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kmccaughrain

@kmccaughrain

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Belfast Gal. YA Author of Little Bang and Flying Tips for Flightless Birds (Walker Books). Just Another Dead Boy out June 2026.

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Who would’ve thought that four misfit kids from a rural Irish boarding school would find a dead body AND a shortlisting for an Irish Book Award?!?

I’m beyond thrilled to be nominated alongside such fabulous authors. What an amazing night celebrating books of all kinds but most importantly, the books that are shaping young Irish readers. Congrats to all my fellow Irish authors and illustrators, nominated or not. You’re all doing amazing work and deserve a toast. 🥂

Thank you to @irishbookawards and the tremendous support from @macmillankidsuk. And thank you to the one person who I stupidly didn’t get a photo with, my wing woman, professional bag holder and photographer @eve_mc_donnell.

Voting is now open online or at the ink in my bio.

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Well! Isn't this some lovely news! Incredibly delighted to share that Shorelines has been shortlisted for the Teen/Young Adult Book of the Year at the @irishbookawards 💚💚

Congratulations to all the shortlistees, some outstanding company to be in, I adore these books 📚

Thank you to @agentalicewilliams @littleislandbks and @sineadisediting for seeing something in this story and for helping carve out the space for our fat mermaid in the world.

Folks have been incredibly kind in their responses to this wee book, and it really and truly makes my day every time I hear a young person sees a part of themselves in this story, or they've connected with it in an unexpected way. I've been some people's first verse novel, what an honour that is! It means a lot to reach even more readers with this shortlisting.

If you have a few mins to spare and would like to vote for Shorelines, I will forever be grateful to you. The link for voting is in the bio 🌊

📸 Many photos stolen as per usual mostly from the lovely @eve_mc_donnell

#AnPostBookAwards #ReadersWanted

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KELLY MCCAUGHRAIN will be attending @yalc_uk on Saturday 31st ✨

Kelly will be taking part in the panel: 'In the Presence of Dystopia' followed by a book signing session, and is looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible!

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Okay girls this trend was actually impossible 😂

Clearly I tried to do my own take on a trend and I still didn’t do it right BUT I literally LOVE so many authors!!

I picked a different author I love for every slide because there was simply no way I was doing this properly 😂

🏒 Forget sports romance
Yeah how about no 😂
I will ALWAYS be a sports romance girly and I am constantly looking for more recs so please drop your favourites below because I need MORE

💔 Hate emotional romance
Could never be me
Emotional romance is literally my top tier favourite
Give me yearning, heartbreak, angst and enough emotional damage to have me crying so hard I can’t see the page 😂

🔎 Stop reading fast paced thrillers
Absolutely not
Give me a thriller that has me fully convinced I’m an investigator and then has me guessing literally EVERYTHING wrong 😂
I want to be stressed and completely obsessed

😍 Ignore he falls first
Girl be serious 😂
One of the most elite romance tropes EVER
The MMC being completely obsessed with her?
Yeah that’s the dream

📚 Stop recommending 2026 reads
Also absolutely not 😂
Some of my favourite gifted ARCs this year have been 2026 releases and YA has genuinely STEPPED UP
The quality has been EVERYTHING

Honestly I wish I had YA books like these growing up
But it’s okay because I was busy reading Wattpad stories 🤪

Now I need to know…
Which category are you fighting me on? 👀

And PLEASE drop me your sports romance and emotional romance recommendations because I’m always looking for my next obsession 😂📚

#bookstagramaustralia #aussiebookstagram #romancereads #thrillerbooks #yabooks

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And for the lady… some emotional damage?

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A Steller Year in Irish YA!

My latest @booksirelandmag article is up and today I'm yapping about

🎭 From The Top, Sally Flynn by @meabhagscriobh (@theobrienpress)

📷 The Last Death Poet by @stephendwriter (@rocktheboatnews)

🚌 Then We'll Be Happy by @alancarrigan (@chickenhousebooks)

❤️ Just Another Dead Boy by @kmccaughrain (@walkerbooksuk)

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Decided to pick out 10 photos from day one of #cbiconf2026
@kidsbooksirel

A wonderful buzz - I'll be drifting off imagining a suitcase of books from all over the world travelling around Ireland.

The power in the hope, of the potential and making a dream real. 📚

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My first ever @kidsbooksirel conference - what an amazing day!
Getting the opportunity to mix with so many power voices who champion children's books.

I've taken a million photos - which I will look back through and ponder.

Books are vital for social change, especially with the spread of disinformation. With themes of displacement, hope, forgiveness and power being corrupting.
Voice was such an important topic throughout - using our voice to say something or to support and amplify others.

Until tomorrow 📚

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30.07.26 🔥

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BOOKISH INTRODUCTION 📚

Hello! I’m Faye, I’m 30 years old, and I love reading young adult books! I thought I’d start documenting my reading through pictures, so here are a few of my favourites 😍 follow along to see more favourites, reviews and current reads 📖💭I would LOVE to know your favourite YA books too!
#yabooks #bookworm #booklover #youngadultfiction newbookstagram

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GIVEAWAY 💀

Just Another Dead Boy is an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance set in a luxury resort – in a world where everyone knows their Death Date. It’s Romeo and Juliet meets the opulent glamour of The White Lotus.

EVERYONE DIES. NOT EVERYONE GETS TO LIVE.

Fancy winning a copy of Just Another Dead Boy by @kmccaughrain, we have 3 copies to giveaway, and all you have to do to enter is -

- Follow @yalc_uk & @walkerbooksya
- Tag a friend in the comments
- Share on your story, make sure to tag us!

UK & IRELAND ONLY, CLOSES 8th September.

#giveaway #yagiveaway #yalc2026 #yalc

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What was your favourite book of August? 🌻

August wrap and my best reading month of the year! Which is no surprise with summer holiday and my brain completely refocused and relaxed.

Swipe to see what my summer TBR was and how many I crossed off! I’m pretty proud! 👉🏻

I know this will change in September and October but I’m going to make sure I find more time to read and more audiobooks in the car.

💙A Thief to Die For by @melissawritesya
🩷Coterie of Liars by @kateelizabethweston
🩷Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by @cynthiamurphyya
🩷Divergent by @veronicaroth
🩷Just Another Dead Boy by @kmccaughrain
🩵The Between-Worlds B&B by Amy Mae Baxter
💙Owl King by @bex_hogan
💙Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop By Hwang Bo-Reum (not pictured)

#augustreads #readingwrapup #yabooks #bookstack #2026books

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