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Lari Don

@laridonwriter.bsky.social

170 followers 400 following 42 posts

Children's writer based in Edinburgh. Adventure novels, pic books, trad tale retellings. Passionate re stories, politics, feminism. #longcovid. she/lher

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 23d

I've never taken so long to research and write a book (due to #longcovid) so I've never been so delighted to hold a new book in my hands! I can't wait to share these #CelticTales, and @elisecillustration.com's stunning illustrations, with everyone! I don't have to wait long, it's published on 16 Oct

Shiny book on wooden table, black horse leaping across top of cover, seal wearing golden crown at bottom, wave of seawater curving between them. Title in green foil, centred between the horse and the seal: Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, Magical Stories from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany. Two names in yellow at the bottom of the cover: Lari Don and Elise Carmichael

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 46m

I have a fond admiration for plants which are still growing new green, while all the plants around them are turning gold #Edinburgh #cyclepath #determination

close up of a nettle plant from above, with neat pairs of mid green leaves. A new pair of leaves is growing in the centre - tiny, and brighter green

three docken leaves, the front one is smaller and still growing, becuase its sides are folded behind it, and it's shaped like a spearhead

green ivy leaves, with three newer paler smaller ivy leaves growing in middle. Yellow-brown tree leaf lying on top of ivy in bottom of picure

Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 17h

If you listen REALLY carefully, there are at least four different ways to escape a waterhorse in this tale. But if the waterhorse standing between you and the nearest way, that's when it gets really scary! #waterhorses #stronggirls #folktales

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 17h

How DO you escape from a waterhorse? If you listen carefully, you might find the answer in this story! Sit back, relax, and enjoy @laridonwriter.bsky.social tell the story of Kirree, a young girl from the Isle of Man, who found herself confronted by a fearsome Glashtin! youtu.be/wv6NhdtnPVk

Reposted by Lari Don

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 5d

👉 Please watch Lives Interrupted to hear directly from young people living with Long Covid. Their voices, with their message, deserve to be heard.
(also on our YouTube)
vm.tiktok.com/ZNdnq5UmG/
#TikTok #CharityFilm #LivesInterrupted

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 1d

I love telling trad tales out loud! So @florisbooks.bsky.social created a video of me telling the first tale in our Celtic Folk And Fairy Tales collection. Here’s our 12 min 'How To Escape a Waterhorse' with magical artwork by @elisecillustration.com #storytelling
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv6N...

Lari Don tells the story of How to Escape a Waterhorse, from Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales

YouTube video by FlorisBooks

www.youtube.com

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 1d

to be fair, it's mostly your artwork!

Reposted by Lari Don

The SNP @snp.org · 1d

No one will care more for this country or its people than the SNP.

Scotland works best when everyone who lives here is included, valued and supported. #SNP25

Graphic with John Swinney MSP speaking at a podium. Text reads: “No-one else will do a better job of caring for this beautiful country and the people who live here — and I mean all the people who live here.” Background is bright pink with SNP and Scottish flag logos at the bottom.

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 3d

enjoying autumn's colours, one leaf at a time #Edinburgh #cyclepath

rounded leaf, bright yellow with green veins, lying on earth and twigs

red and yellow leaf, hanging in front of ivy

bright yellow leaf, on a twig with a couple of pale green leaves; background of deep green ivy

Reposted by Lari Don

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 5d

The #KelpiesPrize for Writing and Illustration 2026 is NOW OPEN for entries!
We're looking for new writers and illustrators who live in Scotland and want to make a career in children's books. If that sounds like you, head to our website for full details!
discoverkelpies.co.uk/kelpies-priz...

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 6d

Very true. Probably we should leave it alone more often!

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 6d

It is a privilege to have a garden at all and one that feeds me, at the occasional nibble level, when I do very little to care for it, is a gift. (Though my neglect means the birds and the beasties and the squirrels have a friendly habitat...)

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 6d

I've turned my writing shed into a studio so I can film wee clips about my new book Celtic Folk And Fairy Tales to share with you. I've even filmed a full-length telling of one Celtic tale! Doesn't @elisecillustration.com artwork look splendid on the walls? @discoverkelpies.bsky.social #storytelling

corner of a small white room, with printed A3 artwork stuck on walls, including cover image of a book called Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales, a map of the British Isles and Brittany, several illustrations including a selkie, 2 dragons, a herd of cows, and a water monster floating on a lake surrounded by mountains. Also visible are a hand-drawn picture of a market stall, a red and black poster for a book series called Spellchasers, and a black phone tripod

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 7d

Aha! Lovely to see how Elise Carmichael created our very dramatic Welsh water monster, the Afanc! The early sketches are fascinating, showing how an illustrator uses scribbled words from the written description as part of their process…
#CelticFolkandFairyTales #kidlitart #watermonsters #Afanc

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 8d

"The fanged and furry monster looked ferocious, but it didn’t eat people very often. The Afanc only ate people if they annoyed it.
However, it was quite easy to annoy the Afanc..."
How do you annoy this Welsh monster?
@laridonwriter.bsky.social @elisecillustration.com
#CelticFolkAndFairyTales

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Reposted by Lari Don

Sally Rose @sallyrose.bsky.social · 9d

Heartwarming story

Dr Delyth Badder @folklorewales.com · 10d

Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.

