If you say “It’s too hot” five times in a mirror Michael Fish will appear and blow cool air into your face.

Last night's movie was Primate, which was chimp-tastic face tearing fun. Especially liked the brief cameo from comedian Robert Delaney and the even briefer cameo by fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie.

This is going to be a great chat, very excited about it already!

Really enjoyed Moon's Artifice so this is an easy buy in...

Three consecutives nights of nightmares centred around the previous office job. Turns out bad work places leave deep scars. Who knew?

Look, all I'm saying is that you don't let the drummer have a go. Foo Fighters is what happens when you let the drummer have a go.

The day has finally arrived. You can now *officially* watch puffins live from the Farne Islands, 24 hours a day: bit.ly/4tRz72T Please enjoy these puffins kissing in celebration of this momentous event.

Highly recommend. Splendid authors. I have worked with Bex many times before and she is terrifically talented.

The BFS is excited to announce our first in-person York event. Monday 8th June, 6pm. The Portal Bookshop, 5 Patrick Pool, York. An Evening with AK Faulkner & Bex Benjamin Ticket: tinyurl.com/BFSYork @bexbenjamin.bsky.social @katiebruce.bsky.social @ravenswordpress.com

I've just thought of this brilliant new idea for the creative industries. It could be ground-breaking. What if, instead of doing an AI, don't do an AI? Minds blown, I know.

Song of the summer just dropped. www.facebook.com/share/r/1E7b...

Gah! Yet another 'I used Chat GPT to bounce ideas off, but the novel is all my own work.' No. No it isn't. AI can get in the fucking sea.

I'm sure that M&S Food didn't intentionally design their pretzel thins to look like cats' arseholes, but now I can't unsee it.

How did I acquire several photos of the knees of a celebrity client (not this one) in the process of making author corrections? Check out Chapter 6, "Someone wants to Hire Me!", GHOSTWRITING NOVELS: A GUIDE FOR GHOSTWRITERS AND THE GHOSTWRITTEN. #ghostwriting #WritingTip www.ghostwritingnovels.com

Learning about the publishing industry is *hard*. So is figuring out how to give & get feedback, understanding the types of editing, and finding publishers for stories & novels. Cymera's 2+ day Masterclass in Edinburgh covers all of this. Only 6 tickets left! www.cymerafestival.co.uk/programme-26...

Irrational annoyance - when people pronounce 'moustache' as moostosh and not musstash.

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 3891: Write what you care about. Don’t be afraid of revealing your feelings; your damage; your opinions. These things are what makes your writing yours.

Excellent new episode of the Scarred for Life podcast with the brilliant Catriona Ward. Ward is one of the few writers whose work I buy in hardback on release. Huge fan.

Last night's movie was The Severed Sun, which I'm afraid I was a touch underwhelmed by. Good creature design and cast but it felt like it needed more depth.

I keep seeing reviewers post about completed fantasy series & it's usually the same group obviously - so I'm just throwing this out there. Still going, 20 years later, but probably not really known by the new generation of readers!

Weird name for a super villain.

In a very real sense, aren't we all AI Jesus... yeah?

Thank god for social media. Where else could I see the news repeated from the news site I've already looked at?

This will likely mean very little to anyone, but yesterday I took my place in the Sean Bean Lounge.

This week has been incredibly difficult, but I have just spent the afternoon reading the brilliant Mariana Enriquez.

Great cover. Great book.

So one of my oldest friends treated me with contempt and dismissal last night and it was heartbreaking. Nothing I can do. Had to take the day off today to process, but it’s fucking horrible.

I have had better days.

One of the worst things about getting older is definitely the shrinking circle of close friends.

Come, seek my wisdom. I'm doing an AMA on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/fantasywri...

My position on AI in the creative industries, is that it can get in the fucking sea. Right in it.

It's hard to believe, but 2025 means Romanitas has been in print for 20 years. A modern world where the Roman Empire never fell. If that sounds good to you, the ebook's just £0.99 for the anniversary all this month! www.amazon.co.uk/Romanitas-1-...

Just had an author use the phrase 'the rim of fear.' And now I know what the title of my horror novel is going to be.

Ben Wheatley started following me on Insta? I bet he thinks I'm John Oliver, doesn't he? He's going to be disappointed by the lack of cutting political satire and the overabundance of cats and books.

Cartoon by Jesse Duquette

A cartoon reminder that tomorrow is World Book Day (In the UK anyway). Originally for the @theguardian.com

It has been an extraordinarily difficult week, but I am grateful to the gifts of family, friends, and good books.

I haven’t felt this shit in quite some time. It will pass, but it’s rubbish while it lasts.

So, depression is a bit rubbish isn't it?

My cousin Sam passed this morning. He was a good friend and a good man. I saw him on Sunday in the hospice. His brother sat beside his bed playing guitar for him as sunlight streamed through the window. It was heart-breaking and beautiful.

Watching Leonard and Hungry Paul and Small Prophets, and being reminded of the miraculous nature of kindness. God, but these are gorgeous shows.

Visited my terminally ill cousin in the hospice this afternoon. His brother was sat by his bedside playing guitar while sunlight poured in to the room. Sam is surrounded by so much love. It's heart-wrenching but also peaceful.

Last call for 25% off, offer ends today 👇📚

'By using words well, writers strengthen their souls... And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.’ — Ursula K. Le Guin youtube.com/shorts/ePEpI...

How I know oldest daughter is definitely mine - we were in a restaurant and Maia kept sniggering every time the waiter announced an order for table 69. So proud.

“Are we going to charge him, Sarge?” “Not right away, constable. Stick him in a cell and let him sweat for a while.” “Er…”

Love parents with non-neuro diverse kids who just assume we are terrible parents. So so helpfull.

You know what they say - never look a gift donkey in the eye. Never marry your cousin to a hog. Never glance askance at a chicken. Don't confuse a duck. You know, the classics.

As you're considering your award nominations for this year, do remember that my eyebrows are just as luxurious as Adrian Tchaikovsky's. They do still have a Best Eyebrows category for the Hugos, yes?