Dr Helen Murray Taylor
@drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social
Memoir writer and novelist. Doctor and research scientist in a former life. My mental health memoir, love lay down beside me and we wept, published April 2025 with Unbound.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Thank you, Stephanie, for chatting with us, and thank you to all who took part in tonight's #AuthorInterview. To find out about future events, make sure to follow us on Bluesky and the hashtag #WomenWritersNet.
@brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
@brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Thank you, Stephanie, for chatting with us, and thank you to all who took part in tonight's #AuthorInterview. To find out about future events, make sure to follow us on Bluesky and the hashtag #WomenWritersNet.
@brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
@brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
Thanks @brethertonwords.bsky.social and @womenwritersnet.bsky.social for a great #AuthorInterview. The hour passed in a flash as usual. It was hard to keep up. Stephanie, you did a great job.
Q6 Where can we find out more about you and “The Fire In Their Eyes”?
#WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview @brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
#WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview @brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Thanks @brethertonwords.bsky.social and @womenwritersnet.bsky.social for a great #AuthorInterview. The hour passed in a flash as usual. It was hard to keep up. Stephanie, you did a great job.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Wow – you’re juggling a lot. And then, there’s the #publishing venture you’ve set up and run, @breakthroughbook.bsky.social. Can you tell us a little about it, @brethertonwords.bsky.social? #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview #booksky
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Wow – you’re juggling a lot. And then, there’s the #publishing venture you’ve set up and run, @breakthroughbook.bsky.social. Can you tell us a little about it, @brethertonwords.bsky.social? #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview #booksky
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Welcome to our #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview series. Today, we're chatting with Stephanie Bretherton, author of the recently published novel, "The Fire In Their Eyes". @brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Welcome to our #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview series. Today, we're chatting with Stephanie Bretherton, author of the recently published novel, "The Fire In Their Eyes". @brethertonwords.bsky.social @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
Starting soon!
Join us today at 6pm BST for our next #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will interview @brethertonwords.bsky.social about her award-winning new novel, The Fire In Their Eyes @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
Come join us and get your questions ready.
Come join us and get your questions ready.
October 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Starting soon!
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Join us today at 6pm BST for our next #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will interview @brethertonwords.bsky.social about her award-winning new novel, The Fire In Their Eyes @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
Come join us and get your questions ready.
Come join us and get your questions ready.
October 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Join us today at 6pm BST for our next #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will interview @brethertonwords.bsky.social about her award-winning new novel, The Fire In Their Eyes @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
Come join us and get your questions ready.
Come join us and get your questions ready.
I am thrilled to be able to post this news. I've got a new publisher for #lovelaydown: Wilton Square.
The e-book is now available through them and we're hoping to get our hands on the original stock of hardbacks (still waiting for confirmation). But even better, the paperback is planned for 2026.
The e-book is now available through them and we're hoping to get our hands on the original stock of hardbacks (still waiting for confirmation). But even better, the paperback is planned for 2026.
October 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I am thrilled to be able to post this news. I've got a new publisher for #lovelaydown: Wilton Square.
The e-book is now available through them and we're hoping to get our hands on the original stock of hardbacks (still waiting for confirmation). But even better, the paperback is planned for 2026.
The e-book is now available through them and we're hoping to get our hands on the original stock of hardbacks (still waiting for confirmation). But even better, the paperback is planned for 2026.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Our next #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview will be on Thursday 23 October. We’re excited to hear all about Stephanie‘s book, The Fire In Their Eyes @brethertonwords.bsky.social
Please join us. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will be hosting and everyone will have the chance to ask questions.
Please join us. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will be hosting and everyone will have the chance to ask questions.
Hugely looking forward to interviewing @brethertonwords.bsky.social for our @womenwritersnet.bsky.social live #AuthorInterview of 23 October. SAVE THE DATE and join us as Stephanie tells us about her award-winning new novel, #TheFireInTheirEyes (@Breakthroughbooks.bsky.social)! #writing #reading
October 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Our next #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview will be on Thursday 23 October. We’re excited to hear all about Stephanie‘s book, The Fire In Their Eyes @brethertonwords.bsky.social
Please join us. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will be hosting and everyone will have the chance to ask questions.
Please join us. @valeriavescina.bsky.social will be hosting and everyone will have the chance to ask questions.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
I'm looking forward to being one of the host's for this month's #WomenWritersNet #SkyChat on #WomenWriters and the #Writing Mindset! I'd love to hear what you have to say about this topic on Thursday, 16 October at 6pm BST!
October 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm looking forward to being one of the host's for this month's #WomenWritersNet #SkyChat on #WomenWriters and the #Writing Mindset! I'd love to hear what you have to say about this topic on Thursday, 16 October at 6pm BST!
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
10th October and it’s World Mental Health Day. Keep talking. Keep listening. Keep being kind (to yourself and others). We are Nature and I’ve found this is where I heal best. Love to you all.
October 10, 2025 at 6:34 AM
10th October and it’s World Mental Health Day. Keep talking. Keep listening. Keep being kind (to yourself and others). We are Nature and I’ve found this is where I heal best. Love to you all.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Today is World Mental Health Day. It’s a day that should be every day of the year. You are worthwhile, and you deserve to be here.
#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 #MentalHealth
#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 #MentalHealth
October 10, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Today is World Mental Health Day. It’s a day that should be every day of the year. You are worthwhile, and you deserve to be here.
#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 #MentalHealth
#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 #MentalHealth
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Ready to submit but swamped by listings? Writers' HQ have done the hard work for us. 5 of the best opportunities for writers this month.
What's stopping you? #WomenWritersNet #blueskywriters #writingcompetitions
What's stopping you? #WomenWritersNet #blueskywriters #writingcompetitions
Looking to get your words into the world but completely overwhelmed by a billionty-hundred-squundred competitions and submission listings? WELL LOOK NO FURTHER. We have distilled a whole bunch of literary opportunities for your glorious self.
writershq.co.uk/5-competitio...
writershq.co.uk/5-competitio...
October 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Ready to submit but swamped by listings? Writers' HQ have done the hard work for us. 5 of the best opportunities for writers this month.
What's stopping you? #WomenWritersNet #blueskywriters #writingcompetitions
What's stopping you? #WomenWritersNet #blueskywriters #writingcompetitions
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
'Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights.'
There's loads of info about #BannedBooksWeek from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social on their socials and websites. The chart in this graphic tells a very clear story and it's a sobering one.
There's loads of info about #BannedBooksWeek from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social on their socials and websites. The chart in this graphic tells a very clear story and it's a sobering one.
October 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
'Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights.'
There's loads of info about #BannedBooksWeek from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social on their socials and websites. The chart in this graphic tells a very clear story and it's a sobering one.
There's loads of info about #BannedBooksWeek from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social on their socials and websites. The chart in this graphic tells a very clear story and it's a sobering one.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
The @merriam-webster.com feed is essential reading for anyone who loves words, enjoys a grammar tiff, and gets overexcited by obscure roots of common phrases. Is that just me? 😄
Also I now have the best apology for being late.
#WomenWritersNet #amwriting #dictionarylover
Also I now have the best apology for being late.
#WomenWritersNet #amwriting #dictionarylover
“I’ll be 10 min late sorry!!!”
-ashamed
-fragile
-unreliable
“A thousand apologies. The relentless slog of time has overtaken my faculties.”
-powerful
-commanding
-honest
-ashamed
-fragile
-unreliable
“A thousand apologies. The relentless slog of time has overtaken my faculties.”
-powerful
-commanding
-honest
October 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The @merriam-webster.com feed is essential reading for anyone who loves words, enjoys a grammar tiff, and gets overexcited by obscure roots of common phrases. Is that just me? 😄
Also I now have the best apology for being late.
#WomenWritersNet #amwriting #dictionarylover
Also I now have the best apology for being late.
#WomenWritersNet #amwriting #dictionarylover
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Come join authors from @scotbpocwriters.bsky.social for a panel discussion. Writing Scotland's Future: Perspectives from Writers of Colour takes place 15/10/25 #BlackHistoryMonth at @unistrathclyde.bsky.social The Ramshorn. Lunch provided. Register for your free place: tinyurl.com/Writing-Scot...
