George Penney

Author of funny books, cultural omnivore. I like tea and cats, not necessarily in that order. I inhale deeply when first stepping in to bookshops and libraries. I like tea and cats, not necessarily in that order. Currently based in Whakatū Nelson in Aotearoa New Zealand.🌈

Last Notes

2026-09-22 07:20:20 UTC

Hello lovely people. I'm running an online 3 hr crash course in indie publishing in October that'll give you all the info you'll need to get a book out there.
Pay-what-you-can.
Oct 7th.
Ticket holders can access the video for 2 weeks after if you can't make the time.
This recently sold out here at Beautiful Words Festival. The pay-what-you-can is because we want it to be as accessible as possible🪻🌹
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/a-crash-course-in-independent-publishing-tickets-1997305616866
#books #bookstodon #author #indie #indieauthor

2026-08-10 02:45:24 UTC

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A tiny human (2?) is holding Mum's hand, pointing at a digger hard at work.
Looking at passersby with an awed expression.
Trying to communicate the majesty of what they're witnessing.
A server is roaming around a cafe with a coffee in each hand.
Looking here
Looking there
Laughing and saying, "This place isn't THAT big, I have NO idea where they've gone!"
Seen still wandering with coffees over five minutes later.
(Seen sneakily drinking a coffee a little bit after that.)
A woman (60s?) is grumpily directing her husband as he reverse parks a ute* piled with firewood into their driveway.
He's grumping out the window: "I can drive ya know. "
"Then why're you trying to run over my rose bushes?"
"They looked at me funny."
She bursts into laughter.
A small human's (3?) nose is pressed up against the window of a toy shop.
Making direct eye contact with a pink plushie toy that looks just like a friendly muppet.
Absolutely enraptured.
A no-nonsense woman in an apron grins as a couple (40s?) moseys up to her cheese counter.
She says: "What'll it be this week, team? We thinking soft, hard? Strong? Mild? Or should I just surprise you?"
"Surprise us!"
(Continued Below)

2026-06-26 23:55:13 UTC

#Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A group of VERY enthusiastic young humans (10?) are roaring "SWEET TREATS IN THE MORNING!" as they tend a fundraising bake sale.
Bumping up against each other, radiating puppyish enthusiasm whenever someone wanders over to inspect their wares.
A man (50s?) resembling a bush ranger in a long 19th century style Military coat, wearing a big bushy beard and an Akubra hat is idly strafing a bakery truck with debonair flair. A time travelling member of the Kelly Gang casing the joint for croissants.
A young busking bagpipe player (12?) is hard at work playing Amazing Grace for the fourth time in twenty minutes. Market goers laughing whenever it begins up again.
This bagpipe only has three tunes in her and she's giving it all she's got!
A woman (80s?) in a colourful coat is walking along holding hands with two small humans, laughing and saying: "I'm not old! Never! I'm just PRETENDING I'm old!"
Small Humans consider this profundity with pensive expressions.
Could... it be true?
What if Nan is REALLY as young as they are?!
A man (30s?), closely resembling Moby, in a dapper coat and mustard yellow scarf is walking along with a basket of vegetables tucked under one arm.
But what is this?!
A bright pink lipstick kiss mark on the back of his head?
A skip in his step as he turns a corner and disappears from view.
(Continued Below)