Mari Ellis Dunning ๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ's Avatar

Mari Ellis Dunning ๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ

@mariellisdunning.bsky.social

Author of 'Salacia' & 'Pearl and Bone' ๐Ÿ“š 'Witsh' available now ๐ŸŒ› Creative Writing teacher ๐Ÿ““๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ PhD in Welsh Witchcraft ๐ŸŽ“ 'Obstinate, headstrong girl'โ™€๏ธ โ€ข https://linktr.ee/maridunning โ€ข https://mariellisdunning.cymru/

672 Followers  |  1,258 Following  |  159 Posts  |  Joined: 10.01.2025  |  1.7936

Latest posts by mariellisdunning.bsky.social on Bluesky

I bloody LOVE this!!!

19.11.2025 19:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It's never illegal to claim asylum.

15.11.2025 14:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 115    ๐Ÿ” 29    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Why do the witch trials still matter? Why am I so obsessed with them? Why won't I shut up? ๐Ÿ™ƒ And what do right wing supporters and swans have to do with any of this? All this and more in the latest Substack...

#Witches #WitchTrials #Politics

substack.com/home/post/p-...

14.11.2025 10:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is a brilliant, and troubling piece by Jannat Ahmed. It's worth listening to and hearing your voice also.

Thank you for being so candid Jannat. I hope the powers that be take note.

14.11.2025 10:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image 13.11.2025 18:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Gwrach, Plis! โœจ Modern Day Witches of Wales
DILYNA NI ๐Ÿ”” https://tinyurl.com/2frkduvb Subscribe ๐Ÿ”” https://tinyurl.com/2frkduvb Mae Rhiannon yn cael ei hadnabod fel โ€˜boss queenโ€™ y strip club, ond mae ochr arall cudd iddi. Wrth iddi gofleidioโ€ฆ Gwrach, Plis! โœจ Modern Day Witches of Wales

Ond oes/oedd gwrachod yn Machynlleth? Beth am ymuno รข ni ar Nos Llun am Tywyllwch Tachwedd.

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

#Machynlleth #BookSky #Gwrachod

Tocynnau ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ
www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk/dark-novembe...

13.11.2025 18:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Join us for a #DarkNightsareforReading soiree at
#AddymanBooks in #HayonWye with 3 writers from 3 indie Welsh presses:โ 
โ 
@clairefayers.bsky.social @fireflypress.bsky.social

@mariellisdunning.bsky.social @honnopress.bsky.social

#CarysShannon @parthianbooks.bsky.social
โ 
See you there? ๐ŸŒ™๐Ÿ“šโ 

12.11.2025 09:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Carly Holmes will be interviewing Carus Shannon & myself, so we'll be discussing Truth Like Water & Witsh, & I'm sure Carly will be happy to chat about her books too! There'll definitely be a Q&A & chance to chat ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿท

11.11.2025 13:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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We may look like the Weird Sisters, but I promise we're not plotting Hamnet's demise... We just want to talk about books! So, people of #Machynlleth, please join us for a spooky autumn evening at Pen'rallt Books on Monday 17th at 6:30pm for readings & chats ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

#BookSky #WritingSky #BookLaunch

11.11.2025 13:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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DARK NOVEMBER CHILL / TYWYLLWCH TACHWEDD โ€” galeri a siop lyfrau pen'rallt gallery bookshop We're an independent gallery bookshop based in Machynlleth, mid Wales. It's our blend of bookshop,ย selling a carefully selected collection of reads and pick-up-and-flick-through books \u2013 andโ€ฆ

Just a week to go before this one! I'm a huge fan of Carly's writing, and devoured Carys Shannon's Truth Like Water, so I feel absolutely privileged to be chatting with them both soon ๐Ÿ–Š๏ธ๐Ÿ“š

www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk/dark-novembe...

#Machynlleth #BookTour #Fiction #WritingSky

10.11.2025 16:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Recent book haul from the always brilliant #Aberaeron Book Festival:

โ€ข 'Gwrachod Cymru' gan Efa Lois
โ€ข 'There She Goes...' by Gosia Buzzanca
โ€ข 'Moon Base One' by Jemma King
โ€ข 'Storm by' @alhub.bsky.social

What are you reading?

#booksky #shoplocal #poetry #bookhaul #tobereadlist

10.11.2025 15:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Horrifying black sows and ghostly apparitions: how the magic and mystery of Wales come alive in winter

open.substack.com/pub/marielli...

#Halloween #Wales #Folklore

10.11.2025 11:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Aberystwyth becomes Wales' first UNESCO City of Literature Aberystwyth has joined a global network of 350 Creative Cities that have been recognised for their excellence in creative fields across the world by becoming Walesโ€™ first UNESCO City of Literature Abe...

Delightful news that Aberystwyth has become Wales' first UNESCO City of Literature. As anyone who has been here knows, this town has a rich bilingual culture of creativity. I owe so much to the region, its institutions, and its mentors. Llongyfarchiadau! nation.cymru/news/aberyst...

31.10.2025 14:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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We all associate witches with black hats, cats and broomsticks... But why!? Where did these stereotypes actually come from?

open.substack.com/pub/marielli...

#Witches #Broomsticks #Familiars #Spells #Cauldrons

08.11.2025 18:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Witsh: In Conversation with Mari Ellis Dunning
YouTube video by Llyfrgell Genedlaethol - National Library of Wales Witsh: In Conversation with Mari Ellis Dunning

A pleasure & a privilege to have helped my good friend @mariellisdunning.bsky.social launch her debut novel WITSH last week in the Drwm @librarywales.bsky.social, mere hours after Aber was announced as Wales's first UNESCO City of Literature!
Missed out? โฌ‡๏ธ
youtu.be/Xa8P98gUQoQ?...

07.11.2025 14:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Toxic Femininity and the Witch Trials โ€” Cunning Folk Magazine โ€˜We are the daughters of the witches you couldnโ€™t burn,โ€™ reads a t-shirt in a crowd.  In a womanโ€™s circle, the facilitator at some point announces, โ€˜men hated women so much, they burnt us.โ€™ Ther...

Brilliant article from @cunningfolkmag.bsky.social www.cunning-folk.com/read-posts/t...

04.11.2025 15:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks Caroline! ๐Ÿ–คโœจ

31.10.2025 11:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Nos Galan Gaeaf: the traditional Welsh celebration being eclipsed by modern Halloween Nos Galan Gaeaf on October 31 in Wales is steeped in folklore and tradition.

Nos Galan Gaeaf: the traditional Welsh celebration being eclipsed by modern #Halloween ๐ŸŽƒ๐Ÿ‘ป

theconversation.com/nos-galan-ga...

#CalanGaeaf #NosGalanGaeaf #Folklore #Wales

31.10.2025 10:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Really looking forward to this evening's launch at @librarywales.bsky.social ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

Tickets have flown & while I'm a tad nervous to be addressing The Drwm after attending so many events there, I can't wait to chat about Welsh witshes, spells, superstition, religion & misogyny.

tinyurl.com/37ddc4fn

31.10.2025 10:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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After the first world war, sรฉances boomed โ€“ and dead soldiers โ€˜wroteโ€™ home Never before had death affected so many people at once, and taken so many young men in the prime of their life.

Writing in The Conversation, Dr Alice Vernon explores how post first world war grief sparked a surge in sรฉances โ€” and how dead soldiers โ€˜wroteโ€™ home.

๐Ÿ–ฑ tinyurl.com/4puc894m

@alicevernon10.bsky.social
#history #WW1 #spiritualism #seance

30.10.2025 14:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Why did witches ride broomsticks? ๐Ÿงน

#Witchcraft #Witches #Broomsticks #Magic #WritingSky

30.10.2025 19:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Perfect evening plans ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿผโค๏ธ

#WritersSalon with @beewyld.bsky.social & a whole host of Wild Women ๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ๐Ÿ“š

30.10.2025 19:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This Writing Life: Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett โ€“ Folding Rock Journalist and writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett tells us about how motherhood has - and hasn't - changed her writing life on the day of publication for her new book 'The Republic of Parenthood.'

"It taught me not only that motherhood & creative work can be compatible, & that there's no roadmap for negotiating that, but also that motherhood can complicate & enrich art in ways that make it even more vital & resonant."

Love this by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett โค๏ธ

29.10.2025 13:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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There She Goes My Beautiful World ticket Join us for an evening in conversation with Gosia Buzzanca, hosted by Sophie Calon, to celebrate her new book There She Goes, My Beautiful World! When: 1/11/25 18:30 start (doors 18:15) Where: 26aโ€ฆ

Gosia Buzzanca will be in Bookspace #Cardiff this weekend with her gorgeous #memoir 'There She Goes, My Beautiful World' ๐ŸŒ I'll be catching her on Sunday in #Aberaeron & I'm so looking forward to it! ๐Ÿ“š

27.10.2025 16:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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"It is not surprising that in womenโ€™s hands the historical novel has often become a political tool" โ€” Diana Wallace

Thank you to Kathryn Tann at Folding Rock for asking me to write this piece, in which I ramble on about the crafting of Witsh โœจ๐Ÿ–ค

#HistoricFiction #Poetry #Novel #BookSky #WritingSky

26.10.2025 18:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿ“ฃ Poets! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

How good does this look!? Overcoming self doubt and improving publication rate sounds very promising...

#WritingSky #Workshopsย #Poetry

26.10.2025 14:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Mari Ellis Dunning (@mariellisdunning) Readers, where to begin!? This month has been an autumnal whirlwind of books, writing, sunbathing (yup!) and socialising. I feel I have so much to say, but in the ever-growing landscape of Substack an...

Where to begin!? This month has been an autumnal whirlwind of books, writing, sunbathing (yup!) and socialising.

This issue looks at landscape in literature (โ€˜Truth like Waterโ€™ and โ€˜Storm,โ€™ specifically), combating imposter syndrome and oh, look! Itโ€™s Mhara Starling โœจ

#BookSky #WritingSky #Witches

26.10.2025 14:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ€˜Itโ€™s insanely sinisterโ€™: horror writers on the scariest stories theyโ€™ve ever read Bloodthirsty ghosts, sadistic supercomputers, creepy childhood games ... Mariana Enrรญquez, Paul Tremblay, Daisy Johnson and others on the tales that kept them up at night

โ€˜Itโ€™s insanely sinisterโ€™: horror writers on the scariest stories theyโ€™ve ever read

25.10.2025 08:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 77    ๐Ÿ” 25    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 8
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Waitrose' reaction was knee-jerk and unnecessarily abrupt but it was a reaction to a system that punishes inclusion instead of supporting it.

www.facebook.com/share/1GGsvo...

#Disability #DisabilityRights #Waitrose

26.10.2025 10:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Then afterwards, you might want to head downhill in a ghostly procession to see @alicevernon10.bsky.social chatting about her new non-fiction book, Ghosted ๐Ÿ‘ป Just make sure you don't look Bev the haunted doll in the eye.... tinyurl.com/47xe6444

26.10.2025 08:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@mariellisdunning is following 20 prominent accounts