This issue was the best parts of Fables mixed with not having to think about the politics of the author of Fables

I have book news!! Where We Stand, Where We Fall is now available to preorder from Herne Books:

Such a great book! (And the depictions of Sophie at various ages are brilliant!)

Sainsbury's delivery today. "We’ve tried to pick the best substitute for the unavailable items below." Sainsbury's Ginger 100g substituted with Sainsbury's Smoked Garlic Paste So, the best substitute for fresh ginger isn't chopped ginger or ginger paste, but a totally unrelated vegetable paste.🤨

We've just launched the Kickstarter for my gamebook saga 'The Curse of Cthulhu Books 1 & 2'! Travel to a remote Scottish island, infiltrate a deadly cult and find the idol - or die trying! Art by @willirobertsart.bsky.social & @lyndondraws.bsky.social www.kickstarter.com/projects/sim...

Very much enjoying the celebrity Traitors series, but it's not quite hitting the highs of the non-celeb version, for me. Media reports suggest they're getting paid a £40,000 fee each and it doesn't matter who wins, because whoever wins, a charity (or charities) takes home the whole pot. (1/2)

Heading home on the 14.03 @lner.co.uk train from Kings Cross to York with my daughter after a con. Had a wheelchair space booked, but the space was double booked, so there are 2 wheelchairs in a carriage that only has space for one. Daughter having to contort to sit in her wheelchair for 2 hours.

This is fabulous writing, and a steal at that price!

It's definitely still convention season! So many UK and overseas friends currently in Brighton for World Fantasy. Meanwhile I'm heading to London tomorrow for Clockers Con, and then Thought Bubble in Harrogate in 2 weeks' time! It's a wonder we get any actual work done! 😃

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 5: A book doesn’t need a “serious message” to be worthwhile. Joy is a legitimate end in itself.

See, boss -- I *told* you I was working!

Heading to Clockers Con 2 in London on Saturday to either help murder some innocent villagers, or to rid the village of the evil therein. Maybe both.

Those wooden bases that goods are piled on to make it easy for forklifts to move them around can get very dirty over months and years of use, so I've developed a system to easily and effectively wash them so they can be reused or sold as nearly new. Just a bit of a pallet cleanser, really.

On the train to London for a variety of author and agent meetings and evening shenanigans with @mauricebroaddus.bsky.social.

You know when Terry Pratchett said 'It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works'? Yeah, he meant this.

Has there ever been a worse set of faithfuls than those on Celebrity Traitors?

A great creator, documenting the birth and growth of her baby-now-toddler. Delightful cartoons which will resonate with anyone who has, or who has brought up, a child. And a really low Kickstarter goal, so it's gonna happen!

Tissues. Nothing but the best for my nose.

Paper towels, kitchen knives, tea.

Dental floss

One of my (at the moment minor) concerns about getting older is not being able to do as much for my family, as I'm the primary carer, the one that does the vast majority of the running around. It's innovations like this that give me hope for my eventual retirement: www.theverge.com/report/62435...

What frequently-used items to do insist on buying the best of, despite there being significantly cheaper alternatives available? For me, it's kitchen rolls, toilet rolls, cordial and fruit juice.

I should have mentioned, which I forgot to do yesterday, that the illustrator is Jun Cen and the cover design is by Esther S. Kim. They did a fantastic job. Thanks too to @leeharris.net for his editorial insights as we developed this cover.

Last night I learned that National Lottery scratchcards have an expiry date, and if you don't claim a prize before that expiry date you lose the prize. I also learned that, although they have an expiry date it isn't listed anywhere on the card. Ah, well. At least it was only £10. Hmmm... 🤔

Tonight I fly out to Canada for 3 days where I'll be MCing a friend's wedding. I *could* have just packed a suit and probably got away with a carry-on case but apparently I've become the sort of person who takes 3 completely different outfits for a 3 day celebration. (I lost my Bro-card at birth.)

Have you followed my posts about Can You Solve the Murder? Live, but been unable to make an event? Now you can play along as I host it for a panel of friends on The Incomparable Game Show instead! Plus, we're giving away copies of the book 😀🔍 www.theincomparable.com/gameshow/266/

Phew Dolly is apparently fine! "Freida Parton says she has been ‘up all night praying’ but later clarifies comments, saying ‘I didn’t mean to scare anyone’." www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

It’s finally here! You can now buy the trade paperback of ARCHAIC, about a badass single mom who’s put in charge of a sentient island and its mythological Inhabitants. Come for the Mesopotamian goddess of the dead, stay for the 9-yr-old who saves the day w/birdwatching skills. bit.ly/Demonde

Today is the release day for Queen Demon! I’ll be here at Politics and Prose in Washington DC tonight!

Having ADHD memory (or just generic unbranded poor memory) is so expensive! I keep having to pay to replace things I know are here, somewhere. My favourite headphones cost me a little over £400, and I'd like to take them away with me in a few days. More likely is that I'll buy a cheap replacement.

I just watched the Poker Face episode about the psychopathic 8 yr-old. The most fun one of the season, so far! (1 of 3 or maybe 4; who knows?)

Tour dates and stops:

Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet. After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵

Book tour for Queen Demon (the sequel to Witch King, next book in the Rising World series) starts tomorrow! 1/11 artsatthearmory.org/events/bill-...

I like Jordan's cereal. What I don't like it seeing the claim on the box that it "contains 10 servings", when clearly it averages to around 3.5. In other news, I *may* need to cut down on the size of my breakfasts.

Gareth's short stories are always worth a read. Grab this collection!

So apparently at Universal Studios, you can get a 22 inch hot dog. It seems you can also get that with chili and cheese. Go forth, brave soldiers and make terrible life choices.

Eleven years since we lost this legend. This remains my favourite of his books, highly recommended.

A reminder for UK people that there will be an emergency alert broadcast to all mobile phones at 3pm today. If you have need to not have your phone ring for any reason turn your phone off or see if you can turn the alert itself off (see next post): (1/2)

Cold, leftover home-made apple crumble is the single finest thing a person can have for breakfast, and I will brook no argument. Leftover pizza is up there, sure, but it's at best a close second.

What if Superman can't do his one job?! So good! 😂

Apparently the UK government are doing an emergency alert test on the 7th of September so just in case anyone knows any current domestic abuse victims who would need to have their safety phones switched off so as not to be outed, please pass it in.

Pontefract, today. Lots of poorly-painted crosses. Because nothing says "I love my country" quite as much as vandalism. The racist fuckwads must be so relieved their flag is a simple red cross. Imagine if they had to use more than 1 colour! So confusing! Luckily for them "UK" is easy to spell, too.

Without downloading any new images, where are you mentally?

And on the subject of #realartatters: AI poisoning tool NIGHTSHADE is now free for artists to use: venturebeat.com/ai/nightshad...

You probably didn’t know this, but back in 2005 I played Random Dent in the adaptation of Douglas Adams’ “Mostly Harmless”. Directed by @dirk_maggs for BBC Radio 4 and entitled “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Hexagonal Phase”, it was the final part of Douglas’ seminal work.

Ok, so Peacemaker s2e1 is some kind of wonderful. Funny, smart, sad, violent and sad. Yes, two lots of sad is warranted.

Join Murderbot author Martha Wells on October 20th discussing QUEEN DEMON, the thrilling sequel to bestseller WITCH KING and a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/bookpeople... @marthawells.com @okosunreads.bsky.social

A new Doctor Who story is always to be celebrated. A new story by Tade is *always* worth your time. But combine the two? A must-read (squared).