@laurabesley

Lover of coffee, chocolate & books. #Pushcart nominated author of: The Almost Mothers, 100neHundred & (Un)Natural Elements - Editor @Flashficmag

 Reading or Writing
laurabesley.com/
Joined September 2012
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The new block of The NIFTY Book Club is open for sign ups! 📚 Sept '25 - Jan '26 📚 Sundays 10-11.30am OR Mondays 19.30-21.00 BST/GMT 📚 Live author Q&As 📚 Worksheets in advance, meetings on zoom 📚 Full details in link below: laurabesley.com/nifty-book-c… #writingcommunity

NIFTY Book Club | My Site

Book club for lovers of the novella-in-flash. Monthly meetings online.

laurabesley.com
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Laura Besley retweeted
Literary Leicester@litleicsFeb 18
🚲️ RIDE LEICESTER 🚲️ This bike tour will take you to the homes & local haunts of five major writers who lived in the city. Discover how Leic inspired poets, novelists & playwrights. 🗓️ Sat 21 March ⏰️ 11.00–13.00 🎟️ tickettailor.com/events/lite… @uniofleicester #GoAllIn2026
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Literary Leicester@litleicsFeb 5
🚨 Tickets are LIVE! 🚨 Literary Leicester is back — and booking is now open 📚️ ✨️ 🎟️ Grab your tickets: tickettailor.com/events/lite… @UniofLeicester #GoAllIn2026 #NationalYearofReading2026
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New review on Everybody's Reviewing by @laurabesley of "Paper Sisters" by Rachel Canwell everybodysreviewing.blogspot… @northodoxpress @bookbound2019 @crystalclearjt @cwaleicester
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I’ve just finished this brilliant historical novel set in my native Lincolnshire. Three fascinating women in a turbulent moment in history. Review coming soon #papersisters @northodoxpress
Northodox Press 📖@northodoxpressFeb 6
As well as the in-person events we have over the next 2 Saturdays in Kirkby Lonsdale for Paper Sisters, we also have an online launch next Thursday on release day! Free tickets are flying and you can grab yours here: share.google/VOfuqxfGecQs3Jw…
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Laura Besley retweeted
Brecht De Poortere@brecht_dpFeb 7
The universal law of submitting:
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Rachel Canwell@bookbound2019Feb 8
Where do I even start??? It was such a thrill to have the opportunity to interview & then sign #PaperSisters alongside #LeeChild. Lee was so generous with his time and support.It was an honour. Huge thank you to St Mary’s events and @northodoxpress for their support
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Laura Besley retweeted
B Wheeler@BWheelerBooksFeb 7
Not sure what to do with your teen this half term? Bring them along to Dudley library where we’ll be having fun with bookmarks, badges, keyrings and creative writing.
Image of Author B Wheeler with her YA novel How NOT To Kiss A Prince above text: Meet The Author at Dudley Library. Meet B Wheeler, author of How NOT To Kiss A Prince, a fun sapphic romantic comedy. Get creative by making bookmarks, badges, or keyrings inspired by the book, or try your hand at writing your own short story. This free event is perfect for ages 12 to 16 and copies of the book will be available to buy on the day Thursday 19th February 2:30 pm.

ALT Image of Author B Wheeler with her YA novel How NOT To Kiss A Prince above text: Meet The Author at Dudley Library. Meet B Wheeler, author of How NOT To Kiss A Prince, a fun sapphic romantic comedy. Get creative by making bookmarks, badges, or keyrings inspired by the book, or try your hand at writing your own short story. This free event is perfect for ages 12 to 16 and copies of the book will be available to buy on the day Thursday 19th February 2:30 pm.

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Had a short story accepted this morning. It marks the return of my character Tod Towski who I first wrote about 40 years ago at school. Which makes it the longest running detective series in history with the biggest break?
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Today on the blog I’m delighted to share my #BookReview of #WhatHappenedThatSummer by @LauraPAuthor @BoldwoodBooks jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/2…
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B Wheeler@BWheelerBooksJan 26
🚨BIG NEWS🚨 After I helped a friend with a manuscript last year, she said, 'You're a really good editor.' Folks, I love reading your work. So starting February, I will be offering professional editing services for authors. More details on my 🕸️page 👀
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Estella Rua@estella_ruaJan 25
An agent on IG has been talking about how writers sell themselves badly in bios. Apparently the best formula is: genre + vibe + intended audience Here goes: I write upmarket literary fiction w/ a dark and sardonic edge for readers who crave escapism & a little schadenfreude
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Brecht De Poortere@brecht_dpJan 26
I just noticed that Electric Lit is open for submissions until 2 February still! Flash prose (<1500 words) and poetry (4-6 poems). Submissions are FREE an payment is $100!
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Laura Besley retweeted
Alyssa Matesic
@AlyssaMatesicJan 22
As an editor, I read dozens of novels a year. Many fall into the same plot pitfalls—slow starts, messy middles, rushed endings. Here are the 7 most common plot issues I see in early drafts, and solutions to fix each one!
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Alyssa Matesic
@AlyssaMatesicJan 9
Fact #1: Writing a book will be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Fact #2: It'll test your patience, your confidence, your sanity. Fact #3: It’ll also be one of the most rewarding experiences ever. In more than 10 years as an editor, I've NEVER heard an author say they regretted writing their book. (Even the ones who ended up shelving it.) To everyone working on a book in 2026, I'm rooting for you. You've got this! 💗
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Got my royalty statement for Saltburn. It sold 24 copies in last six months. Selling books is tough. You can get it now for 50% off in Renard Press’s Books of 2025 promotion. Yours for £5. #SupportIndiePublishing renardpress.com/books/saltbu…

Saltburn – Renard Press

May the residents of the real Saltburn-by-the-Sea and neighbouring towns forgive my mermaids, my nuclear power stations, my foetus museums […]

renardpress.com
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My book, Saltburn, is part of @renardpress Books of the Year promotion and is 50% off!! Gaily representing March… it’s here for just £5. ** Please share if you can 🙏** Go Indie Publishing #Books renardpress.com/books/saltbu…

Saltburn – Renard Press

May the residents of the real Saltburn-by-the-Sea and neighbouring towns forgive my mermaids, my nuclear power stations, my foetus museums […]

renardpress.com
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Please join us in congratulating our wonderful nominees for Best Small Fictions 2026--Sai, @francinewitte, @laurabesley, Kathryn and @happymil_ 😍 We're rooting for you all! Read their pieces here: literarynamjooning.wixsite.c… #namjooning
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Laura Besley retweeted
Stanchion@StanchionZineJan 7
Issue 21, the music issue, can now be pre-ordered directly from Stanchion. It will be ready for you and ship out in late February, and then become available from wherever you order books online. stanchionzine.com/product-pa…

Stanchion Magazine Issue 21 | Stanchion

Issue 21 of Stanchion marks the first-ever theme issue of the magazine: MUSIC.   All of the stories, poems, and visual art will feature, either directly or tangentially, the sweet sounds of music. A...

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I'm absolutely thrilled that my story, 'These Days You're Kinda Okay' has been nominated for Best Small Fictions by @lit_namjooning 💜 Huge thanks to the readers & editors for selecting my piece for publication and the nomination. literarynamjooning.wixsite.c…

These Days You’re Kinda Okay by Laura Besley

Imagine you’re forty-something and you’re kinda okay about who you are these days and although you never thought you would be, you are, and decide the reason you’re kinda okay these days is because...

literarynamjooning.wixsite.com
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I've edited hundreds of novels, and there's one thing that ruins an otherwise incredible story: Bad dialogue 🗣️ Here are the 7 biggest dialogue mistakes I see and how to revise them so your characters sound real.
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