Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
@morganvl.bsky.social
Writer, archaeologist | In Al Jazeera, Poetry Ireland Review, Banshee, F&SF, Best Canadian Essays 21' | Curating a digital repatriation @UniExeter | MA QUB, PhD UChicago | They/She 🏳️🌈 Sicilian-Irish-Egyptian
Arts Council of NI SIAP 2025
Arts Council of NI SIAP 2025
Pinned
🏺 An extremely important article from @morganvl.bsky.social about archaeology’s complicity in the current genocide of Palestinians and why archaeologists - and the organisations that claim to represent them - must speak up and refuse to stay neutral. www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
Why archaeologists must speak up for Gaza
Archaeology is often a mechanism of power. As such, its scholars have an obligation to speak up against oppression.
www.aljazeera.com
I haven’t posted in a while, but now back after deleting my X in Sept. I’m a writer, poet, & anthropologist of heritage. My piece in @aljazeera.com on the destruction of Palestinian heritage & archeology as a mechanism of power says all you need to know about my views
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
The third and final part of our Books of the Year special is now online, featuring choices from John Lavin @maryodonnell.bsky.social @tazrahman.bsky.social @eleanorhooker.bsky.social @devaneemily.bsky.social @glynedwards.bsky.social
Jackie Gorman & Penny Simpson.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/14/b...
Jackie Gorman & Penny Simpson.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/14/b...
Books of the Year 2025 / Part Three
Contributors to The Lonely Crowd choose the books they have most enjoyed this year. John Lavin Twenty years in the making, Sarah Hall’s seventh novel, Helm, is an imaginative tour de force. …
thelonelycrowd.org
December 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The third and final part of our Books of the Year special is now online, featuring choices from John Lavin @maryodonnell.bsky.social @tazrahman.bsky.social @eleanorhooker.bsky.social @devaneemily.bsky.social @glynedwards.bsky.social
Jackie Gorman & Penny Simpson.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/14/b...
Jackie Gorman & Penny Simpson.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/14/b...
Absolutely archaeology is complicit - I wrote about this for @aljazeera.com a year ago now, including how archaeology can be weaponised to erase Gaza’s heritage & Palestinian links to land.
You can read it here:
www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions...
You can read it here:
www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions...
December 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Absolutely archaeology is complicit - I wrote about this for @aljazeera.com a year ago now, including how archaeology can be weaponised to erase Gaza’s heritage & Palestinian links to land.
You can read it here:
www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions...
You can read it here:
www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions...
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Some of this year’s favourite reading and rereading. List in alt text.
December 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Some of this year’s favourite reading and rereading. List in alt text.
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
So wonderful to see Sam Furlong's Crowd Work as one of The Lonely Crowd's best books of 2025!
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Thank you so much @morganvl.bsky.social and @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Thank you so much @morganvl.bsky.social and @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social
Books of the Year 2025 / Part One
Contributors to The Lonely Crowd choose the books they have most enjoyed this year. Part Two follows next week.
thelonelycrowd.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
So wonderful to see Sam Furlong's Crowd Work as one of The Lonely Crowd's best books of 2025!
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Thank you so much @morganvl.bsky.social and @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Thank you so much @morganvl.bsky.social and @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
BBC: More than 600 artefacts of significant cultural value have been stolen from Bristol Museum's archive in a high-value raid, police said.
Thieves took military memorabilia, jewellery, natural history pieces and carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines on Sept 25.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Thieves took military memorabilia, jewellery, natural history pieces and carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines on Sept 25.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hundreds of items taken in high-value Bristol Museum archive raid
More than 600 artefacts from the museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection are taken.
www.bbc.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
BBC: More than 600 artefacts of significant cultural value have been stolen from Bristol Museum's archive in a high-value raid, police said.
Thieves took military memorabilia, jewellery, natural history pieces and carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines on Sept 25.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Thieves took military memorabilia, jewellery, natural history pieces and carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines on Sept 25.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
JUST PUBLISHED! Our December issue guest edited by Paulette Steeves (Cree-Métis, a descendant of First Nations and Métis people) focuses on reviving cultural practices, protecting Indigenous lands, and challenging systemic colonialism.
Cover: @ Gil Scott (Diné), Within His Storms (2017)
Cover: @ Gil Scott (Diné), Within His Storms (2017)
December 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
JUST PUBLISHED! Our December issue guest edited by Paulette Steeves (Cree-Métis, a descendant of First Nations and Métis people) focuses on reviving cultural practices, protecting Indigenous lands, and challenging systemic colonialism.