October 3, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Come join authors from @scotbpocwriters.bsky.social for a panel discussion. Writing Scotland's Future: Perspectives from Writers of Colour takes place 15/10/25 #BlackHistoryMonth at @unistrathclyde.bsky.social The Ramshorn. Lunch provided. Register for your free place: tinyurl.com/Writing-Scot...
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
What do you do when all you've ever wanted to do is write but your life is just too busy? Our very own Liz Champion is struggling with this dilemma.
Read her Substack, Midlife without a Map. Touching, funny, honest.
lizchampion.substack.com/p/my-life-is...
Read her Substack, Midlife without a Map. Touching, funny, honest.
lizchampion.substack.com/p/my-life-is...
My life is not working
I need to make a change
lizchampion.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
What do you do when all you've ever wanted to do is write but your life is just too busy? Our very own Liz Champion is struggling with this dilemma.
Read her Substack, Midlife without a Map. Touching, funny, honest.
lizchampion.substack.com/p/my-life-is...
Read her Substack, Midlife without a Map. Touching, funny, honest.
lizchampion.substack.com/p/my-life-is...
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Yesterday I received a real letter in the post from a 92-year-old friend of my dad's. He wrote to thank me for writing my memoir, love lay down beside me and we wept.
Reviews are good for our profiles as writers but heartfelt thanks are good for our souls. 🧡
#WomenWritersNet
Reviews are good for our profiles as writers but heartfelt thanks are good for our souls. 🧡
#WomenWritersNet
October 7, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Yesterday I received a real letter in the post from a 92-year-old friend of my dad's. He wrote to thank me for writing my memoir, love lay down beside me and we wept.
Reviews are good for our profiles as writers but heartfelt thanks are good for our souls. 🧡
#WomenWritersNet
Reviews are good for our profiles as writers but heartfelt thanks are good for our souls. 🧡
#WomenWritersNet
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Adjective order: And I thought French with its erratic rules was hard.
I am glad I didn't have to learn English as a second language and that this comes naturally (although I do like to mess with it on purpose for effect).
#grammarfun #WomenWritersNet
www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/one-...
I am glad I didn't have to learn English as a second language and that this comes naturally (although I do like to mess with it on purpose for effect).
#grammarfun #WomenWritersNet
www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/one-...
Putting Adjectives in the Right Order
You do this without even thinking
www.merriam-webster.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Adjective order: And I thought French with its erratic rules was hard.
I am glad I didn't have to learn English as a second language and that this comes naturally (although I do like to mess with it on purpose for effect).
#grammarfun #WomenWritersNet
www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/one-...
I am glad I didn't have to learn English as a second language and that this comes naturally (although I do like to mess with it on purpose for effect).
#grammarfun #WomenWritersNet
www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/one-...
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Meet the Judges of the 2026 Women’s Prizes!
A warm welcome to: Julia Gillard, @monaarshiwrites.bsky.social, Salma El-Wardany, Cariad Lloyd and Annie Macmanus, and Thangam Debbonaire, Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams.
#WomensPrize
A warm welcome to: Julia Gillard, @monaarshiwrites.bsky.social, Salma El-Wardany, Cariad Lloyd and Annie Macmanus, and Thangam Debbonaire, Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams.
#WomensPrize
October 8, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Meet the Judges of the 2026 Women’s Prizes!
A warm welcome to: Julia Gillard, @monaarshiwrites.bsky.social, Salma El-Wardany, Cariad Lloyd and Annie Macmanus, and Thangam Debbonaire, Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams.
#WomensPrize
A warm welcome to: Julia Gillard, @monaarshiwrites.bsky.social, Salma El-Wardany, Cariad Lloyd and Annie Macmanus, and Thangam Debbonaire, Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams.
#WomensPrize
This books looks excellent. I wish it had been available before I wrote #lovelaydown. It might have helped me through some of the tricky stuff around writing memoir. I did a lot of soul searching about memory, truth, and whether there was any value in sharing my story.
A ‘clearsighted and passionate exploration of the craft of memoir writing’
Wonderful review of Into Being by @lilydunn.bsky.social We can’t wait to get our hands on a copy. It sounds like essential reading for all memoirists.
#WomenWritersNet
www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
Wonderful review of Into Being by @lilydunn.bsky.social We can’t wait to get our hands on a copy. It sounds like essential reading for all memoirists.
#WomenWritersNet
www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
Book Of The Week: Exploring the radical craft of memoir
Towards the end of her clearsighted and passionate exploration of the craft of memoir writing, author Lily Dunn quotes memoirists she has interviewed for the book.
www.rte.ie
October 9, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This books looks excellent. I wish it had been available before I wrote #lovelaydown. It might have helped me through some of the tricky stuff around writing memoir. I did a lot of soul searching about memory, truth, and whether there was any value in sharing my story.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
My lovely publisher, Salt Publishing, @saltpublishing.com www.saltpublishing.com have big plans for the coming years, but indie publishers can always do with some help so please do buy a book from them, or help by sharing or donating to gofund.me/221f0c807
Beautiful Books You Won’t Forget | Salt Publishing
Welcome to Salt, one of the UK’s great independent publishing houses. Since our founding in 1999, we have published some of the world’s foremost writers.
www.saltpublishing.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM
My lovely publisher, Salt Publishing, @saltpublishing.com www.saltpublishing.com have big plans for the coming years, but indie publishers can always do with some help so please do buy a book from them, or help by sharing or donating to gofund.me/221f0c807
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
We love it that the Christopher Bland Prize recognises debut novelists and non-fiction writers over 50. Not all of us are spring chickens 😁 Now open for entries.
#WomenWritersNet
#WomenWritersNet
The 2026 Christopher Bland Prize is now open for entry 🏆
Closing 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/
Closing 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/
October 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
We love it that the Christopher Bland Prize recognises debut novelists and non-fiction writers over 50. Not all of us are spring chickens 😁 Now open for entries.
#WomenWritersNet
#WomenWritersNet
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Last Thursday, @drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social interviewed @luluallison.bsky.social about her new novel, "Beast", for our monthly @womenwritersnet.bsky.social #AuthorInterview. You can find it with the hashtag #WomenWritersNet. Helen's own #LoveLayDown was also recently released. Here's a review!
I've just finished reading @drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social's 'Love lay down beside me and we wept' - an important mental-health #memoir. Here's my 5-star review: valeriavescina.com/2025/08/26/r... #newbooks #newbook #bookreview
Review of ‘Love lay down beside me and we wept’
love lay down beside me and we wept by Helen Murray TaylorMy rating: 5 of 5 starsAny one-liner for describing what this memoir is about would do it an injustice: it could not encompass its range. I…
valeriavescina.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Last Thursday, @drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social interviewed @luluallison.bsky.social about her new novel, "Beast", for our monthly @womenwritersnet.bsky.social #AuthorInterview. You can find it with the hashtag #WomenWritersNet. Helen's own #LoveLayDown was also recently released. Here's a review!
I'm really looking forward to chatting to @luluallison.bsky.social about her new novel #Beast published by @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social on Thursday night. Feel free to join in the chat over on our @womenwritersnet.bsky.social feed. It starts at 6 pm UK time.
#authorinterview #WomenWritersNet
#authorinterview #WomenWritersNet
September 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I'm really looking forward to chatting to @luluallison.bsky.social about her new novel #Beast published by @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social on Thursday night. Feel free to join in the chat over on our @womenwritersnet.bsky.social feed. It starts at 6 pm UK time.
#authorinterview #WomenWritersNet
#authorinterview #WomenWritersNet
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
I've just finished reading @drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social's 'Love lay down beside me and we wept' - an important mental-health #memoir. Here's my 5-star review: valeriavescina.com/2025/08/26/r... #newbooks #newbook #bookreview
Review of ‘Love lay down beside me and we wept’
love lay down beside me and we wept by Helen Murray TaylorMy rating: 5 of 5 starsAny one-liner for describing what this memoir is about would do it an injustice: it could not encompass its range. I…
valeriavescina.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I've just finished reading @drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social's 'Love lay down beside me and we wept' - an important mental-health #memoir. Here's my 5-star review: valeriavescina.com/2025/08/26/r... #newbooks #newbook #bookreview