Dr Jean Menzies
@jeansthoughts.bsky.social
PhD in Ancient History 🏺
Nonfiction author for children with DK; YA/Teens with Wren & Rook; and adult with 404 Ink.
Debut medieval fantasy retelling for adults coming May 2025 with Michael Joseph, Penguin.
Agent: Emily Glenister
Nonfiction author for children with DK; YA/Teens with Wren & Rook; and adult with 404 Ink.
Debut medieval fantasy retelling for adults coming May 2025 with Michael Joseph, Penguin.
Agent: Emily Glenister
Pinned
Hi, I’m Jean! 👋
I’m a historian with an interest in ancient women, their sex lives & political rhetoric.
I’ve always been obsessed with mythology & folklore so (surprise) I’ve written a bunch of books on the subject.
I’ll read anything but particularly love fantasy, romance, horror, & nonfiction.
I’m a historian with an interest in ancient women, their sex lives & political rhetoric.
I’ve always been obsessed with mythology & folklore so (surprise) I’ve written a bunch of books on the subject.
I’ll read anything but particularly love fantasy, romance, horror, & nonfiction.
It’s sapphic September so allow me to recommend to you some of my favourite sapphic books in every genre: youtu.be/2jEQQHAW0ww?...
September 18, 2025 at 7:28 AM
It’s sapphic September so allow me to recommend to you some of my favourite sapphic books in every genre: youtu.be/2jEQQHAW0ww?...
Fun fact!
I signed 100 copies of The Lady of the Lake for @forbiddenplanet.bsky.social and you can now purchase one via their website: forbiddenplanet.com/464628-the-l...
I signed 100 copies of The Lady of the Lake for @forbiddenplanet.bsky.social and you can now purchase one via their website: forbiddenplanet.com/464628-the-l...
The Lady Of The Lake (Signed Edition Hardcover)
IN A LAND OF KNIGHTS AND KINGS, TWO WOMEN WILL REWRITE THE RULES OF LOVE AND MAGIC A spellbinding sapphic reimagining of the myths of Camelot from award-winning historian and YouTube sensation Jean Me...
forbiddenplanet.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Fun fact!
I signed 100 copies of The Lady of the Lake for @forbiddenplanet.bsky.social and you can now purchase one via their website: forbiddenplanet.com/464628-the-l...
I signed 100 copies of The Lady of the Lake for @forbiddenplanet.bsky.social and you can now purchase one via their website: forbiddenplanet.com/464628-the-l...
I couldn’t stop thinking about Femgore aka Feminist Body Horror in books and films… so, I filmed an entire video exploring the genre: youtu.be/943MmUuMr2U?...
June 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I couldn’t stop thinking about Femgore aka Feminist Body Horror in books and films… so, I filmed an entire video exploring the genre: youtu.be/943MmUuMr2U?...
New YouTube Video 🧚
This one is for fans of fantasy academia, fairy scholars, and magical libraries: youtu.be/dqg5Wo22q7c?...
This one is for fans of fantasy academia, fairy scholars, and magical libraries: youtu.be/dqg5Wo22q7c?...
May 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
New YouTube Video 🧚
This one is for fans of fantasy academia, fairy scholars, and magical libraries: youtu.be/dqg5Wo22q7c?...
This one is for fans of fantasy academia, fairy scholars, and magical libraries: youtu.be/dqg5Wo22q7c?...
Oh wow what an honour! Thank you so much for stocking The Lady of the Lake 😭♥️
This gorgeous sapphic retelling of Arthurian myth by @jeansthoughts.bsky.social sold out so fast when it came out last week, but now it's back!
Magic, enchantment, power and politics, and two women at the heart of it all: Lady Viviane and Morgan Le Fay...
💙📚🪐
#LGBTQReads
#NewBooks
Magic, enchantment, power and politics, and two women at the heart of it all: Lady Viviane and Morgan Le Fay...
💙📚🪐
#LGBTQReads
#NewBooks
May 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Oh wow what an honour! Thank you so much for stocking The Lady of the Lake 😭♥️
The Lady of the Lake is officially out!
Think medieval fantasy, Arthurian legend, courtly drama, female rage, and sapphic romance.
If that sounds like your cup of tea check it out: scifier.com/the-lady-of-...
Think medieval fantasy, Arthurian legend, courtly drama, female rage, and sapphic romance.
If that sounds like your cup of tea check it out: scifier.com/the-lady-of-...
May 18, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The Lady of the Lake is officially out!
Think medieval fantasy, Arthurian legend, courtly drama, female rage, and sapphic romance.
If that sounds like your cup of tea check it out: scifier.com/the-lady-of-...
Think medieval fantasy, Arthurian legend, courtly drama, female rage, and sapphic romance.
If that sounds like your cup of tea check it out: scifier.com/the-lady-of-...
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
This was waiting for me when I got home today ☺️ happy publication day @jeansthoughts.bsky.social !
#booksky #reading
#booksky #reading
May 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
This was waiting for me when I got home today ☺️ happy publication day @jeansthoughts.bsky.social !
#booksky #reading
#booksky #reading
NEW VIDEO!
Let’s talk about the ancient story that bears a striking resemblance to Cinderella: youtu.be/OUwWN7amSx4?...
Let’s talk about the ancient story that bears a striking resemblance to Cinderella: youtu.be/OUwWN7amSx4?...
May 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
NEW VIDEO!
Let’s talk about the ancient story that bears a striking resemblance to Cinderella: youtu.be/OUwWN7amSx4?...
Let’s talk about the ancient story that bears a striking resemblance to Cinderella: youtu.be/OUwWN7amSx4?...
It’s genuinely heartbreaking to discover multiple of the books you poured your heart & soul into writing have been stolen in order to train generative AI.
Seriously, if you support gen AI you do not support authors. End of.
This has left a pit in my stomach:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Seriously, if you support gen AI you do not support authors. End of.
This has left a pit in my stomach:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
March 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It’s genuinely heartbreaking to discover multiple of the books you poured your heart & soul into writing have been stolen in order to train generative AI.
Seriously, if you support gen AI you do not support authors. End of.
This has left a pit in my stomach:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Seriously, if you support gen AI you do not support authors. End of.
This has left a pit in my stomach:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
New YouTube Video! 💃
I thought I’d give you a tour of my office and desk setup - aka where all the writing happens: youtu.be/fnTcRFELPnc?...
I thought I’d give you a tour of my office and desk setup - aka where all the writing happens: youtu.be/fnTcRFELPnc?...
March 14, 2025 at 8:49 AM
New YouTube Video! 💃
I thought I’d give you a tour of my office and desk setup - aka where all the writing happens: youtu.be/fnTcRFELPnc?...
I thought I’d give you a tour of my office and desk setup - aka where all the writing happens: youtu.be/fnTcRFELPnc?...
Super cool news #BookSky!
For this weekend only @waterstones.bsky.social are running their first ever 25% off preorder event on a wide range of titles INCLUDING The Lady of the Lake. So if you were thinking of preordering from Waterstones… now is the time 😜
Preorder link: tidd.ly/4h5rgYO
For this weekend only @waterstones.bsky.social are running their first ever 25% off preorder event on a wide range of titles INCLUDING The Lady of the Lake. So if you were thinking of preordering from Waterstones… now is the time 😜
Preorder link: tidd.ly/4h5rgYO
February 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Super cool news #BookSky!
For this weekend only @waterstones.bsky.social are running their first ever 25% off preorder event on a wide range of titles INCLUDING The Lady of the Lake. So if you were thinking of preordering from Waterstones… now is the time 😜
Preorder link: tidd.ly/4h5rgYO
For this weekend only @waterstones.bsky.social are running their first ever 25% off preorder event on a wide range of titles INCLUDING The Lady of the Lake. So if you were thinking of preordering from Waterstones… now is the time 😜
Preorder link: tidd.ly/4h5rgYO
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
'All the Violet Tiaras'
by Dr Jean Menzies @jeansthoughts.bsky.social
Queering the Greek Myths
an Inkling from @404ink.bsky.social
is on sale @proud-geek.co.uk
📖 sample to peek inside and share
www.proud-geek.co.uk/product-page...
by Dr Jean Menzies @jeansthoughts.bsky.social
Queering the Greek Myths
an Inkling from @404ink.bsky.social
is on sale @proud-geek.co.uk
📖 sample to peek inside and share
www.proud-geek.co.uk/product-page...
All the Violet Tiaras: Queering the Greek Myths | Proud Geek - LGBTQ+ Bookshop
For a period in time that gave us Sappho and the love affair of Achilles and Patroclus, the Ancient Greek relationship with queer folk is more complicated that at first glance. Tales as old as antiqui...
www.proud-geek.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
'All the Violet Tiaras'
by Dr Jean Menzies @jeansthoughts.bsky.social
Queering the Greek Myths
an Inkling from @404ink.bsky.social
is on sale @proud-geek.co.uk
📖 sample to peek inside and share
www.proud-geek.co.uk/product-page...
by Dr Jean Menzies @jeansthoughts.bsky.social
Queering the Greek Myths
an Inkling from @404ink.bsky.social
is on sale @proud-geek.co.uk
📖 sample to peek inside and share
www.proud-geek.co.uk/product-page...
You probably don’t need me to tell you this but do not trust Google AI (I need them to make this feature optional cause I hate it).
And here is a ‘fun’ demonstration of why - these results are from two different searches made back to back:
And here is a ‘fun’ demonstration of why - these results are from two different searches made back to back:
February 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
You probably don’t need me to tell you this but do not trust Google AI (I need them to make this feature optional cause I hate it).
And here is a ‘fun’ demonstration of why - these results are from two different searches made back to back:
And here is a ‘fun’ demonstration of why - these results are from two different searches made back to back:
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
Lot of British folks thinking that what’s happening in the US couldn’t possibly happen here and I want you all to pay close attention to how people like Wes Streeting are already dog whistling for ‘anti-DEI’ shit.
February 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Lot of British folks thinking that what’s happening in the US couldn’t possibly happen here and I want you all to pay close attention to how people like Wes Streeting are already dog whistling for ‘anti-DEI’ shit.
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
Labour could decide to fend off discontent by actually addressing the crises core to it or they can deflect attention on the far right like so many have before
It's lazy, cowardly and dangerous and that's the status we are asked to support blindly
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
It's lazy, cowardly and dangerous and that's the status we are asked to support blindly
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Group of Labour MPs urge No 10 to be tougher on migration to fend off threat from Reform
Exclusive: Pressure group of MPs from constituencies where Reform came second at last election call for Labour to ‘shout louder’ about action on immigration
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Labour could decide to fend off discontent by actually addressing the crises core to it or they can deflect attention on the far right like so many have before
It's lazy, cowardly and dangerous and that's the status we are asked to support blindly
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
It's lazy, cowardly and dangerous and that's the status we are asked to support blindly
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
There is something in the air this February I swear, because there are so many exciting books coming out that I cannot wait to read!
What’s on your anticipated release list? These are mine.
#BookSky
What’s on your anticipated release list? These are mine.
#BookSky
January 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
There is something in the air this February I swear, because there are so many exciting books coming out that I cannot wait to read!
What’s on your anticipated release list? These are mine.
#BookSky
What’s on your anticipated release list? These are mine.
#BookSky
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
Join a union.
That is all.
That is all.
January 30, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Join a union.
That is all.
That is all.
I will forever take issue with this kind of flippant assessment of sexual violence in Ancient Greece - nowhere else is this logic used even in jest. The gods did heinous, violent, and just absurd things all of the time - yet do we extrapolate that the Greeks considered those things sanctioned? No.
January 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I will forever take issue with this kind of flippant assessment of sexual violence in Ancient Greece - nowhere else is this logic used even in jest. The gods did heinous, violent, and just absurd things all of the time - yet do we extrapolate that the Greeks considered those things sanctioned? No.
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
"If you're interested in antiquity and mythology ... this is really important background to have."
