Mayken Brünings
@maykenalanna.bsky.social
I write fantasy & speculative fiction for kids. 📚 My blog about Paris & published short stories 👉 https://www.maykenbruenings.com/
Trilingual swimmer 🏊🏻♀️ and SCBWI member. I love cows and Brittany.
Trilingual swimmer 🏊🏻♀️ and SCBWI member. I love cows and Brittany.
Pinned
Mayken Brünings
@maykenalanna.bsky.social
· Oct 18
12yo Charlotte spends alternate weeks with her time protection agent parents in the 16th and the 21st centuries. All is well until it isn't. History goes off the rails, Charlotte is stranded in the past, and a royal princess needs saving. #TimeTravel
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
If any writers would like to be added to my #StarterPack #LunchTimeWriter drop a comment below. I write mostly across the middle of the day. Nice to gather writers together who aren’t early birds. I’m in awe of #5amWritersClub but never manage to write that early.
#WriteSky #WritingLife #AmWriting
#WriteSky #WritingLife #AmWriting
A lunchtime writer starter pack from the brilliant @katesfwriter.bsky.social Please follow and repost if you can #writingcommunity
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM
If any writers would like to be added to my #StarterPack #LunchTimeWriter drop a comment below. I write mostly across the middle of the day. Nice to gather writers together who aren’t early birds. I’m in awe of #5amWritersClub but never manage to write that early.
#WriteSky #WritingLife #AmWriting
#WriteSky #WritingLife #AmWriting
I'm reading my #swimwrite my before diving into revisions, and yesterday I lost the piece of paper with my handwritten notes. (I'm reading during my daily commutes. It seemed practical.) 😥
Starting over again and hoping my ideas will come back.
Starting over again and hoping my ideas will come back.
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 AM
I'm reading my #swimwrite my before diving into revisions, and yesterday I lost the piece of paper with my handwritten notes. (I'm reading during my daily commutes. It seemed practical.) 😥
Starting over again and hoping my ideas will come back.
Starting over again and hoping my ideas will come back.
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Both of my short stories are going to be free this weekend if you're looking for quick reads and like free stuff.
(also they don't have any reviews yet and that's very sad)
(also they're only 99 cents each (or free on KU) if you don't want to wait)
Links in the comments...
(also they don't have any reviews yet and that's very sad)
(also they're only 99 cents each (or free on KU) if you don't want to wait)
Links in the comments...
November 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Both of my short stories are going to be free this weekend if you're looking for quick reads and like free stuff.
(also they don't have any reviews yet and that's very sad)
(also they're only 99 cents each (or free on KU) if you don't want to wait)
Links in the comments...
(also they don't have any reviews yet and that's very sad)
(also they're only 99 cents each (or free on KU) if you don't want to wait)
Links in the comments...
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
A new Greenpeace report shows the G20, responsible for most global emissions, is far off the action needed to keep the 1.5°C climate limit within reach.
Millions of people are already living through worsening climate disasters, from fires to floods to deadly storms.
#COP30
Millions of people are already living through worsening climate disasters, from fires to floods to deadly storms.
#COP30
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
A new Greenpeace report shows the G20, responsible for most global emissions, is far off the action needed to keep the 1.5°C climate limit within reach.
Millions of people are already living through worsening climate disasters, from fires to floods to deadly storms.
#COP30
Millions of people are already living through worsening climate disasters, from fires to floods to deadly storms.
#COP30
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
So #TimeTravelAuthors, if your sales are low or agents aren’t biting, maybe it’s because your work gets too close to the truth and They are holding it back from wider audiences 🤔
Not really. The book gets recalled and pulped due to dangerous content (time travel secrets).
November 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
So #TimeTravelAuthors, if your sales are low or agents aren’t biting, maybe it’s because your work gets too close to the truth and They are holding it back from wider audiences 🤔
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
How delightfully quaint some of these old Devon village names are, their etymologies lost in the mists of time.
November 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
How delightfully quaint some of these old Devon village names are, their etymologies lost in the mists of time.
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
billboard seen in London.
November 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
billboard seen in London.
Almost surreal #swimwrite experience: Reading a scene I wrote set at a swim meet, where MC describes the screaming of the kids during a relay race, only to be timekeeper at a relay race a day later (my ears were ringing).
November 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Almost surreal #swimwrite experience: Reading a scene I wrote set at a swim meet, where MC describes the screaming of the kids during a relay race, only to be timekeeper at a relay race a day later (my ears were ringing).
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 15
[...]
“And what if he hadn’t sent Jacques Cartier off to explore the Gulf of St Lawrence?” I said.
“Then there would be no French-speaking Canada today,” Mom replied.
It was a traditional family game we played whenever one of us asked a “what if” history question.
[...]
“And what if he hadn’t sent Jacques Cartier off to explore the Gulf of St Lawrence?” I said.
“Then there would be no French-speaking Canada today,” Mom replied.
It was a traditional family game we played whenever one of us asked a “what if” history question.
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 15
[...]
“And what if he hadn’t sent Jacques Cartier off to explore the Gulf of St Lawrence?” I said.
“Then there would be no French-speaking Canada today,” Mom replied.
It was a traditional family game we played whenever one of us asked a “what if” history question.
[...]
“And what if he hadn’t sent Jacques Cartier off to explore the Gulf of St Lawrence?” I said.
“Then there would be no French-speaking Canada today,” Mom replied.
It was a traditional family game we played whenever one of us asked a “what if” history question.
Swim meet today was the best!
It's a team meet between clubs, "all categories", meaning we swam with kids my daughter's age and younger.
The atmosphere was great, and we encouraged all swimmers from our club, whether we knew them or not. We were a real team.
Bonus: motivation for my #swimwrite ms. 🏊♀️
It's a team meet between clubs, "all categories", meaning we swam with kids my daughter's age and younger.
The atmosphere was great, and we encouraged all swimmers from our club, whether we knew them or not. We were a real team.
Bonus: motivation for my #swimwrite ms. 🏊♀️
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Swim meet today was the best!
It's a team meet between clubs, "all categories", meaning we swam with kids my daughter's age and younger.
The atmosphere was great, and we encouraged all swimmers from our club, whether we knew them or not. We were a real team.
Bonus: motivation for my #swimwrite ms. 🏊♀️
It's a team meet between clubs, "all categories", meaning we swam with kids my daughter's age and younger.
The atmosphere was great, and we encouraged all swimmers from our club, whether we knew them or not. We were a real team.
Bonus: motivation for my #swimwrite ms. 🏊♀️
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Whoo hoo! All four of my books are currently in the top 100 best sellers in Amazon US for Teen & Young Adult Ancient Historical Fiction! Thank you to everyone who has given my series a chance.
#WriteSky #WritersCommunity #TimeTravelAuthors
#WriteSky #WritersCommunity #TimeTravelAuthors
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Whoo hoo! All four of my books are currently in the top 100 best sellers in Amazon US for Teen & Young Adult Ancient Historical Fiction! Thank you to everyone who has given my series a chance.
#WriteSky #WritersCommunity #TimeTravelAuthors
#WriteSky #WritersCommunity #TimeTravelAuthors
#TimeTravelAhuthors Day 13
Desserts!
They didn't have chocolate at the French royal court yet in the early 16th century (no more than tomatoes), but there was a dessert that King Francis was very fond of: cotignac, a specific kind of quince jelly. Charlotte likes it too.
I have yet to taste it.
Desserts!
They didn't have chocolate at the French royal court yet in the early 16th century (no more than tomatoes), but there was a dessert that King Francis was very fond of: cotignac, a specific kind of quince jelly. Charlotte likes it too.
I have yet to taste it.
November 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
#TimeTravelAhuthors Day 13
Desserts!
They didn't have chocolate at the French royal court yet in the early 16th century (no more than tomatoes), but there was a dessert that King Francis was very fond of: cotignac, a specific kind of quince jelly. Charlotte likes it too.
I have yet to taste it.
Desserts!
They didn't have chocolate at the French royal court yet in the early 16th century (no more than tomatoes), but there was a dessert that King Francis was very fond of: cotignac, a specific kind of quince jelly. Charlotte likes it too.
I have yet to taste it.
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Like a time capsule: a #Roman tile marked with #finger lines, hobnail #shoe prints, #dog's paw prints, and a #stamp of the LEG(io) XIIII G(emina). Tiles with imprints are very common, since tiles were laid out to dry in the open air ahead of firing, where...🧵1/2
#TilesOnTuesday 🏺
#TilesOnTuesday 🏺
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Le 13 novembre 2015, Paris était frappée en plein cœur.
Des vies furent violemment fauchées à la terrasse des cafés, dans une salle de concert, dans l’insouciance d’une soirée ordinaire.
Dix ans plus tard, la France se recueille.
Nous nous recueillons avec elle.
link.europa.eu/frHtNX
Des vies furent violemment fauchées à la terrasse des cafés, dans une salle de concert, dans l’insouciance d’une soirée ordinaire.
Dix ans plus tard, la France se recueille.
Nous nous recueillons avec elle.
link.europa.eu/frHtNX
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Le 13 novembre 2015, Paris était frappée en plein cœur.
Des vies furent violemment fauchées à la terrasse des cafés, dans une salle de concert, dans l’insouciance d’une soirée ordinaire.
Dix ans plus tard, la France se recueille.
