Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught

@bookwormvaught.bsky.social

8.8K followers 3.4K following 5K posts

Author of many books, probably discovered posthumously at this point. Teacher, mentor, #Curae, campaigner, doctored, mum of 3. Wilts, Wales, Southern US https://linktr.ee/bookwormvaught?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=00043ddf-6cad-43e1-8c8a-d89

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 6d

Introducing the cover of the 2025 #Curae prize anthology
A beautiful edition of the work of the winning and shortlisted writers - and all profits to carers’ charities.
Out November 15th
More details next week
💙📚
Curae: the unique literary prize for unpaid carers

1 1 4

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 3h

And here is the second one. 💙📚

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 3h

I made two reels in response to the open letter about the existential crisis for small presses in the UK. Open access from @thebookseller.bsky.social below.
Starting thoughts on where your authors are in this - and how we might help. www.thebookseller.com/comment/open... @bookbrunch.bsky.social

1 1 6

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

Besos GIF

Alt: Po from kung fu panda

media.tenor.com

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

Shh I’ve just started

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

I’ve gone on far too long, but look: do read the books renardpress.com/about/ and also keep an eye on the press as an example of what an excellent small publisher can be in terms of a firm place in the literary ecosystem, ethics, ambition collaboration and, frankly, joy.
Happy Fifth Birthday ❤️

About – Renard Press

Winner of the HP Sustainability Award 2024 Winner of the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award 2024 Winner of the Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award 2023 Small Press of th...

renardpress.com

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

Whatever happens for me going forward, I hope I can always publish with Renard. W’s taken risks -like agreeing to a full teaching series mainstream wouldn’t touch. He’s also republishing my memoir under one of his other imprints - oh yeah, he has Hay and Haywood too - because its publisher closed.

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

- he is on it with that and it’s meant to much to me because publishing can be brutal - but not here. Ethics, environmental responsibility, diversity, inclusion. ❤️Top editor. Firm hand. And finally, I know, because I chat to agents and other publishers, that he’s impressed folk across industry.

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

I know what’s going on and when and well in advance; deadlines are clear and royalties on the for. There’s a newsletter just for his writers which breeds an excellent sense of community and encouragement - and speaking of encouragement, I’ve had to do books while managing illness and additional care

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

Also, we have multiple awards won, wonderfully organised writing competitions and fund-raising texts, such as my own #Curae, for unpaid carers. Hmm. Tote bags. Special editions. Cards. The books have such beautiful design and artwork: it’s impeccable. The press is so well organised and communicative

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

If you’re dying, Mr Renard, tough because I’m not done. Have you seen the breadth of the catalogue; its scale? As well as new fiction, poetry and nonfiction, W maintains a keen involvement in the life of theatre and republishes old classics and books you ought to know about renardpress.com/about/

About – Renard Press

renardpress.com

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

W is so quick to offer thanks, acknowledge support and work collaboratively with others. The networks and events he facilitates, talks, conferences - it’s so much. He’s such a team player and simultaneously this self-effacing, charismatic dynamo. Fiercely intelligent, scholarly and imaginative.

1 1

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 4h

There is so much I - we - could say about what it’s like to work with Renard Press. I’ve just seen the proofs of the beautiful author anthology Will Dady its director has put together for celebration, all royalties going to Bookbanks - & on the 21st, come to this event, if you can?
Let me share…

Renard Press @renardpress.com · 1d

🎉 Join us for an evening of celebration (search ‘Renard’ on @eventbrite or): www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/five-years...

Five Years of Renard Press: An Evening of Readings and Celebration

Join us for a special evening celebrating the Renard Press family and half a decade of publishing beyond the mainstream

www.eventbrite.co.uk

2 4 6

Reposted by BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught

Renard Press @renardpress.com · 1d

🎉 Join us for an evening of celebration (search ‘Renard’ on @eventbrite or): www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/five-years...

Five Years of Renard Press: An Evening of Readings and Celebration

Join us for a special evening celebrating the Renard Press family and half a decade of publishing beyond the mainstream

www.eventbrite.co.uk

1 5 7

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 6h

D.Phil, lads.
Lovely to see the pin badge for November ceremony

1 4

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 1d

I know. I was eligible before but not now and in the end I sucked up the £85 at my pharmacy because I had Covid early on and was so ill and have a funny heart x

1 2

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

1 3

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

❤️;

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

If I may? This is a bargain. Have a look at the event, below. (And never be afraid of a semicolon again.)

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · 2d

I'm going to be doing an intense two-hour intensive later this month, and: Check it out!

Being Your Own Best Editor - Five Things I've Learned

Join me in this live two-hour class and discover the Five Things I’ve Learned about how you can make your writing more effective, clearer, and sharper. For more than thirty years I’ve worked to help ...

myfivethings.com

1 2

Reposted by BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught

Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · 2d

I’m happy to announce I am being represented by the Elise Dillsworth Literary Agency 🥳 in particular for my current novel in progress (nearly there!). ✍🏼

I’m grateful to Elise for the opportunity and believing in my writing. 🙏🏼

We keep on writing!

elisedillsworthagency.com/authors/step...

Stephen Embleton - Elise Dillsworth Agency

Stephen was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is now a resident in Oxford, United Kingdom. His background is in Graphic Design, Creative Direction and Film, and in 2022 he was an academic visito...

elisedillsworthagency.com

1 1 3

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

I just saw this on Instagram. This is marvellous news. Xxx

1 1

Reposted by BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught

The Independent @the-independent.com · 2d

BREAKING | Alex Jones loses Supreme Court bid to avoid paying $1.4B to Sandy Hook families

Alex Jones loses Supreme Court bid to avoid paying $1.4B to Sandy Hook families

www.independent.co.uk

33 75 370

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

- so yes I’m very aware that there are outliers in indie press publishing where a sale by trad terms could be described - stripped of context - as good or very good. Those are very rare indeed.
3. If you’re not a catch sales-wise, get cunning & reposition, forward facing.
4. Build relationships!

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

1. Six weeks ago I approached 7 agents. So far from that, three requests for fulls, of which one resulted in an offer, 1 a rejection and 1 still waiting. Ooooh.
2. I’m the author of the books and stacks of other shorter pieces, all with small publishers - no big sales. A word on sales just in case

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 2d

Where am I a few weeks after starting current manoeuvres? 2 passes, 1 after meeting & seeing text, 1 form rejection, 1 offer +interest in 2 books, not just the 1 I was querying with, I full and now 1 full + info on other book, 3 partials with updates. Simultaneously placed a novella with an indie

1 1

Reposted by BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 7d

Book news. This is going to be out in the spring with a brilliant indie. Just heard and details follow. It’s weird, kinky, sexy, supernatural; it’s about grief, loss and magical thinking, ambivalent motherhood & intergenerational trauma. London, Cambridge, Salisbury, Paris, Beauvais…

1 1 6