Ali Bacon

YouTube video by Books and Things Authors' Favourite Jane Austen Books

Shout out to author and Austenite @katiejlumsden.bsky.social for this video of authors talking about their fave Jane Austen novels, and for including me!
#janeaustenbooks
Check out Katie's books too. Regency romp or Victorian gothic - just the ticket 📚☺️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTC8...

Fanny Stevenson Barges In: #BeyondtheBook #TheAbsentHeart When I first encountered Fanny Osbourne, she appeared as a footnote in Louis Stevenson’s story—emotionally fragile, grieving, and overshadowed. But the more I read, the more she demanded centre stage. Like my own heroine Frances Sitwell, Fanny was shaped by loss and resilience, but unlike Frances, she courted controversy and defied convention with unapologetic strength. Camille Peri’s A Wilder Shore and other biographies have only deepened my fascination with this remarkable woman—adventurer, writer, and the fierce force behind one of literature’s most celebrated figures. Without Fanny, there may have been no Louis as we know him.

Fanny Stevenson Barges In: #BeyondtheBook #TheAbsentHeart

When I first encountered Fanny Osbourne, she appeared as a footnote in Louis Stevenson’s story—emotionally fragile, grieving, and overshadowed. But the more I read, the more she demanded centre stage. Like my own heroine Frances Sitwell,…

Well really, who needs Baltimore? 😂

Love hearing more of the authorial backstory of my friend @alibacon.bsky.social's historical fiction adventures. 👏

#booksky #HistoricalFiction

Which to choose!? The Physic Garden by Catherine Czerkawska is a gem. The Betrayal of Thomas True by A. J. West an absolute blast. Clear by Carys Davies is beautiful.

Book cover showing a Victorian man holding a camera lens. Text reads "In the Blink of an Eye" by Ali Bacon, Inspired by the life and photography of David Octavius Hill. An endorsement reads "beautiful accomplished profoundly moving" from Catherine Czerkawska author of The Jewel

Book cover showing a Victorian woman with a hand on her heart. Text reads "The Absent Heart by Ali Bacon inspired by the letters of Robert Louis Stevenson" Also a tagline "was it friendship love or desire"

How did I end up writing the lives of eminent (but sometimes neglected) Victorians? Find out on the @nansjar23.bsky.social blog 😊🙏 I
nancyjardine.blogspot.com/2025/07/welc...

Image shows small table with display of books 'In the Blink of an Eye' and 'The Absent Heart' both by Ali Bacon.

The Absent Heart & friends looking good today at #stroudindiebookfair though I say it myself.😊 .
#histfic #biographicalfiction

thank you @dublinwriter.bsky.social for an evening of marvellous readings and introducing me to these great writers 😊🙏 #flashfiction #shortstories #writersread

Come listen/watch 10 brilliant readers @ #WritersReading Thur 26th June 7pm to 9pm UK. First half readers: Roz Levens, @bronwengriffiths.bsky.social Lindy Newns, @alibacon.bsky.social & @jankaneen1.bsky.social
- Get your free audience ticket at tickettailor.com/events/dubli...
#writing #reading

Fancy a day out in Stroud? Combine it with some bookchat, author meets and general literary fun! 📚 I'll be there with @alibacon.bsky.social & other JustWrite Bristol authors #StroudIndieBookFair

Sidney Colvin: an unlikely hero #BeyondtheBook #TheAbsentHeart Adapted from my my Beyond the Book newsletter of September 2024. Sign up for future issues here. If Frances Sitwell is my heroine, who is the hero? It would be easy to argue for Louis Stevenson (who has a way of taking centre stage even when he isn’t present!) but chief contender for male lead must surely be the third member of that curious love triangle, Sidney Colvin, Frances’s ‘companion’ for most of her life, also R.L.S.’s friend and literary mentor.

Sidney Colvin: an unlikely hero #BeyondtheBook #TheAbsentHeart

Adapted from my my Beyond the Book newsletter of September 2024. Sign up for future issues here. If Frances Sitwell is my heroine, who is the hero? It would be easy to argue for Louis Stevenson (who has a way of taking centre stage…

Ah, controversial! I know many worthy authors who go indie. but I'll leave it there. Good to talk!

