Penny Pepper
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penpep.bsky.social
Penny Pepper
@penpep.bsky.social
UK true socialist by seaside. Author, poet, disability activist whose work explores our stories through provocation, wit, kindness, lately revisiting folk horror. Opinion journo. Novel on subs & new poetry almost. Saucy old punk gal. Cat mum.
Pinned
We're fed up waiting for accessible basics while greed thrives. Housing is never a privilege. #housing #disability #inequality #waiting
🔴 Decent Housing? A Privilege – Especially for the Disabled

"Every man's home is his castle – but what if you just want the basic human right of shelter?" @penpep.bsky.social
Decent Housing? A Privilege – Especially for the Disabled
‘Every man’s home is his castle’ – but what if you just want the basic human right of shelter?
bylinetimes.com
We're fed up waiting for accessible basics while greed thrives. Housing is never a privilege. #housing #disability #inequality #waiting
🔴 Decent Housing? A Privilege – Especially for the Disabled

"Every man's home is his castle – but what if you just want the basic human right of shelter?" @penpep.bsky.social
Decent Housing? A Privilege – Especially for the Disabled
‘Every man’s home is his castle’ – but what if you just want the basic human right of shelter?
bylinetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I shared a little story exclusively with all my wonderful subscribers last week:
'With Thanks to My Paid Subscribers - The Secret in the Shed'
For the price of a coffee a month would you consider being one of my beloved paid subscribers? Thank you for considering this - and I hope to see you there x
November 5, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I'm totally stoked to see I am in the top 40# Rising in Literature on Substack! Thank you to all my lovely subscribers. If you've not subscribed yet please do - it's free or for the price of a coffee you can support me at this challenging time. See you there x
#substackwriter #disabledwriter
November 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
How are you or your group or organisation celebrating UK Disability History Month this year? I'd love to join you - do get in touch x
#ukdisabilityhistorymonth #disabilityhistory #writerslife
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Winds push new voices/
In my summer clung wishing/
And winter moons tempt.
#haiku #poet #disabledpoet #halloween #winter #autumn
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Daring to be me, daring to be heard. And a life of deep collaboration - UK Disability History Month starts 20th November - let's celebrate? #disability #poet #speaker #author #disabled
Who fancies some chatting and sharing with me?!
Evenings darkening and almost November. Which means UK DISABILITY HISTORY MONTH draws close. 20th Nov-20 Dec .I'm available for talks, Q&As, spoken word events, via zoom, or can negotiate for in person if the budget is decent and not too far. x
October 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Who fancies some chatting and sharing with me?!
Evenings darkening and almost November. Which means UK DISABILITY HISTORY MONTH draws close. 20th Nov-20 Dec .I'm available for talks, Q&As, spoken word events, via zoom, or can negotiate for in person if the budget is decent and not too far. x
October 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Proud of this piece. It IS the reality. These "foreign" workers have given me so much when others failed me. #hopenothate #disability #writerlife
🔴 We Are Utterly Reliant on Immigrant Workers – But Who Cares About Reality?

"Politicians in general – and the right-wing ones in particular – rarely have a clue of the realities of frontline work in the broader care industry" @penpep.bsky.social
We Are Utterly Reliant on Immigrant Workers – But Who Cares About Reality?
Penny Pepper shares her experiences of recruiting migrant care workers, who can find themselves enduring exploitation and abuse for their efforts
bylinetimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
A new #poetry adventure? Penny's almost daily #haiku -
You sigh as I touch/
Rippling waves on your fur,/
But dead leaves alarm.
#poet #autumn #wips
October 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Dear friends,
It's my intention to share some of my work directly into my Substack, particularly my fiction. Here is the amazing anthology Elemental, that features one of my stories, Breathe in the Water, which was published last year by the fabulous Breakthrough Book Collective.
buff.ly/5cbM1kD
October 16, 2025 at 10:55 AM
This Writer Hermit is back already..
in a renewed effort to keep in contact with you all, I’m attempting to do a weekly Substack post, even if it’s shorter than my random, larger ramblings! Do come over and join me there, I'd love to have you as as subscriber x
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Substack bubbling, second in 10 days! Weblink shows my current sub-stack, a swirly colourful cover of Elemental anthology with my story in it. #poet #writer #substack #disabledpoet #newstories

