Francesca Astraea

🌙 This page is not monitored with any regularity. To say hello, please visit my blog, francescasthoughts.com, or the No. 1 Readers' Club: patreon.com/FrancescasWords 🌙

white on green text reading 'take 3'

white on green text reading 'Standby for Very Tired Francesca'

white on green text reading 'actually later'

Stills from my Christmas market vlog video, which is 🌟 exclusively 🌟 for the No. 1 Readers' Club: www.patreon.com/posts/christ...

You can find the goodies I was selling on my Folksy: folksy.com/shops/france...

#PatreonCreator #Patreon

Almost 10,000 authors have come together to publish an empty book protesting the theft of books by tech companies to train AI models.

Titled Don’t Steal This Book, it is empty of text except the names of the authors involved.. 🧵

There are some EXCELLENT twists towards the end. Enjoy!!

Start Harrow from the beginning again, or read Gideon then Harrow in order again. Both times I've read the series I've had time to immerse myself in it and I think if I'd dipped in and out I'd have lost the thread completely (not least because Harrow has metaphorically lost her thread in book 2)

I love the Locked Tomb series! It definitely rewards the reread (I've read the series two or three times and I'm still figuring it out. Book 4's going to break my neural pathways when it's finally out.)

-It's FrancescasWords(at)outlook(dot)com.
If you're not a subscriber, sign up here: francescas-words.kit.com/newsletter

🌙 This page is not monitored with any regularity. To say hello, visit my blog, francescasthoughts.com, or the No. 1 Readers' Club: patreon.com/FrancescasWords 🌙

removing emails it doesn't think you need... so, if you are a Gmail user - or subscribed to my newsletter at all because we can assume the other big providers will start doing this - please consider adding my email to your contacts list so your provider knows you actually want to hear from me.

Black on cream text with green border, reading: 'Newsletter subscribers! Add my email to your contacts list Because the tech overlords are overreaching and bringing in algorithms to our inboxes So if you want to read my emails, add me to your contacts! FrancescasWords@outlook.com It has to be Outlook to signify I was born in the 1990s'

🧵 In a continuation of the AI-induced enshittification of all technology, Gmail is rolling out AI 'tools,' with the AI system prioritising the emails it thinks you should see. Massive overreach of tech overlords notwithstanding, the implication is that the AI will 'help' clear your inbox by-

Some absolute bangers of story titles here (mine included, although I borrowed it from a tweet by @maggiestiefvater.bsky.social circa 2019 so I can't claim credit). Can't wait to read the whole issue in May!

#SometimesWomenYourAgeAreJustTired

⚖️Read a Bezzina’s Emporium novel or short story from the perspective of a character you won’t always like or root for: francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emp...
🌙Where to find out about book two: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...
💌Get updates via my newsletter: francescas-words.kit.com/newsletter

#BookSky

A very bedraggled-looking Little Owl is slumped in the hollow of a tree, eyes half-closed and feathers ruffled. Its expression is one of pure exhaustion, as if it has just rolled out of bed and immediately regretted it. Nestled in its cosy nook, it appears utterly unprepared for the day ahead, radiating the unmistakable energy of someone who desperately needs a strong coffee before dealing with anything remotely productive.

Mood: unprepared and under-caffeinated.

#MondayMotivation

📷 Ted Smith

black on pink text with graphic of a wrapped gift box, reading 'Gift a friend or loved one a physical copy of one of my books during February and I'll send them an ebook Instructions >'

Black on pink text reading '1) Order or buy a copy 2) Email order confirmation or a photo to me, including your friend’s email* or if you want the ebook to be a surprise, I’ll send the files to you to pass on > *details will not be saved or used for anything except passing on the freebie'

Black on pink text reading 'Open worldwide although I only ship signed copies from Folksy to Great Britain. Purchases from Books-on-Sea and Carpe Noctem count, of course! The files will be epub or pdf, whichever is easier for me to send (maybe both let's see), and they should be compatible with any and all e-readers, although I am not responsible if they are not. You are not allowed to distribute the ebook files to anyone other than your loved one, for money or otherwise, because don't take the piss.'

Gift a paperback of one of my books in February, and I'll send them an ebook. Here's the info: www.patreon.com/posts/gift-p...

🌙 This page is not monitored with any regularity. To say hello, please visit my blog, francescasthoughts.com, or the No. 1 Readers' Club: patreon.com/FrancescasWords 🌙

Order by 9th Feb for delivery by 13th. folksy.com/shops/france...

🌙 This page is not monitored with any regularity. To say hello, please visit my blog, francescasthoughts.com, or the No. 1 Readers' Club: patreon.com/FrancescasWords 🌙

collage of cards reading 'I would fall into Tartarus with you,' 'Artemis was right. Swear off marriage. Surround yourself with animals and your friends. Possibly kill men who fall in love with you,' 'our love is like a Greek epic. Dramatic, complicated and virtually incomprehensible to everyone including the main characters.' Ragnarok card has a 'sold out' banner. Text reads 'Order by 9th Feb'

Here's what happens when you buy from an independent creative over a corporate store this Galentine's or Valentine's: you support UK printers, a UK vendor (Folksy) and a UK taxpayer (me) whose shop supports a variety of collaborative creative work, also in the UK with local independent contractors.

yellow graphic with photographs of notebook, tarot cards an envelopes with stamps plus the words 'LET'S STAY IN TOUCH blog / newsletter / No. 1 Readers' Club'

✒️ My blog: francescasthoughts.com
💌 My monthly(ish) newsletter: francescas-words.kit.com/newsletter
🌙 The No. 1 Readers' Club: www.patreon.com/FrancescasWo...

I've got a lot of things to think about, and posting to social media regularly in the precise way that pleases the algorithm and reaches you is so far down my list of things to do that it just isn't happening for now. So let's keep in touch via the spaces I use regularly:

cutlery, black coffee in blue cup and saucer and paperback of Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.

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.

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

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)

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!

sparkles on pink background with overlaid text reading 'Digital gifting from Francesca’s Words Smashwords has the ebook of ROTTING TREES at 50% off until 1st Jan You can gift memberships of the No. 1 Readers’ Club for a whole year of short stories, tarot, book news and more'

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

EXACTLY. They'll be complaining we use sentences and paragraphs next.

Editing a book at the moment and reflecting on how the 'em-dashes signal AI' crowd will prize them out of my cold, dead hands. Also please may I borrow some footnotes?*

*I just think they add whimsy to otherwise intense paragraphs.

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?

flatlay of sticky note (cream and brown, reading 'Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities Southend-on-Sea' and pencil (navy blue, red eraser, foil reading 'Bezzina's Emporium' on black background with leaf fairy lights.

flatlay of multiple blue and silver bookmarks. One side reads 'Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities Southend-on-Sea' and the other reads 'Could this book be haunted, cursed or otherwise magical? Contact Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities today'

Sticker sheets with round stickers reading 'CAUTION magical contents', 'enjoy your little parcel of magic', 'packed with love' and 'magical mail'.

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

graphic of person wearing a scarf holding a mug reading an ebook. Overlaid text: 'Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale 25% - 100% off Dec 8 - Jan 1 Shop the Sale smashwords.com/sale'

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

Newcastle University research highlights how small UK publishing businesses are booming overseas

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

graphic of person wearing a scarf holding a mug reading an ebook. Overlaid text: 'Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale 25% - 100% off Dec 8 - Jan 1 Shop the Sale smashwords.com/sale'

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

💥 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