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Patience Mackarness

@patiencemackarness.bsky.social

Writer, grandmother, tree-hugger. Born in Hampshire, now in rural Brittany, with pitstops along the way in Leeds, Portugal, Wales, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Liverpool. I write flash fiction and other things.

160 Followers  |  163 Following  |  47 Posts  |  Joined: 20.03.2025  |  2.0697

Latest posts by patiencemackarness.bsky.social on Bluesky

The inspirational Jane Goodall "jane goodall youtube farewell message of hope" share.google/7BXk2JReNhrg...

07.10.2025 12:45 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful

06.10.2025 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Dark blue ring with white letters, sky blue centre with red

04.10.2025 13:38 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

'As my body segments, pairs of hairy legs sprouting from each one, spiracles to breathe breathe breathe your oily-sweet pheromones' Fabulous story from @pleomorphic2.bsky.social

29.09.2025 05:32 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social !

24.09.2025 15:18 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What a great workshop, I really enjoyed it. Beautiful handouts too😍

19.09.2025 07:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This link didn't work for me, but I got to the story by a different route and loved it!

17.09.2025 05:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Such a buzzing, inspiring weekend (so far) with @saloneurope.bsky.social ! Big thanks to @deborahzafer.bsky.social and the team for bringing it all together. Last night's event with Balsam Karam, Philippe Marczewski, and @kitdewaal.com was completely awesome.

14.09.2025 05:16 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
Readers at the event posing for a photo

Readers at the event posing for a photo

Kit de Waal about to give a reading, sitting in a chair at a distance with rows of listeners on either side

Kit de Waal about to give a reading, sitting in a chair at a distance with rows of listeners on either side

Crowd listening to a reading with a floor to ceiling window in the background

Crowd listening to a reading with a floor to ceiling window in the background

People chatting in a lounge in mid century style

People chatting in a lounge in mid century style

Impeccable vibes at #EWSBrussels2025 ✨

Thank you to all our readers, especially to our surprise guest @kitdewaal.com

12.09.2025 19:20 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Thank you, Charlotte! Love yours too!

12.09.2025 16:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you! X

11.09.2025 22:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Super happy to be in this issue - congrats to all!

11.09.2025 20:56 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Thank you, Charlotte!

11.09.2025 20:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So good! Congratulations @dawnsteffler.bsky.social

09.09.2025 05:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful piece from @claudiamonpere.bsky.social !

28.08.2025 03:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you, Sherri!

06.08.2025 11:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Dance with the Tambourine Man - The Sunlight Press He looked like he was at the wrong party. He loved Bob Dylan, said "Isis" was the song that led him into archaeology.

'Dance with the Tambourine Man' is up at @thesunlightpress.bsky.social today! Born in a @smokelong.bsky.social workshop, inspired by the landscapes and history of Bahrain - and of course by Bob Dylan.
bit.ly/3UgYF9M

06.08.2025 05:19 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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The Bright Jars of Our Bodies by Sara Hills When we run out of nice things to say to each other, Gil and I watch TV like we’re each just a brain in a jar, sitting side by side. Except instead of brains we’re hearts. And by hearts, I mean sex…

A stunner from @sarahillswrites.bsky.social

flash-frog.com/2025/07/28/t...

31.07.2025 04:10 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

And @fionamckay.bsky.social read brilliantly!

19.07.2025 06:24 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I was lucky enough to hear @fionamckay.bsky.social read from the book at the Festival last night!

19.07.2025 06:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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ISSUE 17: MARCH 2018 Something About the Romans By Evan Massey On the porch, the radio plays old tunes. Sometimes our heads bob. I’m on the top step. Below me, Bianca sits behind my little sister, Tia, braiding her hai…

'Our history teacher once said that the Romans would grow their hair during times of mourning ... The clippers hum loud in my hand.'

On Day 14 of @smokelong.bsky.social 's Archive Challenge, Evan Massey's 'Something About the Romans'. brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/03/31/i...

08.07.2025 09:34 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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ISSUE 15: SEPTEMBER 2017 Three Summer Flights By Tim Love As usual, Dad collected her after breakfast on Sunday and drove her to Dunstable downs. The hillside was already full of families. β€œYou first, Tracy.” S…

β€˜Without warning a glider filled her vision, flying very low and fast. She would always remember the wide wings, the silent surprise.’

For Day 13 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge, β€˜Three Summer Flights’ by @timlovewriter.bsky.social from brilliantflashfiction.com/2017/09/30/i...

07.07.2025 09:37 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@anchalastudio.bsky.social the tagging didn't work first time, sorry!

06.07.2025 11:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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ISSUE 29: MARCH 2021 Footprints in Fine White AshBy Michael Kozart The day Darlene pulled up to Jack’s, she was facing a night in a shelter or the car. She had searched the county for an affordable room. Rents were soa…

From 2021, the stunning β€˜Life Lessons’ by Anne Anthony. 3rd story down in a great line-up. Day 11 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge brilliantflashfiction.com/2021/03/31/i...

05.07.2025 18:06 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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ISSUE 22: JUNE 2019 Here We Are on Planet Earth By Meg Pokrass Today we are tanning near each other on bright red beach towels on the sand at Hendri’s beach. This time I don’t let my mind worry too much ab…

'Do you know what kind of trouble you’re asking for? How old are you girls? Blythe laughs, a terrible little snarly sound, a baby warthog..' A gem from 2019 by @megpokrass.bsky.social
on Day 10 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge.
brilliantflashfiction.com/2019/06/30/i...

04.07.2025 19:23 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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JANUARY 2023 We’ve Always Been Dying to DanceBy Kate Axeford It was too late for the grandkids when the dancing kicked off, but our party began long ago. 100 seconds to midnight, and it’s D-I-S-C-O. We lit up a…

Sometimes an intriguing story sends you straight to Wikipedia in search of an artist you've never heard of. 'The Rocket Man' by Lorette Luzajic (second story down in a fine lineup).
brilliantflashfiction.com/2023/01/31/j... on Day 9 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge

03.07.2025 03:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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ISSUE 16: JANUARY 2018 HIT & RUN By Shoshauna Shy I wondered what kind of β€œclosure” did Jean think she was going to get? YOU ARE FEMALE & DRIVE A RED CAR. YOU RAN OVER MY CAT ON WINGRA STREET MAY 18TH. PLEASE CAL…

On Day 8 of @smokelong.bsky.social β€˜s Archive Challenge - Hit and Run by Shoshauna Shy brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/01/31/i...

02.07.2025 15:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Only about 29 I think, and a bit of breeze - Sunday was the scorcher day here in Brittany.

02.07.2025 04:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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SmokeLong Quarterly (@smokelong.bsky.social) Dedicated to bringing the best flash narratives to the web, by widely published authors or those new to the craft. Est.2003. Paying up to $150. www.smokelong.com. No Trump supporters.

DAY 7 of smokelong.bsky.social β€˜s Archive Challenge.’Black against the Blue’ by Melissa Goode (4th story down in this issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction) brilliantflashfiction.com/2017/01/31/i...

01.07.2025 15:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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JUNE 2022 Gorilla vs DogsBy David M. Rubin β€œYooo! All dirty mongrels and mangy curs to the basement!” That’s what I call them cause they’re actually dogs. β€œYou know I mean business, so get off your asses and…

@smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge Day 6.
A blast of Shakespeare in 'Act One, Scene 5' by @rajivmote.bsky.social , published by Brilliant Flash Fiction in 2022.

5th story down in a great lineup.

brilliantflashfiction.com/2022/06/30/j...

30.06.2025 04:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

@patiencemackarness is following 20 prominent accounts