Rachel Franks @cfwriter.bsky.social reviews ‘Outrageous Fortunes: The Adventures of Mary Fortune, Crime-Writer, and Her Criminal Son’ by Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex @lucysussex.bsky.social La Trobe University Press www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Victoria M. Nagy reviews 'An Uncommon Hangman: The Life and Deaths of Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard' by Rachel Franks @cfwriter.bsky.social UNSW Press @newsouthpublishing.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/1031...

A beautiful silk floral tie, a new acquisition, with a grey pinstripe suit. It feels like a very speakeasy look today.

I’d like you to meet Gertrude aka Draco Aethiopicus. She’s from Ulyssis Aldrovandi's "Historiae Serpentum et Draconum” - basically A Handy Guide to Serpents and Dragons - of 1640. I’m grateful to Sydney’s best tattoo artist Megan Oliver, for her attention to detail and hours of patient work.

This tie is wildly feminist and over the top in its display of gold, while screaming something unintelligible from the 1970s. And I am here for it.

When it’s a Saturday night and you want to wear a low-cut evening dress, but you’re a woman with purpose and you also want pockets.

Blonde.

Sometimes I feel the need to remind an otherwise bland Tuesday morning that “I am here”. So, here’s some outrageous vintage gold Italian silk.

All tied up … a few of my favourite ties from the last couple of weeks.

“Franks’ engaging, vivid and energetic narrative of Howard is told through the cases of those [he hanged].” A new review of “An Uncommon Hangman”, I’m grateful to Dr Victoria Nagy for a generous review (Aus Historical Studies), and capturing perfectly what I aimed for in telling Nosey Bob’s story.

It’s high drama on an inner-city street in Sydney this morning …

Does @susiedent.com have a suitable word … ?

In 2024, I started wearing ties again. Here are a few of my favourites … I’m so grateful for all the kind comments (and for all the ties that people gifted me throughout the year). Wishing you all the very best for 2025. xx

Starting Jan 1, I will be posting here and in other places Victorian engravings (lurid optional), and quotes from this woman, the subject of a co-written biography. She was one of the first women to write detective fiction, and led a wild bohemian life, including committing bigamy

It’s Boxing Day, the day when I try and equal my personal best of 5m of breaststroke (think determination rather than style). It’s also the day of entering that weird liminal space where I’m not sure if I should be eating leftover Christmas snacks or saving myself for fresh New Year’s Eve snacks.

Cards from friends, something festive to drink and a few fairy lights … Merry Christmas everyone.

I’m enjoying my ficus plant’s wild double life as a flamboyant hairstyle.

Just in case Santa is real, I thought I should have something appropriate on hand in case the big fella is a bit thirsty on Christmas Eve.

On a very hot day in Sydney, the Library still looks stylish.

The sky over the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Is it supposed to reach 32 degrees in Sydney today? Yes. Is it a big day in Library Land and so entirely appropriate to wear my favourite vintage library-themed tie? Also yes.

It’s the 1st of December and the Christmas tree is up … This year I’ve gone for understated decorations with a ridiculous number of twinkle lights.

In between the sessions of chaos today: a friend gave me a green tea and I spent some time reflecting at the ANZAC Memorial.

Another busy week ahead, but I think it will be difficult to top this highlight from last Wednesday: the launch of Shady Cosgrove’s new book “Flight”.

When you’re an Emergency +1 and you end up at a Matt Maltese concert. Quite a plot twist for a Friday night.

Last night I went and saw “The Return”, a retelling of Homer’s “Odyssey”. The film stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche and is very good (if a little gory). But, I’m still recovering from the comment made by a 20-something as leaving the cinema: ‘Yeah, I like the prequel with Brad Pitt better.’

There are many benefits to working in libraries: great people, fabulous books, and gorgeous ladders. Many thanks to colleague and friend Joy M Lai for this “Librarian on a Ladder” portrait (this level of whimsy feels like a career achievement).