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Posts by Lucy A. McLaren

Woohoo!!!

4 days ago 6 1 0 0

Hey Tru! 👋🏻

4 days ago 1 0 0 0
—then feeling triumphant when the plot kinks are solved.

—then feeling triumphant when the plot kinks are solved.

- Writing a first draft that is total sh*t but knowing it will just get better from there.

- Writing a first draft that is total sh*t but knowing it will just get better from there.

- That amazing feeling when you write ‘The End’ after spending weeks/months/years on a project.

- That amazing feeling when you write ‘The End’ after spending weeks/months/years on a project.

- Support human creatives. F*ck AI.

- Support human creatives. F*ck AI.

6 days ago 0 0 0 0
Writing is…

Writing is…

- Falling in love with an idea or a vibe or a single sentence and obsessing over it as it blossoms in your mind.

- Falling in love with an idea or a vibe or a single sentence and obsessing over it as it blossoms in your mind.

- Being surprised at where the story goes as you write it.

- Being surprised at where the story goes as you write it.

- Getting stuck on a plot point and having to retrace your steps—

- Getting stuck on a plot point and having to retrace your steps—

Writing is…

Do you agree? What would you add? ☺️

#writerlife #writingcommunity #indieauthor #authorlife #amwriting

6 days ago 6 0 1 0
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BBNYA 2026 - Author Sign-Up Form Please fill out the the form below to submit your novel to the Book Blogger's Novel of the Year Award 2026! ***Author sign-ups close on April 26, 2026 at 23:59 GMT.*** Before entering your novel, pl...

Author Entries are open!!! Head to our website or go direct to the sign up form here!:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

2 months ago 30 24 2 4

#WIPSnips word of the day is “offer” - here’s mine from my gothic horror fantasy, This Loathsome Monster, which I’m currently editing! 🙂

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

4 weeks ago 13 2 0 0
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Friday March 27, Heath Miller will be live-streaming his narration of Chapter 1 of Endlords Join us at 8pm ET on TikTok and Discord. We’ll be giving away three signed J.V.Jones hardbacks. Come learn how Watcher of the Dead got his name. Links in comments. #epicfantasy

4 weeks ago 9 7 3 1
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9 months ago 961 239 10 8
The word AI with eat black diagonal line through it.

The word AI with eat black diagonal line through it.

I don't use generative AI.
I don't use Chat GPT.
I don't use Pro Writing Aid.
I don't even use Grammarly.

2 months ago 66 22 2 1

That’s fair enough, it’s definitely heavy! Thank you though, that’s so lovely to hear. 🥰

2 months ago 0 0 1 0

Oh yay, hope you enjoy it Charlie! 🙂

2 months ago 0 0 1 0
Black background with blood splatter detail. 
Red writing reads: gothic psycho
White writing reads: gothic books featuring killers that you should totally read

Black background with blood splatter detail. Red writing reads: gothic psycho White writing reads: gothic books featuring killers that you should totally read

Black background with blood splatter detail. 
Cover for Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce
White writing reads: 
Inspired by true story of Belle Gunness
Female serial killer
Feminine rage
Unlikeable (but compelling) main character

Cover for The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark
White writing reads:

Inspired by Sweeney Todd
Unreliable narrator
Epistolary storytelling
That ending!!!

Black background with blood splatter detail. Cover for Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce White writing reads: Inspired by true story of Belle Gunness Female serial killer Feminine rage Unlikeable (but compelling) main character Cover for The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark White writing reads: Inspired by Sweeney Todd Unreliable narrator Epistolary storytelling That ending!!!

Black background with blood splatter detail. 
Cover for The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell
White writing reads: 

Murder mystery
Victorian London
Child exploitation
Twist ending

Cover for Blood On Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
White writing reads:

Visceral body horror
Sapphic romance
Fantastic worldbuilding
Shocking ending

Black background with blood splatter detail. Cover for The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell White writing reads: Murder mystery Victorian London Child exploitation Twist ending Cover for Blood On Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen White writing reads: Visceral body horror Sapphic romance Fantastic worldbuilding Shocking ending

Black background with blood splatter detail. 
Cover for Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
White writing reads:
Female serial killer
Black humour
Climactic - and gruesome - ending

Cover for Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren
White writing reads:

Inspired by Jack the Ripper
Murder mystery
Amateur sleuths
Female friendship

Black background with blood splatter detail. Cover for Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito White writing reads: Female serial killer Black humour Climactic - and gruesome - ending Cover for Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren White writing reads: Inspired by Jack the Ripper Murder mystery Amateur sleuths Female friendship

Gothic psycho - gothic books featuring killers that I am for some reason *very* drawn to at the moment. And here’s a selection of my favourites! Did I miss any? Anything I must read that would fit in with these??

