Lari Don
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laridonwriter.bsky.social
Lari Don
@laridonwriter.bsky.social
230 followers 410 following 48 posts
Children's writer based in Edinburgh. Adventure novels, pic books, trad tale retellings. Passionate re stories, politics, feminism. #longcovid. she/lher
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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
Reposted by Lari Don
pubspotlight.bsky.social
Storytime with author @laridonwriter.bsky.social featuring a tale from one of her wonderful @florisbooks.bsky.social collections youtu.be/wv6NhdtnPVk?...
Lari Don tells the story of How to Escape a Waterhorse, from Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales
YouTube video by FlorisBooks
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Lari Don
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
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
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
laridonwriter.bsky.social
My favourite silver birch, turning to gold. (It’s the tallest tree I can see from my kitchen window, so keeps me connected to the seasons even when I can’t leave the house…) #autumn #Scotland
The top half of a tall silver birch, with leaves turning to yellow, against a bright blue sky. A couple of smaller greener trees to either side. At the bottom of the picture, the roof of a wooden shed. Slicing across the picture, at a gentle diagonal, a couple of telephone wires.
October 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Lari Don
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
Reposted by Lari Don
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
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
laridonwriter.bsky.social
I’m excited about sharing this book (published today!) with you. It contains so many of my favourite things: untrustworthy fairies, battling dragons, shapeshifting magic & strong clever girls who defeat their own monsters. And amazing art by @elisecillustration.com #Celtictales #storytelling #kidlit
a hardback book laid flat on a wooden table. The title of the book, in shiny green foil in the centre of the cover, is Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, and two names at the bottom left are: Lari Don and Elise Carmichael. The cover art is a black horse with wild mane and sharp teeth leaping across the top, a seal wearing a pointy gold crown swimming at the bottom, and a wave of blue and white curving up the left side of the cover, linking them. There is a subtitle in smaller font reading: Magical Stories from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany
October 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Lari Don
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
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Publication day! Time to send these beautiful beasties out into the world! Celtic Folk And Fairy Tales is now available wherever you like to get your selkie, dragon, shapeshifter, monster & changeling tales. The amazing artwork is by @elisecillustration.com #kidlit #celtictales #folklore #folktales
A display of hardback books, four laid flat on a wooden table like tiles, and a pile of five placed on top, in a slightly teetering step fashion. The title of the book, in shiny green foil in the centre of the cover, is Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, and two names at the bottom left are: Lari Don and Elise Carmichael. The cover art is a black horse with wild mane and sharp teeth leaping across the top, a seal wearing a pointy gold crown swimming at the bottom, and a wave of blue and white curving up the left side of the cover, linking them. There is a subtitle in smaller font reading: Magical Stories from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany.
October 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
laridonwriter.bsky.social
I have a fond admiration for plants which are still growing new green, while all the plants around them are turning gold #Edinburgh #cyclepath #determination
close up of a nettle plant from above, with neat pairs of mid green leaves. A new pair of leaves is growing in the centre - tiny, and brighter green three docken leaves, the front one is smaller and still growing, becuase its sides are folded behind it, and it's shaped like a spearhead green ivy leaves, with three newer paler smaller ivy leaves growing in middle. Yellow-brown tree leaf lying on top of ivy in bottom of picure
October 15, 2025 at 9:22 AM
laridonwriter.bsky.social
If you listen REALLY carefully, there are at least four different ways to escape a waterhorse in this tale. But if the waterhorse standing between you and the nearest way, that's when it gets really scary! #waterhorses #stronggirls #folktales
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · Oct 14
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 4:54 PM
Reposted by Lari Don
longcovidkids.bsky.social
👉 Please watch Lives Interrupted to hear directly from young people living with Long Covid. Their voices, with their message, deserve to be heard.
(also on our YouTube)
vm.tiktok.com/ZNdnq5UmG/
#TikTok #CharityFilm #LivesInterrupted
October 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM
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
Reposted by Lari Don
snp.org
No one will care more for this country or its people than the SNP.

Scotland works best when everyone who lives here is included, valued and supported. #SNP25
Graphic with John Swinney MSP speaking at a podium. Text reads: “No-one else will do a better job of caring for this beautiful country and the people who live here — and I mean all the people who live here.” Background is bright pink with SNP and Scottish flag logos at the bottom.
October 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
laridonwriter.bsky.social
enjoying autumn's colours, one leaf at a time #Edinburgh #cyclepath
bright red leaf, lying on paler leaves rounded leaf, bright yellow with green veins, lying on earth and twigs red and yellow leaf, hanging in front of ivy bright yellow leaf, on a twig with a couple of pale green leaves; background of deep green ivy
October 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Lari Don
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
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
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Aha! Lovely to see how Elise Carmichael created our very dramatic Welsh water monster, the Afanc! The early sketches are fascinating, showing how an illustrator uses scribbled words from the written description as part of their process…
#CelticFolkandFairyTales #kidlitart #watermonsters #Afanc
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · Oct 6
"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 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Lari Don
sallyrose.bsky.social
Heartwarming story
folklorewales.com Dr Delyth Badder @folklorewales.com · Oct 5
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.

After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
Tawny owl
October 5, 2025 at 10:48 AM
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Last of the brambles! We have a variety of berries in our unkempt garden (inc goosegogs, tayberries and these teeny tiny brambles) which all ripen at different times, giving me something to harvest and nibble from late June onwards. But we’ve now reached the end of the berries this year...
a dozen small shiny black brambles, in a bright green colander, on a spotty table cloth
October 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
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
laridonwriter.bsky.social
Oooh, what a lovely review, from one of my favourite writers of magic! I'm delighted you enjoyed our #CelticTales, @sophieanderson.bsky.social !
discoverkelpies.bsky.social DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · Sep 29
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...
October 2, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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