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Hiria Dunning
@hiriadunning.com
230 followers 160 following 680 posts
Claire Hiria Ahuriri-Dunning (she/her/they/them/ia)
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Pākehā
Author, poet, game writer, playwright
Find my work here: hiriadunning.com
Host of #pretendpanel, a weekend writing prompt
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Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 1d
Happy New Year 🥳

#pretendpanel calendar for January just dropped. I'm thinking about Changes, Growth and Evolution this month. How has your relationship with writing changed over time? Looking forward to finding out ✌️
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social JANUARY PRETENDPANEL - Change, Growth, Evolution 2nd: What do you consider to be the beginning of your writing career? 3rd: How has your work evolved in terms of subject matter? 9th: How has your craft evolved lately? (prose, structuring, etc) 10th: How has your creation of main characters evolved over time? 16th: Where do you sit right now with the writing process? 17th: How many drafts, then vs. now? 23rd: Any changes that you later came to regret? 24th: Significant change that was like a huge revelation for you? 30th: What's the next evolution for you as a writer? 31st: Freebie Saturday - post anything! Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
hiriadunning.com
Hello #critterary! Hiria Dunning here. I write and have written an ecclectic collection of things, so I'm sure I'll be able to point at *something* each day. Whether it's the cats that sneak their way into almost everything I write, or something a bit more paranormal ✨️
serraleta.bsky.social Serra Leta @serraleta.bsky.social · 21h
Day 1
It's already that time?! Pretty nervous to be hosting one of these, so I'll try my best 😅

Welcome! Say hi! No AI! Introduce your work, use of creatures, etc. Let's have fun celebrating the Earthly, mythological, and enjoy a chill month together! 🦊🦉🐲

#Writing #WritingPrompts #Critterary
#Critterary - A January writing prompt game. Today's Theme: Welcome Post! Tell us about your use of creatures in your writing! Bottom Tagline: Celebration of all things creatures! Hosted by Serra Leta. Art of a cartoon red fox standing on its hind legs and waving. Background is a leafy jungle.
January 2, 2026 at 2:21 AM
hiriadunning.com
Happy New Year 🥳

#pretendpanel calendar for January just dropped. I'm thinking about Changes, Growth and Evolution this month. How has your relationship with writing changed over time? Looking forward to finding out ✌️
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social JANUARY PRETENDPANEL - Change, Growth, Evolution 2nd: What do you consider to be the beginning of your writing career? 3rd: How has your work evolved in terms of subject matter? 9th: How has your craft evolved lately? (prose, structuring, etc) 10th: How has your creation of main characters evolved over time? 16th: Where do you sit right now with the writing process? 17th: How many drafts, then vs. now? 23rd: Any changes that you later came to regret? 24th: Significant change that was like a huge revelation for you? 30th: What's the next evolution for you as a writer? 31st: Freebie Saturday - post anything! Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
January 1, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
serraleta.bsky.social
Reminder that #Critterary will be starting up tomorrow night! I'll post these around 9PM PST, which is technically 12PM EST, but just works better for me 😅
See you then!!🦊🦉🐲
serraleta.bsky.social Serra Leta @serraleta.bsky.social · 13d
Kinda early, but I know the rest of Dec can get busy for many, & I just finished setting up!

Critterary - a discussion of all real and mythological creatures for Jan! Come yap, post snippets, share some art, etc., will be chill! 😄
#Writing #WritingPrompts #Critterary
#Critterary - A January writing prompt game. A list of daily posts: Welcome Post!, Vampires, Felines, Cryptids, Free Monday!, Canids, Werewolves, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Prehistoric/Extinct Animals, Aliens, Free Monday!, Aquatic Animals, Aquatic Creatures, Reptiles, Spirits, Amphibians, Hybrid Creatures, Free Monday!, Birds, Feathered Creatures, Marsupials, Horsie Creatures, Small Mammals, Humanoids, Free Monday!, Large Mammals, Gods/Demons, Invertebrates, Anything I missed!, Farewell Post! Bottom Tagline: Celebration of all things creatures! Hosted by Serra Leta. Art of a griffin, tiger, wolf, and dragon. Background is a leafy jungle.
December 30, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
pjccahill.bsky.social
#PretendPanel - 26th - more readers, more reviews, more ratings XD In regard to what I can CONTROL: keep at it. Don't let the grind get me down. Take the breaks I need to take.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social DECEMBER - Looking Backward/Looking Foward... December 5th: What are you most proud of from your writing this year? December 6th: What was the most challenging aspect of writing? December 12th: What, if anything, is the lesson you're taking away? December 13th: How would you most like to improve as a writer? December 19th: Is there a tangible achievement you want to reach? December 20th: How would you most like to feel about your writing? December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals? December 27th: Freebie Saturday - post whatever! Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
pjccahill.bsky.social
#PretendPanel - 27th - I love my stories, and I hope you'll love them, too. May they help you feel seen and heard, and give your spark of hope fresh kindling to burn bright.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompts
All buy options: linktr.ee/pjc_cahill
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social DECEMBER - Looking Backward/Looking Foward... December 5th: What are you most proud of from your writing this year? December 6th: What was the most challenging aspect of writing? December 12th: What, if anything, is the lesson you're taking away? December 13th: How would you most like to improve as a writer? December 19th: Is there a tangible achievement you want to reach? December 20th: How would you most like to feel about your writing? December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals? December 27th: Freebie Saturday - post whatever! Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time! Art by Luigiix - cover of "N.I.C.E.F.: Neural-Interface Controlled Exo-Frame" novel. Human eye top left, alien eye top right, title full-center, child facing a riot-police line with a mech bottom left, a Nicef (mech) with a beamsaber bottom center, young woman with half-body prosthetics in a medical cot bottom right. Art by Luigiix - cover of "Demon King Daughter Book 1: Raising the Demon King" by P.J.C. Cahill. This text appears in black, red-outlined text at the bottom of the image. - Top Left (Hideyoshi) is an aged human man with silver hair, a long beard and mustache, and stern features. Top Right is a demon man (Torlash) with long, black hair, tall, thin horns, red-in-black, slitted eyes, and pale gray skin. - Middle of the image shows seven characters. From left to right: 1) Kiseki: (woman) short black hair, pale skin, brown eyes. Wears a gray sweater and black cargo pants. 2) Hasava: tall woman in a black business suit, with a white shirt and black tie. Her skin is pale, her hair long, black, and straight, and her eyes blue. 3) Issei: tan skin, brown eyes, short, brown hair, and a scruffy beard. There's hints of graying in his hair. He wears a brown jacket, a pale T-shirt, and jeans. 4) Seina: teenage girl in a mostly-white Japanese boy's school uniform. She has mildly tan skin, brown eyes, but vibrant green, neck-length hair. 5) Nori: adult woman holding a young child. Nori has sky-blue, short hair, brown eyes, and is wearing a simple white T-shirt and blue pants. 6) Himari: A little girl in a blue dress and shirt, with the same sky-blue hair as Nori. She is laughing happily with her eyes closed. 7) Yuuto: man in a dark dress shirt and black slacks. He is stern and muscular, with sharp features, short, brown hair with signs of gray, and brown eyes. - Bottom, foreground of the image features a mother (Masuyo) and daughter (Kyoka) pair. Masuyo is holding Kyoka on her hip, and they're both smiling happily at each other. Masuyo has neck-length, black hair, a tan skin, brown eyes, and is wearing a black leather jacket over a white shirt, with black pants. Kyoka has very dark, brown skin, short, messy black hair, and vibrantly red eyes. She's wearing a black hoodie, baggy shorts, and puffy white socks sticking out of her simple sneakers.
December 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
rachelbeth99.bsky.social
#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
Can't believe it was another freebie Saturday yesterday at the end of the year, and it's end of December too...
So, with that in mind, please look for me on Medium in 2026 where I will post more of Disney Princess Rewatch starting with Black Cauldron...
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 5d
What a busy time of year, #pretendpanel, but I thank you for being here. While I catch up on your posts from yesterday, you know the drill...

December 27th: Freebie Saturday - post anything!

