This was one of the best things that I read last year. Strongly recommended. Out today! emmaburnett.carrd.co

Ex Partum comes out on Tuesday. Here's what @phokion.bsky.social has to say about the book (and we all know he has the absolute BEST words!) If this sounds like a a book for you, you can pre-order it here: emmaburnett.carrd.co #booksky 🪐📚

I spent three days camping in the wilderness of Temagami.

Cover release! This is the cover for the first book of my new Epic Fantasy series. Books 2 and 3 are already written! This glorious cover is by @franvegas.bsky.social and it’s my favourite… ever!

The last ‘Captain of Venice’ ad… out today! And just for historian, reenactors and armoured fighters, some photos of rare originals from the National Historical Museum in Athens, all probably of late 14th-early 15th c. Italian manufacture.

This is dead on. If the Democrats retake the House and Senate--or even just the House--it could mark the beginning of the end of a 50-year Republican project. If they can't? The GOP will spend the next 2 years destroying all remaining guardrails. Most important midterms of our lives, no question.

⚔️ Exciting news! Join me on May 19th at 6:30 PM at Bakka-Phoenix Books for the launch of Our Lady of Blades with @phokion.bsky.social. Expect fantasy tales and playful writing advice. No dueling skills needed—just bring your sense of adventure! #UpcomingEvent #Author

(2) Both of them (and other nearby Americans) clearly don’t believe me, and say so. ‘The Dukes of Athens,’ I say. ‘Who?’ ‘Chaucer wrote a story…’ I began. ‘Who’s he?’ Asks one. ‘The Knight’s Tale?’ I asked. Someone says ‘I saw the movie.’

So, I’m queuing to leave the Acropolis via the propylon. An American comments on the beauty of the construction and his wife says something about ‘all the damage.’ I mention that it was a medieval castle until very recently and an active fortress. (1)

Lord Byron died two hundred years ago this year at the siege of Missolonghi. A rock star, ‘mad, bad, and dangerous to know’ he died supporting the freedom of Greece.

18th c. Greek interior

Athens. There is no place like it! The Acropolis from the Pnyx, Sarah and Bea on the Pnyx, and the Acropolis at night from our apartment.

More castles in Greece! Skala Eressos; this is the 14th c. Gattelussi castle but there’s a whole Bronze age to Roman complex underneath. Sappho had her school here. And… the wild oregano is superb.

Surface hunting in Ancient Mithymna. I’ve said this before, but it can be staggering to look down and see Roman-era roof tiles, 5th c. BCE Attic blackware and bits of 15th c. Italian ware… all in 1M sq. And yes, I leave it where I find it.

I collect castles in Greece

Mosaics! 1st C. AD in the Mitilini Museum

Cold and rainy in Mithymna on Lesvos, but this is the castle, whose foundations date to Ancient Greece and perhaps even the Bronze Age. In my #chivalry series, this is William Gold’s castle. In real life? I don’t think he ever came here. the Gattelussi family DID employ English mercenaries (1)

We met at the reenactment of Marathon, and an historical writer couldn’t have two better friends; Giannis and Giorgos have taught me so much, taken me to great places, and introduced me to whole worlds.

It’s not all ancient #greece and #byzantium. This is my friend Giannis Kadoglou, a brilliant Greek Louthier (instrument maker) and musician. You might recognize him as the hoplite on the right, as well.

The author at Didymotichon in Thrace, Greece. I believe this is a reenactment of an Edwardian archaeologist😉 but seriously, an incredible Byzantine site.

Maybe it's the Artemis II mission that's got me feeling for some sci fi... Reading both in this duology back to back... The Arcana Imperii #1 & 2 - ARTIFACT SPACE & DEEP BLACK by one of my favourite authors the incomparable @phokion.bsky.social !

I just learned about Japanese clocks! The typical clock had six numbered hours from 9 to 4 which counted backwards from noon until midnight; the hour numbers one, two and three were not used in Japan for religious reasons, because these numbers of strokes were used by Buddhists to call to prayer(1)

THE CAPTAIN OF VENICE by Christian Cameron is out in three weeks! zenoagency.com/news/christi... @phokion.bsky.social Book 7 in the acclaimed Chivalry series. Published in the UK by @orionbooks.bsky.social.

When writing travel—long trips on horseback, for example—writing fantasy or historical fiction, there’s no substitute for experience. In this case, it is Burnaby’s experience 😊

I have a new favourite thing; two sideswords, an early 16th century style. This is living!

In about ten minutes I’ll hit 100k words in this book. Yesterday I wrote a fantastic fight scene (if I do say so myself) which may require footnotes for sword nerds. Yes, having fun!

Listening to Mark Carney chatting with the Artemis II crew. He just sounds so human, so much like a leader. Still a neo-liberal banker. But in this moment, I’m onboard.

And I’m writing book 4, ‘The Alien’s War’ right now.

A new @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social ! With an #arcanaimperii novella which I wrote with @slashnburnett.bsky.social

I LOVE these covers

I had a 15k word week last week. Hoping for more this week but taking an hour to make a change to a Secret Project. Over the weekend I read something that triggered an idea that… well, you know…

Writing science fiction today… but at 6pm I’ll leave pastry behind to talk to @taowong.bsky.social about his brilliant new novel ‘First Step’ @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social in Toronto. Please come. Tao and I need an audience 😉

Final day reminder, there's a book launch at Bakka Phoenix books for The First Step today at 6pm. With @phokion.bsky.social

Authors this round include: @buehlmeister.bsky.social, @phokion.bsky.social, @barfridmantell.bsky.social, @amalelmohtar.com, @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social, @ericlarocca.com, @quellist1.bsky.social, @garethlpowell.bsky.social, +

Thursday at 6pm @taowong.bsky.social and I will be (unarmed) at @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social in Toronto to talk about his latest book (which I loved). BTW that’s us sparring with side swords last night. Swords will probably be discussed!

A brief history lesson for the Trump administration: in the 16th century, English ‘privateers’ helped bankrupt the global military superpower, Spain. It wasn’t that they inflicted much damage to Spanish trade… it’s that Spain’s backers, foreign banks, couldn’t stand the risk. (1)

So, it’s not just an immoral and unjust war—it’s an incompetent war. AI targeting, by any chance? Poor intelligence, no oversight, bang, it’s a war crime. When TWO tomahawk missiles strike the same target…

This morning I’m working with @nicholaseames.bsky.social

Science is amazing, and in our current era I’m sometimes heartened that somewhere, despite the madness, science continues to amaze.

Them: AI will take your job Me: Oh, please. I’d like to see it neck three coffees, ignore 17 emails, take the cat for a walk, and have two cries before noon.

Today? 3pm!

Bored? Looking for something to do Saturday?

When you write science fiction, this sort of thing is wildly inspiring. Also, just fascinating for itself! www.patreon.com/posts/152232...

Yesterday I wrote a massive fight scene. Today, I copy-edit a different book. Sigh…

Week 12 of Marazzo’s sword alone, now on parts 2 and 3 of the assalto.

A lovely evening with some of my favourite writers; @taowong.bsky.social, @evanwinter.bsky.social @ryancahill.bsky.social @plstuart-author.bsky.social It was fun! Now back to work 😊

I’m a small part of this but please stop by and say hello!

Last night’s extraordinarily bloody fight on the Tokaido in 1868. A Pyrrhic draw! Full battle report on the Sharp Practice group on FB. Game included sushi, sake, and much hilarity!

She’s been trying to rectify her citizenship since 2008. She’s the daughter of a senior U.S. official. She’s an Iranian Christian. Trump’s DHS plans to send her back to Iran where she will be arrested, interrogated, and probably killed . (I have some personal knowledge on this one.)