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Alyn Sparkes

@sparkey.org.uk
114 followers 473 following 65 posts

Into reading, SciFi, musical electronics, and vintage vehicles. Sidelines: gaming (generally chill exploration type and racing sims,) acoustic percussion. He/Him Director of @swordandfiddle.co.uk

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Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
Dustin A. Chacón @lingdustin.bsky.social · 21h
I've heard people make claims that AI would lead to a new Renaissance, but I didn't imagine it'd happen like this:
Screenshot of a Tweet from Pope Leo XIV. It reads: 

"In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgen to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity."
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Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou @kanaratron.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One thing I like about working with a stylised art direction is how close you can get the 3D character to the original 2D concept.
A 2D character concept next to the flat-shaded 3D character. It's Tove from the indie game Röki
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s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 08/09/2026
All else aside there is nothing I want or need genAI to do for me. I like reading. I like doing research. I like playing around in spreadsheets. I like interviewing people. I like writing. I like doing these things for myself because I take pleasure in the doing and they make me a better thinker.
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Alex Winter @alexwinter.com · 08/09/2026
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.
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Isabel J. Kim @isabel.kim · 25/08/2026
IM RIGHT IM LITERALLY ALWAYS RIGHT
clarkesworldmagazine.com
Wire Mother by Isabel J. Kim
Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.
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Fade In @fadeinpro.com · 22/08/2026
The best film writing makes great movies even better. (This is exactly some of that.)
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 22/08/2026
Thought I'd better add the page with details on - there are some carve-outs. help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/art...
help.kobo.com
Kobo's Price Match Guarantee
Kobo Price Match is available to customers in select regions, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand, and parts of Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Netherland...
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 22/08/2026
And if you want to buy books outright, they'll price match Amazon or anywhere else (after purchase) if the ISBNs match, and refund another 10% of the difference, even if the competitor's is a temporary sale price.
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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 20/08/2026
I've never seen such an effort to censor a document as I have the Amnesty International report on gender critical groups because of JK Rowling. They removed the report from the Wayback Machine and now I got a DMCA strike on my Google Drive for having it. It was deleted and removed from my account.
A screenshot of an email viewed in dark mode with the subject line "Google DMCA Violation." The email from Google informs the recipient that they have received a notification under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that some of their materials allegedly infringe on copyrights. It explains the removal process, mentions that notice details will be posted on Lumen, warns against repeated violations, and lists one affected Google Drive URL at the bottomA nearly identical mobile browser screenshot of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. It shows a search for the same Amnesty International UK resources URL, resulting in the same message: "This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine."A mobile browser screenshot of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. A URL for an Amnesty International UK resources page is entered in the search bar, but the page displays the message: "This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine."
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 12/08/2026
I loved the idea, and even more that your response to someone treating it as a joke was effectively, "No, for real, and this is how it would fulfill the same criteria as the NZ Haka."
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Bobby Schroeder @ponett.dog · 12/08/2026
steam AI disclosures are so funny. they clearly know they're in the wrong, but they still think they can find the magic combination of words so people will make an exception for them. guys you don't understand i HAD to use AI and the game only has a LITTLE slop and i'm just a little birthday boy
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Sam. @darleysam.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I have in the past, no joke, resumed a book that I've not picked up for over a year, and within a few sentences was entirely back up to speed. You do not need AI to summarise your books for you, like a baby eating paste.
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Aftermath @aftermath.site · 07/08/2026
Hello local business, your AI ads are costing you customers: aftermath.site/ai-poster-ad-f...
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Sam. @darleysam.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Grabbed this immediately. 1 - the artwork is gorgeous 2 - I'm a huge mark for any kind of alien culture presented in an inscrutable way Don't know if this would interest @alexsteacy.bsky.social but hey, doesn't hurt to share!
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unitednations1945.bsky.social @unitednations1945.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Must watch. If you don’t fully understand how international fascism works, watch this movie. Spoiler alert: it’s all about the money. Money = Power.
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Alyn Sparkes @alyn.social.swordandfiddle.co.uk.ap.brid.gy · 28/07/2026
Really pleased to have been invited to have our film BOOTED shown as part of the inaugural South West Independent Film (SWIF) Homegrown Cinema Showcase. I'm going up to take the introduce the film and take questions after they've all been shown […] [Original post on social.swordandfiddle.co.uk]
HOMEGROWN CINEMA SHOWCASE in collaboration with SWIF South West Independent Film
Your local film scene deserves a big screen.
Join us for an evening of independent shorts made and presented by South West filmmakers
Thursday 27th August
Doors 6:30 7-10pm
St Anne's House BS4Poster for BOOTED film. Logo of Sword and Fiddle Productions. Laurels for film festivals: Folkestone, WeMakeFilms International, and RS Film Fest.
"Booted: Love loss and walking boots, Starring Simon Alison & Olivia Edwards, with music by Sound of the Sirens."
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REwadent Evil @ewacat.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is on Kobo Plus in the UK and i honestly think Kobo Plus is one of the greatest things, it's miles better than Amazon Unlimited. They stink at publicising what's available on it though, the choice is huge and varied and they simply don't boast about it enough
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Alyn Sparkes @alyn.social.swordandfiddle.co.uk.ap.brid.gy · 30/05/2026
Ooh, forgot that we got our second set of laurels for Booted! I know, kinda blasé about it now! Anyway, thanks to the "We Make Films" Festival for considering the film good enough to make it to semi-finalist! If you've not seen the film yet, it's […] [Original post on social.swordandfiddle.co.uk]
Clipped section of the film poster for "Booted". It shows a brown walking boot with red laces in the process of walking off to the right of a rough grassed area. In the top right a two (count 'em) festival award laurels. Highest is the Folkstone Film Festival 2026 Honourable Mention, and below that, the We Make Films International Film Festival 2026 Semi-Finalist.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
omg
LinkedIn message I received: 

Subject: Thank you for getting me fired!

Hi Marisa,
I just wanted to let you know something very funny, I shared your "Hating Al is good, actually" article in my company Slack; and I'm now in the midst of a disciplinary process that is trying to strongarm me into accepting a mandate to use Al.
Thank you! I've needed to leave this place for some time now and this is just the push I needed! It was an excellent article and my god is it refreshing and relieving to know it's not just me; I have been drowning in slop-slob.
Cheers,
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Michael Kupperman @mkupperman.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
If someone had told me 20 years ago "In 20 years you'll be using a much shittier, buggier version of photoshop, but you won't own it! You'll rent it for a quarter of a thousand dollars every year!" I would have murdered them
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Simon Pegg @simonpegg.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
It all started to go wrong when cameras followed Maureen Rees behind the wheel of a car, and the public started laughing at other, everyday, people.
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Dave Bulmer @demontomatodave.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Wow! If you could see the list of 46 people I know, many of them top-tier good guys, who I just saw on the "follows Neil Gaiman" list, you'd be scrambling to make sure you're not accidentally one of them. I *know* that they do not know.
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M. Kaspar ➡ MIGW @archomath.net · 08/05/2026
If you see an oral history of tom holland's umbrella lip sync battle performance, you must share an oral history of tom holland's umbrella lip sync battle performance
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 23/04/2026
To help celebrate the Bard's birth, @amysparkes.bsky.social has dropped the price of the ebook of "The Players: Act 1" to 99p/c and wrote a little newsletter/blogpost about his influence on her writing. buttondown.com/AmySparkesAu... #HappyBirthdayShakespeare #HistoricalFiction
buttondown.com
#HappyBirthdayShakespeare - Discover THE PLAYERS for 99p!
Hello, everyone! And happy birthday to one of my absolute favourite writers, William Shakespeare! What a legacy he left behind! Did you know? Shakespeare was...
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Folk London magazine @folklondon.co.uk · 08/04/2026
If you use an AI poster to promote your event - and too many folk singers and events are doing this - you'll get no coverage in Folk London. No pasaran
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Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 08/04/2026
Scam alert: if you get the invite below to the Bournemouth Writing Festival, it's a scam (confirmed for me by the festival director). See the highlighed phrase. I've gotten similar reports of fake invites to the Edinburgh Book Festival, and I'm sure there are others.
From: Dominic Wong <bournemouthwritingfestival.info@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026, 7:05 am
Subject: Re: Invitation to Feature [inserts your book name here] at the Bournemouth Writing Festival
To: XXXXX

Dear [names of authors]

I hope you’re both well.

I’m writing to personally invite you to take part in the Bournemouth Writing Festival, taking place from 24–26 April 2026 in Bournemouth, UK. I recently came across [inserts your book], and its bold, genre-blending stories of longing, belonging, and imaginative worlds feel like a perfect fit for a festival celebrating diverse, boundary-pushing fiction and speculative storytelling.

The festival connects authors, readers, and industry professionals through both in-person events in Bournemouth and a virtual festival platform, offering meaningful visibility and opportunities for sustained reader engagement beyond a single weekend.

As festival authors, you would receive a dedicated author profile page on the festival website, inclusion in the official festival programme and online author directory, live engagement opportunities such as readings, panel discussions, or Q&As (virtual or in-person), sales-focused discoverability through links to your preferred retailers, and opportunities to connect with fellow authors, publishers, and creative professionals.

Authors may take part via an in-person stand, a virtual booth, or a combined package. There is a modest participation fee, which covers platform access, promotion, production costs, and logistical support, and is designed to keep the festival accessible while ensuring high-quality presentation and meaningful reach.
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Sword and Fiddle Productions Limited @swordandfiddle.co.uk · 02/04/2026
Great to have our first set of festival laurels to put on the poster. Thanks to Folkestone Film Festival for the Hono(u)rable Mention!
Poster for the film "Booted". A brown walking boot with red laces is seen paused in the act of walking out of frame to the right, from a grassy area. Below that is the text: "Booted Love, Loss, & Walking Boots Starring Simon Alison & Olivia Edwards with music by Sound of the Sirens" In the top right is a set of laurels for the 2026 running of the Folkestone Film Festival indicating that Booted won an Honorable Mention. The logo for Sword and Fiddle Productions is in the bottom right.
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 28/03/2026
Yes, point is that you don't get to decide the rate limits that allow your own service to work. That's not decentralised in anything other than marketing-speak. There are truly decentralised protocols, but you've chosen a centralised one financed by crypto. Your choice, but people should know.
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 28/03/2026
Whoever it is setting the rate limit you say that you breached. It's been changed now to allow your service to work - it can be changed again.
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 28/03/2026
Not that decentralised if there's one central authority you need to stay in good standing with in order to operate effectively.
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Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Fantastic news in the UK today - the government has apparently ditched its plan to force creatives to 'opt out' if they don't want AI companies training on their life's work. www.thetimes.com/uk/technolog... 🧵 1/4
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 09/03/2026
Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’
theguardian.com
Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’
Exclusive: Rented datacentres and ‘supercomputer’ site that’s still a scaffolding yard raise questions for Starmer’s push to ‘mainline AI into veins of economy’ * From press release … to scrap metal site: the Essex supercomputer that’s still a scaffolding yard A multibillion-pound drive to “mainline AI into the veins” of the British economy is riddled with “phantom investments” and shaky accounting, a Guardian investigation has found. Since 2024, successive Conservative and Labour governments have proclaimed massive deals to build new datacentres, create thousands of jobs and construct a supercomputer. Continue reading...
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 01/03/2026
It's taken three years, but it's great to see this finally out in the world. @simonalison.bsky.social @amysparkes.bsky.social you're the only people I can find on here!
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Sword and Fiddle Productions Limited @swordandfiddle.co.uk · 25/02/2026
Had a bit of fun this morning making a wide poster for our short film. It's released on Sunday afternoon on vimeo.com/swordandfiddle if anyone's interested. 1/3 #Film #FilmMaking #ShortFilm #Devon #Walking
Poster for the film "Booted" The main image is of a rough grassy area. A single brown walking boot with red laces on the end of a black-trousered leg is captured in the action of stepping to the right, going out of frame.
On the left from top to bottom are:
The production company branding for Sword and Fiddle Productions - a white circle with a blue fiddle, upon which a sword makes the strings and neck, with the company name in dark grey to one side.
The film title - "BOOTED"
Text - A film by Amy & Alyn Sparkes
Text - Starring Simon Alison & Olivia Edwards with music by Sound of the Sirens
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Hildur Knútsdóttir @hildur.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland. And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
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Amy Sparkes @amysparkes.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
So excited to reveal the three winners of the Writing Magazine Children's Book Prize: Picture Book category. Many congratulations to Alex Lumsden, Zahrah Riaz and Catherine Friess! Your stories were fantastic! @writersonline.bsky.social #WritingCompetition #picturebooks #BookSky
Purple square background with text: Picture Book category 2025 winners. 1st Big Bike by Alex Lumsden. 2nd the Friend Borrowing Service by Zahrah Riaz. 3rd Garden Magic by Catherine Friess. The Story Godmother logo is in the bottom left corner and the Writing Magazine logo is on the right hand side.
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 01/02/2026
Lovely review of @amysparkes.bsky.social book from a magazine that actually knows its stuff when it comes to historical writing!
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 19/01/2026
Only just realised FadeIn has a Linux install package (or 3). That's saved me some hassle since I had to wipe a Win10 laptop and stick a Linux distro on it.
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John Abernathy @john-abernathy.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
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Amy Sparkes @amysparkes.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I'm delighted to announce the Writing Magazine Children's Book Prize 2025 longlist: Chapter Books. Many congratulations to everyone on the list! And thank you to everyone who entered. Shortlist announced early next week. More here: www.storygodmother.co.uk/index.php/op... #KidLit
A purple square background. At the bottom is the Story Godmother Logo (an open book with sparkles and the words 'the Story godmother' above it) and Writing Magazine in the right hand corner. Title : Chapter Book category 2025 longlist. A Buzz of Bees. Deeny Dinos: T-Wrecks. Derek and the Pancake Pandemonium. Fearless Flo and the Quest for the Missing Underpants. Jasper Crimson, Vampire Detective. Maisie Monkey. Min the Magical Vet. Pond Life: Call in the Newt. Spike Hart and The Lost Souls in School Scares. Uncle Ulric's Home for Unusual Animals.
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Bookshelfie ⭐️ @bookshelfie.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Bookshelfie Awards! Happy holidays everyone!
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Erik Jonker @erikjonker.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
If you value your right for free expression i would advise everyone to also have a Mastodon account, as a backup or using them both (as i do). Much more flexible, full control, more difficult to block (you can change instances) etcetera
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 12/11/2025
Surely it's now everyone's civic duty to use a VPN whether or not they feel they need it for their own protection.
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 10/11/2025
I'm glad you're OK with me posting about it. I certainly didn't deliberately ask for an advanced copy - just ordered it from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
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Alyn Sparkes @sparkey.org.uk · 10/11/2025
#bookpost day. In the middle of reading Elisabeth Wheatley's Oath of the Wolf, and I get Little Kingdoms by @alexharvv.bsky.social drop through the letter box! Not sure if I'm going to try to parallel read, but I'm wondering if I'll find evidence of Cenric's lineage in there somewhere!
A tablet e-reader open and showing the cover of Oath of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley next to a hardback edition of Little Kingdoms by Alex Harvey. Both are on top of a brown cardboard envelope and a purple bedspread with autumnal nature inspired images printed.
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The Longest Johns - NEW TOUR 2026 @thelongestjohns.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Sometimes it's just a matter of perspective... Find out what we've been looking at on, ooh, say, Friday 7th of November over on Youtube? #TheLongestJohns #FolkMusic #Shanty #HAUPBSFS
A picture of blue sky, stippled with particles of white cloudA picture of a rather battered grey concrete and gravel patch of ground.
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Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 🏳️‍⚧️ @eliseswords.eurosky.social · 12/10/2025
3.5 more days for this bundle! My Manipulator's War (epic & portal fantasy) has multiple main & secondary characters with ADHD (some also being autistic 😉). Its fast pace and my love of complex worlds and plot twists & turns are all indebted to my ADHD. 🌈📚🪐📚💙 itch.io/b/3300/adhd-...
Adhd Awareness Month Fiction.
By ADHD authors, most with 1+ significant ADHD character(s)
22 Books. Ends Oct 15th!

Covers:
The Lady and the List, Elizabeth Briars
Side Tracked, S.K. Kelly
The Harmony of Falling Snow, Andora Brokaw
Bestiary Beas
The Players Act 1, Amy Sparks
The Weight of Her Gaze, RJ Martin
He of the Trees, Rob Macwolf
Song of the Wolf, T.C. Smith
Tales of Yamato, Odessa Silver
The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle, Steve Hugh Westenra
Manipulator's War, Elise Carlson
A Demon to Save Me, H.S. Kallinger
Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans
Lantern, Burgundy Athena Pendragon
Wizard's Debt, Niranjan
Blood, D.C. Hart
Ancient as the Stars, Maya Darjani
A Dark Hole Darly, Drew Melbourne
Translucent, Wayward Spark
War of the Space Dargons, L'Poni Baldwin
Ants Waking, R.J. Huneke
Rage in a Cage, Joachim Heijndermans
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Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
SIGNED BOOK NEWS! You can pre-order a SIGNED copy of "It's Not a Cult" by Joey Batey. The whole premise of the book is wild! Folk horror ftw! Check it out HERE. biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...
front cover of This is Not a Cult by Joey Batey.
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Amy Sparkes @amysparkes.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
ADHD Awareness Month Fiction: 22 items for $25.00 itch.io/b/3300/adhd-... Proud to have THE PLAYERS: ACT 1 included in this fabulous bundle - available // 1st & 15th October. A big thank you to @eliseswritings.bsky.social for organising. #neurodiversity #adhd #historicalfiction
ADHD Awareness Month Fiction Bundle. oct 1st-15th. 22 books mostly by ADHD authors. most with 1+ significant ADHD characters. Available exclusively at itch.io $25 - over $90 value. A QR code is in the top corner to take readers to the correct page.
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