Anna Iltnere
@sealibrary.bsky.social
creator of an ongoing artwork - Sea Library - one thousand books about the sea, by the sea, for everyone to borrow and read
writing a book for Facet Publishing / represented by Stimola Literary Studio
books http://sea-library.com
blog beachbooks.blog
writing a book for Facet Publishing / represented by Stimola Literary Studio
books http://sea-library.com
blog beachbooks.blog
Pinned
Anna Iltnere
@sealibrary.bsky.social
· Jun 23
Call to sea community around the world: Write a Letter to the Sea
Seven years ago, on June 4, a small room near the Baltic Sea opened its doors to stories about salt water, sea creatures, adventurous spirits, and deep secrets. The Sea Library began with books — a…
beachbooks.blog
Happy to announce a new long-term project based in slow time, snail mail &love for handwriting & the sea “Write a Letter to the Sea”. Katrīna Ģelze’s beautiful illustration will be sent as a postcard to those who participate. First letters published on sea-library.com beachbooks.blog/2025/05/23/w...
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
For @sealibrary.bsky.social and any other sea lovers.
From Durlston this morning
From Durlston this morning
November 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
For @sealibrary.bsky.social and any other sea lovers.
From Durlston this morning
From Durlston this morning
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
"Today there is no horizon. The glassy grey water blends indefinitely into the moist grey air and, with nothing fixed to focus on, it's difficult to keep a clear head. I feel as if the mist is seeping into me."
www.elsewhere-journal.com/adrift/2025/...
www.elsewhere-journal.com/adrift/2025/...
November 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"Today there is no horizon. The glassy grey water blends indefinitely into the moist grey air and, with nothing fixed to focus on, it's difficult to keep a clear head. I feel as if the mist is seeping into me."
www.elsewhere-journal.com/adrift/2025/...
www.elsewhere-journal.com/adrift/2025/...
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
In our latest subscriber-exclusive interview, Christina Riley speaks to Tallulah about the writings of Rachel Carson, seeing the world through a scallop’s eyes, and the inherent poetry of the sea.
Preview here, or subscribe / sign in to read in full: steady.page/en/caughtbyt...
Preview here, or subscribe / sign in to read in full: steady.page/en/caughtbyt...
November 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In our latest subscriber-exclusive interview, Christina Riley speaks to Tallulah about the writings of Rachel Carson, seeing the world through a scallop’s eyes, and the inherent poetry of the sea.
Preview here, or subscribe / sign in to read in full: steady.page/en/caughtbyt...
Preview here, or subscribe / sign in to read in full: steady.page/en/caughtbyt...
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
Still so many places you can imagine pirates
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Still so many places you can imagine pirates
the sky right now
November 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
the sky right now
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
The show aired on Sunday morning, Australia time, which was before midnight here. Nemo fell asleep while I listened to Julian Morrow’s phrase, “the only sea librarian in the world.” At the end, I had to choose a song to close the show with. Julian is such a clever, witty, lovely person to talk to.
November 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The show aired on Sunday morning, Australia time, which was before midnight here. Nemo fell asleep while I listened to Julian Morrow’s phrase, “the only sea librarian in the world.” At the end, I had to choose a song to close the show with. Julian is such a clever, witty, lovely person to talk to.
Just listened to ABC Radio National in Australia – "The Year that Made Me" with the wonderful Julian Morrow. Grateful to have been invited and featured. This is for you: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
The Year that Made Me: Anna Iltnere, 2016 - ABC listen
Anna Iltnere felt the pull of the sea when she moved from Riga - the capital of Lativia - to her new home looking out on the Baltic Sea. She started collecting books about the sea to try and find the ...
