the next unless you REJOIN. Regulars, my next newsletter is landing on Wednesday! 💌 Join/rejoin/sign up because you can't remember: francescas-words.kit.com

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Pulled tarot cards for the characters in the Bezzina's Emporium series; wrote a blog about it (by 'pulled' I mean 'allocated' because I do in fact know their futures hohoho). Live over at francescasthoughts.com/2026/08/13/p... now. 🧿 #ReadingSky

Gloved hand holding Six of Coins, next to Eight of Swords and Nine of Cups, in dappled light.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Citizens of Bath, you deserve more cosy popup bookshops and author discussions. And that is exactly what Ash Manganaro and I are bringing you on Wednesday 21st October at Studio22 on New Bond St. Join us from 10:30am, with conversation and doing readings from 5pm. #Studio22 #Bath

Graphic with black background and orange text reading "Pop up bookshop and conversation". Photo of Francesca Astraea with overlaid black-on-orange text reading "novelist" "scriptwriter" "editorial consultant". Photo of Manganaro with text reading "co-founder of CHIMES" "performer" "award-winning poet". Orange text reads "Wednesday 21st October, 10:30-18:30 Conversation & Readings 17:00 Studio 22 22c New Bond Steet, Bath, BA1 1BA"

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Throwback to when I wrote and recorded a horror story about chronic fatigue* *horror as in zombies, but also horror as in, booking a GP appointment in the 2020s. youtu.be/uOFPkLmxgSw 🫀 You can read it here via @divinationsmag.bsky.social: divinationsmagazine.co.uk/issue-6-crav... #Horror

Cover for Divinations Magazine CRAVING issue, with an anatomical heart on the cover on a black background.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Ernest Bezzina does not know what a chatbot is but suspects it would bring him out in a rash. 🔮 youtube.com/shorts/ukrRa... #ReadingSky

youtube.com

I asked Chatgpt-

YouTube video by Francescas Words (Francesca Astraea)

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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 11/09/2026

Creating an AI agent and asking it to email strangers on your behalf is like forcing strangers to watch you masturbate. Incompetently.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A collection of short stories that feel like coming home? Could it be my debut novel The Princess and the Dragon and Other Stories About Unlikely Heroes? It could! Available to read via francescaswords.com/the-princess...

Cover of THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT UNLIKELY HEROES by Francesca Astraea on background with motifs from the cover - skull, rabbit, tower, stars, branches, moon, poppet

White on blue text reading "“Given that this is a collection of short stories I was worried things would feel incomplete or untold. But it was rather the opposite, I felt as if I was apart of this vivid kingdom she was describing, down to the windows in the buildings and the vendors at the market. It feels very much like coming home, the world is her own but it reminded me of fairy tales I used to read when I was younger.”"

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Don’t use your local library because it’s too hard? It’s actually more effort to buy the book yourself. 📚️

lilac background with star and book motifs and text reading "How to Request a
Book Purchase to Your Local Library!"

Text reads "Step 1: Know the title
and author’s name.
Publication year and ISBN (unique retail identifier) is also helpful.
You can get them from retail websites or sites like Pagebound."

Text reads "Step 2: Go to your library’s website. There will be a page with a form to suggest titles for purchase, or an email address where you can send the information."

Text reads "Step 3: Fill in the form or send the email.
That’s it!
Some libraries will tell you that they’ve bought the book, some won’t, so ask your librarian - I promise they’ll be friendly!"

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

If you liked the friendships in The Raven Cycle, the everyday magic of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, the awkward growing pains in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the social observations and witches of Discworld, you’ll like the Bezzina’s Emporium series. francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emp...

Cream graphic with covers of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Raven Boys, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Wyrd Sisters, with a rose decal.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Complex plots? Ethical quandaries? Gradual character growth? Without blatant attempts to win a grown up literary prize by using every word in a thesaurus?

flatlay of Rotting Trees by Francesca Astraea with overlaid text reading 'For the readers "technically" too old for YA"

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

If you dislike the algorithm, you will love my websites. No ads, no rage bait, lots of old school conversation. Let's take a break from reality together. 💜 francescaswords.com / francescasthoughts.com

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Reposted by Francesca Astraea

William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 25/08/2026

[Exit Queen.]

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Your reading list is crying out for nuanced plots and unlikeable characters in magical locations… I’m Francesca Astraea, a novelist and scriptwriter specialising in stories that are whimsical, folkloric and bizarre. In Greek mythology... [1/2]

Cream background with a photo of Francesca and an olive branch drawing, and text boxes reading "'Share a birthday with My Chemical Romance', 'It’s pronounced “as-tray-ah”', 'YA author', 'Episodic TV scriptwriter', 'short story writer', wrote my undergrad dissertation on the evolution of British folklore', 'big fan of libraries', good at spotting treasures in charity shops', 'overenthusiastic house plant parent', scared of viewing horror, quite like writing it'.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 16/08/2026

One of the many manifestations of the ongoing “techlash”: Kobo has apparently expanded its market share in the U.S., doubling its sales as it pulls folks away from Amazon’s Kindle. They attribute that at least partly to politics associated with Amazon. www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Finally, politics, Tamblyn believes, is playing a role too.
"People who have been, I think, much more conscious about what kinds of companies they're supporting in the context of the current landscape, prompting them to leave big tech ecosystems and look for alternatives," he says.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Book club is evergreen, so if you haven't read ROTTING TREES yet because it's too hot to look at a screen or, you know, do anything, you can take your time. Buy your copy: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree... Join book club: francescaswords.com/club/ #ReadingSky

White on green text with ROTTING TREES cover imposed. Text reads BOOK CLUB. "“Where can I get a copy?”

All good e-book retailers, most big box bookshops. Some signed copies are dotted around the UK! Info on my website."

Mood board with flowers, pencils, clips and coffee, and imposed text reading 'Ariel Scarlet.'

Mood board with chair covers, cake, tea and notebooks and text reading 'Sophey Cartwright'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Bored by paper-thin characters, endless narrative exposition and no space to draw your own conclusions? Me too, so I wrote a series with complicated protagonists, subtle plotting and plenty of opportunity to think for yourself. Read it here: francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emp... #ReadingSky

Cream background with black text and black, red and green outline of flowers. Superimposed covers for ROTTING TREES and DEAD ENDS by Francesca Astraea. Text reads "Readers. Your bookshelf needs more unlikeable protagonists and substantial plots. Let me help you with that."

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Want to *actually* support your fave indie creators and small businesses in 2026? Without buying a tiara, sculpture or liking every post on boop dot com? I've got you: wp.me/pGREj-4Y3 #ShopSmall #ShopLocal

black on cream text reading "Want to *actually*
support your fave indie creators and small businesses in 2026?

Without buying a massive garden sculpture, diamond tiara or £2k subscription?

Or liking every single post on
boop.com?"

with olive branch art and 'by Francesca' signature

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

It really is that easy! But if you're not convinced, I've explained the No. 1 Readers' Club at francescaswords.com/club/

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This is the vibe of the Rotting Trees book club. Questions for Week 2 (the "summer" section of the novel) are up now. Join us via francescaswords.com/club/ #ReadingSky #BookClub

Black text on lilac background with waving ghost cartoon and text reading "1) Cabinet. Your Ikea home furnishings could never carry books AND the soul of a 16th century seafarer.

2) Jewellery from any time between 1700 and 1902. Bonus if there is a curse attached. :)

3) The proprietor.
Most haunted items in antique shops"

White on green text with Rotting Trees novel design and text reading "Rotting Trees
book club
Part Two
“Summer”
3rd - 9th August"

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Last winter, Maggie Stiefvater hosted a book club for THE LISTENERS and I re-read a section each week in line with questions... and it was magical. Join the Rotting Trees book club: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas... Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...

green Rotting Trees cover graphic with 'book club' overlay and text reading '“I’ve already read it. Should I re-read it?”

Why not? Questions drop once a week, so you can read along with the questions or re-read in one go.'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

If you think it's too late to join the Rotting Trees book club - it's not! You can pop in and out as we're chatting about the book throughout August! Join in: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas... Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree... #ReadingSky #BookClub

white on green text with Rotting Trees graphic and 'book club' overlay plus text reading '“I want to join but can’t make the book club every week, can I join?”

Of course! The posts won’t disappear, you can hop into the comments any time.'

White on green text and Rotting Trees graphic with 'book club' overlay and text reading 'Part One "Spring" 27th July - 2nd August'

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Perfidious Jewellery @perfjewellery.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I put in a help request to Weebly on July 2nd and today, the 31st, I set up a Wordpress site. “Mate they have written the book on How To Lose a Customer in 30 Days” Credit to @francescaswords.bsky.social for an amazing joke I absolutely missed at the time.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The Rotting Trees book club has begun and you can ABSOLUTELY join if you've not read it before. We're discussing each of the book's four sections over a month, so there's plenty of time to read along. Join us: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas... Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...

