Julie (Mae) Cohen

A turquoise pool reflecting the evening light from an 18th century French townhouse. On the patio are writers talking, and a dog

Evening. Chez Castillon.

Ty!

Thanks!

A big window in an old house. Between the shutter and the pane is a pigeon. He is very noisy and his name is Pascale

My alarm clock this morning here in France

This is why I tell everyone not to give up the day job…but if you are lucky enough so that being an author IS your day job, it is very difficult not to see your work (and your self-worth) in economic as well as artistic terms.

Very true, but also: those bills need paying

A white, tan and black collie/jack russell mix lies on a bed looking up with her black-lined brown eyes

My dog says hi

Shit I’m old old

Green olives in a blue bowl

Olives harvested from my tree, to be brined and enjoyed with a martini in the spring

darth vader is wearing a black helmet and a black cloak Alt: darth vader is wearing a black helmet and a black cloak

Is it…

a brown and white dog is sitting next to a man on a couch and looking at the camera . Alt: a brown and white dog is sitting next to a man on a couch and looking at the camera. As the camera zooms in, the dog smiles evilly

Well I’ve killed four fictional people in this manuscript so far, how’s your day going?

This is the kind of conversation I have come to Bluesky for

I can think of a few

Two women staring at each other, mics in hand, on a stage. It was a tie

The moment when Katy Brent and I had a staring contest onstage at this weekend’s Tea Leaves & Reads festival

I find this fascinating

I file taxes in the UK and the US (dual citizen). The IRS website is a pit to hell and the HMRC website is a joy of ease

I was on the 4th floor but I intend to try all the options

An open laptop next to a cup of coffee on a desk in a big library

One major benefit of being a student again is being able to write my novel in the library.

I told you guys

The irony is I DO have pens everywhere

Omg next time I will!!

It’s my first meeting with my PhD supervisors today.

I have remembered:
✅ Laptop (fully charged)
✅ Notebook (new)
✅ Action plan emailed to supervisors (am a swot)
✅ Two copies of my PhD novel (written by me) (swot)
✅ Reusable cup (for tea)

I have forgotten:
❌ Pen

That’s a keeper right there

That and the glass jar of moles in the Grant museum

Me too. I lived in the UK for 23 years with Indefinite Leave to Remain. Paid taxes, taught in comprehensive schools, volunteered, contributed to my local community. All legally.

Whooooooo!!

In the end I did purely for my own self esteem

Actually he is

Should I put on makeup to go to the dentist or no

A postgraduate campus card from the University of Reading with my name and photograph

This happened yesterday!