Larry says goodnight.

Dracula. Afrer Gene Colan.

Always good to see my babies in the wild. This one in Southend-on-Sea

'Crosses don't work' is propaganda spread by Big Vampire.

Using up excess ink and watercolour

Trying to focus on the drapery

Back to basic life drawing

Diary of a Middle Aged Karateka: Grappling sparring. Unexpectedly and without practicing it ever, I managed to get my sensei in a vertical arm bar. But having got there, I had no idea what to do, even though it was a favourable position for me. "Pull back, thrust your hip," said he. So I did.

Good morning.

The outside motion sensors seem to be glitching. Do I think of my neighbour's cat? Or an electrical fault? No. It must be poltergeists, vampires, or ninja.

My favourite part of LADY VENGEANCE (2005) is granny prisoner who always claimed to be a North Korean spy. Turned out she was. And had stolen blueprints for a gun. And, when built, the gun worked. Yes, I am watching it tonight.

"Shaolin shadowboxing, And the Wu Tang Sword style. If what you say is true, The Shaolin and the Wu Tang could be dangerous. Do you think your Wu Tang sword Can defeat me?"

"No, no, no, You don't love me, And I know now. No, no, no, You don't love me, And I know now. 'Cos you left me, baby, And I've got no place to go now...."

The thing about Camus' The Stranger is I can't help reading Meursault as neurodivergent rather than sociopathic as some have found him. When he reluctantly justifies the murder, he tries to explain that he was overwhelmed by the Sun. The sensory overload was described in minute detail. Microessay?

Everybody, here are your orders: we need to make @hutchinsondave.bsky.social ’s new novel an international bestseller, just so he HAS to come to Dallas on the publicity tour. He’s read my tales on Texas wildlife for years, and I want him to meet the critters firsthand. locusmag.com/review/the-e...

Welcome @tadethompson.bsky.social and the superb Antara, an historical fiction novel, on the pre-Islamic warrior poet of renown 😍 Big thanks to Alexander Cochran at @greyhoundliterary.bsky.social! Antara will be out in 2027. Cover by @alisonsampson.bsky.social. @publishingscotland.bsky.social

Here we go. It's Friday, and this dropped.

Jab, jab, cross.

Oh, wow...tellin' on ya selves, eh?

What if, instead of rising up to the challenge of our rivals, we just sit down and have some hot cocoa together?

It's still not Friday. Maybe I should do Folklore Thursday...

Meeting doodles.

Son: "I'm daddy, and I'm driving all the way to the shop to buy chocolate peanuts and raisins that nobody wants." Me: People love those. Son: Nobody here loves them. You don't even eat the raisins. Second Son: You like the idea of raisins. Son: But not raisins. Me: You're both grounded.

Oh, shit, it's not Friday!

"Is there any technology the Left is excited about?" Vaccines.

Edo period woman

It makes you hold back, it makes you write from a place of paranoia. And yes, the terror of bad reviews is real — but at the end of the day, you’ll never be able to cover all the bases. Someone will always find *something* to be upset about.

If you want to write anything good, you cannot afford to be afraid of your reader.

Sometimes it feels like I'm the only Scott Summers fan out here...

Vaccinate your kids. Jesus! I shouldn't have to say this in 2026. Anyone wanna debate the science, pull up a fucking chair.

Let's try this again, but in the King's English. I have an announcement to make on Friday. Stay tuned.

I am here for Universal Basic Karate. 100%.

What century is this even...

"Now I have to write the sodding thing." --->words I've had to say twice this week, and it's only Tuesday.

"[G]ods present the pair with the 'balled spear of heaven', from which two testicular jewels dangle. Izanagi and Izanami thrust the spear into the watery formlessness of the uncreated world, before pulling it up. Salt congeals on its tip and drips down" Okay, that's enough mythology for one day.

Oh, sweet Jesus, some junk mail people just tried to blackmail me with "salacious photos" taken while I was on my last night out. Hacked cloud and all that. They threatened to publish them online. Fools. They have no idea what level of introvert they're dealing with...

Want to start reading Superhero comics, but are intimidated by the massive lore/hundreds of back issues? I got ya. Here are a few hints: 1. People will kill me for saying this, but the lore doesn't matter (except to folks like me). Or, it matters less than you might think. Don't let it stop you.

All the discourse about Manga dominance of US/UK comic shelves seems to miss out survivorship bias. The Manga we get isn't randomly selected. The success isn't in the Manga formula (altho' much better digital presentation). It's cos we get the best of western friendly and don't see the worst.

When the song you nodded your head to at 16 comes up on the 'classic oldies' radio...

"Disconcerting but thrilling thoughts and visions"

Sigh. Caused by a lack of critical thinking.

Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.

"The day after Valentine's Day demonstrates the health of various relationships by what hangs from a fence. The village lovers hang the ribbons used to bind their gifts and flowers if all is well. If not, they hang the other thing..."