Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
Writer of queer romance, often historical and/or paranormal. Reader, gardener, knitter, early tech adopter. Parent, spouse, disabled, carer. No longer keeps poultry. They/them. Also writes as Frances Fox. https://lnk.bio/gjD5 🏳️🌈 ✒️ 🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
· Mar 11
When I feel grim I try and practice gratitude for small things. Probably a thread.
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
This is an excellent thread if you have a half hour to spare.
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
This is an excellent thread if you have a half hour to spare.
Reposted by Ally Lester
I've said it before, I'll say it again, Astreiant is exactly the sort of thing the best series award should recognise. Individually good books, but the sweep of the city, its people, & their lives across the series is an order of magnitude more important.
Expertly crafted living world in miniature.
Expertly crafted living world in miniature.
#Booksky Sporadic reminder that we are the current publisher of the entire Astreiant Series and that it will be eligible for this year’s Hugo for Best Series, just in case you wanted to support a terrific award-winning series of gay fantastical mysteries! queenofswordspress.com/product-tag/...
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I've said it before, I'll say it again, Astreiant is exactly the sort of thing the best series award should recognise. Individually good books, but the sweep of the city, its people, & their lives across the series is an order of magnitude more important.
Expertly crafted living world in miniature.
Expertly crafted living world in miniature.
Littlest died of COVID eighteen months ago. Quietly, without fuss, just a bug she'd caught from a kid at school who's parent didn't think to keep them home; or from a member of staff who thought they'd soldier on, and didn't mask.
Anger is one of the stages of grief that will always return to me.
Anger is one of the stages of grief that will always return to me.
I get why a lot of non-disabled people want to pretend respiratory illnesses don’t exist, but as we’re coming up on another event I can’t safely attend, I encourage you to just THINK about wearing a mask at events - or at least on the train/ plane there, where there’s probably no reason not to
November 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Littlest died of COVID eighteen months ago. Quietly, without fuss, just a bug she'd caught from a kid at school who's parent didn't think to keep them home; or from a member of staff who thought they'd soldier on, and didn't mask.
Anger is one of the stages of grief that will always return to me.
Anger is one of the stages of grief that will always return to me.
Reposted by Ally Lester
This is I think an underrated truth: being intelligent is I think primarily a matter of habit. Do you actually listen and try and take on board what you've heard or read before responding? Do you go 'okay, is that true?' about your own thoughts and prejudices? These are learnt, not innate.
and ultimately I think if you’re constantly saying stupid stuff then it just makes you stupid.
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This is I think an underrated truth: being intelligent is I think primarily a matter of habit. Do you actually listen and try and take on board what you've heard or read before responding? Do you go 'okay, is that true?' about your own thoughts and prejudices? These are learnt, not innate.
Reposted by Ally Lester
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Ally Lester
These men grew up with The Secretary™ whose job was:
• Be sexually desirable
• Be sexually available
• Look after them like children
• DO THE TYPING.
Not being able to email is a status symbol:
• Be sexually desirable
• Be sexually available
• Look after them like children
• DO THE TYPING.
Not being able to email is a status symbol:
Can none of these millionaires sex criminals write in full sentences? Have you heard of paragraphs? Punctuation? No wonder ChatGPT sounds like a genius to these clowns.
November 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM
These men grew up with The Secretary™ whose job was:
• Be sexually desirable
• Be sexually available
• Look after them like children
• DO THE TYPING.
Not being able to email is a status symbol:
• Be sexually desirable
• Be sexually available
• Look after them like children
• DO THE TYPING.
Not being able to email is a status symbol:
Mani is a friend of mine from school, I've known her forty years and I trust her implicitly. The money raised by her and her husband will go straight to grass-roots community leaders in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, to help rebuild after this terrible disaster. Please help if you can.
gofund.me/4e83b55e4
gofund.me/4e83b55e4
Donate to Rebuild St Elizabeth, Jamaica, organized by Manisha Cooper
Rebuild St. Elizabeth, Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
Hello, my name is Ansel, and I… Manisha Cooper needs your support for Rebuild St Elizabeth, Jamaica
gofund.me
November 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Mani is a friend of mine from school, I've known her forty years and I trust her implicitly. The money raised by her and her husband will go straight to grass-roots community leaders in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, to help rebuild after this terrible disaster. Please help if you can.
gofund.me/4e83b55e4
gofund.me/4e83b55e4
There are three teenagers having Loud Fun in our kitchen.
1. How nice to hear them having fun rather than wandering round the house wrapped in The Gloom!
2. Good lord, they're loud.
Thank you, that is all. I am putting my earplugs in and going to sleep now.
1. How nice to hear them having fun rather than wandering round the house wrapped in The Gloom!
2. Good lord, they're loud.
Thank you, that is all. I am putting my earplugs in and going to sleep now.
November 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM
There are three teenagers having Loud Fun in our kitchen.
1. How nice to hear them having fun rather than wandering round the house wrapped in The Gloom!
2. Good lord, they're loud.
Thank you, that is all. I am putting my earplugs in and going to sleep now.
1. How nice to hear them having fun rather than wandering round the house wrapped in The Gloom!
2. Good lord, they're loud.
Thank you, that is all. I am putting my earplugs in and going to sleep now.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Reposted by Ally Lester
It’s today! 13 months after I started writing it, Daughters of Nicnevin is out in the world! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/daug...
Daughters of Nicnevin
Check out Daughters of Nicnevin - <p>Mairead and Constance, two powerful witches, meet in the early days of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. While the men of the village are away fighting, the villagers fa...
uk.bookshop.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
It’s today! 13 months after I started writing it, Daughters of Nicnevin is out in the world! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/daug...
Reposted by Ally Lester
A reminder that if you can spare them, you can donate your Clubcard points to @trusselluk.bsky.social.
spoke with the executive director of my local food bank today and got this really incredible line: "if you donate 1 can of green beans, we can give away 1 can of green beans. but if you donate a dollar, we can give away 6 cans of green beans"
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A reminder that if you can spare them, you can donate your Clubcard points to @trusselluk.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ally Lester
RAISE YOUR VOICE:
Now is the time to pledge your support for banning octopus farming. Octopus farming would be an ethical and environmental disaster, but with enough public support, we can protect octopuses from a lifetime of suffering:
secure.everyaction.com/lE4sjpZgqUST...
Now is the time to pledge your support for banning octopus farming. Octopus farming would be an ethical and environmental disaster, but with enough public support, we can protect octopuses from a lifetime of suffering:
secure.everyaction.com/lE4sjpZgqUST...
November 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
RAISE YOUR VOICE:
Now is the time to pledge your support for banning octopus farming. Octopus farming would be an ethical and environmental disaster, but with enough public support, we can protect octopuses from a lifetime of suffering:
secure.everyaction.com/lE4sjpZgqUST...
Now is the time to pledge your support for banning octopus farming. Octopus farming would be an ethical and environmental disaster, but with enough public support, we can protect octopuses from a lifetime of suffering:
secure.everyaction.com/lE4sjpZgqUST...
Reposted by Ally Lester
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Ally Lester
So a transphobe is threatening @northwestbylines.co.uk with defamation over this 100% accurate and factual piece of Journalism.
Support us by sharing it far and wide 🏳️⚧️
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/equalit...
Support us by sharing it far and wide 🏳️⚧️
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/equalit...
A demonstration of compassion and unity by the trans and cis community
Trans and cis people united in a heartwarming display of kindness outside the Scottish (Holyrood) Parliament on 1 November
northwestbylines.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
So a transphobe is threatening @northwestbylines.co.uk with defamation over this 100% accurate and factual piece of Journalism.
Support us by sharing it far and wide 🏳️⚧️
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/equalit...
Support us by sharing it far and wide 🏳️⚧️
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/equalit...
My sis has persuaded me to join ancestry dot com and I am obsessing about long-dead relatives.
Also fighting a desire to do a DNA-test to see what comes up and who I might link to. Mr AL argues, rightly, that they can then sell my genetic information to anyone they like so it's a bad, bad plan.
Also fighting a desire to do a DNA-test to see what comes up and who I might link to. Mr AL argues, rightly, that they can then sell my genetic information to anyone they like so it's a bad, bad plan.
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
My sis has persuaded me to join ancestry dot com and I am obsessing about long-dead relatives.
Also fighting a desire to do a DNA-test to see what comes up and who I might link to. Mr AL argues, rightly, that they can then sell my genetic information to anyone they like so it's a bad, bad plan.
Also fighting a desire to do a DNA-test to see what comes up and who I might link to. Mr AL argues, rightly, that they can then sell my genetic information to anyone they like so it's a bad, bad plan.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Head's up there is a Bluesky ban scam going around. This account just joined 40 mins ago and send me this DM.
DO NOT CLICK THE LINK.
Bluesky would NEVER send a DM like this and make you scared. This would come through email and would have a more professional email than this.
Stay safe!
DO NOT CLICK THE LINK.
Bluesky would NEVER send a DM like this and make you scared. This would come through email and would have a more professional email than this.
Stay safe!
November 8, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Head's up there is a Bluesky ban scam going around. This account just joined 40 mins ago and send me this DM.
DO NOT CLICK THE LINK.
Bluesky would NEVER send a DM like this and make you scared. This would come through email and would have a more professional email than this.
Stay safe!
DO NOT CLICK THE LINK.
Bluesky would NEVER send a DM like this and make you scared. This would come through email and would have a more professional email than this.
Stay safe!
Reposted by Ally Lester
A small story of the pain off loss, memory, and #remembrance in 1920s Seven Dials.
November 9, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A small story of the pain off loss, memory, and #remembrance in 1920s Seven Dials.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Hello! Hope you’re on the mend? I’m reading House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson. It’s gorgeously written
November 9, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Hello! Hope you’re on the mend? I’m reading House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson. It’s gorgeously written
Reposted by Ally Lester
Happy Sunday Womble! I’m currently rereading Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie for the first time since it came out and trying to fend off a migraine (nrgh)
November 9, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Happy Sunday Womble! I’m currently rereading Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie for the first time since it came out and trying to fend off a migraine (nrgh)
Reposted by Ally Lester
Got round to this novella by @leemandelo.bsky.social yesterday. Halfway through now. It's a thoroughly fresh, sharply written and increasingly sinister slice of queer historical Appalachian horror.
I'm absorbed, unsettled and impressed.
I'm absorbed, unsettled and impressed.
November 9, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Got round to this novella by @leemandelo.bsky.social yesterday. Halfway through now. It's a thoroughly fresh, sharply written and increasingly sinister slice of queer historical Appalachian horror.
I'm absorbed, unsettled and impressed.
I'm absorbed, unsettled and impressed.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Morning, I'm just about to start Snake-Eater by T Kingfisher then the conclusion to the Sworn Soldier trilogy when I've finished that, so a Kingfisher week
November 9, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Morning, I'm just about to start Snake-Eater by T Kingfisher then the conclusion to the Sworn Soldier trilogy when I've finished that, so a Kingfisher week
Reposted by Ally Lester
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today after being a little unwell I am planning to finish the excellent The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson. What Are you reading at the moment?
November 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today after being a little unwell I am planning to finish the excellent The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson. What Are you reading at the moment?
I read this in the week and it's another corker. Highly recommended -- I am starting a a series reread off the back of it.
Just published, the new Green Man book: wizardstowerpress.co...
November 9, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I read this in the week and it's another corker. Highly recommended -- I am starting a a series reread off the back of it.
Reposted by Ally Lester
I don't use generative AI because as a writer of fiction, it offers me nothing useful creatively and nothing trustworthy when I do research. It's not worth the environmental impact. That it's been created by stealing my work and using it in breach of copyright law is a further but separate issue.
Hands up if you've never used Chat GPT ✋
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
Probably a good way to tell right now if the job you’re applying for is run by absolute dumbfucks is to ask if they’re using AI.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I don't use generative AI because as a writer of fiction, it offers me nothing useful creatively and nothing trustworthy when I do research. It's not worth the environmental impact. That it's been created by stealing my work and using it in breach of copyright law is a further but separate issue.
Reposted by Ally Lester
1,300 copies of Magic, Maps, and Mischief sold since 24 October.
I always believed that there's a readership for this book but the response so far has been beyond what I thought I could do without a publisher. Thanks to *everyone* who has helped me from a word of encouragement to buying the book ❤️
I always believed that there's a readership for this book but the response so far has been beyond what I thought I could do without a publisher. Thanks to *everyone* who has helped me from a word of encouragement to buying the book ❤️
November 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
1,300 copies of Magic, Maps, and Mischief sold since 24 October.
I always believed that there's a readership for this book but the response so far has been beyond what I thought I could do without a publisher. Thanks to *everyone* who has helped me from a word of encouragement to buying the book ❤️
I always believed that there's a readership for this book but the response so far has been beyond what I thought I could do without a publisher. Thanks to *everyone* who has helped me from a word of encouragement to buying the book ❤️