Shirley-Anne McMillan
@shirleyannemcm.bsky.social
Writer and things.
So sad to hear of the closure of the brilliant Knights Of. Lovely people and excellent publishers.
October 29, 2025 at 11:16 PM
So sad to hear of the closure of the brilliant Knights Of. Lovely people and excellent publishers.
That loud screech you can hear is the sound of a thousand YA writers gear shifting into Middle Grade.
The Children’s Booker prize will tell kids that they matter
The Children’s Booker prize will tell kids that they matter
As the number of children reading for pleasure hits a record low, the new award highlights its importance for wellbeing, and will give away thousands of books
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
That loud screech you can hear is the sound of a thousand YA writers gear shifting into Middle Grade.
Then again, there are worse things happening in the world.
He's doing to the White House what Osama bin Laden wanted to do, and we're all supposed to just sit there and watch?
October 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Then again, there are worse things happening in the world.
I am trying to imagine a reason why no contemporary YA writers from NI were asked to appear in this documentary, or were even mentioned in it. Particularly writers like Sue Divin, whose debut draws on Kevin and Sadie. I don't normally complain about snubs but this one really bothered me.
Did you read the Kevin and Sadie books at school?
One of our own English lecturers, Dr Kevin De Ornellas, is featured in a landmark BBC Radio 4 documentary which explores the legacy of Joan Lingard’s iconic novels.
Listen here from 4pm: https://ow.ly/C3Jh50XfwmH
#WeAreUU
One of our own English lecturers, Dr Kevin De Ornellas, is featured in a landmark BBC Radio 4 documentary which explores the legacy of Joan Lingard’s iconic novels.
Listen here from 4pm: https://ow.ly/C3Jh50XfwmH
#WeAreUU
October 23, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I am trying to imagine a reason why no contemporary YA writers from NI were asked to appear in this documentary, or were even mentioned in it. Particularly writers like Sue Divin, whose debut draws on Kevin and Sadie. I don't normally complain about snubs but this one really bothered me.
Life with an 11yr old boy:
Him: what's this white stuff on my orange?
Me: it's just pith
Him: *uproarious giggling*
Him: what's this white stuff on my orange?
Me: it's just pith
Him: *uproarious giggling*
October 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Life with an 11yr old boy:
Him: what's this white stuff on my orange?
Me: it's just pith
Him: *uproarious giggling*
Him: what's this white stuff on my orange?
Me: it's just pith
Him: *uproarious giggling*
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
Nuala McKeever has just won gold at the IMRO Radio Awards... here is my review of that play - Truth, Love Or Promise - that she performed at 4 Corners Festival this past year! Chuffed! sstockman.substack.com/p/nuala-mcke...
NUALA MCKEEVER WINS GOLD AT THE IMROs... MY REVIEW OF THE DRAMA...
As Nuala McKeever wins the Gold medal at this year's IMPRO Awards for best radio drama... here's my review after one of its runs in the Lyric Theatre...
sstockman.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Nuala McKeever has just won gold at the IMRO Radio Awards... here is my review of that play - Truth, Love Or Promise - that she performed at 4 Corners Festival this past year! Chuffed! sstockman.substack.com/p/nuala-mcke...
Here is a small thing you can for Palestine. Come to our event in Belfast on Saturday. Music, poetry and craic to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians. Please share. Thank you x
October 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Here is a small thing you can for Palestine. Come to our event in Belfast on Saturday. Music, poetry and craic to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians. Please share. Thank you x
I featured on this podcast, the Seed, with the wonderful Manchán Magan earlier this year. I always hoped I'd meet him in real life and we could talk about it, but it was not to be. Please do listen, even to the first half which is Manchán's bit. It's just beautiful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7U...
S5E3 - Irish Roots and Radical Hope with Manchán Magan and Shirley Anne McMillan | The Seed
YouTube video by Pendle Hill USA
www.youtube.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I featured on this podcast, the Seed, with the wonderful Manchán Magan earlier this year. I always hoped I'd meet him in real life and we could talk about it, but it was not to be. Please do listen, even to the first half which is Manchán's bit. It's just beautiful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7U...
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
A poem for National Poetry Day.
October 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A poem for National Poetry Day.
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
JK be like 'I absolutely respect her right to not be a transphobe, but at the same time she totally betrayed me by publicly saying she wasn't a transphobe.'
September 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
JK be like 'I absolutely respect her right to not be a transphobe, but at the same time she totally betrayed me by publicly saying she wasn't a transphobe.'
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
The split in Your Party has broken into the open.
Jeremy Corbyn urges supporters not to donate to the link promoted by Zarah Sultana. Sultana responds calling it a "sexist boys club."
Jeremy Corbyn urges supporters not to donate to the link promoted by Zarah Sultana. Sultana responds calling it a "sexist boys club."
September 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
They didn't even last as long as NI21. Flip sake.
Looks like Your Party have a tiny window of opportunity to decide where they stand on trans issues 🙄. This reminds me of NI21. Can I suggest anarchy as an alternative? I don't mean in a Russell Brand way. More in a 'Let's not totally despair and remember that we can do lots of things ourselves' way.
September 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
They didn't even last as long as NI21. Flip sake.
We're quoting MLK again: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." I think it's time we talked about definitions of 'love' and 'hate' though.
September 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
We're quoting MLK again: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." I think it's time we talked about definitions of 'love' and 'hate' though.
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
Is business that bad Michael? Disgraceful
September 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Is business that bad Michael? Disgraceful
I was at the Trans Day of Remembrance service that Mike showed up to, many years ago. Clearly it didn't make much of an impression. It did on me. I remember how grateful people were that he had been there, how much hope it gave them. I wonder how they're feeling today. I wonder if he cares.
The Health Minister has announced he has asked Baroness Hilary Cass to conduct an assessment of the gender identity services provision in NI.
🔗 www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/health-minister-confirms-assessment-northern-irelands-gender-identity-services-provision
🔗 www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/health-minister-confirms-assessment-northern-irelands-gender-identity-services-provision
September 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I was at the Trans Day of Remembrance service that Mike showed up to, many years ago. Clearly it didn't make much of an impression. It did on me. I remember how grateful people were that he had been there, how much hope it gave them. I wonder how they're feeling today. I wonder if he cares.
Looks like Your Party have a tiny window of opportunity to decide where they stand on trans issues 🙄. This reminds me of NI21. Can I suggest anarchy as an alternative? I don't mean in a Russell Brand way. More in a 'Let's not totally despair and remember that we can do lots of things ourselves' way.
August 31, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Looks like Your Party have a tiny window of opportunity to decide where they stand on trans issues 🙄. This reminds me of NI21. Can I suggest anarchy as an alternative? I don't mean in a Russell Brand way. More in a 'Let's not totally despair and remember that we can do lots of things ourselves' way.
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
Today’s news from Belfast. An actual proscribed terror group supposedly on ceasefire and enjoying the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement, doing actual terror.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/...
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/...
West Belfast UDA orders Catholics out of mixed housing development after tearing up peace deal
The West Belfast UDA has pulled out of a deal to stop attacks on a mixed housing development.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Today’s news from Belfast. An actual proscribed terror group supposedly on ceasefire and enjoying the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement, doing actual terror.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/...
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/...
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
Turns out that AI won't make a picture of Trump being led into hell by Paddington, but they are OK with Paddington leading him into heaven. Paddington wasn't too happy about the arrangement, but that is modern life.
August 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Turns out that AI won't make a picture of Trump being led into hell by Paddington, but they are OK with Paddington leading him into heaven. Paddington wasn't too happy about the arrangement, but that is modern life.
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
I know we're seeing headlines like this all the time, but even if there's only a small chance that the way we're living now could wipe out most of the farms in Western Europe within the lifetimes of our children, we should be screaming it from the rooftops.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds
Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout
www.theguardian.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I know we're seeing headlines like this all the time, but even if there's only a small chance that the way we're living now could wipe out most of the farms in Western Europe within the lifetimes of our children, we should be screaming it from the rooftops.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A week since dad's funeral, two since he died. In the last month I've moved house and been to A&E (I'm fine), left my writing group and been rejected for arts council funding. Not really the summer I was hoping for. * adjusts sails * ⛵
August 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
A week since dad's funeral, two since he died. In the last month I've moved house and been to A&E (I'm fine), left my writing group and been rejected for arts council funding. Not really the summer I was hoping for. * adjusts sails * ⛵
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
And when John Boyne says in his Telegraph piece that writers aren’t meant to “denigrate, insult and push people to a point where those that are emotionally vulnerable might not survive their attacks”, all I can say is that he wrote the words below.
A reminder of John Boyne’s own words and why decent-minded people might not wish to be on a prize list with him. He thinks women who support trans rights are “ready to pin a handmaiden down while her husband rapes her.” No one’s “cancelling” him; we just don’t want to be associated with him.
The full paragraphs for complete context. Tap to see handmaiden part. He mischaracterizes what trans rights mean, then mischaracterizes those who advocate for them as incels, indoctrinated young people, and handmaidens.
August 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
And when John Boyne says in his Telegraph piece that writers aren’t meant to “denigrate, insult and push people to a point where those that are emotionally vulnerable might not survive their attacks”, all I can say is that he wrote the words below.
I do hope when I get cancelled that I get cancelled like John Boyne, repeatedly publishing articles in broadsheet newspapers about how worried I am that free speech is under attack.
August 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I do hope when I get cancelled that I get cancelled like John Boyne, repeatedly publishing articles in broadsheet newspapers about how worried I am that free speech is under attack.
Reposted by Shirley-Anne McMillan
When people ask me if I have any good stories from when I used to interview rock stars for a living my mind often goes a bit blank, and to be honest a lot of it was quite ordinary and unremarkable, but on the other hand there is this.
August 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
When people ask me if I have any good stories from when I used to interview rock stars for a living my mind often goes a bit blank, and to be honest a lot of it was quite ordinary and unremarkable, but on the other hand there is this.