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Denis Smyth Díaz

@smythdiaz.bsky.social

510 followers 370 following 140 posts

One part British, one part Spanish, with a hint of Belgian. Amateur dad and amateur writer, author of Dolores and Other Sorrows (finalist for the Eyelands Awards). Posting about literature, music, art and, somewhat reluctantly, politics.

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Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Apr 20

Huuuuuge shoutout to Librebook, @biggreenbooks.bsky.social, @allgoodbookshop.co.uk and @quinnsbookshop.bsky.social for their efforts to protect beauty and sanity for all of us.
#booksky #booksellers #indiebooksellers #doloresandothersorrows

Non-Amazon ways of buying Dolores and Other Sorrows

The world has changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Oops, sorry, I got carried away there for a second. The world is quickly becoming a scary place in an i…

smythdiaz.com

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Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 4h

Just finished Norwegian Wood, by Murakami. What an amazing book! It's like a road trip through the early years of adulthood, a bit like The Catcher in the Rye but with miso soup instead of burgers. 10/10

Cover of the book Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami. Over a red background there is a white circle, and in that circle there are stylised lines that look like trees but are actually legs walking away from each other.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 3d

Doomscrolling checkpoint.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 3d

Pretending to be fine is exhausting.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 6d

There were some minor touch-ups, but most of the story was done in those 15 minutes. It was weird and magical in equal measure. Like being possessed (I suppose! 😆).

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 8d

Sometimes the muses call you and you simply have to answer the call: 99% of the story 'Dolores' in #doloresandothersorrows was written in about 15 mintues. I got an idea and wrote it down as quickly as I could. I was at work too, and I stopped what I was doing to write the story. #booksky

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 9d

Did you know that the inspiration for the story 'Somewhere, anywhere' in #doloresandothersorrows came from the album art of a #RageAgainstTheMachine record? #booksky

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 21d

My teenage son has accepted going to karate class with me. However, I have specific instructions to go into the class by myself and to practice at different ends of the tatami, to make sure no-one thinks we're related. I'm still going to count it as a victory, though, and enjoy the crap out of it🤘.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 22d

I hung one feeding spot in my garden and that has now grown to three. I never knew how relaxing it is to watch the birdies eat.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · 22d

#bookshopday yes! I love it when the excuses to buy books land on my lap as I wake up. #booksky #doloresandothersorrows

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Sep 21

Writers of Bluesky: I'm sure there's a good story to be written from this picture. 😉 #booksky

A tower clock in a sunny town. It's 8 minutes past midday. Numbers 7 and 8 are missing.

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Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Sep 19

Airports are weird environments: people in suits sitting next to people in slippers while others have coffees or beers at 9 in the morning (is it their first of the day or a nightcap in the time zone their body is still in? )

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Sep 5

If anyone is in the Glin/Listowel area in Ireland this Friday, this could be interesting.
www.facebook.com/share/v/177q...

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Sep 4

I had a great dream today: I was being interviewed by Stephen #Colbert in the Late Show, and I got to see the band and talk about #doloresandothersorrows. Quite a nice change from nightmares about house renovations.

Reposted by Denis Smyth Díaz

Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · Sep 3

IT'S WEDNESDAY!

It's #buyastrangerabook day.

The grooviest of all the days.

I'll give out TWO books.

FOR FREE.

If you'd like one, let me know.

Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.

It's a thing! Look.

biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...

UK only

Buy A Stranger A Book. #buyastrangerabook - Stuff you might like... - Big Green Bookshop. @biggreenbooks on Twitter. Cheese fan. My Mum says hi.

The Big Green Bookshop an independent online bookshop in selling awesome titles by awesome authors to awesome people

biggreenbookshop.com

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Reposted by Denis Smyth Díaz

Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · Sep 1

"The 500 Club" update.

Raising money to send loads of books to loads of schools!

It was launched 5 weeks ago, but already, we have £220 raised.

THANKS SO MUCH

If you want to help out, here are all the details.

www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-bo...

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Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Sep 1

Random weirdness in #Brussels.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Aug 31

#booksky I finished draft 3 of my novel!!! YEEESSS!! Onto draft 4.... #kidneystone

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Aug 24

Perfect day in #Brussels: sunny weather, art nouveau and the #PompomPom craft cider festival.

View of the Royal Park in Brussels during the PomPomPom craft cider festival. Metal art nouveau structures house stands of different craft ciders from Belgium, Germany, France and the UK.

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Aug 23

The bits about how to gut a whale are a little slow, but the book is a classic for a reason.

Reposted by Denis Smyth Díaz

Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · Aug 20

Denmark to end book tax to encourage people to read

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said that the measure was aimed at fixing Denmark's 'reading crisis.' The Scandinavian country's 25% sales tax on books is currently the highest in Europe.

www.lemonde.fr

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Reposted by Denis Smyth Díaz

Orange Dick Tater Hater @realbiscuitspaw.bsky.social · Aug 19

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Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Aug 17

I'm telling you: trees in #Brussels are scary!

A tree with painted eyes and a scowling mouth. Not the kind of thing you want to encounter late at night.

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Reposted by Denis Smyth Díaz

All Good Bookshop @allgoodbookshop.co.uk · Aug 1

fed up with the world?
we have this event tonight

#comedy #standup #bookshop

allgoodbookshop.co.uk/order-items/...

All Good Comedy Club Ticket

We are hosting a Comedy Club. The Comedy Club show-cases some of the most exciting rising stars of London’s vibrant, contemporary circuit. Come & check out some of London’s emerging comedy talent, wh...

allgoodbookshop.co.uk

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Jul 28

The good (but sometimes frustrating) thing about music is that the only way to get better is to practice. I've just spent about ten hours practicing one 42-bar song on #bass. So 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 hard! But also so exhilarating when you finally nail it!

Denis Smyth Díaz @smythdiaz.bsky.social · Jul 21

I'm not sure 'debate' is the right word. A debate implies a clash of ideas, not a clash between facts and tropes. The only bit that was close to a debate was the last ten minutes. Other than that, this Jubilee format doesn't work as a debate forum.