iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Congratulations @susanlanigan.bsky.social on her shortlisting in the @hns2026.bsky.social First Chapters Competition Round 1, and best of luck! hns2026.com/competition

020

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

I nominated 'Finding Mangan: The Lives and Afterlives of Ireland's National Poet' by Bridget Hourican. It's partly a biography and partly a séance with this enigmatic, capricious and eccentric writer, who must in his day have been one of the great personages of Dublin, and perhaps is still.

000

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

HNS 2026 @hns2026.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Category shortlists for the HNS 2026 First Chapters competition are up: hns2026.com/competition Ten historical fiction categories include CYA, romance, crime, fantasy, and more, with 15 writers; from Ireland, Canada, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Congratulations to all!

031

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Bat walk yesterday evening in Gothic twilight at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. 🦇 🦇

000

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

HNS 2026 @hns2026.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

The HNS 2026 First Chapters Competition is now open until 17 November 2025, both to HNS members and to non-members, and to unpublished and previously published authors. Send in the opening plus synopsis of a previously unpublished full-length historical novel. See more: hns2026.com/competition

021

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Got this from Meta. Pay up or we’ll sell your data? I’m tempted to bin Facebook and Instagram, especially after they scraped my novel ‘Daughter of Strangers’. Any views?

000

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

A beautiful day in Maynooth today sorting out some things for #HNS2026 conference with @katmezzacappa.bsky.social . More to come on HNS2026.com

071

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

I've just signed this petition protesting Meta's theft of Irish writing, which they've used to build their AI tool. Will you sign too? my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr...

my.uplift.ie

Protest Meta's Theft of Irish Writing

I've just signed this petition protesting Meta's theft of Irish writing, which they've used to build their AI tool. Will you sign too?

000

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've redesigned the Irish Writers' Union newsletter edited by @katmezzacappa.bsky.social and it's lovely to get it out there in its new format on the 17th of March. To read it in full, join the IWU!

020

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Katherine Mezzacappa @katmezzacappa.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Privileged to be working with @histwriter.bsky.social @benbergonzi.bsky.social Dianne Ascroft and Aidan Morrissey on the organisation of the first Historical Novel Society conference to be held in #ireland @maynoothuniversity.ie #historicalfiction

2109

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Cathie Dunn – Historical Fiction & History 🥰📚 @cathiedunn.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

#ICYMI Sharing our earlier Editorial Book Review of 🌟Times of Turmoil by Anna Belfrage🌟 "Times of Turmoil ... is an amazing story that will have you flipping pages till dawn." thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/10/edit... #TimeSlip #HistoricalFiction #BookReview @abelfrageauthor.bsky.social

077

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Also I’ve been reading this witty memoir about an eclectic antiquarian bookshop in London. Funniest cover praise: “Unfortunately I have mislaid the book in question “

Cover of Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire

010

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Mary Kearney arrived on my Kindle today! Perfect evening reading in my comfy chair 👍

The cover of ‘The Ballad of Mary Kearney’ on my Kindle

130

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I'm excited to share what I've been working on recently as one of a team of volunteers from the Historical Novel Society. I've set up our 2026 conference website hns2026.com and will update it as needed. Maynooth Campus is a beautiful venue and easily reached from Dublin. Looking forward to it!

Notice of Historical Novel Society Conference themed 'PRINT THE LEGEND' on 20-23 August 2026 at Maynooth Campus Ireland, with image of Maynooth University South Campus showing old buildings, spire, trees and sunlit lawn.

132

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Standard Ebooks @standardebooks.org · 24/01/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday to Edith Wharton! Let’s celebrate by exploring some of her most iconic works: #ebook

131

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

A classic, erudite yet heartfelt: the tale of a love that transcends social divisions ❤️

030

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

This stunning novel of 18thC Ireland entwines joy and tragedy, as a tender and passionate love grows ever deeper in defiance of an unjust society. #TheBalladofMaryKearney #historicalfiction #historicalnovel www.amazon.co.uk/Ballad-Mary-...

amazon.co.uk

The Ballad of Mary Kearney

The Ballad of Mary Kearney : Mezzacappa, Katherine: Amazon.co.uk: Books

020

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Wishing you all a joyful, enlightening, and prosperous New Year!

A colourful illustration of a garden party in an ornate garden. Fireworks are being let off as onlookers watch.

022529

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Katherine Mezzacappa @katmezzacappa.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Gobsmacked. Thank you @patrickkincaid.bsky.social for such a heartfelt endorsement. #HistoricalFiction #Renaissance @historia-hwa.bsky.social #Fairlight #Bookrecommendation This makes my day and many days to come.

1183

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Writing-wise, I had little success in 2024 because all my short stories and novels were rejected. Almost all. “To End All Wars” initially failed to be placed in Write for Palestinians event, but I knew it had legs.TY @madeehahwrites.bsky.social and @safiyacherfi.bsky.social for vibing with it ❤️ 🇵🇸

264

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

You can message me here. I do have big plans x

Picture of Anna asking you to get in touch if you’re a woman who pursued or who is pursuing an ambitious project or followed a dream alongside challenging life circumstances

293

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Last day if you fancy a little book goodie

012

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

National Library of Ireland @nlireland.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

This year our #Christmas #card was created by children's book illustrator and artist Margaret Anne Suggs. 🦉🌖 The #illustration is inspired by the owl that features in the mosaic of the Main Hall of the @nlireland.bsky.social. www.nli.ie/news-stories...