White on green text with 'Book Club' imposed over the Rotting Trees book graphic and text reading '“Do I need to have read the book before now to join?”

No! Book club is a great time to pick it up for the first time.'

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Reposted by Francesca Astraea

EMILY WILSON @emilyrcwilson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I wrote about the Nolan Odyssey for the LRB. I'll summarize some of my main points below, in case you don't feel like reading all that. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

lrb.co.uk

Emily Wilson · An Uncomplicated Man

As they say at the awards shows, I was humbled to learn that Christopher Nolan has read at least the first line of my...

19761611559

Reposted by Francesca Astraea

Tasha Suri @tashasuri.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

very excited that LitPins&Co are doing a special edition set of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy!!! it has original covers, printed hardcovers, sprayed edges, endpapers and overlays, which is all wildly fancy and lovely it's limited edition and available here: litpinsandco.com/collections/...

three book set of the burning kingdoms trilogy, with images of two indian women on each cover

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

To celebrate the release of DEAD ENDS, book two in the Bezzina’s Emporium trilogy, I’m hosting a book club for book one, ROTTING TREES. Join us to chat about Ariel’s arc, the novel’s vibes and what might happen next: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...

Cream graphic with green border reading 'Let’s talk about
Ariel’s adventures, her reaction to plot twists and where the story might go next.

ROTTING TREES
book club starts 27th July at the
No. 1 Readers’ Club!'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Chuffed that my Artemis print is in Folksy’s Gifts for Book Lovers gift guide, in VERY good company! Have a nose: folksy.com/themes/gifts... #Folksy #FolksySeller #BookLovers #GiftGuide #GreekMythology

Print reading 'Artemis was right. Swear off marriage. Surround yourself with animals and your friends. Possibly kill men who fall in love with you.' plus a pencil reading 'Artemis was right.'

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Reposted by Francesca Astraea

B heard media 💚🇵🇸 @bheardmedia.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Gary Lineker and 120 other UK millionaires have signed a letter, organised by Patriotic Millionaires UK, to Andy Burnham. It says: 'our new government must raise taxes on extreme levels of wealth for a fairer, better, more hopeful Britain. 'It's time to tax us, the super rich. #TaxTheRich ✅️

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

To celebrate Dead Ends, the second book in the Bezzina's Emporium trilogy, we're reading book one, Rotting Trees, and discussing it in a book club at the No. 1 Reader's Club: www.patreon.com/cw/Francesca... #ReadingSky #BookSky

Green background with white overlaid text reading 'Rotting Trees
book club
Different questions for
each part of the book
Discuss the novel’s
themes and questions
Get ready for more
adventures in DEAD ENDS!'

Plus a graphic of a duck wearing glasses reading a book with an arrow to text reading 'reminds me of Ernie'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

🌟 Which are you I'm the cushions (learn more about the series and read book 2 early at francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emporium-series) #StarSign #ReadingSky

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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

New: cops are using Flock to track people, not cars. We reviewed Flock search data and found many, many cases of cops searching for people based on their appearance, race, tattoos, etc. Some searches are so vague like "tall man" that innocent people likely swept up www.404media.co/how-cops-use...

404media.co

How Cops Use Flock to Track People, Not Cars

Cops have used Flock's FreeForm search feature to look for people with tattoos and wearing specific sport shirts, and searches sometimes include the target's race, according to data reviewed by 404 Me...

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I don’t know if Sophey Cartwright knows what dark academia is, but I think maybe she *is* dark academia. Get to know Sophey better in the ROTTING TREES book club from 27th July, celebrating the launch of DEAD ENDS, book two in the trilogy. francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emporium-series #BookSky

Parchment background with green border and overlaid calendar with pen, leatherbound notebook, red armchair, red velvet cake, library borrows page, old books, old kettle, cup and saucer, burgundy wool knit and yellow wool. Overlaid text reads 'Sophey Cartwright'

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Matt Wallace @mattfnwallace.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Actually flawless.

A four panel comic strip by Twonks featuring a round headed figure demanding a pizza at a restaurant then proclaiming “wow look what I made” when the waiter brings him the pizza

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I don’t know if the term “M&S girlie” existed in 2015 but Ariel Scarlet is definitely an M&S girlie. Get to know Ariel better in the ROTTING TREES book club from 27th July as we celebrate the launch of book 2 in the trilogy, DEAD ENDS: francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emporium-series #ReadingSky #YA

Purple graphic with green border with overlaid images of pink flowers, pencils, black and white photographs, old cameras, iced coffee, makeup, magazines and dog wearing a pink harness. Overlaid text reads 'Ariel Scarlet'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

DEAD ENDS. BOOK 2 IN THE BEZZINA'S EMPORIUM TRILOGY. | 8/10/27. | Pre-order or read it early at the No. 1 Readers' Club. 📕 PRE-ORDER: francescaswords.com/dead-ends-fr... 🌟 READ IT EARLY: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas... #BookSky #ReadingSky #YA

burgundy graphic with white border and white text reading 'Dead Ends Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities II Francesca Astraea'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Every time I see a typo in my printed work, I think of that scene in Friends where Rachel says 'I don't know, maybe they have tools.' Which is not about grammar mistakes in any way, ha. Tell me your favourite characters who make bad decisions!! #ReadingSky #BookSky

Green bordered graphic with black text reading 'What My Books Aren’t
Versus What they are:
X
One dimensional characters
Complex characters
Bad decision making
✓
Gradual, realistic arcs
Telling the reader what to think
Telling every character or plot detail
Showing, not telling small details
AI - generated
Typos made by a human
by Francesca'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Did you know you can sample the No. 1 Readers’ Club before you join? Just sign up to my newsletter for a month of free access (and if you like the Bezzina’s Emporium world, now is a REALLY good time to join both, hint hint hehe) francescas-words.kit.com/newsletter #Newsletters #ReadingSky

Green-bordered cream graphic with back text reading 'Email news that arrives when it’s supposed to, isn’t buried by an algorithm and has clickable links?

Revolutionary. By Francesca'

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TACC @tacc.org.uk · 24/06/2026

This petition to disapprove the draft Code of Practice has reached over 11k in less than 5 days. Keep pushing this ✊ 📢📢Sign it. Share it. 📢📢

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The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 23/06/2026

The number of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland has risen in the last year, reaching its highest level since 2012, according to new data released during #IndependentBookshopWeek 👇

ebx.sh

Independent bookshop numbers reach highest level since 2012

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I love paper ephemera but don’t like most greetings cards, so designed my own. Judging by how well they’ve sold over the years, many of you feel the same. I’m winding down my offerings to allow more brain space for novel and script writing, so they're on sale: folksy.com/shops/france... #Mythology

Greetings card and pen on background of map of Mediterranean. Card reads 'Our love is like a Greek epic. Dramatic, complicated and virtually incomprehensible to everyone including the main characters.'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

If you enjoyed the magic and whimsy of ROTTING TREES, you're going to love the sequel and book 2 in the Bezzina's Emporium trilogy. I've been calling it Mirrornovel... actual title and cover coming 10th July, or join the No. 1 Readers' Club to get the deets early! www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...

Black on cream text reading 'Mirrornovel title dropping 10th July, 6pm BST
The sequel to ROTTING TREES
Going live for the
No. 1 Readers’ Club on
29th June, join us!'

with flatlay image of ROTTING TREES.

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Perfidious Jewellery @perfjewellery.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Motivate that summer reading pile with a fancy dancy little rainbow and sunshine bookmark 🌈☀️ perfidiousjewellery.etsy.com/listing/4461... #bookish #tbrpile

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

And if your area doesn't have one, go to Bookshop.org.uk. It really is that easy to make a billionaire get a tummy ache without knowing why 🌟 #IndependentBookshopWeek

Cream background with black text and green border with black stars reading 'How to celebrate
Independent Bookshop Week
1) go to independent bookshop
2) buy a book
3) go to a different independent bookshop
4) buy another book
5) repeat'

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Nashies! YouTube Cooking Show 😺 @nashiez.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

"So, if I use ChatGPT you think less of me?" Yep. Hope this helps.

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Ever wanted to know what Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities looks like from a customer’s perspective? I have LOTS of short stories from customer POV: francescaswords.wordpress.com/category/bez... #ReadingSky #ShortStories

White on purple graphic reading 'Short Stories in the Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities world'

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Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

My lovely critique partner Bel has a book available to pre-order for 13th October! SOMETHING CURSED is book two in a duology about a witchy family, a haunted house and feuding sisters (I wonder what we have in common). Check it out: linktr.ee/belwritesbooks #ReadingSky #YA #BookSky

Purple flowers and full moon graphic with words reading 'SOMETHING CURSED October 13th 2026'

Book mockup for 'SOMETHING CURSED' by Belinda Campbell, with flowers and full moon graphic.

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Maggie Stiefvater @maggiestiefvater.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Hey, @people.com says the Dreamer Trilogy is a great pick for Pride Month: people.com/people-best-...

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