iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Hello Bluesky, do you like gorgeous covers? Do you like: 🌿 lush jungle settings ♀️women's rights (and women's wrongs 🌺 fabled, cursed orchids 💀 IT'S IN THE TREES! IT'S COMING! Then... behold my next novel, MAN EATER, released Jan 25 and up for preorder now!

Cover of Man Eater by Ally Wilkes. A dark moody background with a faceless woman bathed in red light, tangled mysteriously in looping green vines, with hot purple orchids in the corners of the cover.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

I finally wrestled the paperback from the jaws of Amazon and now it can be ordered by YOU. Please share, I'd love for more people to discover my little micro-collections of short fiction! amzn.eu/d/062sQYMZ

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Hello bluesky! Apologies for cross-posting but my latest micro-collection OLD GODS is out today! £1.99 on kindle or FREE on KU, these are five short stories about ancient entities and dark beings. amzn.eu/d/0fZg86zz

Promotional graphic which shows the cover of OLD GODS by AV Wilkes, a black book with a skull and crossbones memento mori stone plaque, and a yellow art nouveau style frame advertising the book's release today on Amazon.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

So I haven't really mentioned this here but... I have another micro-collection coming out on Saturday! OLD GODS has five short stories about the ancient and Eldritch, including favourites of weird historical polar horror like Where Things Fall From The Sky and The Berg....

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Friends, she's off to Derby again to get her Black Phillip on 🐐

Graphic describing a weekend to-do list including celebrating spring equinox, attending a Folk Horror film festival, and booking a place on my upcoming Writing Historical Horror course starting 25th March. Images include a sun(god), Hellebore and a ram's skull.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

So thrilled to see @helleborezine.bsky.social's excellent TALES OF OCCULT BRITAIN getting a deservedly excellent review in SFX magazine, and basically blown away by this shout-out. Yes, folklore is anti-fascist, yes, RE-ENCHANTMENT IS RESISTANCE, yes, yes, yes ✨

Image of a gate covering an old mine shaft. In front is an image of the front cover of Hellebore's Tales From Occult Britain, and a snippet from a review which reads: 'Though the quality is high, the standout is the final story in the collection. Ally Wilkes's 'Wild Edric's Ride' doesn't just update an ancient myth; it imbues it with purpose, asking: if a folkloric hero were summoned today to protect the nation, what would he truly be fighting for?

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Hellooooooo BSky, long time no see? I've been lurking around Instagram these days (where yes, I continue to honk about books and authors I like) but thought I'd remind everyone that my micro-collection LONDON WEIRD is totes a Christmas book, look, honest guvnor, and only 0.99 at Amazon.

Picture of Ally's book LONDON WEIRD with cut out pieces of text lovingly overlaid (scissors and glue style, look ma no canva) to highlight the presence in manuscript of things like Christmas trees, fairy lights, hot chocolate, etc.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

This is the first year I've had enough short fiction out to want to do one of those eligibility posts! Truly grateful for all the opportunities I've had in 2025 🖤

AWARDS ELIGIBILITY POST: Ally Wilkes in short fiction. The graphic is creepy hands on a grey background and the titles in orange read:
When the fox bells ring, The Earth Bleeds At Night
In the high places, BOREAL: an anthology of Taiga Horror
The Berg, Cosmic Horror Monthly #58
The Collector's House, Unquiet Guests
Drop Shock, the Black Crow book of Best New Horror vol 1,
Wild Edric's Ride, Tales of Occult Britain.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

The ideal reading experience feat. Miss Slugs

A very cosy looking tuxedo cat is curled up on my lap on a black and white and gold tarot card blanket, next to a red and gold copy of Kitchen Magic by Laura May.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

70/2025 was The Wayfarer's Weird from @blpublishing.bsky.social Tales of the Weird! Man, I love this series so so much. Some truly excellent stuff in here including from Lisa Tuttle, Ramsey Campbell and Alison Littlewood! And new-to-me authors like LTC Holt (Aickman's mate 😁)

A hand holding up a copy of the Wayfarer's Weird ed. by Weird Walk. It's a black paperback with a monochrome purple illustration depicting a rucksack leaning against a stone wall with some skulls, both animal and human. The book is from the British Library Tales of the Weird series.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Be advised it is FIVE STARS and also VERY CREEPY AND GOOD, cheers Allison!

Screenshot of a five star Amazon review: "excellent creepy short story collection, very creepy and good! A micro-collection of 3 short scary stories, all atmospheric, well-written and carry a creeping menace that is perfect for the winter season."

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Morning all! Friday is the perfect day to pick up some lunch break or weekend reading, and I have the perfect bite-sized delight. My micro-collection LONDON WEIRD is only 0.99 on Amazon or free on Kindle Unlimited, I'd love for you to check it out! www.amazon.co.uk/London-Weird...

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

With the addition of UNQUIET GUESTS (out 30th Oct from @deadinkbooks.bsky.social ed. @dancoxon.bsky.social) I have finally outgrown my brag shelf and now have a... brag stack, WTAF?? 2020 - early October 2025.

A stack of books making up all the physical, well, books that my writing has been in since 2020. All The White Spaces, Where The Dead Wait, the best of Three Crows vol 2, It Calls From The Doors, The Earth Bleeds at Night, Darkness Beckons, FOUND: an anthology of found footage horror, Something Peculiar, Jamie Hallow and the End of the World, Cloisterfox zine, London Weird, Boreal: an anthology of Taiga Horror, and Unquiet Guests.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Hello new followers! If you've joined me after my spooky settings task for @cbcreative.bsky.social, you might want to check out my micro-collection of three short horror stories with new twists on old settings. It's a lunch-break steal at 0.99 on kindle or free on Kindle U! amzn.eu/d/b2ySJKM

Image is of Ally, a white-skinned person with long dark hair, wearing a black Harley jacket on a tube platform and holding up a copy of London Weird by Ally Wilkes.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

TBT one of the best and weirdest days of my life, Luke Arnold dropping in on a panel @gavia.bsky.social, Cynthia So and I were doing at Nineworlds on marginalised identities in Black Sails 🖤

No really! It's a generic convention room with a table set up for panel guests in the foreground. L-R we have the inimitable Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Cynthia So, Luke Arnold (aka the most handsome man alive) and me!

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I'm wearing one of my hand-knitted cosy cardigans and eating broth with homemade bread. Sometimes the only thing that helps the SAD is to go full-on hashtag autumncore.

Ally wearing an immensely large RAINBOW CLOUD of a cardigan, now sewn up into a jumper for utility. Pattern is the Orenda cardigan from The Knit Edit and Ally has knitted it in one strand of multicolour scrap yarn held with one strand of black or navy scrap yarn and one of glittery black yarn. The sleeves may contain a portal to another dimension, they are PUFFY.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

My entry for 'post a you from a different era'. On Wednesdays, we wear pink.

Two pictures of a much younger Ally wearing makeup, a bright pink top, a knee length skirt, and kitten heeled patent burgundy shoes. She's carrying a bright pink handbag. The look is very corporate lawyer meets Mean Girls.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

STARTS WEDNESDAY! I'm working hard on content for this course rn, so you have a couple of days left to sign up... classes at 6:30pm BST, but fully recorded for those who can't make it! Plus optional feedback and zoom tutorials feat. Dr Bones 🖤

Promo image for WRITING HISTORICAL HORROR shows a happy looking skeleton on greige background. The text reads '4-week online writing course with Ally Wilkes starts Weds 24th September'.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Finishing touches to my box of tricks for @innsmouthgold.bsky.social Literary Festival one weekend from now! These will be bookmarks - the camera doesn't really do them justice 🖤

A piece of whitish cross stitch fabric with LIVE LAUGH LOVECRAFT stitches repeatedly in black. The letters have then been painted over so they're dripping down the fabric.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

There's still time to sign up for my thoughts on Writing Historical Horror! The course starts next week online and will be four Wednesday evenings (UK time) plus all sessions recorded for those who can't make it. Hope to see you there! www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-hi...

Ominous and moody promotional image of a church tower in a misty blue background. Text reads: WRITING HISTORICAL HORROR, 4-week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts Weds 24th September.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

The Monday commute would be a class time to pick up a copy of my new micro-collection, LONDON WEIRD: three short stories. It's only 0.99 on Amazon (free on KU) and I've v much enjoyed this first dip into self publishing! amzn.eu/d/cEFSv3h

Sales rankings on Amazon.co.uk showing LONDON WEIRD in at 50 in Horror Short Stories.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Hi Gabino! I've just put out a micro collection of three short stories about weird, cosmic and horrific London: LONDON WEIRD is my first foray into self pub and it's 0.99 on kindle and free on Kindle U! www.amazon.co.uk/London-Weird...

Ally holds up a copy of London Weird on a tube station platform.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Avoiding #FaceFriday by taking pics with my new micro-collection! LONDON WEIRD is just 0.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited. www.amazon.co.uk/London-Weird...

Ally, a white skinned person with long dark hair, holds up a copy of London Weird in front of a Tube tunnel.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Very bewildered to see my micro-collection LONDON WEIRD has made it into the top 50 of horror short stories! It's 0.99 for three dark and unsettling tales of modern-day London, also free on Amazon U - perfect lunch break reading 👀 amzn.eu/d/cEFSv3h

Ranking data for London Weird on Amazon, it's 74,225 in Books (lol), 50 in Horror Short Stories and 222 in Horror Occult and Supernatural.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

I guess I am now a HYBRID AUTHOR: here's my first foray into self publishing (on the micro scale!) with LONDON WEIRD, a three-story collection about cosmic, Weird and haunted London. The ebook is 99p / 99c / free on Kindle Unlimited 🖤

Copies of LONDON WEIRD in a paper box: it's a slim collection with black cover and a map of London with a pink/purple ombre fade in the centre.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Pssst... can I interest you in a tasty little micro-collection of three of my short stories for 99p / 99c or FREE on Kindle Unlimited? amzn.eu/d/5M3NUlh

Cover of London Weird, a micro-collection by Ally Wilkes. The cover is black and has an ombre fade pink/purple map of London at the centre. The graphic reads OUT NOW! and AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Just finished some cross-stitch bookmarks to take to @innsmouthgold.bsky.social! I think the Cthulhu is really cute 🖤

A pile of bookmarks stitched on black or ecru canvas with motifs of waves, skulls, candles, books, and Cthulhu.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Hi hello just a reminder that JAMIE HALLOW exists and I'm very very very proud of it! Absolutely no-one is calling it the unholy lovechild of MEAN GIRLS, HP Lovecraft, and Hugh Howey's WOOL. But they might. cemeterygatesmedia.com/2023/05/04/j...

Promo image showing the cover of Jamie Hallow and the End of the World by AV Wilkes, an 80s style neon artwork by Ben Baldwin in which a teenage boy stands on the staircase of a nuclear bunker and tentacles, sparks fly up from below. The tropes are listed around the cover: Lovecraft Mythos, Mean Girls, exes and hexes, ancient cults, #shoggoths, queer teens, UK setting, Ooooh it's the Mi-Go! and nuclear apocalypse.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Coming SOON to your bookshelves: UNQUIET GUESTS, a gorgeous new hardback antho of haunted house studies with a social inequality theme... coming SOON to your local bookshop (if you live near Islington that is) are some fab authors including me! www.waterstones.com/events/unqui...

Promotional graphic on pale background showing the green hardback cover of UNQUIET GUESTS (largely plain with a spiderweb covered window as a graphics in white) and author headshots. The text reads: DAN COXON, CLAIRE FULLER, WILL MACLEAN & ALLY WILKES in conversation at Waterstones Islington Tuesday 28 October, 6:30pm. The booking link is in the post text.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

As the nights start to draw in, why not join me for a historical horror writing course? We'll be looking at immersion, research, approaches to verisimilitude, and how to use the past to hold up a mirror to the present. Link here: www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-hi...

Promo image for Writing Historical Horror, showing an ominous looking metal helmet with empty eye sockets and strips of beaten metal over the mouth and nose. The text reads: 4 week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts 24th September. There's a QR code but the link is also in the post text.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Remember when John Boyne included a dye recipe from Legend of Zelda in one of his books?

A page from an ACTUALLY PUBLISHED novel in print which contains (circled in red) a recipe for the character's dressmaking dyes including 'keese wing', 'Octorok eyeball', 'red lizalfos' and 'Hylian shrooms'.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Sometimes I can't believe that my side hustle is simply finding people who will pay me to watch their cats sleep

Kronk, a very scrungly black cat with chocolate brown undertones, is sleeping on a sofa with all his paws (and little black beans) stretched out in front of him. His mouth is partly open and he has no teeth.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Starting to fire up the brain for this one - hope to see you there! Linky: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-hi...

A muted grey scale image of a happy skeleton on a beige background, text reads: 'writing historical horror, 4-week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts Weds 24th September'.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I recently caught a screening at this very cool church in South London:

A darkened gothic church lit by red, blue, and purple lights. In front of the altar there's a screen showing the sun-god talisman from the opening of THE WICKER MAN.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I refuse to go into an indie bookstore without picking up SOMETHING, so I was delighted to find this gem from @cipherpress.bsky.social at the Newham Bookshop! Hamish is giving it a thorough inspection.

