Catherine O'Brien
@catherineobrien.bsky.social
Writer/Scríbhneoir. Gaeilge - gar dod’ chroí 's beimid mar chairde. BOTN’23 nominee @JanusLiterary
BSF ‘23 nominee @BendingGenres
BSF ‘23 nominee @BendingGenres
Hi there, friends and enemies!
I'm back in @bendinggenres.bsky.social and interesting fact I've somehow convinced them to host my eccentric brain five times. Sincere gratitude to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team.
bendinggenres.com/can-a-meteor...
I'm back in @bendinggenres.bsky.social and interesting fact I've somehow convinced them to host my eccentric brain five times. Sincere gratitude to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team.
bendinggenres.com/can-a-meteor...
Can a meteorite collide with a star? It can but it is rare.
bendinggenres.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Hi there, friends and enemies!
I'm back in @bendinggenres.bsky.social and interesting fact I've somehow convinced them to host my eccentric brain five times. Sincere gratitude to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team.
bendinggenres.com/can-a-meteor...
I'm back in @bendinggenres.bsky.social and interesting fact I've somehow convinced them to host my eccentric brain five times. Sincere gratitude to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team.
bendinggenres.com/can-a-meteor...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
"He smiled, made some sounds. When she was leaving, he raised his hand a few inches and almost waved good-bye."
This story really floored me. Extraordinary writing by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social (congrats on the anthology inclusion Claudia!) 💙💙💙
This story really floored me. Extraordinary writing by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social (congrats on the anthology inclusion Claudia!) 💙💙💙
I'm thrilled that my story, "Stroked," will be included in Ghost Parachute's second anthology. Thank you @brettpribble.bsky.social for including me and thank you for your brilliant magazine, a blazing light badly needed now. Lovely art @amymarques.bsky.social
ghostparachute.com/issue/july-2...
ghostparachute.com/issue/july-2...
Stroked — Ghost Parachute
When Fiona was one month pregnant, her father had a massive stroke. He couldn’t move or speak. At three months, she showed him the ultrasound’s gray and white swirls, her baby’s floating body. Her fat...
ghostparachute.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:26 PM
"He smiled, made some sounds. When she was leaving, he raised his hand a few inches and almost waved good-bye."
This story really floored me. Extraordinary writing by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social (congrats on the anthology inclusion Claudia!) 💙💙💙
This story really floored me. Extraordinary writing by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social (congrats on the anthology inclusion Claudia!) 💙💙💙
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
I have a tiny thing in Issue 4 of Poems for Tomorrow (scrolling required). Thanks, editors, for giving it a place to live.
poems4tomorrow.wixsite.com/poems-for-to...
poems4tomorrow.wixsite.com/poems-for-to...
January 24, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I have a tiny thing in Issue 4 of Poems for Tomorrow (scrolling required). Thanks, editors, for giving it a place to live.
poems4tomorrow.wixsite.com/poems-for-to...
poems4tomorrow.wixsite.com/poems-for-to...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Today's shortlisted story is "Because you want to understand, I describe how I once wore suffering on the outside of my body" by @cake-girl.bsky.social. A powerful piece about a difficult topic:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Today's shortlisted story is "Because you want to understand, I describe how I once wore suffering on the outside of my body" by @cake-girl.bsky.social. A powerful piece about a difficult topic:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Today's shortlisted story is "Pattern" by
David Anson Lee. A micro that uses anadiplosis to such great effect:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
David Anson Lee. A micro that uses anadiplosis to such great effect:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Pattern | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Today's shortlisted story is "Pattern" by
David Anson Lee. A micro that uses anadiplosis to such great effect:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
David Anson Lee. A micro that uses anadiplosis to such great effect:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Omgosh!! 😍😍😍
Man, super happy to see MORE HELL in such good company on this Electric Lit list, including alongside @lumchanmfa.bsky.social’s BITTER OVER SWEET!
electricliterature.com/15-small-pre...
@whiskeytit.com
@sfwp.bsky.social
electricliterature.com/15-small-pre...
@whiskeytit.com
@sfwp.bsky.social
15 Small Press Books You Don’t Want to Miss This Winter - Electric Literature
Grab a warm drink and cozy up with these great new indie titles
electricliterature.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Omgosh!! 😍😍😍
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
"‘Did you, did you really allow yourself to love and be loved?’
‘Being in love makes me angry with being me.’"
