Rachel Handley 🏳️‍🌈
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rachelahandley.com
Rachel Handley 🏳️‍🌈
@rachelahandley.com
16K followers 5.2K following 6.2K posts
Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool.
SFF Author. Poet. 🦉
Possible Worlds and Other Stories (2022)
They/Them.

rachelahandley.com
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rachelahandley.com
Come write some weird and philosophical fiction with me at the @yorklitfest.bsky.social in March! You know you want to!

Tickets: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/lets-ge...

@uoyenglishrl.bsky.social @livunienglish.bsky.social @sotauol.bsky.social @uoyphilosophy.bsky.social @yorkstjohn.bsky.social
A poster for an event at York Literature Festival. The text reads: "Let's get philosophical, writing philosophical fiction with Rachel Handley, 6th March, 2 pm to 4 pm, York Medical Society". The background of the poster is of a pile of books stacked on top of one another.
February 1, 2026 at 3:14 PM
rachelahandley.com
Get some excellent sci-fi, fantasy, and horror plugged right into your brain by joining me and some fabulous authors for a free online reading!

I'll be reading from Possible Worlds and Other Stories and I am PUMPED.

6th Feb, 5 pm GMT!

TIckets: www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

#SWSWQR
Strong Women Strange Worlds presents First Friday QuickReads of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror by Gita Ralleigh Lisa Morton Minerva Cerridwen Melissa Widmaier Rachel Handley Victoria Goddard February 6, 12 noon EST Free On Zoom
February 1, 2026 at 9:44 AM
rachelahandley.com
The tickets for my philosophical fiction writing workshop at York Literary Festival in March have just been released!

I am *so* excited for this! www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/lets-ge...

Sharing this post would be much appreciated! 🙏
A poster for an event at York Literature Festival. The text reads: "Let's get philosophical, writing philosophical fiction with Rachel Handley, 6th March, 2 pm to 4 pm, York Medical Society". The background of the poster is of a pile of books stacked on top of one another.
January 23, 2026 at 3:12 PM
rachelahandley.com
BEHOLD, TEA CHICKEN!
A chicken shaped dish for a teabag and teaspoon.
January 12, 2026 at 4:45 PM
rachelahandley.com
💫 Possible Worlds and Other Stories 💫

Sci-fi/weird fiction/short story collection.
Available on Kobo Plus.

24 stories of philosophical exploration, from identity, corruption, personhood, and friendship, to duty, loyalty, the meaning of life and death, and guinea pigs.

www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
Poster for Possible Worlds and Other Stories by Rachel Handley. Around the book are short pieces of text with arrows pointing to the book cover. The pieces, going clockwise, say: Invaders from outerspace, the final judgement, a world made entirely of crabs, dystopia, friendship, greed, and death, corrupt angels, a sentinet spaceship.
January 5, 2026 at 11:54 AM
rachelahandley.com
My debut short story collection Possible Worlds and Other Stories came out three years ago today! Here is me looking very sensible at my book launch.
A blonde person wearing black signing copies of their book in a bookstore. They are pouting in order to look silly.
December 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
rachelahandley.com
Here is my face.
A non-binary person with a dark green jumper on. They are looking at the camera. They have short brown hair and brown eyes.
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
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New Possible Worlds and Other Stories marketing strategy just dropped. Buy my book, or the fluffy round pig will be SAD.
Someone is holding a round startled looking guinea pig. The text at the top reads: This is who you hurt when you're mean to me. The text at the bottom reads: This guy is also sad about you not buying Possible Worlds and Other Stories yet.
October 24, 2025 at 12:34 PM
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He bides his time.
Pumpy the pumpkin. A large smiling plush pumpkin with thin arms and legs sitting on some books.
October 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
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New office plant friends! What should I name them? I was thinking of Cyril Citrus for the lemon tree (that's right, left to my own devices after teaching yesterday I did indeed buy a whole entire tree).

I've no idea what to call the flat cactus. Maybe Bob?
A small lemon tree in a grey pot on a white windowsil. A small flat cactus on the same windowsil.
October 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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I'm delighted to say that I will be running an online Ursula Le Guin themed creative writing workshop for @octocon.bsky.social on 11th October, 4 pm.

Get ready for some philosophical fiction!

You must be a member to join. Not a member yet? You can still sign-up here: 2025.octocon.com/join-us/
Poster showing a pink/red octopus with a cute face. The background is a white and blue water cartoon-like graphic. The text reads: Would you walk away from Omelas? An Ursula Le Guin Themed Creative Writing Workshop, 11th October, 4 pm, online. In this workshop, led by science fiction writer, poet, and philosophy lecturer Dr Rachel Handley, you will be invited to explore Le Guin's short stories and related themes. There will be opportunities to respond to writing prompts based on Le Guin's and other's work throughout the workshop. The workshop will be very interactive, and writers at all levels are very welcome to attend. You'll also have the chance to read out what you've written during the workshop.
October 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
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Yesterday, a friend reminded me that Hemmingway once endorsed* buying a copy of Possible Worlds and Other Stories 👀 (*very legit).
A statue of Hemmingway holding a copy of Possible Worlds and Other Stories.
August 31, 2025 at 5:47 PM
rachelahandley.com
My research assistants are hard at work.
A ginger cat (left) and a tuxedo cat (right) sleeping on the couch.
August 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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Last night, I became an honoured chosen one.
A round ginger cat curled up into a ball sleeping on the bed.
August 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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Today, I am editing whilst Mogs assists.
A tuxedo cat photographed on a soda cushion looking out to the right.
August 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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Tibbles and Mogs. Yes, this is just a cat account now. I'm actually Tibbles. I have taken over. Meow meow meow. All hail our new cat overlords.
Tibbles (ginger cat) and Mogs (tuxedo cat on the left) both snoozing on a cosy looking couch.
August 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
rachelahandley.com
Mogs.
A black and white cat sleeping on a duvet.
August 18, 2025 at 11:01 AM
rachelahandley.com
A Sunday spent reading feat. Tibbles.
A cosy living room with two couches, a book case, a plant and a tall lamp. In the background you can see a door opening onto a garden. In the foreground you can see Tibbles the orange cat napping on the couch to the right.
August 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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Tibbles.
A plump fluffy ginger cat being stroked.
August 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
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New hair!
A non-binary person with a fade.
July 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
rachelahandley.com
I walked and fed an alpaca today AKA I had a perfect day.
Five people each standing and siling next to alpacas in a field.
July 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
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I had an absolute blast running an Ursula Le Guin themed creative writing workshop for the Current Research in Speculative Fiction at the University of Liverpool last week!

I loved the whole conference, but the keynote by @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social was a firm favourite!
A non-binary person running a creative writing workshop. They are sitting behind a desk with their laptop open.
July 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
rachelahandley.com
I went to see my book in the Sydney Jones Library at Liverpool University 😎
A non-binary person holding up their book Possible Worlds and Other Stories between two full shelves of books. Possible Worlds and Other Stories being held up in front of Other books on a shelf.
July 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
rachelahandley.com
New hair just dropped.
A non-binary person with short hair.
June 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
rachelahandley.com
This post is giving me life whilst I have an oh no my writing is bad actually day to the sound of a tiny violin.
Damian (@bridgo.bsky.social) writes, "Happy Birthday Rachel, on holiday reading Possible Worlds. It's brilliant, and full of ideas. Have a great day. "
June 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM