I have a whole bunch of exciting announcements under my hat. I can't say anything right now, but we're just over 6 weeks out from the release of JITTERBUG, after which I'll be able to fill you in on a lot of them. Watch this space!

Friendly reminder that if you come into my mentions to shit on fandom/creative that I've posted about or worked on, I'm just going to block you. I don't care whether we align on other stuff, the world is too terrible to be an asshole about things. Let people enjoy what they enjoy.

If you want to be charmed this year, we're kicking things off starting with two delightful upcoming books: SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL by @cornellwriter.bsky.social and IMAGINE A FRIEND by. @quantick.bsky.social! Preorder from your favorite booksellers.

Starfleet Academy has reminded me of my lifelong dream to write for #StarTrek. Over the years, I’ve jotted down some great ideas. Now that I’ve written for Doctor Who, perhaps one day I’ll get to bring one of those ideas to life on the page (or screen)

I had three books and four short stories published in 2025. Now, looking ahead to March 2026 and JITTERBUG!

A fantastic and comprehensive review of my short story collection WHO WILL YOU SAVE? which is published by @titanbooks.bsky.social

Okay, I did not expect to like Starfleet Academy, but I did. And Holly Hunter is (unsurprisingly) great.

Did I just spot Peanut Hamper in the background of Starfleet Academy episode one?

Celebrating 6 months out, ECHOES AND EMBERS by multi-award-winning author @pedroiniguez.bsky.social is a transcendent short story collection featuring SFF and horror tales, wreathed in hope for a possible future. Order from your favorite bookseller! www.starsandsabers.com/books/echoes...

Soaking squares of compressed foam insulation in the bathtub, to decompress them ready for installation in my recording box.

Heard about the Sauútiverse? Curious but want to sample first? Check out these free-to-read Sauútiverse stories online.

Quiet in the bookshop this morning because of the rain. Looking forward to getting back to my keyboard this afternoon.

It looks like I'll have at least one book out this year, two next year, and another in 2028. Proper announcements will follow in due course...

Now I've figured out how to fix the issue that's been bugging me, I can't wait to come home this afternoon after work and start rewriting the opening chapters of my work-in-progress.

It’s almost time to close the bookshop for the day, and head home through the drizzle and darkness to work on my book for the evening.

Three reasons to follow me: 1. Writing advice from someone who’s spent twenty years as a traditionally published author and is now also an editor for an independent publishing company 2. Cozy updates on my life as a bookseller in an indie bookshop 3. News of my forthcoming books and events

Opening the bookshop for the day. It’s below freezing here this morning, so I have the little portable heater on full and the kettle boiling for tea.

Another magical sunrise over misty, frosty fields

From Emmy Award winner @quantick.bsky.social, IMAGINE A FRIEND is a wondrous, nostalgic, magical novella releasing 10 March, 2026! Preorder from your favorite bookseller or find links here: www.starsandsabers.com/books/imagin... #books #fantasy #literature

An evening out in Bristol: city lights and reflections on the water

T -3 weeks to the release of the delightfully charming sci-fi #Romance, SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL by @cornellwriter.bsky.social! Learn more, with links to preorder: www.starsandsabers.com/books/shoesh...

The good folks at @newscientist.com included my novel Jitterbug in their roundup of best forthcoming science fiction novels. You can preorder it now from @titanbooks.bsky.social and all good booksellers

Planning to meet up with a bunch of other local authors for a much-needed pint this evening. I tend to turn into a bit of a hermit in the winter, so it always does me good to force myself out of the house to socialise.

Something about the opening of the book I’m writing has been bothering me, and now I’ve just figured out how to fix it. I’ll need to rewrite a few thousand words, but it will make the story much more interesting and satisfying.

Opening up the bookshop on a dark, rainy morning. The only indication that the Sun has risen is that the clouds are a slightly lighter shade of grey. While outside on the High Street, workmen in orange hi-viz jackets are taking down the Christmas lights.

