Tolka
@tolkajournal.bsky.social
Literary journal of formally promiscuous non-fiction.
Publishing essays, memoir, autofiction and the overflow.
Supported by the Arts Council.
tolkajournal.org
Publishing essays, memoir, autofiction and the overflow.
Supported by the Arts Council.
tolkajournal.org
Pinned
Tolka
@tolkajournal.bsky.social
· Oct 2
🔥❤️ Tolka Issue Ten ❤️🔥
We're delighted to unveil the line up for our tenth issue!
This issue will publish on 10 November and launch on Friday 5 December.
You can pre-order the issue here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop/p/issue...
We're delighted to unveil the line up for our tenth issue!
This issue will publish on 10 November and launch on Friday 5 December.
You can pre-order the issue here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop/p/issue...
‘Here was youth in all its undying glory: rude red health, perverse and powerful, and dumb, so dumb, dumb as shit, really.’
Sean Tanner’s ‘How Soon Unaccountable’ — first published in Issue 7 — is now available to read on our website. www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
Sean Tanner’s ‘How Soon Unaccountable’ — first published in Issue 7 — is now available to read on our website. www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
How Soon Unaccountable — TOLKA
by Sean Tanner
www.tolkajournal.org
November 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
‘Here was youth in all its undying glory: rude red health, perverse and powerful, and dumb, so dumb, dumb as shit, really.’
Sean Tanner’s ‘How Soon Unaccountable’ — first published in Issue 7 — is now available to read on our website. www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
Sean Tanner’s ‘How Soon Unaccountable’ — first published in Issue 7 — is now available to read on our website. www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
Reposted by Tolka
So pleased @ronanhession.bsky.social has included Lalla Romano's In Farthest Seas in the Irish Times' Books of the Year 2025!
Rónán also reviewed the book in September, calling it "Autofiction at its most elegant" and a "beautiful translation" 🙌
@pushkinpress.com
Rónán also reviewed the book in September, calling it "Autofiction at its most elegant" and a "beautiful translation" 🙌
@pushkinpress.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
So pleased @ronanhession.bsky.social has included Lalla Romano's In Farthest Seas in the Irish Times' Books of the Year 2025!
Rónán also reviewed the book in September, calling it "Autofiction at its most elegant" and a "beautiful translation" 🙌
@pushkinpress.com
Rónán also reviewed the book in September, calling it "Autofiction at its most elegant" and a "beautiful translation" 🙌
@pushkinpress.com
Reposted by Tolka
an extract from @autreauxp.bsky.social 's L'Époux in @tolkajournal.bsky.social no. 10
November 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
an extract from @autreauxp.bsky.social 's L'Époux in @tolkajournal.bsky.social no. 10
We can’t stop, won’t stop launching this issue!
Join us for ‘Deleted Scenes’ - a London celebration of Issue 10, hosted by the brilliant Paul Jonathan.
December 10th
Greek st, Soho
6pm
Join us for ‘Deleted Scenes’ - a London celebration of Issue 10, hosted by the brilliant Paul Jonathan.
December 10th
Greek st, Soho
6pm
November 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We can’t stop, won’t stop launching this issue!
Join us for ‘Deleted Scenes’ - a London celebration of Issue 10, hosted by the brilliant Paul Jonathan.
December 10th
Greek st, Soho
6pm
Join us for ‘Deleted Scenes’ - a London celebration of Issue 10, hosted by the brilliant Paul Jonathan.
December 10th
Greek st, Soho
6pm
Some stunning action shots from our Issue Ten event last night at @gloucesterroadbks.bsky.social! Thanks to Joe and Libby for hosting!
November 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Some stunning action shots from our Issue Ten event last night at @gloucesterroadbks.bsky.social! Thanks to Joe and Libby for hosting!
Reposted by Tolka
A future Iran where men are subjugated by women; a wartime love story, where "every woman ought to feel proud" if an SS officer gets her pregnant; a dying ferryman with memories of Edward G Robinson; and a submerged Netherlands ("4 life jackets for the price of 3!").
Me on new translated fiction:
Me on new translated fiction:
The best recent translated fiction – review roundup
The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten; Woman in the Pillory by Brigitte Reimann; Iran+100, edited by various; Sea Now by Eva Meijer
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
A future Iran where men are subjugated by women; a wartime love story, where "every woman ought to feel proud" if an SS officer gets her pregnant; a dying ferryman with memories of Edward G Robinson; and a submerged Netherlands ("4 life jackets for the price of 3!").
