ClodaghO

@iamagnat

Writer, engineer, mother, dabbler in crafts. Words in Trash Cat Lit, The Storms, The Hooghly Review, Silly Goose Press and others.

193 Following288 Followers1,072 Posts

Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and iamagnat.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

ClodaghO@iamagnat· 13h

Issue 45 of Kõkako Journal is out. Happy to have 2 #haiku inside.

Title - Kōkako Journal
Picture of 3 ghostly figures

Calm sea - from a mackerel sky gannets split the water
By Clodagh O Connor from Ireland

Ink-black branches
Against a pale blue sky
-- winter's signature
By Clodagh O Connor from Ireland

ClodaghO@iamagnat· 6d

Thanks to 5-7-5 Haiku Journal for featuring this #haiku of mine.

low december light
collaged between sea and sky
a cut-out island

ClodaghO@iamagnat· 11d

Pleased to have this #haiku / #senyru in 5-7-5 journal

Haiku by Clodagh O Connor
even with Hubble
can't really see the cosmos
does the dark matter?

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jul 7

This afternoon's amusement, now that I have my own lavender.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 22

I'm claiming this badge for my second entry into the Welkin Genre competition. Good luck everyone! (Apparently stories of Historical interest are in short supply - so pick an event, sure half the writing is done for you 😆)

Blue circle with text reading The Welkin writing Prize Supernova of Scribbling and some stars dotted about.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 12

My 100 word micro from 2024, accepted by Retreat West (now Westword). No longer available online, so I thought I'd post here.

$Planetary Motion Barbeques incense the air, voices and laughter drift over our suburban garden. I forget to protect myself, I get sunburnt. “Careless”, says your voice in my head. Days shorten. Flights of swallows twitter their disapproval at the chimney smoke. Leaves fall. No one catches them. Skeins of incoming geese stitch storm clouds together. I make your favourite soup recipe – plenty of salt and pepper. Icy white mornings make fractal wonders on our window. Snowdrops shoulder the earth away, green and white heralds of spring. Days lengthen. A year since you are gone, how is it the world is still turning?$

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 12

I've put in an entry to The Welkin Genre Prize! You can too, until the end of the month. Go on, make @mattkendrick.bsky.social 's day. www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-press...

green circle with some coloured stars and the words The Welkin writing prize and Astronomer of Words inside it

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 11

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 9

Lovely post today. Lots of interesting essays and haiku contained in this new edition of Seashores.

Front cover of Volume 15 of Seashores from Fishing Cat Press, an anthology of haiku put together by Gilles Farbe. Blank and white picture of a fish.

A haiku by Clodagh O Connor
sunlight
pushing through the fallen leaves
green shoots

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 6

Delicious dark humour and atmospheric evocation of old Europe in the stories of @tanyaf.bsky.social 's short story collection The Marionette and the Maestro.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 2

It has arrived!

Front and back cover of Blink Ink's tiny publication Midsummer Magic and envelope

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Feb 8

I've made a felted wool model of our solar system. *Includes Pluto, cos I like to support the little guy. (Not to scale).

A hanging mobile of the sun and planets of our solar system.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Dec 28

I've finally managed to put an entry into the Welkin 100 word writing competition. There's still time (though not much - deadline 2nd Jan 15:00 GMT) to add your entry www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-prize...

A badge for entering the Welkin Writing Prize. It is round and orange with yellow stars. The text reads Cosmic Chronicler.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Dec 14

This is my story, recently nominated by @thehooghlyreview.bsky.social for Best of Micros.

A Shift in Perspective
The artist spends a long time looking. He barely murmurs, “Pardon me, my lady,” as he
touches the curve of my ear, tips my chin this way and that. I am clay in his hands and he
discovers me as no other has. He is enthralled by my very being.
I am seated as the artist demands; he readies his weapons for capture. I lower my eyes
and dip my chin; here to tell the story of my husband’s wealth, nothing more. I sweat and
shift as the summer sun pours its light upon me. Over the rasp of the artist’s charcoal come
grunts of irritation.
His apprentice watches us. He suggests I partake of a cooling draught. The artist’s
glower softens as they exchange smiles. A table strewn with writings and drawings ensnares
the master’s attention and he becomes blind to our existence.
I drink and feel the liquid cool my insides. Giacomo smiles and points to a prepared
bowl of lavender water. He will sponge me down to ease the hours of sitting. Like his master,
he is not interested in me as a woman. I acquiesce; remove my dress and all of the heavy
garments underneath. My husband insists that his silks need protection from my skin’s
touch. The boy loosens my hair and asks if he may sketch me as I am. When he is finished
he hands me my undergarments, but I shake my head. The cool silk of the dress caresses my
skin as I slip it on.
I settle myself on the upright chair; hand over hand, hair tightly bound now—the very
model of a virtuous woman. A smile escapes me as I stare at Leonardo. He smiles back at me,
moves to his canvas and begins to paint.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 13

I made these again using a "seaweed sprinkle" mix and thought they just as nice. I presume a few places do a similar mix, but I attach photos in case you are interested.

Back of Seaweed Sprinkle mix from Ebb & Flow

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jun 13

Oh Sumitra, oh Amy - such a tender, heart open collection. Beautiful. Thank you both for sharing this. @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @amymarques.bsky.social

Photo of the collection of Creative non fiction pieces written by Sumitra Singam and Amy Marques called Are You Willing

ClodaghO@iamagnat· May 28

No pumpkin seeds...but these'll do. Thanks again.

Scones with seaweed and sunflower seeds cooling on a wire tray.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· May 10

I see your creepy pair and raise you this queen of terror.

A weird looking doll behind a metal grid that is covering a window opening.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Apr 26

I have a #haiku in this tea-themed anthology.

Front cover of haiku anthology called tea all the time it takes edited by Denise Fontaine-Pincince. Pale blue background with leaves.

after the funeral - a single cup of tea Clodagh O Connor

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Apr 22

Celebrating my story in @thehooghlyreview.bsky.social and putting it here as it is very small and will fit in a photo. You can download the entire magazine here drive.google.com/file/d/1pEf7... and read many other lovely stories and poems.

Front cover of The Hooghly review Issue 4 published April 2025
An Indian man wearing glasses and a hat.

A story by Clodagh O Connor
called A Shift in Perspective.
The artist spends a long time looking. He barely murmurs, “Pardon me, my lady,” as he touches the curve of my ear, tips my chin this way and that. I am clay in his hands and he discovers me as no other has. He is enthralled by my very being.
I am seated as the artist demands; he readies his weapons for capture. I lower my eyes and dip my chin; here to tell the story of my husband’s wealth, nothing more. I sweat and shift as the summer sun pours its light upon me. Over the rasp of the artist’s charcoal come grunts of irritation.
His apprentice watches us. He suggests I partake of a cooling draught. The artist’s glower softens as they exchange smiles. A table strewn with writings and drawings ensnares the master’s attention and he becomes blind to our existence.
I drink and feel the liquid cool my insides. Giacomo smiles and points to a prepared bowl of lavender water. He will sponge me down to ease the hours of sitting. Like his master, he is not interested in me as a woman. I acquiesce; remove my dress and all of the heavy garments underneath. My husband insists that his silks need protection from my skin’s touch. The boy loosens my hair and asks if he may sketch me as I am. When he is finished he hands me my undergarments, but I shake my head. The cool silk of the dress caresses my skin as I slip it on.
I settle myself on the upright chair; hand over hand, hair tightly bound now—the very model of a virtuous woman. A smile escapes me as I stare at Leonardo. He smiles back at me, moves to his canvas and begins to paint.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Apr 17

Look what just arrived in the post. A kindness from @mattkendrick.bsky.social , @amymarques.bsky.social and @pleomorphic2.bsky.social making my day. So lovely to have a physical copy. Looking forward to diving in.

A photo of the chapbook Are You Willing by Amy Marques and Sumitra Singham with an envelope showing American postage stamps.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Mar 7

Thrilled to have it and to see my tiny story in print!

Be Not Afraid

Now the key pieces of the puzzle fall into place. You have found an answer - an online group that explains it all. You feel stronger. You have the knowledge. You just need to have faith. Others are trapped in ignorance, but your people know what is going on.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Mar 6

Delighted to see this drop through my letterbox this morning. Some good news from the US of A at last. 😉My piece "Be Not Afraid" is included within. @blinkink50.bsky.social

A photo of tiny magazine, Blink Ink #59 and the envelope in which it arrived.

The text of Clodagh O Connor's piece follows -

Be Not Afraid

Now the key pieces of the puzzle fall into place. You have found an answer - an online group that explains it all. You feel stronger. You have the knowledge. You just need to have faith. Others are trapped in ignorance, but your people know what is going on.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Feb 13

Just finished "Watcher" a novella from excellently paired writers @matgost.bsky.social and @therelphian.bsky.social . THERE HAD BETTER BE A SEQUEL! (Very much enjoyed, thank you).

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Feb 2

Finally collected my lovely prize from @therelphian.bsky.social and @matgost.bsky.social . Looking forward to reading these!

Books. Novellas from JP Ralph and Mat Gostelow.

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Jan 24

Going to get these sorted...line them up somehow

Solar system Sun +9 planets - a handcrafted wetfelted mobile

ClodaghO@iamagnat· Sep 6

I just enjoyed "The Top Road" by @fionamckay.bsky.social This beautifully crafted, gripping novella-in-flash skillfully draws real-life characters and scenes that will stay with you. Get yourself a copy! www.amazon.co.uk/Top-Road-Fio...