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discoverkelpies.bsky.social
DiscoverKelpies
@discoverkelpies.bsky.social
280 followers 230 following 99 posts
Imprint of indie publisher Floris Books (@florisbooks.bsky.social).
We specialise in children's books for tots to teens - all with a Scottish twist!
discoverkelpies.co.uk

Note: we do stories, not statues!
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discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Kick off your Christmas shopping at the Scottish Christmas Book Fair!
Discover brilliant books from Scottish publishers, indulge in mulled wine and mince pies, plus some of our lovely authors and illustrators will be there to sign copies!
Schedule here: www.publishingscotland.org/event/scotti...
November 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Brilliant books about bears!
🧸 Abdullah's Bear Needs a Name by Yasmin Hanif & @sophiebenmouyal.bsky.social
🧸 We're Gangin on a Bear Hunt - a Scots version of @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social classic!
🧸 The Island and the Bear by Louise Greig - based on the true story of a bear on a Hebridean island...
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Pop into these Edinburgh bookshops this Thursday to meet @laridonwriter.bsky.social and @elisecillustration.com!
Approx times:
9:30 @edinburghbookshop.bsky.social
10:00 Blackwell's South Bridge
10:30 Waterstones Edinburgh
11:00 @goldenharebooks.bsky.social
11:30 Ginger & Pickles
November 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Wow, Philip Longson's illustrations are so beautiful and dramatic! But beware - Halloween is not a night to trust Fairy Queens, or any other beings in fancy dresses and cloaks!
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 15d
"At midnight, Janet heard the fairy queen's army, marching through all the fairy queen's lands on Halloween night..."
Have you heard the tale of Tam Linn? @laridonwriter.bsky.social's fabulous retelling, illustrated by Phillip Longson, is perfect for children aged 5+
discoverkelpies.co.u...
October 31, 2025 at 10:57 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
"At midnight, Janet heard the fairy queen's army, marching through all the fairy queen's lands on Halloween night..."
Have you heard the tale of Tam Linn? @laridonwriter.bsky.social's fabulous retelling, illustrated by Phillip Longson, is perfect for children aged 5+
discoverkelpies.co.u...
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Looking for something fun to brighten up a bedroom, classroom or library? (Or, like us, an office!)
Don't miss your free pdf poster featuring @elisecillustration.com's beautifully dramatic waterhorse and selkie king from the cover of #CelticFolkAndFairyTales!
discoverkelpies.co.u...
October 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Ooh look! I get to visit some of my favourite #bookshops and #booksellers! And meet the #illustrator whose work I’ve been admiring through many many edits! (And sign lots of shiny books for readers too…) @elisecillustration.com #Edinburgh #CelticTales #signedbooks
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 17d
Did someone say SIGNED COPIES? We're taking @laridonwriter.bsky.social and @elisecillustration.com on a tour of some of Edinburgh's lovely bookshops! Pop in to meet the creators of #CelticFolkAndFairyTales and grab a signed copy!
@edinburghbookshop.bsky.social @goldenharebooks.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 10:14 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Did someone say SIGNED COPIES? We're taking @laridonwriter.bsky.social and @elisecillustration.com on a tour of some of Edinburgh's lovely bookshops! Pop in to meet the creators of #CelticFolkAndFairyTales and grab a signed copy!
@edinburghbookshop.bsky.social @goldenharebooks.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
What are your favourite children's books for #SpookySeason? Head over to our blog to see some of ours, including a sneak peek at Jude Reid's debut (out March 2026!), plus favourites from @laridonwriter.bsky.social, Ross Mackenzie, @alexnye.bsky.social and more!
discoverkelpies.co.uk/2021/10/spoo...
October 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Don't miss @laridonwriter.bsky.social guest post for @booksfromscotland.bsky.social - all about the fascinating connections between stories told in different places across the Celtic lands!
Read it here: booksfromscotland.com/2025/10/celt...
#CelticFolkAndFairyTales #CelticTales
October 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Oooh! Maps and stories! Two of my favourite things!
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 23d
Travel to the Celtic lands with stories of magic, myth and mischief retold by @laridonwriter.bsky.social illustrated by @elisecillustration.com. Discover tales linked to each location on our interactive map, and read Lari's guest post on what we mean by 'Celtic'! discoverkelpies.co.uk/news-features/
October 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Travel to the Celtic lands with stories of magic, myth and mischief retold by @laridonwriter.bsky.social illustrated by @elisecillustration.com. Discover tales linked to each location on our interactive map, and read Lari's guest post on what we mean by 'Celtic'! discoverkelpies.co.uk/news-features/
October 23, 2025 at 8:11 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Happy book birthday to @laridonwriter.bsky.social and @elisecillustration.com - the stunning Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales is out today!
We highly recommend you watch this fantastic video of Lari telling her version of the Manx waterhorse tale: youtu.be/wv6NhdtnPVk
October 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
How DO you escape from a waterhorse? If you listen carefully, you might find the answer in this story! Sit back, relax, and enjoy @laridonwriter.bsky.social tell the story of Kirree, a young girl from the Isle of Man, who found herself confronted by a fearsome Glashtin! youtu.be/wv6NhdtnPVk
October 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
I love telling trad tales out loud! So @florisbooks.bsky.social created a video of me telling the first tale in our Celtic Folk And Fairy Tales collection. Here’s our 12 min 'How To Escape a Waterhorse' with magical artwork by @elisecillustration.com #storytelling
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv6N...
Lari Don tells the story of How to Escape a Waterhorse, from Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales
YouTube video by FlorisBooks
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
The #KelpiesPrize for Writing and Illustration 2026 is NOW OPEN for entries!
We're looking for new writers and illustrators who live in Scotland and want to make a career in children's books. If that sounds like you, head to our website for full details!
discoverkelpies.co.uk/kelpies-priz...
October 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
I've turned my writing shed into a studio so I can film wee clips about my new book Celtic Folk And Fairy Tales to share with you. I've even filmed a full-length telling of one Celtic tale! Doesn't @elisecillustration.com artwork look splendid on the walls? @discoverkelpies.bsky.social #storytelling
corner of a small white room, with printed A3 artwork stuck on walls, including cover image of a book called Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, a map of the British Isles and Brittany, several illustrations including a selkie, 2 dragons, a herd of cows, and a water monster floating on a lake surrounded by mountains. Also visible are a hand-drawn picture of a market stall, a red and black poster for a book series called Spellchasers, and a black phone tripod
October 8, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Balor is not a friendly-looking giant, is he? And the pulley to lift his drooping eyelid is a complex mix of physics and magic (which, to be fair, is one of my favourite story mixtures!) Very impressed that @elisecillustration.com and the folk at @florisbooks.bsky.social got it right! #kidlitart
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · Oct 2
"Balor was huge, twice the size of any other giant. He had one eye much bigger than the other, with a massive heavy dropping eyelid pierced by an ivory ring, linked by ropes to ten more rings in his bristly eyebrow..."
@laridonwriter.bsky.social @elisecillustration.com
discoverkelpies.co.u...
October 3, 2025 at 9:33 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
"The fanged and furry monster looked ferocious, but it didn’t eat people very often. The Afanc only ate people if they annoyed it.
However, it was quite easy to annoy the Afanc..."
How do you annoy this Welsh monster?
@laridonwriter.bsky.social @elisecillustration.com
#CelticFolkAndFairyTales
October 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
"Balor was huge, twice the size of any other giant. He had one eye much bigger than the other, with a massive heavy dropping eyelid pierced by an ivory ring, linked by ropes to ten more rings in his bristly eyebrow..."
@laridonwriter.bsky.social @elisecillustration.com
discoverkelpies.co.u...
October 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by DiscoverKelpies
laridonwriter.bsky.social
This is gorgeous! Fascinating to see how the #selkie girl changed over time. (I only met the final version...) What wonderful work by @elisecillustration.com and indeed the fabulously creative folk of @florisbooks.bsky.social #theevolutionofaselkie #kidlitart #celticfolkandfairytales
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · Sep 26
From first rough to final illustration! We love @elisecillustration.com interpretation of the selkie princess in @laridonwriter.bsky.social retelling of The Selkie Hunter in Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales. What differences can you spot between the first sketch and the final artwork?
September 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Travel to the magical Celtic lands to meet shapeshifting selkies, duelling dragons, and a terrifying waterhorse...
Thanks to @sophieanderson.bsky.social for this brilliant review of Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales by @laridonwriter.bsky.social & @elisecillustration.com
discoverkelpies.co.u...
September 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
From first rough to final illustration! We love @elisecillustration.com interpretation of the selkie princess in @laridonwriter.bsky.social retelling of The Selkie Hunter in Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales. What differences can you spot between the first sketch and the final artwork?
September 26, 2025 at 11:20 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Look who's now on Bluesky! If you are a fan of stories inspired by traditional tales and local folklore, featuring marvellous monsters and clever heroes, give her a follow!
@laridonwriter.bsky.social
laridonwriter.bsky.social Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · Sep 21
I've never taken so long to research and write a book (due to #longcovid) so I've never been so delighted to hold a new book in my hands! I can't wait to share these #CelticTales, and @elisecillustration.com's stunning illustrations, with everyone! I don't have to wait long, it's published on 16 Oct
Shiny book on wooden table, black horse leaping across top of cover, seal wearing golden crown at bottom, wave of seawater curving between them. Title in green foil, centred between the horse and the seal: Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, Magical Stories from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany. Two names in yellow at the bottom of the cover: Lari Don and Elise Carmichael
September 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
discoverkelpies.bsky.social
Only 2 more days until the publication of Abdullah's Bear Needs a Name! by debut author Yasmin Hanif and @sophiebenmouyal.bsky.social! 🧸💛

Thanks to KILTS (Kids' Literature Scotland) for this fantastic review.

Pre-order a copy from the Kelpies website now!📚
September 16, 2025 at 11:44 AM