Friends of the Merril Collection will be hosting a panel discussion on Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm on "Crafting Worlds: Pitching, Publishing & Promoting Your SF/Fantasy Ideas". The event will be held in the downstairs meeting room of the Lillian H. Smith Library at 239 College Street in Toronto.

For those who will be in Toronto on Saturday the 6th of December, here is the poster for The Friends of the Merril Collection's upcoming panel, "The Crafting of Worlds: Pitching, Publishing and Promoting Your SF/Fantasy Ideas." Come join us. Everyone is welcome. (Repost with cosmetic edit).

The Kickstarter for the inaugural volume of WINTER OF SCI-FI & FANTASY from Worldstone Publishing has launched! Edited by Dustin Bilyk, the anthology will feature 13 tales including my story "Random Access Memory". WINTER OF SCI-FI & FANTASY will be released on February 1st. tinyurl.com/2cmc296n

Two of the highlights of last week's #SpaceBound conference were the moving tribute by Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk to @marcogarno.bsky.social (3:40:45) and the unexpected shout-out I got from my new boss #MissionControl CEO Ewan Reid on my science fiction writing (3:27:01). tinyurl.com/4yfuvtvy

In the years to come humanity will return to the Moon, go on to Mars and the rest of the Solar System, and then begin the long journey to the stars. #MissionControl will be a part of that great adventure and I am thrilled and honoured to be a part of the team.

I've purchased my membership for @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social! Je me suis inscrit pour @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social! montreal2027.ca

After a week in Ottawa attending the Space Canada conference and working in the Mission Control office I thought it wise to do a little due diligence to make sure I hadn't picked up anything that might be a threat to me and others.

I am shocked by the death of award-winning writer, astronomer, physicist, and science historian Jean-Louis Trudel. I had the pleasure of buying his wonderful climate change story "The Snows of Yesteryear" for the hard SF anthology CARBIDE TIPPED PENS. I will miss him terribly. tinyurl.com/mhs4md9j

I am delighted that my story "Random Access Memory" will appear in the inaugural volume of WINTER OF SCI-FI & FANTASY edited by Dustin Bilyk and published by Worldstone Publishing. The story was first published in the anthology GAME ON! edited by Stephen Kotowych and Tony Pi. tinyurl.com/yc6fvu8v

Just got my flu and covid shots.

Yoga cat on the yoga mat!

Thank you Olav Rokne for your service on the #SidewiseAward jury. "The Gold Standard of What If" beautifully articulates what I so love about the genre. "[Alternate history is] a playground in which authors can muse about the degree to which chance or determinism play in constructing our world."

She was on the edge of her paws.

Happy Halloween!

STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH was not "bad" at all. In fact, it was absolutely wonderful.

Ottawa Chinatown. I was deeply moved by the Chinese Railway Workers Memorial.

Julia Muldoon pointed out I'm wearing a red shirt.

Hanging out with @ourmankoto.bsky.social and @markleslie.bsky.social in #Ottawa

The mighty hunter!

Trash panda jaywalking on the 401. It made it across!

I am excited to be a returning special guest at @canconsffh.bsky.social which is taking place October 17-19 at the Brookstreet Hotel in #Ottawa. The author GoHs are @premeemohamed.com and @kateheartfield.com and the editor GoH is @ourmankoto.bsky.social. Here is my schedule: tinyurl.com/CanCon2025

It's the 40th anniversary of the classic @schwarzenegger.bsky.social movie #Commando. 70% of the best Schwarzenegger one-liners came from this film. My personal favourite: "Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired."

"All-you-can-eat" except they "reserve the right to limit quantities served per guest". This is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since the film The NeverEnding Story. I'm sure Lionel Hutz would have a case.

“We are told by leaders that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.” Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!

I'm at a restaurant where they're showing Bob Ross painting videos instead of news or sports and I think it's great.

Kudos to everyone who participated in or supported today's #TerryFox runs across Canada and around the world, and thank you to everyone who so generously made donations. This was my first time participating but it won't be the last.

My Aurora Award nominated story "A New Brave World" appears in the latest issue of JUPITER'S EYE. Thank you to Tyree Campbell and Hiraeth Publishing!

Thank you Gloria McMillan for the opportunity to present on the topic of science fiction and the real-life exploration of space for the September 2025 edition of the HardScience SF Writers Readers Artists Zoom Group speaker series. A recording is on the group's YouTube channel. tinyurl.com/2vb25nfu

I’m on @ouropinions.bsky.social today talking about space and kids’ books! 🚀💖 Always so good to have io9 reunions with @annaleen.bsky.social and @charliejane.bsky.social www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes/20...

I will be participating in a #TerryFoxRun for the first time this year on Sunday, September 14. Please consider making a pledge if you can afford it. No amount is too small. "It took cancer to realise that being self-centred is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others." - Terry Fox

Apparently I am "Da Man in Can-ada!" :-) Please join me on Saturday, September 6th when I will be presenting on science fiction and the real-life exploration of space as part of the HardScience SF Writers Readers Artists Zoom Group speaker series. Free registration: tinyurl.com/yc8n5spb

My Daughter is a Zombie (좀비딸) made me laugh harder than The Naked Gun.

Congratulations to @ourmankoto.bsky.social for Volume 2 of YEAR'S BEST CANADIAN FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION being honoured with an #AuroraAward in the category of Best Related Work! Stephen will be the editor guest-of-honour at @canconsffh.bsky.social October 17-19 in Ottawa.

My new story "The Observer Affected" will be appearing in the upcoming anthology Unréal produced by AEscifi.ca and published by @flamearrowpub.bsky.social. "The Observer Affected" concerns disturbing events at a Montréal psychiatric hospital (specifically, this one) during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Birthplace of Dr. Norman Bethune in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

"A home without a cat - and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat - may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?" - Mark Twain Happy #InternationalCatDay

Waiver form for Tyendinaga Caverns & Caves: "I acknowledge that I am aware of the risks inherent in exploration..." Unlike James T. Kirk, risk is not their business.

Our very posh senior kitty.

Strange New Worlds S3E2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" went better with the gasoline fight in Zoolander.

Holy mackerel! This "European style cold smoked whole Atlantic mackerel" branded as "Baltic" Gifts claims to be a product of Moldova...a landlocked country more than 2,000 km east of the Atlantic Ocean and about 800 km southeast of the Baltic Sea. But it was tasty, wherever it actually came from.

What Ray Bradbury did for the Red Planet in The Martian Chronicles, Steven Southard has accomplished for the oceans of our blue planet in #TheSeasteadChronicles. Steve's nautical background and love for the sea shines brightly in this imaginative and ambitious collection.

Two Solitudes