pennypepper.substack.com/p/the-writin...
The Writing Hermit Returns
Back Again Already!
pennypepper.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Forgive me for making one final request: your consideration to become a paid subscriber. I’m very grateful for the select few who support me in this way, it really does make a difference, as financial pressures mount up – We can’t always share a coffee, but this is like you getting a drink in x
October 9, 2025 at 10:55 AM
UK National Poetry Day was on 2nd October and I’m delighted to share that another poem, Am I just Your Awkward Mermaid? won a place in the startling poetry zine, Where the Land Forgets Itself. 12 working class writers poems on seaside living. Grab a copy here!
October 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
My latest Substack piece is up for your perusal!
'Happy Hermit: The Tears; The Graft. I’ll Never Stop Storytelling.'
I’m sure that you know me well enough by now to realise I’ll never stop storytelling.
The joy of the creation – it really is like magic. Here it is.
buff.ly/ULHcKlM
October 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Glad it sold out but sad I can't perform now. Poet Town book is however available in Hastings Waterstones! Alt text: picture of the book, swirly white sea spray effect, bold black font that reads poet town, the poetry of Hastings and thereabouts, standing on pebbles, with blue sea behind it. #poets
Join me and other wonderful poets at Lewes Library for their annual National Poetry Day celebrate National Poetry Day with performances from our brilliant new anthology. 'Poet Town' Doors open 6.40pm 2nd October.
FREE BUT YOU MUST BOOK! Lift access available to 1st floor
buff.ly/zWLch7q
October 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
UK National Poetry Day - so I'm delighted to share a peek of a poem that's published now in this startling zine Where the Land Forgets Itself. My poem is Am I Just Your Awkward Mermaid? Standby for reading by 8pm! @poetrydayuk.bsky.social #workingclass #coastallife #nationalpoetryday #disabledpoet
October 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Barmy Harmer #Starmer - cracking cassette boy stuff on the big #Labour let down. #wedemand #disabled #rightsnotcharity
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.

This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
September 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Happy Friday one and all - I have got that Friday feeling. Teaser alert!
Watch this space for news of the novel. It's made its first steps into the world!
#writerslife #happyfriday #hastings #newnovel
September 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Join me and other wonderful poets at Lewes Library for their annual National Poetry Day celebrate National Poetry Day with performances from our brilliant new anthology. 'Poet Town' Doors open 6.40pm 2nd October.
FREE BUT YOU MUST BOOK! Lift access available to 1st floor
buff.ly/zWLch7q
September 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A pleasant surprise in Bexhill on Sea! Copies of the book Poet Town - The poetry of Hastings & thereabouts is being sold in the shop! At the marvelous modernist treasure #Delawarepavilion Proud to be the first poet on its pages! Whoohoo.Can buy everywhere almost! #indiepress
#poets #disabilitylife
September 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Penny Pepper
We are absolutely desperate for support. We’re throwing our own funds into this, giving up our time for free, and running workshops to raise money. But without £5,000, this award won’t happen. If you can give, please do. 🔗
A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine
Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine
shorturl.at
September 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Stunning art work. Good luck Barbara ❤️ I know many great warriors, including my mum.
Breast cancer self portraits - first completed painting.

Today have been doing a lot of painting as its great for taking my mind off things and relaxing.

Got a letter from the GP today saying to contact them for a chat as regards the cancer and how Im feeling etc, which is nice.
September 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Delighted that I’m the first poet in this book, Poet Town: the Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts & first to perform at the launch event, with other poets from our fab creative town Hastings Book Festival 2025. Join us! #poets #hastingsuk #poettown www.hastingsbookfest.org/events/launc...
Launch of Poet Town | Hastings Book Fest
Hastings Book Festival is delighted to launch Poet Town: The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts – it promises to be a magical evening
www.hastingsbookfest.org
September 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I would like to upload mine for review and more... But a bit confused about the process. Is it through @thebrokenspine.co.uk website? @alanparrywriter.co.uk thank you
September 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM