An absolutely sublime piece of cinema that will stand next to Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. I am in awe.

Echinopsis in bloom. I know these are on the naughty list, but we have them contained and our one plant is just *extra* this year.

Never a dull moment. I didn't have pig wrangling on my bingo card for Friday, but there you have it.

It's all rather silly, isn't it? Those men in suits who think they're so important. Hint: They're just stuffed windbags in suits. I don't think they're even human.

And further news from author-land is that my drabble withstood the Thomas-test. He is my harshest critic, and he says the story works. So I feel confident enough to inflict it on folks at Bloody Parchment tomorrow.

Finally! I admit I am biased as my beloved was the graphic designer on this production, and I got a big kick seeing his work on the screen. This special is a fun romp with a heist and a bonus monster.

Sometimes when I dictate my editor notes to MS Word, it vomits up clunkers like this 🫠: You don't need to go sort of to more complex parts with hats if that makes sense

My office assistant has Opinions.

The South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event is happening at Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront on November 1 at 4pm! Dress up as your scariest self and stand a chance to win prizes. Join our local authors, who'll share their spookstories, and celebrate all things ghastly and ghoulish.

In tonight's episode of WTF did I just watch because everyone else in my frigging family loves zombie movies while I'm a complete wimp. Okay, so there were some genuinely funny moments here. #horror

Bedgraggled: (verb) 1. When bed covers try to strangle a person or constrict movement after a night of excess. Usage:"Charles woke up hungover and bedgraggled. He was not amused. "

Nerine's typo of the day: bedgraggled. You are welcome.

My new favourite album. To be listened to at full volume for extra existential dread and an impending sense of doom. music.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

When a poisoned newspaper columnist asks Dr. Miles Singer to find his murderer, following the trail uncovers the kind of secrets a nation can't survive. but maybe with secrets like that, it shouldn't. The Kingston Cycle - available wherever fine books are sold. Audio: libro.fm/search?q=C.L...

Re-upping this blog post, since I just heard from an author who hired what looked like a self-publishing service provider but actually was a ghostwriting scam, and just got hit up for $9,000 for a book order scam writerbeware.blog/2025/05/09/t...

Oh, honey, I think the word you were looking for is 'exorcism'. But I'll own this one-star review for The Firebird. I promise my other books are also going to be full of possession, ancient religions, magic, and history stuff.

Well, that significantly perks up my Tuesday. I love the smell of a short story acceptance. Especially since it's a neat bit of Afrofuturism that I've written.

Welp. I guess this is really happening. Swimming with the fishes.

🏆 @suyidavies.com @shingai-be-like.bsky.social, @tlotlotsamaase.bsky.social, @wtalabi.bsky.social, @aniyonsenga.bsky.social, @nerinedorman.bsky.social, @nuzo.bsky.social , @stephenembleton.bsky.social, @shingai-be-like.bsky.social, @tobiogundiran.com @xanwriter.bsky.social jaylit.com/african-writ...

I implore any South African gasping for the d*ath penalty to be brought back to watch the film Shepherd's and Butchers. I saw this on the big screen and was crying ugly tears throughout. And it changed how I thought about this brutal form of punishment.

Join us for the next South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event at the V&A Waterfront Exclusive Books on November 1 at 4pm. Come see our local authors share their chilling tales, dress up & win prizes!

Wait. What! OMG! 🙏🏾🙏🏾 @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, @nuzo.bsky.social, @suyidavies.com, @tobiogundiran.com, @xanwriter.bsky.social, @nerinedorman.bsky.social, @shingai-be-like.bsky.social, @dilmandila.com.web.brid.gy

Forgotten urn.

And it's done. I've a larger canvas still in the cupboard I'm starting to feel braver about messing on.

Acrylic on canvas, WiP

Every time I go to the nursery I look for one succulent plant that needs rescuing. This particular supplier pots up Lithops species in pine bark which is ☠️☠️☠️. So I've potted up in garden soil and loads of river sand, and here's hoping we can rescue.

