Mahua Cavanagh
@mahua.bsky.social
Women’s fiction & crime fiction writer. Diver. Dog lover. Knitter. Author of Nairobi Ndoto. Member of CWoC & SinC.
I post about writing, reading, my dogs, knitting, travel, diving, politics, expat life, & random other things.
I post about writing, reading, my dogs, knitting, travel, diving, politics, expat life, & random other things.
Yep. I’ve definitely moved to The Netherlands. #DutchHouses
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Yep. I’ve definitely moved to The Netherlands. #DutchHouses
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
If you already know how to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, the importance of retaining copyright ownership, how to get your rights back when a book is out of print, and what constitutes fair use… this webinar is NOT for you!!
But for everyone else please join us Thursday!
But for everyone else please join us Thursday!
Must-Know Copyright Basics for Authors - The Authors Guild
Copyright law is the foundation for authors’ ability to get paid for their work. Your copyright is perhaps your most valuable asset as a working writer, so it behooves all writers to understand the in...
authorsguild.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
If you already know how to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, the importance of retaining copyright ownership, how to get your rights back when a book is out of print, and what constitutes fair use… this webinar is NOT for you!!
But for everyone else please join us Thursday!
But for everyone else please join us Thursday!
That ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ feeling when your anxious dog makes a friend a week after moving. #dogsofbluesky
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
That ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ feeling when your anxious dog makes a friend a week after moving. #dogsofbluesky
It’s been a touch over a week. The worst parts of moving are over. Still lots of unpacking. Lots of life admin stuff to do. But it’s coming along.
I’m looking forward to next month when I can give my manuscript another read through. It’s ready for copy edits, but I would love another pass.
I’m looking forward to next month when I can give my manuscript another read through. It’s ready for copy edits, but I would love another pass.
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM
It’s been a touch over a week. The worst parts of moving are over. Still lots of unpacking. Lots of life admin stuff to do. But it’s coming along.
I’m looking forward to next month when I can give my manuscript another read through. It’s ready for copy edits, but I would love another pass.
I’m looking forward to next month when I can give my manuscript another read through. It’s ready for copy edits, but I would love another pass.
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
New #WriterBeware blog post: the minute the humongous Anthropic copyright settlement was announced, it became inevitable that unrelated third parties would seek to benefit...in this case, by convincing authors to opt out writerbeware.blog/2025/11/07/p...
Predatory Opt-Outs: The Speculators Come for the Anthropic Copyright Settlement - Writer Beware
The enormous, $1.5 billion Anthropic copyright class action settlement is reputedly the biggest copyright infringement recovery in history. With such a high-profile case, it’s inevitable that eligible...
writerbeware.blog
November 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: the minute the humongous Anthropic copyright settlement was announced, it became inevitable that unrelated third parties would seek to benefit...in this case, by convincing authors to opt out writerbeware.blog/2025/11/07/p...
On the bright side, I feel I’m getting good workouts in each day. Moving into a Dutch house feels a lot like CrossFit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:59 PM
On the bright side, I feel I’m getting good workouts in each day. Moving into a Dutch house feels a lot like CrossFit.
Somehow I managed to handle everything for the delivery part of our move…on my own…with our two dogs. It was stressful, chaotic at times, and exhausting.
Never again.
Never again.
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Somehow I managed to handle everything for the delivery part of our move…on my own…with our two dogs. It was stressful, chaotic at times, and exhausting.
Never again.
Never again.
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
New report on writers and the use of gen AI and their views of it, including an entirely predictable set of reactions from fiction writers who do/don't use AI in their work www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
New Report Examines Writers’ Attitudes toward AI
A study commissioned by the Gotham Ghostwriters and Bernoff.com found that while 61% of professional writers are embracing AI tools, authors, specifically fiction authors, are much more wary.
www.publishersweekly.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
New report on writers and the use of gen AI and their views of it, including an entirely predictable set of reactions from fiction writers who do/don't use AI in their work www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Detailed article in indie publisher Arcadia's opaque AI training deal, for which it is not asking permission & paying authors a pittance, unless they opt out (not how it's supposed to work: copyright is opt _in_, not opt out) Thx to @publisherslunch.bsky.social for the link slate.com/technology/2...
You’ve Seen These Books in Every Gift Shop. You Won’t Guess Who Wants to Buy Them Now.
Arcadia Publishing built its empire on small-town storytellers. Now it wants to sell their words to an A.I. company no one will name.
slate.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Detailed article in indie publisher Arcadia's opaque AI training deal, for which it is not asking permission & paying authors a pittance, unless they opt out (not how it's supposed to work: copyright is opt _in_, not opt out) Thx to @publisherslunch.bsky.social for the link slate.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Because the huge Anthropic class action settlement limits eligibility to works registered w/ US Copyright Office, non-US writers are mostly locked out. But there's a similar proposed class action covering Canadian authors (click Documents link, then Amended Notice) www.cfmlawyers.ca/class-action...
Anthropic PBC AI Copyright - CFM Lawyers
www.cfmlawyers.ca
November 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Because the huge Anthropic class action settlement limits eligibility to works registered w/ US Copyright Office, non-US writers are mostly locked out. But there's a similar proposed class action covering Canadian authors (click Documents link, then Amended Notice) www.cfmlawyers.ca/class-action...
We’re here. What a whirlwind. I think I can start to relax in another week. #expatlife
November 2, 2025 at 8:59 AM
We’re here. What a whirlwind. I think I can start to relax in another week. #expatlife
On the way to the next adventure. #moving #expatlife
October 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
On the way to the next adventure. #moving #expatlife
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Excellent news--for Australian creators, anyway (thanks to Jonathan Bailey @plagiarismtoday.com for the link) www.billboard.com/pro/australi...
Australia’s Government Shuts Down Controversial Copyright Exemptions for AI
“This is a significant moment for Australian creators and our cultural sovereignty,” says Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS.
www.billboard.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Excellent news--for Australian creators, anyway (thanks to Jonathan Bailey @plagiarismtoday.com for the link) www.billboard.com/pro/australi...
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
List of suspects for the Louvre heist:
- the muppets
- George Clooney and his friends
- the beagle boys and ma beagle
- literally any cat
- the snake from Disney’s Robin Hood
- the muppets
- George Clooney and his friends
- the beagle boys and ma beagle
- literally any cat
- the snake from Disney’s Robin Hood
October 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
List of suspects for the Louvre heist:
- the muppets
- George Clooney and his friends
- the beagle boys and ma beagle
- literally any cat
- the snake from Disney’s Robin Hood
- the muppets
- George Clooney and his friends
- the beagle boys and ma beagle
- literally any cat
- the snake from Disney’s Robin Hood
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Over the past few months I've heard from several writers who received email threats like the one below. None reported back that anything actually happened. Seems like just nasty trolling (unlike Goodreads extortion emails from a couple of years ago that did result in review-bombing)--but be aware.
![From: ANONYMOUS <no-reply@mail.goodreads.com>
Subject: [redacted], WARNING:STOP YOUR PROMOTIONS ON GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY!
Message Body:
WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR BOOK [redacted]. WE GIVE 24 HOURS TO VANISH. IF YOU DON'T STOP, WE WILL RE-PUBLISH IT USING AI TECHNOLOGY. INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME, YOUR BOOK WILL BE 'AUTHORED' BY ONE OF US. AN EXACT REPLICA OF YOUR BOOK WILL BE SELLING ON AMAZON UNDER OUR NAMES AND YOU WON'T LIKE IT! AMAZON CANNOT DETECT THIS TECHNOLOGY YET AND YOUR LAWS CAN'T HARM US! NOT ONLY IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR POTENTIAL INCOME, IT WILL ALSO GET YOU BANNED FROM AMAZON. AMAZON IMPOSES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVITY ON AUTHORS. THAT MEANS IF THE DIGITAL VERSIONS OF YOUR BOOKS SHOW UP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AMAZON, EVEN ON PIRATE SITES, YOU RUN THE RISK OF HAVING YOUR BOOK(S), OR EVEN YOUR ENTIRE ACCOUNT, SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO HOPE OF APPEAL. IN ADDITION, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S INFORMATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALS (THUGS AND RAPISTS) AND SCAMMERS IN YOUR AREA WHO WOULD DEFINITELY SEND YOU ALL TO SAME PLACE AS [redacted] - HELL THAT IS! OH BTW JUST SO YOU KNOW [redacted] TOLD US ABOUT YOU!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreif5p65olcggzbvnwbtamz2eumjcrqaweymo7ovwqtivzro7tk5miu@jpeg)
October 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Over the past few months I've heard from several writers who received email threats like the one below. None reported back that anything actually happened. Seems like just nasty trolling (unlike Goodreads extortion emails from a couple of years ago that did result in review-bombing)--but be aware.
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Just got ANOTHER complaint from an author with Lori Perkins's Riverdale Avenue Books about royalties not paid for over a year. I wrote about this problem in 2021 and it appears to still be ongoing--just amazing how pubs like this stay in business. writerbeware.blog/2021/03/02/p...
Publisher Cautions: Riverdale Avenue Books, Breaking Rules Publishing, Adelaide Books - Writer Beware
Riverdale Avenue Books was founded in 2012 by literary agent Lori Perkins of the L. Perkins Agency. Riverdale, which describes itself as a “hybrid” publisher even though, as far as I know, it does not...
writerbeware.blog
October 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Just got ANOTHER complaint from an author with Lori Perkins's Riverdale Avenue Books about royalties not paid for over a year. I wrote about this problem in 2021 and it appears to still be ongoing--just amazing how pubs like this stay in business. writerbeware.blog/2021/03/02/p...
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
We’ve been shouting from the rooftops 🗣️ about the importance of copyright registration but what does that actually mean?? Do you have to do it? Does your publisher? What elements do you need to file?
Learn how to protect your books—and your $—next week and register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Learn how to protect your books—and your $—next week and register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We’ve been shouting from the rooftops 🗣️ about the importance of copyright registration but what does that actually mean?? Do you have to do it? Does your publisher? What elements do you need to file?
Learn how to protect your books—and your $—next week and register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Learn how to protect your books—and your $—next week and register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Off for the house prepping trip. This is my first time traveling in 25 years without any knitting with me.
I have concerns, but I feel I should follow through with this experiment. (I can always get emergency yarn and needles if I need to.)
#knitting #knittersofbluesky
I have concerns, but I feel I should follow through with this experiment. (I can always get emergency yarn and needles if I need to.)
#knitting #knittersofbluesky
October 5, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Off for the house prepping trip. This is my first time traveling in 25 years without any knitting with me.
I have concerns, but I feel I should follow through with this experiment. (I can always get emergency yarn and needles if I need to.)
#knitting #knittersofbluesky
I have concerns, but I feel I should follow through with this experiment. (I can always get emergency yarn and needles if I need to.)
#knitting #knittersofbluesky
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
More on #Anthropic: @sfwa.bsky.social has created a special section of the SFWA website devoted to the settlement, with a FAQ, links to resources, & a survey for authors impacted by Anthropic's illegal downloads. Will be regularly updated www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
Anthropic FAQ - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
Frequently Asked Questions about the Anthropic/AI Settlement Please note that all answers are based on the settlement documents as of […]
www.sfwa.org
October 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
More on #Anthropic: @sfwa.bsky.social has created a special section of the SFWA website devoted to the settlement, with a FAQ, links to resources, & a survey for authors impacted by Anthropic's illegal downloads. Will be regularly updated www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
The list of works eligible for the Anthropic copyright infringement settlement has been posted on the settlement website. I've updated my blog post on the settlement with inks, general info, and what happens next writerbeware.blog/2025/09/26/b...
Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement: An Update for Authors - Writer Beware
The searchable list of eligible works is available at the settlement website (also see the update below): https://secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup BACKGROUND A year ago, a group of autho...
writerbeware.blog
October 2, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The list of works eligible for the Anthropic copyright infringement settlement has been posted on the settlement website. I've updated my blog post on the settlement with inks, general info, and what happens next writerbeware.blog/2025/09/26/b...
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Authors: You can now search the official Works List to confirm whether your books are part of the class and FILE your Claim Form to receive compensation.
Learn how: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...
Learn how: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...
Is Your Book in the Anthropic Settlement Class? Find Out and File a Claim - The Authors Guild
The court granted preliminary approval of the settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic on September 25, 2025, and you can now search the official Works List to confirm whether your books are part of the class...
authorsguild.org
October 2, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Authors: You can now search the official Works List to confirm whether your books are part of the class and FILE your Claim Form to receive compensation.
Learn how: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...
Learn how: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...
Took a “break” from moving madness to work on the blurb for my book. Made some progress, man it was hard. It feels harder than writing the actual book!
Am I the only who has struggles with this?
Am I the only who has struggles with this?
September 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Took a “break” from moving madness to work on the blurb for my book. Made some progress, man it was hard. It feels harder than writing the actual book!
Am I the only who has struggles with this?
Am I the only who has struggles with this?
Reposted by Mahua Cavanagh
Some of the best detective thrillers I’ve read weren’t Big Five—they were small press or indie. Reading one now and it's so good.
As an author in the genre, I’m always struck by how many gems the gatekeepers overlook.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
As an author in the genre, I’m always struck by how many gems the gatekeepers overlook.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
September 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Some of the best detective thrillers I’ve read weren’t Big Five—they were small press or indie. Reading one now and it's so good.
As an author in the genre, I’m always struck by how many gems the gatekeepers overlook.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
As an author in the genre, I’m always struck by how many gems the gatekeepers overlook.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
For most of my life I’ve had very sexy cholesterol. Alas, this is no longer. Apparently, genetics catch up to you.
I’ll now be on statins. It’s not the end of the world. It’s fine. Really.
I just have to get over the loss of my sexy cholesterol status.
I do still have a sparkling colon.
I’ll now be on statins. It’s not the end of the world. It’s fine. Really.
I just have to get over the loss of my sexy cholesterol status.
I do still have a sparkling colon.
September 25, 2025 at 8:43 AM
For most of my life I’ve had very sexy cholesterol. Alas, this is no longer. Apparently, genetics catch up to you.
I’ll now be on statins. It’s not the end of the world. It’s fine. Really.
I just have to get over the loss of my sexy cholesterol status.
I do still have a sparkling colon.
I’ll now be on statins. It’s not the end of the world. It’s fine. Really.
I just have to get over the loss of my sexy cholesterol status.
I do still have a sparkling colon.