Kiera Lesley
@kieralesley.bsky.social
SFFH writer, reader, tea drinker. Aurealis award winner. AHWA. Codex. Words in: Nightmare, Andromeda Spaceways, Factor Four etc.
Naarm/Melbourne
https://linktr.ee/kieralesley
Naarm/Melbourne
https://linktr.ee/kieralesley
Pinned
2025 Awards eligibility and wrap up — Kiera Lesley
These end of year wrap ups keep coming earlier and earlier, but I’m really grateful for (and ready to see the back of) 2025! On the publications front I got to share two beloved stories with the worl...
www.kieralesley.com
Feels a little early but let’s do it: 2025 awards eligibility and wrap up 🎉
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
Just a few days left to get your 2025 Aurealis Awards entries in!
The Aurealis Awards close to 2025 entries this Sunday, November 30. Check out the updated entries list and make sure you get all your eligible work entered before the deadline!
The Aurealis Awards close to 2025 entries this Sunday, November 30. Check out the updated entries list and make sure you get all your eligible work entered before the deadline!
a cartoon of a monkey in a hourglass with the words time is runnin ' on it
ALT: a cartoon of a monkey in a hourglass with the words time is runnin ' on it
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Just a few days left to get your 2025 Aurealis Awards entries in!
The Aurealis Awards close to 2025 entries this Sunday, November 30. Check out the updated entries list and make sure you get all your eligible work entered before the deadline!
The Aurealis Awards close to 2025 entries this Sunday, November 30. Check out the updated entries list and make sure you get all your eligible work entered before the deadline!
The feminine urge to start a nonfiction book club inspired by the old uni stapled print out “readings” packet of articles, essays and book chapters.
Members all donate a reading w/ 1-2 for discussion per session
Members all donate a reading w/ 1-2 for discussion per session
November 26, 2025 at 1:09 AM
The feminine urge to start a nonfiction book club inspired by the old uni stapled print out “readings” packet of articles, essays and book chapters.
Members all donate a reading w/ 1-2 for discussion per session
Members all donate a reading w/ 1-2 for discussion per session
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
The abrupt and indefensible closure of Meanjin makes me ask, what can be done to shore up the future of literary journals in this country? How about funding the arts to the OECD average. That would mean an extra $5b per year.
With thanks to @jocaseau.bsky.social for her ever-excellent edits on this
With thanks to @jocaseau.bsky.social for her ever-excellent edits on this
Meanjin was closed – but new Australian literary journals are springing up around the country
Literary journals are breeding grounds of talent – including the new Splinter, rebooted Southerly, and First Nations journal Sovereign Texts, launching next year.
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The abrupt and indefensible closure of Meanjin makes me ask, what can be done to shore up the future of literary journals in this country? How about funding the arts to the OECD average. That would mean an extra $5b per year.
With thanks to @jocaseau.bsky.social for her ever-excellent edits on this
With thanks to @jocaseau.bsky.social for her ever-excellent edits on this
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
A reminder that writing books is hard, and if you find it difficult, it’s not because you’re bad at it, it’s because it’s hard.
November 20, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A reminder that writing books is hard, and if you find it difficult, it’s not because you’re bad at it, it’s because it’s hard.
Sometimes the only thing that’s will shift your mood is going to a beautiful, weird artist run coop and buying a mushroom bowl
November 20, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Sometimes the only thing that’s will shift your mood is going to a beautiful, weird artist run coop and buying a mushroom bowl
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
the idea is not all that counts. the idea is nothing at all until it has been lassooed, corralled, mutated, shuffled, blended with other ideas, and then expressed over the medium of however many thousand words that you have selected and arranged as best you can. the idea is a promise, not a book.
November 19, 2025 at 7:54 AM
the idea is not all that counts. the idea is nothing at all until it has been lassooed, corralled, mutated, shuffled, blended with other ideas, and then expressed over the medium of however many thousand words that you have selected and arranged as best you can. the idea is a promise, not a book.
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
Good morning! Announcing the Translunar Travelers Lounge 2025 catch-up reading party. This year we published two issues each with fourteen stories, and we've decided celebrate them all over again. We'll be making a post for one story every day, and invite everyone to (re-)read and talk about them!
November 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Good morning! Announcing the Translunar Travelers Lounge 2025 catch-up reading party. This year we published two issues each with fourteen stories, and we've decided celebrate them all over again. We'll be making a post for one story every day, and invite everyone to (re-)read and talk about them!
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
when it rains all weekend, you are required to order more books than you could possibly read in your lifetime
November 17, 2025 at 4:48 AM
when it rains all weekend, you are required to order more books than you could possibly read in your lifetime
It was at this point she wondered if her fiction themes were just culturally on brand
Why is it that Australia’s biggest cultural exports are wildly successful children’s entertainment and the most fucked up horror movies you’ve ever seen?
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 AM
It was at this point she wondered if her fiction themes were just culturally on brand
Feels a little early but let’s do it: 2025 awards eligibility and wrap up 🎉
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
2025 Awards eligibility and wrap up — Kiera Lesley
These end of year wrap ups keep coming earlier and earlier, but I’m really grateful for (and ready to see the back of) 2025! On the publications front I got to share two beloved stories with the worl...
www.kieralesley.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Feels a little early but let’s do it: 2025 awards eligibility and wrap up 🎉
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
www.kieralesley.com/news-and-upd...
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
nancy drew & the mystery of why I keep refreshing my social media accounts instead of reading a book
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 AM
nancy drew & the mystery of why I keep refreshing my social media accounts instead of reading a book
Join ussss!
It's back!
We're just a bunch of local authors sitting around and talking plots and contracts and editing woes over beer and pizza. If you're in Naarm/Melbourne and you write literally anything, join us!
We're just a bunch of local authors sitting around and talking plots and contracts and editing woes over beer and pizza. If you're in Naarm/Melbourne and you write literally anything, join us!
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Join ussss!
One of the greatest things about being in a long term relationship of any kind is watching someone you care about experience The Thing that is going to become their new obsession for the next little while
November 7, 2025 at 8:10 AM
One of the greatest things about being in a long term relationship of any kind is watching someone you care about experience The Thing that is going to become their new obsession for the next little while
New Florence dropped, window is open to let in the spring air, fresh tea in the pot and nothing left to do today except write
November 1, 2025 at 3:17 AM
New Florence dropped, window is open to let in the spring air, fresh tea in the pot and nothing left to do today except write
Delighted reading this food for thought piece by @naomialderman.bsky.social on my lunch break
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-best-a...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-best-a...
making a living vs making a life
or "can you earn money from your art?" (and is that even the right question?)
naomialderman.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Delighted reading this food for thought piece by @naomialderman.bsky.social on my lunch break
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-best-a...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-best-a...
Downside of co-writes: other people seeing your stupid laptop dances when the words are flowing and the playlist hits just right
October 26, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Downside of co-writes: other people seeing your stupid laptop dances when the words are flowing and the playlist hits just right
Legit
October 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Legit
Just backed. Apex is one of the greats, let’s help them get over the line!
There's only 5 DAYS LEFT to fund Apex Magazine for 2026, and we just unlocked our 80% goal! 🎉
@lesleyconner.bsky.social will host a LIVE READING of "The Monster Fucker Club" by @avgreenewrites.bsky.social!
Keep weird, wonderful fiction alive and donate TODAY 👽
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
@lesleyconner.bsky.social will host a LIVE READING of "The Monster Fucker Club" by @avgreenewrites.bsky.social!
Keep weird, wonderful fiction alive and donate TODAY 👽
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
October 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Just backed. Apex is one of the greats, let’s help them get over the line!
I love the idea of these, but I don’t have and will likely never have space on my shelves
lmao at the idea of having any gaps in my bookshelves
FOOLS I HAVE NO SPACE FOR YOUR WHIMSY
FOOLS I HAVE NO SPACE FOR YOUR WHIMSY
October 17, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I love the idea of these, but I don’t have and will likely never have space on my shelves
For the evening crowd…
Thrilled to announce I’ve got a story in the 20th anniversary issue of Midnight Echo!
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
Midnight Echo Issue 20
Midnight Echo Issue 20 eBook : Young, Marty, McDermott, Kirstyn, Anderton, Joanne, Ashton, Kris, Sampson, Louise, Davis, Matthew, Carroll, Monica, Lovecraft, Charles, McGregor, Brent, Schembri, David: Amazon.com.au: Books
www.amazon.com.au
October 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
For the evening crowd…
Thrilled to announce I’ve got a story in the 20th anniversary issue of Midnight Echo!
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
Midnight Echo Issue 20
Midnight Echo Issue 20 eBook : Young, Marty, McDermott, Kirstyn, Anderton, Joanne, Ashton, Kris, Sampson, Louise, Davis, Matthew, Carroll, Monica, Lovecraft, Charles, McGregor, Brent, Schembri, David: Amazon.com.au: Books
www.amazon.com.au
October 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Thrilled to announce I’ve got a story in the 20th anniversary issue of Midnight Echo!
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
My story has an attitude problem and features sisters, baseball bats and necromancy.
You can get your copy in all the places, especially here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FTYJGKQG
Reposted by Kiera Lesley
Aurealis has unearthed and reanimated a series of forgotten Australian classic speculative fiction. Ranging from the 1880s to the 1930s, this selection shows the vital contribution that speculative fiction plays in Australia’s literary history.
aurealis.com.au/store/classi...
aurealis.com.au/store/classi...
September 28, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Aurealis has unearthed and reanimated a series of forgotten Australian classic speculative fiction. Ranging from the 1880s to the 1930s, this selection shows the vital contribution that speculative fiction plays in Australia’s literary history.
aurealis.com.au/store/classi...
aurealis.com.au/store/classi...
Sunday pub write in with violet crumble stout ❤️
September 28, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Sunday pub write in with violet crumble stout ❤️
Fave short fiction read this week was The Water Dragons of Harney County by @bmorrisallen.com in Trollbreath. Whimsical, both modern and folkloric, and incredibly compelling
magazine.trollbreath.com/the-water-dr...
magazine.trollbreath.com/the-water-dr...
September 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Fave short fiction read this week was The Water Dragons of Harney County by @bmorrisallen.com in Trollbreath. Whimsical, both modern and folkloric, and incredibly compelling
magazine.trollbreath.com/the-water-dr...
magazine.trollbreath.com/the-water-dr...