Mayken Brünings
LightNews LightNews
banner
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings
@maykenalanna.bsky.social
730 followers 120 following 3.8K posts
I write fantasy & speculative fiction for kids. 📚 My blog about Paris & published short stories 👉 https://www.maykenbruenings.com/
Trilingual swimmer 🏊🏻‍♀️ and SCBWI member. I love cows and Brittany.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
maykenalanna.bsky.social
Mayken Brünings @maykenalanna.bsky.social · Oct 18
12yo Charlotte spends alternate weeks with her time protection agent parents in the 16th and the 21st centuries. All is well until it isn't. History goes off the rails, Charlotte is stranded in the past, and a royal princess needs saving. #TimeTravel
A French Renaissance palace is reflected in the water of the Loire river
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
melissacaruso.bsky.social
Just a little more than one month until THE LAST STAR IN THE VOID comes out! Still time to catch up with the rest of the trilogy!

If you like your books fast-paced, sapphic, a little bonkers, and full of sword fights and banter, check it out!

bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Graphic showing the cover of THE LAST STAR IN THE VOID on a starry background, with text "Coming Nov 10" above and "This time, the murder Kembral must solve is her own" below
October 8, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
comedix.de
Zum Welttag der Kraken: Goscinny sagte mal, dass Uderzo so talentiert sei, dass er alles zeichnen könne, sogar einen Krakenkampf im Johannisbeergelee. Die Zeichnung von Frédéric Mebarki mit Dank an Régis Grébent. #Asterix
Eine Karikatur von Uderzo sitzt auf einem Stuhl mit einem Malblock. Asterix und Obelix schauen Uderzo beim Zeichnen zu. Vor ihm kämpfen zwei Kraken in einem Gefäß und beschmieren sich mit Gelee.
October 8, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
greenpeace.org
Isn’t it crazy how there’s always money for war and data centers, but not for education, healthcare, and climate action?
October 8, 2026 at 3:39 AM
maykenalanna.bsky.social
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 5
No historic events in my stories, but French Renaissance king Francis I (François 1er) is a secondary character in Charlotte's story.
Quentin doesn't get to meet him during his brief visit at Amboise royal palace.
Guy & Raoul meet Charles VIII, his pre-predecessor.
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2026 1. Introduce your story (optional: spooky and/or like a Twilight Zone episode) 3. Saturday excerpt (optional word: ghost/spirit) 5. Does anyone see any important and/or historic events? 7. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: embarrass) 9. Most cynical character 11. A non-book example of time travel that stands out to you? (Ewan Stone) 13. Would you like to be friends/hang out with any of your characters? 15. Weirdest marketing idea that worked 17. Saturday excerpt (optional word: trick/treat) 19. Would the story change substantially if the protagonist (or whole cast) was another gender? (QuasiTemporal) 21. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: alone/haunt) 23. Any monsters in your story? 25. Most and/or least attractive characters 27. Do any characters play pranks/tricks? 29. A scary moment (post-sized) 31. Author's choice/promo To join, answer the prompts on odd days, hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors Even days are for posting what you like! Questions? @juliebihn.bsky.social or @juliebihn.mastodon.social The French Renaissance palace of Amboise is reflected in the water of the Loire river.
October 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
exploration.esa.int
"Day 235, orbit 3653 – This is the end of the orbital chapter of the #εpsilon mission, but I look forward to continuing to share my experience with you.
 
But first: undocking, splashdown, flying back to Europe and getting adjusted to 1G!" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

🎥 ESA/NASA
October 7, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
hudsonrivercroc.bsky.social
You just don’t want to believe in time travel 🤪
alisonfisk.bsky.social Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d
This ancient Greek figure from the 2,500 year-old Douris Cup looks uncannily like someone working on a laptop! 😲 💻

He’s actually writing with a stylus on a hinged wax writing tablet!

The technology has changed, the posture has not! 😂

Altes Museum, Berlin 📷 by me
My photo shows detail from an ancient Greek red-figure kylix (drinking cup) of a young man shown in profile seated on a stool facing right. He wears a knee length cloak (himation) over his left shoulder, which is shown in folds around his waist and upper legs. His right shoulder, chest, and arms are bare. His dark hair is short, and he wears a band around his head. He is looking down at an open rectangular wax writing tablet which he is supporting in his left hand above his lap. In his right hand he holds a metal stylus pen poised over the writing tablet. The wooden writing tablet is hinged like a book and, from this angle, resembles a modern laptop. The figure is part of a scene depicting school lessons in ancient Athens, painted by Douris around 480 BC. On display at the Altes Museum in Berlin.
October 5, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
alisonfisk.bsky.social
This ancient Greek figure from the 2,500 year-old Douris Cup looks uncannily like someone working on a laptop! 😲 💻

He’s actually writing with a stylus on a hinged wax writing tablet!