www.abc.net.au
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Just listened to ABC Radio National in Australia – "The Year that Made Me" with the wonderful Julian Morrow. Grateful to have been invited and featured. This is for you: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Nemo by the river
November 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Nemo by the river
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
And who could not then believe in sea gods and portals to the other world (thanks @dgplacenames.bsky.social for sharing)
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
And who could not then believe in sea gods and portals to the other world (thanks @dgplacenames.bsky.social for sharing)
I am a very happy sea librarian. Yesterday, I received 29 letters from Shoreham Beach Primary School children 🪼🐠🐋🐙🦕🦭
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I am a very happy sea librarian. Yesterday, I received 29 letters from Shoreham Beach Primary School children 🪼🐠🐋🐙🦕🦭
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
Happy to share the news! @facetpublishing.bsky.social has signed "Sea Libraries" by Anna Iltnere. Publishing director Andrew James bought world English language rights from Stimola Literary Studio. The book will be out in June 2028. Read more via Book Brunch www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Happy to share the news! @facetpublishing.bsky.social has signed "Sea Libraries" by Anna Iltnere. Publishing director Andrew James bought world English language rights from Stimola Literary Studio. The book will be out in June 2028. Read more via Book Brunch www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
my reading room for all of autumn now
November 19, 2025 at 7:54 PM
my reading room for all of autumn now
Reposted by Anna Iltnere
beachbooks.blog/2025/11/18/have-you-heard-the-news-today/ via @sealibrary.bsky.social #SeaLibrary #Books #Reading
Have You Heard the News Today?
Recently, I talked with Marta about how I’m not goal-oriented by nature. I like to set goals, yes, but what truly matters to me is the process – the journey. Sometimes the more impossible a goal se…
beachbooks.blog
November 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Happy to share the news! @facetpublishing.bsky.social has signed "Sea Libraries" by Anna Iltnere. Publishing director Andrew James bought world English language rights from Stimola Literary Studio. The book will be out in June 2028. Read more via Book Brunch www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Happy to share the news! @facetpublishing.bsky.social has signed "Sea Libraries" by Anna Iltnere. Publishing director Andrew James bought world English language rights from Stimola Literary Studio. The book will be out in June 2028. Read more via Book Brunch www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
“Since then I have kept my distance; it’s complicated. And yes, I have been afraid of renewing our acquaintance, getting my toes wet. I should confess right now: I am a landlubber.”
Letter to the Sea by Phil Ivens from Warwick, UK, written while visiting Weymouth.
sea-library.com/2025/11/17/0...
Letter to the Sea by Phil Ivens from Warwick, UK, written while visiting Weymouth.
sea-library.com/2025/11/17/0...
013: A Letter to the Sea
In May, I sent out an invitation to sea communities all around the world: Write a letter to the sea. The 13th letter arrived on September 26, 2025 – written by Phil Ivens from Warwick, UK. He wrote…
sea-library.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
“Since then I have kept my distance; it’s complicated. And yes, I have been afraid of renewing our acquaintance, getting my toes wet. I should confess right now: I am a landlubber.”
Letter to the Sea by Phil Ivens from Warwick, UK, written while visiting Weymouth.
sea-library.com/2025/11/17/0...
Letter to the Sea by Phil Ivens from Warwick, UK, written while visiting Weymouth.
sea-library.com/2025/11/17/0...
I don’t visit churches often but tonight it was beautiful
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I don’t visit churches often but tonight it was beautiful
coffee at the Sea Library with Letters to the Sea
November 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
coffee at the Sea Library with Letters to the Sea
“The sea is so withdrawn it’s nothing but a promise you’d be mad to put your faith in.”
Benjamin Wood “Seascraper” 2025
@thebookerprizes.com
Benjamin Wood “Seascraper” 2025
@thebookerprizes.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
“The sea is so withdrawn it’s nothing but a promise you’d be mad to put your faith in.”
Benjamin Wood “Seascraper” 2025
@thebookerprizes.com
Benjamin Wood “Seascraper” 2025
@thebookerprizes.com
Some of my books once lived in other libraries, marked with the Dewey Decimal System. 500 is natural sciences & mathematics. 550 is earth sciences. 551 is geology, hydrology, meteorology. 551.4 is geomorphology & hydrosphere, and 551.46 is oceanography.
November 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Some of my books once lived in other libraries, marked with the Dewey Decimal System. 500 is natural sciences & mathematics. 550 is earth sciences. 551 is geology, hydrology, meteorology. 551.4 is geomorphology & hydrosphere, and 551.46 is oceanography.
I keep asking myself… is it possible to catalogue the sea? Maybe the sea is already its own catalogue. I’m just learning to read it.
November 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I keep asking myself… is it possible to catalogue the sea? Maybe the sea is already its own catalogue. I’m just learning to read it.
The mythical pull of a library about the sea.
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The mythical pull of a library about the sea.