When your client sends you photos of the retired lady whose children's book you edited and helped project manage to print, and you see the absolute joy on her face, it makes everything worthwhile. I FRIGGING LOVE MY WORK.

Here at Apex, we're drawn to good horror like a moth(man) to a flame 🔴🔴🕯️ You have FOUR WEEKS LEFT to submit your flash fiction! The theme for October is FOLKLORE. You have until the 31st to submit! www.patreon.com/posts/octobe...

This week I decided to pretend that the US doesn't exist. Oddly enough I've been much happier, and better able to focus. I advise anyone residing in the Global South to do the same. It's liberating.

Celebrating a year of having an astrophytum in my life. I admit I'm not always good with cacti, but this little chap is flowering and that makes me happy.

Evidently I've now hit my manic stage again. Why am I cursed with too many awesome ideas and not enough time to do them? But this one's particularly awesome, and I think it will work.

An awkward ibis. I started with oil pastel on canvas. Was less than happy. Accidentally spritzed with red spray paint instead of sealant, then went what the hell and climbed into the acrylics. Mainly I just made a big mess. It was fun. Make bad art.

This is one heck of a useful guide to southern African moths. For those of us on the spectrum who wish to be informed. nerinedorman.blogspot.com/2025/09/sout...

This is your periodical reminder that Toby Bennett and I wrote an epic sword-and-sandals adventure about a grumpy senior barbarian general and his disgraced elven priestess frenemy.

Work in progress. Gonna dig out art supplies next weekend. Will likely work in acrylic inks.

Today's find at Papermoon Books in Woodstock.

The wild pear is in bloom.

We lucked out. Picked up this recased, 1909 edition of The Rubàiyat of Omar Khayyàm for R800 illustrated by Willy Pogany, and our friend who handles copyright stuff came back and told us the book is worth at least R15k!

I know this has been shared before, but I will share it again, as it never fails to give me comfort, even if the aftertaste is somewhat bitter.

A rare moment with my kinderkat. She's such a shy little beastie.

Detail from tonight's painting WiP. I'm probably going to completely bork this picture in the end, but I feel like painting penguins.

Hanging out with The Catsnack this evening. He has lots to say.

Well, how's that for timing. After months of runaround, I got my rights back for Sing down the Stars, mere weeks before NB Publishing announces that they're now being taken over by Jonathan Ball. I feel like I've dodged a bullet.

Actually, I just give up on the Global North completely. They're all royally ... screwed. It's better for my mental health if I only care about South Africa going forward. Dog knows we've got major problems but there's a part of me that feels as if we've at least been *trying* to do the work here.

Join Professor Sebastian van As as he takes us from the primordial waters of Nun into an ordered cosmos, giving us a glimpse into the fascinating myths that shaped ancient Egyptians’ culture and their multiple conceptions of the creation myth.

Don't have money to support your favorite creator but still wanna help out somehow? 💸 - Tell someone about them & why you like them - Share some of their content - Send them an encouraging comment on one of their posts or in their streams - Draw fanart, or create something with them as inspiration

BOOS AND GHOULS! My short story proposal for another frigging AMAZEBALLS project I've been invited to contribute to has been mother-freaking accepted!!! I know in the larger scheme of things, this doesn't mean much, but this is a bright spot in my day.

Introducing The ZamaShort Shop! Today is a new day for ZamaShort, we are launching our very own shopfront where you can buy from us directly! selfany.com/s/ZamaShort #AfricanLit #AfricanSFF #booksky 🪐📚💙 @nerinedorman.bsky.social @zainabomaki.bsky.social @carmelorafala.bsky.social

There is only so much lifting an editor can do to a manuscript. I've seen so many times when an author is already contracted and they absolute LOAF when it comes to structural edits...

Watching one of South Africa's big publishers not even bothering to be coy about using generative AI images on their book covers. I see you. I have your measure.