The technology has changed, the posture has not! 😂

Altes Museum, Berlin 📷 by me
My photo shows detail from an ancient Greek red-figure kylix (drinking cup) of a young man shown in profile seated on a stool facing right. He wears a knee length cloak (himation) over his left shoulder, which is shown in folds around his waist and upper legs. His right shoulder, chest, and arms are bare. His dark hair is short, and he wears a band around his head. He is looking down at an open rectangular wax writing tablet which he is supporting in his left hand above his lap. In his right hand he holds a metal stylus pen poised over the writing tablet. The wooden writing tablet is hinged like a book and, from this angle, resembles a modern laptop. The figure is part of a scene depicting school lessons in ancient Athens, painted by Douris around 480 BC. On display at the Altes Museum in Berlin.
October 5, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
gladiushispania.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday
Fragmento de mosaico romano, encontrado en Medina Sidonia (Asido Caesarina Augusta), Cádiz 🇪🇦 España. Siglo I
#Hispania #Roma
#RomanArchaeology
#Archaeology #Art
#AncientBluesky
Fragmento de mosaico romano, encontrado en Medina Sidonia (Asido Caesarina Augusta), Cádiz 🇪🇦 España. Siglo I 📷 A. M.
October 5, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
exploration.esa.int
"Day 234, orbit 3627 — I’ll soon have my feet back on Earth, but I definitely plan to keep sharing the beauty of our planet w/ you. I still have a few photos in store… 😉
This heart 💚 is the small Croatian island of Galešnjak", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

📸 ESA/NASA – S. Adenot #εpsilon
October 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
bahnansagen.bsky.social
Right! ✅
shadowspar.bsky.social Not That Rick Scott 🇨🇦 @shadowspar.bsky.social · 5d
your regular reminder to follow @bahnansagen.bsky.social if you are working on your German. you get a useful bit of vocab every day with a funny punchline payoff for getting the translation right. 😊
October 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
exploration.esa.int
"Day 233, orbit 3612 — These last few days before departure are full of special moments… After more than 2 months at the helm of the Station, Jessica handed over command to Pyotr, who arrived w/ Anna and Anil in July aboard Soyuz MS-29", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

📸 ESA/NASA #εpsilon
October 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
shvetathakrar.com
As promised, the cover reveal for my ridiculous vampire novel, FANGS NOT INCLUDED, coming 25 May 2027!!! 🧛🏾‍♀️🧛🏾‍♀️🧛🏾‍♀️

(Illustration by Kushiaania; cover design by Julia Tyler and Alison Klapthor.)

www.harpercollins.com/products/fan...
A blue background with the text "Fangs Out 05/25/2027" and a cover with four vampiric girls on it. The main one, a rakshasi, is holding a camera and filming. The title says, "Fangs Not Included."
October 1, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
amfisher.bsky.social
I had not seen this analogy before, but I fear it is dead on.
nick-pettigrew.bsky.social Nick Pettigrew @nick-pettigrew.bsky.social · Feb 8
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
dancow.bsky.social Dan Nguyen @dancow.bsky.social · Feb 8
VC, founder, dumbass
October 3, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
erichaywood.bsky.social
“You took EVERYTHING from me!”

“I don’t even know hooo you are”
California squirrel's flying attack is finalist in national wildlife photo competition
October 3, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
taniel.bsky.social
Voter registration deadlines are SUNDAY in Alaska, Rhode Island, South Carolina.

And MONDAY in: Arizona, Arkansas Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and *Texas*.

If you live in these states, verify your registration now, literally.
October 2, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
exploration.esa.int
"Day 232, orbit 3596 – Yoohoo! Crew-13 has arrived! It feels so good to welcome new crewmates aboard the Station 😄" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot! #εpsilon
October 3, 2026 at 5:16 PM
maykenalanna.bsky.social
🖤 Am I capable? 💜

cooking: if I have to
whistle: yes
draw: cows
paint: cows
swim: on a competitive level
English: yes
dance: no
sing: when no one can hear me
drive: if I have to
gifting: pretty decent
write: yes
guitar: no
speaking: in public no, otherwise yes (will talk your ears off)
juliebihn.bsky.social Julie Bihn, author of Titanic Voyage @juliebihn.bsky.social · 6d
🖤 Am I capable? 🩷

cooking: Adequate-ish
whistle: No
draw: Not bad
paint: Not bad
swim: Not well
english: Yes
dance: Does Dance Dance Revolution count? (adequate-ish at that)
sing: Kind of
drive: Dislike but yes
gifting: OK
write: Yes
guitar: No
speaking: Conversation? Sure. Public? ...
andria-kennedy.com Andi Kennedy: Art & Words @andria-kennedy.com · 6d
🖤 Am I capable? 🩷

cooking: If I have no choice.
whistle: Yes
draw: I'd like to think so.
paint: Again, I think so.
swim: Like a fish.
english: Most days
dance: That's a no.
sing: Soprano.
drive: Love it!
gifting: With a huge amount of stress.
write: Yup!
guitar: No.
speaking: Depends on the day.
October 3, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
melissacaruso.bsky.social
UK folks! Audible UK has the audiobook for THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS on sale this month for £3.99!

It has INCREDIBLE narration by the legendary Moira Quirk!!!!!!!

It also has an exhausted sapphic sword mom trapped in a murder time loop at a fancy party!

www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Last-...
Audiobook cover for THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS
October 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
exploration.esa.int
"Day 231 orbit 3580 – Just another morning in space… this one starting with a blood draw! I was so proud to get it right on the first try! ☺️", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #εpsilon
NASA’s Standard Measures: A snapshot of astronaut health
Astronauts are not only highly trained professionals; they are also participants in many studies about physiology and the effects of weightlessness on the human body. For ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, ...
www.esa.int
October 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
maykenalanna.bsky.social
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 2

My WIP is a Middle Grande #TimeTravel novel. The MC is 12, but the real-life children of King Francis are younger (5, 6, and going on 8). My own kid is 16.
I had doubts if my written talking was realistic.⬇️
October 2, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
melissacaruso.bsky.social
Working on an action scene and just had this thought:

There should always be an answer to "What's going on in this fight scene?" that's more interesting than "These guys are trying to beat each other."

It could be a character thing, a tactical thing, a stakes thing—so many possible answers!
October 1, 2026 at 6:38 PM
maykenalanna.bsky.social
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 1

Quentin erred through the deep dark forest, his previous goods safe in his bag. Which way to the royal castle?
Was he alone in the woods?
More importantly, would he find his time machine again on the way back?

I really can't do spooky.
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2026 1. Introduce your story (optional: spooky and/or like a Twilight Zone episode) 3. Saturday excerpt (optional word: ghost/spirit) 5. Does anyone see any important and/or historic events? 7. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: embarrass) 9. Most cynical character 11. A non-book example of time travel that stands out to you? (Ewan Stone) 13. Would you like to be friends/hang out with any of your characters? 15. Weirdest marketing idea that worked 17. Saturday excerpt (optional word: trick/treat) 19. Would the story change substantially if the protagonist (or whole cast) was another gender? (QuasiTemporal) 21. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: alone/haunt) 23. Any monsters in your story? 25. Most and/or least attractive characters 27. Do any characters play pranks/tricks? 29. A scary moment (post-sized) 31. Author's choice/promo To join, answer the prompts on odd days, hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors Even days are for posting what you like! Questions? @juliebihn.bsky.social or @juliebihn.mastodon.social
October 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
maykenalanna.bsky.social
#TimeTravelAuthors Day 1
I can't do spooky.
Guy and Raoul lie in wait in the dark, dark night to catch a time traveler on his way to assassinate the man they're protecting.
Meanwhile Maelle monitors them from 600 years in the future, keeping awake with coffee and chewing gum.
See? I can't do spooky.
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2026 1. Introduce your story (optional: spooky and/or like a Twilight Zone episode) 3. Saturday excerpt (optional word: ghost/spirit) 5. Does anyone see any important and/or historic events? 7. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: embarrass) 9. Most cynical character 11. A non-book example of time travel that stands out to you? (Ewan Stone) 13. Would you like to be friends/hang out with any of your characters? 15. Weirdest marketing idea that worked 17. Saturday excerpt (optional word: trick/treat) 19. Would the story change substantially if the protagonist (or whole cast) was another gender? (QuasiTemporal) 21. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: alone/haunt) 23. Any monsters in your story? 25. Most and/or least attractive characters 27. Do any characters play pranks/tricks? 29. A scary moment (post-sized) 31. Author's choice/promo To join, answer the prompts on odd days, hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors Even days are for posting what you like! Questions? @juliebihn.bsky.social or @juliebihn.mastodon.social
October 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
andrewvargaauthor.bsky.social
If anyone is in the Oshawa area this Sunday, I'll be at the Indigo signing books from my YA Historical Fiction series.

I hope to see you there!

#TimeTravelAuthors #ReadSky #Writesky
October 1, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Mayken Brünings
juliebihn.bsky.social
In a world where a young man's life is falling apart, an amusement park ride is the key to time travel. Can he win a heroic woman's heart and change her fate? Or is the pair doomed to sink together? You'll find out in: TITANIC VOYAGE. #TimeTravelAuthors

(Links in comments!)
#TimeTravelAuthors October 2026 1. Introduce your story (optional: spooky and/or like a Twilight Zone episode) 3. Saturday excerpt (optional word: ghost/spirit) 5. Does anyone see any important and/or historic events? 7. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: embarrass) 9. Most cynical character 11. A non-book example of time travel that stands out to you? (Ewan Stone) 13. Would you like to be friends/hang out with any of your characters? 15. Weirdest marketing idea that worked 17. Saturday excerpt (optional word: trick/treat) 19. Would the story change substantially if the protagonist (or whole cast) was another gender? (QuasiTemporal) 21. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: alone/haunt) 23. Any monsters in your story? 25. Most and/or least attractive characters 27. Do any characters play pranks/tricks? 29. A scary moment (post-sized) 31. Author's choice/promo To join, answer the prompts on odd days, hashtag #TimeTravelAuthors Even days are for posting whatever! "Come on down to Historytown" Concept art of a white-and-gold tower with various buildings around it, like a castle, what might be an iceberg, etc. Two books. Titanic Voyage, "Open now." Immigrants' Journey, "Launching Spring 2027."
October 1, 2026 at 6:15 AM