Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Julie (Mae) Cohen

@juliecohen.bsky.social

6.8K followers 780 following 1.2K posts

Author. Immigrant. Queer. Owned by dog. PhD student University of Reading. Usually pissed off, but like in a funny way. Latest novels: BODY COUNT (UK) and EAT SLAY LOVE (US). Next novel: PARADISE (Nov ‘25)

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · Jun 10

SAFFY’S BACK…AND SHE’S GETTING SEX THERAPY 🔪🔪🔪
So my next novel BODY COUNT is a sequel to BAD MEN but to be honest you can read it as a standalone too if you like murderous women. It is out on 14 August in the UK, and you can pre-order a SIGNED COPY: bertsbooks.co.uk/product/body...

Cover of BODY COUNT, which is lilac and has a blood-red lipstick

A definition card:

BODY COUNT (noun)
1. The number of people that someone has had sex with. Popular especially in misogynistic internet circles, to shame women for being sexually active. ‘I’m a high value man and I want a virgin, not a slut with tattoos and a high body count.’
2. The number of people that someone has killed.

2 5 11

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 1d

My alarm clock this morning here in France

A big window in an old house. Between the shutter and the pane is a pigeon. He is very noisy and his name is Pascale

1 2 9

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 4d

This is why I tell everyone not to give up the day job…but if you are lucky enough so that being an author IS your day job, it is very difficult not to see your work (and your self-worth) in economic as well as artistic terms.

1 1

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 4d

Very true, but also: those bills need paying

1 4

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 4d

My dog says hi

A white, tan and black collie/jack russell mix lies on a bed looking up with her black-lined brown eyes

2 8

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 8d

Shit I’m old old

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 8d

Olives harvested from my tree, to be brined and enjoyed with a martini in the spring

1 7

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 9d

Is it…

darth vader is wearing a black helmet and a black cloak

Alt: darth vader is wearing a black helmet and a black cloak

media.tenor.com

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 9d

Well I’ve killed four fictional people in this manuscript so far, how’s your day going?

a brown and white dog is sitting next to a man on a couch and looking at the camera .

Alt: a brown and white dog is sitting next to a man on a couch and looking at the camera. As the camera zooms in, the dog smiles evilly

media.tenor.com

1 10

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 9d

This is the kind of conversation I have come to Bluesky for

Footpad @footpad.bsky.social · 12d

Having now lived in France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, I'd rate the UK a close second behind Switzerland for ease of dealing with private taxes. The British have this national myth of institutional incompetence but the main driver of that is the myth itself, as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 9d

I can think of a few

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 10d

The moment when Katy Brent and I had a staring contest onstage at this weekend’s Tea Leaves & Reads festival

Two women staring at each other, mics in hand, on a stage. It was a tie

1 3

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 12d

I find this fascinating

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 12d

I file taxes in the UK and the US (dual citizen). The IRS website is a pit to hell and the HMRC website is a joy of ease

1 1

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 12d

I was on the 4th floor but I intend to try all the options

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 13d

One major benefit of being a student again is being able to write my novel in the library.

An open laptop next to a cup of coffee on a desk in a big library

3 13

Reposted by Julie (Mae) Cohen

Aysha @ayshaufarah.bsky.social · Jun 17

I told you guys

67 4.6K 13K

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 14d

The irony is I DO have pens everywhere

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 14d

Omg next time I will!!

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 15d

It’s my first meeting with my PhD supervisors today.

I have remembered:
✅ Laptop (fully charged)
✅ Notebook (new)
✅ Action plan emailed to supervisors (am a swot)
✅ Two copies of my PhD novel (written by me) (swot)
✅ Reusable cup (for tea)

I have forgotten:
❌ Pen

4 6 90

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 16d

That’s a keeper right there

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 16d

That and the glass jar of moles in the Grant museum

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 17d

Me too. I lived in the UK for 23 years with Indefinite Leave to Remain. Paid taxes, taught in comprehensive schools, volunteered, contributed to my local community. All legally.

1 4

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 19d

Whooooooo!!

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 20d

In the end I did purely for my own self esteem

1 1

Julie (Mae) Cohen @juliecohen.bsky.social · 20d

Actually he is