Julianne Benford

@juliannebenford

Books, writing, crafts, plants, higher education, community, sustainable fashion. Documenting my quest for TBR Zero on YouTube. Author of Unlucky in Lockdown, creator of Ignite Your Passion for Reading course. She/her, was @ladyjulianne on the old place

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Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· 15d

Was this fan manufactured by George and Harold? #dogman

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Jul 2

Friends fear she's painting poos again

A purple and blue watercolour poo surrounded by outlines of other poos

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Jun 24

I SURVIVED repotting this cactus

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 19

Anyone else remember Ottakar's and the Outland sci-fi and fantasy newsletter? I think it might finally be time to declutter these 🥲

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Nov 15

Attention people of @thoughtbubbleuk.bsky.social - is this your pin? Did you lose it at Leeds station yesterday? We found it attached to the sole of @nickbryan.com's boot and thought there was a good chance it belonged to a comics person. Come claim it at Bubbleboy F14

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Aug 11

The novella I wrote during the Covid lockdowns is five this week! Absolutely wild it's been so long. It's still free if you want to read it juliannebenford.com/unlucky-in-l.... Not a romance. A friendmance.

The cover of the novella Unlucky in Lockdown by Julianne Benford. It's a photo of a cup of herbal tea and a glass of wine (actually water) in front of a net curtain, with the words "Flatsharing in the time of coronavirus..." at the top

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Aug 10

Went to see the Yoshitomo Nara exhibition at the Southbank and @nickbryan.com and I agreed this cat's expression is 100% @hollyqueenofspayeds.com's Smol Paul

A painting of a black cat with a glaring pale human face sitting on a duck potty, by Yoshitomo Nara

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Aug 2

New video documenting month 22 of my project to read every book I own! youtu.be/71YjmGK9Oj4?... #TBRZero

The thumbnail image from the video - me, a very pale white woman with dark brown hair and eyes wearing translucent pale pink glasses and a dark burgundy long sleeved top, superimposed on top of a desaturated picture of my bookshelves. At the top are the words "TBR Zero Month 22"

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Jul 9

Finished Bunny by Mona Awad today, what an unrelentedly intense, strange, cruel story. Loved it

A screenshot of the Bolinda audio cover for Bunny by Mona Awad

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Jun 24

Terrible comics? I can do that, I decided, and spent the last 45 minutes on one about my weekend. If you can't read my handwriting, alt text is your friend #MakeATerribleComicDay2025

A badly drawn and hand 'lettered' comic. My handwriting is so bad most people can't read it. It says:

How to thrive at a Butlin's Back to the 2000s Big Weekender when you're neurospicy, tired, and never really liked boy bands.

Step 1: buy earplugs to sleep in and to party in. The sleep earplugs are orange 3M 37dB ones the party ones are transparent (Alpine).

Step 2: make a nap nest. I don't think this is what yoga nidra is meant for but it worked. The picture is me lying down with headphones and pillow

Step 3: try to forget you ever wanted fo be cool (with bad doodle of sunglasses)

Step 4: decide to be excited. The picture is me watching Blue and saying 'yes! The one about erections!'. At the top of the panel is a note that they were actually good and so were A1

Step 5: a person with hands over face. Text says avoid seeing too many bums.

Step 6: two people each lying on a single bed. Text says 2 hour conversation in room about social class

Step 7: dance your arse off (but keep your pants on, see step 5). Picture is stick figures "dancing" surrounded by musical notes. I gave one far too long a neck so I wrote a tiny note saying why is her neck so long lol

The End!

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

6. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is about an ensemble cast of characters whose lives intersect via a Cotswold bookshop. I really enjoyed rooting for everyone and for the continued existence of Nightingale Books!

A copy of How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry on red velvet

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

5. My favourite Quick Read so far, by @rowancoleman.bsky.social, a fun, heartfelt story about a group of people from a Poldark fan forum who go on a quest to Cornwall to see it being filmed and along the way find true community in each other. I honestly loved this, it's a good-mood generator.

A copy of Looking for Captain Poldark by Rowan Coleman on a background of red fabric with black hearts on it

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

4. It's impossible to say much about The Driver's Seat, a dark, satirical (imo) novella, without spoiling it, so I will just encourage you to read it.

A copy of The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark held in front of a plant with variegated leaves by a white person with a grey sleeve.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

3. The Yearbook is a YA novel about a hopelessly lonely girl who decides to start breaking the patterns that put her in misery. Brilliant.

Copy of The Yearbook by Holly Bourne on a pink fabric background.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

2. The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a quite literary, historical novel about a girl discovering her sexuality and dealing with losing her parents.

A copy of The Miseducation of Cameron Post on blue fabric with white and pink flowers. The book cover has a girl lying on a hay bale.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 6

1. Finally read this proof of An Island of Our Own by @sallynicholls.bsky.social provided by the publisher over 10 years ago... It was the perfect time for me to read it though, because in March I finally read some Noel Streatfeild and that enables me to say I think it's a modern Noel Streatfeild!

Proof copy of An Island of One's Own by Sally Nicholls, has a pink cover with three white birds on it and the text 'They went looking for buried treasure. They found so much more.' In loopy handwritten font.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· May 4

Video for month 21 of my project to read every unread books I own, in which I am very ambitious and it actually works out?! Or does it youtu.be/oiHA1_D9KuM?...

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 26

I innocently googled 'Spice Girls Easter egg' to see if my memory was correct and this indeed was from an Easter egg and not an advent calendar. I discovered multiple people attempting to sell their unopened egg from 1997 on eBay What is this world

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 25

Not today Satan, not today! I will not click your demon post

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 24

Read the gorgeous Florrie by Anna Trench today, a historical fiction graphic novel about a young woman who discovers football and love before the FA took it all away with their ban in 1921. I longed for what could have been! Not into football but loved this. Out 19/6/2025, review copy via NetGalley.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 23

It's the last week to see Hard Graft @wellcomecollection.bsky.social - an exhibition about work, health and rights. Fantastic art and really thought-provoking.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 20

New video on my YouTube channel! A update on my project to read every book I own, including a rule change. Determined to read the next 50 books much faster. youtu.be/WWNVW-ZVuHg?...

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

7. @hotkeybooks.bsky.social I also apologise to you, I've had Maggot Moon ten years, but I sped through it and I think it's very deserving of the award it won in 2015! Thanks for the review copy 😆. It's an alternate history about a dyslexic boy working against Nazi authority with a fantastic voice.

A copy of the book Maggot Moon on a fabric background with light blue dots on dark blue dots.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

6. Memory Piece, a story of friendship, art and activism over time (and into a dystopian future) made for a brilliant book club discussion, definitely one best enjoyed by digging into it with others.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

5. I really liked this memoir about being an undiagnosed autistic girl/woman but although it's by a comedian it's quite dark! I think the honesty is good but I've been advising every ND person who says to me 'I've been meaning to read that' to make sure they are prepared for that.

A copy of the book Strong Female Character on a background that is bright red lace knitted fabric

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

4. Helped me with the slow process of working out what I truly give an eff about, nuff said

A copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k on a background of red leopard print fabric

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

3. Sorry @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social for taking forever to read Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, which you kindly gave me as a proof years ago. A delightful story of a boy struggling to find his place outside the comforting confines of his circus family, with a sweet slow-burn first love.

A copy of the book Flying Tips for Flightless Birds on top of fabric with birds and blue leaves on a purple background.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

2. I'd never read a Noel Streatfeild before I woke up with a terrible sore throat. I grabbed the first children's book I could find, Gemma, and then because decisions are for people who don't feel like crap I decided to read the rest. Loved The Bell Family and Gemma, Circus Shoes I could miss tbh

Copies of Gemma, Circus Shoes, and The Bell Family on a background of blue fabric with black dots.

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Apr 13

1. Just Sayin' by Malorie Blackman: It was so interesting to learn how Malorie Blackman built her career despite dealing with family turmoil, racist opinons of her capabilities and the reading public's appetite for books by Black authors, and also as she's since disclosed, being neurodivergent.

A white hand holding a copy of Just Sayin' by Malorie Blackman in front of a pink dress with a print of ice skaters on it

Julianne Benford@juliannebenford· Jan 22

PSA: There's a Neko Atsume 2. It launched in October. You're welcome