By the way, I've never gone beyond the trusted friend group 😅

I see where you are coming from. I think it's partly to do with more authors self publishing and wanting a professional level of editing (or, as a corollary, hoping to please traditional gatekeepers with a more finished product! 📖📕📚

Feedback is feedback is feedback. The author may do (or not do) with it what they will. I can stick to my vision and often do, but if Im consistently alienating readers in some way, I'd rather know!

Image shows cover of novel The Absent Heart with a five star rating and snippet from an Amazon review . Also text 'If you've read my novel please do leave your thoughts on Amazon or Goodreads'

21 lovely reviews 😊
Keep 'em coming I say! 😁🙏
#historicalfiction #bookreviews #indiepublishers

Take Four Books - Andrew O'Hagan - BBC Sounds Three-times Booker nominated Scottish author Andrew O’Hagan on his novel Caledonian Road.

Great follow-up to reading the stupendous #CaledonianRoad by Andrew O'Hagan, his BBC Sounds episode on Take 4 books. #stateofthenation #litfic www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

For anyone unclear about beta readers, this is the biz. And a reminder of the importance of feedback (feedback, feedback) on your novel. #amwriting #writingtips

A view of Edinburgh from Calton HIll

3d image of book cover 'The Absent Heart" showing woman in Victorian dress holding a letter

Mrs Sitwell goes to Edinburgh! Join me and @janeandersonwritet.bsky.social at the Edinburgh Bookshop on Thursday evening. On Friday I'll be talking at the Robert Louis Stevenson Club (members only). #theabsentheart www.edinburghbookshop.com/events-1/ali...

P.S. Still a few places left on my short story course! It's 8 weeks, online, and starts Tues 6th May, 6.30-8.30pm. Come explore this brilliant form with me! (More details in pinned post) 📚✒️🤩

Image shows artist's impression by Jennifer McDonald of Sidney Colvin, R.L. Stevenson and Frances Sitwell.

Here's an artist's impression by Jennifer McDonald of the 'real' characters from The Absent Heart, Sidney Colvin, R.L. Stevenson and Frances Sitwell.
My next 'Beyond the Book' newsletter discusses the people I made up from scratch!
Sign up here. eepurl.com/iTCrNc
You also get a bonus chapter 😉

The Absent Heart takes off in #Bristol #booklaunch #historicalfiction A Brilliant day in Bristol As in all the best stories from my childhood, the day of my book launch dawned bright and clear, so much so that as we walked down Park Street I worried guest might have chosen to head for the beach rather than the book launch. However my fears proved groundless as the room was soon filling up with friends and fellow writers while Linen Press intern Rosie Pundick, my interviewer Mike Manson and helpful staff from Bristol Folk House soon had things perfectly arranged.

The Absent Heart takes off in #Bristol #booklaunch #historicalfiction

A Brilliant day in Bristol As in all the best stories from my childhood, the day of my book launch dawned bright and clear, so much so that as we walked down Park Street I worried guest might have chosen to head for the beach…

Image shows Ali Bacon in a garden with spring flowers holding her novel The Absent Heart

Image is screenshot of Jane Davis Blog article 'Ali Bacon on her novel 'The Absent Heart'

Another blog appearance today this time with indie author Jane Davis who has a fabulous back catalogue of fiction - historical and contemporary. Yes, I'm in the history bracket too!
#booksky #historicalfiction #biographicalfiction jane-davis.co.uk/2025/04/12/v...

Lovely crowd this afternoon 🥰. So much support from #Bristol #writers, friends old and new.

Meet me in 2025

If you can be at any of these events, please come and say hello! More on my Meet the Author page

You can make a change 📢 Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training by signing this open letter ✒️ authr.uk/sp40 #MakeitFair #MetaBookThieves #DoTheWriteThing

Sorry to bang on about this but sign-ups are a bit slow so far...🐌. If anyone's interested in doing a stimulating, fun and relaxed 8-week online #ShortStory course with me on Tuesday evenings throughout May and June, do get in touch - and please spread the word! Thank you! ✒️📚 #BookSky #amwriting

Ooh its me 😆

Grateful for help from so many writers and readers, especially @jajablonski.bsky.social

Image shows cover of The Absent Heart: a woman in Victorian dress holds a letter, one hand on her heart

Image of Ali Bacon outdoors under a magnolia tree, holding a copy of The Absent Heart

Publication Day! 😍🥳
Order The Absent Heart "Full of stifled passions, hidden loves, brief joys and terrible griefs.." says James Robertson. Ready for some heart-wrenching? Order now from Linen Press or Amazon alibacon.com