iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Are you writing about how we make it through to a better future? Are you writing #Thrutopia? #Protopia? #Solarpunk? Something else? Welcome to Thrutopia is open for submissions! See here for details, and check out recent posts for an example of what we publish: thrutopia.substack.com/p/are-you-wr...

thrutopia.substack.com

Are you writing Thrutopia? Submissions Wanted!

Dear reader,

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Adding horror to that list of genres that I keep trying because everyone's talking about them, and then remember why I don't read that genre. (In horror's case, usually in the middle of the night.)

static.klipy.com

Hello Dave

Alt: Hello Dave

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Hope you feel better soon! I'm finishing up Claire North's Slow Gods, which is *wonderful*.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Amy Westervelt and Drilled have being doing sterling work for years, telling climate stories like the true crimes they are. Cannot wait to read this book!

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Richard Smyth @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Hello, here is your occasional reminder that a whole load of my essays, reviews, short stories and other things can be found HERE, on my web-site, thank you for your attention to this matter. richarddsmyth.com

richarddsmyth.com

Richard Smyth

Writer for hire. Reviews, essays, features.

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Anna Horroridge @anna-orridge.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Amal: "Only one week separates me from entering my ninth and final month of pregnancy. I wish I could tell you that I am excited and peaceful, but the truth is that I am exhausted. My body feels heavy, I am in pain, and my health has not been good." Please help if you can. ❤️‍🩹🙏❤️ gofund.me/32bda5e44

Virtual baby registry for Amal Al-Haj. A list of needs for Amal's new baby, with pictures of baby clothes, nappies, a crib and a bottle.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

This sounds very cool, so I'm glad I now have it on my Kobo ready to read!

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Sounds like the 'never say this in a job interview' lines I also keep getting fed via YT. So boring!

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Lorraine Wilson @rainewilson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

New up on the blog - what hustling for an author career looks like & also me reminding myself not to entirely sabotage FutureMe www.patreon.com/LorraineWils...

patreon.com

The hustle | Lorraine Wilson

I mentioned this post in my last good vibes one, and am returning to it now as I feel like we always need reminders to be kinder to ourselve

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Ooh, interesting. I often agree with your take on books - but I loved The Tainted Cup, and thought the sequel was even better! (It felt like he'd set up the rules by book 2, so could get on with the story/expanding the world.) I also read a lot of crime, so will think about your comments re that!

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Thank *you*. I'm already hearing from people who picked up Wolves after my review the other week, and are reading and loving it!

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

'... I wanted to write something more hopeful with Wolves – to try and break the feeling of paralysis, and remind myself there are still other possible futures.' Such a pleasure to interview @catamaroon.bsky.social at Welcome to Thrutopia. 💚 thrutopia.substack.com/p/interview-...

thrutopia.substack.com

Interview with E.J. Swift

Author of When There Are Wolves Again

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

thrutopia.substack.com

Interview with E.J. Swift

Author of When There Are Wolves Again

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Have spent the past month adjusting to having a full-time job after freelancing for 20 years. Vv tired, but also, kind of in shock that I can just close the laptop and let things go until the following morning.

static.klipy.com

Boromir (Sean Bean): It Is A Gift

Alt: Boromir (Sean Bean): It Is A Gift

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E. J. Swift @catamaroon.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

For any US folks interested in When There Are Wolves Again, the ebook and hardback editions should currently be available via distribution. I think the UK rights team are making another attempt to find a US publisher; if no luck there, I'm hoping the paperback can also be distributed soon 🐺

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Habitat Press @habitatpress.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We’ve received wonderful reviews about The Last Plastic Fork and Other Green Epiphanies, where each character changes for the greener. #HabitatPress #GreenStories #FlashFiction @singingtotigers.bsky.social @abbk1.bsky.social @lizottosson.bsky.social @jodes.bsky.social @nishxhegde.bsky.social

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Solaris Books @solarisbooks.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

As you explore the work of @clarkeaward.bsky.social winner E. J. Swift @catamaroon.bsky.social , dive into her standalone time travel novel -PARIS ADRIFT! Hallie's bartending gig has taken a turn: there's a time portal in the keg room, & who is the mysterious Chronometrist? Buy geni.us/ParisAdrift

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KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 14/08/2026

You're right--calling a by-election didn't shield you from scrutiny over the £5million bung you took. I'm sorry for the confusion! Would you like me to come up with another scheme to get you off the hook?

bbc.co.uk

Parliamentary investigation resumes into Nigel Farage hours after he wins Clacton by-election - live updates

The Reform UK leader won the contest, which was boycotted by major political parties, but didn't attend the declaration.

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Philippa East (Author) @philippaeast.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

My lovely trans+ siblings — here is a great chance to tell it like it is in the UK right now. Sending much love to you all. 🩷🏳️‍⚧️🩷

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The Arthur C. Clarke Award @clarkeaward.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We’re delighted to share that WHEN THERE ARE WOLVES AGAIN by E.J. Swift, and published by Arcadia, is the 40th winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award science fiction book of the year.