A hand holds a copy of WITCH edited by Michelle Tea, which is a black book with neon green font and a black cat on the cover contemplating its reflection. It is being gently sniffed by Hamish, a long haired black cat with green eyes.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Let's try this again, WITH the link! It's the perfect time to run away from the heatwave in the UK and join a doomed expedition to the icy poles. Stay cool here: titanbooks.com/creators/all... @titanbooks.bsky.social @dancarpenter.bsky.social ❄️⚓💀👻🏳️‍🌈

Promo graphic showing two of Ally Wilkes's polar novels, All the White Spaces and Where the Dead Wait, on an icy background with the text STAY COOL - CLICK HERE

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

BEHOLD, it's another heatwave. Don't worry, I've got you. Fancy joining a doomed expedition to one of the icy poles? Perfect time to buy my books, imo ❄️⚓💀👻🏳️‍🌈

Graphic showing the covers of two books by Ally Wilkes, Where The Dead Wait and All The White Spaces, on an icy background, with the text STAY COOL and CLICK HERE.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

More of these dubious but hopefully encouraging takes in my writing historical horror course, on sale now! www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-hi...

Promo graphic for Writing Historical Horror course, showing a moody blue and grey pic of a lions head doorknocker. The text reads: 4-week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts Weds 24th September.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

So excited by today's bookpost from @blpublishing.bsky.social! A very delicious weekend of reading awaits, full of sporror and ancient gods 🖤

A pile of beautifully coloured books from the Tales of the Weird series. From top to bottom: Spores of Doom, dark tales of the fungal weird (olive and moss green), Phantoms of Kernow, classic tales of haunted Cornwall (delicate blue), Return of the Ancients, unruly tales of the mythological weird (sunflower yellow), Medusa (teal green) and The Lost Stradivarius (brick red).

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

I'm loving the resurgence of interest in the weird and the folk in London these days. Spent last night listening to live music and watching The Wicker Man screened in a gorgeous gothic church. Summer is icumen in!

A darkened church with pillars, stained glass windows etc just visible under red and blue lighting: a huge screen in the middle of the aisle shows the iconic golden sun icon from the director's cut of The Wicker Man.

The interior of a gothic church showing a stained glass window with sun streaming through and dark speakers like monoliths in the foreground.

A picture of Ally, a pale white skinned person with long dark hair smiling at the camera and wearing a black wide-brimmed hat while seated in an ornate wooden church pew.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

40+ appreciation post. Reskeet with a pic of you're on the right side of 40. 42, meaning of life

A picture of Ally, a pale white-skinned person with dark hair who is wearing a large brimmed black hat and smiling at the camera.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Had an excellent time today learning how to make traditional corn dollies. I'm calling her Agatha.

A traditional corn-husk doll lies on a table with wheat sheaves and other dolls. She is holding out wheat sheaves and has a crown of gold, orange and plain wheat. The rest of her is all neutral corn husk beige except for a golden ribbon belt.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

This promo image is pure nightmare fuel and we've all got @alexdavis1981.bsky.social to thank for that! Book tickets for this horrible writing course (taught by me) at the link in the QR code

Horrible no-good papier mache sculpture of a doll with its eyes and mouth wide open, used as the background image for a graphic which reads: WRITING HISTORICAL HORROR, 4 week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts Weds 24th September.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

For half my life I've been trying to find the painting that used to SCARE THE FUCK OUT OF ME in my childhood bedroom. All internet searches based on my nightmare memories came up blank. This weekend I found her at a flea market. Welcome home, Alice 🖤

Painting hanging on a wall is Alice by Modigliani, a slightly elongated and stretched woman in a blue dress with long dark hair, almond shaped eyes, a hair ribbon and a tiny gold crucifix. She's gazing at the viewer and her eyes follow you around the room.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

GUESS WHAT I'm teaching my very own writing course, that's what! Featuring a deep dive into the how and why of historical horror, and including an option to get written or one-to-one feedback from me! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-hi...

A faded lion's head door knocker is the visual image in blues and greys on a promotional graphic which reads: WRITING HISTORICAL HORROR, 4-week online writing course with Ally Wilkes, starts Weds 24th September.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

In particular, you can BOOK ME for editorial services, including proofreading, manuscript assessment, and query package editing right at this new page: www.allywilkes.com/editorial-services

Webpage with pink text on dark book-filled background: editorial services by FORTITUDE LITERARY, horror / gothic /dark. A menu of buttons reading manuscript services, developmental edit, proofread, query packages, and mentoring.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Oh you pretty thing... This is heading out next week to a friend who isn't on BSky, for a Victorian curio kind of vibe. I loved stitching it, but I think we all agree the MVP is the gorgeous dark blue aida which was inexplicably half price at Hobbycraft 🦋

A framed cross stitch picture on dark blue fabric, lying on a dark blue boarding school trunk. The picture is a huge yellow moon with two brown and cream moths and twining orange, yellow, coral and blue foliage around them.

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Ally Wilkes / AV Wilkes @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Feeling my spooky self today - catsitting for this friendly void, listening to new Uncanny, and heading off to a herbs and herb magic workshop this afternoon ✨

A black cat is curled up in some black and gold-blankets while being stroked by someone wearing too many rings.

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