Celia Lake
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celialake.bsky.social
Celia Lake
@celialake.bsky.social
Author (cosy historical fantasy romance) : avid devourer of information : librarian by day : knitter : general geek in several directions. https://celialake.com and https://www.celialake.com/links/
Pinned
A brief explanatory thread about why at least some of my content is going to be All Wars of the Roses, All The Time for a bit.

(There will be other topics! I know me. But also I have an ambitious project I'm working towards.)
Looking for an escape into a magical read? Today, February 2nd, check out the 250+ fantasy romance books for sale for 99 cents! Check out some of the gaslamp books here, including my Enchanted Net.

farosociety.com/book...
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
This fascinating thread reframed both a chunk of my life and is giving me chewy thoughts about some of my writing (especially the difficult people. Garin, but not just Garin.)
this is good. we should all do this more
A lot of tech and finance people interact with are regularly flabbergasted just how unapologetically proud I am of studying theatre and art tbh.

They're so used to humanities majors minimizing their field that when someone doesn't, it throws a lot of em off.
January 30, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Get you a cat who, when you are having a day of modest annoyances, shows up on your lap purring her heart out.

(Photo is not of cat in the current moment. My knee is badly lit, my skirt is black, and there is going to be no contrast in the picture if I try.)
January 28, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
I wrote an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle about Minnesota and you can read it here.

www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
I'm from Minnesota. Here's how to stand with us.
Call your elected officials. Donate. Get ready for when it happens to you — because any big blue city could be next.
www.houstonchronicle.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:10 AM
I have reached the stage in the Pact research where when you say "Battle of Wakefield" in my vicinity, I not only go "December 30th 1460, death of Richard of York and Edmund of Rutland", but also, "Is it reasonably called a battle?"

(Benchmarks are handy!)
January 21, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
We published two great conversations last year - this one, and between @celialake.bsky.social and @freyamarske.bsky.social. You might notice there's a fifth Friday (we've moved to Fridays) coming up this month, too...
January 19, 2026 at 2:14 AM
What are five things in your upcoming release (Distilling Sunlight, Feb 6th)

- Alchemy meets beer brewing
- Making the best of things after bad times (including the Great War)
- Turning 40
- Grief and what it makes unknowable
- Good company going forward

celialake.com/book/distill...
January 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
I needed to hear this. Maybe you do too?
If you're a writer, wondering why you should bother writing with the world on fire. It feels like it's not important, I need you to understand that it is.

Even if it is just because it keeps you moving forward? Even if it only brings YOU joy, that gives you energy to fight & survive.
January 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
A fascinating and gloriously geeky thread about language and time.
Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking?

Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.

1/
January 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
BODIES OF MAGIC, out Sept 2026: Grey's Anatomy meets A Deadly Education, a mystery set during the final exam week of a magical medical school. (Or: five queer nerds solve a murder and have some feelings.)

Cover design by Jamie Stafford-Hill.

Preorder US: bit.ly/BoM-US
Preorder UK: bit.ly/BoM-UK
January 16, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Very much looking forward to this!
Some news from me!
January 15, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
Women of Xal II has 48 hours left on Kickstarter. Black lead writer/composer, POC characters, sapphic possibilities up the wazoo, visual novel.

I really hope we pull out a miracle and fund it.

(Maybe #BlackSkyGamers would be interested? Please excuse my tag.)

www.kickstarter.com/projects/pro...
Women of Xal II
Original Game Free! The revolution begins. Can Xjena survive rising violence and The Great Silence— Xal's final extinction event?
www.kickstarter.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I loved learning about knucker holes when I was researching bits of Sussex folklore for Grown Wise - this was one of my favourite stories!

(who doesn't like a poison pie plot?)
The “Lyminster Knucker” rested in a knucker hole (deep pool) until locals woke it by dropping a bell into the water… to see how deep the hole went. This dragon was eventually slain with the aid of a poisonous pie!
#FairyTaleTuesday
Dragons, Wyrms and Wyverns: 12 Scaly Tales From English Folklore
Read stories about England's dragons, such as the girl who befriended a monster, the beast felled by a poisoned pie and the Devil's pet!
reallyweirdrealworld.blogspot.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This is such a fun set of bingo prompts (and with some great variations!)
Drumroll, please. 🥁🥹

Let me share the 2026 #RomBkBingo. I'm so excited for this one, y'all. And wouldn't you know, this is the fifth year we're doing this! Whew.

Anyways, I'll explain everything down below. Please join me again, it's very happymaking. I promise. ♥️
January 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I am procrastinating on a thing.

Which means I have:
- Got a book off to my early readers

- Tidied a bit

- And currently have gingerbread muffins in the oven.
January 2, 2026 at 7:26 PM
In keeping with my tradition of "On January 1st, do a little of all the things you want to be doing this year..."

I am now a member of the Richard III Society (US branch, also gets me access to the UK branch once they do the recordkeeping.)

This year, filled with lots of research! Is good.
January 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
It's time for the end of year @lionesselise.bsky.social many things on sale.

Elise just marked the entire "Inspired by Celia Lake" category down 50%, but check out the many other gorgeous things too.

www.etsy.com/shop/Lioness...
www.etsy.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:33 AM
How the data entry project is going: I am now through Edward III's children, grandchildren, and their respective spouses.

171 people in the family tree, 950 minutes in the last week, or about 6 minutes a person.
December 28, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Reposted by Celia Lake
hi #romancelandia friends,
let's chat about books & bring some joy to this timeline. here are some of my most anticipated new publications of 2026.
#BookSky 🧵
a penguin sitting on top of a pile of books
Alt: an adorable cartoon penguin sitting on top of a pile of books
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Plans for 2026! (Well, writing version...)

www.celialake.com/2025/12/plan...
Plans for 2026! - Celia Lake
What's in the works for 2026? Learn more about the upcoming publishing and writing plans.
www.celialake.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I was dreaming of last year's solstice extra, so here! A link.

Mari Lwyd 1927 follows the Mari through Trellech (Albion's magical city) that December. Art by @skullsandsheets.bsky.social, verse by @lionesselise.bsky.social, both of whom do other amazing art!

www.celialake.com/book/mari-lw...
December 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
The time from Winter Solstice to Christmas seems like a good time for making wishes. And Etsy made a new mode available: "make me an offer." I have dice, random number generators, calculations on exactly what leeway I have, and a wicked grin ....

www.etsy.com/shop/Lioness...
December 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Me, last night: Tomorrow, post-solstice vigil, I'll take it easy, do things not on the computer. Then Monday, I'll start the 'make all the research notes' part of the vacation.

Me, this morning: How about I clean up my research notes files! That sounds fun!
December 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
Loved this sign!
December 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Celia Lake
Do you need a last-minute present for the reader in your life? Here you go! Half off all of @celialake.bsky.social's catalogue! Romances with magic, outstanding worldbuilding, and zero transphobia, IYKWIM, AITYD. These books are fluffy cozy blankets. (disclaimer: we've been friends for ~20yrs)
Celia Lake
Celia Lake spends her days as a librarian in the Boston (MA) metro area, and her nights and weekends at home happily writing, reading, and researching. Born and raised in Massachusetts to British par...
www.smashwords.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM