Some books I've enjoyed lately, in no particular order. Some already out, some that will be out this year. First! Meet Me at the Surface by Jodie Mathews is an atmospheric, slightly feverish tale of a young woman who returns home to confront family secrets on the Cornish moors. (Out now!)

As it's Valentine's day & yesterday was Friday 13th, take the opportunity to snap up some spookily-romantic titles in our Valloween 0.99 eBook sale! https://geni.us/Solarissale @natania.bsky.social @alexdecampi.bsky.social @isabelcanas.bsky.social @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social @mkhardywrites.com

This book is a banger and you're gonna want to read it!! Deep sea cosmic freaky horror baybee!

If you know anyone who's ever come to the UK to live alongside you, and you'd either miss them if they were gone, or at the very least reckon they deserve to be treated humanely, please put aside some time to fill this in.

There are still some tickets remaining for the Glasgow event on 17th February! Join @toribovalino.bsky.social and @mkhardywrites.com as they discuss all things I, IN THE SHADOWS 👻 tinyurl.com/4ktys263

Recently I (M) rearranged our lounge to hook the vintage 80s amp up to our nice new speakers, catalogued and sorted our CD collection, and vowed to get back to physical media and, most especially, back to listening to albums. Thought I might share our first few listens. 🧵

Reminder: In light of Bad Bunny's Superbowl performance spotlighting Latino culture, here's a hefty list of Latino speculative fiction authors I curated if anyone wants to take a gander and read some phenomenal work. Much love to all! go.bsky.app/6BAmgpi

It’s Black History Month in the US and LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK. I’m a citizen of both, and I have a book that’s both Black and queer, like me.

How will this be remembered? This History Month, we’re asking you to get in touch with the Scottish Government to ask them how their actions now will be remembered in the years to come: equalrecognition.eaction.org.uk/howwillthisb...

Honestly a career highlight right here!

I’ve taken it upon myself to give our stairwell a makeover, and slow repetitive tasks do make the mind wander… I started seeing shapes in the chipped paint. #doodle #art

#KleurInDeNatuur van @christinaroland.bsky.social #Goudolijfgroen, Groene Schelpzwammen, na een regenbui, de wereld wordt weerspiegeld in de natte hoedjes. Dat wilde ik tekenen. #FungiFriends

Hey look! A new book! Some of you may have caught The Packet serialised in ParSec magazine but this is its first outing as physical book. If you like stormy sea voyages and sci-fi, this is the one for you. Out in April, opening for pre-order now. www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.as...

The Cymera Prize for Speculative Short Fiction is open to any writer living in Scotland or Scottish by birth or inclination, aged at least 14 years. Submissions are open from Monday 12th January 2026 until 8pm BST on Sunday 22nd March 2026. www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2026-prize

Yes, it's that time of year again! The Chinese/Lunar New Year - this year it's 17th Feb and it's the Year of the Neigh Neigh! Or Horse. If you want a fun book that would attract boys who are reluctant readers tell them about Tiger Warrior: Rise of the Lion Beast.

Proof pages! I do love a fancy typeface...

Monday

The @kickstarter.com has launched! For fans of Scotland, dark fantasy, folklore and mythology, haunted swords, talking cats, old cats, audiobooks, and indie productions. Open to pledges big and small. www.kickstarter.com/projects/tri...

OK folks, let's get this started. Think back to pandemic year 2020. Think of SFF books from that year which "include positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues." A broad citation! Here's my initial longlist from racking my brain. What've I missed?

Somewhat unexpectedly, The Needfire made it onto Locus's 2025 Recommended Reading List! All thanks to @hawkwinglb.bsky.social for her thoughtful review, it's truly a honour to be listed among so many other fantastic novels and stories.

Tonight's double bill: Song Sung Blue Moon

There's this one deer out there somewhere with all the knowledge of the universe, if you eat it you'll know everything. Unfortunately it is also armed with a death ray so it's up to you if you want to risk it

Our city <3

Put community repair shops on every high street. Our work shows people love it, increases community interaction & helps people keep essential goods going for longer giving them more money to spend on food & utility bills It reduces waste and so reduces local authority costs. It is a win, win, win.

As it was #BurnsNight at the weekend, now seems like a good time to remind you of our own, rapidly growing, Scottish literary contingent (with more authors who make Scotland their home joining us in the coming months👀)! @mkhardywrites.com @rhiannonagrist.bsky.social @rainewilson.bsky.social

BFS Online is excited to announce our next event, Faith, Science & Folklore, taking place Wednesday 28th January 2026, 7pm (GMT). Ticket: tinyurl.com/fascifolk @samkhorton.bsky.social @rainewilson.bsky.social @mkhardywrites.com @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social

Just seen this #PublishingForMinnesota auction is being organised. Hundreds of very cool offerings raising money for the people of MN 👇 www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...

Celebrated Burns Night a little early and took possibly the best uncurated picture of our wee book yet. Needed a night of friends and food and song - hoping for the same for you all x

Many and sharp the num'rous ills Inwoven with our frame! More pointed still we make ourselves, Regret, remorse, and shame! And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn, Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!

Public murals sit at a higher ethical bar than fridge magnets, an expert has said, while calling for mandatory disclosures in planning applications when artificial intelligence is used

Many and sharp the num'rous ills Inwoven with our frame! More pointed still we make ourselves, Regret, remorse, and shame! And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn, Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!

I've got a new science fantasy book coming out for early release through a Kickstarter campaign in June 2026! A transmasc fortune weaver and an ambitious cave priestess make dubious bargains with a fortune beast. Follow the prelaunch page so you don't miss it! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ole...

When your cowriter is prone to drafting late at night when sleepy.

I'm an ordinary Joe, I put on my shirt inside-out and backwards in the dark just like the rest of you.

Slightly pathetic aurora snaps from Applecross

Bumping for the Tuesday crowd...

Aberdonians! Come and see us on Saturday the 31st! For putting up with our nonsense you'll also get to hear Raine's interesting and erudite thoughts, AND she's bringing origami.

I really appreciated this @hjosephinegiles.bsky.social essay about Scottish trans history: hjosephinegiles.substack.com/p/dancing-wi... I love how it shows its working - & therefore how others can do this kind of research, empirical and imaginative, into early C20 Scottish trans life.

Bluesky, where do you go to find writing mentors if you're a published, early-career author? What are the best schemes? Have you done one? Would you recommend?

How are things in general?

Had a lovely event with @rtorrubia.com yesterday at Dundee Library, and then a proper catch-up over brunch and coffee, and today has been a very good writing day with an adorable cat nestled in my lap. Sometimes this author thing is pretty damn great.

We have a disagreement with the answer to an Only Connect question have we reached peak middle age yet?

Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).

Who doesn't love a library event?? Come and join us!

Just typoed ecohorror as echohorror - is this a thing? It could be a thing.

me and who

A tramp through the muckety woods.

Get ready to pencil in your first bookish event of 2026! @rainewilson.bsky.social will be taking part in an Evening of Scottish Speculative Fiction with Angie Spotto and Christopher Caldwell/ @seraph76.bsky.social chaired by @theelaineg.bsky.social at @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social- tickets £5.

Reminiscing about the Resident Evil films and their baddies and I love how this still makes Axeman look like he's in a Rihanna video. Whenever this comes across your dash, you know what to do Bsky.