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Maggie Womersley

@maggiewomersley.bsky.social

460 followers 640 following 440 posts

Writer - Young Adult, NA, Middle Grade/ Winner of Cheshire Novel Prize for Kids 2023/ Undiscovered Voices Deputy Chair/ CNP 2024 Judge/ Likes Spooky stuff, quirky brain science, making dolls and doll houses (don't judge me).

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Nov 18

Hello, I'm Maggie, and I'm here for the books, the writers, the weird and the cats. I'm also interested in birds, especially covids; dolls, and people who make them; brilliant brains - in heads not jars; TV and film. I used to be a TV archive film researcher, now I write. That's me, who are you?

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

Doors, windows, holes, spirals. Pick a portal now.

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 21h

Portals found on walks this week.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

Oh Lordy, how shamelessly frilly is this?!

poetrader.bsky.social @poetrader.bsky.social · 1d

#Alphabetchallenge #Weekpforpink

The pink iris Happenstance with red azalea backdrop from spring.

A frilly pink iris whitening around the pink-coral beards. Background is blooming red azalea bush.

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

Amazing opportunity for unpublished authors.

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 21h

#Discoveries2026, a #NovelWriting programme and prize for unpublished women writers currently residing in the UK or Ireland, is open for entries until 12 January 2026! @womensprize.bsky.social

Head to the blog for tips on how to perfect your entry: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/how-to-...

How to prepare your entry to Discoveries 2026

Advice on perfecting your entry to Discoveries 2026. Write a novel opening that will stand out to the judges.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

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Reposted by Maggie Womersley

Scott Pack @meandmybigmouth.bsky.social · 21h

Off to teach at Oxford Brookes this afternoon. I'm an associate lecturer on their Publishing MA. To give you an idea as to how university finances are going: a few years ago I did 36 hours of teaching on this module, this year I'm doing 6.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

Love an iris.

Mike in Oly @mikeinoly.bsky.social · 1d

'Copper Frills' really lights up the garden. A wonderful bright variety from 1940 created by Mrs. Agnes Whiting.
#iris 🌱

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

Interesting angle re toddler and baby books.... I had no idea they were largely written 'in house'.

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 4d

One of the things about this study is that a lot of baby and toddler books are written in house, by editors. So the study reveals the whiteness of editorial in kidlit even if not explicitly. But, big picture, this trend is unacceptable. I remember so many promises www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

‘Catastrophic decline’ in Black representation in children’s books

A report by charity Inclusive Books for Children found that of the 2,721 books surveyed, only 51 featured a Black main character, down by 21.5% since 2023

www.theguardian.com

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · 21h

I adore the cover of this book, and I can't wait to read the story inside when it comes out next year.

Stephen Daly 🏳️‍🌈 @thatstephendaly.bsky.social · Aug 13

COVER REVEAL

My YA debut The Last Death Poet will be published by @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social in April 2026.

Thank you Adams Carvalho for this stunning cover, I love it.

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Reposted by Maggie Womersley

Children's Bookshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · 4d

“It was the best writing experience of my career”: Jennifer Holm on writing her new middle grade novel, ‘Outside’ buff.ly/q64hLBw

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Reposted by Maggie Womersley

Bournemouth Writing Festival @bmthwritingfest.bsky.social · 27d

Here's a picture of Robert Louis Stevenson at his home in Skerryvore Gardens - where he wrote Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

We are super excited to host a celebration IN THAT EXACT SPOT HE IS STANDING to mark his 175th birthday on the evening of Thursday 13th November.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 13

I'm so happy me niece is into these books as now she wants to go to Athens for a visit, and I needed a good excuse.

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 4

I’m on it. 👍

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 4

Same. Ah well. Back to lurking at the bottom of the garden with my fairy-net then.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 4

You'd need fairy-sized hips for that.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 4

New YA dystopian bestseller plot in a nutshell. (Or should that be a egg shell?)

Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · Sep 4

Incredible story about an ant that lays eggs of another species (!) to create cloned males (!!) that go on to father all of the workers in the colony (!!!) www.newscientist.com/article/2494...

Queen ant makes males of another species for daughters to mate with

Bizarrely, Iberian harvester ant queens lay eggs that turn into male builder harvester ants, and some of her offspring are hybrids of the two species

www.newscientist.com

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 2

Well that’s fair enough. Good luck!

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 2

Do it!! 😃

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hands Up who leaves entering competitions til the very last minute??!! Me! Me Me! When I entered this comp in 2023, I totally left it until the last couple of days - as always! But it was worth it! And now it's your chance. If you're a SCBWI member, you're eligible -and anyone can join SCBWI.

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Aug 31

Oh yes please!

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 31

The Wizard of the Kremlin review – Jude Law is Putin in adaptation of Kremlin spin doctor bestseller

The rise of Vladimir Putin, chillingly played by Law, is portrayed through the eyes of a wily insider, but Paul Dano’s protagonist cuts a one-note figure

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Maggie Womersley

Aoife Doyle @1adoyle.bsky.social · Aug 30

I'm working on making a cosy home for all things KidLit from across the island of Ireland: think digital library meets Golden Pages with AO3 searchability. If that sounds cool ✨join my quest for world domination✨ (or just updates)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#IrishKidLit #UKKidLit #speirgorm

Fireside Stories Contact Form

Thank you for your interest in Fireside Stories! We are a small startup working to bring all things Children's Literature from across the island of Ireland into one accessible, user-friendly space. Th...

docs.google.com

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Aug 31

Can't wait to read this debut from my Undiscovered Voices 2024 stablemate (Can I say that??!!). So proud!!!!

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Aug 30

Who's spending the weekend polishing their #UV26 submission?

Two years ago, that was @thatstephendaly.bsky.social and now look - his stunning YA debut will be out next year.

If you're an unagented, unpublished kidlit/YA writer, don't miss this opportunity!

Enter at undiscoveredvoices.com

Stephen Daly 🏳️‍🌈 @thatstephendaly.bsky.social · Aug 13

COVER REVEAL

My YA debut The Last Death Poet will be published by @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social in April 2026.

Thank you Adams Carvalho for this stunning cover, I love it.

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Aug 31

This is such an inspiring story! And real proof that Undiscovered Voices launches great new writing talent.

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Aug 28

"UV was a springboard to my writing career - it gave me hope at a time when hope was in short supply."

@katjakaine.bsky.social won UV22 and now has a major deal with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social, with her book set to be a lead YA title in 2026 🙌

Read more: tinyurl.ph/JRLLM

@scbwi.bsky.social

My Journey to Publication with Undiscovered Voices — Undiscovered Voices

When I found out I had been selected as one of twelve UV winners, something fundamental shifted in my mindset. It was like being told I really did have something special, and it was worth carrying on....

tinyurl.ph

Reposted by Maggie Womersley

KidLitGN @kidlitgn.bsky.social · Aug 25

Q: I have an agent. Should I pay attention to the #KidLitGN Pitch Event?

A: YES! Agented #graphicnovel #creators there are spaces for you. Each year we get requests of agented graphic novelists from editors!

For more info on the pitch event, starting Sept. 28, AMA or:
kidlitgn.com/2025/08/01/k...

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Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Aug 30

First, read the books yourself so you'll know what you're selling. Then, be the book expert, know which books are prize-winners, frequently borrowed, good to read aloud, the talk of the playground etc, and share that. Then, offer creative ideas for how carers can get their kids engaging with books.

Maggie Womersley @maggiewomersley.bsky.social · Aug 28

I love this!

Tom Griffiths @checkemoutbooks.bsky.social · Aug 24

Fancy another alternate reads poster? There’s a wealth of brilliant children’s books around memories and/or intergenerational relationships so instead of reading Grandpa’s Great Escape, here are some alternatives. Which other books would you include? #kidlituk

Reposted by Maggie Womersley

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Aug 28

A lot of people have asked for recs of things to read after Loki, and after much whittling and pondering I have a wee poster for you. Things that Loki readers might like with the aspects of Loki that those books capture! #UKKidlit @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

A black poster with pictures of books on it. In the centre is a circle with horns on that says Loki A Bad God's Guide inside it. The title reads: Like Loki? Read these! The books recommended are Donut Squad (tagged with the following Loki-overlap qualities: Funny + subersive + junk food), Boss of the Underworld (Comedy + other realms + weird main character), Who let the gods out (Funny + gods behaving badly + anarchy), The Cheat Book (Funny + Illustrated + bad behaviour), The Boy to Beat the Gods (Adventure + gods + tricksters) and Skulduggery Pleasant (Supernatural + comedy + snark).

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