Congratulations to @judithjesch.bsky.social on Publication Day! I have organised a copy as a birthday present to be carried person-post by one of the offspring from the UK to me in France, when possible. SO looking forward to this but my heart op will be in December so projects on hold till after.

I dropped in to check for news and this popped up - lovely news!! Congratulations!

Anyway, I'm pleased to announce that I married Emily in Stardew Valley.

Top 50 Masterpieces of Medieval Literature www.medievalists.net/2024/09/top-... #MedievalLiterature

I'm going to a party and you're all invited! This will be my last social event for a while as I need a heart operation so will be stepping out for a bit... and will be bionic when I return.

We got a lovely email from one of our USA visitors. 🙂 A good time to remind everyone we offer temporary memberships if you are only in Shetland for a short time - and that we have lovely staff!.

some #GoodNews FATE is #CoffeePotBookClub #BookOfTheMonth! authors @alisonmorton.bsky.social @anniehistory.bsky.social @abelfrageauthor.bsky.social @debbieyoung.bsky.social @elizabethstjohn.bsky.social @writerjeangill.bsky.social & me & 3 others thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/08/book...

Only a Grave Will Do was @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social's book of the month!

Want to know a bit more about my writing life? I thoroughly enjoyed this recent interview with Christina Boyd www.thequillink.com/post/intervi...

#WIPSnips Today, we find out that the tradition of witch-burning has its origins in burning the evil Gullveig/Freya at a stake because she liked gold too much. (This is, for once, accurate #NorseMythology) #WIP: #WhyOdinDrinks book II www.whyodindrinks.com

It was a great interview - I loved it!

And there I was hoping for peace & quiet!

#OTD the feast day of St Eadburh of Bicester, reputed to be the daughter of Penda of Mercia. She's in my book Women of Power and she features as a child in Cometh the Hour and as an abbess in The Sins of the Father: viewauthor.at/Annie-Whiteh...

Apparently, this is the Kassel Hand, one of 35 such surviving prosthetics from the time ...

The Faroe Islands have a unique summer tradition where a large rock in Sandur is yarn-bombed by local women, inspired by a local legend about a "Troll Woman's cave"...... #WomensArt

“It is funny how few people are actually capable of wrapping their head around the fact that we have now just made it so computers can lie to you.”

Hello! I was told that a lot of people with an interest in the Scots language and books had migrated over here… In case you don’t know me already, my name’s Emma Grae and I’m a Scots language author, journalist and advocate. Ah scrive fur bairns, young adults and adults - awbody! ☺️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The incomparable @jannywurts.bsky.social has reviewed While Darkness Gathers! “Highly recommended for readers who enjoy John Gwynne, with a lively flavor of Norse and Old English blended with kingdoms with varied cultural roots.” The full review on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

Last of the ten stories in 'Fate', in order but not in enjoyment, a fun read from Cosy Queen @debbieyoung.bsky.social I loved the ending and there's a top tip for stealing cakes... take a sneak peek at the beginning here www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author... #fatestories

Today's treat, especially for those who love the #Tudors, especially the behind-the-scenes Tudors, is a sneak peek at J.P.Reedman's story. Read the opening here! www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author... #FateStories

Proper formatting enhances the reader experience. You've cooked up a great story, now lay it out for a reader's consumption. Let us FORMAT your manuscript for eBook, Paperback or Hardcover. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ thebookkhaleesi.com/... Get in touch! @eevalancaster #formatting #publishing

Step into the Viking Age and discover the stories of raiders, traders, and explorers—start learning now! 🛶✨ medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/the-... #Vikings

Happiness is a good helmet

Treat for the day! You can read the opening of 'Beware the Crows' by @abelfrageauthor.bsky.social a VERY disturbing and powerful story, not suitable for bedtime. Hey - you've been warned! It's in the title! www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author... #FateStories

L'entente cordiale avec des souris/sourires)

Today I witnessed two Springboks clash, horns locked in silent defiance. Ritual. Instinct. Survival. My new release ⚜️WHEN SECRETS BLOOM🌿 is no different. Old loyalties collide. Truth charges forward. Only one can remain standing. mybook.to/wsb #mystery #medieval #look4books #sawitfirst #99c #77p

Behind the scenes of her story with @anniehistory.bsky.social 'My tale is of refugees, of conquered territories, of strangers not being accepted, of violence and prejudice, of ‘never again’ becoming ‘yes, again’. #FateStories alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/10/t... @alisonmorton.bsky.social

❀༻Books Worth Reading༺❀ Read with #KindleUnlimited 💙📚 Each novel is priced at just 0.99c /99p 1-15th July, 2025 ✩*•.The Lydiard Chronicles By Elizabeth St.John`*:.☆ maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-... #BooksWorthReading #BookOfTheDay #HistoricalFiction @elizabethstjohn.bsky.social

Yes, you can get my books here.

