Monica Byrne
@monicabyrne13.bsky.social
Writer living in Ireland. AI-free. Buy THE ACTUAL STAR: https://www.monicabyrne.org/the-actual-star. Reps at CAA, DG&B, and Kaplan/Perrone. She/her.
monicabyrne.substack.com
patreon.com/monicabyrne
monicabyrne.substack.com
patreon.com/monicabyrne
Pinned
Monica Byrne
@monicabyrne13.bsky.social
· Oct 23
The Actual Star review: A masterpiece of imaginative world building
Monica Byrne's fantastic second novel follows three storylines in the past, present and future, all of which are linked by historical threads and religious ideas, says Michael Marshall
www.newscientist.com
"When a book is this ambitious, either it is a thumping success or it falls on its face. Happily, The Actual Star is a stone-cold masterpiece. It is one of the most moving novels I have read and surely a contender for major awards."
Welp. 😳
Welp. 😳
I really like falling asleep to the sound of the rain on the windows. Good night, Ireland.
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I really like falling asleep to the sound of the rain on the windows. Good night, Ireland.
I made this list when I was 16. Welcome to 1997.
(Bonus points if you can place every single one of these men)
(Bonus points if you can place every single one of these men)
November 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I made this list when I was 16. Welcome to 1997.
(Bonus points if you can place every single one of these men)
(Bonus points if you can place every single one of these men)
I once asked my nephew if I could hug him & he said, you can hug me anyway because you're my aunt, and I said NO I can't! I have to ask like everyone else! In fact it's even more important for me not to assume! THAT'S what love looks like imo--treating children as people, respecting their autonomy.
I have a kid who hates being touched without permission, like really hates it, so why would I disrespect that.
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I once asked my nephew if I could hug him & he said, you can hug me anyway because you're my aunt, and I said NO I can't! I have to ask like everyone else! In fact it's even more important for me not to assume! THAT'S what love looks like imo--treating children as people, respecting their autonomy.
Reposted by Monica Byrne
Interviewer: “What do you say to trans kids who are starting their transition?”
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
November 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Interviewer: “What do you say to trans kids who are starting their transition?”
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Essential reading, again, from @prisonculture.bsky.social.
"For as much as some humans talk and think about taking courageous stances, the reality of being a person in the world is that most of us don’t want to stand apart. To stand apart risks being alone."
"For as much as some humans talk and think about taking courageous stances, the reality of being a person in the world is that most of us don’t want to stand apart. To stand apart risks being alone."
We Don’t Know Where We Will End Up…
A Year Since the 2024 Election
prisonculture.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Essential reading, again, from @prisonculture.bsky.social.
"For as much as some humans talk and think about taking courageous stances, the reality of being a person in the world is that most of us don’t want to stand apart. To stand apart risks being alone."
"For as much as some humans talk and think about taking courageous stances, the reality of being a person in the world is that most of us don’t want to stand apart. To stand apart risks being alone."
I see @profhansenno.bsky.social also lists himself as "AI-free." Wouldn't be a bad thing to include in your bio, if you felt so moved.... ;)
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I see @profhansenno.bsky.social also lists himself as "AI-free." Wouldn't be a bad thing to include in your bio, if you felt so moved.... ;)
Sending love to all those who had no one to show them what was right, and did it anyway
November 26, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Sending love to all those who had no one to show them what was right, and did it anyway
Scrapple. The PA Dutch “delicacy” and the only protein we could afford to buy growing up. Every nastiest part of the pig—snout, tail, feet, entrails—gelatinized and baked. You had to pick the hairs out of it.
Food hot takes from the US are always great.
"Obviously *normal thing everyone eats* is disgusting, real ones know the GOAT is *local monstrosity that would kill a raccoon*."
"Obviously *normal thing everyone eats* is disgusting, real ones know the GOAT is *local monstrosity that would kill a raccoon*."
November 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Scrapple. The PA Dutch “delicacy” and the only protein we could afford to buy growing up. Every nastiest part of the pig—snout, tail, feet, entrails—gelatinized and baked. You had to pick the hairs out of it.
If I ever have a frustratingly stubborn attraction to someone, it’s usually because they have a skill set / body of experience I want to have. That was a useful lesson to learn. The attraction went away when I went out and learned / experienced the thing I was actually craving.
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
If I ever have a frustratingly stubborn attraction to someone, it’s usually because they have a skill set / body of experience I want to have. That was a useful lesson to learn. The attraction went away when I went out and learned / experienced the thing I was actually craving.
Deep Space Nine S5E19: “Ties of Blood and Water.” Another episode seemingly written specifically to f*** me up 😢.
So good.
So good.
November 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Deep Space Nine S5E19: “Ties of Blood and Water.” Another episode seemingly written specifically to f*** me up 😢.
So good.
So good.
And now:
A dramatic reading of my one-star reviews.
A dramatic reading of my one-star reviews.
November 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
And now:
A dramatic reading of my one-star reviews.
A dramatic reading of my one-star reviews.
Frustrations aside, I really love living here and hope I can find a way to stay. That’s all.
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Frustrations aside, I really love living here and hope I can find a way to stay. That’s all.
My first piece of performance art was a success. OR WAS IT!? Read my write-up to find out.....(it involved candy). www.patreon.com/posts/you-ma...
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
My first piece of performance art was a success. OR WAS IT!? Read my write-up to find out.....(it involved candy). www.patreon.com/posts/you-ma...
Set design coming along for OHIO!. The second act occurs entirely in a labor camp recreation room. 🙃
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Set design coming along for OHIO!. The second act occurs entirely in a labor camp recreation room. 🙃
Reposted by Monica Byrne
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
Reposted by Monica Byrne
“This isn’t the U.S.” —Ancient European Proverb (especially popular among countries engaged in ethno-religious conflict for centuries)
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
“This isn’t the U.S.” —Ancient European Proverb (especially popular among countries engaged in ethno-religious conflict for centuries)
So the world is falling apart and we’re all just managing in different ways, huh
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
So the world is falling apart and we’re all just managing in different ways, huh
Reposted by Monica Byrne
RIP Udo Kier, a true original
📽️
his one and only social media post:
📽️
his one and only social media post:
November 24, 2025 at 7:27 AM
RIP Udo Kier, a true original
📽️
his one and only social media post:
📽️
his one and only social media post:
Tonight’s movie: Jules et Jim (1962). Sprightly beginning, but unfortunately it got less and less interesting as it went on. There might have been some metaphor about interbellum Europe that I missed? But generally just seemed like the French equivalent of “b/tches be crazy amirite”
November 23, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Tonight’s movie: Jules et Jim (1962). Sprightly beginning, but unfortunately it got less and less interesting as it went on. There might have been some metaphor about interbellum Europe that I missed? But generally just seemed like the French equivalent of “b/tches be crazy amirite”
Sunday is for buying a rotisserie chicken and pinching off breast meat while leaning over the sink
November 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Sunday is for buying a rotisserie chicken and pinching off breast meat while leaning over the sink
Let the record show that I tried to find a Bible-themed Advent calendar. Alas; the Lindor heathens have bested the market.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Let the record show that I tried to find a Bible-themed Advent calendar. Alas; the Lindor heathens have bested the market.
Reposted by Monica Byrne
I am really losing patience with Americans who treat their elected officials like celebrities they have to defend, instead of representatives they have to hold responsible. Grow the fuck up. Millions of lives are at stake.
November 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I am really losing patience with Americans who treat their elected officials like celebrities they have to defend, instead of representatives they have to hold responsible. Grow the fuck up. Millions of lives are at stake.
What is the term for those gross influencers who teach young men how to read/deceive/seduce women? It’s not incels, but it’s a neologism like that….
November 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
What is the term for those gross influencers who teach young men how to read/deceive/seduce women? It’s not incels, but it’s a neologism like that….
Can Irish people give me any tips for getting out of a heated blanket situation into the freezing air each morning 😅
November 23, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Can Irish people give me any tips for getting out of a heated blanket situation into the freezing air each morning 😅
I love texting with a friend in Kuala Lumpur who is texting with another mutual friend in Melbourne, all of us at different stages of our day
I love having friends all over the world
I love having friends all over the world
November 23, 2025 at 9:21 AM
I love texting with a friend in Kuala Lumpur who is texting with another mutual friend in Melbourne, all of us at different stages of our day
I love having friends all over the world
I love having friends all over the world