Claire Crouchley
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bearlybeaded.bsky.social
Claire Crouchley
@bearlybeaded.bsky.social
6 followers 49 following 34 posts
A beading biochemist based in Cheshire
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Reposted by Claire Crouchley
pigeoneater.bsky.social
Had great fun building and painting a baddie marketplace for Necromunda!

www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...

#warhammer #warmongers #nerdlings #warhammercommunity #nectomunda
January 30, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
slendersherbet.bsky.social
One of the most popular and crowd-pleasing arias in classical opera, "Perché non c'è cibo nella mia ciotola, donna?" tells an emotional tale of a desperately malnourished waif and translates into English as "Why Is There No Food In My Bowl, Woman?"
January 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
Not far off 200 reviews and ratings on Amazon for The Violinist's Secret, which came out a year ago yesterday!
Please leave a rating or review if you've read it. And share widely.
#Books #BookReviews
www.amazon.co.uk/Violinists-S...
Front cover, description for The Violinist's Secret by MJ Hollows
January 17, 2026 at 12:43 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
The snow has stopped, and Maci is off to explore #proofofcat
A photograph of a snowy garden at night. A black cat with white feet is carefully picking his way down the garden path, walking away from the camera
January 4, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
gregmorosoff.bsky.social
"A Cat's Life - Wonder"
Art by Gerard du Bois

#MenWithCats
"A Cat's Life - Wonder" Art by Gerard du Bois
December 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
phantomarine.bsky.social
Happy #MeetTheWebcomic day - this is Phantomarine!

A ghostly princess must sail across a haunted sea to save her soul from a devious death god known as the Red Tide King.

Great to read if you like mysteries, Disney villains, dinosaurs, eyeliner, and bisexual lighting.

www.phantomarine.com
A promo image from the webcomic Phantomarine. A ghostly princess begins to draw her sword as she is swarmed by a sea of red ghosts. Three feature prominently - a man and a woman who appear to be twins, and a grinning plesiosaur.
December 23, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
samcannonart.bsky.social
This is where I live - the Marshwood Vale here in Dorset, England. No snow today but a frost that's permeated my toes.

'In the Bleak Midwinter'. A poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. Published as 'A Christmas Carol' in 1872.
Beautiful words.
#womensart #womenspoetry
November 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
pigeoneater.bsky.social
www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...

Cool article about the new Nations of Law book for necromunda
Bastions of Law designer’s notes – Upholding the Pax Helmawr - Warhammer Community
The police just got more brutal.
www.warhammer-community.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
@pigeoneater.bsky.social I feel like we may need a movie night
catsuka.bsky.social Catsuka @catsuka.bsky.social · May 22
First trailer for "KPop Demon Hunters" movie directed by Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans (Sony Pictures Animation).
Feat. the talented Ami Thompson (art director) & Mingjue Helen Chen (production designer).
Coming to Netflix on June 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzCA...
May 23, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
It's up to #3! Can we get it to #1?
www.amazon.co.uk/Violinists-S...
#Books #HistoricalFiction
The top 3 on Amazon for Action and Adventure Literary Fiction.
March 1, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
My new novel The Violinist's Secret is up to #112 on the Amazon.co.uk store.
I would love to get it higher! If you haven't grabbed a copy yet it's currently only 99p!
And if you have a copy, please share far and wide! www.amazon.co.uk/Violinists-S...
#Books #HistoricalFiction
Best Sellers Rank: 15,353 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) 112 in Action & Adventure Literary Fiction 150 in Literary Sagas 221 in Psychological Literary Fiction Customer reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 7 ratings the Violinist's Secret cover with 99p tag.
February 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
Oh, my. How is this for a review of The Violinist's Secret? 5⭐'beautifully plotted', 'devoured in 2 sittings.' I'm blown away. Thank you!
You can order your copy now: linktr.ee/mikehollows
#BookReview #HistoricalFiction
I found myself transported to World War 2 Hamburg with the heroine of the story, German born Charlotte Weber, who is of Swedish-Prussian descent. A university philosophy student, Charlotte through her music finds release from the worries of the war and the problematic feelings she has as she tries to navigate it. The smell of bomb raids, the tragedy of the Nazi regime, the grief, the confusion, the terror and constant fear of 'being on an anti-Nazi list' with the added touch of romance blend together to make this a poignant, thought provoking read. Charlotte's character as a young woman hopeful of a life beyond the expectations of being a wife and mother, is relentless in her quest to unravel the complexities of a war and a regime which she increasingly disagrees with. The murder of her friend leads her to lead a double life which troubles her and this beautifully plotted story narrates Charlotte's journey, mistakes, hopes and fears beautifully leading to a climatic ending I didn't see coming. Absolutely loved this and devoured it over 2 sittings.
January 24, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
Jut listened to the sample of The Violinist's Secret audiobook read by the wonderful Sofia Engstrand.
It's always incredible and surreal to hear your writing read by someone else. Sofia has done an amazing job with this one. I couldn't be happier!
It's out today!
#Books #HistoricalFiction
The cover of Violinist's Secret on a device. With some earpods next.
January 16, 2025 at 10:12 AM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
We're due a thaw next week, so I went for a walk today to enjoy the snow while it lasts. It was perfect - blue skies, crunchy snow and crisp air 😍
The sun is low in the sky, setting behind trees across a snowy field. The sky is blue, with stripes of mackerel clouds, and the whole picture is in shades of white, black, blue and gold A snowy country lane runs from the bottom left of the picture to the middle. There are a few brick cottages to the left, and trees overhanging the lane from the right. The sky is bright blue, and it looks very wintry and cold A foot path running up to an arched bridge with brick sides. Bare winter trees are either side of the path and overhanging it. The sun is low in the sky behind the trees causing long shadows, and everything is dusted with snow
January 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
hookandpinweb.bsky.social
I was asked by the kind folks at Warhammer if I wanted to have my Daughters of Khaine force in WD.

I feel an insane amount of pride and joy seeing them in here, and I hope you all like them too 💕

(Thank you Mike for these photos)

#warhammer #warhammercommunity #whitedwarfmagazine #featured
January 9, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
mikehollows.bsky.social
My next novel The Violinist's Secret is released (in all formats) a week today!
Preorders are still very much encouraged!
www.amazon.co.uk/Violinists-S...
@hqstories.bsky.social #Books #HistoricalFiction
The cover of the Violinist's Secret, featuring a blonde woman in a red coat standing in front of the Rathaus in Hamburg, with the caption'The woman who played both sides of the war.'
January 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
A very charming visitor this evening! Alert and active, and having a good forage, so I put out a bit of food which was met with great gusto 😆 I often see signs of them in the garden, but rarely actually see them so this was a delight
A hedgehog eating some cat food from a small plate with a blue pattern. The plate and hedgehog are on the ground at the back of my garden, on a mix of grass, moss and leaf litter. Everything's a bit damp, as it was raining earlier
November 24, 2024 at 3:58 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
The cats turned three today! So a good time to renew my #proofofcat 😊 They've celebrated with new toys to murder, and there will be tuna for tea 🎂🥳
A fluffy tortoiseshell and white cat, enthusiastically chewing on a striped fabric toy A black and white tuxedo cat with white whiskers hugging and chewing on a fabric toy banana
November 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
Turns out Maci is a big fan of QI! He's been intently watching for a few minutes now
A tuxedo cat settled in a loaf on the floor, looking intently up at the TV which is showing an episode of QI
November 17, 2024 at 4:30 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
Today's gorgeous weather had me heading to Snugburys (along with a lot of other people 😆) for ice cream and a chat with the resident pigs
A small tub with two scoops of very tasty ice cream - chocolate sorbet and cherry gateau flavours if you're wondering A pig with black spots having a nap in the shade A long queue of people patiently waiting for ice cream in the courtyard in front of farm buildings
July 28, 2024 at 7:24 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
Don't be deceived by the glorious blue skies, the wind would charitably be called 'brisk' on our walk today 😆 And lots of rain this morning meant we got a jigsaw done
Clear blue skies over the beach from Cleveleys promenade Rob and Dad looking cold as they gaze out to sea A completed jigsaw showing a very pretty, slightly abstract, image of a cat in golds, oranges, and blues
June 4, 2024 at 4:53 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
For such an agent of chaos, she's very peaceful when sleeping
Tortoiseshell and white cat napping peacefully in a sunbeam
April 13, 2024 at 3:27 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
My back may never forgive me, but last night/today I've taken down the old bookcases and assembled the fancy new ones
Fancy new bookcases! Sturdier, taller, and with interesting shelf and drawer layouts My old IKEA bookcases in unfinished pine looking a bit scruffy. They have done sterling work, but it's time for a change and I've found them a new home
March 2, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Claire Crouchley
xkcd.com
I recently made a comic complaining that NASA refuses to listen to my good ideas for improving the Solar System (xkcd.com/2750).

To my delight, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate has sent me an actual expert panel evaluation of my “flatten the planets” proposal! Sadly, they decided not to fund it.
February 22, 2024 at 2:45 PM
bearlybeaded.bsky.social
I just got back from a work trip to Germany, and the cats are demanding payment in full for all scritches missed while I was away 😆
A black and white cat hugging my arm with his front paws and looking blissful while I rub his chin A tortoiseshell and white cat having her ears rubbed and looking very happy about it
February 11, 2024 at 12:31 PM