Just in case you've missed any of the blogs and story excerpts related to 'Fate' our multi-author anthology - how is that possible? - there's a very useful round-up here on Helen Hollick's blog ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2025/07/fate... #FateStories

THIS is why it's hard to convey the sophistication of the original and why a novelist (that would be me) translates from the translation to get the feel! It's as if a novel was written entirely in Times cryptic crossword clues.

The Bluffer's Guide to Becoming a Famous Alchemist - R. Marsden's story in 'Fate' Get a sneak peek at the opening HERE www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author... #FateStories

A couple of people at Saturday's event sincerely thanked me for the support I used to offer aspiring authors on Twitter. So, let's see if we can continue that here. If you want a no-nonsense answer to a question about #writing or publishing, follow me and drop a reply in the comments.

Me too!

Today's treat - a taster of 'Following Fate' by @elizabethstjohn.bsky.social Julia can't forget a man and a portrait - a twist of fate gives a second chance at love... www.elizabethjstjohn.com/.../fateful-... #FateStories

☀️ Summer Sale! Get 20% off all our Online Courses on Medieval History! Use the coupon code 'summer' on all of our live and self-paced courses medievalstudies.thinkific.com #medieval

#FindsFriday This little insect-shaped brooch was found in an Iron Age Broch near Stromness in Orkney, #Scotland It shows Roman influence in its style and design, presumably from #RomanBritain far to the south! Now in the Orkney Museum in Kirkwall 📸 Mine #archaeology #museums #ancientbluesky 🏺

Today, we mourn The Courgette. Today, I would have picked it but, while I was out, Rtemis Dog mistook it for a lizard in the veggie patch and bravely defended The Man from The Green Evil. I'm afraid history will be repeated with the next courgette. Thank you for your understanding. Stay tuned.

Internationally acclaimed artist Kiki Smith is one of many artists interviewed in the new book #ReframingWomenPrintmakers regarding printmaking practices and inspirations....

Lukasz & Mihir review the first of the #SPFBO Champions @mcclungmike.bsky.social’s THE THIEF WHO PULLED ON TROUBLE’S BRAIDS #SPFBOCL

I'm half-way through, also because of SPFBO win and recommendation by @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social I am living this book - By Blood, By Salt, by J.L. Odom, in case my post gets separated from the thread! Flawed characters I truly care about, in an unjust world. Nuanced, subtle, with epic plot.

#philosophy #wisdom #virtue #stoic

What if you could time travel and go back to THAT big moment in Roman history... read the beginning of Alison Morton Author 's story in 'Fate'. Alison is known for her alternative Roman history but doesn't own up to actual time travel... www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author...

How well do you know the Medieval Kings of England? www.medievalists.net/2024/07/how-... #Medieval

A FATEful short story totally in my world - @helenhollick.bsky.social takes us on an emotional journey into the English Civil War. #Excerpt #FateStories #HistoricalFiction #17thC www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author...

Discover the real story of adventurer, courtier, explorer and poet, Sir Walter Raleigh, who has been called the last true Elizabethan. mybook.to/Raleigh #Elizabethan #Tudors #HistoricalFiction #Booksky 💙📚

When the Groom Paid the Dowry: New Study Rethinks Marriage in Medieval Catalonia www.medievalists.net/2025/07/when... #medieval #socialhistory

Today's treat for you is a taste of @helenhollick.bsky.social 's story from 'Fate' Enjoy 'In The Shadow Of Ghosts'! www.elizabethjstjohn.com/guest-author... #FateStories #historicalfiction #historicalfantasy

Thank you to all #TheCoffePotBookClub hosts (via @cathiedunn.bsky.social) hosts for the #Anthology #FATE: TALES of #HISTORY, #MYSTERY and #MAGICon #BlogTour today! ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2025/06/foll...

FATE: Tales of History, Mystery and Magic Kindle Edition by Helen Hollick, Annie Whitehead, Jean Gill, Marian L Thorpe and six more tonyriches.blogspot.com/2025/06/book... @anniewhitehead.bsky.social @helenhollick.bsky.social @abelfrageauthor.bsky.social #BookLaunch