Winner of the Clarke Award 2026: When There Are Wolves Again by E.J.Swift

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I hope you do find something else! And I wish the system wasn't set up so badly for so many of us.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Filling out a survey for Arts Council England, and, oh god, so many glitches (optional questions triggering a 'must answer' response before you move on, 'up to 3' answers turning out to mean 'exactly 3'). Kind of funny but very on brand.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I notice a lot of academics masking what was clearly once a northern accent in podcast interviews - makes me very sad. (But then, I lost my accent by living away from north-east England for too much of my 20s and 30s and being desperate to fit in, wherever I was...)

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Green Stories @greenstories.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Our anthology #NoMoreFairyTales has had several wins lately. It's on thebookslist.com of top 20 books to inspire #ClimateAction and is June's #ClimateSolutions #BookClub choice. If you'd like to join us to discuss, subscribe here climatebookclub.substack.com?r=2en1er. Available on most platforms

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Oh no! I'm still yet to understand *why* anyone would do that, when the whole point of writing is... the writing?

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Three years ago tomorrow, I very nervously gave this speech. I knew my career as a TV journalist was dunzo, cooked, filleted, kaput the morning I wrote it. (Thanks to Kat insisting I go for it anyway.) The end is awfully prescient at this exact second, though. Big ups to Scott Pelley for fighting.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

It was great to finally get there, although sorry to miss you! That cover is absolutely stunning in hardback - can't wait to dive into the story.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Yeah, no thanks, Word. I've been fighting your stupid rules and weird advice for longer than a lot of people have been alive. #AmEditing #AmWriting

A screenshot of a sentence snippet in MS Word: 'One of the key ways you may need to help students is to...' Word's built-in spellchecker has underlined 'key ways' and stated, 'These words work better combined into one word
keyways'.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I have been influenced! In London for Reasons on Friday, so dropped by Maktaba @ibraaz.bsky.social and treated myself to this.

A hardback copy of The republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed, featuring a winged woman (with eyes in the wings) and a backdrop of towers, with blue shades.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Probably my favourite book of the year so far!

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Kate Elliott @kateelliottsff.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Look what's out in paperback! My grimsweet fantasy road trip (on foot) w/ a humble deputy courier forced to guide uppity court officials on a back country route that includes a ravenous fungal ghost plague, court intrigue, & a mysterious haunt. First of a duology. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

us.macmillan.com

The Witch Roads

Book 1 in the Witch Roads duology, the latest epic novel by fan favorite Kate Elliott.Status is hereditary, class is bestowed, trust must be earned.When an a...

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Absolutely loved last night's performance of this - highly recommend if you can get there!

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I suppose it's better than the recent rash of 'runners are addicts' articles.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I dunno, I like to spell it 'yous', because I pronounce it 'yuhs' (ish!), and 'youse' makes me want to say 'use'.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I like 'yous' for specificity. Which is not an Americanism, but I came to that conclusion because I also decided that I like 'y'all' because, well, it's accurate.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Just to be clear - I'm not on Twitter any more. (Took a break and let it run too long so my account got deleted. 😂) I meant that I try to combine both leftist politics and writing stuff in one account.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

I've always tried to combine both, and... it's definitely a balancing act! Sometimes I think about separating them out, but when I'm thinking about politics in my writing as well, it seems to make sense to keep them under one hat.

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Hirsch directly addresses this in this Guardian piece:

Extract from a Guardian article by Afua Hirsch: 'In fact, Harriman’s first response to the attack was an unambiguous post expressing “solidarity to the Jewish community”. When Harriman correctly discovered that there had been a third, Muslim victim of the same attacker on the same day, he – like many of us – asked why many news headlines, in news organisations including HuffPost and Sky, and why the Metropolitan police itself, did not immediately give this victim the same status and prominence. This seems to speak to an unwritten rule in the British media – that a zero-sum game exists between recognising Jewish victims and Muslim victims, between recognising antisemitism and equally recognising Islamophobia.'

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Lorraine Wilson @rainewilson.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I'm delighted I got to write this article for such an institution of a magazine! It's a lot personal, a little ranty, and full of reading recommendations, so hopefully something for everyone 😂

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Liz O @lizottosson.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Finished When There are Wolves Again by @catamaroon.bsky.social last night. Such a beautiful, heartfelt novel, filled with love and hope and rage for our future. Very #Thrutopian writing, and given its recent BSFA best novel win, it really seems to be striking a chord with readers. I loved it. 💚

Cover of the book 'When There are Wolves Again' by E. J. Swift, featuring a wolf (or a wolf-dog) with a superimposed pattern of tree trunks (or stalks) leading to flourishing plants.

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