Penny Pepper
banner
penpep.bsky.social
Penny Pepper
@penpep.bsky.social
650 followers 600 following 160 posts
UK true socialist by seaside. Author, poet, disability activist whose work explores our stories through provocation, wit, kindness, lately revisiting folk horror. Opinion journo. Novel on subs & new poetry almost. Saucy old punk gal. Cat mum.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
Dear friends,
It's my intention to share some of my work directly into my Substack, particularly my fiction. Here is the amazing anthology Elemental, that features one of my stories, Breathe in the Water, which was published last year by the fabulous Breakthrough Book Collective.
buff.ly/5cbM1kD
Proud of this piece. It IS the reality. These "foreign" workers have given me so much when others failed me. #hopenothate #disability #writerlife
🔴 We Are Utterly Reliant on Immigrant Workers – But Who Cares About Reality?

"Politicians in general – and the right-wing ones in particular – rarely have a clue of the realities of frontline work in the broader care industry" @penpep.bsky.social
We Are Utterly Reliant on Immigrant Workers – But Who Cares About Reality?
Penny Pepper shares her experiences of recruiting migrant care workers, who can find themselves enduring exploitation and abuse for their efforts
bylinetimes.com
A new #poetry adventure? Penny's almost daily #haiku -
You sigh as I touch/
Rippling waves on your fur,/
But dead leaves alarm.
#poet #autumn #wips
Dear friends,
It's my intention to share some of my work directly into my Substack, particularly my fiction. Here is the amazing anthology Elemental, that features one of my stories, Breathe in the Water, which was published last year by the fabulous Breakthrough Book Collective.
buff.ly/5cbM1kD
This Writer Hermit is back already..
in a renewed effort to keep in contact with you all, I’m attempting to do a weekly Substack post, even if it’s shorter than my random, larger ramblings! Do come over and join me there, I'd love to have you as as subscriber x
Substack bubbling, second in 10 days! Weblink shows my current sub-stack, a swirly colourful cover of Elemental anthology with my story in it. #poet #writer #substack #disabledpoet #newstories

pennypepper.substack.com/p/the-writin...
The Writing Hermit Returns
Back Again Already!
pennypepper.substack.com
Forgive me for making one final request: your consideration to become a paid subscriber. I’m very grateful for the select few who support me in this way, it really does make a difference, as financial pressures mount up – We can’t always share a coffee, but this is like you getting a drink in x
UK National Poetry Day was on 2nd October and I’m delighted to share that another poem, Am I just Your Awkward Mermaid? won a place in the startling poetry zine, Where the Land Forgets Itself. 12 working class writers poems on seaside living. Grab a copy here!
My latest Substack piece is up for your perusal!
'Happy Hermit: The Tears; The Graft. I’ll Never Stop Storytelling.'
I’m sure that you know me well enough by now to realise I’ll never stop storytelling.
The joy of the creation – it really is like magic. Here it is.
buff.ly/ULHcKlM
Glad it sold out but sad I can't perform now. Poet Town book is however available in Hastings Waterstones! Alt text: picture of the book, swirly white sea spray effect, bold black font that reads poet town, the poetry of Hastings and thereabouts, standing on pebbles, with blue sea behind it. #poets
Join me and other wonderful poets at Lewes Library for their annual National Poetry Day celebrate National Poetry Day with performances from our brilliant new anthology. 'Poet Town' Doors open 6.40pm 2nd October.
FREE BUT YOU MUST BOOK! Lift access available to 1st floor
buff.ly/zWLch7q
UK National Poetry Day - so I'm delighted to share a peek of a poem that's published now in this startling zine Where the Land Forgets Itself. My poem is Am I Just Your Awkward Mermaid? Standby for reading by 8pm! @poetrydayuk.bsky.social #workingclass #coastallife #nationalpoetryday #disabledpoet
Barmy Harmer #Starmer - cracking cassette boy stuff on the big #Labour let down. #wedemand #disabled #rightsnotcharity
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.

This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
Happy Friday one and all - I have got that Friday feeling. Teaser alert!
Watch this space for news of the novel. It's made its first steps into the world!
#writerslife #happyfriday #hastings #newnovel
Join me and other wonderful poets at Lewes Library for their annual National Poetry Day celebrate National Poetry Day with performances from our brilliant new anthology. 'Poet Town' Doors open 6.40pm 2nd October.
FREE BUT YOU MUST BOOK! Lift access available to 1st floor
buff.ly/zWLch7q
#WednesdayWIPs was in central London today near UCL. Many new excited students!
...Sudden dead leaves are falling all around
As moon eyed students throng on London streets
A gathering beyond old mens' borders
Words make peaceful links in laughing English.
#WIPS #poets #disabledcommunity #poetry
A pleasant surprise in Bexhill on Sea! Copies of the book Poet Town - The poetry of Hastings & thereabouts is being sold in the shop! At the marvelous modernist treasure #Delawarepavilion Proud to be the first poet on its pages! Whoohoo.Can buy everywhere almost! #indiepress
#poets #disabilitylife
Reposted by Penny Pepper
We are absolutely desperate for support. We’re throwing our own funds into this, giving up our time for free, and running workshops to raise money. But without £5,000, this award won’t happen. If you can give, please do. 🔗
A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine
Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine
shorturl.at
Stunning art work. Good luck Barbara ❤️ I know many great warriors, including my mum.
Breast cancer self portraits - first completed painting.

Today have been doing a lot of painting as its great for taking my mind off things and relaxing.

Got a letter from the GP today saying to contact them for a chat as regards the cancer and how Im feeling etc, which is nice.
Delighted that I’m the first poet in this book, Poet Town: the Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts & first to perform at the launch event, with other poets from our fab creative town Hastings Book Festival 2025. Join us! #poets #hastingsuk #poettown www.hastingsbookfest.org/events/launc...
Launch of Poet Town | Hastings Book Fest
Hastings Book Festival is delighted to launch Poet Town: The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts – it promises to be a magical evening
www.hastingsbookfest.org
A sharp bite of zesty words. "Forked false lashes" slips nice hard from the mouth. 🔥 #facades #poemsabout @thebrokenspine
I'm going to try though Sept a busy busy month. Always want to squeeze a poem out though 😁 #poetrymatters
Calling all Hastings and St Leonards friends and locals..
I am launching my Living Archive space this Saturday 6th September as part of the Coastal Currents Arts Festival Open Studio Event. Come and see our beloved accessible space!
See you at 59 Kings Road, St Leonards on Sea TN37 6DY
Omg, that's made me a touch teary. Thank you. Fighting this stuff all my life. Since punk attitude opened a promising, if slow (accessible) door to new stories. Love you @thebrokenspine.co.uk and all #poets can help me - everyone - move forward to change the world. #equity #inclusion #poemsmatter
It’s 2025. The world is watching harder than ever. If you’re pushed for time, use tools (even AI) to write alt text — seconds of effort, equity in action. If these things really matter to you, prove it. Literary folks are mostly a kindly, considerate bunch, we need everyone to pull their socks up.
Hope to do some WIP next week. Busy times now, Doing readings and chats for #coastalcurrents events this week on southcoast. #poetsbythesea #Hastingspoets #poetrymatters
Big thanks to everyone who shared a WIP yesterday.

First lines. Draft doubts. Wild sparks. We saw it all.

#WednesdayWIPs is back next week. Same time. Same tag.

Keep writing. Keep showing up.

#PoemsAbout #PoetsOfBluesky #BlueskyWriters #AmWriting
Thank you so much. Very appreciated, when the poet path can be thankless 🙂🙏