Alyn Sparkes
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sparkey.org.uk
Alyn Sparkes
@sparkey.org.uk
100 followers 460 following 55 posts
Into reading, SciFi, musical electronics, and vintage vehicles. Sidelines: gaming (generally chill exploration type and racing sims,) acoustic percussion and post-Roman history. He/Him

Director of @swordandfiddle.co.uk
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Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
erikjonker.bsky.social
If you value your right for free expression i would advise everyone to also have a Mastodon account, as a backup or using them both (as i do). Much more flexible, full control, more difficult to block (you can change instances) etcetera
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
sparkey.org.uk
#bookpost day. In the middle of reading Elisabeth Wheatley's Oath of the Wolf, and I get Little Kingdoms by @alexharvv.bsky.social drop through the letter box! Not sure if I'm going to try to parallel read, but I'm wondering if I'll find evidence of Cenric's lineage in there somewhere!
A tablet e-reader open and showing the cover of Oath of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley next to a hardback edition of Little Kingdoms by Alex Harvey. Both are on top of a brown cardboard envelope and a purple bedspread with autumnal nature inspired images printed.
November 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
thelongestjohns.bsky.social
Sometimes it's just a matter of perspective...
Find out what we've been looking at on, ooh, say, Friday 7th of November over on Youtube?

#TheLongestJohns #FolkMusic #Shanty #HAUPBSFS
A picture of blue sky, stippled with particles of white cloud A picture of a rather battered grey concrete and gravel patch of ground.
October 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
eliseswritings.bsky.social
3.5 more days for this bundle!
My Manipulator's War (epic & portal fantasy) has multiple main & secondary characters with ADHD (some also being autistic 😉).
Its fast pace and my love of complex worlds and plot twists & turns are all indebted to my ADHD.
🌈📚🪐📚💙 itch.io/b/3300/adhd-...
Adhd Awareness Month Fiction. By ADHD authors, most with 1+ significant ADHD character(s) 22 Books. Ends Oct 15th! Covers: The Lady and the List, Elizabeth Briars Side Tracked, S.K. Kelly The Harmony of Falling Snow, Andora Brokaw Bestiary Beas The Players Act 1, Amy Sparks The Weight of Her Gaze, RJ Martin He of the Trees, Rob Macwolf Song of the Wolf, T.C. Smith Tales of Yamato, Odessa Silver The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle, Steve Hugh Westenra Manipulator's War, Elise Carlson A Demon to Save Me, H.S. Kallinger Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans Lantern, Burgundy Athena Pendragon Wizard's Debt, Niranjan Blood, D.C. Hart Ancient as the Stars, Maya Darjani A Dark Hole Darly, Drew Melbourne Translucent, Wayward Spark War of the Space Dargons, L'Poni Baldwin Ants Waking, R.J. Huneke Rage in a Cage, Joachim Heijndermans
October 12, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
biggreenbooks.bsky.social
SIGNED BOOK NEWS!

You can pre-order a SIGNED copy of "It's Not a Cult" by Joey Batey.

The whole premise of the book is wild!

Folk horror ftw!

Check it out HERE.

biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...
front cover of This is Not a Cult by Joey Batey.
October 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
amysparkes.bsky.social
ADHD Awareness Month Fiction: 22 items for $25.00
itch.io/b/3300/adhd-...

Proud to have THE PLAYERS: ACT 1 included in this fabulous bundle - available // 1st & 15th October. A big thank you to @eliseswritings.bsky.social for organising.

#neurodiversity
#adhd
#historicalfiction
ADHD Awareness Month Fiction Bundle. oct 1st-15th. 22 books mostly by ADHD authors. most with 1+ significant ADHD characters. Available exclusively at itch.io $25 - over $90 value. A QR code is in the top corner to take readers to the correct page.
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
alyn.wandering.shop.ap.brid.gy
#BandcampFriday haul this month. Purely #folkmusic - related this time & mostly stuff that's caught my ear on the FolkOnFoot podcast or their chart show.
Reassembled - Bellowhead
Onward the Sun - Green Diesel
Pressure and Persuasion - Frankie Archer
Forms - Leveret
Album cover of Reassembled by Bellowhead. The band stands with their instruments as if performing on stage. Lights in the background point out at the audience. John Boden stands centre-stage in a red jacket (the others are dressed in more muted colours) with legs akimbo holding the mic in its stand close to his mouth. Album cover of Onward the Sun by Green Diesel. Appears to be linocut prints on an orange background. A large sun with a face occupies the centre, but its eyes are blank. Around the outside is a wide border. The band's name occupies it's top and bottom sections, while the album title occupies left and right sections. In the four corners are liike vignettes - Hops (I think) in the top left, a crescent moon in the top right, a hare in the bottom right and something like cow parsley in the bottom left. Album cover of Pressure and Persuasion by Frankie Archer. In front of a white background, the musician stands looking off to our right. She's wearing a suit made of lily flowers, and petals litter the floor around her feet. Album cover for Forms by Leveret. A leveret (baby hare) hides in dry grass, and all we can see is the eye and the area of fur around it. Band's name is at the top, and album title the bottom.
October 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
alyn.wandering.shop.ap.brid.gy
My wife doesn't run a fediverse account, so I'm alerting anyone interested that her new book is part of the itch.io bundle collated to bring awareness of #adhd in writing for #adhdawarenessmonth. There's a whole bunch of different genres included and they're […]