Me on new translated fiction:
Me on new translated fiction:
Reposted by Tolka
Sweating at Heathrow border control because I’ve swallowed 15 copies of uncut Intermezzo
Sally Rooney's books may be pulled off UK shelves due to her support for Palestine Action group
The author said it was “unclear” whether any UK company can make payments to her.
www.thejournal.ie
November 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Sweating at Heathrow border control because I’ve swallowed 15 copies of uncut Intermezzo
You can listen back to our wonderful Issue Ten contributors, Wendy Erskine and John Patrick McHugh, who were on Arena last night! www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Tolka - Issue Ten
Wendy Erskine and John Patrick McHugh discuss the 10th issue of Tolka.
www.rte.ie
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
You can listen back to our wonderful Issue Ten contributors, Wendy Erskine and John Patrick McHugh, who were on Arena last night! www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
On RTÉ Arena tonight, @rickoshea.bsky.social will be talking to Tolka Issue Ten contributors @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social & John Patrick McHugh, celebrating five years of Tolka!
Tune in from 7pm, or listen back: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/
Tune in from 7pm, or listen back: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
On RTÉ Arena tonight, @rickoshea.bsky.social will be talking to Tolka Issue Ten contributors @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social & John Patrick McHugh, celebrating five years of Tolka!
Tune in from 7pm, or listen back: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/
Tune in from 7pm, or listen back: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/
Reposted by Tolka
I'm looking forward to speaking to the @tolkajournal.bsky.social editors in @molimuseum.bsky.social on Friday December 5th! I'll be asking them about their experiences of making the first ten issues of one of the best literary journals around. Free booking link below.
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I'm looking forward to speaking to the @tolkajournal.bsky.social editors in @molimuseum.bsky.social on Friday December 5th! I'll be asking them about their experiences of making the first ten issues of one of the best literary journals around. Free booking link below.
🎫 Tickets are live 🎫
We're delighted to be part of the December First Fridays at @molimuseum.bsky.social – talking to @groenbot.bsky.social Groenland about the art of editing, followed by readings from our stellar Issue Ten contributors!
moli.ie/events/first...
We're delighted to be part of the December First Fridays at @molimuseum.bsky.social – talking to @groenbot.bsky.social Groenland about the art of editing, followed by readings from our stellar Issue Ten contributors!
moli.ie/events/first...
First Fridays
moli.ie
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
🎫 Tickets are live 🎫
We're delighted to be part of the December First Fridays at @molimuseum.bsky.social – talking to @groenbot.bsky.social Groenland about the art of editing, followed by readings from our stellar Issue Ten contributors!
moli.ie/events/first...
We're delighted to be part of the December First Fridays at @molimuseum.bsky.social – talking to @groenbot.bsky.social Groenland about the art of editing, followed by readings from our stellar Issue Ten contributors!
moli.ie/events/first...
Reposted by Tolka
We’re very excited to be part of the very first Dublin Small Press Fair kicking off this Friday!
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We’re very excited to be part of the very first Dublin Small Press Fair kicking off this Friday!
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
We’re very excited to be part of the very first Dublin Small Press Fair kicking off this Friday!
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We’re very excited to be part of the very first Dublin Small Press Fair kicking off this Friday!
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
Find us there as part of Leabharlann Beag — for sale alongside dozens of other brilliant magazines, journals, zines and books from small presses ⭐️
dublinsmallpressfair.com
Reposted by Tolka
Godrevy Lighthouse of To the Lighthouse fame (I know Woolf transplanted it to Scotland don’t @ me)
November 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Godrevy Lighthouse of To the Lighthouse fame (I know Woolf transplanted it to Scotland don’t @ me)
Reposted by Tolka
We're launching Issue 10 at @molimuseum.bsky.social First Fridays on the eve of 5 December 🎺
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
We're launching Issue 10 at @molimuseum.bsky.social First Fridays on the eve of 5 December 🎺
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
We're launching Issue 10 at @molimuseum.bsky.social First Fridays on the eve of 5 December 🎺
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
We're launching Issue 10 at @molimuseum.bsky.social First Fridays on the eve of 5 December 🎺
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
Featuring an editorial conversation, and readings from seven amazing contributors 🔥
Time tbc, and registration will open soon 👀
Come for Edna O'Brien's hair, stay for Colin Barrett and his KitKat.
Steve Pyke's pictures of Irish writers in @theguardian.com, featuring @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social, Edna O'Brien, me, @lucycaldwell.bsky.social, Glenn Patterson, Joseph O'Connor, @felispeaks.bsky.social, Colin Barrett, @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social & Iris Murdoch. www.theguardian.com/books/galler...
The wild old wicked gang: great Irish writers – in pictures
Edna O’Brien on her sofa, Joseph O’Connor in his garden, Seamus Heaney surrounded by books … British photographer Steve Pyke on capturing the greats of Irish literature
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Come for Edna O'Brien's hair, stay for Colin Barrett and his KitKat.
Reposted by Tolka
November 18th. Have yourself a weird and upsetting Calculation Of Volume Day.
November 18, 2025 at 9:27 AM
November 18th. Have yourself a weird and upsetting Calculation Of Volume Day.
Reposted by Tolka
In honour of the eighteenth of November, here's my recent @irishtimes.com interview with Solvej Balle about seven books on the subject of being stuck in today's date.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Solvej Balle: ‘I thought that if I started to write this, I would spoil it’
Solvej Balle’s near-40-year project, On the Calculation of Volume, seems both outside time and yet immediately relevant
www.irishtimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:28 AM
In honour of the eighteenth of November, here's my recent @irishtimes.com interview with Solvej Balle about seven books on the subject of being stuck in today's date.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Tolka
We lucky folk are hosting the UK launch of the brand new @tolkajournal.bsky.social on November 27th. Readings & discussion from Polly Barton, Ralf Webb, Chloé Duane and Liam Harrison. Step this way for tickets: hdfst.uk/e141326
November 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM
We lucky folk are hosting the UK launch of the brand new @tolkajournal.bsky.social on November 27th. Readings & discussion from Polly Barton, Ralf Webb, Chloé Duane and Liam Harrison. Step this way for tickets: hdfst.uk/e141326
Reposted by Tolka
Reposted by Tolka
Read Palestine Week is coming up on 29 November-December 5.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
Join READ PALESTINE WEEK November 29-December 5. This year, with a special focus on raising funds for Palestinian writers in Gaza.
publishersforpalestine.org/2025/11/11/j...
publishersforpalestine.org/2025/11/11/j...
Join READ PALESTINE WEEK 2025
Join us for this year’s READ PALESTINE WEEK, coming November 29-December 5.
publishersforpalestine.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Read Palestine Week is coming up on 29 November-December 5.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
We had a lot of fun yesterday at the Bath Indie Book Fair! Lovely to see the work of so many innovative and inspiring publishers
November 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
We had a lot of fun yesterday at the Bath Indie Book Fair! Lovely to see the work of so many innovative and inspiring publishers
"I ignored them for months, but the paranormal investigators insisted on my attention."
'Ghost-bait' by Maija Makela, first published in Issue Nine, is available to read our website 👻 www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
'Ghost-bait' by Maija Makela, first published in Issue Nine, is available to read our website 👻 www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
Ghost-bait — TOLKA
by Maija Makela
www.tolkajournal.org
November 9, 2025 at 8:59 AM
"I ignored them for months, but the paranormal investigators insisted on my attention."
'Ghost-bait' by Maija Makela, first published in Issue Nine, is available to read our website 👻 www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
'Ghost-bait' by Maija Makela, first published in Issue Nine, is available to read our website 👻 www.tolkajournal.org/read-online/...
Reposted by Tolka
🪩Our tenth issue is here 🪩
It is chock full of incredible writing and we can’t wait for you to read it 🩶
Pre-orders will start shipping from Monday and we are launching on Friday 5 December at @molimuseum.bsky.social — more details very soon 🎈 You can pre-order here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop
It is chock full of incredible writing and we can’t wait for you to read it 🩶
Pre-orders will start shipping from Monday and we are launching on Friday 5 December at @molimuseum.bsky.social — more details very soon 🎈 You can pre-order here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
🪩Our tenth issue is here 🪩
It is chock full of incredible writing and we can’t wait for you to read it 🩶
Pre-orders will start shipping from Monday and we are launching on Friday 5 December at @molimuseum.bsky.social — more details very soon 🎈 You can pre-order here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop
It is chock full of incredible writing and we can’t wait for you to read it 🩶
Pre-orders will start shipping from Monday and we are launching on Friday 5 December at @molimuseum.bsky.social — more details very soon 🎈 You can pre-order here: www.tolkajournal.org/shop