Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
Writer of queer romance, often historical and/or paranormal. Reader, gardener, knitter, early tech adopter. Parent, spouse, disabled, carer. No longer keeps poultry. They/them. Also writes as Frances Fox. https://lnk.bio/gjD5 🏳️🌈 ✒️ 🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
· Mar 11
When I feel grim I try and practice gratitude for small things. Probably a thread.
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
Reposted by Ally Lester
New post by me on #MITPressReader @mitpress.bsky.social
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
December 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
New post by me on #MITPressReader @mitpress.bsky.social
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
Reposted by Ally Lester
Overheard in this cafe:
Two silver-haired women talking, one explaining monster fucking very earnestly
Silver 1: Well, a Sasquatch is a a hairy gentleman who lives in the woods and some people want to make love to him. They write stories!
Silver 2: Really?! A Sasquatch?!
Best OH ever.
Two silver-haired women talking, one explaining monster fucking very earnestly
Silver 1: Well, a Sasquatch is a a hairy gentleman who lives in the woods and some people want to make love to him. They write stories!
Silver 2: Really?! A Sasquatch?!
Best OH ever.
December 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Overheard in this cafe:
Two silver-haired women talking, one explaining monster fucking very earnestly
Silver 1: Well, a Sasquatch is a a hairy gentleman who lives in the woods and some people want to make love to him. They write stories!
Silver 2: Really?! A Sasquatch?!
Best OH ever.
Two silver-haired women talking, one explaining monster fucking very earnestly
Silver 1: Well, a Sasquatch is a a hairy gentleman who lives in the woods and some people want to make love to him. They write stories!
Silver 2: Really?! A Sasquatch?!
Best OH ever.
I may have found a reliable plumber. Trying not to become overexcited until he's actually put a quote in writing. Light a candle for me.
December 1, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I may have found a reliable plumber. Trying not to become overexcited until he's actually put a quote in writing. Light a candle for me.
This is brilliant. I'd love it even if I wasn't on board with their policies.
Hope is here.
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
November 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This is brilliant. I'd love it even if I wasn't on board with their policies.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Who knew that a chancellor who worked firstly for the Bank of England, and then HBOS, and who was investigated for misuse of funds before "taking voluntary redundancy", would choose billionaires over the rest of us? #ColourMeShocked
Rachel Reeves says on Laura Kuenssberg that she's asking working people to pay a little bit more.
This was all under the cover of a made up "black hole" whilst refusing to tax the super rich.
This Labour Government showing again exactly who they are and who they serve.
This was all under the cover of a made up "black hole" whilst refusing to tax the super rich.
This Labour Government showing again exactly who they are and who they serve.
November 30, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Who knew that a chancellor who worked firstly for the Bank of England, and then HBOS, and who was investigated for misuse of funds before "taking voluntary redundancy", would choose billionaires over the rest of us? #ColourMeShocked
Reposted by Ally Lester
November 30, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I regret eating this Terry's chocolate orange in one sitting.
November 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I regret eating this Terry's chocolate orange in one sitting.
Reposted by Ally Lester
In the last week, I've struggled to settle into any reading due to my house-move-induced stress levels - but I absolutely *devoured* the 2 delicious new ebooks @tansyrr.bsky.social uploaded to her Patreon 48 hours ago! Subscribe for just $2/month to grab them both: www.patreon.com/posts/tomb-o...
Tomb of Brass: The Ebook! (And Curse of Bronze) | Tansy Rayner Roberts
Get more from Tansy Rayner Roberts on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
In the last week, I've struggled to settle into any reading due to my house-move-induced stress levels - but I absolutely *devoured* the 2 delicious new ebooks @tansyrr.bsky.social uploaded to her Patreon 48 hours ago! Subscribe for just $2/month to grab them both: www.patreon.com/posts/tomb-o...
Reposted by Ally Lester
If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, you’re not in business.
You’re in organized crime.
You’re in organized crime.
The OpenAI ruling writers should know about 👀 (if your work was scraped for LLM training, this affects you). www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
OpenAI Loses Key Discovery Battle as It Cedes Ground to Authors in AI Lawsuits
The issue has been a major battleground in discovery. OpenAI could be on the hook for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars if it was aware it was infringing on copyrighted material.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, you’re not in business.
You’re in organized crime.
You’re in organized crime.
Reposted by Ally Lester
#Booksky So this event is quite slow and it’s Small Biz Saturday, so what follows is a thread about our books and authors. Queen of Swords Press is a small press focused on fantasy, horror and science fiction with LGBTQ+ protagonists. Read the rainbow! #1
November 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
#Booksky So this event is quite slow and it’s Small Biz Saturday, so what follows is a thread about our books and authors. Queen of Swords Press is a small press focused on fantasy, horror and science fiction with LGBTQ+ protagonists. Read the rainbow! #1
Reposted by Ally Lester
was there no one else to profile? a woman of color who is just really good at her craft without doing inappropriate fuckshit?
When a cancelled performer reënters the culture, we expect them to offer us a great work, channelling their newfound clarity into the finest art they’ve ever made. With his new comedy show and début novel, has Louis C.K. met the bar?
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
Louis C.K.’s Next Chapter
In a new standup special, and a début novel, the comedian navigates murky, post-#MeToo terrain: not quite exiled, not quite welcomed back.
www.newyorker.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
was there no one else to profile? a woman of color who is just really good at her craft without doing inappropriate fuckshit?
Reposted by Ally Lester
our media is so obsessed with the five famous assholes who unapologetically fucked up instead of all the people who didn't
what about everyone who doesn't "need" a second chance because they didn't expose themselves or assault anyone or move a former student into their house right after graduation?
what about everyone who doesn't "need" a second chance because they didn't expose themselves or assault anyone or move a former student into their house right after graduation?
November 29, 2025 at 8:12 PM
our media is so obsessed with the five famous assholes who unapologetically fucked up instead of all the people who didn't
what about everyone who doesn't "need" a second chance because they didn't expose themselves or assault anyone or move a former student into their house right after graduation?
what about everyone who doesn't "need" a second chance because they didn't expose themselves or assault anyone or move a former student into their house right after graduation?
Reposted by Ally Lester
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
Reposted by Ally Lester
www.celestineandthehare.com/new-collection
Goes live at 8pm!
Goes live at 8pm!
November 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
www.celestineandthehare.com/new-collection
Goes live at 8pm!
Goes live at 8pm!
Reposted by Ally Lester
Authors win discovery ruling in lawsuit against Open AI that could help prove willful copyright infringement (over the use of pirated datasets for AI training)
The OpenAI ruling writers should know about 👀 (if your work was scraped for LLM training, this affects you). www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
OpenAI Loses Key Discovery Battle as It Cedes Ground to Authors in AI Lawsuits
The issue has been a major battleground in discovery. OpenAI could be on the hook for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars if it was aware it was infringing on copyrighted material.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Authors win discovery ruling in lawsuit against Open AI that could help prove willful copyright infringement (over the use of pirated datasets for AI training)
Reposted by Ally Lester
I know this petition has much more support than it currently has. Please share far and wide. Petition to require generative AI to carry a watermark and to make it illegal to use a person’s likeness in generative AI without permission.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Require generative AI watermarks & ban using people’s likeness without consent
As AI generated content becomes increasingly realistic, we think laws should be put in place to prevent misuse. All such media should carry a permanent watermark or disclosure, alongside a blanket ban...
petition.parliament.uk
November 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I know this petition has much more support than it currently has. Please share far and wide. Petition to require generative AI to carry a watermark and to make it illegal to use a person’s likeness in generative AI without permission.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Reposted by Ally Lester
Also a brief note on the Adakari Empire. They're essentially in control of the southern half of the continent (barring a small group of islands who're essentially the 'one small village of indomitable Gauls' from the Asterix books) and would very much like to add the northern half as well,
(Efir's a small enough country that it can't stand against the Adakari Empire's forces without outside help. It's also the bulwark protecting all the states north of it - including Sacaan - from the Adakari advance, so there's more than a wee bit of self-interest in those contracts as well)
November 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Also a brief note on the Adakari Empire. They're essentially in control of the southern half of the continent (barring a small group of islands who're essentially the 'one small village of indomitable Gauls' from the Asterix books) and would very much like to add the northern half as well,
Reposted by Ally Lester
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline
Reposted by Ally Lester
#BOOKSALE at First for Romance
My books from as little as 69c. #romance #books #LGBTQ+
firstforromance.com/index.php?ro...
My books from as little as 69c. #romance #books #LGBTQ+
firstforromance.com/index.php?ro...
November 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
#BOOKSALE at First for Romance
My books from as little as 69c. #romance #books #LGBTQ+
firstforromance.com/index.php?ro...
My books from as little as 69c. #romance #books #LGBTQ+
firstforromance.com/index.php?ro...
Reposted by Ally Lester
Perhaps you’d like a book for company, celebration, or escape this weekend? My lovely publisher @jms-books.com is having a sale - come support a small #lgbtq publisher! (Also a good time to grab something of mine, if there’s a story you might like? Historical or fantasy or paranormal #romance ? 🏳️🌈📖)
November 28, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Perhaps you’d like a book for company, celebration, or escape this weekend? My lovely publisher @jms-books.com is having a sale - come support a small #lgbtq publisher! (Also a good time to grab something of mine, if there’s a story you might like? Historical or fantasy or paranormal #romance ? 🏳️🌈📖)
I have written a load of queer romance books. You can find them at allester.co.uk/find-books.
I haven't published anything new for two years, because Circumstances, but there's plenty to get stuck in to there if you've not tripped over my work before 😻
Also do not ask me how my writing is going!
I haven't published anything new for two years, because Circumstances, but there's plenty to get stuck in to there if you've not tripped over my work before 😻
Also do not ask me how my writing is going!
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS! Do not ask me how my writing is going.
Because @lollardfish.bsky.social says we should promote our books: utpress.utexas.edu/9781477313138/
November 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I have written a load of queer romance books. You can find them at allester.co.uk/find-books.
I haven't published anything new for two years, because Circumstances, but there's plenty to get stuck in to there if you've not tripped over my work before 😻
Also do not ask me how my writing is going!
I haven't published anything new for two years, because Circumstances, but there's plenty to get stuck in to there if you've not tripped over my work before 😻
Also do not ask me how my writing is going!
Rule to live by, though.
This is possibly my favorite product answer yet:
Q: Will this deodorizing spray get rid of dead animal smell?
A: Yes, but you need to remove the dead animal or you will need to keep applying it.
Q: Will this deodorizing spray get rid of dead animal smell?
A: Yes, but you need to remove the dead animal or you will need to keep applying it.
November 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Rule to live by, though.
MERL does it again!
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 27, 2025 at 1:53 PM
MERL does it again!
Reposted by Ally Lester
"Left on the economy, right on culture" is also, as needs repeating a hundred thousand time, the central lie of fascism.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
November 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
"Left on the economy, right on culture" is also, as needs repeating a hundred thousand time, the central lie of fascism.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.