7.15 a pint. This is why I don't go to the pubs where tourists and posh students hang out. That's the most I've ever paid for beer.

Looking with mild envy at the various ghost stories coming out in October then remembering I'm planning on releasing a novella on the 30th October which may in fact have something along those lines... My brain may not be fully with it today.

In memoriam...

This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.

Whatever happens with this Anthropic settlement, however it all goes, I'm fairly confident I'll not get any money for it. Best case I think is that it'll result in the CLA or something being able to organise bulk licences, but the money will likely be so modest few people will even be interested.

If you are someone whose heartache for one horrific situation has twisted them into an anger that lacks any definition, today is a good day to take stock. To remind ourselves of the difference between a group of people and what one man does - whether that man is a terrorist or an elected leader. 2/

I'm sorry: "if I wish to see a virgin on-screen"?

Word has started asking me if I want to save changes before I shut a document, despite the fact I've made none. Anyone know how to turn this off? Clearly something's been tweaked in the last week or two.

In all seriousness, publishers are going to have to figure out how to market books in the post-social-media landscape. That should be an implicit part of their job. What authors/artists can do on their own is increasingly limited and siloed.

no no the publishing industry is doing fine, why do you ask

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

One of the questions I've been getting repeatedly is "should I submit a claim, if my publisher is also going to be submitting a claim?" I can't give legal advice, but in this thread, I will give my reasons for submitting a claim on works where I still have a publisher.

"The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled." -- Bill Burr on the Riyadh Comedy Festival

Looks like my biggest freelance billing month ever, which is nice. But may also explain, when combined with editing two different titles, why I've been unable to put up with nonsense from the kids recently.

That anthropic claim page is annoying. Spent ages filling it out only to hit submit and be told there was a non-specific error and I should try again later.

Moon's Artifice is now available on Kobo! www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...

Authors, look up your name and file your claim for settlement money here. I have no means to answer questions except for this one: Q: "But didn't I do this last month?" A: "DO THIS ONE NOW." secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

The Maleficent Seven is part of Amazon's Kindle Monthly Deal for October, available for the sleep-averting sum of only $1.99! www.amazon.com/Maleficent-S... Or £0.74 on the UK site! www.amazon.co.uk/Maleficent-S...

UK customers! The Green Man's War by Juliet McKenna (a finalist for Best Novel in the British Fantasy Awards) is currently on sale for just 99p at Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Gre...

I had the worst lunch. Honestly. Maybe @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social could cover the rise in the far right, in racist attacks and, you know, the effect on millions of British people instead of platforming them every night I'd settle for @theguardian.com doing even basic coverage of racism in the UK

Amazing nuggets in the PPE Medpro High Court ruling The company was incorporated on 12 May 2020 and referred to the Covid "VIP lane" by Michelle Mone *the same day*, despite having no track record in manufacturing PPE Who could have predicted that anything would go wrong?

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'hard' #BookQW If limits on your book budget are a challenge, good news! The Green Man's War is a Kindle ebook deal for October. Get caught up with Dan Mackmain's adventures before The Green Man's Holiday is published on 30th October. www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Mans-W...

IT'S WEDNESDAY! It's #buyastrangerabook day. The best of all the days. I'll give out TWO books. FOR FREE. If you'd like one, let me know. Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know. It's a thing! Look. biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi... UK only

Every once in a while, someone tries to tell me to take up golf (I have well-off friends who know I have good hand-eye co-ordination) and I have to explain that I am my own worst enemy in almost every situation. Sports where there isn't even someone else to beat are a recipe for utter misery.

I guess it might have been funny if Roald Dahl spent his later years trading public insults with the children from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

anyway, reminder that Brando Sando is a mormon in good standing aka he tithes 10% of his income to a church that just announced they filed a brief saying that protecting trans rights infringes on their religious freedom ✌️

Have added a whole bunch of people to the World Fantasy Con 2025 attendees starter pack. I think I’m 15 or so people away from needing to make a second pack if folk keep asking to be added. go.bsky.app/5XGSyXk

Exhibit A at The Hague just dropped

The flew the entire military leadership in so they could see for themselves that the Secretary of Defense is a mouthbreathing dipshit and the Commander in Chief is a senile, weak old man who might keel over at any moment.

Now in Waterstones

New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer. This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Hmm, uploading Moon's Artifice to Kobo and I'm not sure if it's just being processed or none of the info I entered has been saved.

Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com

If you have seen this 2020 gem, the best live-action FALLOUT riff yet is only 11 slackers. Get on it.

How not to illustrate the similarity of bone structures between humans & horses.

On the plus side, Kobo have Percival Everett's astounding novel The Trees on at 99p, and if you don't already own this book, get in there *right now*. Run, do not walk. On the minus side they have it in their list of Romance Deals, which...mmph. eesh. Nnnnno. www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...

Nice - got myself a few of these to give away at the Oxford indie bookfair, possibly world fantasy too I guess

This Florence Welch interview is....take it in pieces because it is hard, but it is GOOD. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

Every time I see a poster advertising the latest installment of Tron ARES, I can't help thinking of this.

do people not realise that everyone already legally has to prove right to work in this country, using a combination of ID forms, and any job that currently skirts the law in this is just… gonna keep doing that

So it turns out, because we have friends staying, I was awake at midnight & now have a table at the Oxford indie bookfair. So I need to work out every other detail like payment, stock etc etc. Could be expensive...

👍 mybook.to/magicmapsand... #autismacceptance #autismawareness #cozyfantasy #autisticwriter

Hmm, offering 60k for a (london based) director-level qualified lawyer in your multinational company? Good luck with that.

Happy Stanislav Petrov Day! On this day one man prevented the apocalypse.

Today I'm launching a Crowdfunder with the incredible Grace Quantock. The aim of this is to get Grace's book "Living Well with Chronic Illness" into health centres across the UK. We be so grateful for your support. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/86e1e73e29...

"on a technicality" Not really. A failure to get necessary consents to a terror charge is not a slight error. They are safeguards when a person faces a serious charge. Prosecutors should take such safeguards seriously: this is terrorism law they are using. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

I haven’t read this poet’s work so I can’t comment but the review in the Times felt way beyond harsh for a poetry collection. Isn’t there something more important you could be needlessly rude about? www.thenational.scot/news/2549279...

What's the point of opening bookings (for my local book fair, so no time zone considerations) at midnight? They're capable of picking any time because the second batch goes on sale next week at 7pm, they've just decided to actively make it annoying. Mental.

Okay, list is shaping up pretty well… But there’s a few more spaces if people want added, will also remove if people want me to. (Limit is 150). Folk attending @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social in Brighton next month…