It’s the true meaning of Christmas.

Had a Christmas Eve appointment with the cancer doc. Oncology and Ivy.

This Amazon review of SCUTTLER’S COVE strangely warms my heart.

Right, stopping promoting my books for the Christmas period. If you see me here trying to encourage you to buy Withered Hill and Scuttler’s Cove, or to pre-order Scratch Moss, with a link in the comments, please call me out and I’ll apologise profusely.

Called in to TK Maxx and pleased to report it was occupied mainly by men with mild panic in their eyes, staring hopelessly at the scent diffusers, socks and make-up brushes.

Exactly 50 years ago this Spider-Man annual would have been waiting for me under the Christmas tree. Just found it in the loft.

Netgalley arcs of SCRATCH MOSS were being approved yesterday… will you find a lump of folk horror cursed coal in your stocking this Christmas? Reviewers and bloggers, request yours now. www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

Happy Receiving Emails From All The Online Shops Saying The Shit You Bought Three Weeks Ago Is Now Half Price Day.

EastEnders has gone full The Shining.

I need to connect with more comic book editors on here. Anybody done a starter pack or something?

My full page comic for the @prospectmagazine.co.uk Christmas issue. With sincere apologies.

After finding an old crown on the beach, Vin Diesel must utilise his expert driving skills to outrun an ancient curse in... A WARNING TO THE FAST AND THE CURIOUS.

I keep deciding I should get some proper comic longboxes, bags and boards, then I look at how much it would cost and think, "I could just buy more comics with that."

That time when John Constantine saved Christmas.

🎄🎁📢11th Hour Panic for the Perfect Present? We got your back! MAKE MINE DIGITAL! Arrives like⚡️for less than a tank of gas. Brought to you by two long-suffering comic book industry creatives who eat/breathe/sweat/style comix 24/7. Go here to spread cheer—> www.offregister.press/store?page=2

My first cover (and first work for) for 2000AD :)

Coal country, folklore, and something terrible beneath Scratch Moss. Stephanie Ellis ( @stephellis.bsky.social ) reviews David Barnett's ( @davidmbarnett.bsky.social ) new folk horror for Horror Tree: horrortree.com/epeolatry-bo... #BookReview

If you think you might have a tenner available at the beginning of March for a paperback (or under a fiver for an ebook) what you could do is pre-order SCRATCH MOSS today -- you won't be charged until it's shipped and if there are loads of pre-orders it'll make me look dead good. amzn.eu/d/d44qIuw

Folk horror klaxon! SCRATCH MOSS is now available for review request on Netgalley, just in time for Christmas! www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

Looking for a Christmas present for the Holmes or comic fan in your life: If people missed our @ForbiddenPlanet signing they can grab copies of Holmes volume 2 from their website or in store in Camden forbiddenplanet.com/474121-sherl...

Folk horror klaxon! SCRATCH MOSS is now available for review request on Netgalley, just in time for Christmas! www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

These are a series of rather oblique posts summoning the spirit of Yuletide, and leading the unwary to The Devil’s Sound, a six part immersive audio series set in @davidmbarnett.bsky.social’s Withered Hill universe. Head to www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom... and give it a follow.

Please, in the name of God, not Paddington pulling up in a car on a snowy, moonlit road to let Chris Rea into the passenger seat, I'm begging you.

In 2026 I want to rediscover the simple, unalloyed joy of finding a stack of 70s and 80s Marvel and DC comics in a charity shop or car boot sale.

Thinking about anyone who is struggling at this time of year, including those who are grieving, remembering time past. These days, stretched out like they are, can feel particularly jarring (I remember it well) which chimes with this piece I wrote for Xmas 2021. Posting now for anyone who needs it:

You can pick up a full weekend pass or individual day tickets to the next running of the UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL ONLINE, and we'll be recording throughout if there's anything you're unlucky enough to miss! www.ticketsource.co.uk/ukghoststory... #ghosts #ghoststory #fiction #writing #writers #authors

The Green Grandmother of Hookland for Solstice.

It’s OK to go gentle into the longest night, for a change.

In today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social I’m writing about Christmas ghost stories, and the @britishlibrary.bsky.social’s Tales of the Weird. observer.co.uk/culture/book...

You know, A Muppets It’s A Wonderful Life would be immense.

Celebrate the #solstice by snuggling up with The Holly King. A tale of an angry demigod, killer fairies and a woodwose. It’s on offer in ebook in the UK over the festive season! 🎅🎄📚

It’s the Solstice in Withered Hill.

I wrote this piece on modern druidry for the last Solstice, but worth a winter airing. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

There feels something significant about the guy who’s built his career online getting brayed by the guy who’s built his career through effort, sweat and achievement in real life.

I think for 2026 I would like to see the return of the KLF in some form.

For the @theobserveruk.bsky.social I’ve written about Christmas ghost stories, the British Library’s Tales of the Weird series, and how literary detectives such as @johnnymains.co.uk are digging up lost tales. observer.co.uk/culture/book...

Spare a thought for the people who actually wrote the books, though.

To everyone on Bluesky finding out about Walliams and despairing at the fact that "I read those books to my kids" I just want to reassure them that it's OK. He didn't write them.

I guess they released the Stinkstein Files.

a little update from @davidmbarnett.bsky.social, @georgewalkley.com and I as we reach for the weekend. Tomorrow, we start 12 Days of Yule… www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom...

For the @theobserveruk.bsky.social I’ve written about Christmas ghost stories, the British Library’s Tales of the Weird series, and how literary detectives such as @johnnymains.co.uk are digging up lost tales. observer.co.uk/culture/book...

To be fair, they could have dropped him before a load of parents spent a mint on his books for Christmas presents.

In 2026, be more Lorna Doone. Overflow with splendour and violence.

A gentle reminder if you've received an invoice from a Freelancer/Self employed person which is due before Christmas. Be a love, and pay it today.

Shear-lock Holmes

Please check out the Kickstarter pre-launch page for THE DEVIL'S SOUND, the new immersive audio horrorexperience in the world of WITHERED HILL. Nobody wants your money (until next year!) but if you could sign up for updates, that would be absolutely fabulous. www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom...

Massive news!!!! The Devil’s Sound - a six part immersive audio series, set in @davidmbarnett.bsky.social’s Withered Hill universe, is coming to Kickstarter January 9th. Sign up for updates: www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom... Follow the Devil’s Sound Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedevilssou...

All we’re asking for now is that you sign up for updates at those sites. We’re going to leave you some gifts there over the holidays, and invite you into the world we’re creating. This is brought to you by @tomabba.studio, @davidmbarnett.bsky.social, @georgewalkley.com Tom, David and George

Really excited to be helping @tomabba.studio and @davidmbarnett.bsky.social get this story out into the world. It's going to be a fabulously creepy bit of folk horror. Like Tom said, please sign up for updates on Kickstarter so you get notified and help our follower count. And please repost/share!

Big news from the world of Withered Hill