I set a new record for BSFA award nominations without a win! (always a pleasure to be nominated.) I had an incredible time @easterconuk.bsky.social and I'm already excited for the next one. Its the best atmosphere in the world.

@laurenwrites.bsky.social doing stellar work on my behalf as I forget to mention Eastercon at all. Please come say hello 😁

Time to plan an escape: why do we like to visit the real sites that inspire SFF? After @rickandwrite.bsky.social mentions NYC & Men In Black, I now can only think of Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse being Ghostbusters HQ… Also with @niallharrison.bsky.social, Soph W & mod Sandra Unerman.

I had one hour to write. Sat down. And the chair exploded. Not today, apparently!

I've got my panels through for @easterconuk.bsky.social in 2 weeks time and I am stoked to get such a good set. Outside of these times you will probably find me at the bar. :)

@bsfa.bsky.social Fission Stats. We received 422 submissions in a 2-week window. 42 were shortlisted. All of which we loved, but alas, we had to choose All were read by both editors within a month, and rejections have been sent out. The overall quality was good! I had a blast.

I've walked a mile for the first time since I tore my achilles in November! And I've swapped the crutch for a small cane. The slow progress continues and I am just happy to be outside.

Just finished this absolute banger by @mikebrooks668.bsky.social Really enjoyed the yin and yang style pov shifts with this one. It kept me thoroughly entertained and distracted while my toddler had a tonsillectomy (he's doing great and munching toast) which is a good as it gets!

Another book by a great author. Happy new book day @aknighton.bsky.social !

I looked away for one second to get my child's water bottle...

@theslabpress.bsky.social editor Donna has kindly let me post Vivid Worlds for free on my website during the @bsfa.bsky.social awards process. It is a finalist for the Short Fiction, and if you would like to consider it, you can find it here. It may get weird. www.rickdanforth.com/one-step-at-...

Please check this out and consider supporting it. It's a wonderful piece of work by a wonderful author @trip.bsky.social

I'm both overwhelmed and very grateful to have 5 items on the @bsfa.bsky.social award short list. It's an honour to be nominated against pieces from: @foxesandroses.bsky.social @slashnburnett.bsky.social @drfionamoore.bsky.social @bethkesh.bsky.social @emilyinkpen.bsky.social Congrats all 🙌

Thanks to @rickandwrite.bsky.social for letting me know that Voidscarred is on the Nebulas recommended reading list! Massively grateful for this inclusion :) www.sfwa.org/reading-list...

3 months of progress! It's awkward as hell, takes forever and I'm absolutely grateful for every step. 🙌 The goal is walking unassisted for eastercon.

@drfionamoore.bsky.social phrased this far better than I could, so I'm just going to steal her post!

Are you a member of @bsfa.bsky.social? Reminder, today, 19th Feb, is your last day to nominate. I'd really love you to consider Vivid Worlds for Best Collection and "One Step at a Time" by @rickandwrite.bsky.social and "Tractors in the Mist" by Cécile Cristofari.

I would like to say I spent all day reading submissions but I spent all morning reading them then got lost in this blast from the past. Just one more turn...

@bsfa.bsky.social Fission is now open! Please send us your words, we are excited to see them! :) Any questions, please ask me. www.bsfa.co.uk/fission

After 13 weeks I am castband boot free! I'm back on crutches, scared to bump it but I can finally shower and for that I am eternally grateful. Physio loading. Hopefully walking by eastercon.

I am now the Co-Editor of the @bsfa.bsky.social fission anthology. We open for submissions midnight on 13th February, and now pay 3p (roughly 4c) a word. I hope to see lots of great stories. I am very excited about this! 😁 www.bsfa.co.uk/fission

This is my favourite story I had out last year. Not only is it longlisted alongside a great (and also longlisted) collection but it's now available for 99p! What's not to love? 😁

My first work of the year! A non-fiction piece about my feelings regarding apologies in fiction and why it's so hard to give them true emotional impact.

I'm so happy to get to share a free to read version of this. I love this story, I get dark with it, it explores troublesome father-son dynamics and it's inspired by the real life Ghost Merchants shop in York. I really need to go write that sequel.

I'm feeling very blessed to have five items on the longlist for the @bsfa.bsky.social awards. If you're voting please consider my works. Congratulations to everyone on the long list, it's full of great works! (It does make a fantastic reading list.)

This is an 800 word story that I've been thinking about all day. Give it a read if you fancy a real emotional trip in such a low word count.

The derp bear is once again pretending to be a cat. (and making me stop writing to come and get him)

4 weeks to go until the boots off. My foots been covered since November and I am so excited. That first proper shower is going to be incredible.

I read a lot of great books last year. Out of 60, 57 were SFF, but Conclave by Robert Harris just blew me away It was so exciting and engrossing, especially the MC struggling with doubt and just trying to do his best. I really never thought I could be so invested in voting for a pope.

The best part of being an adult, is that noone can stop me having this as me evening meal. (Garlic doughballs and camembert. Allegedly for four, tonight for one. )

Sat down to edit the novella. Wrote a 1500 non fiction article instead. Procrastination by writing other projects is still writing, right?

The dog literally barged in to stop me writing. He only sits here when I'm writing and has ignored me all afternoon otherwise. Worst writing assistant ever

Got an early Christmas present! After 3 weeks it's clunky and slow but incredible to put weight on it again. Goals for 2027 are to play football with Sam and be able to walk the dog again. Genuinely can't wait for both.

It's that time!

My first ever non-fiction article. And what else would the topic be?

This is my first ever proper author interview and I had the absolute time of my life! I'm also absolutely in love with me as a goblin 😂

If you would like to hear my story about unicorn cocaine, followed by me having a lot of fun talking to Ben and Nico. This is the place to go! And if that's not enough, you get two cracking stories by the guys themselves. What's not to love?

I've signed and confirmed this. Please do the same!

Never liked having an achilles tendon anyway. I am apparently far too old to run up a hill without warming up. The fact it's the most literary of injuries does not spark joy, 😂

This is honestly my favourite story I've had out and I'm so happy it's in great company 🙌 Not had for 99p?

My favourite place for a pint. Whitby Abbey.

3 years of having this jerk today. He has gone from being a pint sized cute abomination who didn't sleep, to bring a dog I can proudly say, "Lives in our house and isn't a dick *all* of the time." That said, let's hope for 30 more years 🙌

My fitbit lied to me. It kept deleting my steps so I ended up walking twice as far as I intended to. 😒 It took me more miles than I'm willing to admit to realise I was being gaslighted!

The best cure for post World Fantasy blues is to book my ticket for @easterconuk.bsky.social! Having a con to look forward to is a great motivator.

On the way home from @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social Thank you to everyone I got to spend time, I had the best weekend.

Congratulations @foxesandroses.bsky.social ! She deserves this award so much. She is an incredible author and it was the best in a category of great stories Thank you for letting me accept it on your behalf. 🙌

I'm on the BFS blog this week talking about writing, my influences and just general shenanigans!

This is not the cool high tech future that teen me was promised. We don't have flying cars but your bed breaks if the Internet goes out. 😂 www.dexerto.com/entertainmen...

I got silver in Catch Wrestling Worlds Championships in over 100kg. I had a dominant performance, but a shoulder injury meant I couldn't compete in the final. Not the medal I wanted, but I can't wait for next year. (Josh blew his knee out, so hopefully that's next year too)

I'm all weighed in to compete at the catch wrestling world championships tomorrow. I've got former UFC champion Josh Barnett in the division, so I've asked for him first round. The organiser sounded keen. I am hyped!