iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

My little pal helping in the garden, earlier...

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I posted a new Substack, illustrating the ups and downs of the creative cycle through Tarot, as you do! Also, some childrens book recs and a photo of my cat. nicolacolton.substack.com/p/its-on-the...

nicolacolton.substack.com

It's on the cards...

Watch out for the Ten Of Pencils!

000

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

I'm out on submission at the moment which is exciting but also a bit scary. I'm distracting myself by finally remembering I have a body, doing yoga, going on walks and catching up on reading.What do other folks do to fill the 'waiting time?' I'd be interested to hear your strategies. 💚

250

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Lucie Ebrey @lucieebrey.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

First new business cards in almost 6 years whoops lol (Here’s the front and back)

2886

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

I've finally started a Substack! I'm planning to post once or twice a month. You can expect topics like bookish news and updates, some waffle, books I've enjoyed, navigating life with ADHD and most importantly, pictures of my cat. ✏️✳️✴️✨ 👉 bit.ly/4m94uCU

010

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

We got some new furniture for our studio garden. Not much work was done today but it's so nice to have a spot for lunches, chatting and general dossin'.

030

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Irish spring hedgerow beauties spotted today, out and about near my folk's house.

130

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Harry Woodgate @harrywoodgate.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Authors, illustrators, screenwriters, poets etc. Please sign this open letter regarding the recent UK Supreme Court judgement on trans peoples’ rights to legal recognition. 🏳️‍⚧️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

An Open Letter of Solidarity With the Trans Community from UK Writers

NOTE: THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT TO PRESS AND RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON TUESDAY - UNTIL THEN, PLEASE ONLY SHARE WITH SMALL GROUPS AND TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS. The UK Supreme Court ruling of 17th April 2025...

012597

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Clive McFarland @clivemcf.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Happy Sunday everyone ☁️🌷 #kidlitart #childrensbooks #illustration

A happy anthropomorphic cloud stands on a hill of flowers looking at clouds in the sky

0233

Reposted by Nicola Colton

The Alligator's Mouth @alligatorsmouth.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

We are thrilled to be announcing the wonderful Longlist for the 2025 #AlligatorsAward, in partnership with The Bright Agency and Gardners. Heartiest of congratulations to all the authors, illustrators, and publishers! More info: thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/award

183

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

✨Exciting News! ✨ Bertha & Blink has been Longlisted for The Alligator's Mouth Awards! Thank you so much @alligatorsmouth.bsky.social & to all the judging panel, this is truly, a dream come true! A big thank you to Mattie, Pip and all the wonderful team @littletigeruk.bsky.social! 🐻🤖🪛🌿✨

250

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Abie Longstaff @abielongstaff.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Cover reveal 👀 This is my new picture book series! From the publishers of Little People, Big Dreams, it's the origin stories of fairy tale characters - from birth to destiny. Gorgeous illustrations by Leire Martin @quartokids.bsky.social Pre-order here: geni.us/LittleBadWolf

2326

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

It was lots of fun designing Charlie the chipmunk, the museum family mascot for the American Museum & Gardens, Bath!🐿️ You can follow Charlie on an adventure around the manor house, find fascinating facts, and see history from a kid's eye view 🔎

010

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

It was very exciting to see The Cosmic Club included in the @thebookseller.com Agent's Hotlist for Bologna Book Fair yesterday! Big thanks to my super agent Sallyanne for believing in my latest 'notions'. Fingers crossed The Cosmic Club goes interstellar! ✨

250

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Sinéad O'Hart @sineadohart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

ICYMI yesterday, what with one thing and another, we interviewed the amazing @celinekiernan.bsky.social on Storyshaped Podcast! @susancahill.bsky.social and myself were made up with glee, so we were. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts! shows.acast.com/storyshaped/...

shows.acast.com

Getting Storyshaped with Celine Kiernan | Storyshaped

Author of The Moorehawke Trilogy, Resonance, Into the Grey, the Wild Magic trilogy, and more!

033

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Behold this beautiful cat I met on my walk home. Straight out of the salon vibes ✨

050

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

1) It's #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek and because I also work as a bookseller I'd love to share some of my favourite picturebooks featuring ND protagonists! As someone with ADHD, I find the current swell of children's books exploring ND themes particularly exciting! 👇

120

Reposted by Nicola Colton

YUK FUN @yukfunwow.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

What's your favourite comic panel you've drawn? Think this one's ours.

Risograph printed illustration of a cat riding a galloping horse on a beach. It's night time and there is a full moon over the sea. The caption is "then we galloped along a beach in the moonlight". The colours are blue, pink and purple.

1948

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Ruth Ennis @rurooie.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

I'm so happy to finally share this news. Shorelines, my debut book, will be published by @littleislandbooks.bsky.social in February 2026. Shorelines is a young adult verse novel retelling of The Little Mermaid through the lens of a fat protagonist.

Little Island sign new spin on The Little Mermaid from debut Irish YA verse novelist. Little Island Books announce the acquisition of Shorelines by Ruth Ennis, a YA debut which uses The Little Mermaid to dissect questions of contemporary beauty standards. World rights in all languages were acquired by publisher Matthew Parkinson-Bennett from agent Alice Williams at Alice Williams Literary.

104010

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Looking forward to being part of the Leaf Literature Festival next week! What a line-up! ✨✨✨

020

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

📣 ✨Event News! 📣✨ I'm kicking off World Book with a free Bertha & Blink event at the wonderful Small City Bookshop on the 1st of March! There will be a storytime, draw-along and the chance to design your very gadget. 🐻🤖🪛🔧🌿

042

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

For the month of February, 10% of children's book sales on bookshop.org go to the @booktrust & @scottishbooktrust granting more children access to reading! You can support your local bookshop on the site too. A great initiative!

000

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Thanks so much @jillshanti.bsky.social for this lovely review of Bertha & Blink!

010

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

*IT’S BOOK BIRTHDAY O’CLOCK!!* #WorldOfWanda is a story of backpacking, homesickness, #ADHD and secret families, and it’s out today! Me and my PA Bonnie popped into our local Pickled Pepper Bookshop to sign copies and celebrate… 🎉📕 @uclanpublishing.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

42313

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Bertha & Blink, Take to the Skies is out today! A big thank you to Pip, Mattie, Charlie & all the team @littletigeruk.bsky.social ! You're the best! Special thanks to my agent @sallyannesweeney.bsky.social To everyone who has shared, reviewed, liked & said kind words about the series, thank you!

132

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I had an incredible week visiting The International School of Luxembourg! We talked about building stories & characters, designing inventions and we did some draw alongs. I was blown away by the student's creativity and enthusiasm. I was sad to leave but I'm still buzzing and feel so inspired!

110

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

It's hard not to despair lately... just — everything. But being at a school all week doing workshops with young readers, I can't help but be filled with hope. Their ideas, creativity, kindness, enthusiasm & silliness are just the tonic. My heart is full. Where books are shared there is light.

011

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher @thereaderteacher.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

🌟 GIVEAWAY TIME! 🌟 To celebrate the upcoming release of my book, All Brains Are Wonderful, I’m giving away one copy! 🏆 To enter: 🔁 Repost this post 🧠 For an extra entry, reply with a brain emoji! ✨ Winners will be chosen on publication day, 3rd February. Good luck! 🎉 #AllBrainsAreWonderful

142224

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Jasper and Scruff have made it to Luxembourg in my suitcase! Its the furthest they've ever travelled. Looking forward to a week long school visit here at the ISL. ✨

020

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Brilliant news! Bertha and Blink has been shortlisted for The Lancashire School Library service #BrilliantBookAward This is particularly special as it's voted for by young readers. @littletigerbooks I'm delighted Bertha & Blink are rubbing shoulders with such brilliant books! 🐻🤖🪛🔧🌿✨

142

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Happy/sad trousers brightening up my January. A sprinkling of cat hair for extra zhuzh.

000

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Huge congrats to my buddy Joe @lookhappy.bsky.social. He was nominated for TWO Broken Frontier Awards and ✨WON✨ Best Colourist! He works really hard and is so talented. So very well deserved! Check out his stunning Haru series. 🐦

161

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

📣 ✨Event News! 📣✨ To celebrate the release of Bertha & Blink book 2, I'm doing a free children's event in wonderful Storysmith on the 8th of Feb! There will be a storytime, draw-along and the chance to design your very gadget. 🐻🤖🪛🔧🌿 To Book 👉 tinyurl.com/2txwf2ks

132

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I made some tree decorations for everyone I work with in the bookshop. It was lots of fun to capture this special place in miniature. ✨

020

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

I started making some illustrations a few months ago about ADHD. This is the first one. I'm feeling stuck today but looking at this is a reminder I can try some things to get unstuck. And if it doesn't work, that's OK too. #ADHD.

130

Reposted by Nicola Colton

Emma Reynolds @emmaillustrate.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I'll be at the #illustratorsfair24 tomorrow Sat 7th Dec at Granary Square #kingscrossn1c from 11-5pm! I'm very excited to catch up with friends 🥰♥️ This is my last event of 2024 and I am ready to hibernate like these bats after this! See you tomorrow 🦇 #artistshop #kidlitart

Blue pencil to the side with @Illustratorsfair written on it, beside a photo of my pale hand holding a greeting card and envelope with a bunch of cosy bats smiling :3

0174

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

I've been working on a new project recently that involves this little chipmunk. I love drawing cute critters! Looking forward to sharing more when I can 🐿️

020

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Here's a little papier-mâché character I made a few months back. I love how forgiving this medium is. I made lots of mistakes but I was able to figure it out through trial and error. I'm currently writing a story about this character and seeing her on my desk every day is a reminder to keep going.

192

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I'm excited to be doing an online schools event on the 4th of Dec with the brilliant @readingrocks.bsky.social! Tickets available here: tinyurl.com/2tvy5u5s

121

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Thanks Raven Books! Day made. I'll have to visit next time I'm in Dublin ✨

010

Nicola Colton @nicolacolton.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Hello! A little introduction.✨✏️📚 I'm Nicola, an Irish children's book illustrator & author. I also work part-time as a bookseller in Bristol. Last year I was late diagnosed with ADHD. I'll be sharing my illustrations, book news, books I've enjoyed, navigating life with ADHD & papier-mâché creations.

060