Kay Beecraft
LightNews LightNews
banner
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Kay Beecraft
@kaybeecraft.bsky.social
1.5K followers 410 following 1.2K posts
Writer of historical romance & fantasy. Current: edits of Guenevere & Arthur retelling. Also: medieval illuminations, historical costumer, Romano-Briton archeology, fashion and textile history. 🍉😷
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
Folklore has linked Cadbury Castle #Somerset to King Arthur for centuries

The ostensibly sober #OrdnanceSurvey once got in on this with an overtly definitive identification of the hillfort as 'Camelot'

So it must be true

(Please note, other Camelots are available)

#HillfortsWednesday
Inked line drawing of an Iron Age hillfort with contours, haschures and Gothic text
October 15, 2025 at 7:42 AM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
I know amongst the chaos of *gestures broadly* this may get lost. But, my heart is beyond shattered. Saleh was a vibrant, unyielding flame. Just yesterday I was liking his posts about the ceasefire and watching him play with his cat. May his joyful spirit continue to embolden us all.
wearthepeace.bsky.social Wear The Peace @wearthepeace.bsky.social · Oct 12
The beloved Saleh Al-Jafarawi has been murdered. We are absolutely devastated. For 2 years he reported on the genocide of his people, just for him to be murdered during the ‘ceasefire’
October 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
msbtterswrth.altgov.info
Hot off the presses! If you need a bigger size to print your stickers let me know!
The Portland frog as a founding father, surround by the words "give me ribberty or give me death"
October 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
joshuajfriedman.com
One of my favorite anecdotes from THE PREHISTORY OF THE FAR SIDE: "That doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know."
A few days after this cartoon was published, my syndicate received a very indignant letter from someone representing the Jane Goodall Institute. Not only did my syndicate and I both get read the Riot Act, there was a vague implication that litigation over this cartoon might be around the corner. I was horrified. Not so much from a fear of being sued (I just couldn't see how this cartoon could be construed as anything but silly, but because of my deep respect for Jane Goodall and her well-known contributions to pri-matology. The last thing in the world I would have intentionally done was offend Dr. Goodall in any way. Before I had a chance to write my apology, another complication arose. The National Geographic Society contacted my syndicate and expressed a desire to reprint the cartoon in a special centennial issue of their magazine. My editor, aware of what had just occurred, declined, explaining why. Apparently, whoever it was that sent the inquiry from National Geographic was shocked. They told my editor that "that doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know." They did some checking themselves, and an interesting fact was eventually discovered: Jane Goodall loved the cartoon. Furthermore, she was totally unaware that any of this "stuff" was going on. Some phone calls were made, and the cartoon was not only reprinted in the centennial issue of National Geographic, but was also used by her Institute on a T-shirt for fund-raising purposes. I've since had an opportunity to visit Dr. Goodall at her research facility in Gombe. It's a wonderful place (sort of like right out of National Geographic). "To refer to Dr. Goodall as a tramp is inexcusable even by a self-described 'loony' as Larson. The cartoon was incredibly offensive and in such poor taste that readers might well question the editorial judgment of running such an atrocity in a newspaper that reputes to be supplying news to persons with a better than average intelligence. The cartoon and its message were absolutely stupid." —Excerpt from the above-mentioned letter that started the ruckus
October 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Mohamad grows the prettiest plants. 🖤
October 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
A most magical time of year: ghost season in York! ✨

(Also, a slight cheating nod to #RomanSiteSaturday with a quick peek of the Eboracum fortress walls. 👀)
A ghostly wire figure depicting a woman in a dress playing a violin standing in the lush garden of the Yorkshire Museum with a bit of stone wall peeking out from the trees behind her.
September 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Going to bump this search with some #RomanSiteSaturday eye candy: the stunning stonework at Vindolanda Roman fort in Northumberland, in use from the 1st-4th c. AD. The fort is associated with Hadrian's wall and may very well have served as a an oversight hub during the wall's construction.

📸: me
Set against a moody backdrop of grey, rain-laden clouds and emerald quilted hills, the stonework remains of a Roman fort nestle into the sodden clay and grass.
September 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
bookshop.org
Whatever you do, please don’t stop reading.

Read for joy. Read for education. Read for resistance. Read banned books. Read books by marginalized authors. Read about experiences that differ from your own.

Just. Keep. Reading.
September 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
hystericalblkns.bsky.social
If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.
The new TOC from academia dot edu. By creating an Account with Academia.edu, you grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable license, permission, and consent for Academia.edu to use your Member Content and your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness, city, institutional affiliations, citations, mentions, publications, and areas of interest) in any manner, including for the purpose of advertising, selling, or soliciting the use or purchase of Academia.edu's Services.
September 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Hey, UK #Roman and #RomanoBriton friends. Does anyone know anything about the Yorkshire jet trade during the 2nd-5th c. AD? Or know of any resources that might be worth checking? I'm struggling to find anything more beyond our amazing extent jewelry discoveries. Thank you!
September 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Caught @merchantshallyork.org wearing a puffball hat this afternoon.
A view from the gardens of the brick and sandstone chapel of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, sitting against a bright blue sky with a wee puff cloud centered directly atop the roof point.
August 31, 2025 at 3:31 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
When I say I want Yorkshire jet, this is what I mean. 😍😭
August 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
meadekrosby.bsky.social
Me: this is great, glad to see authors ripped off by AI getting their due.

Me after using the search tool: I am one of these ripped off authors.

Academics, it only takes a minute. Seven of my papers are in this and I had no idea.
alexdecampi.bsky.social Alex de Campi @alexdecampi.bsky.social · Aug 27
There are tons of graphic novels, academic papers, film and TV scripts, & prose novels/nonfiction on the LibGen list Anthropic used.

As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how

Part 1: is your work in Libgen?

www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
courtneymilan.com
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
arstechnica.com Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Aug 27
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
rikergoogling.bsky.social
holodeck program practice nazi punching
August 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
authorsguild.org
A federal court ruled that ANTHROPIC illegally copied MILLIONS of books to train its AI.

All authors and publishers whose books were downloaded by Anthropic from pirate websites are subject to receiving compensation. This could involve your work.

For more info: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...
"Graphic with 'Anthropic' logo on left, circuit-like design. Right text reads: 'Authors: You May Be Part of This Class Action Lawsuit. Anthropic AI Lawsuit Explained.' Modern, tech-themed design."
August 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
✍️ Six of the best – historic Yorkshire buildings

The latest in our series of "six of the best" considers a field in which our ancient county has few equals – historic buildings

By Ian Richardson

@ricojosh.bsky.social
Six of the best – historic Yorkshire buildings
The latest in our "six of the best" series considers a field in which our ancient county has few equals – historic buildings
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
August 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
Such a mood.
book-historia.bsky.social Allie Alvis 🌷 @book-historia.bsky.social · Aug 7
I forgot to post this horrid little cherub when I first took a picture of it, so here he is to darken your feed
An unbelievably grumpy-looking cherub measuring a polygon with a compass, flanked by two other regular looking cherubs
August 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
paperbackparadise.bsky.social
Photo of a children’s fantasy book, featuring a sword welding, pageboy haircut having adventurer as he readies to defend himself from a giant cat. A hooded wizard raises his hands behind the cat. Title and copy read: Sir Jerrum had been warned DO NOT PET THE CAT Fran Eisenass Great, now it's pissed off. The third installment of JERRUM: ANIMAL AGITATOR
August 2, 2025 at 12:54 AM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." 🥺
drewtoothpaste.bsky.social drewtoothpaste @drewtoothpaste.bsky.social · Jul 30
holding him up to see the mountain hollow without the tall grass getting in his way. he can live for up to 15 years in the wild. he will remember the mountains for 15 years. i hope he liked them
me holding an immature eastern newt
July 30, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
neilredfern.bsky.social
Great to see this news and I cant wait to see it go on permanent display. We are long overdue a blockbuster exhibition on the Iron Age in Yorkshire @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @archaeologyuk.bsky.social #FestivalOfArchaeology www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Iron Age hoard moves permanently to Yorkshire Museum
The Melsonby Hoard contains 800 artefacts, believed to be one of the UK's largest Iron Age finds.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
benwritesthings.bsky.social
1. History is not a science, it's poems about ghosts.
benwritesthings.bsky.social Ben Miller @benwritesthings.bsky.social · Jul 26
come at me
calthalas.bsky.social Mateusz Fafinski @calthalas.bsky.social · Jul 25
One like, one history opinion
July 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
I love when poets make me weep for beauty. 🥺
jamberee13.bsky.social Fossilized Tree Resin @jamberee13.bsky.social · Jan 26
I love moths. I love how there are so many, I love how they find the moon in every lamp light
July 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
kaybeecraft.bsky.social
I will scream about this until my last breath.

REQUEST THE BOOKS AT YOUR LIBRARY.

Your library will happily try and make that work for you. Author gets support. Library gets support. You can check it out for free!
July 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Kay Beecraft
rosemaryk96.bsky.social
RIP scribes of medieval Arthurian literature. You would have loved Booktok. #medievalsky #booksky
July 24, 2025 at 10:52 PM