Cover: @ Gil Scott (Diné), Within His Storms (2017)
Cover: @ Gil Scott (Diné), Within His Storms (2017)
It was a pleasure to contribute to @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social Books of the Year. In 2025, I enjoyed a lot of nonfiction (incl Anelise Chen’s brilliant memoir, Clam Down), Liadan Ní Chuinn’s searing short story collection & Sam Furlong’s poetry debut, Crowd Work (@machapress.bsky.social )
The first part of our Books of the Year special is now online. Mary Morrissy, Jo Mazelis, Jane Fraser, Tony Curtis, Morgan L. Ventura & Brian Kirk all choose their favourite reads.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Books of the Year 2025 / Part One
Contributors to The Lonely Crowd choose the books they have most enjoyed this year. Part Two follows next week.
thelonelycrowd.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
It was a pleasure to contribute to @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social Books of the Year. In 2025, I enjoyed a lot of nonfiction (incl Anelise Chen’s brilliant memoir, Clam Down), Liadan Ní Chuinn’s searing short story collection & Sam Furlong’s poetry debut, Crowd Work (@machapress.bsky.social )
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
I'm not sure why, but my LARB essay on reactionary futurism is trending again.
Reactionary Futurism 2025 | Los Angeles Review of Books
Jordan S. Carroll reviews recent scholarship on the alt-right.
lareviewofbooks.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
I'm not sure why, but my LARB essay on reactionary futurism is trending again.
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
We're thrilled to announce that @the4facedliar.bsky.social has been awarded a Project Award for 2026 by @artscouncilireland.bsky.social which will secure the publication of Issue 5, we are very grateful for their support.
December 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
We're thrilled to announce that @the4facedliar.bsky.social has been awarded a Project Award for 2026 by @artscouncilireland.bsky.social which will secure the publication of Issue 5, we are very grateful for their support.
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
How I know SAD is setting in: I drank three coffees, ate pain suisse, Japanese cheesecake and a s’mores cookie, then had wok noodles, then tempura, then a donut, and now fish and chips.
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
How I know SAD is setting in: I drank three coffees, ate pain suisse, Japanese cheesecake and a s’mores cookie, then had wok noodles, then tempura, then a donut, and now fish and chips.
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
How I know SAD is setting in: I drank three coffees, ate pain suisse, Japanese cheesecake and a s’mores cookie, then had wok noodles, then tempura, then a donut, and now fish and chips.
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
How I know SAD is setting in: I drank three coffees, ate pain suisse, Japanese cheesecake and a s’mores cookie, then had wok noodles, then tempura, then a donut, and now fish and chips.
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
Carb heaven 👼 but also nooooo
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Don't miss today's conversation with Jazmina Barrera. Full of cats & revolution, Tarot & the CIA, conspiracy & embroidery, her anti-biographical love letter to another writer, Elena Garro, also becomes a portrait of Jazmina as well
Audio: tinhouse.com/podcast/jazm...
@twolinespress.com
Audio: tinhouse.com/podcast/jazm...
@twolinespress.com
Jazmina Barrera : The Queen of Swords - Tin House
Jorge Luis Borges called her the “Tolstoy of Mexico” and César Aira the “greatest novelist of the 20th century,” so why is it likely that you haven’t read or even heard of Elena Garro before now? And ...
tinhouse.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Don't miss today's conversation with Jazmina Barrera. Full of cats & revolution, Tarot & the CIA, conspiracy & embroidery, her anti-biographical love letter to another writer, Elena Garro, also becomes a portrait of Jazmina as well
Audio: tinhouse.com/podcast/jazm...
@twolinespress.com
Audio: tinhouse.com/podcast/jazm...
@twolinespress.com
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
I have a short story collection ready to submit. I have a list, but curious if anyone has favorite presses (who accepted unsolicited subs) for speculative horror 👀
December 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I have a short story collection ready to submit. I have a list, but curious if anyone has favorite presses (who accepted unsolicited subs) for speculative horror 👀
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Enjoyed this panel on class and masculinity in Dublin at the inaugural Dublin Small Press Fair. Thanks to @skeinpress.bsky.social for the invite 🙏 #poetry #dublin
youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi...
youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi...
Young Blood: Class x Masculinity in Contemporary Poetry | Charles Lang. Rafael Mendes. Matthew Rice.
YouTube video by Skein Press
youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Enjoyed this panel on class and masculinity in Dublin at the inaugural Dublin Small Press Fair. Thanks to @skeinpress.bsky.social for the invite 🙏 #poetry #dublin
youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi...
youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi...
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
My little book is dedicated to my friends, and its eclectic tour takes off with two of them at the Heaney HomePlace, where the great Iarla Ó Lionáird will sing and talk with the great Neil Hegarty and myself about Heaney, Derry, and the music of what happens. Tickets are on sale Wednesday morning.
This is coming with springtime: a celebration of @dedalusdenaries.bsky.social Late Heaney at the Heaney HomePlace.
28 February.
28 February.
December 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
My little book is dedicated to my friends, and its eclectic tour takes off with two of them at the Heaney HomePlace, where the great Iarla Ó Lionáird will sing and talk with the great Neil Hegarty and myself about Heaney, Derry, and the music of what happens. Tickets are on sale Wednesday morning.
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
I know everything is trash but books are still good. My book is up for pre-order and id be grateful if you want to read it 🥺 will link to a few places in thread
September 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I know everything is trash but books are still good. My book is up for pre-order and id be grateful if you want to read it 🥺 will link to a few places in thread
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Our #BooksoftheYear special includes work by @charlottewood.bsky.social Kevin Curran @lilliputpress.bsky.social @fflurdafydd.bsky.social
@drkkennedy.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social Liadan Ní Chuinn @stingingfly.bsky.social
& @poetrybuspress.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
@drkkennedy.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social Liadan Ní Chuinn @stingingfly.bsky.social
& @poetrybuspress.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Books of the Year 2025 / Part One
Contributors to The Lonely Crowd choose the books they have most enjoyed this year. Part Two follows next week.
thelonelycrowd.org
December 7, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Our #BooksoftheYear special includes work by @charlottewood.bsky.social Kevin Curran @lilliputpress.bsky.social @fflurdafydd.bsky.social
@drkkennedy.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social Liadan Ní Chuinn @stingingfly.bsky.social
& @poetrybuspress.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
@drkkennedy.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social Liadan Ní Chuinn @stingingfly.bsky.social
& @poetrybuspress.bsky.social
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
The first part of our Books of the Year special is now online. Mary Morrissy, Jo Mazelis, Jane Fraser, Tony Curtis, Morgan L. Ventura & Brian Kirk all choose their favourite reads.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Books of the Year 2025 / Part One
Contributors to The Lonely Crowd choose the books they have most enjoyed this year. Part Two follows next week.
thelonelycrowd.org
December 6, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The first part of our Books of the Year special is now online. Mary Morrissy, Jo Mazelis, Jane Fraser, Tony Curtis, Morgan L. Ventura & Brian Kirk all choose their favourite reads.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/12/06/b...
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
It’s been a week since the Archaeological Achievement Awards 💛
We’ve rounded up some moments from the night, and if you’d like to experience the whole thing, you can now watch the ceremony on our blog, meet the shortlisted projects, and discover this year’s winners 👉
We’ve rounded up some moments from the night, and if you’d like to experience the whole thing, you can now watch the ceremony on our blog, meet the shortlisted projects, and discover this year’s winners 👉
Meet the Winners of the 2025 Archaeological Achievement Awards
The Archaeological Achievement Awards, coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, celebrate the very best of archaeology across the UK and Ireland. On 28 November 2025, we gathered in the…
tinyurl.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
It’s been a week since the Archaeological Achievement Awards 💛
We’ve rounded up some moments from the night, and if you’d like to experience the whole thing, you can now watch the ceremony on our blog, meet the shortlisted projects, and discover this year’s winners 👉
We’ve rounded up some moments from the night, and if you’d like to experience the whole thing, you can now watch the ceremony on our blog, meet the shortlisted projects, and discover this year’s winners 👉
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
Celebrating 20 issues and 10 years of @bansheepress.bsky.social yesterday at @booksupstairs.bsky.social
Thank you so much to the @bansheepress.bsky.social & @booksupstairs.bsky.social teams, and to all our writers and readers. It was a magical night ✨️
Thank you so much to the @bansheepress.bsky.social & @booksupstairs.bsky.social teams, and to all our writers and readers. It was a magical night ✨️
December 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Celebrating 20 issues and 10 years of @bansheepress.bsky.social yesterday at @booksupstairs.bsky.social
Thank you so much to the @bansheepress.bsky.social & @booksupstairs.bsky.social teams, and to all our writers and readers. It was a magical night ✨️
Thank you so much to the @bansheepress.bsky.social & @booksupstairs.bsky.social teams, and to all our writers and readers. It was a magical night ✨️
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
STATE, IN RELATION. My piece - Word Rain - is designed to be read multiple ways. Launching Sunday 14th at TBG+S, and available to buy at Dublin Art Book Fair.
📸: @sonyagildea.bsky.social
📸: @sonyagildea.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 2:20 PM
STATE, IN RELATION. My piece - Word Rain - is designed to be read multiple ways. Launching Sunday 14th at TBG+S, and available to buy at Dublin Art Book Fair.
📸: @sonyagildea.bsky.social
📸: @sonyagildea.bsky.social
Reposted by Morgan L Ventura (Dr Hilary M V Leathem)
#FindsFriday A mystery stone head on display at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in Pembrokeshire, found locally in north Pembrokeshire
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
December 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
#FindsFriday A mystery stone head on display at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in Pembrokeshire, found locally in north Pembrokeshire
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week