[Original post on wandering.shop]
Composite image showing all the books available in the bundle. There's a also a QR code in the top right. The text reads: ADHD Awareness Month Fiction Bundle Oct 1st-15th 22 books mostly by ADHD authors Most with 1+ significant ADHD character(s) Available exclusively at itch.io A star shape in the top right has the text "$25 - over $90 value". The QR code takes people to https://itch.io/b/3300/adhd-awareness-month-fiction
October 1, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
verityholloway.bsky.social
Image of an anime girl in a sailor suit saying "Oh, so it was a joke." The subtitle reads, "Saying this, she casually threw aside a large rock."
October 2, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
chiefwritesbook.bsky.social
Get ready for the ADHD Awareness Month bundle! 22 awesome books by ADHD authors and/or featuring ADHD characters! Check it out:

itch.io/b/3300/adhd-...

#BookSky 🩵📚 📢📚 📦📚
A graphic for the ADHD awareness month bundle, featuring 22 books on an orange background. Text reads: ADHD awareness month fiction by mostly ADHD authors. Most with 1+ significant ADHD character(s)
October 1, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
amysparkes.bsky.social
🎭🎲🥁🎻💀⚔
In recognition of #ADHDAwareness Month, "The Players Act 1" eBook is only 99p/99c (1st-17th Oct). Neurodiversity is nothing new & #histfict can reflect this♥️ Why not take a look?

Amazon mybook.to/ThePlayersAct1
Kobo www.kobo.com/ebook/the-pl...
Cover: Sarah Christie
#BookSky
#neurodiversity
The book cover of THE PLAYERS ACT 1: ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE by Amy Sparkes, and a box saying: 99p/cents ebook. In recognition of ADHD Awareness Month, THE PLAYERS ACT 1 ebook will be offered at a discounted price of 99p/c between October 1st & October 17th. A green square background and the front cover of THE PLAYERS ACT 1 by Amy Sparkes. Arrows point to various features of the book: found family; grey villains; strong females; marginalised characters; vengeance; uplifting.
October 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
eliseswritings.bsky.social
Tis ADHD Awareness Month! Hi fellow Chatty Cathys, Restless Rebels & Day-dreaming Daves!

I'd like you to be aware of: the AuDHD, ADHD & Autism Feed: bit.ly/4nSIA6C

My Writers &Authors Discord inclu. an ND channel😉

Bsky Lists I can + you to
-ND People
-ND/♿ Authors

And of👇 itch.io/b/3300/adhd-...
Adhd Awareness Month Fiction. By mostly ADHD authors, most with 1+ significant ADHD character(s) 22 Book. Oct 1st-15th Covers: The Lady and the List, Elizabeth Briars Side Tracked, S.K. Kelly The Harmony of Falling Snow, Andora Brokaw Bestiary Beas The Players Act 1, Amy Sparks The Weight of Her Gaze, RJ Martin He of the Trees, Rob Macwolf Song of the Wolf, T.C. Smith Tales of Yamato, Odessa Silver The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle, Steve Hugh Westenra Manipulator's War, Elise Carlson A Demon to Save Me, H.S. Kallinger Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans Lantern, Burgundy Athena Pendragon Wizard's Debt, Niranjan Blood, D.C. Hart Ancient as the Stars, Maya Darjani A Dark Hole Darly, Drew Melbourne Translucent, Wayward Spark War of the Space Dargons, L'Poni Baldwin Ants Waking, R.J. Huneke Rage in a Cage, Joachim Heijndermans
October 1, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
alexharvv.bsky.social
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Little-Kingd...

