Back with a calender appropriate newsletter! open.substack.com/pub/matthewj...

Tis I!

If you're curious about what Heroic Signatures and Titan have been doing with Conan and friends over the past few years, have a read. In short, it's been good stuff. My little story even got a highlight howard-verse.com/current-cona...

Thrilled and honoured (and a bit stunned) to see Year's Best Canadian F&SF Vol 3 on the 2025 Locus Recommended Reading List. A first for the series...and me! :) So many incredible works and writers included there--congrats to all! 1/

Modern Sword & Sorcery “with a dark streak a mile wide.” - @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social

I still can't believe I got to take my shot at writing a Conan story. The fact that it's been so well-received is pretty damn great, too. When you share a ToC with Jason Aaron and other heavy-hitters, it's a bit nerve-racking. howard-verse.com/savage-sword...

I just dropped a new musey newsy letter. Subscribe, won't you? open.substack.com/pub/matthewj...

These look pretty damn good together. Just sayin'. The future of sword & sorcery is pocketbooks. Can't wait to read this one. Congrats! 💪 ⚔️📖 @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social @obrackenbury.bsky.social

It's true!

I'm writing a story about a skull-splitting Dane, and, I gotta say, it feels right for the moment. 🪓 💀 🇩🇰

I just dropped my latest newsletter! My ADHD kept me procrastinating till the bitter end of 2025, but here it is! Please consider sharing and/or subscribing! open.substack.com/pub/matthewj...

Just finished re-reading this gem. Crom, what a tale! I forgot how good it is. Howard at the top of his game!

Follow me on Substack, if you do that thang. open.substack.com/pub/matthewj...

Look what I found among my vintage paperbacks: a copy of Bloodstone signed by Karl Edward Wagner! #karledwardwagner #swordandsorcery #vintagepaperback

Just put it on the sleigh, old man.

These stories SLAP! #swordandsorcery #fantasy #paperback #robertehoward #vikings #gaels #pirates

Current read: within the Weeping Eye by @matthewjohnauthor.bsky.social I’d call it sword & sorcery but that sells it short - there are clever barbarians, sorcerers playing the long game, broken normal folks who stand firm, and a complex world filled with true characters, not cardboard tropes. A+

Congrats to @matthewjohnauthor.bsky.social whose story “A Simple Errand” appears in Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three, released today. It’s an action packed sword-and-planet tale that reads like it was written in the golden age of pulp fiction and Weird Tales.

IYKYK and IYDK, NYK.

Folks, I just broke down and bought this She-Ra/Swiftwind combo. I can't justify the purchase, but it'd be easier if I sold a few books today. So, if you've been on the fence about picking up The Maxus Cycle, today would be a fine day to give in! www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPXNG93...

Apparently it's a good book. Huh. Who knew?

Ever wonder about the Conan-He-Man connection? Rumors have swirled for years, with plenty of falsehoods, hyperbole, and some accurate takes. This video, which happens to feature yours truly, does an excellent job of separating facts from fiction. youtu.be/fTEhpLUFh1g?...

".. despite its impressive brevity Matthew John’s “Madness on the Mound” was the highlight of the issue." 😯😲😭❤️🤘💪⚔️ www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-s...

Hell yeah! I can now reveal that my story, A Simple Errand, has been selected for inclusion in Year's Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction: Volume Three. I finally get to be proud of myself in a Canadian context. And believe it or not, my story isn't about maple leaves, moose, nor apologies!

Support your friendly neighborhood #swordandsorcery author ❤️ ⚔️🗡🛡 #fantasyart ##fantasybooks #bookreview #indybooks #indypublishing #books www.amazon.com/The-Maxus-Cy...

Grab your ferrets, buy some Pert Plus, and get ready to master some beasts! The Rogues are back with a long-awaited episode! #swordandsorcery #podcast #movies #fantasy #beastmaster #AlienEarth #redsonja open.spotify.com/episode/2VGK...

Crummock's Bullocks! Thank you, Jim!

Excellent choices all around!

Indeed.

Since I started taking my writing craft seriously, one weird goal I've had is to find my work in a big brick and mortar shop. Today, I found SSOC 2 at Chapters. This somehow makes me feel more legit. Even though my contribution to this particular book is small, I feel it's also mighty. Anyways ✅️

Nosferatu showed us vampire dong. 28 Years Later showed us zombie dong. Monster Squad informed us that Wolfman's got nards. @realgdt.bsky.social gonna drop them Franken-nuts on us, or what? 🍆 🥚 🥚

The Rogues in the House Podcast is back! Listen in for your semi-regular, sometimes-on-hiatus fix of swords & sorcery! ⛓️ open.spotify.com/episode/4lzP... @booksky.club @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social

My second book, Within the Weeping Eye, is now out worldwide. Thanks in advance for support, shares, reviews. 💪 📖 ⚔️ If you send me proof of purchase, I'll DM you a personalized message from (an) Arnold Schwarzenegger (impersonator/me). Shares appreciated 😉 🔗 a.co/d/93ij3fo 🔗

A massive thanks to @michaelastackpole.bsky.social for the interview. Within the Weeping Eye is out now via e-book. Paperback drops tomorrow 💪

If you blog, stream, YouTube, or review for your own site or others and want a digital ARC for 'Within the Weeping Eye', message me, and I'll get you a copy. No strings attached, but if you *think* you can promo it via any channels in even a small way, hit me up! Here's the ultra sexy cover!

5 of 5 stars for TO WALK ON WORLDS by @matthewjohnauthor.bsky.social (I'd give it more stars if I could). This is the best sword & sorcery book I've ever read, and the sequel is just days away! www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

1/3rd of the population is brainwashed now.

Woke up to a lovely review of @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social #7, which contains a story of mine. “Last Day on the Farm” could have concluded in a variety of ways, but John chose a supremely satisfying ending. www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-old-m...

I like action figures, and I like Conan, so writing this article made a lot of sense. Check it out! conan.com/the-history-... @jimzub.bsky.social @conanexiles.bsky.social @comicstitan.bsky.social @frazettagirls.bsky.social #crom #conanthebarbarian #actionfigures

It has come to my attention that some folks missed this crowd-funding campaign. Old Moon Quarterly is a great magazine that has been supplying top-notch fiction and art. This is not one you want to miss. (Pledge, like and repost, it really helps.) Thank you. www.backerkit.com/c/projects/o...

Be still, my heart! This is one of them solid gold reviews that fills the heart with promise and gratitude ❤️ 💪 🗡 📖 🔗 a.co/d/82NNnLt

These guys are good! Only read up to #4 myself but I'm down for some more of what they're selling (being spear and fang, blood and thunder):

My contributor copies for Savage Sword of Conan Vol 2 just arrived. Getting the TPB makes the whole thing feel more real, more immortal. I got my shot and, by Crom, I took it! I hope you enjoy my award-nominated story, Conan: Madness on the Mound! @comicstitan.bsky.social @jimzub.bsky.social

Yesterday was Trent Reznor's birthday. Here's a photo of Trent and me. We're totally buddies, and he'll totally remember me. Totally. #nineinchnails #trentreznor @nin.com @treznor.bsky.social

Thanks @forgeofice.bsky.social ! You produce dope gaming miniatures!

This is among my favorite #D&D art pieces ever. Now, whenever I enter nature, I'm expecting to see sh*t like this. Just feels so germane and natural. They don't make em like they used to. Also, F*CK A.I "art". #dunegeonsanddragons art by #danielhorne

Public Service Announcement: "Wolfman's got nards!"

I bought a piece of art from @gileadart.bsky.social for my second book, and then he got to doodling and sent these along as well. They won't appear in the book, but if you ever wanted to see me as I see me in my head, here you go! If you need art for your S&S or fantasy projects, hit him up!

I'm still working through the classics! Though I'm trying to mix it up a little. I've been parallel reading Jirel with @matthewjohnauthor.bsky.social's To Walk on Worlds after wrapping up my REH selection, and I got a copy of Profane Altars. Undecided if I'll dive into Wagner Leiber or Moorcock next