Author | Lightnews

Alexandra Almond

@alexandraalmond.bsky.social

440 followers 230 following 590 posts

Writer, designer, would-be footballer. she/her. On Bunurong land, voted YES. Debut novel THOROUGHLY DISENCHANTED won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel 2024.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · May 10

Winner of the Aurealis Awards for Best Fantasy Novel 2024, Thoroughly Disenchanted is a cosy romantic fantasy about four friends, a magical country manor and a weekend away that has lasted a century.

Available in bookstores now or online: www.harpercollins.com.au/978146076604...

Royal blue book cover that looks kind of magical, with illustrated stars and an old house lit up at night, with gates and old lamps, a dog and a horse and other random squiggles. Title Thoroughly Disenchanted by Alexandra Almond, silver sticker "aurealis awards winner"

3 4 11

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 22h

In Yarraville today... a woman in pyjamas calmly waits for a train. Her hair and makeup is done, she’s carrying a bag as if on her way to work. A new fashion? Or did she just forget the bottom half this morning.

1 2

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 1d

Ah Kim I'm sorry ❤️

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 2d

The latest from KJ Charles—All Of Us Murderers—
is a queer tongue in cheek love letter to goth horror.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 2d

Such a good question: do we want public transport to BE safe or to FEEL safe? And the comments get into whether the unsafe view is driven by users or non-users, and how putting more security on PT can make it better and worse.

Jarrett Walker @humantransit.bsky.social · 3d

Do we want public transit to *be* safe or *feel* safe? This paragraph from an @opb.org article on transit security in Portland captures why this issue is so hard. Crime is way down since '20 but some people don't feel safe. Why? 🧵 1/

www.opb.org/article/2025...

2 13

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 3d

And the sequel to Waiting for the Flood—Chasing the Light—which is included in the latest release, is even better. I went from Team Edwin to Team Marius in about 2 pages.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 3d

What a lovely thread! Here's my comfort read shelf. Lots of crossover with other mentions but ones I don't think I've seen include In Other Lands, Swordcrossed, Yield Under Great Persuasion, Waiting for the Flood.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 4d

Inspired by Shohei Ohtani's best baseball game of all time (he’s both a pitcher and a batter, and on Friday nobody hit any of his pitches, and he hit 3 home runs) I'm rereading @catswrites.bsky.social's You Should Be So Lucky and it's heartwarmingly lovely.

www.si.com/mlb/shohei-o...

Shohei Ohtani Plays Most Magnificent Game of All Time to Lead Dodgers to Pennant

The laws of human performance could no longer contain the three-time MVP as he completely took over Game 4 of the NLCS to sweep the Brewers.

www.si.com

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 6d

Got to see the touring Archibald Prize exhibition at Geelong last night. They were all excellent but this one was my fave.
staging.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/media/prize_...

A painting of Kalkadunga man William Barton with his didgeridoo. He is smiling at the camera, a geniunely happy smile that invites you in. There is a bookcase and a couch in the background, and light coming from the left. It is a hopeful portrait.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 8d

Terrific article from Van Badham on AI: "If your business model is theft and slavery, you’re not an industry. You’re a pirate."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

AI might be creating a ‘permanent underclass’ but it’s the makers of the tech bubble who are replaceable | Van Badham

Despite the relentless insistence of tech’s grifters, AI is not industrially inevitable – or even sustainable. Which is why it is time to push back

www.theguardian.com

1 2 12

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 8d

Freshly baked bread for Thoroughly Disenchanted.

L. D. Lewis, Peach Jolly Rancher 🍬 @ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app · 9d

What would *your* book smell like if you engaged in a mega weirdo scented pages promotional campaign?

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 9d

Happy book birthday 🎂📘🎉

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 12d

The thing about going in with no expectations is, you can enjoy the small pleasures. The beer is good, and it’s not raining.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 12d

Dad and I snared a balcony seat to watch the saints beat the pies today

A selfie of a smiling man and woman wearing Collingwood scarves, two beers sit on a railing with a footy ground in the background.

1 4

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 14d

My new favourite word

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 17d

Happy (belated) book birthday to @amyhuttonauthor.bsky.social for Ghosted 📘🎉🎂

This is a lovely paranormal romance, a perfect blend of spooky and romantic, and just in time for Halloween 👻❤️

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Alexandra Almond's review of Ghosted

I do love a second-chance romance, and this is the perfect blend of spooky and romantic. Sparks fly when ghostbuster Holly and paranormal podcaster Callum are thrust together into a life-or-death gh...

www.goodreads.com

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 18d

On my way home from #conflux19 and what a beautiful way that was to spend a weekend. Met some new friends, got inspired to write, and enlarged the TBR pile (quite a bit, actually). Win-win-win 🏆

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 18d

There are many excellent consultancies who do great work and won’t use AI. Hit me up, I’ll give you some names (hint, none of the big 4 will be there)

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 18d

Back in August several academics raised concerns that a Deloitte report to government may have been generated using AI. Deloitte denied this and put the citation errors down to poor editing.

Anyway, Deloitte are refunding the government $440,000 for a report that was written using AI.

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 18d

The Satin Bowerbird needs your help! Vote now to make sure it stays in the running.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Australian bird of the year 2025: vote for your favourite #birdoftheyear in the Guardian / BirdLife Australia poll

From little penguins to (very big) cassowaries, every bird has its fans. Vote for your favourite in the 2025 Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll

www.theguardian.com

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 21d

I'm on my way to #conflux19

It's my first sci-fi and fantasy con! Sorry #romancelandia it's not you, it's me—I'm looking to broaden my happy endings. This could work out for both of us, though.

Poster advertising Conflux 19 on 3-6 October 2025 with the panels Alexandra is appearing on: Saturday 11.30 Food Glorious Food and Sunday 12.30 Love Is The Drug

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 22d

All books reviewed on goodreads in more detail www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Alexandra Almond’s 'read' books on Goodreads (466 books)

Alexandra Almond has 466 books on her read shelf: After The Siren by Darcy Green, By Marsh and by Moor by Annick Trent, In the Long Run by Emma Mugglesto...

www.goodreads.com

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 22d

15 books read in September. Special call out to the two new Melbourne-set romances, After the Siren (queer footy!) from @darcygreenwrites.bsky.social and In The Long Run (runners and dogs and french pastries!) from Emma Mugglestone.

Image is of 15 book covers, mostly looking like comfort reads (there's a lot of Cat Sebastian and T. Kingfisher in there). Text says: September Reads featuring two new Aussie romances set in Melbourne.

2 2

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 22d

Now THIS is an LLM I can get behind

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 23d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

2 3

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 23d

I can't even...

“Why is it a radical notion that artists should be compensated for their work?”

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 24d

Productivity commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations

Productivity commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The productivity commission is under fire for failing to consult artists or model the impact of a key recommendation in its AI report on the creative industry, as the creative community urges the government not to allow data mining exemptions for big tech companies to train AI models. First Nations rapper Adam Briggs said it would be “hard to get genie back in the bottle” if Australia allowed companies to access Australian creativity without fair pay. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 24d

Congrats Rick Morton on a huge win. I have bought this book, but haven't read it because I'm worried it will break me. Can't imagine what writing it must have been like.

Rick Morton @squigglyrick.bsky.social · 25d

What a ride. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Writing the book on Robodebt drove Rick Morton mad. Now it's won him $80k

Journalist Rick Morton didn't want to write a book about Robodebt. Now that book, Mean Streak, has won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for non-fiction.

www.abc.net.au

Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · Sep 23

Wow, that’s the last thing I’d have thought you’d have trouble with, based on, you know, reading your books 😊