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 27th: Freebie Saturday! Post anything you want e.g. plug something, acknowledge someone, ask a question Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
cjaralore.bsky.social
#pretendpanel December 27th: Freebie Saturday!

Now that Christmas is over, what are Santa and his reindeer up to? They're on a tropical beach of course!

We had a holiday decorating contest in my department at the library and this was what I made out of colored paper, markers, and tape.
Santa lounging on a tropical beach with coconut juice, a snowman made out of sand, a crab wearing a Santa hat, seashells, and decorated palm trees as his reindeer surf, sail, and parasail. (All made out of paper on a cubicle wall)
December 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
evelynfenn.bsky.social
#PretendPanel
I want to take this Freebie Saturday to thank you to @hiriadunning.com for hosting Pretend Panel and to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy remains-of-the-holiday season and new year when it comes.

Oh, and here’s a picture of today’s sunset. Pretty!
Tranquil sunset picture. Silhouette of hills at the bottom of the image. Lower clouds are grey, with wispy higher clouds glowing pale gold in front of a mostly clear sky. There is also a very bright contrail crossing the image. Taken approx 55 degrees north latitude.
December 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
zofiawarwick.bsky.social
Kia ora! So, I have something relevant for the community at large. Had a perfectly fine interaction with an editor (all completely aboveboard and respectful, etc. etc.) but am wondering how the lot of us with bilingual characters/works get on in relation to publishing.
December 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
september-james.bsky.social
I'm keeping my goals simple. I want to complete draft 2 of book 1. After that to re-outline book three. I'm just not happy with what I have so far, and it's making starting it hard. Hopefully I can start book 3.

#WritingCommunity #WritersSky #BlackWritersSky #PretendPanal #Authors
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 6d
#pretendpanel, it's all good saying what our goals are, but we need to slow down and think through the steps it's going to take to get there. So...

December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026? Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
sasseverett.bsky.social
Hiii just a quick reminder my novella THE HAND THAT FEEDS is 99c over on Smashwords! And my short story LAST VEGAS is FREE! #pretendpanel
www.smashwords.com/profile/view...
December 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
abigailtaylor.bsky.social
Check out my sapphic horror:

"Like Shirley Jackson, Taylor skillfully taps into the unique fears that can arise in domestic spaces...similar to Ken Kesey, she dives into the darker sides of individuals who are pushed to their limits." -Ginger Nuts of Horror
#prerendpanel

a.co/d/bOwwdCO
December 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
vampireantihero.com
Hey, #PretendPanel!

Find out about my writing and artwork on my website! Lemon Balm is available many places. I have freebies to read listed under the Writing tab, and I also offer commissions and formatting services. Working on making some asset packs to sell, as well.

www.vampireantihero.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
eliwoodsgheist.com
Happy #PretendPanel!!

I do so happen to have my debut novel, Bludeye Beach, coming out in a few days...

hookandquillpress.com/our-books/
December 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
hiriadunning.com
Enquiring minds want to know!
tamarasharker.com Tamara S. Harker @tamarasharker.com · 5d
...and B) ask a question: For those of you who have already debuted, what kind of marketing did you do in the run-up to your release date, if at all? Did you do a pre-order campaign? Did you run ads (if so, where)? Did you make a ritualistic sacrifice to the Flying Spaghetti Monster? etc etc.

[2/2]
January 1, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
tamarasharker.com
...and B) ask a question: For those of you who have already debuted, what kind of marketing did you do in the run-up to your release date, if at all? Did you do a pre-order campaign? Did you run ads (if so, where)? Did you make a ritualistic sacrifice to the Flying Spaghetti Monster? etc etc.

[2/2]
December 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
tamarasharker.com
Hi, #pretendpanel -ists! While of course I'd love it if you checked out my pinned post (and maybe take a peek at my freebie!), I mostly want to A) point you at CE Wright's debut epic fantasy "The First Steps of the Path" that came out earlier this month...

www.cewright.co.uk

[1/2]
December 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
cassmorriswrites.com
#PretendPanel Dec 27: The Aven Cycle is still on sale at Smashwords through Jan 1! From Unseen Fire is FREE; Give Way to Night and The Bloodstained Shade are half-off!

www.smashwords.com/books/byseri...
Book cover for FROM UNSEEN FIRE: teal embellishments on a dark background with the central image of a fire in an ancient-style brazier. Text and arrows surrounding: Yearning | Fierce determined women | Elemental magic | Dinner with a side of snark | Cutthroat politics | All this blood | An awful lot of swords. Book cover for GIVE WAY TO NIGHT: purple and bronze embellishments on a dark background with the central image of a temple door surrounded by spooky trees. Text and arrows surrounding: Grouchy + sunshine friendship | Creeply cultists | A siege | Sapphic subplot | Roman ghosts | Bad things happen at the beach | Even more blood. Book cover for THE BLOODSTAINED SHADE: red and gold embellishments on a dark background with the central image of a Roman temple split by blue lightning. Text and arrows surrounding: Chaos unleashed | Reunions and revelations | Weaponized snark | Big Badass Battle Sequence | Heroine's Journey | Sapphic sweethearts | Still just so much blood.
December 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
miwwdu-sitsom.bsky.social
#pretendpanel 27: Thank you @hiriadunning.com for hosting this! It helped me figure out what I want out of and what I need to do for next year for my writing. Whether I'll actually DO it of course remains to be seen.
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 5d
What a busy time of year, #pretendpanel, but I thank you for being here. While I catch up on your posts from yesterday, you know the drill...

December 27th: Freebie Saturday - post anything!

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 27th: Freebie Saturday! Post anything you want e.g. plug something, acknowledge someone, ask a question Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
gunsmile.bsky.social
As I will start marketing my debut novel next month, here are some links and such. First, my author website and blog/newsletter: amshilling.com

Next, my author Instagram: instagram.com/amshillingwr...

Thank you for your consideration! Have an excellent new year! #pretendpanel
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 5d
What a busy time of year, #pretendpanel, but I thank you for being here. While I catch up on your posts from yesterday, you know the drill...

December 27th: Freebie Saturday - post anything!

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 27th: Freebie Saturday! Post anything you want e.g. plug something, acknowledge someone, ask a question Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
paisley-rose.bsky.social
I’d just like to say how grateful I am for everyone who took a chance on my debut novel, LEVEL UP, when it came out a couple months ago. It was so much fun to tell Audrey and Damien’s story, and I hope you’ll stick around for more characters. #pretendpanel

books2read.com/lvlup
Simple illustration of the MCs from LEVEL UP, Audrey (in an oversized sweater and baggy pants) and Damien (in a hoodie and glasses).
December 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
alswrites.bsky.social
#pretendpanel Dec. 27

I'll post my Cat Lover's Bundle on DMs Guild.

I want to write more fiction, but I also found my passion for writing DND and TTRPG materials so I'd like to focus on that too.

That is my cat on the cover :)

www.dmsguild.com/en/product/5...
December 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
alswrites.bsky.social
#pretendpanel Dec. 26. I've kind of already shared my struggles with Imposter Syndrome this year. I think to achieve my writing goals is to be kind to myself and my work, not be afraid to promote my work, find joy, and rest when I need to and give myself grace.
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 6d
#pretendpanel, it's all good saying what our goals are, but we need to slow down and think through the steps it's going to take to get there. So...

December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026? Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
deneoctober.bsky.social
December 27th: Freebie Saturday!

Just want to thank Hiria and #pretendpanel for 2025, and wish you all major success--however you might imagine that--in 2026.

Bring it on, the year of the Fire Horse, and make good with those personal goals!

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
December 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Hiria Dunning
sparrowgg.bsky.social
#PretendPanel

Just to keep those hours of Writing Time dedicated to Writing Time. Incremental progress = progress, and the Muse knows when I'm going to be offering sacrifices...
hiriadunning.com Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.com · 6d
#pretendpanel, it's all good saying what our goals are, but we need to slow down and think through the steps it's going to take to get there. So...

December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#pretendpanel a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social December 26th: What do you need in order to achieve your writing goals in 2026? Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!
December 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM