@blackhole.bsky.social BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI as reference

In I go!!

'A Sickly Young Woman Sits Covered Up on a Balcony; Death, a Ghostly Skeleton Clutching a Scythe and an Hourglass, Is Standing Next to Her' - Richard Tennant Cooper (1912)

Make it a scarred New Year with this huge 15% discount off our print books! Use the case-sensitive code CHEERS15 until midnight on Friday January 2! Also available as colour eBooks. Store link: linktr.ee/scarredforlife

Randomly decided to watch a Dramarama last night, The Secret of Croftmore from 1988. It featured Shug from Still Game, along with this 17-year-old lad called David making his TV debut. Whatever happened to him, I wonder?

Daughters friend (13) came round yesterday, said I looked 25, which absolutely proves how ruinous life is for 25 year olds in Plymouth.

Remembering the great polymath Alisdair Gray, who we lost this day, 2019.

There are covers that just *grab* you - this is one of them. Tells you everything you need to know about the book without flipping over to read the back. Perfect.

I've been procrastinating on the right moment to share this, but the cover release and opening pre-orders might just be it. AGENCY by me! It's a cosmic horror about commercial landlords from nether-hell dimensions. #nonfiction #fnar www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GBYKFTV8 www.amazon.com/Agency-Tor-O...

Fun! I have back-to-back CT scans tonight!

'A Candle of Understanding in Thine Heart ' - Marion Elizabeth Adnams (1964)

Just read that David Pinner, author of RITUAL, died on Christmas Eve. RITUAL famously inspired THE WICKER MAN.

Sonnaz! Yay! Her specialty: Dan Brown books...🙄

'A Church with Pagan Sacrifices at a Burning Altar ' - Stefano Orlandi (undated)

Yes, you really should. If music in any way gets you tapping your toes, this is for you.

Last weird purchase of 2025, only £20!

Picked up this 1910s advertising sample paperweight today for £3!

If this doesn't get you excited for what is going to be the greatest documentary of 2026, nothing will!

Just read that David Pinner, author of RITUAL, died on Christmas Eve. RITUAL famously inspired THE WICKER MAN.

I've been asked by a mate to engrave this on a large piece of slate. In exchange he has offered to turn next years apple crop from the tree in my garden into cider. I don't drink but there may be an 'artisinal cider from the orchards of Sardonicus' available next year.

'The Fortune Teller' - Willem van Mieris (1706)

"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle." Tonight at 7pm(UK), online and worldwide. Holmes and Watson see justice done at Christmas. Tune in live here or catch up anytime youtube.com/live/83PDR4M...

My energy going into 2026

STILL GAME has been turned into an annual? WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I have a mouth. Yes, I'm coarse and blunt. Yes, I don't give a fuck.

I see Jonathan Rigby is throwing his dusty sperm into the ring by saying "nobody else wants to do them" if Gatiss ever gave up A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS. Who would, if you were given the chance, write and direct an episode? Fucking EVERYONE.

Describe your account in one image

'A Solitary Child' - Marion Patrick (1968)

Please listen to Absent Friends on BBC Radio 4 Extra today. Part One is 4.45pm (repeated at 0045) and Part Two is the same time tomorrow. It’s my acknowledgment of various folk from UK sci-fi, horror and fantasy who died this year. 4 Extra doesn’t do many home made productions, so do tune in!

First Goodreads review for POSSESSED!

'Gathering Mushrooms' - Edward Atkinson Hornel (1930)

The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water getting desperate in his methods...

'The Signal Box, Boxing Day, 1927 ' - Elwin Hawthorne (1929)

The christmas shave

If this doesn't get you excited for what is going to be the greatest documentary of 2026, nothing will!

Got the house to myself for a few days - the first of nine Universal Horror films...SPANISH DRACULA!!

A long read article for you if you're at a loose end this Boxing Day. The rough story of how Shambles' biggest ever project came to be, told by its director and producer, Trent Burton.

*Exactly* one hundred years ago today 'The Ghost of Moor Hall' by M.E. Murray was published in THE TAMWORTH HERALD. It was reprinted for the first time in ILLUSIONS OF PRESENCE and if you haven't read it yet, what a way to celebrate its centenary!

'The Folklorist, Cecil Sharp, Meeting William Kimber in 1899 ' - Anthony Morris (undated)

Nautilus always goes in hard.

*Exactly* one hundred years ago today 'The Ghost of Moor Hall' by M.E. Murray was published in THE TAMWORTH HERALD. It was reprinted for the first time in ILLUSIONS OF PRESENCE and if you haven't read it yet, what a way to celebrate its centenary!

A *GLOWING* review for ILLUSIONS OF PRESENCE has been posted up on ODDLY WEIRD FICTION www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2025/12/illu...

Oxfam have reissued one of this series on their website - Belinda Lyon's fox design.

"Dandylion for Oxfam" by Belinda Lyon

Why not finish off your Christmas day with one last gift to yourself? We're 10% off through today and tomorrow for all our 2026 courses with the code CHRISTMAS - grant yourself the present of writing! www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alex-davis... #writing #writers #NewYear #NewYears #course #courses

THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM really got under my skin. I absolutely adored it. *THIS* is how you adapt classic narrative text. It didn't put a foot wrong and I'm very excited to see what @kierlajanisse.bsky.social will do next. I have a *whole* load of lost Victorian female fiction for her to tackle!

'Christmas' - George Henry Boughton (undated)

A *GLOWING* review for ILLUSIONS OF PRESENCE has been posted up on ODDLY WEIRD FICTION www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2025/12/illu...

Late arriving booty!