Anna Benn
@annanore.bsky.social
Writer, editor, and erstwhile shieldmaiden living in the West of Ireland. Proponent of the Oxford comma.
Reposted by Anna Benn
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
October 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
"We call prose “purple” because we’ve gotten too used to prose without any color at all." @alixeharrow.bsky.social has summed up wonderfully multiple different unsettlednesses that have been eating away at the back of my mind.
wrote a little essay about prose, 90s historical romances, and why fascists love AI so much 💕
subscribe to my newsletter to enter a giveaway for a physical arc of the everlasting!
buttondown.com/alixeharrow#...
subscribe to my newsletter to enter a giveaway for a physical arc of the everlasting!
buttondown.com/alixeharrow#...
September 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
"We call prose “purple” because we’ve gotten too used to prose without any color at all." @alixeharrow.bsky.social has summed up wonderfully multiple different unsettlednesses that have been eating away at the back of my mind.
If you see this, quote with the energy you bring to Bluesky.
September 16, 2025 at 11:35 AM
If you see this, quote with the energy you bring to Bluesky.
Reposted by Anna Benn
It's the Narratess Indie Sale this weekend! Browse 300+ discounted or free sci-fi, fantasy, and horror ebooks at https://indiebook.sale/
My novel THE MISCHIEVOUS LETTERS OF THE MARQUISE DE Q is $0.99. It's a bisexual romance about solving problems with polyamory and murder!
My novel THE MISCHIEVOUS LETTERS OF THE MARQUISE DE Q is $0.99. It's a bisexual romance about solving problems with polyamory and murder!
August 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It's the Narratess Indie Sale this weekend! Browse 300+ discounted or free sci-fi, fantasy, and horror ebooks at https://indiebook.sale/
My novel THE MISCHIEVOUS LETTERS OF THE MARQUISE DE Q is $0.99. It's a bisexual romance about solving problems with polyamory and murder!
My novel THE MISCHIEVOUS LETTERS OF THE MARQUISE DE Q is $0.99. It's a bisexual romance about solving problems with polyamory and murder!
Reposted by Anna Benn
If you're in Ireland, please fill out this public consultation about the future of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, the best thing that's happened to Irish artists in a very long time. We need it to continue.
ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...
ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...
August 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
If you're in Ireland, please fill out this public consultation about the future of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, the best thing that's happened to Irish artists in a very long time. We need it to continue.
ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...
ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...
Reposted by Anna Benn
are you tired of "dark academia" that is neither dark nor academic?? do you want gothic, folkloric horror in a wonderfully specific college setting???? THE BEWITCHING is here for you!
THE BEWITCHING is out today. A tale of supernatural suspense across time, from Mexico in 1908 to Massachusetts in the 1990s.
"In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s sure hands, every uncovered secret is fraught with intrigue and creeping horror.”—Tananarive Due
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760756...
"In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s sure hands, every uncovered secret is fraught with intrigue and creeping horror.”—Tananarive Due
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760756...
July 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
are you tired of "dark academia" that is neither dark nor academic?? do you want gothic, folkloric horror in a wonderfully specific college setting???? THE BEWITCHING is here for you!
Reposted by Anna Benn
So, I think it's time I begin, in detailed specifics, talking about the mess that is Unbound / Boundless as a book publisher, in essence stealing most of a years royalties from me and many other authors, as a result of poor financial decisions, and legal BS.
Please read and share this thread.
Please read and share this thread.
May 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
So, I think it's time I begin, in detailed specifics, talking about the mess that is Unbound / Boundless as a book publisher, in essence stealing most of a years royalties from me and many other authors, as a result of poor financial decisions, and legal BS.
Please read and share this thread.
Please read and share this thread.
I had a brilliant time ringing in the @ilfdublin.bsky.social at Merrion Square over the weekend. So many savvy speakers giving us the inside scoop on publishing, book tents, and of course we couldn't have asked for better weather!
May 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I had a brilliant time ringing in the @ilfdublin.bsky.social at Merrion Square over the weekend. So many savvy speakers giving us the inside scoop on publishing, book tents, and of course we couldn't have asked for better weather!
Reposted by Anna Benn
April is full of fab new Irish children's books. Check out the @irishkidsbooks.bsky.social posters for some of our favourites for all ages.
Designed by @bexsheridan.bsky.social
#DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
The posters can be downloaded free from discoveririshkidsbooks.ie/new-irish-ch...
Please share!
Designed by @bexsheridan.bsky.social
#DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
The posters can be downloaded free from discoveririshkidsbooks.ie/new-irish-ch...
Please share!
April 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
April is full of fab new Irish children's books. Check out the @irishkidsbooks.bsky.social posters for some of our favourites for all ages.
Designed by @bexsheridan.bsky.social
#DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
The posters can be downloaded free from discoveririshkidsbooks.ie/new-irish-ch...
Please share!
Designed by @bexsheridan.bsky.social
#DiscoverIrishKidsBooks
The posters can be downloaded free from discoveririshkidsbooks.ie/new-irish-ch...
Please share!
Going out of my comfort zone to write a more sci-fi/steampunk scene and oof, there is a reason I do not stray from fantasy. Writing about forests that are older than time, vengeful ghosts and girls with powers that are magical and bewildering is easy and right up my alley...
April 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Going out of my comfort zone to write a more sci-fi/steampunk scene and oof, there is a reason I do not stray from fantasy. Writing about forests that are older than time, vengeful ghosts and girls with powers that are magical and bewildering is easy and right up my alley...
Reposted by Anna Benn
I've just signed this petition protesting Meta's theft of Irish writing, which they've used to build their AI tool. All seven published books were stolen and used to train their system. my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr...
Protest Meta's Theft of Irish Writing
I've just signed this petition protesting Meta's theft of Irish writing, which they've used to build their AI tool. Will you sign too?
my.uplift.ie
March 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I've just signed this petition protesting Meta's theft of Irish writing, which they've used to build their AI tool. All seven published books were stolen and used to train their system. my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr...
Reposted by Anna Benn
I wrote a profile for the NYT talking about Tanith Lee's work and suggestions to where to start with her vast bibliography.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/b...
The Essential Tanith Lee (Gift Article)
The eclectic, prolific author wrote more than 90 novels — primarily fantasy and science fiction, but also horror, erotica, mysteries and historical fiction. If you’ve never read her work, here’s where...
www.nytimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I wrote a profile for the NYT talking about Tanith Lee's work and suggestions to where to start with her vast bibliography.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/b...
Reposting this partly because, Happy Trans Rights Readathon! And also partly as a reminder to myself, who am badly remiss at reading short fiction, to check these out once I take a break from my TBR list of much-too-long novels.
Because we're Reactor, and we love short fiction, we'll also take this opportunity to direct you towards 10 excellent short stories by trans authors
reactormag.com/ten-essentia...
reactormag.com/ten-essentia...
Ten Essential Short Stories by Trans Authors - Reactor
The first story I ever let myself write about gender was about a shape-shifting super spy. It was the summer of 2018 during my third week at the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop. I’d come ...
reactormag.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposting this partly because, Happy Trans Rights Readathon! And also partly as a reminder to myself, who am badly remiss at reading short fiction, to check these out once I take a break from my TBR list of much-too-long novels.
A heartening thread to remind us that people are still decent and curious and trying to understand each other.
being an indie bookseller in the helltimes has felt both very stable and very stabilizing, and part of me wishes everyone could be on my side of the counter for a little while, because I think it would help some of you be a little less cynical and doomy right now. so here is my VERY anecdotal data:
March 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
A heartening thread to remind us that people are still decent and curious and trying to understand each other.
I can attest, my appetite for horror, blood & guts, etc. in fiction was pretty limitless when I was a kid. I only got squeamish about it as a grownup.
Read a piece in a publication I will not link to because it's a bad egg place but it had a good point - children's books should be scarier. Worst person you know makes a good point, a tragedy. #KidLitUK
March 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I can attest, my appetite for horror, blood & guts, etc. in fiction was pretty limitless when I was a kid. I only got squeamish about it as a grownup.
Reposted by Anna Benn
Reminder: Kennys Bookshop delivers for free in Ireland. Easons have free delivery over 10 euros (and also sell toys and games and stationary). Lots of lovely booksellers in the actual stores too, like Books Upstairs, Gutter Bookshop, Hodges Figgis.
