Mayken Brünings
LightNews LightNews
banner
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings
@maykenalanna.bsky.social
590 followers 110 following 2.8K posts
I write fantasy & speculative fiction for kids. 📚 My blog about Paris & published short stories 👉 https://www.maykenbruenings.com/ Trilingual swimmer 🏊🏻‍♀️ and SCBWI member. I love cows and Brittany.
www.maykenbruenings.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · Oct 18
12yo Charlotte spends alternate weeks with her time protection agent parents in the 16th and the 21st centuries. All is well until it isn't. History goes off the rails, Charlotte is stranded in the past, and a royal princess needs saving. #TimeTravel
A French Renaissance palace is reflected in the water of the Loire river
2 3 24
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
bookshop.org
Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 8h
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.

Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.

They are not the same.
410 8.9K 22K
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International 🌍 @greenpeace.org · 10h
While communities face fires and floods, the powerful flirt with nuclear escalation.

With COP30 on the horizon, the world must choose cooperation over chaos.

No billionaire bunkers. No nuclear winter. A liveable planet for all.
Guardian article, by Abené Clayton, Pjotr Sauer and Helen Davidson Thu 30 Oct 2025 09.58 CET Title: Trump directs Pentagon to match Russia and China in nuclear weapons testing. Picture: missile capable of carrying nuclear warhead launched from US submarine in 2018 (Reuters). US president makes threat after Russian nuclear-powered weapons tests and shortly before meeting with Chinese leader Trump meets Xi in South Korea – latest updates Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to immediately start matching other nuclear powers in their testing of nuclear weapons, specifically citing Russia and China.
1 18 23
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
barnsleymuseums.bsky.social
Barnsley Boo'seums 👻👻👻 @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social · 12h
Here's a game of Barnsley Museums trick or treat....

Pick a link but choose wisely! 3 are video treats, the others are tricks
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
bit.ly/BMTrickOrTre...
Seven children dressed as witches stand on a stage, wearing black outfits, pointed hats, and capes. One holds a "Spells" book, and they pose together in front of a dark backdrop with some festive decorations.
2 3 3
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 4h
👏👏👏
Kannst du die Lektüre eines neuen Albums eigentlich überhaupt genießen, angesichts der Arbeit, die das für dich bedeutet?
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 4h
I was talking about my plan to go to Italy for a week and study at a language school.
15yo: "You're a grown-up, and you want to go to school voluntarily?"
Me: "Yes, to learn something I *want* to learn."
DH to 15yo: "One day,you'll understand."
4
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 1d
I would like to give my sympathies to everyone who ever had to endure dental procedures.
I've been lucky in that regard so far. Today I had to get something fixed unconnected to brushing (and flossing). Preventive measure.
To me, used to 5 minute check-ups, it was torture. 😬
2
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 1d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 29
Charlotte:

So far, I’d preferred to stay in the dark about a few things if it meant I could spend time with Dad on a regular basis. Now I wondered what else I’d been unaware of, besides secret hiding places around our regular residences.
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2025 Answer as a character! 1. Introduce yourself and the story 3. Your first appearance and/or line of dialogue in the story 5. Why are you important to the story? 7. Something odd/weird you've experienced 9. Favorite person 11. Saturday excerpt (optional word: most) 13. What does someone else in the story think of you? 15. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: give/gave) 17. What life advice would you give? 19. Proudest moment 21. If you got to write the story, what would you change? 23. Tell us about your enemies 25. Saturday excerpt (optional word: back) 27. How do you feel about time travel? 29. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: now) 31. Character's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like! Questions? @juliebihn@bsky.social
4
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 1d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 29

“Didn’t we tell you to back off?” Guy hissed. The ChronoOpportunist froze. Guy could feel the man’s accelerated pulse under his grip. “We won’t let you get away with it. Not now. Not ever.”
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2025 Answer as a character! 1. Introduce yourself and the story 3. Your first appearance and/or line of dialogue in the story 5. Why are you important to the story? 7. Something odd/weird you've experienced 9. Favorite person 11. Saturday excerpt (optional word: most) 13. What does someone else in the story think of you? 15. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: give/gave) 17. What life advice would you give? 19. Proudest moment 21. If you got to write the story, what would you change? 23. Tell us about your enemies 25. Saturday excerpt (optional word: back) 27. How do you feel about time travel? 29. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: now) 31. Character's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like! Questions? @juliebihn@bsky.social
1 5
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 1d
#TimTravelAuthors Day 29
Quentin:

When you had two time-traveling parents working all kinds of odd shifts, now that all the kids had left home—that would be me and my older sister Nat, and our twin brothers—getting together as a family became tricky.
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2025 Answer as a character! 1. Introduce yourself and the story 3. Your first appearance and/or line of dialogue in the story 5. Why are you important to the story? 7. Something odd/weird you've experienced 9. Favorite person 11. Saturday excerpt (optional word: most) 13. What does someone else in the story think of you? 15. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: give/gave) 17. What life advice would you give? 19. Proudest moment 21. If you got to write the story, what would you change? 23. Tell us about your enemies 25. Saturday excerpt (optional word: back) 27. How do you feel about time travel? 29. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: now) 31. Character's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like! Questions? @juliebihn@bsky.social
1
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
juliebihn.bsky.social
Julie Bihn (Titanic Voyage free on Hoopla!) @juliebihn.bsky.social · 1d
If you wrote, write, or are writing time travel, I'd be thankful if you joined next month! #TimeTravel
juliebihn.bsky.social Julie Bihn (Titanic Voyage free on Hoopla!) @juliebihn.bsky.social · 4d
Next month's prompts, #TimeTravelAuthors! This month with extra servings of "thanks"! (I'm thankful for all of you!) #WritingPrompts #WritingQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQ #WritingCommunity
#TimeTravelAuthors November 2025 1. Introduce your story (optional: include the word "thank") 3. What would your characters do if they could travel forward in time? 5. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: meal/food) 7. Sports in your story 9. Strangest research you did for your story 11. Does time ever fly? 13. Desserts? 15. Saturday excerpt (optional phrase: what if) 17. Does anyone read in your story? 19. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: thank) 21. Something you're thankful for in your writing process 23. Do any of your characters act like turkeys? 25. Shopping in your story 27. A sentence from page 11 29. Author's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like!
2 4
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
merriam-webster.com
Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 2d
which = 🤷‍♀️

witch = 🧙‍♀️
33 130 790
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 2d
They are sure to become bestsellers!
2
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 2d
I keep forgetting Sully has a first name.
I remember a whole bunch of details from the books (like Beryl's explanation where her last name comes from), but the LI's first name? Nope.
1 1
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 2d
Placid cow has a name! AND she is the bingo pat provider! Lots of love goes out to Clover the Jersey cow!!!!!
1 1
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
andrewvargaauthor.bsky.social
Andrew Varga @andrewvargaauthor.bsky.social · 3d
Come join the November fun!

(It's heavy on the US Thanksgiving theme, but the prompts are still fun!)
juliebihn.bsky.social Julie Bihn (Titanic Voyage free on Hoopla!) @juliebihn.bsky.social · 4d
Next month's prompts, #TimeTravelAuthors! This month with extra servings of "thanks"! (I'm thankful for all of you!) #WritingPrompts #WritingQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQ #WritingCommunity
#TimeTravelAuthors November 2025 1. Introduce your story (optional: include the word "thank") 3. What would your characters do if they could travel forward in time? 5. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: meal/food) 7. Sports in your story 9. Strangest research you did for your story 11. Does time ever fly? 13. Desserts? 15. Saturday excerpt (optional phrase: what if) 17. Does anyone read in your story? 19. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: thank) 21. Something you're thankful for in your writing process 23. Do any of your characters act like turkeys? 25. Shopping in your story 27. A sentence from page 11 29. Author's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like!
2 5
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 2d
He's finally gone to see a doctor. Usually he just takes over-the-counter meds, so that's progress.
1
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 2d
No, that's just me. Superstitious about unpublished creations.
1 1
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 27
Charlotte, sweet summer child...
I'm mentoring her, you see. But she's still too young, I can't tell her yet. Guy, Raoul, and I, we know the timeline isn't as fragile as the Agency will have us believe. Time travel is a tool for us to use. Not like the ChronoOppers™ though.
maykenalanna.bsky.social Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 27
We had to write an essay about that, too. What we'd do if we could change the timeline and why that wasn't a good idea.
We're the good guys and the ChronoOppers™ and the baddies, and you don't change the timeline and you stick to the rules. Everyone knows that.
1 3
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 27
We had to write an essay about that, too. What we'd do if we could change the timeline and why that wasn't a good idea.
We're the good guys and the ChronoOppers™ and the baddies, and you don't change the timeline and you stick to the rules. Everyone knows that.
1 4
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 27
I'm intrigued. When we were kids, Mom and Dad never talked much about work. They took all four of us plus Maddie (still a puppy then) on a 5-minute trip after Nate and I found the time machine, but that was it.
I study history now, and the time machine is still there, so...
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2025 Answer as a character! 1. Introduce yourself and the story 3. Your first appearance and/or line of dialogue in the story 5. Why are you important to the story? 7. Something odd/weird you've experienced 9. Favorite person 11. Saturday excerpt (optional word: most) 13. What does someone else in the story think of you? 15. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: give/gave) 17. What life advice would you give? 19. Proudest moment 21. If you got to write the story, what would you change? 23. Tell us about your enemies 25. Saturday excerpt (optional word: back) 27. How do you feel about time travel? 29. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: now) 31. Character's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like! Questions? @juliebihn@bsky.social
4
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 25
“I’m sorry.” Maddy wagged her short tail as Theo petted her. “I didn’t mean to scare you. But think of it. Tomatoes at King Francis’s table. Just because some European navigators had made it to the Americas and back doesn’t mean everyone suddenly ate tomatoes and potatoes.”
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2025 Answer as a character! 1. Introduce yourself and the story 3. Your first appearance and/or line of dialogue in the story 5. Why are you important to the story? 7. Something odd/weird you've experienced 9. Favorite person 11. Saturday excerpt (optional word: most) 13. What does someone else in the story think of you? 15. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: give/gave) 17. What life advice would you give? 19. Proudest moment 21. If you got to write the story, what would you change? 23. Tell us about your enemies 25. Saturday excerpt (optional word: back) 27. How do you feel about time travel? 29. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: now) 31. Character's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like! Questions? @juliebihn@bsky.social
4
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
Cheers for the placid Jersey cow!
Jerseys are lovely. So sweet, and those eyes!
1 3
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
Fabulous alt text! And yes, I'd love to be there.
2
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
juliebihn.bsky.social
Julie Bihn (Titanic Voyage free on Hoopla!) @juliebihn.bsky.social · 4d
Next month's prompts, #TimeTravelAuthors! This month with extra servings of "thanks"! (I'm thankful for all of you!) #WritingPrompts #WritingQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQs #TimeTravelAuthorsQ #WritingCommunity
#TimeTravelAuthors November 2025 1. Introduce your story (optional: include the word "thank") 3. What would your characters do if they could travel forward in time? 5. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: meal/food) 7. Sports in your story 9. Strangest research you did for your story 11. Does time ever fly? 13. Desserts? 15. Saturday excerpt (optional phrase: what if) 17. Does anyone read in your story? 19. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: thank) 21. Something you're thankful for in your writing process 23. Do any of your characters act like turkeys? 25. Shopping in your story 27. A sentence from page 11 29. Author's choice/promo All time-travel authors and published works, WIPs, etc. welcome! To join, just answer the prompts on odd days, using the hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors On even days, post what you like!
2 8
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · 3d
A bit of both.
Plot twist: Due to DH falling sick, she had to take the return trip by herself too. (We'd meant to go pick her up.) Got a last-minute ticket for her in first class which was cheaper than regular second class. She had lots of space and even a meal served!
1 1