Catherine Spooner
@catherinespooner.bsky.social
Academic and creative writer | Professor of Literature and Culture, Lancaster University | all things Gothic | fashion | folk horror | she/her
Just officially launched this wonderful @sidekickbooks.bsky.social anthology which I contributed to... it's perfectly stocking-sized, just right for the vampire lover in your life! sidekickbooks.com/booklab/book...
Ten Poets Spend the Night in a Vampire's Castle - Sidekick Books
An anthology of vampire poetry, featuring erotic writing, horror, romantasy and paranormal romance.
sidekickbooks.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Just officially launched this wonderful @sidekickbooks.bsky.social anthology which I contributed to... it's perfectly stocking-sized, just right for the vampire lover in your life! sidekickbooks.com/booklab/book...
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 AM
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
Strong editorial in the Independent today www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
You don’t need a master’s degree to see Britain depends on foreign students
Editorial: The government’s effort to drive down the number of student visas coming to study in this country is misguided and self-defeating – it will do untold damage to our universities and communit...
www.independent.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Strong editorial in the Independent today www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
I contributed to this one… guess what I chose?
From gruesome portraits to creepy critters, these are the paintings that have stayed with our experts long after their first glimpse.
The painting that haunts me – seven experts share their favourite scary artwork
From gruesome portraits to creepy critters, these are the paintings that have stayed with our experts long after their first glimpse.
tcnv.link
October 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I contributed to this one… guess what I chose?
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
How to Hibernate.
Scanned by us from the 1952 book Animal Fair, by the Provensens.
It’s time.
Scanned by us from the 1952 book Animal Fair, by the Provensens.
It’s time.
October 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
How to Hibernate.
Scanned by us from the 1952 book Animal Fair, by the Provensens.
It’s time.
Scanned by us from the 1952 book Animal Fair, by the Provensens.
It’s time.
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
October 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
So I've been reading the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. There's some good things in there. But when it comes to universities there's very little to cheer. The situation is very tough and will get worse. The last chance to preserve what we've got has passed. Let me explain why. (1/?)
October 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
So I've been reading the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. There's some good things in there. But when it comes to universities there's very little to cheer. The situation is very tough and will get worse. The last chance to preserve what we've got has passed. Let me explain why. (1/?)
My fab colleague Sharon Ruston on the new Guillermo Del Toro Frankenstein: theconversation.com/guillermo-de...
Guillermo de Toro’s Frankenstein: beguiling adaptation stays true to heart of Mary Shelley’s story
Guillermo del Toro’s retelling of the story about a scientist trying to create life is a visual treat and a rousing adaptation.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:35 AM
My fab colleague Sharon Ruston on the new Guillermo Del Toro Frankenstein: theconversation.com/guillermo-de...
´It’s not about knowing. It’s about being present.´ Devastating essay on the power of gaps, errors, mishearing in the way we teach.
This beautiful, honest, tender essay is the best rebuttal of AI infected teaching and learning, by Sean Cho A. The happy accident of the seminar - best when it's a bit of a mess.
therumpus.net/2025/10/02/h...
therumpus.net/2025/10/02/h...
Human Error Is the Point: On Teaching College During the Rise of AI - The Rumpus
My syllabus is a mess of half-remembered intentions. I re-use icebreakers that I know don’t work. I forget to grade the first assignment until Week Four. I write emails that begin with “So sorry for t...
therumpus.net
October 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
´It’s not about knowing. It’s about being present.´ Devastating essay on the power of gaps, errors, mishearing in the way we teach.
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
October 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
Free Gothic event alert! Panel discussion on Gothic Italy, in person at Goldsmiths or hybrid, Tuesday 7 October: bads.gold.ac.uk/gothic-italy
2025: Gothic Italy — BADS
BADS Jeudis 2025
bads.gold.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Free Gothic event alert! Panel discussion on Gothic Italy, in person at Goldsmiths or hybrid, Tuesday 7 October: bads.gold.ac.uk/gothic-italy
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
My new novel, The Heist Of Hollow London, is published TODAY. The hardback may not be out in the UK yet - it's listed for the end of October here - but the ebook is certainly available now. Here are some links but please feel free to buy wherever you can find it: amzn.to/3IOGJRw
The Heist of Hollow London
The Heist of Hollow London eBook : Robson, Eddie: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
amzn.to
September 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
My new novel, The Heist Of Hollow London, is published TODAY. The hardback may not be out in the UK yet - it's listed for the end of October here - but the ebook is certainly available now. Here are some links but please feel free to buy wherever you can find it: amzn.to/3IOGJRw
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
I am genuinely baffled and distressed as to why the UK government is intent on destroying UK's genuinely world-leading universities, who bring £265 billion into the economy and support more than 250,000 jobs.
