New Year, new intro. I write science fiction and horror. I've twice won the BSFA Award for Best Novel and been a finalist for the Locus and British Fantasy awards. I live near Bristol, UK and mostly use social media to post about writing, promote my books, and encourage aspiring authors.

Gal4Xeon has a BGG page! (But the image hasn't been approved yet :( boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46...

Today's blog post: 2026! creationandplay.blogspot.com/2026/01/2026...

I really don’t enjoy writing the ‘your rewards are slipping later’ Gamefound updates. The latest FlickFleet campaign has been a slow one to fulfil :(

Long term followers will know I sometimes run Q&A sessions for aspiring authors. I've been a traditionally published author for 20 years and I've written 23 books. I'm also an editor for an independent press. If you have a question, make sure you're following me and ask in the comments below.

Did a bit more behind the scenes work on the Gal4Xeon @gamefound.bsky.social page this morning. Getting closer to submitting for launch…

Got home from seeing our families after Christmas on Friday evening. Loads to do yesterday, getting on top of things. Feel like I’m properly back now and ready to make progress again. First up, new Gal4Xeon map idea…

tangled temple gates #digitalart #fantasy #rpg #d&d

Happy Saturday! Our Kickstarter is live but it's not getting seen in search, so any shares or plays of the video on the page would really help it get noticed 😁 #selfpromosaturday www.kickstarter.com/projects/boa...

And we’ve hit 100 followers! Huge thanks to all the early followers who give us momentum and make the project more appealing to others!

Absolutely lamped at Villagers, despite being the only player who had played before. Daughters (team) got 149, sister-in-law 122 and I got 85!

Last year I meditated just over 200 days and did something in Game Dev for almost 1/3 of the days of the year. I'm hoping to do more than that this year - gotta get some designs ready for pitching this summer, y'know? ✂️🎲

Playtesting successes in 2025! Last year we had a total of NINE games published that had been designed by our South London playtest group or playtested at Playfest London 🤯 Congratulations to everyone involved! Which games have you played/are looking forward to? #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️

Rounded out the evening with a couple of games with Daughter the First and the in-laws. Played River Valley Glassworks and a couple of games of Flip 7.

Got dragged into an accidental game of Cluedo, but at least we (Daughter the Youngest was on my team) won!

How it started, how it’s going moon telescope photos edition. First one is the night before last, second is last night. Both taken just holding my iPhone SE up to the telescope eyepiece!

‘Publish your campaign early!’ They tell you. ‘You’ll get more more backers.’ While that is probably true, they don’t tell you that means more months of compulsively checking follower/backer numbers :/

My final video for 2025 compiles the lessons I learnt about games design this year, from rethinking how I work, what I want to design, and the people who I couldn't have done without. Thank you everyone who has supported the channel this year, and have a wonderful 2026! youtu.be/62zLZONQc4Q 🎲✂️

Nice! 😉

Went for a brief walk after dinner with The Wife and got a great view of Jupiter. She reminded me her dad owns a telescope so when got back we saw Jupiter and its moons and then an AMAZING view of the moon. Really wish I knew how to take photos through a telescope. This doesn’t do it justice 😂

There’s been loads of gaming on the family holiday, but mostly trivia and party games that I’ve not fancied playing. My first game was Flip 7, which I won :)

I am not a graphic designer. What limited skills I have in that area are from years of trying to improve in my spare time. But I am really quite pleased with the Gal4Xeon logo (and name!)

This was very good. Can’t believe it took me 5 months to finish it! (I don’t normally read physical books)

2025 has been pretty good to me. I hope it had treated you well too. Here’s to a(n even) better 2026. - our second best FlickFleet campaign - great convention sales - crowdfunded a R&W - designed a 5th R&W - stopped working Mondays in the day job - took over running a local con!

The (very basic) preview page has been live for less than 48 hours and we’re already up to 42 followers! Auspicious!

Christmas 3 has begun. This one features 19 people aged 3-80 and a dog. No Christmas dinner this time.

My fifth print at home roll and write game now has an very basic crowdfunding preview page! Follow if you like conquering galaxies!

Like print at home games? Postmark’s are great!

I forgot to say earlier: no #CraftWednesday for the next couple of weeks due to Christmas and family holidays. Have a fab winter break/Christmas/summer all and see you in January.

#craftwednesday getting ready for launch on January 5th! 18 card worker placement games are pretty unusual, but I hope folks will check it out! @jacksonpope.bsky.social www.kickstarter.com/projects/ben...

Won Agricola on BGA :)

NOBODY ORDER ANY MORE FLICKFLEET! I've _finally_ caught up on the Christmas order rush bookkeeping.

Today's blog post: Fauxmas creationandplay.blogspot.com/2025/12/faux...

Finally won a game of River Valley Glassworks. But only just. Against an 8-year old.

Another whooping by Paul at River Valley Glassworks, but this time I closed the gap from 51 points(!) to a mere 20.

Paul and his wife just taught me (and crushed me at) River Valley Glassworks. Neat little game that I think Daughter the Second will enjoy.

And now the boiler’s broken.

It's #CraftWednesday! Do you have a game-related crafting project in progress? It could be a prototype, print and play, upgrading the components of a favourite game, making an accessory or even something larger like a table or games room. Share a picture and join in! Please RP!

Today's blog post: Excited: creationandplay.blogspot.com/2025/12/exci...

Finished my wonder, but didn’t win 7 Wonders Architects on BGA.

Won Carcassonne on BGA.

Things have calmed down enough at work that we managed to get a lunch break (and a game in!)

8am dental appointment was not a good choice the morning after our work Christmas party.