LITTLE KINGDOMS: AN A-Z OF EARLY MEDIEVAL BRITAIN, my next book, releases on the 30th of November 2025

As of today it is now available for preorder, at a discounted early price of £20 (RRP £25)

Why should you pick up this book...? 🧵
Little Kingdoms
Before England, Wales, and Scotland were created, before Alfred the Great and the Great Viking Army, before even a raid on Lindisfarne, the kingdoms that…
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
May 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
thelongestjohns.bsky.social
Well look at this! 2 new shirts in one week. Oh Longest Johns, you do spoil us. Hammer and the Anvil shirt designed by the great @vvitchofthevvoods available here: shop.thelongestjohns.com
Got a favourite TLJ song? Let us know and maybe there could be a splendid bit of clothing for that one too...
A t-shirt design for a Hammer and the Anvil shirt. It shows a blacksmith working at an anvil in front of a roaring fire, next to a curled-up dog sleeping at his side. Above him hangs a lantern with a crow leaning over, watching his work. The whole thing is rendered in a crosshatched style. An image showing the previous design on four different colours of t-shirt: cream, yellow, orange, and white/grey A closer-up image of the graphic on one shirt, the cream-coloured one.
September 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
hillarymonahan.bsky.social
I made birb.
A plaster of Paris raven sculpt pendant.
September 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
theguardian.com
Revealed: sewage overflow in English and Welsh national parks twice outside rate
Revealed: sewage overflow in English and Welsh national parks twice outside rate
Exclusive: Campaigners attack ‘outrageous’ situation, saying waters in protected areas should be cleanest Sewage is pouring into the rivers inside national parks at twice the rate that is occurring outside the protected areas, it can be revealed. Campaigners described the situation as “outrageous” and said rivers and lakes in national parks in England and Wales should be the cleanest and most protected in the country. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
mclees-fiona.bsky.social
I collect pictures of gate latches. The endless minute variations and human ingenuity appeal to me greatly, and the countless hands that have moved them. This one is between Near and Far Sawrey, Lake District and has a lovely combination of textures between the iron, wooden gate, and stone gatepost.
A photo of a gate with rusty brown metal gate latch.
September 16, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
gregjenner.bsky.social
Andor is astonishing television, not least because it now feels like topical journalism
September 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
amysparkes.bsky.social
A double-whammy in this month's (October) Writing Magazine: a feature about the story behind the story for my #historicalfiction novel "The Players Act 1: All The World's A Stage", and an article about the importance of voice in #picturebooks!

@writersonline.bsky.social
#writingcommunity
#kidlit
An open magazine, showing an article titled 'The New and the Old' with a headshot of Amy Sparkes. A copy of her novel 'The Players Act 1: All The World's A Stage' is placed on top of the open magazine. Amy Sparkes smiles and stands in a small attic room holding a magazine open with an article titled 'Speak up!' An autumnal cover of Writing Magazine October 2025 issue, next to an orange cup and saucer filled with tea!
September 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
sarafand.bsky.social
Watched first 2 episodes. Splendid acting. Well done, Looking forward to the others.
danielyorkloh.bsky.social Daniel York Loh @danielyorkloh.bsky.social · Sep 3
This pleases me beyond everything

Our show kept its live audience figure

Invest in British TV drama

Invest in British TV writers like @jamiecricht0n.bsky.social

Invest in the stories of people like Ann Ming

Invest in our regions

Huge kudos to @itvx.com for programming #ifoughtthelaw
September 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
amysparkes.bsky.social
WRITERS!

The @writersonline.bsky.social Children's Book Prize is now open for unpublished/unagented writers. www.storygodmother.co.uk/index.php/op...

There's more info in my newsletter for writers, along with free resources and competitions:
buttondown.com/storygodmother

#WritingCommunity
The StoryGodmother
If you write for children, this newsletter is for you. Sign up for top tips, resources, information and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox. Sprinkle some magic into your stories.
buttondown.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
eleanormorton.bsky.social
We Have AI Now

www.youtube.com/shorts/8-lgJ...
We Have AI Now
YouTube video by Eleanor Morton
www.youtube.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
hollyholdsworth.bsky.social
Filmmakers, is your to do list like this?
To do list - watch more short films - meet collaborators for my next project - connect with the commissioning team at Exeter Phoenix oh... 😂 I'll just go to SWIF's short open mic and do that all in one go 🔥 Short film open mic ⏰ Fri 29 Aug at 7pm 📍 Exeter Phoenix 🎟️ Free swif.club
August 26, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
adreinhard.bsky.social
Hey, kids. My eponymous #Archaeogaming book (2018) paperback is on sale for 50% off this week. I only need 12 more people to buy the book to crack 1,000 lifetime sales! www.berghahnbooks.com/title/Reinha...
Archaeogaming: An Introduction to Archaeology in and of Video Games | Berghahn Books
Independent Publishing since 1994
www.berghahnbooks.com
August 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Alyn Sparkes
amysparkes.bsky.social
🎭LAST DAY OF #Players1715 BLOGTOUR🎭

Thank you to @mjporterauthor.bsky.social for the review on this last stop.

Thanks to all the bloggers for arranging interviews, reviews and guest posts. And a big thank you to @rachelsrandoms.bsky.social for organising the tour.

#BookSky
#histfic
🎭🥁🎻💀⚔️🎲
August 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM