Declan Ryan
@declanpryan.bsky.social
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Word.
As to RVW, I couldn't care less whether he's a 'minor' (*) composer or not. His music touches the audience with an immediacy and an honesty which makes such adjectives irrelevant. It is "good" music - music pouring out from the soul of a good man.
December 11, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Word.
Reposted by Declan Ryan
I’m delighted to have a NiF on this longlist!! Best of luck to all the other longlisters 🎉 and thanks to all @bathflashaward.bsky.social
Thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social groups for feedback, and special thanks to @sarahillswrites.bsky.social and @shiramusicant.bsky.social for reading drafts ❤️
Thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social groups for feedback, and special thanks to @sarahillswrites.bsky.social and @shiramusicant.bsky.social for reading drafts ❤️
Congratulations to all 27 writers on our 2026 Bath Novella-in-Flash Award longlist. And thank you to everyone who entered. So many good and inventive novellas were submitted. www.bathflashfictionaward.com/2025/12/novella-in-flash-2026-longlist/
Novella in flash 2026 Longlist
Congratulations to all the 27 authors who have made our Award long list for the 2026 Award (Final results in January, 2026) and huge thanks to all who entered.Author names are yet to be announced, …
www.bathflashfictionaward.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I’m delighted to have a NiF on this longlist!! Best of luck to all the other longlisters 🎉 and thanks to all @bathflashaward.bsky.social
Thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social groups for feedback, and special thanks to @sarahillswrites.bsky.social and @shiramusicant.bsky.social for reading drafts ❤️
Thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social groups for feedback, and special thanks to @sarahillswrites.bsky.social and @shiramusicant.bsky.social for reading drafts ❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
It’s the nicest feeling in the world to see a post like this on the timeline! Thank you so much @nastasyaparker.bsky.social for these lovely words about The Lives of the Dead ❤️❤️❤️
I finished this book today, and loved it! Lives of the Dead mixes the (sometimes fatal-feeling) mundane days of early motherhood with retold fairy tales and somehow both draw out, ultimately, the innate power of women. Excellent writing and storytelling. #BookSky #WomenWriters
Thank you so much to @smokelong.bsky.social reviews editor @erinvachon.bsky.social and reviewer Emily Webber for this thoughtful review of my novella-in-flash, The Lives of the Dead (available from @adhocfiction.bsky.social and also Amazon) ❤️
December 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
It’s the nicest feeling in the world to see a post like this on the timeline! Thank you so much @nastasyaparker.bsky.social for these lovely words about The Lives of the Dead ❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
“I lie there, my hand in his hand, and the shiver of early morning passes through me. I close my eyes, waiting for the gulls to drag me back to the surface, but …”
@fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
@fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:46 AM
“I lie there, my hand in his hand, and the shiver of early morning passes through me. I close my eyes, waiting for the gulls to drag me back to the surface, but …”
@fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
@fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
Reposted by Declan Ryan
"I push down my girlhood when it threatens to rise in my throat"
Read this!! From @fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
Read this!! From @fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:59 AM
"I push down my girlhood when it threatens to rise in my throat"
Read this!! From @fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
Read this!! From @fionamckay.bsky.social in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Anxiety and noisy gulls from @fionamckay.bsky.social Fantastic
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Anxiety and noisy gulls from @fionamckay.bsky.social Fantastic
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Yay, Fiona!
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Yay, Fiona!
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Another stunner from the extraordinary storyteller who is @fionamckay.bsky.social ⬇️⬇️⬇️🐤
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Another stunner from the extraordinary storyteller who is @fionamckay.bsky.social ⬇️⬇️⬇️🐤
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Fiona always gives a masterclass in building tension through everyday types of anxiety, this story is so gooood!
Thanks to the lovely team at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social for publishing this story (may contain seagulls and anxiety!)
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
And thanks to @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness where it found its final form!
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Fiona always gives a masterclass in building tension through everyday types of anxiety, this story is so gooood!
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Masterful braiding by @fionamckay.bsky.social in this flash in DIHP.
"There is nothing the [gull] parents can do. They patrol the rooftops, hurling squawks of abuse at any human or animal threatening their kid. Watching from a distance. Powerless, really."
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
"There is nothing the [gull] parents can do. They patrol the rooftops, hurling squawks of abuse at any human or animal threatening their kid. Watching from a distance. Powerless, really."
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
December 1, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Masterful braiding by @fionamckay.bsky.social in this flash in DIHP.
"There is nothing the [gull] parents can do. They patrol the rooftops, hurling squawks of abuse at any human or animal threatening their kid. Watching from a distance. Powerless, really."
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
"There is nothing the [gull] parents can do. They patrol the rooftops, hurling squawks of abuse at any human or animal threatening their kid. Watching from a distance. Powerless, really."
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Check out this beauty from @fionamckay.bsky.social
'Civil Twilight' in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
'Civil Twilight' in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
Fiona McKay — Does It Have Pockets
Civil Twilight
www.doesithavepockets.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Check out this beauty from @fionamckay.bsky.social
'Civil Twilight' in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
'Civil Twilight' in @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/fion...
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Two years into publication, it’s still amazing to see The Top Road @adhocfiction.bsky.social on its travels! Thank you @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social ❤️
Whoo-wee! Some great reading ahead of me. And the Sand and Gravel chapbook is soooo tiny and cute!
@themissourireview @fionamckay.bsky.social @travisflatt.bsky.social @sandandgravelpress.bsky.social
@themissourireview @fionamckay.bsky.social @travisflatt.bsky.social @sandandgravelpress.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Two years into publication, it’s still amazing to see The Top Road @adhocfiction.bsky.social on its travels! Thank you @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social ❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
I also loved this piece by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social for reasons below. That, and it nails that (unfortunately familiar) high alert feeling. Great ending (I'd be more specific, but spoiler). ❤️
Two spotlights today featuring heroes 🦝
We loved @fionamckay.bsky.social's tense, relatable piece, the way it blurs realism and something uncanny, the way it makes us think.
Striking use of prompts: Broken Down Car, Soldier, Old Book
Read here: trashcatlit.com/the-good-peo...
We loved @fionamckay.bsky.social's tense, relatable piece, the way it blurs realism and something uncanny, the way it makes us think.
Striking use of prompts: Broken Down Car, Soldier, Old Book
Read here: trashcatlit.com/the-good-peo...
October 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I also loved this piece by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social for reasons below. That, and it nails that (unfortunately familiar) high alert feeling. Great ending (I'd be more specific, but spoiler). ❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Thank you so much to the lovely lionesses @theprideroars.bsky.social for nominating this piece of mine, In Your Orbit, for a pushcart ❤️❤️❤️
We are over the moon to be able to nominate the following pieces from theprideroars.blogspot.com for a Pushcart Prize, congratulations everyone!
@fionamckay.bsky.social
@ninamiller.bsky.social
@tomljanovic.bsky.social
@joycebingham.bsky.social
@sugarpigblog.bsky.social
@delgeo14.bsky.social
@fionamckay.bsky.social
@ninamiller.bsky.social
@tomljanovic.bsky.social
@joycebingham.bsky.social
@sugarpigblog.bsky.social
@delgeo14.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Thank you so much to the lovely lionesses @theprideroars.bsky.social for nominating this piece of mine, In Your Orbit, for a pushcart ❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
I’m so grateful to @claudiamonpere.bsky.social for her generous and kind words about my Novella, The Lives of the Dead ❤️❤️❤️
Dazzling novella-in-flash @fionamckay.bsky.social. It weaves sections about motherhood and Kate's marriage to an extremely controlling husband with fairy tales retold from a feminist lens. Gorgeous prose, deeply moving.
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m so grateful to @claudiamonpere.bsky.social for her generous and kind words about my Novella, The Lives of the Dead ❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
I’m catching up with social media, and this lovely spotlight on my piece The Good People in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 😍
Two spotlights today featuring heroes 🦝
We loved @fionamckay.bsky.social's tense, relatable piece, the way it blurs realism and something uncanny, the way it makes us think.
Striking use of prompts: Broken Down Car, Soldier, Old Book
Read here: trashcatlit.com/the-good-peo...
We loved @fionamckay.bsky.social's tense, relatable piece, the way it blurs realism and something uncanny, the way it makes us think.
Striking use of prompts: Broken Down Car, Soldier, Old Book
Read here: trashcatlit.com/the-good-peo...
October 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I’m catching up with social media, and this lovely spotlight on my piece The Good People in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 😍
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Thank you for asking! I’ve just finished The Lives of the Dead by @fionamckay.bsky.social and it’s absolutely stunning! Loved the fairy tale references threaded throughout.
September 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Thank you for asking! I’ve just finished The Lives of the Dead by @fionamckay.bsky.social and it’s absolutely stunning! Loved the fairy tale references threaded throughout.
Reposted by Declan Ryan
It’s lovely to be in the bin with all these trash cats @trashcatlit.bsky.social ❤️
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
The Good People
Fiona McKay ‘Cars these days don’t have a spare,’ the man says. Kate, looking in the boot of the car, is startled, her heart a flock of sparrows. The empty country road, her flat tyre. Where had he…
trashcatlit.com
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
It’s lovely to be in the bin with all these trash cats @trashcatlit.bsky.social ❤️
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
Reposted by Declan Ryan
"Kate, looking in the boot of the car, is startled, her heart a flock of sparrows. The empty country road, her flat tyre. Where had he even come from?"
I love this story by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 💙💙💙
I love this story by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 💙💙💙
It’s lovely to be in the bin with all these trash cats @trashcatlit.bsky.social ❤️
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
Many thanks to Group 8 @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness who gave feedback on this 😘
The Good People
Fiona McKay ‘Cars these days don’t have a spare,’ the man says. Kate, looking in the boot of the car, is startled, her heart a flock of sparrows. The empty country road, her flat tyre. Where had he…
trashcatlit.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
"Kate, looking in the boot of the car, is startled, her heart a flock of sparrows. The empty country road, her flat tyre. Where had he even come from?"
I love this story by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 💙💙💙
I love this story by @fionamckay.bsky.social in @trashcatlit.bsky.social 💙💙💙
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Thank you so much for the lovely review @madeleinewrite.bsky.social ❤️😍❤️
The final line is just gorgeous - ‘I devoured it with tears in my eyes’ 🥹🥹🥹
The final line is just gorgeous - ‘I devoured it with tears in my eyes’ 🥹🥹🥹
September 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Thank you so much for the lovely review @madeleinewrite.bsky.social ❤️😍❤️
The final line is just gorgeous - ‘I devoured it with tears in my eyes’ 🥹🥹🥹
The final line is just gorgeous - ‘I devoured it with tears in my eyes’ 🥹🥹🥹
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Thank you so much to @smokelong.bsky.social reviews editor @erinvachon.bsky.social and reviewer Emily Webber for this thoughtful review of my novella-in-flash, The Lives of the Dead (available from @adhocfiction.bsky.social and also Amazon) ❤️
"In The Lives of the Dead, the danger never fully goes away..." Emily Webber reviews Fiona McKay's novella-in-flash, The Lives of the Dead for SmokeLong. www.smokelong.com/review-the-l...
Review: The Lives of the Dead by Fiona McKay - SmokeLong Quarterly
Reviewed by Emily Webber Fiona McKay’s novella-in-flash, The Lives of the Dead [Ad Hoc Fiction, 2025] draws us into Kate’s life as she stands on the brink of marriage and motherhood. Reading this coll...
www.smokelong.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Thank you so much to @smokelong.bsky.social reviews editor @erinvachon.bsky.social and reviewer Emily Webber for this thoughtful review of my novella-in-flash, The Lives of the Dead (available from @adhocfiction.bsky.social and also Amazon) ❤️
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Delighted to be joining @laurabesley.bsky.social and the NIFTY book club for a Q&A on The Lives of the Dead 😍❤️😍
DECEMBER
The Lives of the Dead - Runner-Up in the Bath Novella-in-Flash Award - by @fionamckay.bsky.social #published by @adhocfiction.bsky.social
Live author Q&A on Sunday 7th December and Monday 8th December
#flashfiction #writingcommunity #novellainflash
bookshop.adhocfiction.com/index.php?ma...
The Lives of the Dead - Runner-Up in the Bath Novella-in-Flash Award - by @fionamckay.bsky.social #published by @adhocfiction.bsky.social
Live author Q&A on Sunday 7th December and Monday 8th December
#flashfiction #writingcommunity #novellainflash
bookshop.adhocfiction.com/index.php?ma...
The Lives of the Dead : Fiona McKay [978-1-915247-72-8] - £11.99 : Ad Hoc Fiction, Short Short Fiction Press
Ad Hoc Fiction The Lives of the Dead : Fiona McKay [978-1-915247-72-8] - The Lives of the Dead is a timeless and poignant novella that tracks one woman’s journey through the dark wood of marriage and ...
bookshop.adhocfiction.com
August 31, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Delighted to be joining @laurabesley.bsky.social and the NIFTY book club for a Q&A on The Lives of the Dead 😍❤️😍
Reposted by Declan Ryan
Back in the bin with the lovely Trash Cats!! Many thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social summer Group 8 friends who gave me feedback on this one!
HERE THEY ARE! 25 contributors to the upcoming Prompted Stories issue. Split into new and existing Trash Family for your consumption. The issue will launch on Thursday 🦝
@leighaplin.bsky.social @madeleinewrite.bsky.social @lucimcummings.bsky.social @sclly21.bsky.social @adlibby.bsky.social
1/3
@leighaplin.bsky.social @madeleinewrite.bsky.social @lucimcummings.bsky.social @sclly21.bsky.social @adlibby.bsky.social
1/3
September 1, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Back in the bin with the lovely Trash Cats!! Many thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social summer Group 8 friends who gave me feedback on this one!
Reposted by Declan Ryan
My review of 'The Lives of the Dead' by @fionamckay.bsky.social published by AdHoc Fiction
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Bronwen Griffiths's review of The Lives of the Dead
5/5: I have read a number of books in succession which have dealt with women struggling against the patriachy, and this is another. If that sounds like sour grapes, it is not! All these books have bee...
www.goodreads.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
My review of 'The Lives of the Dead' by @fionamckay.bsky.social published by AdHoc Fiction
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...