NEWS: Out in the cold, dark void, what terrors await? In 2028, THE VOID AND THE DARKNESS: A SPACE HORROR ANTHOLOGY will reveal all…co-edited by @jendiagammon.bsky.social and Kali Wallace. Read the announcement! www.starsandsabers.com/2026/01/12/s... #horror #sciencefiction #scifihorror

I had a lot of fun this evening being interviewed for a podcast. I'll post a link when the episode goes live.

Today has been one of those Mondays

So pleased to have this endorsement from Emmy Award-winning writer David Quantick! @titanbooks.bsky.social will publish #jitterbug on 3 May, but you can preorder it today from your favourite bookseller. Links: www.garethlpowell.com/jitterbug/ #books #sciencefiction

I had a fantastic time with @garethlpowell.bsky.social 's Jitterbug, such a great science fiction adventure with a compelling mystery at its heart. Many thanks to @titanbooks.bsky.social for the digital review copy of this one! More thoughts here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/... #booksky

My daughter and I have decided that coffee and walnut cake and carrot cake are the best cakes. No further questions at this time.

Thirty-two of the best short stories collected from 25 years of writing published science fiction... #Booksky

This year, I'm adding another string to my bow. Having narrated the ebook of my guide ABOUT WRITING (published by @gollancz.bsky.social), I'm actively seeking more voice work in addition to my writing, my part-time job as a bookseller, and the editing I do for @starsandsabers.bsky.social

Sympathies to the young girl who just had to be carried out by her parents, crying because she didn’t want to leave the bookshop.

I just introduced my eldest daughter to the first episode of Pluribus and she was absolutely on the edge of her seat. Plus, I noticed a bunch of background details I hadn’t spotted first time around. And it’s still brilliant.

The sky bringing the drama tis afternoon

My awards eligibility post - everything I had published in 2025.

Last read, current read. Punchy, fast-paced, and thought provoking space opera from @garethlpowell.bsky.social and beguiling, post-apocalyptic, literary science fiction from @andrewhook.bsky.social. 💙 #booksky #sciencefiction #spaceopera #postapocalypse @elsewhen.press 📚🚀🪐

Um...

Your green-tinted spectacles this time do not deceive you! Adrian Tchaikovsky @aptshadow.bsky.social returns as a contributor for the anthology Omniboz: Tales from the Land of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum’s Oz books! @jendiagammon.bsky.social and @erniechiara.com co-edit. #oz #books #adriantchaikovsky

I’ve had two customers in the bookshop so far this morning, which is a 100% increase on yesterday morning.

We can read if we want to We can leave this world behind But your friends don’t read And if they don’t read They’re no friends of mine

Looking forward to a visit from my eldest daughter, who works in publishing. She's coming to stay for the weekend, and we always have fun.

We’re pleased to unveil our confirmed 2026 publishing slate! Take a look at our great titles across all ranges of speculative fiction: www.starsandsabers.com/2026/01/07/o... #books #publishing #fantasy #horror #scifi #literature

For various reasons, I don't have a Substack, but I do have a newsletter on Ghost and post regularly on Patreon. You can find the links here: linktr.ee/garethlpowell

News of my next two books coming soon. Really exciting/nerve-racking. Stay tuned...

Just under 8 weeks until JITTERBUG, my 8th release from @titanbooks.bsky.social in 8 years, lands. You're not going to want to miss this one. Preorder now from your favourite bookseller. Links: www.garethlpowell.com/jitterbug/

Bodies of Work by @claymcleod.bsky.social 7 April Jitterbug by @garethlpowell.bsky.social 3 March Double T Kingfisher: The Wonder Engine 17 March, Nine Goblins 20 Jan Thank you @titanbooks.bsky.social @kabriya.bsky.social @baharkutluk.bsky.social 2/4

Find early preorder links for IMAGINE A FRIEND by Emmy Award winner @quantick.bsky.social here: www.starsandsabers.com/books/imagin...

Exciting news! Nap Comix is up for a Broken Frontier (@brokenfrontier.bsky.social) Award for best webcomic! Please consider voting for me at the link in this article: www.brokenfrontier.com/introducing-... Thank you so much! xxx