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Maggie Womersley

@maggiewomersley.bsky.social
515 followers 672 following 513 posts

Writer - Young Adult, NA, Middle Grade/ Winner of Cheshire Novel Prize for Kids 2023/ Undiscovered Voices Deputy Chair/ CNP 2024 Judge/ Likes Spooky stuff, quirky brain science, making dolls and doll houses (don't judge me).

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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 15/08/2026
It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan
theguardian.com
It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan
They rule the roads and, in their wake, even old-style saloons have been supersized. It’s an illusion of consumer choice, says writer and podcaster Coco Khan
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Too good not to share.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
We loved There are Cats in this Book - class work. I think it was about the last picture book we bought for our son - about 10 years ago now. Yikes!
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Ofcourse! Queen of cats. The only cat I've ever met who enjoyed an egg.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Oh yes! love this too.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
It has to be the wonderful Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averil for me. Also purrfect for any lists featuring New York in kids lit. I recommend this series of cat tails, I mean 'tales' for any age from 4 to 104.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I stated my writing life sending in Five Minute Fiction stories to Take a Break. My best one was called 'Hannah's Hoover Horror - a romance'. needless to say, none were ever published but I got some encouraging rejections (And my boyfriend won 'Arrow in on £1000', once) So, this saddens me a lot.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Sure, he was great in Jurassic Park, but I loved Sam first in Reilly, Ace of Spices - my first Famous Person crush (after Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, obvs). It was largely his extremely neat hair, but also the Mac. TV series written by the Great Troy Kennedy Martin, and based on a true story.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Oh yes! I have been wanting to say this ever since the first time I heard it spoken - then the advertisers got hold of it.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
I knew it wasn't just me being a baby! I literally feel like there is a furnace deep in my core that is like something out of Mordor. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
bbc.co.uk
Why women are more affected by hot weather than men
Why are women’s bodies impacted by heat differently to men’s?
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
I’m wondering how kidlit authors will respond to ban on social media for their past and future books? All the plots that rely on protagonists being on social media will be obsolete, presumably. No more teen influencer wannabes, or vital clues or even annoying older sibs on the gram?
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
A news story to make your day. (Well, it made mine!) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
I wrote a poem about my son - years later it appeared on his exam
Emily Cullen says she couldn't believe it when her son told her about the poem, which she had written seven years earlier.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Still coming down from the high of last week's Undiscovered Voices launch party. If you're an agent looking for exciting new voices in #kidslit, check out the UV website and download the winning novel extracts. @louiestowell.bsky.social did an amazing job as Hon Chair. @uvcompetition.bsky.social
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Proud to present the cohort of 2026! 😊
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Indeed.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
As someone with Face Blindness who writes about Super Recognition, this blew my mind a little bit today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #faceblindness #hyperfamiliarity #superrecogniser #facialrecognition
bbc.co.uk
The woman whose rare condition means she recognises everyone
Jenny Parry has been diagnosed with a condition known as hyperfamiliarity for faces.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Also, Yes, I too bloody loved films that were made 30 years before I was born, when I was ten. I was not weird. (Although I am weird now, so maybe it had an effect)
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
I saw this! And thought, good things can happen.
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
Christina🌊🌊 @sassycc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
The one who stays is the HERO.. .
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Maddie @madrigal.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
The prehistoric cave horses call to me, yearning to live a 21st century life (but insist fire must still be present)
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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Today I am FINALLY going to visit the Waterstones comics pop up dammit! But first...many other bookshops. For it is the first day that the new Loki editions can be found out in the world!
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
This thread is very bad for my bank balance and my TBR pile.... great suggestions...
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Phantom trains thrum the rails. Unseen hands switch points in abandoned signal boxes. Our infrastructure is haunted not only by its disasters, but misremembered golden ages. Ghosted by long dead lives and a nagging sense that something has been lost. – George Kindred, Haunted Hookland
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Of all animals in that collective wooden bestiary called pew end, my favourites are avatars of the Queen of Owls. Whether Fethrower or Owlpad, they manifest her mysteries. They give her eyes, give her carved eyes. They make even a church part of her kingdom. – Dr. M. Benn, 1982
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
I love it.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
So delighted for Claire - a well-deserved winner and also an @uvcompetition.bsky.social finalist! Go Claire!!! @claire.l.gordon.writes www.thebookseller.com/news/teacher...
thebookseller.com
Teacher wins 2026 Rooker Prize for middle-grade fantasy opener
Cheltenham-based primary school teacher Claire Lincoln Gordon has been awarded the 2026 Rooker Prize, a story-opening competition launched at Lewes Football Club in 2022 and sponsored by Hachette UK, ...
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
My dad had this set when I was growing up and me and all more siblings read them - and then a few years ago he sold them in an auction without telling us. Gutted.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
@karabeecroft.bsky.social
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
This was a really good read.
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
Tim Worthington @outonbluesix.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Top Of The Box - the story behind every single released by BBC Records And Tapes. I'm told it's as funny as it is informative and frankly I'll take that. Paperback or Kindle from here! timworthington.org/books/top-of...
