9 mths, 22 eps, 64 guests & 20+hrs chatting w. authors, publishers, editors & voice actors on Fantasy, SF, Horror, historical fiction, science fantasy, romantasy & more. Lots to come from LSS in '26. Meantime here's Ep20. Happy holidays from Robin & David! britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-pod...

This Howling Dark review is my way of saying: I hate Hadrian Marlowe, and I can’t wait to read the next book. danhanly.com/2025/12/howl... #scifi #howlingdark #bookreview #unreliablenarrator

The Will of the Many was so good that I listened to the entirety of The Strength of the Few in 3 days, which is an Audiobook record for me! Not as good as the first, but sets up the yet-to-be-released finale perfectly. danhanly.com/2025/12/the-... #hierarchy #thestrengthofthefew #epicfantasy

I finished The Will of the Many, which I found to be incredible - a full 5/5 read, that saw me storming onto Audible for the sequel. danhanly.com/2025/12/the-... #hierarchy #thewillofthemany #epicfantasy

Magic, Maps, and Mischief came 2nd place in the Bookshelfie Awards for Best Book of 2025 🙂 Also, it's been nominated for ELEVEN Indie Ink Awards! If you'd like to vote on the categories to help put Magic, Maps, and Mischief into the finals, you can: indiestorygeek.com/a/indie-ink-...

1. Books are easy to wrap. 2. Books don’t need batteries. 3. Books don’t hurt when you step on them in the middle of the night. 4. Books never come in the wrong color or size. 5. Books never need ironing. 6. Books don’t need to be assembled before being given.

I think the fundamental gap here is that non-creative people think that creative people make things for the end product, when in fact it’s the act of creation and not the end point that makes it worthwhile.

My wife made us these amazing Christmas tree decorations from my book covers. The Great Leap and Stone Cold Blood never looked so good! #author #fantasy #christmas

A mari and stars or snowflakes

I submitted an atmospheric tale of grief and hope to this anthology the day before yesterday, wish me luck!!

Final call! We kick off in just under an hour. It's going to be a fascinating discussion - we hope you'll join us. Be there or be... not even close to something as cool as a crescent.

I've been hearing a lot about AI generated writing lately, and how it's permeating the literature industry, so I investigated. Summary: "AI is a fundamental and overall net harm to the literature ecosystem." danhanly.com/2025/12/why-... #ai #literature #llm #writing #author

I've been hearing a lot about AI generated writing lately, and how it's permeating the literature industry, so I investigated. Summary: "AI is a fundamental and overall net harm to the literature ecosystem." danhanly.com/2025/12/why-... #ai #literature #llm #writing #author

Finished Godkiller by Hannah Kaner. Here's a spoilery review: danhanly.com/2025/12/revi... 3/5 Overall, I loved the worldbuilding but struggled with the pacing for the first third of the novel, and found the protagonist to be needing a far stronger drive of her own #darkfantasy #review #godkiller

I'm desperate for a tolerant world that's only intolerant of the intolerant. c.org/YZG4YxW6K9 #girlguidinguk #trans #guides

I'm currently prepping a script to do a big ol'YouTube video about AI in literature. I'm not going to be looking at it through a favourable lens, it's safe to say. Everything I've researched has pointed me to an understanding that it is a net harm for the entire literature ecosystem.

See now this shit pisses me off. 'Visual Alchemist' can't draw, but knows how to prompt. Why do art then? Why do any art at all if you've got no understanding of it? There's only one reason they're even interested: they want to make money. They don't want to be an artist, they want to be rich.

Question for bookish people: if a book is split into parts, do you expect a pacing change between them? Or should the whole book fit an expected pacing profile?

Get Ready to be Broken by The Wildlands in the Children of Inauron series. Book 1: The Great Leap Book 2: Stone Cold Blood "Lord of the Flies, meets X-Men, in a Grimdark Forest" #book #darkfantasy #grimdark #trauma #mentalhealth #booksky

Get Ready to be Broken by The Wildlands in the Children of Inauron series. Book 1: The Great Leap Book 2: Stone Cold Blood "Lord of the Flies, meets X-Men, in a Grimdark Forest" #book #darkfantasy #grimdark #trauma #mentalhealth #booksky

Here's the provisional blurb that I'm working with at the moment

Finally finished my manuscript yesterday and sent it off to beta readers... Now I feel empty. I guess I'll just wait!

With the best of intentions to learn. I, a cis straight man, pantsed (no planning) a new novel: I planned nothing. My female protagonist has a female love interest, but it is not a romance story (i.e. the romance is not the focus) What can I do to make sure I'm not harming a marginalised community?

Beyond honoured! x

Just saw a video on TikTok of a "writing coach" saying that if you don't fully plan your stories, you're not a real artist, and I'm sorry but that's bullshit. Some people plan first, other people don't. The beauty of writing is that all styles are valid.

I quit the former Twitter two years ago this week, and I am here to tell you that my online life got a lot better for having left it. In two years I've not been tempted to go back, and I haven't felt any penalty in either career or community for not being there. It's nice to be here and not there.

My books are reflective of my own experiences with mental health, and earlier I had THE most moving message from a reader telling me that my book inspired them to get help for their own mental health. Honestly, I never expected any readers at all, but to hear that my book actually helped someone...

This weekend, I wrote 30,000 words in a new record for me since... well, ever. I started the weekend entering the final part of my WIP, and earlier today, I completed it. Now for the bit everyone loves... Editing 🤣

Sometimes I hate the way my ADHD brain works, but today, today was a good day. Sometimes, I won't write for like two weeks, but today, I've hit just shy of 20k words in almost one straight sitting. It's madness. I've smashed through the final act of my WIP, and now I have only 2 chapters left!

Just been writing an incredibly emotionally taxing scene in my WIP, and it really does take its toll on the author as well as the eventual reader. I am not okay right now, but I will be when I finish it. #imnotokay #authorproblems

One of the most conflicting feelings I have as an #author is hearing that my book made someone cry. It's like awww I don't want to upset people, but also I do because I'm the one who wrote that scene! #authorproblems

For any fledgling writers who are writing their first novel this month: You absolutely do not need to write every day, don't need to hit X words each day, don't even need to sit at your computer every day. Take the pressure to perform off your shoulders and your manuscript will be better for it

I watched the new Frankenstein movie the other day and I found it hauntingly beautiful. It's shot right to the top of my rankings... Just like all great films, it really left me wanting more. The performances were just exceptional. #frankenstein #guillermodeltoro

In my WIP, a character is going to execute another by beheading for the first time. The executioner is instructing her on technique. What the hell do I Google to get these instructions? And when I inevitably get put on a list, how do I get off it? #authorproblems #author

My book series the Children of Inauron is a dark fantasy dealing with mental health and trauma. In the series, the characters' mental health conditions inform the magical powers they develop. If this was the real world, what would your magical powers be?

I've recently revised my views on content warnings on books. Previously, I was in the camp of "literature is supposed to make you uncomfortable sometimes". I'm thankful for the time it took others to educate me on the short-sightedness of such a view... 🧵 #triggerwarning #contentwarning

STONE COLD BLOOD is out now! Get it today on Kindle. Paperback on Monday! amzn.eu/d/gVR9B3L Survival demands strength. But what happens when reality turns to stone cold terror? Stone Cold Blood is Children of Inauron Book 2 #darkfantasy #selfpublished #newrelease

STONE COLD BLOOD Releases Nov 7th!! Preorder it right now! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DZ6WZ74X Survival demands strength. But what happens when reality turns to stone cold terror? The village wanted them gone. His past won't let him go. #darkfantasy #newrelease

One of my pet hates with audiobooks is where a series narrator pronounces something differently in Book 2 compared to Book 1. I now have to get used to something brand new

Thank you @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social for a wonderful convention! 2nd year and it already feels like coming home. Highlights: - first time being approached by someone who read my book - a publisher I love expressing interest in a project and asking for a sample & synopsis - all the conversations

@worldfantasy2025.bsky.social has officially compelled me to finish my upcoming novel! Incoming: "An investigation into a haunted graveyard becomes a fight for survival for our young protagonist, one that pitches her against a despotic new Lord, and her own hidden history."

I was thrilled to be hosting some exceptional horror authors at The Cold Shiver @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social We discussed the mechanics of fear and how we can keep our readers on their toes. @hildur.bsky.social @ericlarocca.bsky.social @sarajaynetownsend.bsky.social @joanneanderton.bsky.social

These meetings underscore how much hard work, time and focus volunteer committees put in to keep SF&F fan organisations thriving. It's important to recognise that, and to publicly thank them.

To celebrate the upcoming release of Stone Cold Blood (coming 8th of November - assuming the proof comes back looking good enough), I have discounted the ebook of The Great Leap. If you wanted to get into this incredible dark fantasy series, there's no greater time! amzn.eu/d/jhm6kd1

So I finished Stone Cold Blood whilst having a cheeky hour away from the convention. I think I underestimated how much completing a book will just knock me out. I'm absolutely shattered now.

I had a lovely breakfast in the hotel, then a swim, then I helped out with the setup of WFC, then I went for a little walk, then I completed the editing of Stone Cold Blood! That's right, I'm now on the release path. I need to finalise the cover, the formatting inside, and then it'll be out!

If you see an enormous 6ft 5 bloke that looks a bit like my picture and you're at World Fantasycon, come say hello! #worldfantasycon

In the queue for registration for World Fantasycon 2025! Can't wait to get in and see what's in store! #worldfantasycon

I've found that if I want to edit my book, it needs to be the thing that I'm procrastinating with. In preparing to leave for Brighton to attend the World Fantasy Convention 2025, here I am being more productive than ever, smashing through the last few chapters of my book. Oh, the joys of ADHD!

Goddamnit why is the last 10% of my book the hardest to edit? Motivation is at an all time low. I think it might be related to release jitters...