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Stephanie Bretherton

@brethertonwords.bsky.social

870 followers 980 following 500 posts

Storyteller, publisher, Homo sapiens (but none the wiser.) Novels: Award-winning The Fire In Their Eyes, Kindle bestselling Bone Lines. Likes Taking Liberties and Breaking Through. www.breakthroughbookcollective.com

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 27d

Well, I’m a bit speechless! But also absolutely thrilled, grateful and honoured, to have won an #NYCBigBookAward for The Fire In Their Eyes! Makes me wonder if I might actually be doing something right and all love, sweat, tears and years are properly worthwhile?
#bookaward #awardwinningfiction

Winners badge for the NYC Big Book Award

Cover of The Fire In Their Eyes, winner in the Medical Fiction category

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Reposted by Stephanie Bretherton

#9 Dream @gayfabfourfan.bsky.social · 1d

Did you know it was several decades before handwashing in hospitals was implemented after it was found to be necessary in 1846? We’re in the same boat today, except w/ airborne transmission—yes, in 2025. Unfuckingbelievable. So unnecessary, maddening, irresponsible, & dangerous. #MasksInHealthcare

Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 1d

This isn’t fearmongering — it’s reality. Hospital-acquired COVID can delay care or cost you your health — even your life.

Infection control measures — masks, ventilation, testing, and staff/patient protections — should be standard care in every healthcare setting.

Source: x.com/PrognosticCh...

Prognostic Chats @PrognosticChats

Some day you’ll be in hospital for surgery or chemotherapy or with another illness & a nurse, or doctor or visitor at the next bed, or the patient opposite you will give you a Covid infection & your treatment will get delayed & your life will be put at unnecessary risk.

4:28 AM · Oct 12, 2025 · 5,515 Views

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 1d

Super excited too!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 1d

Happy #bookshopday!
Some of my happiest moments have been during launches or events in bookshops. And there’s still such a thrill from seeing your books rubbing shoulders with other wonderful authors on the shelves… or even better, in a window, table or till display! #booksky

A window display full of Bone Lines by Stephanie Bretherton at the former Broadhursts of Southport

Bone Lines rubbing shoulders with Books by Lindsay Clarke and Robert Woodhaw for an event at Waterstones Exeter

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Nice!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Or indeed both!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Marvellous! Yes, I’m all for the extra front and back matter!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Oooh, sounds fab!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Well, I have several books on the go, but I thought for a 10 minute break a short story would be best, and I’ve thoroughly read and enjoyed all the anthologies from @breakthroughbook.bsky.social so I’ve moved onto a lovely birthday gift, “normal rules don’t apply” by the marvellous Kate Atkinson…

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 2d

Are you going to #take10toread today? Organised by the National Literacy Trust which is encouraging us all to take 10 minutes at 10 o’clock on the 10th to stop the world for a moment and just pick up a good book. I’m in! #booksky

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 3d

Happy Book Birthday, Nicole!

Breakthrough Books @breakthroughbook.bsky.social · 3d

To mark the first #bookbirthday of The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley, the e-book is now at the very special price of 99p (on both Amazon and our own website) for a limited time! Why not help us celebrate and load your #Kindle with what the FT described as “a thoroughly engaging mystery”!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 3d

Excellent!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 3d

Oooh, excited! But also a little bit nervous… though I know these are a lovely lot. Just not sure how quickly and sensibly I can type some proper answers! Why don’t you tune in and find out?

Valeria Vescina @valeriavescina.bsky.social · 3d

Hugely looking forward to interviewing @brethertonwords.bsky.social for our @womenwritersnet.bsky.social live #AuthorInterview of 23 October. SAVE THE DATE and join us as Stephanie tells us about her award-winning new novel, #TheFireInTheirEyes (@Breakthroughbooks.bsky.social)! #writing #reading

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 3d

Happy Pub Day, Paul!

DHH Literary Agency @dhhlitagency.bsky.social · 3d

Happy publication to @paulwaters.bsky.social - a streetwise nun and a hotelier take on murder and mayhem in this brand new mystery, MURDER IN MOONLIT SQUARE, out today!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 6d

These are the kind of ideas that I explore in my novels!

Valeria Vescina @valeriavescina.bsky.social · 6d

An article with links to fascinating research! #womenwriters #womenshistory @brethertonwords.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...?

Was prehistory a feminist paradise?

Visions of matriarchal utopia may be wishful thinking, but there’s growing evidence of women wielding power

www.theguardian.com

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 6d

Such a fantastic book and so important and innovative!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 10d

This should be a lot of fun!

Breakthrough Books @breakthroughbook.bsky.social · 10d

Book lovers in and around the Rugby area, do not miss the Rugby Literary Festival this weekend, but especially the spoken word evening hosted by Word Of Mouth this Friday. A range of fantastic performers will be on stage including our own @zenabarrie.bsky.social!

#Books #LiteraryFestival

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 10d

Awful news out of Manchester, thinking of all involved.

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 11d

Oh, Jane Goodall, such an inspiration.

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 12d

Proud to be a part of this…

Breakthrough Books @breakthroughbook.bsky.social · 12d

So who are we, what makes us different and why support an award-winning, #indiepublisher - or more importantly, our authors? 🧵

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 14d

Is that not the excellent The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley?

Breakthrough Books @breakthroughbook.bsky.social · 14d

We love seeing our books out in the wild no matter where they are but it’s fantastic to see them in a library, especially one which will send the book to any of the libraries in the Borough if it’s ordered!
#LoveYourLibrary #SupportLibraries #LibraryLife #BookLife #Books

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 17d

Thank heaven for publishers that take chances.

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Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 17d

Yes!

Stephanie Bretherton @brethertonwords.bsky.social · 17d

It’s interesting you mention freedom and I think it’s great that you have maintained that because I think a lot of people after the success of Salt Lick might have tried to do something more along those lines. I was so thrilled to hear that you were picked up by the brilliant bluemoose for beast!

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Reposted by Stephanie Bretherton

Women Writers Network @womenwritersnet.bsky.social · 17d

We must mention (even if Lulu hasn't) that her second novel Salt Lick was long listed for @womensprize.bsky.social in 2022. A fantastic achievement

Women Writers Network @womenwritersnet.bsky.social · 17d

Q1 Hi, Lulu. To get things started, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your writing career to date?

#WomenWritersNet
#AuthorInterview
#Beast

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