timworthington.org
Top Of The Box
Top Of The Box by Tim Worthington – the story behind every single released by BBC Records And Tapes.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Yes, exactly. I think it's because people secretly enjoy the opportunity of having a dig at the 'popular ones' They love you till they hate you, or something like that.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
When I was asked to step-up and take on the organisation of UV 26, I thought it would be a fun way to give back, I had no idea! So worth it though on Saturday when we had our 12 shortlisted authors all together. Now you can read their amazing work too. Visit undiscoveredvoices.com to download.
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
It's a busy month for #UV24 debuts hitting the shelves 👏 Today it's the turn of Cinders and Stars, a stunning YA fantasy by Esther Scherpenisse. Congratulations and happy publication day, Esther 🥳 bookfinity.com/book/Cinders... @scbwi.bsky.social
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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
These 12 remarkable story openings make up the latest Undiscovered Voices anthology - available to download or order from undiscoveredvoices.com from tomorrow. Thanks again to amazing panel of judges, team of readers and our fabulous honorary chair @louiestowell.bsky.social 🙏
undiscoveredvoices.com
Undiscovered Voices | Discover New Talent
Undiscovered Voices is an initiative by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) British Isles to help fresh, new voices in children’s literature find agents, publishers and ult...
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Reposted by Maggie Womersley
Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Delighted to announce our #UV26 WINNERS!! 👏🥳🙌 @cmundywrites.bsky.social @rburrows.bsky.social @ivy-lin.bsky.social, Monica Gutierraz, Caroline Wigg, Zoe Dixon, Kirsty Hammond, Alicja Bagier, Claire Gordon, Dominic Yoboue, Claire Mowat and Alana Warbrick CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing stories ❤️
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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
We told you April was going to be a busy month 😅 Congratulations and happy publication day to #UV24 alumnus Louise Austin whose hilarious debut Alex Abbott is [Un]dead is out today 👏
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... normally I’m a sucker for miniature things, but I could get on board with this.
bbc.co.uk
Peterborough man creates supersized household objects
He lives in his home among huge objects including a giant pencil, clothes peg and a 13-amp plug.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... I love this so much. But I think the Andrews doth protest too much.
theguardian.com
From Andrew Tate to Mountbatten-Windsor, my first name has been dragged through the mud. Can a global community of ‘Drews’ help change that?
The ‘Council of Andrews’ started as a bit of fun – but has led to friendships, financial help and even fiances…
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
www.bbc.com/travel/artic... This sounds amazing! Can we have this in the UK please?
bbc.com
The Easter crime wave sweeping Norway
Visitors to Norway during Easter might find the streets emptier than usual, thanks to the nation's cherished Eastertime obsession: retreating to isolated cabins to binge crime fiction.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
When the history books look back at the burning questions that occupied the minds of early 21st century humankind, this one surely will be up there in the Top 5. Comparing Dark Chocolate to Cadburys is like comparing water to wine, right? thttps://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zc6sxg8
bbc.co.uk
Is dark chocolate good for you? - BBC Bitesize
How the BBC show Just One Thing tested the healthy chocolate theory
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I know! I do think schools need to be 'on it' when it comes to AI, and they've been good at talking to the kids about not using Chat GPT in essay-writing etc. Maybe they're just preparing the kids for the 'real' world of un-real work.The kids are all worried about not getting jobs cos of AI already.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Agreed, and if the artists and designers at the school could put forward their work, alongside the AI stuff so kids could compare it might be interesting. but I don't think that's happening. I prob need to check into it all a bit more deeply Maybe there's a 'good' reason they're doing this.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Just heard that my son’s sec. school is running a comp for the best poster designed using AI. They recently hosted an A.I. company who provided workshops to staff on using A.I. in PowerPoint. They are now offering a ‘deal’ to the pupils to use their version of A.I. at a discount. I feel queasy #AI
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
I had the biggest crush on Luke Skywalker, this photo just brought it all back!😍
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Yes, exactly. I was making a programme about embarrassing school reports and she shared hers with us. But it’s listening to her on Woman’s Hour that made the biggest impression on me. She really Was that show. Even tho she’d retired, R4 won’t feel the same.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
So sad to hear this! Jenni had the most wonderful voice that was instantly recognisable; like listening to golden syrup with a splash of lemon juice mixed in for vim. I interviewed her once at her home for a TV show and she was absolutely charming and very welcoming. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Dame Jenni Murray: Former BBC Woman's Hour host dies at 75
She was the Radio 4 programme's longest-serving presenter, having left in 2020 after 33 years.
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Ooh yes, I like the sound of this.
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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
I love Joe McLaren’s jacket art for my 2018 short story collection Help The Witch but when you remove the text from it and see the whole thing in widescreen there is a whole other level of beauty to it. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Joe McLaren's wonderful cover art for my book Help The Witch, featuring a hair and a branch-handed tree man. Joe also did the cover art for my books Villager, 1983 and Everything Will Swallow You, and has just sent me an exciting sketch for the cover for my upcoming second short story collection (which I'm planning to self-publish, as a limited edition)
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Dr Francis Young @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Today is publication day for ‘Fairies: A History’ - so I’ve written a special free post over on ‘All Old Strange Things’ to celebrate 📚🧚 open.substack.com/pub/drfranci...
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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
No-one should outright lie about their publishing record, but self-publishing a novel is very different to getting yourself an agent and then acquired a traditional publishing deal. Sure, don't lie about it - especially to your publisher - but I'm not sure this article helps.
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