...Also went down to the park this afternoon for some footage for this one... I'd made another one for it, but it wasn't what I wanted so chucked it.

Part of my song "Goosebumps", which I did on Friday. I feel that it's been a step forward.

I was just writing about origin legends today open access Medieval Origin Myths in Eurasian Comparison incl. 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in the Eurasian Steppe: The Beast Motif in Origin Stories of Eurasian Steppe Peoples, 4th-9th Centuries' www.medievalworlds.net/5407-5inhalt

Brandy let me sleep in a bit, or I was out for the count, and now having late breakfast while listening to Landless. Their harmonies are awesome, but I do like the minimalistic, haunting instrumentation on their album "L​ú​ireach" www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LWG...

Flashback of a quarter century back... "De Inrichting" was a monthly goth/industrial party held on the top floor of a squat building... These pics are from the demo held when the building was sold off to be turned into high-end apartments. That's me, in sunglasses, popping up on the right.

Some impressions of the day... Tempted to buy the bass + giant stack, but decided I don't need it. Not keen on the bands parade this evening, but the giant dog was a nice bonus!

For instance, if you buy next year's novella, you buy this week's slough of despond, and the slow slogging out of it.

Come to the circus with Mollie McBride and see the elephants dance on "The Loveliest Night of the Year". The Circus, the Garden (and Mario Lanza), Aqueduct Press.

Two songs done at my fave open mic (great people, good sound, nice space - a former swimming pool with awesome acoustics). One by myself (host: "Rem, was that a love song!?!") and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors". Both went down really well, and the whole evening was fun!

Hey all! I am officially hanging out my shingle for book layout and design work outside of my immediate if-you-know-you-know circle. I can't start work outside my current client portfolio until sometime in mid-August so I am canvassing for work that would start in MID-AUGUST OR LATER for now. ¹/

the medieval the Pacific Netherlands 🤝 Northwest

It's that time of year! All my ebooks are 50% off at @Smashwords as part of their Summer/Winter Sale - including my newest title "Lena and Miss Cawkell" for $2.49 USD. Find me on Smashwords here: www.smashwords.com/profile/view... #SWSale2026 #Smashwords

I remember learning in primary school history lessons "The Netherlands got rich from the trade in herbs and spices." www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju...

The main event of the summer arrives in two weeks: SUPLEX & SORCERY, the one-of-a-kind pro wrestling fantasy novella! Learn more and preorder your mass-market paperback copy here (digital available on release date): newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product/supl...

Stop the slop!

Oh Brandy!

Gaaah, I hate this design trend. If it isn't outright AI, then it's at least lazy-ass templates. Artists, and those supporting artists, should do better.

Old Man Donald had a farm...

One of the grander places I've played in - the 2 Royal Ave building, formerly a bank, now a community hub. I'd love to try those acoustics out some more! Fun afternoon with los boyos Dave, Dee and Billy.

I just checked the pre-sales for my second D-Notice book. Blooming heck, you guys are so wonderful. Thank you. I'm so grateful. I can't believe it. Thank you. 🙏 It's 0.99 pre-sale and will be 2.99 after launch 👉 buff.ly/CmFLUjw #preorder #newrelease #newbook #fantasybook #sff 💙 📚 🪐 📚 🪄 📚 🖊️

My pals of the band Julie Julie pulled out all the stops yesterday in the Sunflower Bar...

The postbox top crochet person can be proud of themselves! (Holywood Road, Belfast)

And my favourite... youtu.be/GZnH5DcXAOE?...

The Scooby Gang last week, at a music thing.

Huge congrats to Byddi! (People - I know that "Barren" would be an excellent read for a fair few of you, so do heck it out - www.goodreads.com/book/show/22... )

Great article from @cynthiaward.bsky.social on the state of S&S. I thought we were past all that now, but I've not been paying much attention to the bottom half of the Internet, and wouldn't be surprised if there's a MAGA/Reform backlash against 'woke' S&S...

Don't threaten me with a good time!

A new Silver Screams essay - finally! This time, I'm nattering on about 1943's Return of the Vampire...

Pretty brutal and hot 12.5k up to Black Mountain (next time I'll try to go a way up it). Thankfully it'd cooled down a fair bit tonight for the skating meet-up...

ANAKA - Belfast charity empowering and educating refugee women through culturally-tailored programs that contribute to their economic security and overall wellbeing.

I had this horrible thought that Dilbert is Bart Simpson grown up...

look at this beauty

In spite of the unreality of, for example, the same politician being killed 28 times in a row, I did stop to note the protagonist’s tiny peñor at least once in this story. Which shows I did the research (took E)

Wow! This is momentous. (The DUP is one of the 2 big power-sharing parties in Northern Ireland. It would be like if the party leader of the USA Republican - or Democrat - party was convicted of sex crimes and locked up.) www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw...

One to bookmark and reuse.

What t-shirt are you wearing today? This Lovecraft shirt. How do you do, fellow kids?...

Pretty amazing that I saw the Scottish coast in the distance from the Whitehead promenade, and then the Mourne mountains looming in the distance from the train... Fun afternoon out, to Whitehead, where I played a couple of songs at the Marine Bar's solstice festival.

"Was he a foreigner? I bet he was a foreigner! They are like that. Now come on, tell me. Where was he from? WHERE WAS HE FROM???" I hate it that apparently we are now like this. (The man was white British).

In an Arthurian mood

Post a song you like. This one has had me blubbery in the past. Great song to uncork and release pent-up crud with. www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1BQ...

Happy Midsummer! A 15k run (with some breaks) up to Giant's Ring.

Earlier this week, when I couldn't find Brandy in the garden, and was frantically walking up and down and pssspsss-ing... #Caturday

I have been following Vault through their different iterations, from the bank building close-by to further afield. Hopefully they'll get permanent space soon, so they can stop schlepping their stuff all over town!...

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Cut my jog short at 5k... Lousy weather, and fairly short of breath, as we're back at this blue-fingered nonsense.

It’s release day for THE SCOTTISH STRAWBERRY FARM! Such a blessing to put another love story into the world. I hope you enjoy Struan & Rae’s story! 🍓🩵🍓 harpercollins.co.uk/products/the...

I’m Alex and this is my (re)-introduction post. I’m a fantasy author currently writing my next book which focuses on working class voices, poverty and sacrifice. With that topic in mind, I set up the event LOVE AND SACRIFICE at @forbiddenplanet. It’s next Thursday (25th). #booksky #fantasybooks

Squeezed this wee poem in at the end of the open mic I was at tonight, and had some people coming up to me that this spoke for them! ✅