Watercolor illustration of an owl flying outside the National Library of Ireland

1347

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Excited that this gorgeous novel is finally being released!

010

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Cauvery Madhavan @cauverymadhavan.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

@ruthmckee.bsky.social in an interesting interview with @martindoyle.bsky.social: “put your own writing first”

A screenshot of an article in the Irish Times. Ruth Mackey being interviewed by Martin Doyle.

1101

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

This is my last Flash a Day for November. Thank you for travelling along with me and your support.

012

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

What I love about the Historical Novel Society is that it intermittently creates the largest possible concentration of like-minded people in a single place.

000

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

I’ve just come away from a get-together of the Irish chapter of the Historical Novel Society. Lovely people. We’ve been discussing a plan for the 2026 HNS conference to be held at the beautiful and historic University of Maynooth. More later…

011

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Then airborne, in darkness, only a faint moon to light up the sea. Enough to see, briefly, the rest of the squadron, flying in formation beside him. Tinfoil on the underside to avoid the sweep of German radar. Flying for hours with only a map to guide him.

032

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Dr Mary McAuliffe @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Delighted with this review of our book on the diaries of Irish feminist, socialist, and rebel, Dr Kathleen Lynn - revolutionary woman, doctor and life long partner of fellow revolutionary Madeleine ffrench-Mullen #history #speirgorm #irishwmnhist

16211

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

“How can he tell this man, the son of refugees, that the burning cities, from his vantage point, looked beautiful? That he knew nothing afterwards would ever equal this strange euphoria. And Holmes, poor Holmes, who fell out of the plane, ever to be heard from again.”

154

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Cauvery Madhavan @cauverymadhavan.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The amazing Dawn Bradfield voiced my first short story for RTE Radio1 #SpokenStories and brought my two characters, Imelda and Nuala, to life in an incredible way. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

rte.ie

Spoken Stories

The State of Us: Through their stories the writers navigate the breadth of what it is to be alive in the world from the perspective of our own time.

2114

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Katherine Mezzacappa @katmezzacappa.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Huge thanks to @tonyriches.bsky.social for hosting me on his blogspot. I talk about the inspiration for #TheMaidenofFlorence, the writing life, what I'm working on now - plus a link to a video interview with @italywriters.bsky.social #historicalfiction #Renaissance #MeToo

1113

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Thank you @beledit.bsky.social! Your generous comments help me combat what I once heard @juliecohen.bsky.social call THE FEAR of writing. 😊

010

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Sinead O'Shea @sineadoshea.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I'm pleased to share our new trailer for BLUE ROAD - THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY. In Irish cinemas on Jan 31st w @breakoutpictures.bsky.social and in UK after. It features @louisekennedy.bsky.social Gabriel Byrne, Walter Mosley, Jessie Buckley and of course, Edna. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEEr...

youtube.com

BLUE ROAD - THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY | TRAILER | IN CINEMAS JANUARY 31

YouTube video by BREAK OUT PICTURES

46835

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Katherine Mezzacappa @katmezzacappa.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Big thank you to @tonyriches.bsky.social for featuring me on his blog today! #HistoricalFiction #Renaissance #MeToo #writing I talk about the research process for #TheMaidenofFlorence, the writing life, advice for new writers and more.

1169

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

fiona brichaut @beledit.com · 26/11/2024

An engrossing gothic tale of impersonation, insanity and murder, perfect for a cold, dark night before the fire. 4*. books.beledit.com/ravenswood-w... #BookReview #Books #HistoricalFiction 💙📚@boldwoodbooks.bsky.social

books.beledit.com

The Ravenswood Witch | Jenni Keer – Review – BelEdit Book Reviews

The Ravenswood Witch is an atmospheric gothic tale oozing with mystery, madness, secrets, lust, murder and a touch of magic.

032

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I’m proud to say that Gwen was in my year at medical college. Principled, intelligent and articulate always.

010

Reposted by Maybelle Wallis

Cathie Dunn – Historical Fiction & History 🥰📚 @cathiedunn.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Welcome to Day 1 of our exciting new Blog Tour for ༻*·Traitor's Game·*༺ by Rosemary Hayes! Check out our first tour stops, sharing enticing excerpts and fascinating guest posts! thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog... #HistoricalFiction #NapoleonicWars #SpyFiction #BlogTour #TCPBC 🥰📚

085

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Having joined this new platform, I want to avoid it eating my brain. I'm going to limit myself to fiction writing, arts and culture, festivals and related events, history, and history of medicine. If I don't comment on other things, it's not because I don't care.

151

Maybelle Wallis @histwriter.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Thanks Fiona! I hope you enjoy reading it ❤️

000