Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
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authorsinoundle.bsky.social
Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
@authorsinoundle.bsky.social
I love books and really enjoy reading many different genres. I am a literary events organiser with 14 yrs experience of organising successful events. I aim to provide exciting, informative events with fabulous authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers.
Pinned
Join us for a joyful event on 18/12
www.authorsinoundle.co.uk/aio-event/pe...
‘The world's best-loved bird from the world's best-known publisher – what's not to like?’ Stephen Moss
'Simply wonderful. If you like feeling joy, you'll love this book,' Tristan Gooley
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Autumn Leaves, Franklin Booth, 1911.
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
The remants of a 249-million-year-old ocean ecosystem have been found - partway up a mountain in Svalbard!

It contains over 30,000 fossils from all kinds of fish and marine reptiles - as well as some more unexpected animals!

Discover what it reveals 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Fossils of ancient marine predators have been discovered on an Arctic mountain | Natural History Museum
Life may have bounced back more quickly than expected after the worst mass extinction in history.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Join us for a joyful event on 18/12
www.authorsinoundle.co.uk/aio-event/pe...
‘The world's best-loved bird from the world's best-known publisher – what's not to like?’ Stephen Moss
'Simply wonderful. If you like feeling joy, you'll love this book,' Tristan Gooley
November 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Meanings of the word for November in various languages

▪️ Leaf fall (Czech)
▪️ Freezing moon (Ojibwe)
▪️ Dark period month (Inari Sami)
▪️ Wind slender (Navajo)
▪️ Month of goats (ChiShona)
▪️ Month of slaughter (Welsh)
▪️ Time of drumming (Yup'ik)
▪️ Arrival of the scorpion (Thai)
▪️ Death month (Finnish)
November 6, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
🦋 Wicken Fen, the National Trust's oldest nature reserve and one of Europe’s most important wetlands, has recorded its 10,000th species – a rare six-belted clearwing moth – demonstrating the power of letting nature take the lead.

🧵4/7
October 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Three new species of tree toads from Tanzania have been discovered. 🐸

These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!

Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
New species of toads that give birth to live young discovered in Tanzania | Natural History Museum
Museum specimens have helped scientists discover three new species of tree-dwelling toads.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
🎨 Spotlight on Boya Sun!

Boya's Illustrator Page

Boya is represented by Kelly Sonnack (@ksonnack.bsky.social). He is open to illustrating picture books.
November 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Next year's Summer Reading Challenge theme is music & I'll soon be contacting librarians to talk about bringing my mini picture book musicals into libraries all over the UK. If you're a librarian, please do get in contact to discuss possibilities.

Bring stories to life with music.
November 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
"The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust are attempting to complete the purchase of the Rothbury Estate, a 15 sq miles (38.8 sq km) tract of former grouse moor, woodland and farmland, with plans to boost wildlife, restore bogs and promote nature-friendly farming." tinyurl.com/38yyvdju
Sir David Attenborough backs bid to buy Rothbury Estate
Wildlife trusts attempt to raise £30m to keep Northumberland's Rothbury Estate from being split up.
tinyurl.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
This sounds like a fascinating evening talk!
Peter & Lisa Fretwell: The Penguin Book of Penguins
Publishing in the same year as PENGUIN’S 90th ANNIVERSARY!
18.12.25, 7.30 pm Great Hall, Oundle.
www.authorsinoundle.co.uk
All humans & penguins welcome!
November 2, 2025 at 6:56 AM
About the Lollies
If you love to laugh, you’ll love the Lollies! They’re a book award searching for the very funniest children’s books published in the previous year. Once the judges have decided on a shortlist, it’s all up to YOU! Follow this link to vote: shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies
I've voted!
The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2025
The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (the Lollies) celebrates the best and funniest children's books in the UK and Ireland, voted for by children.
shop.scholastic.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Peter & Lisa Fretwell: The Penguin Book of Penguins
Publishing in the same year as PENGUIN’S 90th ANNIVERSARY!
18.12.25, 7.30 pm Great Hall, Oundle.
www.authorsinoundle.co.uk
All humans & penguins welcome!
October 22, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
My author copies of The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail have just been delivered! Another fabulous cover by David Wardle, and another baffling murder for Gwinny to solve inside – this time with a festive twist 🎄 On sale next month! 🐶🔍 @allisonandbusby.bsky.social @sarahsuch.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
This #WorldOsteoporosisDay, I’m proud to be a ROS Ambassador as we launch #TheGreatBritishBoneCheck 🦴
An early diagnosis means you can take action to help prevent broken bones.
Check your risk in 3 minutes: thegreatbritishbonecheck.org.uk
Great British Bone Check | Free 3-Minute Osteoporosis Risk Check
Take the free 3-minute Great British Bone Check from the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Quick, expert-backed, and confidential - understand your bone health risk today.
thegreatbritishbonecheck.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Friday evening was a wonderful night, with Tom Surgey, wine expert and presenter, and Philip Amps, our local wine merchant. The conversation and the wine flowed as we enjoyed four wines from around the world. The seats were full, copies of Tom's book sold out, and we all had a delightful evening.
October 19, 2025 at 12:20 PM
October 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Well OK I will blow my own trumpet just a little and mention the accolade my book The Borders: The Lands We Share has just received. Runner-up in the Outdoor Book of the Year awards @gritstonebooks.bsky.social @cumbriapr.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I am so humbled by the support I received from other businesses, from friends, colleagues, and supporters. In the public vote, Authors in Oundle came in the top 10 of all the companies taking part, and I'm so grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for us.
October 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM
We had an incredible evening on Saturday night at the Peterborough Small Business Awards 2025. The support and camaraderie between the small business owners were an inspiration. We were made to feel very special, and taking part was a very fulfilling experience.
#oundlebusiness; #literatureevents
October 5, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Full house last night for Can You Solve the Murder? Live at @authorsinoundle.bsky.social. A great, engaged crowd and lots of fun. Thanks to the organisers, and to everyone who came along!
October 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Charming little octopus from a Roman villa at Villaquejida, León, Spain. Limestone, 2nd-3rd century AD.

Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 me

#Archaeology
September 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
October 1, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Had a fantastic time running Can You Solve the Murder? Live last night for a wonderful audience at the East Riding Festival of Words. Organisers told me demand was so high we could have filled the room twice over. Thanks to all who took part! 😃🔍
September 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Humans coming together to do good things.
Key oceans treaty crosses critical threshold to come into force - BBC News
Sixty states have ratified a global treaty to protect the oceans - it will become law in January.
www.bbc.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Helen Shair - Authors In Oundle
Phenomenal. In my 10 year update of A Brief History, I make the point that in the first edition, not one disease had been successfully treated using gene therapy. Today that number is at least 7.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM