Dr Rachel Franks

Rachel Franks @cfwriter.bsky.social reviews ‘Outrageous Fortunes: The Adventures of Mary Fortune, Crime-Writer, and Her Criminal Son’ by Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex @lucysussex.bsky.social
La Trobe University Press

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Such a generous review, thank you 🙏 📚

Victoria M. Nagy reviews 'An Uncommon Hangman: The Life and Deaths of Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard' by Rachel Franks @cfwriter.bsky.social
UNSW Press @newsouthpublishing.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1031...

A beautiful silk floral tie, a new acquisition, with a grey pinstripe suit. It feels like a very speakeasy look today.

A dragon head peeping out from under a skirt.

The wings of a dragon wrap around the back of a woman’s leg.

I’d like you to meet Gertrude aka Draco Aethiopicus. She’s from Ulyssis Aldrovandi's "Historiae Serpentum et Draconum” - basically A Handy Guide to Serpents and Dragons - of 1640.

I’m grateful to Sydney’s best tattoo artist Megan Oliver, for her attention to detail and hours of patient work.

This tie is wildly feminist and over the top in its display of gold, while screaming something unintelligible from the 1970s. And I am here for it.

When it’s a Saturday night and you want to wear a low-cut evening dress, but you’re a woman with purpose and you also want pockets.

When it’s a Saturday night and you want to wear a low-cut evening dress, but you’re a woman with purpose and you also want pockets.

I looked today in a few of the usual places, but didn’t find anything conclusive or even interesting; I’d say the printer was there first. Naming a street after an activity is very common.

Blonde.

Sometimes I feel the need to remind an otherwise bland Tuesday morning that “I am here”. So, here’s some outrageous vintage gold Italian silk.

All tied up … a few of my favourite ties from the last couple of weeks.

The Chapter Opening Page in Book Design | Open Heart Designs Some elements and design choices to consider when designing a chapter opening page.

It’s basically “good design”, what @anrchivist.bsky.social shows here is a part chapter opener with a thoughtful ornament and good number placement. Perhaps seen less now because they take a lot of page real estate so add to the cost of production.

See: openheartdesigns.com/2020/05/21/c....

“Franks’ engaging, vivid and energetic narrative of Howard is told through the cases of those [he hanged].” A new review of “An Uncommon Hangman”, I’m grateful to Dr Victoria Nagy for a generous review (Aus Historical Studies), and capturing perfectly what I aimed for in telling Nosey Bob’s story.

A ginger cat is sitting on the sill of an open window, just below a pigeon sits on a ledge … it’s tense but respectful.

It’s high drama on an inner-city street in Sydney this morning …

Does @susiedent.com have a suitable word … ?

In 2024, I started wearing ties again. Here are a few of my favourites … I’m so grateful for all the kind comments (and for all the ties that people gifted me throughout the year). Wishing you all the very best for 2025. xx

Starting Jan 1, I will be posting here and in other places Victorian engravings (lurid optional), and quotes from this woman, the subject of a co-written biography. She was one of the first women to write detective fiction, and led a wild bohemian life, including committing bigamy

It’s Boxing Day, the day when I try and equal my personal best of 5m of breaststroke (think determination rather than style). It’s also the day of entering that weird liminal space where I’m not sure if I should be eating leftover Christmas snacks or saving myself for fresh New Year’s Eve snacks.

Cards from friends, something festive to drink and a few fairy lights … Merry Christmas everyone.

I’m enjoying my ficus plant’s wild double life as a flamboyant hairstyle.

Just in case Santa is real, I thought I should have something appropriate on hand in case the big fella is a bit thirsty on Christmas Eve.

On a very hot day in Sydney, the Library still looks stylish.

The sky over the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Is it supposed to reach 32 degrees in Sydney today? Yes.

Is it a big day in Library Land and so entirely appropriate to wear my favourite vintage library-themed tie? Also yes.

It’s the 1st of December and the Christmas tree is up … This year I’ve gone for understated decorations with a ridiculous number of twinkle lights.

I admit I have used this mug* for coffee; but green tea did feel much more fitting. 💚

*I have been known to drink coffee out of whatever is available.

A cup of green tea in a green Penguin books mug.

A view of the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park.

In between the sessions of chaos today: a friend gave me a green tea and I spent some time reflecting at the ANZAC Memorial.

Shady Cosgrove’s inscription in a copy of her new book “Flight”.

Another busy week ahead, but I think it will be difficult to top this highlight from last Wednesday: the launch of Shady Cosgrove’s new book “Flight”.

When you’re an Emergency +1 and you end up at a Matt Maltese concert. Quite a plot twist for a Friday night.