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Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

News & events

Phosphate Rocks – do engineers read fiction?

Posted on May 1, 2025 in News, Phosphate Rocks

May 2025 sees the start of a 52-part serialisation of my 3rd novel – Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects.

The Chemical Engineer, (TCE), the monthly magazine of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, will publish a chapter a week online. The next 12 print editions of TCE will also carry an extract.

Phosphate Rocks was first published by Sandstone Press in 2021, inspired by my very first graduate job at the SAI Fertiliser Factory in Leith docks, Edinburgh. Although it is a work of fiction, all but one of the incidents described happened in my working life as a chemical engineer, though not necessarily to the same people in the same place at the same time.

A publisher of mine once claimed that engineers don’t read fiction – I’m really hoping to prove them wrong!

And if anyone would like a free poster, I prepared one for ChemEng Day 2025 at Sheffield University (inspired by my great friend Dr Joanna Carpenter) – just get in touch and I can send the PDF.

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Sunny southern sojourn with friends and family and a stonkingly good book. London looking stunning!


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Sunny southern sojourn with friends and family and a stonkingly good book. London looking stunning!


In Houston for the day job, I went back to visit my old house and primary school from when my dad had a sabbatical at Rice University. Fleming park is much smaller than I remember but the fire ants are still there! Highlight was a full Tex-Mex with Theresa and Bhopal expert Kenneth Bloch – plans afoot for a new book.


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In Houston for the day job, I went back to visit my old house and primary school from when my dad had a sabbatical at Rice University. Fleming park is much smaller than I remember but the fire ants are still there! Highlight was a full Tex-Mex with Theresa and Bhopal expert Kenneth Bloch - plans afoot for a new book.


I swam 24km in 5 days. Hard work?

Try tuna canning, salt drying or sulphur mining…

https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/sulphur-and-salt


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I swam 24km in 5 days. Hard work? Try tuna canning, salt drying or sulphur mining... https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/sulphur-and-salt


Goodbye #egadiislands and thank you @swimtrek for an amazing week – 24 kilometres with wonderful guides, fellow swimmers and multicoloured fishes!


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Goodbye #egadiislands and thank you @swimtrek for an amazing week - 24 kilometres with wonderful guides, fellow swimmers and multicoloured fishes!


This week #PhosphateRocks e-book is only £0.99 in UK

Who doesn`t love a story about a demolition gone wrong? @raine_clouds_writes @lesleykellyauthor

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phosphate-Rocks-Death-Ten-Objects-ebook/dp/B0CTRRXKNY

PS: The audio book narrated by @rain.goblin is pretty special too


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This week #PhosphateRocks e-book is only £0.99 in UK Who doesn't love a story about a demolition gone wrong? @raine_clouds_writes @lesleykellyauthor https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phosphate-Rocks-Death-Ten-Objects-ebook/dp/B0CTRRXKNY PS: The audio book narrated by @rain.goblin is pretty special too


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erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
10 Aug 2086759131306696917

Special 99p summer cocktail offer
‘Fast-paced, roller-coaster ride… The action-packed storyline, just the right side of bonkers, roams from Lisbon to England to the steamy depths of the Brazilian jungle...’ - Financial Times, best summer books of 2022
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemical-Cocktail-Silver-Thrillers-Book-ebook/dp/B0FG8X59MT

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erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
3 Jul 2072985106998779995

Celebrating Reviewers - 0.99 offer!
(with the link this time!)

Losing Control: Terror in Teesside (The Teesside Murders: DI Julie Cadell Investigates Book 1)

erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
3 Jul 2072983380866576445

Celebrating reviewers everywhere
Losing Control is $0.99 / £0.99 for 1 week

It’s darker than it looks.
It’s later than you think.
She’s braver than she knows.

@amwbooks @EastHullPete @northern_crime @NJCooper_crime @NolanDom @evecsmith @AntonyJohnston @william1shaw

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erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
29 Jun 2071649191089119258

It’s review a book #RAB week.

If you enjoyed a book - please do leave a brief review wherever you get your recommendations. @judithoreilly @evecsmith

https://amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/RY3U5SDB5ROD8?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

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erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
29 Jun 2071662141636006171

https://amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/RFI268IQLS95H?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

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HullNoir avatar Hull Noir @HullNoir ·
25 Jun 2070099209546612764

We're thrilled our next guest will be @radiomukhers. Abir will be talking about 'The Pinnacle', 15th July (7pm).

It's free to attend @hull_libraries (Central) or via the online stream. All the info on the link below 📚

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EastHullPete avatar Peter Fleming @EastHullPete ·
21 Jun 2068632009140850768

If you can get there then do, these sessions are hilarious

erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
21 Jun 2068627201600168097

Produce a best seller in an hour with the #northerncrimesyndicate at @BoroLibraries Tuesday 23rd June 6.30pm.
@TrevorWoodWrite @judithoreilly @robparkerauthor @rutherfordbooks #chrismacgregor
https://www.crossingthetees.org/whats_on/whose-crime-is-it-anyway/

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SafetyIChemE avatar IChemE Safety Centre @SafetyIChemE ·
13 May 2054534685577937110

📢 Latest Loss Prevention Bulletin Issue - Marking 40 Years Since Chernobyl

The issue offers valuable insights for anyone committed to strengthening process safety.

A sincere thank‑you to all contributors for their continued commitment

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4uCIfIS

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erskine_fiona avatar Fiona Erskine @erskine_fiona ·
24 Apr 2047678863136682020

This weekend marks the 40 year anniversary of the worst recorded nuclear accident.
There is still much to learn.
#Chernobyl #Chornobyl #nuclearenergy #processsafety
https://open.substack.com/pub/fionaerskine/p/chernobyl-40-years-on?r=1fdqiv&utm_medium=ios

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novelcarolyn avatar Carolyn Kirby @novelcarolyn ·
16 Mar 2033666768254767558

Still plenty of events to come!😁 More info and ticket links here: 👉 https://www.carolynkirby.com/blank-page-3

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