#gothicbooks #gothicvibes #gothicreads #gothicreader #BookSky #ReaderSky

2 months ago 4 0 0 0

my only notes to people under 30: your 30s aren't for ditching fandom, they're for re-evaluating all the "cringe" stuff you liked as a teenager through the lens of someone who can appreciate it fully, going, "that owned, actually," and becoming even more unhinged about it. please look forward to it.

2 months ago 6603 2968 59 157
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a man in a black shirt and tie is holding a pen and a notebook and says noted . ALT: a man in a black shirt and tie is holding a pen and a notebook and says noted .
2 months ago 0 0 0 0

😱🩸🥀

2 months ago 0 0 1 0
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Black background with red blood stain.
White writing reads:
Fancy a Jack the Ripper inspired gothic horror fantasy book for gothic reading month?

Black background with red blood stain. White writing reads: Fancy a Jack the Ripper inspired gothic horror fantasy book for gothic reading month?

Black background with red blood stain.
Cover for Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren - black with red light coming from an old fashioned streetlamp, silhouette of top hat wearing person in foreground, a glinting knife in their hand. 
White writing reads:
Out now
Ebook just 99p/99c
"Echoes of the EtherStone is a thrilling gothic mystery where the power of friendship can overcome even the darkest of evils.”

Black background with red blood stain. Cover for Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren - black with red light coming from an old fashioned streetlamp, silhouette of top hat wearing person in foreground, a glinting knife in their hand. White writing reads: Out now Ebook just 99p/99c "Echoes of the EtherStone is a thrilling gothic mystery where the power of friendship can overcome even the darkest of evils.”

Black background with red blood stain.
White writing reads:
Echoes of the EtherStone
Catching a killer will come at a cost.
Character art:
Man with brown skin and short, curly black hair, brown eyes, stern faced.
Man with white skin, side-parted brown hair, blue eyes, a slight smile on his lips,
Woman with white skin, blonde hair in a braid around her crown, blue eyes, thin-faced and serious expression.
Woman with dark brown skin, brown eyes, long curly black hair half pinned up. 
All are wearing Victorian inspired period dress.

Black background with red blood stain. White writing reads: Echoes of the EtherStone Catching a killer will come at a cost. Character art: Man with brown skin and short, curly black hair, brown eyes, stern faced. Man with white skin, side-parted brown hair, blue eyes, a slight smile on his lips, Woman with white skin, blonde hair in a braid around her crown, blue eyes, thin-faced and serious expression. Woman with dark brown skin, brown eyes, long curly black hair half pinned up. All are wearing Victorian inspired period dress.

Apparently it’s International Gothic Reading Month, soooo here’s my Jack the Ripper inspired gothic horror fantasy book in case you fancy it. 😏

#gothicreadingmonth #gothicbooks #gothichorror #gothicfantasy #BookSky #WritingCommunity #indiebooks #indieauthor

2 months ago 10 2 0 0

What's remarkable is not just that Trump is so loathsome and narcissistic that he doesn't care when an innocent woman is killed in a protest unless and until he finds out that her dad was a fan of his ... it's that he's so disregulated he *can't help but say so out loud*.

3 months ago 3511 822 92 18
Black background white red mist graphic.
Book cover for Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
White text reads:
Witty and unputdownable story about grief, trauma, and toxic relationships - fantastically written.

Black background white red mist graphic. Book cover for Play Nice by Rachel Harrison White text reads: Witty and unputdownable story about grief, trauma, and toxic relationships - fantastically written.

Black background white red mist graphic.
Book cover for My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
White text reads:
A compulsive story of family and feminine rage and repression - listen to the audiobook if you can.

Black background white red mist graphic. Book cover for My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite White text reads: A compulsive story of family and feminine rage and repression - listen to the audiobook if you can.

#bookreview #BookSky #horrorbooks #gothichorror #horrorreads

3 months ago 6 1 0 0
Black background white red mist graphic. White text reads:
One line book reviews (because I have too many outstanding and not enough brain power to write anything longer)

Black background white red mist graphic. White text reads: One line book reviews (because I have too many outstanding and not enough brain power to write anything longer)

Black background white red mist graphic.
Book cover for Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley
White text reads:
A dark, funny slasher story that kept me guessing, perfect for any horror fans.

Black background white red mist graphic. Book cover for Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley White text reads: A dark, funny slasher story that kept me guessing, perfect for any horror fans.

Black background white red mist graphic. 
Book cover for Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce
White text reads:
Dark and disturbing story with an unlikeable but strangely compelling main character.

Black background white red mist graphic. Book cover for Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce White text reads: Dark and disturbing story with an unlikeable but strangely compelling main character.

Black background white red mist graphic. 
Book cover for What Hunger by Catherine Dang
White text reads:
A compelling story of grief, rage, and violence that was hard to put down, though the ending left me wishing there'd been more (says more about me, probably haha.)

Black background white red mist graphic. Book cover for What Hunger by Catherine Dang White text reads: A compelling story of grief, rage, and violence that was hard to put down, though the ending left me wishing there'd been more (says more about me, probably haha.)

One line book reviews for:
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley
Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce
What Hunger by Catherine Dang

The gothic/horror vibes continue and show no signs of abating & I am *loving* it.

3 months ago 3 1 1 0
Two books pictured:
Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill (black cover with plants and rodents and skulls  around the title)
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (black cover with a red doorway through which a Wolf is walking down some stairs)

Two books pictured: Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill (black cover with plants and rodents and skulls around the title) When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (black cover with a red doorway through which a Wolf is walking down some stairs)

Little early birthday pressie from my niece and nephew. Looking forward to reading these! 📚

#horrorbooks #amreading #gothichorror #horrorreads #amreadinghorror #BookSky

3 months ago 7 1 0 0
Ebooks now available wide
Covers for:
The Cruel God’s Awakening (The Commune’s Curse: Book 1) - depicting a red haired woman wearing a green cloak with back to the cover, facing a ruined castle in distance.
The Mad Man’s Hope (The Commune’s Curse: Book 2) - depicting a man and a boy, both wearing brown cloaks and with their backs to the cover, facing the wooden fenced walls of a small town. 
Link: Linktr.ee/lucyamclaren

Ebooks now available wide Covers for: The Cruel God’s Awakening (The Commune’s Curse: Book 1) - depicting a red haired woman wearing a green cloak with back to the cover, facing a ruined castle in distance. The Mad Man’s Hope (The Commune’s Curse: Book 2) - depicting a man and a boy, both wearing brown cloaks and with their backs to the cover, facing the wooden fenced walls of a small town. Link: Linktr.ee/lucyamclaren

Delighted to say the ebooks for both books (so far) in The Commune’s Curse series are available wide in ebook! And they’re both just 99p - what a bargain, if I do say so myself. 😏

#darkfantasy #indiefantasybooks #fantasyreader #fantasyseries #thecommunescurse #BookSky #indieauthor

3 months ago 10 4 5 0
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Happy Friday ❄️

#indieauthor #indiebooks #fantasywriter #fantasybooks #darkfantasybooks #BookSky

3 months ago 6 0 0 0
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Some 2025 favourites in TV, film, and music!

Anything you enjoyed watching / listening to here?? 🙂

#2025wrapup #amwatching #amlistening #authorlife #indieauthor

3 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Thanks Dani!

3 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Just entered my first SPFBO! Good luck to everyone else who’s submitted. Fingers crossed for getting into the lucky 300 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

#spfbo #fantasybooks #fantasywriter #fantasyreader #darkfantasy

3 months ago 17 1 1 0
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Christmas book purchases 📖 First time I’ve been in a bookshop and headed straight for horror rather than fantasy 🧐😏

#horrorbooks #booksbooksbooks #horrorreads #gothichorror #femininerage #BookSky

3 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Favourite books read in 2025. The vibe has definitely leant more towards gothic and horror this year, though there are still a few fantasies in there! 📕

#2025reads #gothicbooks #horrorbooks #amreading #readerlife #BookSky

3 months ago 4 0 0 0
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Happy holidays everyone! Wishing you all rest, peace, & love. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who has supported me as an author this year, in whatever way that has been! Here’s to 2026–I’ve got big plans for my writing. Watch this space. 👀📚

#happyholidays #authorlife #fantasywriter #fantasybooks

3 months ago 3 0 0 0
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A reminder that voting is open for the @indieinkawards & your votes for my book Echoes of the EtherStone would be amazing. ❤️

www.indiestorygeek.com/a/indie-ink-...

#indieinkawards #indiebooks #BookSky #writingcommunity #indiefantasy #gothicfantasy

3 months ago 2 1 0 0

A lovely review for my debut re-release, The Cruel God’s Awakening. ❤️

3 months ago 3 2 0 0