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Francesca Simon

@francescasimon.bsky.social

Writer and librettist. Author, the Horrid Henry books, Salka, Lady of the Lake, Two Terrible Vikings and novel and opera The Monstrous Child (ROH). Plays banjo (not quite ready for Carnegie Hall)

495 Followers  |  247 Following  |  241 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024
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Posts by Francesca Simon (@francescasimon.bsky.social)

If you want to see how judging works for #BBC500words, tune into #TheOneShow tonight at 7pm!

05.03.2026 16:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Hell of a chart, this, from @financialtimes.com. Spot the JCPOA.

on.ft.com/4kSuQYO

18.06.2025 08:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3100    πŸ” 1377    πŸ’¬ 92    πŸ“Œ 175
Post image 01.03.2026 06:18 β€” πŸ‘ 836    πŸ” 307    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 29

We have lost a decade of our life to an evil idiot…a dolt. A moron. One of the most racist and dumbest humans on the planet.

10 years.

27.02.2026 13:41 β€” πŸ‘ 4059    πŸ” 868    πŸ’¬ 215    πŸ“Œ 84

Today's the big day! Off to Windsor Castle for the #BBC500words grand finale, hosted by HM the Queen, to celebrate 50 fantastic finalists and their brilliant stories (no longer than 500 words).

25.02.2026 10:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Faber is looking for a confident and creative campaigns marketer to help build our Children’s list. You will have a brilliant understanding of the Children’s market from ages 2 – 18, through picture books up to Young Adult fiction.

faber.co.uk/careers/childrens-marketing-manager

24.02.2026 11:00 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We are deciding right now whether we want to be a country with ethnic cleansing and concentration camps.

23.02.2026 13:55 β€” πŸ‘ 3666    πŸ” 1810    πŸ’¬ 128    πŸ“Œ 89

All London to NYC flights cancelled today!

23.02.2026 14:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

My parents gave me Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare for my 10th birthday. Loved it

22.02.2026 08:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A very happy 7 year anniversary of #TheMonstrousChild @royaloperahouse.bsky.social to @gavhiggins.bsky.social @lucyschaufer.bsky.social #martaFontanals-Simmons

21.02.2026 14:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I find robots terrifying

17.02.2026 10:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Or just come to London and see our 7 visiting parakeetsβ€¦πŸ˜€

15.02.2026 23:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fundraiser for James Van Der Beek’s family surpasses $1m in under 24 hours Dawson’s Creek star, who died on Tuesday, had been open about struggling to meet high expenses of cancer treatment

American health care: set up GoFundMe pages because treatment leaves you broke

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

13.02.2026 08:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Contempt and Power
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman Contempt and Power

Tomorrow on my live podcast: History Matters:

CONTEMPT AND POWER

Wednesday's Bondi hearing was a 2-hour display of open contempt for We the People.

The USA has a long history of contempt's use as a political weapon.

Join us for more
Friday 10:00 AM ET

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl1v...

12.02.2026 22:28 β€” πŸ‘ 129    πŸ” 42    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 2
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The Long Ukrainian Winter How You Can Help

Russia’s full-scale invasion began 4 years ago. It began in winter, and so this winter is the 5th. And, for civilians, the worst. Russia launches missiles and drones at energy infrastructure to force Ukrainians to endure the freezing cold. Here's how you can help
snyder.substack.com/p/the-long-u...

08.02.2026 14:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1866    πŸ” 888    πŸ’¬ 28    πŸ“Œ 32

The Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel. And composers Tommy and David Newman.

12.02.2026 09:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Why is it that every time I try to watch the Olympics it seems to be curling πŸ₯Œ ?! 😒

10.02.2026 18:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record

This is absolutely insane. The sort of Kafka-esque nightmare you would find in a Philip K Dick book set far in the dystopian future. A window on America tumbling into autocracy.

www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

09.02.2026 07:59 β€” πŸ‘ 3460    πŸ” 1767    πŸ’¬ 204    πŸ“Œ 196
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Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37% NFU warn it could take years to restore Brexit losses despite efforts to smooth negotiations on farming and other elements of UK-EU reset

www.theguardian.com/environment/....

09.02.2026 09:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Another Brexit bonus!

Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37%

09.02.2026 09:21 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The House With Chicken Legs The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson is a fantasy book ideal for the tween age group (9-12, approx), especially kids with a taste for the macabre. It’s 300+ pages in length and opens with th...

I recommended it on @fivebooks.com

fivebooks.com/book/house-c...

06.02.2026 10:57 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Wonderful novel!

06.02.2026 10:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ali Smith just gave the most wonderful, eloquent talk on #bbcradio4 about Charlotte’s Web, to celebrate the Year of Reading.

03.02.2026 08:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I am a devoted sour dough bread maker. I even travel with my starter!

01.02.2026 22:52 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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BBC 500 Words competition judges gather at Buckingham Palace to decide on final shortlist Her Majesty The Queen joined the panel of judges - chaired by The One Show’s Alex Jones and including Rose Ayling‑Ellis, Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell‑Boyce, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Malo...

A brilliant day at Buckingham Palace judging #bbc500words. I think we’ve found a fantastic set of winners…

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

28.01.2026 23:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Off to #BuckinghamPalace to judge #BBC500words with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social @charliehigson.bsky.social @malorieblackman.bsky.social @lennyhenryofficial.bsky.social and HM Queen Camilla @royaloperahouse.bsky.social

Looking forward to a great day of sabres drawn and hurled teacups!

28.01.2026 07:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Two weeks…..🀧

27.01.2026 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, 26/01/2026 Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

I'm a guest tonight on #bbcradio4 Front Row at 7:15 pm talking about writing Salka, my first book for adults and about the difference between writing for kids and for adults

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

26.01.2026 16:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Minneapolis shows us how to resist

26.01.2026 10:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I live in the UK and this is appalled headline news.

23.01.2026 15:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0