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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella
@shonak.bsky.social
1.9K followers 660 following 1.5K posts
Scottish fantasy and horror author. Chair of the British Fantasy Society. Avid Reader. Vaguely gothic. She/her www.shonakinsella.com
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · Jan 3
Books Read in 2025

I used to try and do a thread like this in the other place, although I didn’t always remember to keep up with them. Let’s see if I can keep it going here.

Book 1 - Doors of Eden by @aptshadow.bsky.social uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Excellent, smart SF with a lot of heart
The Doors of Eden: An exhilarating voyage into extraordinary realities from a master of science fiction a book by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
They thought we were safe. They were wrong.Lee and Mal went looking for monsters on Bodmin Moor four years ago, and only Lee came back. She thought she’d lost Mal forever, now miraculously returned. B...
uk.bookshop.org
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 6h
Daughters of Nicnevin, available for pre-order now: www.flametreepublishing.com/daughters-of...
Graphic with a dark green background, book cover and text. Book cover - Daughters of Nicnevin by Shona Kinsella. Two women in 18th century highland dress stand back to back in a field. A semi-circle of men made from wheat surround them, looming and threatening. Text reads - Out November 11th from Flame Tree Press. 'A superb slice of bygone Scottish life brewed with folklore and witchcraft into a fresh and fantastic read.' Cameron Johnston, author of The Last Shield and The Maleficent Seven
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 7h
You’re in for a treat! It’s amazing 🖤
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Reposted by Shona Kinsella
worldfantasy2025.bsky.social
World Fantasy 2025 @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social · 12h
The souvenir book is being proof read, the programme is finalised. It's so close! It's not too late to register for World Fantasy 2025! We have wonderful guests, a lovely hotel & *two* Award ceremonies, the World Fantasy Awards and the British Fantasy Awards. worldfantasy2025.co.uk/about-the-co...
About World Fantasy Convention 2025 – World Fantasy Convention 2025
worldfantasy2025.co.uk
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Reposted by Shona Kinsella
jennicoutts.bsky.social
Jenni Coutts (she/her) @jennicoutts.bsky.social · 2d
I admit I had *way* more fun drawing this wee guy than I thought I would for drawtober prompt number 2: Toad Astrologer
What’s the verdict, should I sell prints at World fantasy Convention this year?
#art
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Reposted by Shona Kinsella
davidgreenwriter.bsky.social
David Green @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social · 1d
Autistic people are told what's 'normal' all the time. Even if what's being called 'normal' doesn't sound very 'normal' to us...

'Magic, Maps, and Mischief: A Cozy Neurodivergent Adventure' is out October 24th!

mybook.to/magicmapsand...
“There are no elves in the basement?” Greton nodded. “No.” “Why are you nodding, Greton?” “I am agreeing with you.” The old man swallowed, but the large lump taking residence in his throat refused to shift. “I agreed that there are no elves in the basement behind me.” “A person usually shakes their head when they say no, Greton. Not nods. That’s what normal people do, shake their heads.” ‘That’s what normal people do’. If the old Sparker had a gula for every time he’d heard that phrase, he’d be richer than all the bankers in Lira City combined. Gritting his teeth, he let the barb slide for the good of Lura and her children. “Yes, of course. I shall try to remember that.” Magic, Maps, and Mischief: A Cozy Neurodivergent Adventure Out October 24th 2025
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Reposted by Shona Kinsella
1weirddogmom.bsky.social
1weirddogmom.bsky.social @1weirddogmom.bsky.social · 1d
Loved this one (despite the deepening frown line).

Bonus: direct e-book purchases are DRM free so you actually own it.

Get some #booksky
nefariousbatpress.bsky.social
Nefarious Bat Press @nefariousbatpress.bsky.social · 1d
It's Prime Day... so please consider buying your books direct from (ideally indie) bookstores and publishers today, instead of from the Big River that's gouging us all into penury

We'd love you to grab one of our books, from our estore or as a signed paperback

But really: any indie is good :)
Nefarious Bat Press
We're a female-owned independent publisher specialising in queer horror, crime and dark fiction
payhip.com
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Reposted by Shona Kinsella
britfantasysoc.bsky.social
British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 1d
Our fabulous outreach officer @justmarvewrites.bsky.social has secured tickets to this month’s Black British Book Festival at the Barbican in London—and she’s giving them away to two lucky people! Find out how to enter ⬇️

britishfantasysociety.org/win-a-ticket...
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
Thank you!
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
That’s beautiful, thank you for sharing it
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I think your readers who want a paperback rather than ebook will be happy to wait, but it certainly is frustrating. Especially when you’ve done your part in good time
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
Agh, I’m sorry to hear this 🙁
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
Yeah. When I said the media shares a lot of false information about what asylum seekers get she asked where my information was coming from. I said “the law. As in, the actual statutory rules that regulate asylum” she just shrugged and said “laws can change” and “some of them will break the law”
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I don’t have normal TV, just a few streaming services, so I had no idea this nonsense had become so mainstream away from the internet
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I hope you also had some chocolate afterwards to calm down
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I think it’s much harder with a family member. I would prefer to keep my relationship with the neighbour cordial, but if she decided never to speak to me again, I wouldn’t feel like I had lost anything. I’m not sure I could have had the same conversation with one of parents. Give yourself some grace
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
The worst thing is, she doesn’t even have social media. Refuses to use the internet at all. She’s getting all this nonsense from the TV and radio
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I think I need some chocolate now
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
You’re right, before she started on the boats, she was talking about how much harder life is now than it was 20/30 years ago when she was raising her own kids, and how worried she is for her granddaughter growing up in this world
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
I was shaking so much I probably sounded like I was crying 😂 not very calm at all
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
Her to dig her heels in. I don’t know how we fight the spread of this kind of thought. But I’m pretty sure it’s not by staying quiet.
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m just not comfortable.”

We said our goodbyes and now I’m inside and trembling and feeling ill. I am very conflict averse. I don’t know if I did the right thing. I don’t think my words will change her mind, and I worry that by challenging her I might have pushed
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
And misled by the media and the govt, who want us fighting each other instead of them. I think you can choose not to be led that way. But the things you’re saying to me right now are racist and bigoted, and I can’t stand here and listen to that and not challenge it.”
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
“You mean they’re not white?”
“Yes”
“I’m sorry, but that’s racism. Making assumptions about someone’s background, religious beliefs and likely behaviour based on nothing but their skin colour is racism.”
“So you think I’m a racist and a bigot?”
“I think you’re a decent person who’s being manipulated
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
“I’m just not comfortable. I don’t feel safe with all these men. From elsewhere”
“How do you know they’re from elsewhere by looking at them?”
“Well. Because.” And now she’s struggling to actually say it, because she knows where this is going. “Well. Because they don’t look like you and me”
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shonak.bsky.social
Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 1d
“I don’t feel safe in Glasgow anymore. All these men.”
“So, that doesn’t have anything to do with people coming over on boats. You just don’t feel safe around men. I have never felt safe around men. I have been harassed and abused by men since I was 11 and the vast majority of them were white Scots”
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