Ecommerce giant Amazon goes live with dedicated Irish store
Ecommerce giant Amazon goes live with dedicated Irish store
The company said that In 2023, Irish SMEs selling on Amazon recorded over €170 million in export sales, with over half of those n export sales outside the European Union
www.businesspost.ie
March 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Reminder: Kennys Bookshop delivers for free in Ireland. Easons have free delivery over 10 euros (and also sell toys and games and stationary). Lots of lovely booksellers in the actual stores too, like Books Upstairs, Gutter Bookshop, Hodges Figgis.
Reposted by Anna Benn
This, by the by, is an effing disaster if it holds up. The number of public libraries that will go under if IMLS is shuttered is mind-boggling. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
March 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This, by the by, is an effing disaster if it holds up. The number of public libraries that will go under if IMLS is shuttered is mind-boggling. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Anna Benn
Hi, we are an alternative to Amazon-owned Audible 👋🏻 With us, you select the independent bookshop you want to support (we have 3,000+ partners across the globe), and we share profits from your purchase with them.
We're also employee-owned and a registered Social Purpose Corporation.
We're also employee-owned and a registered Social Purpose Corporation.
March 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Hi, we are an alternative to Amazon-owned Audible 👋🏻 With us, you select the independent bookshop you want to support (we have 3,000+ partners across the globe), and we share profits from your purchase with them.
We're also employee-owned and a registered Social Purpose Corporation.
We're also employee-owned and a registered Social Purpose Corporation.
Reposted by Anna Benn
Submissions are now open for The Prompt, a new writing series for RTÉ Radio 1. Eight of Ireland's best writers have set prompts for you - details here: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
RTÉ Radio 1 is looking for writers for their new series
The Prompt is a brand new series for writers...
www.rte.ie
March 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Submissions are now open for The Prompt, a new writing series for RTÉ Radio 1. Eight of Ireland's best writers have set prompts for you - details here: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
There's a guitar riff before the last verse in Pink Pony Club that calls to mind the riff in Don't Stop Believing that leads into "Singer in a smoky room". I've decided this is deliberate, that Small-Town Girl and City Boy have made it to the Pink Pony Club and are having a great time dancing it up
March 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
There's a guitar riff before the last verse in Pink Pony Club that calls to mind the riff in Don't Stop Believing that leads into "Singer in a smoky room". I've decided this is deliberate, that Small-Town Girl and City Boy have made it to the Pink Pony Club and are having a great time dancing it up
Dream job alert! Do you want to be Santa Claus, but for books? Children's Books Ireland are looking for an Assistant Book-Gifter!
Do you want to help inspire children and young people to become readers for life? Well then we have just the job for you!
Children's Books Ireland is seeking a full-time Book-gifting Assistant to support our book-gifting projects.
🗓️ Apply before 19th March
childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/...
Children's Books Ireland is seeking a full-time Book-gifting Assistant to support our book-gifting projects.
🗓️ Apply before 19th March
childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/...
March 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Dream job alert! Do you want to be Santa Claus, but for books? Children's Books Ireland are looking for an Assistant Book-Gifter!
Reposted by Anna Benn
📕HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY, ASPIRING AUTHORS!📕
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...
Melissa Welliver Author
melissawelliver.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
📕HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY, ASPIRING AUTHORS!📕
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...
Reposted by Anna Benn
Hey, this shop got ripped off by Temu and they make great enamel pins of their own design.
Hint hint.
www.etsy.com/listing/1024...
Hint hint.
www.etsy.com/listing/1024...
Libraries Are for Everyone | Enamel Pin | Librarian | Pride | - Etsy
This Pins & Badges item by GoodGoodCat has 6134 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Tremont, IL. Listed on Mar 3, 2025
www.etsy.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Hey, this shop got ripped off by Temu and they make great enamel pins of their own design.
Hint hint.
www.etsy.com/listing/1024...
Hint hint.
www.etsy.com/listing/1024...
In other #WorldBookDay news, I just ordered myself a novel about airships and other steampunkery, which I am justifying as Very Important Research for my WIP, then ordered an extra 36 euros worth of books so I could cash in a 5 euro discount for signing up to the bookshop's mailing list. Huzzah!
March 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In other #WorldBookDay news, I just ordered myself a novel about airships and other steampunkery, which I am justifying as Very Important Research for my WIP, then ordered an extra 36 euros worth of books so I could cash in a 5 euro discount for signing up to the bookshop's mailing list. Huzzah!