@catherineobrien.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
‘Being in love makes me angry with being me.’"
@catherineobrien.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
Pretty is Pain
A short story by Catherine O'Brien
www.frazzledlit.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:22 PM
"‘Did you, did you really allow yourself to love and be loved?’
‘Being in love makes me angry with being me.’"
@catherineobrien.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
‘Being in love makes me angry with being me.’"
@catherineobrien.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
“The accident that changed it all happened while the village was asleep…”
Powerful and poignant: this story by @catherineobrien.bsky.social.💙
Powerful and poignant: this story by @catherineobrien.bsky.social.💙
So excited to be part of Issue 4 with my short story 'Pretty is Pain'.
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
January 15, 2026 at 2:38 PM
“The accident that changed it all happened while the village was asleep…”
Powerful and poignant: this story by @catherineobrien.bsky.social.💙
Powerful and poignant: this story by @catherineobrien.bsky.social.💙
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Clara lived her life as a run-on sentence and didn’t tend to embrace commas. At least she didn’t back then.”
There are stories that let you peek into the lives of characters and they feel so real like they could’ve lived next door. This is one of them @catherineobrien.bsky.social in Frazzled Lit.
There are stories that let you peek into the lives of characters and they feel so real like they could’ve lived next door. This is one of them @catherineobrien.bsky.social in Frazzled Lit.
So excited to be part of Issue 4 with my short story 'Pretty is Pain'.
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
January 12, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Clara lived her life as a run-on sentence and didn’t tend to embrace commas. At least she didn’t back then.”
There are stories that let you peek into the lives of characters and they feel so real like they could’ve lived next door. This is one of them @catherineobrien.bsky.social in Frazzled Lit.
There are stories that let you peek into the lives of characters and they feel so real like they could’ve lived next door. This is one of them @catherineobrien.bsky.social in Frazzled Lit.
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
"My routine was designed to be performed to *Highway to Hell* played on a crackly loud speaker. Across the same radio waves, I can still hear my mother praying, but she’s got the wrong idea for what I need."
@amygcb.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/the-balanc...
@amygcb.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/the-balanc...
The balance beam in purgatory is only 4 inches wide
Flash fiction by Amy Barnes
www.frazzledlit.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM
"My routine was designed to be performed to *Highway to Hell* played on a crackly loud speaker. Across the same radio waves, I can still hear my mother praying, but she’s got the wrong idea for what I need."
@amygcb.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/the-balanc...
@amygcb.bsky.social in @frazzledlit.bsky.social www.frazzledlit.com/p/the-balanc...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Damn amazed to be part of this bumper issue of @frazzledlit.bsky.social. They are exceptional humans and editors and champions of barmy minds. Thank you!
There's still life
Flash fiction by Kik Lodge
www.frazzledlit.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Damn amazed to be part of this bumper issue of @frazzledlit.bsky.social. They are exceptional humans and editors and champions of barmy minds. Thank you!
So excited to be part of Issue 4 with my short story 'Pretty is Pain'.
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
January 11, 2026 at 3:36 PM
So excited to be part of Issue 4 with my short story 'Pretty is Pain'.
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
There's a lot of young(er) me in this story that I hope resonates with others.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/pretty-is-...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
And just like that, issue 4 is live!
We are indebted to all our contributors, our readers, and audience. Thanks to the amazing @jmcm.bsky.social
for putting together another terrific and most gorgeous issue.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/issue-4-ha...
We are indebted to all our contributors, our readers, and audience. Thanks to the amazing @jmcm.bsky.social
for putting together another terrific and most gorgeous issue.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/issue-4-ha...
January 11, 2026 at 10:36 AM
And just like that, issue 4 is live!
We are indebted to all our contributors, our readers, and audience. Thanks to the amazing @jmcm.bsky.social
for putting together another terrific and most gorgeous issue.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/issue-4-ha...
We are indebted to all our contributors, our readers, and audience. Thanks to the amazing @jmcm.bsky.social
for putting together another terrific and most gorgeous issue.
www.frazzledlit.com/p/issue-4-ha...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
“Love and the Side Table” by @judydarley.bsky.social is now up!
Art by Dylan Manning
flash-frog.com/2026/01/05/l...
“Love and the Side Table” by @judydarley.bsky.social is now up!
Art by Dylan Manning
flash-frog.com/2026/01/05/l...
Love and the Side Table by Judy Darley
In the evenings, sunset soaks the garden at the back of their new house, shadows pressing their palms against the walls. Eileen likes to stand in the grass barefoot and feel the energy of the day d…
flash-frog.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:24 PM
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
“Love and the Side Table” by @judydarley.bsky.social is now up!
Art by Dylan Manning
flash-frog.com/2026/01/05/l...
“Love and the Side Table” by @judydarley.bsky.social is now up!
Art by Dylan Manning
flash-frog.com/2026/01/05/l...
First acceptance of 2026 is from @bendinggenres.bsky.social
my thanks to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team! I wanted to write something quirky, fun and genre bending and BG was the first and only pub to which I sent it. So grateful it found the perfect home!
my thanks to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team! I wanted to write something quirky, fun and genre bending and BG was the first and only pub to which I sent it. So grateful it found the perfect home!
January 3, 2026 at 12:05 AM
First acceptance of 2026 is from @bendinggenres.bsky.social
my thanks to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team! I wanted to write something quirky, fun and genre bending and BG was the first and only pub to which I sent it. So grateful it found the perfect home!
my thanks to @rgvaughan.bsky.social and all the team! I wanted to write something quirky, fun and genre bending and BG was the first and only pub to which I sent it. So grateful it found the perfect home!
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Was traveling blissfully free of internet and missed the pub date of this. Thanks @thecitronreview.bsky.social for including me in an issue with such fantastic other writers! citronreview.com/2025/12/22/t...
Tomorrow, Tonight
by Tom Walsh Tomorrow, we’ll pull on our boots, roll up our sleeves, and pick through the cinders of the shop where we lathed bowls, clocks, and cradles from redwood and cedar and sold memor…
citronreview.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Was traveling blissfully free of internet and missed the pub date of this. Thanks @thecitronreview.bsky.social for including me in an issue with such fantastic other writers! citronreview.com/2025/12/22/t...
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Grianstad an Gheimhridh: luí na gréine taobh thiar de Chruach na Caoile
December 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Grianstad an Gheimhridh: luí na gréine taobh thiar de Chruach na Caoile
A thread for 2025's publications with thanks to the editors who gave me the opportunity to share my words with the world. Forever grateful 🫶
December 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A thread for 2025's publications with thanks to the editors who gave me the opportunity to share my words with the world. Forever grateful 🫶
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
✨A new episode has arrived!✨
Where does the Time Pirate go on a Friday night? Why, her favorite place, of course!
Watch ‘Episode 3: Le Buffle of ‘The Time Pirate Who Waits Ashore’ to find out more. 🕰️
youtu.be/i8sXqjaTDJo
#thetimepiratewhowaitsashore
Where does the Time Pirate go on a Friday night? Why, her favorite place, of course!
Watch ‘Episode 3: Le Buffle of ‘The Time Pirate Who Waits Ashore’ to find out more. 🕰️
youtu.be/i8sXqjaTDJo
#thetimepiratewhowaitsashore
The Time Pirate | Episode 3: Le Buffle
YouTube video by jenwithwords
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
✨A new episode has arrived!✨
Where does the Time Pirate go on a Friday night? Why, her favorite place, of course!
Watch ‘Episode 3: Le Buffle of ‘The Time Pirate Who Waits Ashore’ to find out more. 🕰️
youtu.be/i8sXqjaTDJo
#thetimepiratewhowaitsashore
Where does the Time Pirate go on a Friday night? Why, her favorite place, of course!
Watch ‘Episode 3: Le Buffle of ‘The Time Pirate Who Waits Ashore’ to find out more. 🕰️
youtu.be/i8sXqjaTDJo
#thetimepiratewhowaitsashore
Delighted to have a short story entitled 'Pretty is Pain' forthcoming in Issue 4 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Delighted to have a short story entitled 'Pretty is Pain' forthcoming in Issue 4 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social
Excited to receive an acceptance from BULL. My thanks to Ben and the editors.
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Excited to receive an acceptance from BULL. My thanks to Ben and the editors.
Delighted that my story 'Hullabaloo!' won Irish Country Magazine's short story competition. It's available in newsagents and supermarkets nationwide from today throughout December.
November 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Delighted that my story 'Hullabaloo!' won Irish Country Magazine's short story competition. It's available in newsagents and supermarkets nationwide from today throughout December.
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
Reposted by Catherine O'Brien
new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )
June 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )