The Hannah and the Ivy 🎄🦭 🖤🩶🤍💜🇵🇸
LightNews LightNews
banner
tooriekep.bsky.social
The Hannah and the Ivy 🎄🦭 🖤🩶🤍💜🇵🇸
@tooriekep.bsky.social
7.6K followers 7.2K following 7.2K posts
Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee 2021. She / her / hers / shö. Writer querying my first novel and writing another, library assistant, archivist, book and music enthusiast, views my own. Shetlander in Aberdeen. https://linktr.ee/tooriekep
Posts Replies Media Videos
tooriekep.bsky.social
If you're stuck for a Christmas present idea, you could do worse than getting them a copy of 'Fierce Salvage'. Compiled by Queer Words Project Scotland and published by @404ink.bsky.social it features fabulous work by a range of queer Scottish writers. (There's the opening of mine if that helps)
A copy of the paperback edition of 'Fierce Salvage' perched in front of a small Christmas tree with battery powered fairy lights decorating it. The first page of my short story 'Wheer', which is written almost entirely in Shaetlan. As follows: "Hannah Nicholson "WHEER "Author's note: 'Wheer' is pronounced with emphasis on the 'h' sound, to roughly imitate the 'qu' in 'queer'. It is also not unusual to see it spelled 'hweer' which is somewhat more phonetic. "As Lerook cam intae view, we feenished aff fir brakfist an headit ootside. Hit wis a fine simmer moarnin fir a cheenge – although dey wir a breeze, da sun wis oot, dey wir barely ony cloods idda sky abön wis, an we could hear da maas skrekkin awa as dey wir fleein aroond an aboot. Da ferry chugged on at a leisurely pace, da engine girnin awa nicely. We stood oot idda forwird deck while Marnie smokkit her fag. We looked oot taewards da starboard side, tae whaar Bressa wis slinkin slowly intae view, da lighthoose winkin awa idda distance. At da idder side da Lerook cemetery made hits appearance, followed be da rest o da toon, although we widna be able tae see muckle o da route at we’d be takkin trowe it whan we guid on da local Pride mairch da followin moarnin. Last night wis been Marnie’s first shot o da nort boat, an although we wir taen wir traivel seekness peels afore we set aff hit still wisna a great experience fir her. “I don’t know how you do that every time you come home,” shö drawled atween puffs. Da springy riddish-broon curls o her hair bounced alang idda breeze." To read the rest, buy the book.
December 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Thanks to Somerville Books here in Aberdeen I have much of my Christmas shopping sorted. I'm not keen to show which books I've bought as they're going to be gifts but I'm so glad to have an indie bookshop here at long last. Definitely worth a look if you're up here.
A paper bag containing books purchased from Somerville Books in Aberdeen as Christmas presents.
December 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Got to introduce @daibhi.bsky.social to the Welcome Desk mascot when he came to visit me at work tonight. 🐈‍⬛
Dàibhi, wearing a burgundy blazer, a white shirt and a Wallace and Gromit patterned tie, is holding up a small black plush kitten in front of his face. The kitten plush has yellow eyes and a serious face. It was left in our library by a Bookbug attendee who never came back for it so it's now our mascot.
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
When you see Piers Morgan calling out Tommy Robinson for being a racist shit house
"Heartbreaking: the worst person you know just made a great point"
December 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Anyway - I found this peerie tree in Tesco, complete with lights. That'll be the height of the Christmas decor but I'm chuffed with it. 🎄
A small Christmas tree from Tesco with a set of white star shaped battery powered fairy lights wrapped around it.
November 30, 2025 at 10:41 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Keir Starmer when a member of his family is attacked for being queer
A guy dressed in a hot dog suit saying "We're all trying to find the guy who did this".
November 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Finally found my way to Somerville Books 😍
The shop front for Somerville Books in Aberdeen. It is painted in shades of purple.
November 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
My face reading this
A Barbie or Sindy doll with a disgusted face
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Eight years ago today I graduated MLitt with Distinction in Creative Writing from @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social and my dad got this snap of me standing under the campus Christmas tree 🎓👩🏼‍🎓🎄
Hannah is stood under a giant Scandinavian pine Christmas tree covered in coloured lights. She is wearing a black Vivien of Holloway tea dress with a repeating skull and crossbones pattern, thick black tights, black Red or Dead Mary Jane shoes, å black graduation robe, a white and purple hood (the MLitt colours for Aberdeen Uni) and a black trencher hat at a jaunty angle.
November 25, 2025 at 12:03 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Meanwhile her little brother Freddie joined me at work this afternoon. It's funny how I used to get told off for this in primary school but my current job are unbothered.
Freddie the plush axolotl - pink with rainbow gills - chilling on the reception desk at my work.
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
It's 6° here in Aberdeen but the sky is so clear and sunny that Twinkle decided she was going to sunbathe. I tried to explain that it's winter but she wouldn't listen, so I'll see how she's gotten on when I get home from work tonight.
Twinkle the green glow-in-the-dark axolotl sunbathing in the living room window. (Yes, the window sill is cluttered. I'm going to sort it soon, I swear)
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
This person is defending FWS and being TERFy in their replies to folk
Header for '@thecockthickens.bsky.social'. This account is a Reply Guy posting TERFy garbage.
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
I've been under my heated throw since I got out of bed.
My heated throw with my legs underneath it.
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Chuffed to bits that @daibhi.bsky.social acquired one of these bad boys from Morrisons yesterday 😎 can't wait to get stuck in. 🧀
A giant Babybel, being held in my hand for scale. Must admit I expected it to be bigger but I'm also not complaining because GIANT BABYBEL
November 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Every year, @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social puts up a book tree for Christmas, and it's always ready in time for Book Week Scotland. Here is this year's one. @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
A Christmas tree made from books, with a star on top, and a Book Week Scotland garland around it. This tree is inside the Sir Duncan Rice Library at Aberdeen Uni.
November 18, 2025 at 8:29 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Swam 2km in 1 hr 5 min, having not swam that length in weeks 💪🏊🏻‍♀️🎉🥳
Hannah is wearing a light blue hoodie towel robe with a repeating pattern of oranges.
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Me seeing Kirstie Allsopp coming for Michael Rosen
The GET A JOB, STAY AWAY FROM HER meme
November 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Yesterday I finally got @lenniesaurus.bsky.social 's new book of poems read - it's absolutely beautiful, and the verses ooze with catharsis and passion. There's also more Scots in it. (That dog nonce' reviewer' from the Times has no clue what he's talking about and neither do his TERF cheerleaders.)
Front cover of 'Poyums Annaw' by Len Pennie. Len had an early peak with her first poetry volume, and this one continues that. It was written while she was dealing with a court case and it shows - so many of the poems are raw and visceral, and the catharsis and passion oozes off the page. We also have more Scots verses in this book which is a huge bonus. Len is one of the best poets working in Scotland today. (Side note - a huge 'fuck you' to the dog nonce from the Times who wrote that awful 'review' which was just misogynistic bullying, and also to his TERF cheerleaders who were collectively creaming their pants over it)
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Age yourself with gaming
The box art for the Super Nintendo game 'Super Mario All-Stars' - this is the original 1993 version, it was later re-released with 'Super Mario World' included also.
November 12, 2025 at 8:17 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
This person's account is riddled with transphobic pish.
Header for @holly-jolly.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Just stayed up late so I could finish Chris McQueer's debut novel. Absolutely brilliant work, full of humour and poignancy, that also proves to be a topical study of incel culture and what leads young men - including main character Jamie - to fall into its traps. (Full review in ALT text)
The front cover of the hardback edition of 'Hermit' by Chris McQueer. Jamie is 19, left school three years prior with no qualifications, and still lives at home with his mam, spending his days in his flea pit of a bedroom playing video games. His mam, Fiona, has no real life outside of her work and single motherhood, and she feels like a failure as a parent and a human. Both have unresolved issues - at least in part because of Jamie's dad who was an abusive husband to Fiona and who slandered her around the community after she finally threw him out - but they are each so isolated in the world that they can't even communicate with each other. This comes to a head when Fiona tries to encourage Jamie to get a job. Jamie befriends Lee through online gaming. Lee is 16, lives not far from Jamie, and is also having a tough time at home. It is Lee who introduces Jamie to the incel movement, and in turn to Seb, a thirtysomething American based in London who effectively grooms the pair and convinces them to travel down there to stay with him and get away from their problems at home. The pair accept the invite, but all is not what it seems. The novel has a two hander narrative between Jamie and Fiona, both of whom are sympathetic characters. Obviously there are points in Jamie's narrative where the heavy use of incel lingo gets uncomfortable, and Seb is portrayed as thoroughly contemptible without being two dimensional. By turns humorous and poignant, this is a timely and necessary read that goes into depth about why young men fall for cults like this.
November 9, 2025 at 2:58 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
The Telegraph accusing the BBC of bias
Spiderman pointing at himself meme
November 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Got me new Snoopy poncho on tonight - hoping it'll keep me warm on the front desk at work.
Hannah is wearing a teal poncho with a Snoopy and Woodstock pattern over a pair of rainbow dungarees. She is also carrying a couple of tote bags.
November 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
tooriekep.bsky.social
Another one for you
Header for @theotherdane.bsky.social which is spreading transphobic nonsense.
November 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
tooriekep.bsky.social
This person, incidentally. @eidyngray.scot You might want to add them to that 'GenAI' block list you have on the go, when you get a minute?
The header for @maladhdroit.bsky.social This user basically accused me of ableism for refusing to use the plagiarism machine
November 2, 2025 at 7:53 AM