In the unwonted position of having to blow out the candles before retiring for the night!

Maybe I've watched too many Final Destination films, but I've moved the car. It was on a sharp incline in front of the house and downhill of it were two enormous gas bottles against the wall. The winds are going to get up to 75mph and I thought... Hmmm.

Lasagna incoming. I cooked early in case there really is a power cut.

If you fancy some fun Hallowe'en reading, I have a story in this excellent issue of Nightmare Abbey, about carnivorous kelpies in an artificial surf resort: www.amazon.co.uk/Nightmare-Ab...

Looking at the CalMac service status it seems 28 of the 30 routes are completely cancelled and the other two are subject to cancellations and disruptions. There's no getting off Mull. Well, we have candles in case of a power cut, we have Merlot and we have books. Stay safe, everyone.

For those following the progress of Making Tax Digital (which will affect anyone earning over £20k in a couple of years): I just used their software finding tool and it came back with NO free options.

Another day, another dodgy email. Had two now from an author I'd never heard of, absolutely gushing about my work and wanting to connect. Googled her, and she's a Pulitzer prize winner. So the email is not really from her, but I'm wondering what the next step would be!

They've cancelled the ferries so it looks like we are stuck on Mull for now! Worse places to be stuck, I guess - as long as we can book the accommodation for the extra day(s). It's weird because currently it's dry and incredibly calm outdoors. Hard to imagine there are up to 73 mph winds incoming.

Daughter is watching Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula (which I have seen before, yonks ago) and cor blimey there is a lot of heavy breathing in it.

I should probably mention, in avoidance of confusion: I'm also @paxasteriae.bsky.social, but this is my art/writing/general chaos account where you get to deal with me being an AuDHD mess who makes stupid comments all the time, and the other account is my writing-focused one.

I feel somewhat disappointed in Paddington Bear as a psychopomp. He seems to call for all the good people.

It is still raining. CalMac texted to say the ferry back to Oban may (or may not, introducing the element of suspense) be cancelled. If so, we either have to find accommodation at short notice or try the Fishnish route which then requires another ferry at Croggan or a tour of most of the Highlands.

Another amazing looking publication from the fine folk at Hellebore, a must buy!

Abandoned boats at Salen, Isle of Mull

Tobermory, Mull

Enjoyed this window display in Tobermory since I'm reading Moby Dick!

Went into Tackle & Books in Tobermory on Mull today and they had a copy of TOO NEAR THE DEAD! Lovely to see. So I signed it for them. ❤️

I am truly thrilled about this new and gorgeous hardbacked volume from @helleborezine.bsky.social - now up for pre-order! Includes my new story "The Seeds of Time" and 8 others including one by Ramsey Campbell! helleborezine.com/products/tales

Rain rain rain rain rain

If you're not familiar with horror mag NIGHTMARE ABBEY, here is issue 1, which came out in 2022. (Still available, folks!) It featured my story "Snow", which begins with someone falling to his death through a snow cornice, and gets worse... www.amazon.co.uk/Nightmare-Ab...

Daughter and I are on the Isle of Mull (OH is at home cat sitting). We arrived about 90 minutes before we could get into the accommodation, so we spent the intervening time visiting a Bronze Age stone circle.

Sometimes I wonder why I keep on writing stories considering the state of the world. I think it's because in stories you can make right come out on top in the end, and the baddies get what they richly deserve.

M R James stories on tour this autumn. Schedule here: www.nunkie.co.uk/schedule

My splendid translator in France, Mikael Cabon, asked me to support an urgent campaign, launching today, opposing AI being used instead of people. I do so willingly, and feel same on behalf of audiobook readers and bookworld artists. I hope readers worldwide will show their agreement.

I don't even drink the stuff, but these strike me as crimes against coffee

NB My Dad is not on Bluesky, but if he were, he could post this as "Age yourself with a film you saw in the cinema when you were a kid" (well, young anyway).

Age yourself with a film you saw in the cinema as a kid.

Daughter and I are going away for a few days (OH is staying behind to mind our elderly cat). Rain is forecast the entire time. Therefore, my avowed plan is to eat well, read many more chapters of MOBY DICK and have an occasional glass of Merlot.

I recently interviewed James Rockhill about his new book, A Mind Turned in Upon Itself, published by Swan River Press. Comprising a biography and a number of essays, it's a celebration of the life and work of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. You can read the interview here: swanriverpress.ie/2025/09/drea...

Went to Aldi. They have, as predicted, sold out of the gorgeous German curry ketchup. Good thing I bought an extra one last time!

September 29th: daughter's car is frosted up for the first time. Winter is coming...

I'm compiling a list of horror novels about Old Films. So far: Silver Nitrate- Silvia Moreno-Garcia Jump Cut- Helen Grant Horror Movie-Paul Tremblay Ancient Images- Ramsey Campbell Experimental Film-Gemma Files The last days of Leda Gray- Essie Fox The house that horror built- Christina Henry

We went to an event this afternoon where there was a kids' bouncy castle with music. At some point they played Robin Williams singing "You ain't never had a friend like me" from Aladdin and now I have a super persistent earworm of it.

Coming soon! NIGHTMARE ABBEY 9, with my brand new story, "Scarlet Woman". "When Raymond Dalgleish was killed in action in January 1945, his wife’s main reaction was that of relief, although she would not have admitted this to anyone..."

You need this for Halloween.

Currently on chapter 45 of MOBY DICK. Alas, I decided to read chapter 44 over lunch, and when I cut into a fried tomato it spouted tomato juice as vigorously as any whale blowing, and now page 216 is partially orange.

Here I am!! Xmas book is NOT on sale until the 14th, however, if you come to the BL until 1pm, I am allowed to sign them.

Fancy listening to some ghost stories for Hallowe'en? (Or just anyway, because, yunno, ghost stories.) Here's a mini audio anthology from me, Sean Hogan, Lynda E. Rucker and David Longhorn: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhmL...

"An absorbing read" - Supernatural Tales reviews Jim Rockhill's A MIND TURNED IN ON ITSELF, about the fabulous J. Sheridan Le Fanu, a ghost story writer much admired by M.R.James: suptales.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-mi...

In 2025 finding a reviewer who just nearly reads just exclusively male authors is really a sign more work is needed - guys open up your shelves to the bigger pile of great books out there

Abominable night. Went to bed at 11, woke up shortly before 2 and never got back to sleep again. Stumbled into the bathroom at 6am and managed to drop my toothbrush down the loo.

My sis saw this (in Sardinia) and thought of me. ❤️

First Christmas promotional email just arrived.

Daughter is watching some film about a huge anaconda eating people

WIP finished! Still got a load of editing to do but here's a teeny tiny bottle of bubbly to celebrate.

Read it with a friend!

J.Sheridan Le Fanu starter kit! Get the book here: swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/a-...

Reading over the denouement of something I've been writing. I think I might add a bit more biting.

It's available to order as well should anyone with to read it! We include free shipping internationally. swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/a-...

😱