After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 10d

Last of the brambles! We have a variety of berries in our unkempt garden (inc goosegogs, tayberries and these teeny tiny brambles) which all ripen at different times, giving me something to harvest and nibble from late June onwards. But we’ve now reached the end of the berries this year...

a dozen small shiny black brambles, in a bright green colander, on a spotty table cloth

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 12d

Balor is not a friendly-looking giant, is he? And the pulley to lift his drooping eyelid is a complex mix of physics and magic (which, to be fair, is one of my favourite story mixtures!) Very impressed that @elisecillustration.com and the folk at @florisbooks.bsky.social got it right! #kidlitart

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 13d

"Balor was huge, twice the size of any other giant. He had one eye much bigger than the other, with a massive heavy dropping eyelid pierced by an ivory ring, linked by ropes to ten more rings in his bristly eyebrow..."
@laridonwriter.bsky.social @elisecillustration.com
discoverkelpies.co.u...

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 12d

discoverkelpies.co.uk/books/tradit...

Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales – DiscoverKelpies

Shapeshifting selkies, cunning fairies, duelling dragons and bloodthirsty giants: discover stories of myth, magic and mischief retold for children by an award-winning Scottish author in this stunning ...

discoverkelpies.co.uk

Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 12d

No, I don't sell books on my website, but you can buy my books from my publishers (link below) or real bookshops or bookshop.org Thanks for asking!

Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

bookshop.org

Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 13d

Oooh, what a lovely review, from one of my favourite writers of magic! I'm delighted you enjoyed our #CelticTales, @sophieanderson.bsky.social !

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 15d

Travel to the magical Celtic lands to meet shapeshifting selkies, duelling dragons, and a terrifying waterhorse...
Thanks to @sophieanderson.bsky.social for this brilliant review of Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales by @laridonwriter.bsky.social & @elisecillustration.com
discoverkelpies.co.u...

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 18d

This is gorgeous! Fascinating to see how the #selkie girl changed over time. (I only met the final version...) What wonderful work by @elisecillustration.com and indeed the fabulously creative folk of @florisbooks.bsky.social #theevolutionofaselkie #kidlitart #celticfolkandfairytales

DiscoverKelpies @discoverkelpies.bsky.social · 18d

From first rough to final illustration! We love @elisecillustration.com interpretation of the selkie princess in @laridonwriter.bsky.social retelling of The Selkie Hunter in Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales. What differences can you spot between the first sketch and the final artwork?

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Reposted by Lari Don

The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 19d

STV have been urged to reverse the decision to axe its north of Scotland news programme

STV urged to reverse 'woeful' decision to axe north of Scotland news programme

www.thenational.scot

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Reposted by Lari Don

Floris Books @florisbooks.bsky.social · 26d

Thank you for the fantastic review @sarahbroadley.bsky.social! 🧸💛

My Book Corner @mybookcorner.bsky.social · 27d

Abdullah's Bear Needs A Name by Yasmin Hanif, Illustrated by Sophie Benmouyal
🧸📚🎉

A heart-warming story of family connection and tradition.

Review by @sarahbroadley.bsky.social

@sophiebenmouyal.bsky.social
@Florisbooks.bsky.social
#pb#childrensbooks#childrensbooksillustration#kidlitYasminHanif

Picture shows the front cover of the book Abdullah's Bear Needs A Name by Yasmin Hanif, Illustrated by Sophie Benmouyal

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 21d

Glad you are excited about it! Hope you enjoy it...

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 21d

Ah yes, sorry if the Oct date in my post got your hopes up. The book takes a wee bittie longer to travel the Atlantic! And I hope your family in Ireland enjoy what I've done with some ancient Irish mythology!

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Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 21d

(Do let me know what you think when you get hold of it!)

Lari Don @laridonwriter.bsky.social · 21d

That's great to know! Stories are very much for sharing and passing on. Delighted that you found Breaking the Spell and Tam Linn useful! Hope this next book inspires you as well ...