Francesca Astraea
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francescaswords.bsky.social
Francesca Astraea
@francescaswords.bsky.social
🌙Author, scriptwriter, stationery enthusiast and sensitivity reader🧿
📍Southend & Bath. Buried in, or underneath, a book
🌺Mostly at the No 1 Readers’ Club and my newsletter these days!
Portfolio & links: https://francescaswords.com/
New blog! All about books I read this year that I'd like to inflict on the masses: francescasthoughts.com/2025/12/21/b...
Also I am out of office, spiritually and physically, for at least a week but probably a fortnight, so, happy days-are-getting-longer and peace for all in 2026, et cetera.
December 22, 2025 at 7:45 AM
From now til January, Folksy orders will be processed in early Jan. But I still have digital gifts available! (And if they are for yourself, then, good for you.)

#IndieAuthor #BookSky #Ebooks #SmashWords
From 20th Dec, shop orders will be processed in January. Looking for a Francesca's Words gift you can send in moments?
⚖️ ROTTING TREES ebook 50% off: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...
✒️ Gift up to a year of the No. 1 Readers' Club: www.patreon.com/FrancescasWo...

#BookSky #IndieAuthor
December 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
This is Copper. He's trying to make you a fancy Italian meal. Just needs help tracking down some sauce and meatballs, then dinner will be served. 13/10 (TT: spy_v13)
December 18, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
I'm so tired I read this as "last porridge dates" which is possibly also true?

But if you're sending a last-minute bookish gift to pals in the UK, use Bookshop org UK not Am*zon!
PSA: Last postage dates in time for Christmas 🎄

2nd Class 19 DEC 3pm | 1st Class 21 DEC. Royal Mail, tracked.
Free shipping over £25.

Deliveries are offset in partnership with Carbon Neutral Britain, and arrive in 100% recyclable cardboard packaging.

Avoid Amazon, Shop Small! Bookshop.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
From 20th Dec, shop orders will be processed in January. Looking for a Francesca's Words gift you can send in moments?
⚖️ ROTTING TREES ebook 50% off: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...
✒️ Gift up to a year of the No. 1 Readers' Club: www.patreon.com/FrancescasWo...

#BookSky #IndieAuthor
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
Excuse me—may I interest you (and anyone else you know who might be interested) in an em-dash, a parenthetical, and an oxford comma?
December 13, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Last calls for Folksy orders for delivery by Christmas! Orders placed after 15th Dec may not arrive by the 25th.

folksy.com/shops/france...

#SmallBusiness #ShopSmall #IndieBooks #BookSky
December 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
Psst, the ebook of ROTTING TREES is half price until 1st Jan via Smashwords. (And you can send Smashwords ebooks to any e-reader!) Just use code SEY50. You can grab hundreds of other ebooks on sale too! www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...

#SmashWords #EOYSale25 #Ebooks #YANovels
December 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
ICYMI: The impact of small creative businesses in the UK in international markets is outstripping the rest of the economy says a new report from Newcastle University, with publishing exports rising in particular 👇 #BookSky
Newcastle University research highlights how small UK publishing businesses are booming overseas
ebx.sh
December 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Psst, the ebook of ROTTING TREES is half price until 1st Jan via Smashwords. (And you can send Smashwords ebooks to any e-reader!) Just use code SEY50. You can grab hundreds of other ebooks on sale too! www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...

#SmashWords #EOYSale25 #Ebooks #YANovels
December 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
💥 Seventy thousand women have now signed our letter. Seventy thousand women saying clearly that exclusion is not in our name and that trans people deserve dignity, safety and belonging.

🙏 Sign and share: notinourname.org.uk

#NotInOurName #Love #Inclusion #WomenUnite
December 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Last event of the year TODAY in Commons at Newton Park for #BathSpa Students' Union's festive fair! Book merch, signed books and folklore stationery ahoy. See you there 10am-3pm!

#WinterMarket #Bath #WinterWonderWeek
December 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
More than 68,000 women have already added their names to our letter in solidarity - Together we are showing that trans exclusion is not being done in our name.

You can join us and help keep the momentum growing…

✍️ Sign here: notinourname.org.uk
🔄 Please share to help us reach even more supporters
December 7, 2025 at 10:32 AM
In October I asked the No. 1 Readers' Club how to celebrate the anniversary of ROTTING TREES and people said they'd like to see my notes from the writing and editorial process. So I've made an advent calendar of notes and cut scenes, because there's no one to stop me: www.patreon.com/collection/1...
December 2, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
If you're planning on shopping this cyber Monday, why not consider supporting artists, writers, creators? Buy a book, purchase an indie video game, commission an art piece, gift someone a Patreon. Your support means everything.
December 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Happy December and a quick reminder that my last recommended postage day before 25th is Monday 15th. Orders placed from 20th Dec will ship in January. Signed books and some 10/10 sarcastic mythology-inspired stationery: folksy.com/shops/france...

#SmallBusiness #ShopSmall #Mythology #Folklore
I've re-organised my Folksy so you can see the items that are 'once they're gone, they're gone.' I have a handful more cards and pencils in reserve but the Saturnalia cards and notebooks are down to 2 each!
folksy.com/shops/france...

#Folksy #ShopSmall #Stationery #FolkloreThursday #Mythology
December 1, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
Possibly one of my favourite designs this year (which wasn’t a commission or for myself)

Sparkling, simple, elegant, striking, I may not have sold as many pairs as I expected, but each time I do it’s deeply satisfying. They’re perfect winter light catchers.
November 30, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Bath and Bristol friends, I'll be at Locksbrook Late Makers Market on 4th December (5-9pm) with signed copies of my books plus merch and end-of-line stationery. It will be excellently cosy and there will be top notch local artisans there!

www.bathspa.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

#Bath #Bristol #BathSpa
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Thinking of gifting your loved ones a book or two this Christmas? I read through the reviews of ROTTING TREES to figure out if the audience I thought I was writing for is the same audience who are reading it: wp.me/pGREj-4Ub

(kind of) (mostly) (ish)

#BookBlog #YANovel #YAReads
Sometimes people ask me who ROTTING TREES is for. I went through reviews to find out:

francescasthoughts.com/2025/11/18/r...

#BookSky #BookReviews #BookBlog
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I've re-organised my Folksy so you can see the items that are 'once they're gone, they're gone.' I have a handful more cards and pencils in reserve but the Saturnalia cards and notebooks are down to 2 each!
folksy.com/shops/france...

#Folksy #ShopSmall #Stationery #FolkloreThursday #Mythology
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
🚨 On your radios at 9:45 🚨
I’m back on Armando Iannucci’s Strong Message Here, with Stewart Lee!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Long version will be available as a podcast on BBC Sounds…
BBC Radio 4 - Strong Message Here, Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)
Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee and Natalie Haynes decode the world of political language.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
Part 2: Toys & Games
🏺🎄NATALIE HAYNES’ CLASSICIST CHRISTMAS LIST 2025🎄🏺

Including gorgeously illustrated Greek Goddess playing cards (accompanying booklet written by me!) 🃏

hachettegift.co.uk/titles/natal...
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reorganised the shop so you can see everything that's on clearance! There are a handful more cards and pencils available in stock (keeping listing numbers low for my own sanity), but once I sell out they're gone for good: folksy.com/shops/france...

#StockingFillers #Mythology #Stationery
Less spare time than a Christmas elf? I can mail cards or gifts straight to your giftee - just email me at francescaswords (at) outlook (dot) com to liaise on messaging and wrapping!

folksy.com/shops/france...

(Great Britain only for now I'm afraid.)

#Folklore #Mythology #Stationery
November 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Sometimes people ask me who ROTTING TREES is for. I went through reviews to find out:

francescasthoughts.com/2025/11/18/r...

#BookSky #BookReviews #BookBlog
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Unsure what to get the book lover in your life this festive season? How about an urban fantasy about a girl with a cursed family necklace and the magical antiques shop she visits to uncover the necklace's secrets? And how about merch inspired by that shop?

folksy.com/shops/france...

#BookSky
November 20, 2025 at 7:03 AM