Listen in to BBC Radio Foyle after 8.30 to hear me talk about the great meta copyright theft!

The #DromoreBookFestival spotlights continue! Join authors @claireallan.bsky.social & Emma Heatherington for a heartfelt evening of stories, friendship, and resilience at Dromore Cathedral . £5 per ticket goes to the Mandeville Unit. It will be emotional! ❤️ www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books

@claireallan.bsky.social I really loved The Fabulous Forties Club! My favourite line, which made me laugh out loud, was "I would rather nail my boobs to the wall than set foot in a club." Can't wait for your next book!

I believe the Irish Tea Sock has made a statement on this matter, but thank you for bringing it to wider attention. My tea has now run out and I'll be implementing the third element of the International Tea Protocol.

PSA: Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland residents can choose whether to respect the British Tea Alarm or the Irish Tea Act. I don't think enough Americans know about this. The Irish Tea Act is based on a cumulative cups of tea drunk in a day, rather than an alarm system.

Yes. Post ovulation our skin tends to look less vibrant and elastic. Right before we menstruate again is usually the worst. It may also be a sign to get your hormone levels checked to see if anything is off.

How is it somedays you can look in the mirror and think 'Not too shabby' and on other days, despite wearing the same clothes, doing the same make up/ hair etc the reflection back at you feels like a proper jump-scare moment? Do we just have ugly days? Asking for a friend having a very ugly day.

A powerful, devastating and honest article on being the parent of a transgender child. Our transgender children are being failed. The govt has blood on their hands.

I'm 48 hours into Invisalign - the ache is real. But it's not as bad as I feared it would be - except when removing the trays so I can eat or drink. trays have to be in for minimum 22 hours a day - I thought that would be so easy. It's actually quite tricky esp when you take time over a meal 1/3

Here’s an event to make room in your diary for: @claireallan.bsky.social and Emma Heatherington in conversation. Part of Dromore Books Festival. Book tickets now: ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books I’ll be posting more about this great festival over the next few days. @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social

Happy publication day to me and the 18 contributors to this wonderful anthology! Print and e-book out today via @unbounders.bsky.social unbound.com/books/bloody...

Can I share a lovely online shopping story - about a relatively small fashion outlet? I’ve recently purchased some beautiful dresses from Joanie clothing. They are brightly coloured, well made, 100% cotton (a real plus for menopausal me), with retro patterns & they make me feel AMAZING 1/

Son’s campus was evacuated today after a ‘malicious threat’ - all campuses of BIMM closed. A music college? WTF?

Visited a young and trendy (I know… I know) make up shop today. I like their products (which I’ve previously bought through TikTok shop). Let’s just say it’s not a place the more mature, less glam or experienced make up fan feels welcome. And this is why we will online shop.

Most important and dangerous press conference in modern times. Does Starmer isolate Trump now via his visit? Does Charles weigh in? All aid is finished now, NATO move in? All in global alliances are in play.

For two men who have professed such hostility towards taking the knee, they are surprisingly happy to do it for Putin, in the Oval Office, in full view of the world’s media.

All I can say when I watch the trump and vance who has the biggest balls meeting with Zelenski is... This is the patriarchy And it's fucking embarrassing The Patriarchy does not work It is and will destroy out earth Humanity is NOT a business

The rest of the world has to deal with Trump’s bullying, performative, point scoring cowardly bullshit. The rest of the world didn’t vote for him, but we have to live with the consequences of his actions.

"YOUR MA!"

Hate is a strong word. It’s one I tell my children to use judiciously. But I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, I hate Trump, Vance and what they stand for. I despise them with every fibre of my being. Evil, arrogance and entitlement personified.

When the history books are written, Trump will be remembered as the man who irreparably broke America in 39 days.

"Your da sells Avon"

‘Up your hole with a big jam roll’

‘’Accrington Stanley? Who are they?’

Evergreen sentiment

‘Get out of ma pub, ya slaaaag’

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist” James Baldwin

There's nothing wrong with an echo chamber of tolerance and intelligence.

If you thought January was the longest month on record, then the month Mango Features has been back in the Whitehouse just knocked that all the way out of the park. How has it ONLY been a month?

Congratulations to our Independent Bookshop of the Year Finalists: Island of Ireland 🤩 Bridge Books, Little Acorns Bookstore, Tales for Tadpoles, Tertulia Bookshop and The Secret Bookshelf! See the full list of finalists 👉 buff.ly/4b0bBbD #BookSky

Happy Random Acts of Kindness Day! ❤️ As a little way to spread kindness, enjoy 20% off your online order with code KIND20. But hurry—this offer ends at midnight! #RandomActsOfKindness #BookSky💙 bridgebooksdromore.co.uk

I am absolutely sick and tired of them making it all about themselves and NOT about the trans kids affected by their disgusting decisions. They know no shame! #transhealthcarenow

ADHD is deciding to sort your clothes and discovering that you have six pairs of chub rub shorts from Snag so you really don’t need to order more. Which you almost did yesterday because you have no memory of buying at least four of those pairs… Yes, it’s funny but also not funny… #ADHDtax

It’s my stop today on the #blogtour for #ThePerfectMother by @claireallan.bsky.social and published by @boldwoodbooks.bsky.social . My 5⭐️ review is in the link below 👇 www.instagram.com/p/DF43FO4g2I...

Facebook memories has reminded me it’s ten years since my son’s Confirmation. Which means it’s also ten years since I found out he’d told his teacher I’d been in hospital with syphilis. Dear reader, I had been in hospital with sepsis. SEPSIS.

The joy I have experienced seeing people discover Pink Pony Club after Chappell Roan’s Grammy performance is real. It’s the perfect dopamine hit of a song - serotonin for the soul.

A short thread about book reviewers - and yes, I’m going to say it. As writers we don’t expect everyone to love our books. In fact, we’re quite prepared for some people to actively dislike them. I don’t love/ like every book I pick up and that’s okay… BUT Reviewers are getting nastier 1/

Happiest of publication days to the Derry Queen @claireallan.bsky.social! If you would like a signed & dedicated copy of The Perfect Mother, there's still time to order! Just pop a note in the comment box on the website, Claire will personalise it for you. bridgebooksdromore.co.uk/product/the-...

🔊MY TWENTY-FIRST BOOK THE PERFECT MOTHER IS OUT TODAY! From @boldwoodbooks.bsky.social ! #booksky📚💙

As a curvier woman heading towards 50, shopping for clothes is depressing.. I love a good maxi dress as much as the next woman, but it's been five long years of floral maxi or midi dresses with very little else on offer for us The older I get, the less cute they look & more granny-ish

Judge rules that Black church in DC, which won a $2.8 million default judgment against the Proud Boys, now gains control over the trademark “Proud Boys.” The far-right group is barred from selling any related merchandise or symbols without the consent of the church. Gift link:

WRITING TIP: if you get stuck, try making the font really really big. This will remind you of being a baby, when you only knew twelve words and didn't know about death

God, do you ever wish you could just hit a reset button on everything? Your entire life should have an edit function. A chance to redraft it.

Mood.

I watched The Substance - and only confirmed for myself that 1) Horror is not my genre 2) I have very limited patience for arty camera shots. 3) My wilful suspension of disbelief only stretches so far - and definitely not as far as this movie. Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley were impressive tho

This is what the government did with 120K+ Japanese Americans in 1942. I know. I was there in those camps.

The Biddy is an Irish folk tradition linked to Brigid’s Day and Imbolc, where groups wear white and handmade straw headpieces to travel around playing music while carrying a Brídeóg (a model Brigid in child form), warding off evil and bringing luck. It's still strong in parts of Kerry.