I’m not kidding about Main Character Nepo Baby Christmas Pudding (the actor rejoices in the name Hero Fiennes Tiffin).

I am watching #YoungSherlock & we all know what I am but if anyone expected me to root against Actually Irish Moriarty in favour of Main Character Nepo Baby Christmas Pudding… the only reason I tolerate him is Moriarty admired his beauty twice so I’m expecting Smallville style action. Sherlockville?

Question: are other writers good at guessing reader reaction? SARAH: writes a ‘bandage over story hole’ line for IN OTHER LANDS. READERS: everyone’s favourite line. SARAH: writes an elegant standalone ending for LONG LIVE EVIL. READERS: cliff hanger ending called out in the NEW YORK TIMES (twice!!)

thoughts and prayers regarding what is about to Happen

murmurs chaotic encouragement

my dream audience

Oh hey it’s me! And @isabel.kim - an honour to be on a list in such company!

Apparently there is now a Lost Boys musical. It becomes clear to me that I must go to New York to *checks notes* promote… my new novel. Yes. That’s reasonable. That’s a legitimate professional reason!

Not slop. Not war. Adapted for personal use from free sampler “Old Times” from DMC. Still needs pressing, mounting, etc.

Doesn't even take 2mins to donate, quick & simple, even a fiver if you can manage it will show them your support msoe.ie/donate/

I also saw it! Another moral was that audiences are smarter than producers believe - they responded to the play being a trick by a) perceiving it was a trick and b) believing in good faith they were in on it. Also I enjoyed when a confetti cannon fired from the ceiling.

(also TECHNICALLY speaking, all fiction is fantasy, people seem to hate it when you mention that though)

So @amalelmohtar.com & @elizachanwrites.bsky.social dazzled @blackwellsmcr.bsky.social. Amal read poems about the moon & a city, reconciled poetry & prose with @byzantienne.bsky.social reference & Eliza asked thoughtful questions as did the audience. From Wordsworth to Steven Universe we rocketed!

😌

Now that my brain is slowly recovering after finishing Worst Man, I’ve started reading on breaks again. First up is @sarahreesbrennan.bsky.social’s LONG LIVE EVIL, which is an utterly charming fantasy romance metafiction. Not finished yet, but absolutely loving it!

Due to…certain misapprehensions in LONG LIVE EVIL, here I dig into what it means to love a book character become real. Is this your velveteen rabbit, is it like being parasocial with a celebrity, is reciprocity possible? What to do when the comforts & dangers of fiction crash into reality? #booksky

One of the greatest compliments I have ever received!

The pipeline from "this makes me uncomfy" to "this is not allowed to exist" is dangerous and REAL. There is value in sitting with discomfort and confronting/unpacking your own biases. People are so afraid of their own "icky" feelings that they would destroy art and other people to remain "safe."

I find this a lovely engaging and relaxing meditation on epic fantasy.

This was so interesting! I had not considered before @readingtheend.bsky.social’s very true point that the cosies do tend to have more queer pairings. And I do love the thought of bringing in readers new to the genre.

people love having me on podcasts because I say sexy, SEO-optimized remarks like "none of this is new" and answer all their questions with "it depends"

SO FANCY!

Super interesting that the Remus/Sirius fanfiction being pulled to publish is being discussed so differently to the Draco/Hermione fanfictions pulled to publish. This is not shade on any of them, I’m just thinking about whether publishers decided it was better from a literary standing or legal POV.

Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired Wolfboy, a “heartfelt and enthralling” debut fantasy novel from BN King in a six-way auction 👇 #BookSky

ICYMI: Curtis Brown has voiced concern about editors using ChatGPT to assess confidential manuscripts, as more literary agencies introduce clauses around Artificial Intelligence into contracts 👇 #BookSky

Bookhaul! 2 purchaes (Danforth & SGJ), & review copies for @sffworld.com | @sarahreesbrennan.bsky.social @sgj.bsky.social @mikechenwriter.bsky.social @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social @pvbrett.bsky.social @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @delreybooks.bsky.social @sagapressbooks.bsky.social @torbooks.bsky.social

THE EMEROR IS COMING ‼️‼️

IM SCARED. The Emperor is coming

I feel like Im in an abusive para-social relationship with Sarah because this is foul lmao

The correct answer to this is "Yes, and everyone else too."

a) thank you b) it is a trilogy! All will be *remembers title of book 3* … oh well.

X Files, vampires and Animorphs? Ryan Coogler thank you for my life but also are you working off my wishlist from when I was 12 because I have updates… www.denofgeek.com/tv/ryan-coog...

Printer's marks (or devices) date from the earliest period of western European printing, basically a trade mark, identifying the printer. They can contain all kinds of interesting details, including images of the cities in which the printer was based or illustrations of daily life as well as symbols

New round of Typis Cornellis stickers arrived! This is Kit's printer's mark from The Feral Gods series (The Book of Gold, The Lore of Silver and the forthcoming The God of Bronze). I did a full sketch of the city (in the style of 16th century maps because I'm a nerd) and this is a section of that.

As I close in on the end of this new novel, I can't help thinking of the immortal words of Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart: "Art is rearranging and grouping mistakes."

‘the solution to a bad starter or dessert is to ban chefs?’ As a prologue lover since @guygavrielkay.bsky.social’s Tigana’s prologue broke my heart and made my heart shards the paving stones for the path through the book, hear hear.

I absolutely, unequivocally love this.❤️ We're all fed such limiting drivel about writing, we've trapped ourselves in an illusory prison of shallow criticism and "what sells." Storytelling is as big as forever. There's room for a lot of differences in there. Write your hearts out. ✍️

oh damn ‘There is an entire cottage industry built on reducing fiction to a set of rules simple enough to be posted as a listicle’

I don't know if we all just got so used to the idea that being on social media means we have to accept abuse from the entire fucking internet? But we don't, actually! It's not cowardice or intellectual weakness to lock down replies. It's just good curation of your space.

They’re perfect 😭

TGE BLOODY HAND THE WAY HES LOOKING AT HER THE HAN D ON HER WAIST

Hope it’s a very good #fanartfriday. So nervous about ALL HAIL CHAOS coming (next month!) & I must share as when I saw it all my worries blew away with delight. Love Rae’s artfully placed chain, the petals, the blood & the sense of fun & intensity (Key is holding onto her & the sword so tight)!

forgot the most important of the genre

Not an April Fool’s. Just another lil evil taster for ALL HAIL CHAOS. Wonder who he’s talking to and if they do, oh well anyway, you’ll know soon! #booksky

I mean, Amazon, when you’re right you’re right, I love me some @marthawells.com & @quicunquevult.bsky.social - maybe this All Hail Chaos book will be okay too. MAYBE.

Woooot! UK readers, this month only, you can snap up the ebook of Enchanting the Fae Queen for just 99p! Enemies-to-lovers, banter galore, and a lethal fae tournament await... www.panmacmillan.com/authors/step... #romancelandia

To be precise, Sarah fled this house!

It's here! Seasons of Glass & Iron is the gorgeous latest offering from @amalelmohtar.com, and one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far. We even have a few signed copies for the first lucky customers! 💙📚🪐 #SFF

You can pre-order ALL HAIL CHAOS from @bookshop.org! bookshop.org/p/books/all-...