Nous nous recueillons avec elle.
link.europa.eu/frHtNX
Des vies furent violemment fauchées à la terrasse des cafés, dans une salle de concert, dans l’insouciance d’une soirée ordinaire.
Dix ans plus tard, la France se recueille.
Nous nous recueillons avec elle.
link.europa.eu/frHtNX
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
What AI creates depends on what humans have already documented, verified, and made available to everyone.
That’s why @wikipedia.org’s role as the backbone of all knowledge on the internet has never been more important. #Wikipedia25
Learn more ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia-va...
That’s why @wikipedia.org’s role as the backbone of all knowledge on the internet has never been more important. #Wikipedia25
Learn more ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia-va...
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
What AI creates depends on what humans have already documented, verified, and made available to everyone.
That’s why @wikipedia.org’s role as the backbone of all knowledge on the internet has never been more important. #Wikipedia25
Learn more ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia-va...
That’s why @wikipedia.org’s role as the backbone of all knowledge on the internet has never been more important. #Wikipedia25
Learn more ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia-va...
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 11
Time slows down when Charlotte travels with a 16th-century royal train (NOT a 🚂 train, but a procession of horses, litters, and pack animals) 220km between two royal palaces.
But time flies when she tries to find a way to save the princess before her recorded death date.
Time slows down when Charlotte travels with a 16th-century royal train (NOT a 🚂 train, but a procession of horses, litters, and pack animals) 220km between two royal palaces.
But time flies when she tries to find a way to save the princess before her recorded death date.
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 11
Time slows down when Charlotte travels with a 16th-century royal train (NOT a 🚂 train, but a procession of horses, litters, and pack animals) 220km between two royal palaces.
But time flies when she tries to find a way to save the princess before her recorded death date.
Time slows down when Charlotte travels with a 16th-century royal train (NOT a 🚂 train, but a procession of horses, litters, and pack animals) 220km between two royal palaces.
But time flies when she tries to find a way to save the princess before her recorded death date.
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
"Between 1919 and 1930, the terms Remembrance Day and Armistice Day were used interchangeably. In 1931 the name was officially changed to Remembrance Day, emphasizing the memory of the war and the soldiers who died in battle, rather than the armistice, which was a political achievement"
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM
"Between 1919 and 1930, the terms Remembrance Day and Armistice Day were used interchangeably. In 1931 the name was officially changed to Remembrance Day, emphasizing the memory of the war and the soldiers who died in battle, rather than the armistice, which was a political achievement"
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
Also, if you'd like to get yourself a copy of Tiny Moments of Joy, you can find it here. (Huge thanks in advance for buying author direct and helping us keep this writing business going.)
www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments...
www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments...
Tiny Moments of Joy | Swashbuckler Press
Delightful moments captured from people watching in a small city in Aotearoa New Zealand.
www.swashbucklerpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Also, if you'd like to get yourself a copy of Tiny Moments of Joy, you can find it here. (Huge thanks in advance for buying author direct and helping us keep this writing business going.)
www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments...
www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments...
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
I've had a pretty busy summer, so I haven't had a chance to properly promote The Spartan Sacrifice. But on November 15th I'll be at Indigo Oshawa signing copies of all my books.
I hope to see you there--they make great Christmas presents for the history fan in your life!
#BookSigning #Writesky
I hope to see you there--they make great Christmas presents for the history fan in your life!
#BookSigning #Writesky
November 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I've had a pretty busy summer, so I haven't had a chance to properly promote The Spartan Sacrifice. But on November 15th I'll be at Indigo Oshawa signing copies of all my books.
I hope to see you there--they make great Christmas presents for the history fan in your life!
#BookSigning #Writesky
I hope to see you there--they make great Christmas presents for the history fan in your life!
#BookSigning #Writesky
#TimeTravelAuthors
What day is it? I had kinda a busy week, let me catch up.
Day 3
If Charlotte could travel forward in time, she'd check if it was true what the time protection agency teaches them about consequences of changing the established timeline. [Spoiler: It might not be.]
What day is it? I had kinda a busy week, let me catch up.
Day 3
If Charlotte could travel forward in time, she'd check if it was true what the time protection agency teaches them about consequences of changing the established timeline. [Spoiler: It might not be.]
November 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
#TimeTravelAuthors
What day is it? I had kinda a busy week, let me catch up.
Day 3
If Charlotte could travel forward in time, she'd check if it was true what the time protection agency teaches them about consequences of changing the established timeline. [Spoiler: It might not be.]
What day is it? I had kinda a busy week, let me catch up.
Day 3
If Charlotte could travel forward in time, she'd check if it was true what the time protection agency teaches them about consequences of changing the established timeline. [Spoiler: It might not be.]