A new weird fiction/non-fiction magazine is getting published soon - am really proud to be a part of it, it's using my art for the front cover, publishing a new 6,000 word biography on a controversial teller of stories, and some 'new' discovered fiction from 1889.

Seeing as I don't appear to be able to move after lunch, it's time to start reading a new book.

The new issue of Nightmare Abbey is out, including my longish story "Pardon Our Dust: A Stay at the Canadian Arms Hotel." This issue also includes work by Steve Duffy, Stephen Volk, Michael Kelly, Helen Grant, Reggie Oliver, many others. AMAZON US www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXFVGCRC

Just a reminder that this darling thing is still available from @swanriverpress.bsky.social ! Reviewer John Kenny said “One of the strongest single author collections of uncanny and supernatural tales I’ve read in a long time.” Link to buy to follow.

Mario Guslandi reviews BEYOND AND WITHIN: WITCHCRAFT, edited by @marieoregan.bsky.social and @paulkane.bsky.social www.horrorreview.com/book-review-....

The day has begun badly for the dog, who rolled in something truly unspeakable and had to be bathed.

Laughing because OH was away camping at the weekend and posted a video of "an osprey fishing" on the family group chat and now he and our son are having a slightly acerbic debate about whether it was actually fishing or not.

Twa Corbies www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU3A...

Me: OMG what is this weird ass plant Daughter: ah, Cardiocrinum giganteum ❤️ Honestly, I think she's on the side of the Triffids

I have discovered scheduling emails! I realised belatedly that not everyone works all weekend...

It's that time of year when all the local news is about ospreys www.thenational.scot/news/2603324...

My contributor copies of NIGHTMARE ABBEY arrived!

Ah chronoclasm... Daughter is watching Dr. Who: Earth Shock Me: Ah, it's Peter Davison. Hashtag NotMyDoctor Daughter: Oh, was that a thing? Me: Um, no. There were no hashtags back then.

Wonderful review of this gorgeous antho by @runalongwomble.bsky.social ! And kind enough to call my story REMEMBRANCE "a powerful troubling tale." ❤️

I'm particularly proud of the story I have in this issue! If you like horror and men with long hair and kilts, this could be for you. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GXFVGCR...

Daughter and I watched SHARK SIDE OF THE MOON on Tubi. Her: this is better than I thought it would be Me: well, to be fair we do have low... Her: standards Me: I was going to say, expectations, but yes, that too

The British Library announced it had acquired the St Cuthbert Gospel for the nation #OTD in 2012, following a successful fundraising appeal. An 8thC manuscript copy of the Gospel of St John, it is the earliest surviving intact European book. 📸British Library

NIGHTMARE ABBEY 10 has landed!! Features a new Scottish horror story by yours truly. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GXFVGCR...

@kickstarter.com now live! Annotated Facsimile #MRJames manuscript bit.ly/OhWhistle Contributors include: @accordingtojond.bsky.social @helengrantsays.bsky.social @manoghosts.bsky.social @theprofrog.bsky.social @nunkie.bsky.social @profdarryljones.bsky.social @jfmachin.bsky.social

LAUNCHES THIS AFTERNOON!!

Wondering in a random sort of way whether school kids still sing this just before the end of term: One more day of school One more day of sorrow One more day in this old dump We'll be free tomorrow!

Daughter's Hungarian colleague has sent her a voice message demonstrating how to pronounce Magyar correctly ❤️

To be taken by luxury yacht to the island where the story takes place, and then cosplay in outdoor gear. I might get a zoo keeper to bring along a tame skua, if there is such a thing.

Still on the backer train for Omniboz - really hoping it makes it as this has one of my weirdest and most grotesque stories ever. www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...

Jane Ormes, contemporary UK printmaker based in Bristol #WomensArt

Big thanks Paul! And if you fancy more Gothic, Mr.Finch has an excellent book called THE LODGE out now!

A Gothic atmosphere and the lush landscapes of south Scotland combine to create the perfect backdrop for this fearsome ghost story. Don’t be fooled by @helengrantsays.bsky.social’s delicate style; deep darkness lurks under this subtle surface. My review: paulfinch-writer.blogspot.com/2021/10/mist...

Amazing book event tomorrow in Edinburgh!!! If you're close by, don't miss this! www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/lisa-...

Goes live tomorrow!! All you M.R.James fans, check this out!

I'm now nearly 40% through WAR AND PEACE and I muse frequently about the fact that it is supposedly one of Putin's fave books.

On a bus. It smells like dog. Since there are no dogs on it, either a dog was on it recently, or someone here smells of dog or in fact our dog smells of bus.

Scotland gets a welcome: the front desk lady let my son into an Italian museum free on Saturday because he was wearing a kilt. (He'd been at a wedding.)

Were Were those the only two options

I've just been going through some very old (1930s-60s) photos in order to make a photo book for my old Dad, and I found this most excellent pic of Smokey the cat, in the arms of my grandpa, who is insouciantly smoking a ciggie.

In other news, I have started writing a new book & I am trying a new tactic this time. I wrote a VERY detailed synopsis - eight pages of A4 - before I started writing, ie. I did all the thinking & ironed out all the plot tangles. Now writing to the synopsis and it's going very fast. (NB and no AI!)

Yay Hungary! www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

In Branklyn Garden tea room ❤️

Went to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) for the third time and was finally able to wade across to Saint Cuthbert's island. Truly a place where you can hear the still small voice. Put in a word for peace.

Just saw a strapping great herring gull eating the remains of a McDonald's and I felt so moved by the ability of nature's children to adapt to their environment. Good on you, mate. Bon appetit.

*waves at @davelonghorn.bsky.social *

Whitby, with small dog

Just saw a job advertised: gravedigger. It says "This is an exciting opportunity in which you can make a genuine contribution to the delivery of the Cemeteries Service." Um... that sounds a bit Burke and Hare frankly.

OH and I went to an abandoned mediaeval village this morning.

But shall this crazed old man be tamely suffered to drag a whole ship’s company down to doom with him?

Erm, they're called palaeontologists, actually.

Why is Aylesbury the county town?

Grim. www.theguardian.com/education/ng...

I feel like I'm suffering from Schrödinger's Trump right now. One minute I think he's crazy enough to actually drop a nuke, and the next I think there's no way anyone would do that, not even him.

Another day, another AI composed email from someone wanting me to spend £££ to get them to feature a book that was published over 10 years ago in their book club.