Damn, just found out a story of mine was re-transmitted (they never tell you, who do you think you are, important or something) so i could not nudge it towards interested ears... www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... - a young woman corresponds with film critic Barry Norman. (Based on a true event)

I just love that this happened on a miniature railway.

Interested in Hauntology? Take a look at these papers and presentations from a recent PGR led conference 😁 (organised by my legendary friend and colleague) (Some presentations require downloading due to formats) doi.org/10.25421/yor...

I want people to understand that in my youth, a youth that happened somewhere between the youth of Epstein, Trump, Maxwell, ex-Prince Andrew, et al & that of their victims, the term "jail bait" was framed as a compliment.

Hello World 😀 A bit late for 2025, but we're setting up here on Bluesky as we know there are quite a few writers here! We'd love to connect. For those who don't know us, Whitby Lit Fest launched in 2025, bringing a wonderful array of literary stars to Whitby. #literature #litfest #whitby #authors

Wonderful BBC archive clip about black magic in Norfolk in 1964 - soot-blackened sheep’s hearts, weird effigies, and isolated fenland villages. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTw...

Whitby Lit Fest was exhausting, and at times stressful, but ultimately an absolute joy. Massive thanks to CauseUK for their excellent work, to all the authors, volunteers and my colleagues on the committee. A job well done. And yes, that is me chatting with Lee Child. #whitbylitfest

Still taking orders! Reckon I can fit in a few more in time for Christmas.

There's still time to browse and to place a bid ... #ChildreninRead #ChildreninNeed

The last LitFest event was Alan Ayckbourn in conversation with Kate Fenton. The Stephen Joseph in Scarborough was a large part of my adolescent education, and played its part in my decision to study Theatre, which led inevitably to becoming a writer. #WhitbyLitfest

Here’s my paper and slides from the @yorkstjohn.bsky.social Haunted Soundscapes symposium. It’s an excerpt from a larger work in progress. It joins the dots between #BoardsOfCanada, Freud, Otto Rank, Georg Simmel, Gaston Bachelard, Marx, Mark Fisher, Derrida, and Fredric Jameson and #SesameStreet!

“The elites are ecstatic about imagining a vast, uneducated, and unproductive population forced to pay companies like OpenAI to access the written word and to approximate thought.” Must read piece by Noah McCormack with too many quotaboe lines to select one! thebaffler.com/salvos/we-us...

I had so much fun talking about how fiction can fill a heart-shaped hole at Whitby Lit Fest that I forgot to take photos! Luckily my lovely friend did!

I'm so delighted to be included in this anthology #BeyondandWithinWitchcraft

Advance copies of this beautiful book arrived today #BeyondandWithinWitchcraft - massive thanks @flametreepress To pre-order yours: www.amazon.co.uk/Witchcraft-S...

Eating by candlelight in the shadow of Ironbridge power station ~ David Bagnall (1972)

Day Two

Unassailable logic:

Still a few tickets available, kids

We’re making more Broken Veil, thanks to our supporters. And the BV channel is going to be full of all sorts of related goodness, including our new Discomfort Blanket series on weird media. Support the channel and get the goodness here: patreon.com/BrokenVeil

Let's go, girls.

Starting the day with a goodie bag from #WhitbyLitFest25. Tickets for some events are still available, so check out their website.

I would happily live here in what was John Hurt's former home but alas, I am far too poor. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...

OUT NOW! ON THE BROKEN VEIL CHANNEL NEW EPISODE! Discomfort Blanket is not a number. It is a free podcast. (Well, a free podcast if you support the Broken Veil channel on Patreon for as little as a couple of quid...) patreon.com/BrokenVeil

Weather

Warning: this message contains mild self-advertising A story - Mae West Optional - in the Guardian, from a book of stories - Furthermore - by me, published in 2005 www.theguardian.com/books/2005/j...

Today's homework is prepping for the discussion on Bram Stoker's Undying Legacy for WhitbyLitfest in just two days time. 🦇🦇🦇

Now available in paperback, just in time for Christmas.

I'm watching Jane Eyre and yet again I find myself thinking everyone *had* to know about Bertha and Mrs Fairfax not warning Jane is very poor form.

Is there a crossword person in your life? Would you like to get them a unique gift? PERHAPS FOR CHRISTMAS? Well maybe a bespoke quiz or cryptic crossword would fit the bill, on any theme, of any size, by the author of [counts on fingers] more than 900 published crosswords, i.e. Me. Give me a shout!

Delicious homework as I prepare for my chat with the fabulous @essiefox.bsky.social next Friday afternoon as part of the WhitbyLitfest. Tickets are still available...

I don't know how I missed Chiller at the time, but I'm enjoying the Lawrence Gordon Clark episodes. (Yes, this type of thing is my ideal Sunday afternoon)

Children in Read 2025 all proceeds in aid of @BBCCiN The fabulous Anthony Horowitz bsky.app/profile/anth... is on board with a fabulous lot to help BBC Children in Need. Bid for Anthony's brilliant lot here 👇 www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/deta...

Beautiful day, chaps.

BBCFOUR tonight (and onwards) is showing the original series Edge of Darkness - please book your seat now.. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

There's still time to browse the site and make a bid, spooks. 👻

🎃ENTER IF YOU DARE 👇 jumblebee.co.uk/childreninre... #Childreninread #Childreninneed

Well this is massive. One of the very best. www.bfi.org.uk/features/pet...

Roger Allam in The Graun today leads inevitably to otters. youtu.be/kmlXLU-1E6Y?...

Weather good, we are gradually working our way north in search of the Loch Ness Monster.

Here I am, sharing a table with @londonbessie.bsky.social as part of Whitby Library's Litfest display. So many authors, so many events...

Pints of Haworth’s foaming Corpse-Ale all round! lithub.com/apparently-t...

One for all you folk horror fans and fiends out there - we've got two days of interviews, panels and writing workshops incoming with DARKNESS IN THE FIELDS: MIDWINTER 2! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/darkness-i... #folkhorror #mythology #folklore #midwinter #writing #writers

This is great. I'm very much up for a Demon Lover anthology.

FUCK SOCIAL MEDIA. MARRY BOOKS. KILL AI.

The ghosted glass that watches us may be stained with more than kiln-baked paints. For some panes have spectral eyes as well as those gifted by the artist. When held in their enduring gaze, many remark that it is not a benevolent looking. – #CLNolan

I read this over the weekend and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's an impeccable collection of beautifully tense short fiction with an uncanny edge. Loved it. Go to @uncertainstories.com and get your copy now.

I'm delighted to have contributed to the WhitbyLitfest programme. Apparently I have opinions on Dracula. Full details of the whole event can be found here ... 🦇 whitbylitfest.org.uk/events/

So many things she was excellent in, and many people my age will immediately think of Sybil. A particularly favourite here was her single episode in Cabin Pressure as Martin’s mum.