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Natalie Ann Holborow

@natholborow.bsky.social

Author of 'Little Universe' and 'Small' | Content Marketing Manager at Synergy Learning | Runner | T1D | 'Wild Running' out September 2025 πŸ“šπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

530 Followers  |  979 Following  |  132 Posts  |  Joined: 17.11.2024  |  2.0167

Latest posts by natholborow.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Like running? Like writing? There's a monthly newsletter for that (yes, I've finally got off my arse and started one). Subscribe here to get route recommendations, writing prompts, horrid playlists and post-run recipes.

open.substack.com/pub/natholbo...

28.09.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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No one:

Writers working on their next manuscript: "wow okay that's loads, time for a break now"

27.09.2025 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for sharing, Gordon! ❀️

18.09.2025 13:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wild Running ticket Join us for an evening in conversation with Natalie Ann Holborow about her new book Wild Running. When: 17/9/25 18:30 start (doors 18:10) Where: 26a Crwys Road, CF24 4NL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There wil...

Like running? Like books? Around Cardiff this evening?

Wild Running is launching on 18th September at Bookspace Cardiff! Tickets available here if you do plan on joining: www.bookspacecardiff.co.uk/products/wil...

18.09.2025 10:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Don’t forget you can pre-order β€˜Wild Running’ on our website or in your local bookshop www.serenbooks.com/book/wild-ru...

08.09.2025 09:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Writers: "I hope someone reads my writing!"

Also writers: "oh god no, people are reading my writing, please stop that, it's making me panic and want to live in a hole"

07.09.2025 18:18 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wild running gives me freedom, but I’m always looking over my shoulder In this abridged extract from award-winning poet and writer Natalie Holborow’s new book β€˜Wild Running’, she follows a trail around the Brecon Beacons in South Wales while reflecting on women’s safety

A little extract of Wild Running in The Independent this morning, exploring Pen Y Fan and focusing on women's safety in running πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ @serenbooks.bsky.social

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/w...

07.09.2025 07:09 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, The Adverb at the Hay Festival 2025 Ian McMillan presents poets in performance for The Verb's performance wing, The Adverb.

This is such a welcome, life-affirming & diverse edition of BBCRadio4 The Verb. Top form delivery from @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @lenniesaurus.bsky.social, Alex Wharton, @natholborow.bsky.social & Ian McMillan
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

30.08.2025 08:11 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it ❀️

30.08.2025 18:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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For the last couple of weeks, @natholborow.bsky.social & I have been in a poetry frenzy working on poems representing the Major Arcana & the zodiac signs... Really pleased with how they've turned out πŸ–Šβœ¨

Here's Cancer & Scorpio ♋️♍️

#Cancer #Scorpio #Zodiac #Horoscope #Astrology #Poetry

18.08.2025 11:28 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's all feeling very real now! Luckily I've got a new poetry project with @natholborow.bsky.social to throw myself into while I worry about the launch of Witsh πŸ‘ŒπŸΌπŸ˜‚

#Writing #witchcraft #wales #historicalfiction

14.08.2025 10:01 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Glad it's not just me! If you need someone to keep you accountable, I'm always here because I'm going through exactly the same πŸ˜…

22.07.2025 18:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

oh not ozzy πŸ˜”

22.07.2025 18:35 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This all feels quite new, but it's a more complicated process than I expected! Plot is one thing that's never really taught at MA, so tried to make sure that was all sorted first but my god these characters are stubborn. Like, no, I MADE YOU GUYS.

22.07.2025 18:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It's doing my head in! I want to get a first draft down but the characters have minds of their own. Which, I suppose, is a good thing, because they feel more real. Are you writing fiction as well?!

22.07.2025 18:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

*plots novel*
*starts writing*
Characters: hahaha no lol x

22.07.2025 17:53 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This has been a dream to work on and a nice break to write about history, creativity and falling down hills on my backside in beautiful South Wales. Out September 15th! Pre-order here: www.serenbooks.com/book/wild-ru...

#running #writing #trailrunning

15.07.2025 18:31 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I love the Gangsta πŸ˜‚β€οΈ

06.07.2025 16:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Embracing the Present: What Writers Can Learn From Pets What can pets teach us about writing? This is in praise of the animals who teach us to live in the moment.

What can our beloved pets teach us about writing?

natalieholborow.com/2025/07/06/e...

06.07.2025 16:40 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Text reads: "Jamie Woods is one of those rare poets who can coolly hold a mirror to the darkness, then crack a grin in the reflection and make it look natural. Black Skies Die Starless hums with the energy of grunge, rave and rain-slick Swansea backstreets, blisteringly alive with honesty, wit and hard-won tenderness. An absolute riot of a book. Read it now" - Natalie Ann Holborow. Then it says: black skies die starless, jamie woods, 1st July 2025, punkdust.com and all good bookshops.

Text reads: "Jamie Woods is one of those rare poets who can coolly hold a mirror to the darkness, then crack a grin in the reflection and make it look natural. Black Skies Die Starless hums with the energy of grunge, rave and rain-slick Swansea backstreets, blisteringly alive with honesty, wit and hard-won tenderness. An absolute riot of a book. Read it now" - Natalie Ann Holborow. Then it says: black skies die starless, jamie woods, 1st July 2025, punkdust.com and all good bookshops.

"AN ABSOLUTE RIOT OF A BOOK"
In between award ceremonies for her poetry & fiction, and writing a non-fiction book about running, the awesome @natholborow.bsky.social has taken the time to read BLACK SKIES DIE STARLESS and then wrote about it.
Buy it now. Punkdust.com and all good bookshops
#poetry

04.07.2025 21:10 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wales Book of the Year stuff. I look like I'm doing a Squid Game trial and am being forced to read for my life, but I do like poems honest x

If you want to support Little Universe, you can vote for it here:
nation.cymru/culture/vote...

14.06.2025 18:14 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you, Christa!

03.07.2025 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks very much! πŸ’š

03.07.2025 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Also need to add, I am LOVING your book. Recommending it to all my friends!

29.06.2025 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm currently stuck on one about Pingu and Robbie in an Antarctic nightclub. I may have to move onto the bee and wasp one for a bit.

29.06.2025 15:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Today's poetry research Google searches:
1) "Do seals sweat"
2) "Where does Pingu live"
3) "What is the root meaning of the word 'absurd'"
4) "Can a bee fancy a wasp"

29.06.2025 14:55 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks Julian! ✨️

27.06.2025 05:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Thrilled to be shortlisted for the Rhys Davies Short Story Comp! Hoping this one’s a step up from my first story, where a mermaid invited me to tea, I said β€œMam says it’s too late,” and she swam off. That was it (still my tidiest ending).

Thanks to the judges and congrats to all! ❀️

26.06.2025 17:43 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Back to the Book Blog: Teaching, Readings and ReviewsBack to the Book Blog: Teaching, Readings and Reviews I used to love writing blog posts and book reviews, and then I became a PhD student. From 2019 to 2024 I buried myself waist-deep in research while juggling a career as a freelance poet, creative writ...

A response to recent blog posts from fellow poets @zoebrigley.bsky.social & @natholborow.bsky.social reflecting on the uncanny feeling of reading reviews of your own book & the freelance writer life post-PhD createdtoread.com/back-to-the-...

23.06.2025 11:39 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Book review: Little Universe by Natalie Ann Holborow We continue our reviews of books shortlisted for this year’s Wales Book of the Year award. Little Universe is one of 12 English language books shortlisted for the 2025 Wales Book of the Year. You can ...

"Holborow is a craft master. She knows when to pause and allow the poems to breathe."

Thanks to Eric Ngalle and @nation.cymru for this review of Little Universe by @natholborow.bsky.social

nation.cymru/culture/book...

23.06.2025 10:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@natholborow is following 20 prominent accounts