This tax will kill us.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
This tax will kill us.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Student visas crackdown and new levies to cause ‘£1.8bn loss’ to UK economy
The Government has proposed a 6 per cent tax on international student tuition fees and a reduction in graduate visas
www.standard.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I am genuinely baffled and distressed as to why the UK government is intent on destroying UK's genuinely world-leading universities, who bring £265 billion into the economy and support more than 250,000 jobs.
This tax will kill us.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
This tax will kill us.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
ANIMAL GHOSTS (1980): Spooky short story anthology centred around, well... animal ghosts. The cover is particularly striking - those animals are freaking out, man!
September 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
ANIMAL GHOSTS (1980): Spooky short story anthology centred around, well... animal ghosts. The cover is particularly striking - those animals are freaking out, man!
🦇🎶It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
Heads up @igagoths.bsky.social - delighted to announce the CFP for IGA 2026: 'Gothic Selves/Artificial Others' hosted at the University of Hull 28-31 July! hullgothic.wordpress.com
Gothic Selves/Artificial Others
18th Biennual Conference of the International Gothic Association: 28-31 July, 2026. Hull, UK
hullgothic.wordpress.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
🦇🎶It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
Warwick English came 5th in The Guardian today, which is great for us.
But also notice that Lancaster came 3rd for Creative Writing & 7th for English - but the university is decimating programmes & firing 1/3 of academic staff over the next six months 🤔🤔🤔 @lancasterucu.bsky.social
#saveartsandhums
But also notice that Lancaster came 3rd for Creative Writing & 7th for English - but the university is decimating programmes & firing 1/3 of academic staff over the next six months 🤔🤔🤔 @lancasterucu.bsky.social
#saveartsandhums
September 13, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Warwick English came 5th in The Guardian today, which is great for us.
But also notice that Lancaster came 3rd for Creative Writing & 7th for English - but the university is decimating programmes & firing 1/3 of academic staff over the next six months 🤔🤔🤔 @lancasterucu.bsky.social
#saveartsandhums
But also notice that Lancaster came 3rd for Creative Writing & 7th for English - but the university is decimating programmes & firing 1/3 of academic staff over the next six months 🤔🤔🤔 @lancasterucu.bsky.social
#saveartsandhums
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
Started the day with a free gig at the Lancaster Jazz Festival - Johanna Burnheart at the Herbarium cafe, in a rammed side room I didn't know was there until today. She was superb. tidal.com/browse/artis...
September 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Started the day with a free gig at the Lancaster Jazz Festival - Johanna Burnheart at the Herbarium cafe, in a rammed side room I didn't know was there until today. She was superb. tidal.com/browse/artis...
Early 20C Marxist Gothic. Here for it.
September 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Early 20C Marxist Gothic. Here for it.
When you’re researching in the British Library and you discover the copy of the 1853 novel you’ve called up is inscribed by the author…
September 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
When you’re researching in the British Library and you discover the copy of the 1853 novel you’ve called up is inscribed by the author…
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
As usual forgot to take photos, but here's a couple from @catherinespooner.bsky.social's and @coffinboffin.bsky.social's wonderful keynotes 🩵
September 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
As usual forgot to take photos, but here's a couple from @catherinespooner.bsky.social's and @coffinboffin.bsky.social's wonderful keynotes 🩵
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
So grateful to @ogomproject.bsky.social for bringing us together for the dream mermaid conference. A brilliant three days thinking about submarine fantasies 💦🧜♀️🩵
September 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
So grateful to @ogomproject.bsky.social for bringing us together for the dream mermaid conference. A brilliant three days thinking about submarine fantasies 💦🧜♀️🩵
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
This frontispiece in my book just made me laugh a lot. Is this Buddhist reincarnation, or some other form of afterlife?
September 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This frontispiece in my book just made me laugh a lot. Is this Buddhist reincarnation, or some other form of afterlife?
Reposted by Catherine Spooner
Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
September 6, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.