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Sylvia Leatham

@sylvialeatham.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.2K following 3.7K posts

Award-winning author. Debut spec-fic romcom ‘Chaos Theory’ with Storm Publishing. Rep’ed by Liverpool Lit. Silver at Farnham Lit Audiobook Awards; SL'ed for The Letter Review, Watson Little Indie Novella; LL’ed for Mslexia. linktr.ee/SylviaLeatham

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Reposted by Sylvia Leatham
Dr Keith Wilson 💭 @keithwilson.eu · 29/09/2026
Is the business profitable? No It’s on the road to profitability though, right? Also no But it will be extremely beneficial for the future of humanity? It might kill us all #OpenAI #GenAI #AIHype
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
He should get a hero’s welcome at the airport.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
@cethanleahy.com Cethan, we have entered the Pantheon* together! (*Possibly not entirely sure of exact meaning of the word Pantheon.)
Website listing Irish scifi and fantasy and spec fic authors. Page shows Cethan Leahy, Sylvia Leatham and Byddi Lee.
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Simon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Take the €100,000 Govt-commissioned report provided by KPMG to justify continuing Ireland’s unrestricted data centre growth. (Recently described in a UN report as a “cautionary tale”)
Amongst innumerable absurdities, up at the front of the report it claimed that
"876,000 jobs (32% of national employment)" were "underpinned" by Ireland's 72 data centres.
But at the same time, down the back of the report, in a Appendix, it acknowledged that their ongoing employment contribution to the nation was 9,500 jobs.


2010
2020 (peak construction)
2030

Jobs
Capex
1,800
26,300


Opex
700
5,600
9,500

Total
2,500
31,900
9,500

Wages (€m)
Capex
76
1,118


Opex
37
295
504

Total
113
1,413
504
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 24/09/2026
over the past few weeks several AI evaluation/cybersecurity experts have explained how what's happening is a result of human incompetence rather than "AI going rogue". I'm begging the media to show a shred of journalistic integrity and stop parroting what altman or amodei say
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 21/09/2026
"In a leaked document, the Irish Presidency proposes to EU Member States that the interest of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and SpaceX to make profits should take precedence over the fundamental right to data protection" noyb.eu/en/ai-eu-mem...
noyb.eu
AI: EU Member States plan “digital expropriation” of Europeans in the interest of AI companies
In a leaked document, the Irish Presidency proposes to EU Member States that the interest of AI companies to make profits should take precedence over the fundamental rights of Europeans.
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Gareth L. Powell / G.L. Powell @garethlpowell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Why bookshops are booming www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Why bookshops are booming in the TikTok age
Proprietors explain why more independent bookshops are springing up in our towns and cities.
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Jan Carson @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I'll be launching #NoVacancy @booksupstairs.bsky.social in Dublin on Friday October 16th. There'll be extra bonus Cathy Sweeney and some mad stories about hotels. Please come. Tickets are free but you need to reserve in advance (link below) booksupstairs.ie/all-events/l...
booksupstairs.ie
LAUNCH | No Vacancy by Jan Carson | Books Upstairs
We are thrilled to be hosting yet another launch for the inimitable Jan Carson. This new collection of micro-fiction, No Vacancy: Hotel Stories, is inspired by numerous hotel visits over recent years ...
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Oisín McGann @oisinmcgann.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There are still a few places available for my 6-Week Book Illustration at @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social in Dublin. It's about communication first, telling a story, not drawing beautiful pictures, so only basic drawing skills are required. irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/book...
The promo card for the course, featuring a photo of me, a middle-aged white guy. Text: In Person, 6.30 – to 8.30pm. Book Illustration. 6 Weeks, from the 6th of October 2026.
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 12/09/2026
the trash talker On South Anne Street in Dublin city centre, a satirical statue of Donald Trump in a wheelie bin with a banana on his head titled 'The Trash Talker' has appeared. www.rte.ie/news/post/10...
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Don’t often see Ireland in an Ars Technica headline. It doesn’t say where in Ireland, though. Quite scary!
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Dr Mary McAuliffe @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Our government is pandering to the racist right with the new citizenship legislation The GAA has yet again proven itself to be a intractable misogynistic boys club And we are paying for a rapist to stay in the state guest house at Farmleigh Not a good week for the country
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
A rare day with the house to myself and a book deadline looming so OF COURSE I couldn’t sleep for hours last night and am now shattered. 🥲
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
What’s it like living with someone who’s pun-obsessed? Last night I was upstairs and yelled down: “Let’s get a takeaway! What are you in the mood for?” Husband comes racing upstairs like the house is on fire and throws two flyers on the table, then collapses laughing. @thejoegriffin.bsky.social
A flyer for Deliveroo and another leaflet from a local politician named Emer Currie.
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James Kelleher @jameskelleher.pilcrow.ie · 03/09/2026
Today’s stories from Ireland
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just had a conspiracy thought about Meta glasses. A few years ago, I came across a Facebook research call, looking for people to film themselves doing everyday tasks in the real world. The footage would later be used to train robots. Can’t help wonder now about the true purpose of the Meta glasses.
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Rónán Hession @ronanhession.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
One of my fondest childhood memories was not knowing the name of any CEO of any company.
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Rónán Hession @ronanhession.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Bump! My writing masterclass in Derry is coming up on 12 September. I'll have loads to say. Do come! @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/writ...
irishwriterscentre.ie
Writers in the Regions: Writing, a masterclass with Rónán Hession (Derry) - Irish Writers Centre
This masterclass will focus on the writing, editing and publishing of novels of creative literary fiction with Ronan Hession in Derry
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Oisín McGann @oisinmcgann.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Oh, HELL no. Do not consent to allowing genAI to record your sessions or to access your private medical data. #SpeirGorm
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
In this day and age of scams, do door to door sales actually work? Just had 2 men at the door, which I only opened because I thought it was my kid coming home. It’s intimidating and they ask for information that a) I don’t have and b) I don’t want to share.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
If you ever visit Venice and are feeling homesick, you can always go to…
Sign outside a shop that says DESPAR, with the same logo as Spar.
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Deirdre O'Shaughnessy @deshocks.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Last year, 80 Palestinian scholarship students were granted visas. This year, at least half have been refused. What has changed? asks Angie Gough www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
irishexaminer.com
Why is department acting against Government policy and public wishes on Gaza students?
Last year, 80 Palestinian scholarship students were granted visas. This year, at least half have been refused. What has changed? asks Angie Gough
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
“The spice bag, a slovenly beige pile with a name that doesn’t even sound like food…” 🤣 I’m so tickled that my favourite US film critic is reviewing (seriously) the spice bag. Oh what a world…
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
This has to be the Mondayist Monday of all Mondays.
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Darach Ó Séaghdha @darach.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
In the latest piece for my #calling353 series in @thejournal.ie I ask why Maureen Sweeney’s story gets left out of the new movie Pressure. It’s raining men: Why exclude this Irish meteorologist from her own story? jrnl.ie/7131294
jrnl.ie
It’s raining men: Why exclude this Irish meteorologist from her own story?
A new movie explores the role meteorologists played in planning D-Day – but Ireland’s Maureen Flavin Sweeney seems to be largely left out.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Didn’t quite see the eclipse but I was in a restaurant in Bologna and the power went out and we were temporarily plunged into darkness so… yeah, kinda!
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Spotted in Dublin. Building site art.
Outline of a bird drawn in dust on a window of a construction site.
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Daniel Kennedy @fliglman.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
As a cyclops truther I like that Homer’s Odyssey is listed as non-fiction
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Dr. Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele @drdragases.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
No longer content with pillaging intellectual work and dismembering our environment (already critically weakened), AI companies are now hellbent on destroying books galore including rare editions. Shut down these nefarious enterprises already.
news.com.au
AI labs buy, scan, shred millions of rare books
If you have retreated to physical books because the internet is too full of AI slop, bad news — now they’re shredding the books to feed their AI slop machines.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Parenting is full of surprises. Like, I never expected to hear a 10yo pottering about the house singing ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac. (It’s on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.)
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Chapters Bookstore, Parnell St, D1 @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
What are you doing on Wednesday? Wrong. You’re coming to Chapters to drink French wine in a bookshop like a cultured menace! THE FRENCH CORRECTION - Wed July 22nd, 7pm with Lorcan O'Brien. Welcome Crémant, 5 wines, charcuterie boxes & 20% off books/wine. Tickets on Eventbrite!
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Before and after. Some creative/overprotective parenting manoeuvres here by myself, two years ago. This was done in chalk in the laneway near our house. My version says “Duck Soup”.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Dear lord, watched Eddington this week (spread over 3 nights, a terrible way to watch anything). It’s a hot mess. There is no narrative cohesion, no point of view. It’s literally just… a bunch of stuff happens, everyone is awful, and, oh yes, it’s set during Covid. (Good cast though!)
Movie poster for the film Eddington.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Know what I would like? Instead of pervert glasses, I would like the ability to see who’s walking up behind me without looking over my shoulder all the time. Constantly amazed that we have not evolved to have a 360 view.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Tip for the day: Don’t put the vacuum cleaner on the highest setting while hoovering in a long skirt. Follow me for other good housekeeping tips.
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Jan Carson @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I’ll be handling the publicity for this one myself so please get in touch if you’d like a PDF copy for review or would like to book an event or interview
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Reposted by Sylvia Leatham
Stefan Mohamed @stefmowords.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
looking for a mind-bending, reality-warping summer read "crackling with energy, wit and pathos"? grab a copy of what various AI scams are telling me isn't just a criminally under-read gem of a novel - it's an illegally underappreciated jewel of a book hey when they're right they're right
stefmo.co.uk
The House on Utopia Way (Paperback) | Stefan Mohamed
The world is coming apart at the seams.Reality is relative. The concept of truth no longer applies. This is all wrong. And detective Johnny Orange is going to find out what's really going on - or lose...
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
New parenting trick. I have introduced the concept of a “water bar” in the kitchen. I just pour glasses of water at the counter and listen to my 10yo’s woes, without offering solutions, like a bartender. Troubles? Worries? Mean girl stuff? “Come and join me at the water bar.”
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Just off a Ryanair flight where the air steward announced at takeoff: “There’s a passenger on board with a nut allergy so we ask you to please refrain from eating any penis products… Peanut! Peanut products! on board this flight.” Cue giggles throughout the plane!
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Ah lads. The walk home from the kid’s summer camp today. 20 minutes of this yoke being waved in my face. On a windy day.
Enormous pale pink balloon sword. Canal in background.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Don’t see anything wrong with this. (Aldi middle aisle today.)
A box with the words “Inflatable dartboard” on it.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Toy Story 5 is a bit dull, isn’t it? Just meh. Like a pilot episode of a tv show maybe. There’s something missing but I can’t specifically say what. It’s less than the sum of its parts. There is no magic.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Hottest day of the year so treated myself to a little writing sesh at the @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social . Look at how gloomy! A nice productive morning. I’m nearly 50k into my WIP now. Coming along nicely!
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Would’ve been a far worse headline if you replaced “found” with “lost”.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
24 degrees in Dublin so my neighbour is - looks out window - yep, power washing his driveway.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
There are two types of men in this world. Those who wear shorts no matter what the weather, and those who won’t wear shorts no matter what the weather.
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
When did people stop covering their mouths when they yawn in public? Don’t they know it’s gross AND contagious? I realized recently my 10yo didn’t know this was a thing either so I have to teach her it, but she doesn’t believe me!
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Eep. I just tried to turn off Gmail “smart features”. There are now 33,000 extra emails in my inbox. They stop filtering emails into categories to punish you for insubordination! Every single promo/update email is now in my inbox (which already had 10k legitimate emails). 😱
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Sylvia Leatham @sylvialeatham.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I have the right to bare arms. Because it’s summer time.
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Elaine Burke @elaineburke.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Also I feel very much like I was just at an Enterprise Ireland announcement, not a Research Ireland one. Major focus on industry, commercialisation of research, turning scientists into entrepreneurs, creating a talent pipeline for industry, and an overriding theme of fairly ill-defined "scale".
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