Is it dead white men all the way down? Not quite. Thank you,
@jeansthoughts.bsky.social, for featuring Donna Zuckerberg's Not All Dead White Men in your latest video!
Read: tinyurl.com/2ur6chs2
Is it dead white men all the way down? Not quite. Thank you,
@jeansthoughts.bsky.social, for featuring Donna Zuckerberg's Not All Dead White Men in your latest video!
Read: tinyurl.com/2ur6chs2
Do you know what you need?
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
January 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
"If you're interested in antiquity and mythology ... this is really important background to have."
Is it dead white men all the way down? Not quite. Thank you,
@jeansthoughts.bsky.social, for featuring Donna Zuckerberg's Not All Dead White Men in your latest video!
Read: tinyurl.com/2ur6chs2
Is it dead white men all the way down? Not quite. Thank you,
@jeansthoughts.bsky.social, for featuring Donna Zuckerberg's Not All Dead White Men in your latest video!
Read: tinyurl.com/2ur6chs2
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
Loved Jean’s description of what reading Hellebore feels like: squeezing through a tiny church window of folk horror and occult themes and suddenly finding yourself in a massive cathedral.
Thank you so much! 🖤
Thank you so much! 🖤
Do you know what you need?
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
January 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Loved Jean’s description of what reading Hellebore feels like: squeezing through a tiny church window of folk horror and occult themes and suddenly finding yourself in a massive cathedral.
Thank you so much! 🖤
Thank you so much! 🖤
Do you know what you need?
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
January 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Do you know what you need?
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
Some niche aka super specific nonfiction books!
And luckily for you I’ve got some recommendations: youtu.be/Rb-CLo4Q6H0?...
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
It is the last day the Save the Latin Excellence Programme Petition is open. It needs only 5 signatures to 2,800. Please Share and sign at chng.it/tSYnmxZ4Rd
Sign the Petition
Save the Latin Excellence Programme - keep teaching Latin in state schools
chng.it
January 16, 2025 at 7:17 AM
It is the last day the Save the Latin Excellence Programme Petition is open. It needs only 5 signatures to 2,800. Please Share and sign at chng.it/tSYnmxZ4Rd
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
Roman religion had distinct religious rituals, practices, festivals, and deities. @aimeehindsscott.bsky.social will lead an 8-week online course from 30th Jan at 7.30pm (GMT). Learn about Roman gods, ritual, imperial cult & more
Info here: helenmcveigh.co.uk/product/romanreligion
#Ancientbluesky 🏺📚
Info here: helenmcveigh.co.uk/product/romanreligion
#Ancientbluesky 🏺📚
January 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Roman religion had distinct religious rituals, practices, festivals, and deities. @aimeehindsscott.bsky.social will lead an 8-week online course from 30th Jan at 7.30pm (GMT). Learn about Roman gods, ritual, imperial cult & more
Info here: helenmcveigh.co.uk/product/romanreligion
#Ancientbluesky 🏺📚
Info here: helenmcveigh.co.uk/product/romanreligion
#Ancientbluesky 🏺📚
Reposted by Dr Jean Menzies
🏺 It’s really cool that a field which is has become basically impossible to be part of as an immigrant due to low wages and frankly a lack of care from too many citizen practitioners is now also lending credence to anti-immigrant rhetoric in an already hostile country.
I didn't think it could get worse.
It got worse. 😫
"#Stonehenge was built to unify ancient Britons during a “legitimation crisis” caused by the migration of people from mainland Europe, researchers have suggested."
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
#Archaeology
It got worse. 😫
"#Stonehenge was built to unify ancient Britons during a “legitimation crisis” caused by the migration of people from mainland Europe, researchers have suggested."
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
#Archaeology
Why Stonehenge was ‘ultimately a failure’ in striking new theory on its origins
Stonehenge may have served a political purpose for prehistoric Britons, research suggests
www.independent.co.uk
January 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🏺 It’s really cool that a field which is has become basically impossible to be part of as an immigrant due to low wages and frankly a lack of care from too many citizen practitioners is now also lending credence to anti-immigrant rhetoric in an already hostile country.