Francesca Astraea
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francescaswords.bsky.social
Francesca Astraea
@francescaswords.bsky.social
73 followers 92 following 150 posts
🌙 Want to escape into another world for a while? Let's escape together.
🧿Novels, scripts, authenticity reading.
📍Southend, Bath, the fiction section.
https://francescaswords.com/
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francescaswords.bsky.social
Francesca Astraea @francescaswords.bsky.social · 19d
If you dislike the algorithm, you will love my websites. No ads, no rage bait, lots of old school conversation. Let's take a break from reality together. 💜

francescaswords.com / francescasthoughts.com
Graphic reading "What’s the difference? FrancescasThoughts.com An old-school blog for genuine conversation, cultural commentary and insights into my books and creative projects. And MCR shitposting. FrancescasWords.com The doorway to escaping reality. Explore my books, films, Patreon, newsletter, shop and upcoming events. A digital Francesca HQ."
francescaswords.bsky.social
Throwback to when I wrote and recorded a horror story about chronic fatigue*
*horror as in zombies, but also horror as in, booking a GP appointment in the 2020s.

youtu.be/uOFPkLmxgSw

🫀 You can read it here via @divinationsmag.bsky.social: divinationsmagazine.co.uk/issue-6-crav...

#Horror
Cover for Divinations Magazine CRAVING issue, with an anatomical heart on the cover on a black background.
September 17, 2026 at 7:17 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Ernest Bezzina does not know what a chatbot is but suspects it would bring him out in a rash. 🔮 youtube.com/shorts/ukrRa...

#ReadingSky
I asked Chatgpt-
YouTube video by Francescas Words (Francesca Astraea)
youtube.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
doctorow.pluralistic.net
Creating an AI agent and asking it to email strangers on your behalf is like forcing strangers to watch you masturbate.

Incompetently.
September 11, 2026 at 8:21 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
A collection of short stories that feel like coming home? Could it be my debut novel The Princess and the Dragon and Other Stories About Unlikely Heroes? It could! Available to read via francescaswords.com/the-princess...
Cover of THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT UNLIKELY HEROES by Francesca Astraea on background with motifs from the cover - skull, rabbit, tower, stars, branches, moon, poppet White on blue text reading "“Given that this is a collection of short stories I was worried things would feel incomplete or untold. But it was rather the opposite, I felt as if I was apart of this vivid kingdom she was describing, down to the windows in the buildings and the vendors at the market. It feels very much like coming home, the world is her own but it reminded me of fairy tales I used to read when I was younger.”"
September 5, 2026 at 7:08 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Don’t use your local library because it’s too hard? It’s actually more effort to buy the book yourself. 📚️
lilac background with star and book motifs and text reading "How to Request a Book Purchase to Your Local Library!" Text reads "Step 1: Know the title and author’s name. Publication year and ISBN (unique retail identifier) is also helpful. You can get them from retail websites or sites like Pagebound." Text reads "Step 2: Go to your library’s website. There will be a page with a form to suggest titles for purchase, or an email address where you can send the information." Text reads "Step 3: Fill in the form or send the email. That’s it! Some libraries will tell you that they’ve bought the book, some won’t, so ask your librarian - I promise they’ll be friendly!"
September 3, 2026 at 4:05 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
If you liked the friendships in The Raven Cycle, the everyday magic of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, the awkward growing pains in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the social observations and witches of Discworld, you’ll like the Bezzina’s Emporium series. francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emp...
Cream graphic with covers of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Raven Boys, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Wyrd Sisters, with a rose decal.
September 2, 2026 at 7:17 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Complex plots? Ethical quandaries? Gradual character growth? Without blatant attempts to win a grown up literary prize by using every word in a thesaurus?
flatlay of Rotting Trees by Francesca Astraea with overlaid text reading 'For the readers "technically" too old for YA"
August 29, 2026 at 6:28 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
If you dislike the algorithm, you will love my websites. No ads, no rage bait, lots of old school conversation. Let's take a break from reality together. 💜

francescaswords.com / francescasthoughts.com
Graphic reading "What’s the difference? FrancescasThoughts.com An old-school blog for genuine conversation, cultural commentary and insights into my books and creative projects. And MCR shitposting. FrancescasWords.com The doorway to escaping reality. Explore my books, films, Patreon, newsletter, shop and upcoming events. A digital Francesca HQ."
August 29, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
shakespeare.lol
[Exit Queen.]
August 25, 2026 at 6:02 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
If you’ve been looking for your next read… you just found it. Visit the Emporium at FrancescasWords.com.

youtu.be/Hxc762Y4lx8

#ReadingSky #ContemporaryFantasy
Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities | Trailer
Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities welcomes the curious, the wandering and those desirous of a cup of tea. ☕Visit Bezzina's Emporium:…
youtu.be
August 24, 2026 at 5:57 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Your reading list is crying out for nuanced plots and unlikeable characters in magical locations… I’m Francesca Astraea, a novelist and scriptwriter specialising in stories that are whimsical, folkloric and bizarre. In Greek mythology... [1/2]
Cream background with a photo of Francesca and an olive branch drawing, and text boxes reading "'Share a birthday with My Chemical Romance', 'It’s pronounced “as-tray-ah”', 'YA author', 'Episodic TV scriptwriter', 'short story writer', wrote my undergrad dissertation on the evolution of British folklore', 'big fan of libraries', good at spotting treasures in charity shops', 'overenthusiastic house plant parent', scared of viewing horror, quite like writing it'.
August 20, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
jackjenkins.me
One of the many manifestations of the ongoing “techlash”: Kobo has apparently expanded its market share in the U.S., doubling its sales as it pulls folks away from Amazon’s Kindle.

They attribute that at least partly to politics associated with Amazon. www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Finally, politics, Tamblyn believes, is playing a role too. "People who have been, I think, much more conscious about what kinds of companies they're supporting in the context of the current landscape, prompting them to leave big tech ecosystems and look for alternatives," he says.
August 15, 2026 at 11:04 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Book club is evergreen, so if you haven't read ROTTING TREES yet because it's too hot to look at a screen or, you know, do anything, you can take your time.

Buy your copy: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...

Join book club: francescaswords.com/club/

#ReadingSky
White on green text with ROTTING TREES cover imposed. Text reads BOOK CLUB. "“Where can I get a copy?” All good e-book retailers, most big box bookshops. Some signed copies are dotted around the UK! Info on my website." Mood board with flowers, pencils, clips and coffee, and imposed text reading 'Ariel Scarlet.' Mood board with chair covers, cake, tea and notebooks and text reading 'Sophey Cartwright'
August 15, 2026 at 7:08 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Bored by paper-thin characters, endless narrative exposition and no space to draw your own conclusions? Me too, so I wrote a series with complicated protagonists, subtle plotting and plenty of opportunity to think for yourself. Read it here: francescaswords.com/bezzinas-emp...

#ReadingSky
Cream background with black text and black, red and green outline of flowers. Superimposed covers for ROTTING TREES and DEAD ENDS by Francesca Astraea. Text reads "Readers. Your bookshelf needs more unlikeable protagonists and substantial plots. Let me help you with that."
August 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Want to *actually* support your fave indie creators and small businesses in 2026? Without buying a tiara, sculpture or liking every post on boop dot com? I've got you: wp.me/pGREj-4Y3

#ShopSmall #ShopLocal
black on cream text reading "Want to *actually* support your fave indie creators and small businesses in 2026? Without buying a massive garden sculpture, diamond tiara or £2k subscription? Or liking every single post on boop.com?" with olive branch art and 'by Francesca' signature
August 11, 2026 at 5:16 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
It really is that easy! But if you're not convinced, I've explained the No. 1 Readers' Club at francescaswords.com/club/
Rotting Trees cover design with 'book club' overlay and text reading "“How do I join in?” Go to Patreon.com/FrancescasWords to join! (Get a free month by signing up to my newsletter.)
August 9, 2026 at 8:44 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
This is the vibe of the Rotting Trees book club. Questions for Week 2 (the "summer" section of the novel) are up now. Join us via francescaswords.com/club/

#ReadingSky #BookClub
Black text on lilac background with waving ghost cartoon and text reading "1) Cabinet. Your Ikea home furnishings could never carry books AND the soul of a 16th century seafarer. 2) Jewellery from any time between 1700 and 1902. Bonus if there is a curse attached. :) 3) The proprietor. Most haunted items in antique shops" White on green text with Rotting Trees novel design and text reading "Rotting Trees book club Part Two “Summer” 3rd - 9th August"
August 6, 2026 at 3:27 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Last winter, Maggie Stiefvater hosted a book club for THE LISTENERS and I re-read a section each week in line with questions... and it was magical.

Join the Rotting Trees book club: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...
Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...
green Rotting Trees cover graphic with 'book club' overlay and text reading '“I’ve already read it. Should I re-read it?” Why not? Questions drop once a week, so you can read along with the questions or re-read in one go.'
August 4, 2026 at 5:21 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
If you think it's too late to join the Rotting Trees book club - it's not! You can pop in and out as we're chatting about the book throughout August!

Join in: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...
Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...

#ReadingSky #BookClub
white on green text with Rotting Trees graphic and 'book club' overlay plus text reading '“I want to join but can’t make the book club every week, can I join?” Of course! The posts won’t disappear, you can hop into the comments any time.' White on green text and Rotting Trees graphic with 'book club' overlay and text reading 'Part One "Spring" 27th July - 2nd August'
August 1, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
perfjewellery.bsky.social
I put in a help request to Weebly on July 2nd and today, the 31st, I set up a Wordpress site.

“Mate they have written the book on How To Lose a Customer in 30 Days”

Credit to @francescaswords.bsky.social for an amazing joke I absolutely missed at the time.
July 31, 2026 at 3:14 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
The Rotting Trees book club has begun and you can ABSOLUTELY join if you've not read it before. We're discussing each of the book's four sections over a month, so there's plenty of time to read along. Join us: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...
Get the book: francescaswords.com/rotting-tree...
White on green text with 'Book Club' imposed over the Rotting Trees book graphic and text reading '“Do I need to have read the book before now to join?” No! Book club is a great time to pick it up for the first time.'
July 28, 2026 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
emilyrcwilson.bsky.social
I wrote about the Nolan Odyssey for the LRB. I'll summarize some of my main points below, in case you don't feel like reading all that.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Emily Wilson · An Uncomplicated Man
As they say at the awards shows, I was humbled to learn that Christopher Nolan has read at least the first line of my...
www.lrb.co.uk
July 27, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Francesca Astraea
tashasuri.bsky.social
very excited that LitPins&Co are doing a special edition set of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy!!! it has original covers, printed hardcovers, sprayed edges, endpapers and overlays, which is all wildly fancy and lovely

it's limited edition and available here: litpinsandco.com/collections/...
three book set of the burning kingdoms trilogy, with images of two indian women on each cover
July 27, 2026 at 2:14 PM
francescaswords.bsky.social
To celebrate the release of DEAD ENDS, book two in the Bezzina’s Emporium trilogy, I’m hosting a book club for book one, ROTTING TREES. Join us to chat about Ariel’s arc, the novel’s vibes and what might happen next: www.patreon.com/c/Francescas...
Cream graphic with green border reading 'Let’s talk about Ariel’s adventures, her reaction to plot twists and where the story might go next. ROTTING TREES book club starts 27th July at the No. 1 Readers’ Club!'
July 26, 2026 at 9:27 AM
francescaswords.bsky.social
Chuffed that my Artemis print is in Folksy’s Gifts for Book Lovers gift guide, in VERY good company! Have a nose: folksy.com/themes/gifts...

#Folksy #FolksySeller #BookLovers #GiftGuide #GreekMythology
Print reading 'Artemis was right. Swear off marriage. Surround yourself with animals and your friends. Possibly kill men who fall in love with you.' plus a pencil reading 'Artemis was right.'
July 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM