"Diversifying" historical fiction isn't a case of shoehorning. It's a case of restoration. Archeological evidence reveals that ppl from Africa settled in Britain as much as 3,000 years ago, their presence recorded in the Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Tudor eras. History is written by the conquerors.

Sad to see the UK being primed for Farage as PM. Four years out, the right wing-owned media is floating the idea to gauge public outrage. The hope is that apathy will kick in (a la Brexit) and the interim trashing of every other candidate will see their grifting, gurning puppet into Number 10.

"The Elementals" by Michael McDowell.

As a reminder, we've moved our crowdfunding for OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to Ko-fi like we did for our first successful @starsandsabers.bsky.social anthology! Help back this great horror anthology: ko-fi.com/post/Our-Thi...

Gays would get round this.

Love it when an idea gets its hooks in you. Could be through an eyelid. The patella. The perineum. You're dragged across the floor at 7am to write the damn thing, weeping gobbets of body fluid and blood. Isn't it wonderful?

Relatedly when things like recommendation lists and bigger-figure deals for stories about queer men are populated largely (or sometimes entirely!) by folks who aren’t themselves queer men and-or mascs… perhaps some reflection on presence, access, and whose voices/experiences are valued is in order

When you debate fascists, you validate that ideology by treating it as rational and sane. It's 101 in the fascist playbook. Compel folks to reason, compromise and tolerate so they can cheerfully go about destroying others. The sooner we learn this, the sooner we'll stop them.

Writing has occurred. Can I get the *scandalous gay sexy on the first page this time? Oh, I think I can.

Anyway, evergreen

Mostly I'm angry because all this back and forth about fascism and bigotry is a massive waste of time. We should be evolving and saving the planet. We haven't even learnt that everyone on earth is a fucking equal being and inherently deserving of empathy. It's embarrassing.

I'm sure if you were forced to wash dishes for an abbey of 300 nuns twice a day for the rest of your life, you might think about rebelling too. Silly man.

🚨🇪🇸 Breaking: Spain has dispatched a navy vessel to support the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza. Speaking from New York, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain “condemns the genocide” in Gaza and demanded Israel uphold international law and allow Spanish citizens to sail safely in the...

In Spain, we already have biometric ID cards. They were introduced 5 years ago. But I wouldn't want one in Britain. No thanks.

Be more like Chrodechild today. 📚💙 #Research

Viewpoint: Claiming that bigotry is "just an opinion" is also bigotry. It ignores the harm done to communities by bigotry and thus enables it.

Also now available on Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSDV1KCZ/

The homogenisation and consolidation of buisinesses and brands has led to the erosion of the midlist, the indie movie or band or comic. There's a real sense of "I'll only try media that's already popular / famous," and I'm begging you to look for the weird shit, the experimental, the niche.

Myself, of course. Hell, I could go for 6 hours.

I like Kimmel, but the groundswell for a mainstream entertainer tells you everything you need to know about what's wrong with western society. Oppression only really matters when it happens to a member of the majority demographic. The rest of it is seen as "the way it is" by many.

Updown girl You’ve been buried in a peat bog world I bet an old Anglo-Saxon site I bet dug up by an archaeologist guy where she died 🎶

Project Hanuman is 6 weeks away...here's a short thing on how you can help :-)

Detach quote. Not here for smarmy comments from those who I do not follow and who do not follow me, thanks.

Wow I'm a shuffling revenant today thanks to adrenaline and lack of sleep. But I'm also excited in ways I can't tell you about. Please cross every tentacle for me. 🤞

Share your favourite black and white movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Some folks get it wrong. I experience queer joy by putting my queer despair in stories. You're free to criticise them for being dark. Just know that when you read them, you make the author happy. 🏳️‍🌈📚💙

The irony of a cishet white dude offering to instruct ppl in the correct use of the term "fascist" on Substack. Go away.

Last week to get your tickets at the early bird price! This is your cheapest chance to attend!

It isn't exactly crisp here, but we're no longer waking up in a puddle of sweat. Which is nice. Time to do some writing.

Watching friends worry about the Rapture.

You can't claim to be anti-fascist while weaponising gayness. That isn't how it works. Do better.

Right wing controlled media = right wing propaganda. Media reform and greater restriction. The legal separation of free speech from hate speech. Penalties for spouting lies and disinformation. Zero tolerance for xenophobia. That's what Britain needs.

Nice to sit in the park today and not worry about melting into a squishy pink puddle.

Today's research encompassed a brief history of jam. The Romans had jam. It follows that they had toasters too. There's comfort in that.

Praying for the Rapture too.

Feels like time to share this again.

Wow it's actually below 30°c here today. Thank fuck for that. I like the heat, but the levels here in summer are extraordinary. And debilitating. I'm ready for the autumn air.

That faint scratching you hear is my quill as I jot down notes for another historical horror. I assure you that it isn't a man in my basement trying to get out.

Can I just say … I wish the general population was as upset and outspoken about trans people being labeled as dangerous, sub-human enemies of the state as they are about the cis white male comedian getting his show taken off the air ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

really not sure why it's so desperately important to insert consent (of all things) into an intangible nonreal space. fiction is already the fantasy. it's defined by its border. like actually grow up lol

Cardinal Timothy Dolan failed to report direct admissions of rape by multiple priests, lobbied against extending the statute of limitations for sex abuse, and moved money off the church books to hide it from victims of sex abuse. In case you were wondering.

In happier news, the weather is about to break. It's been averaging 37°c since I got back and we're thoroughly sick of it now. We're losing 10°c from tomorrow, apparently. 🙏

✨🌈🐈‍⬛

That tiny meep you hear is me in the corner trying my best not to vaguesky. 💙

The time to listen to trans people was 10 years ago but, you know, you can start any time you're ready.

Seen a few folks downplay what CK said about LGBTQ+ folks. A kindly reminder that you're not "fact checking" if you're omitting facts. "The chapter before affirms God’s perfect law," he said. CK is referring to the chapter about stoning gay ppl to death. www.advocate.com/politics/cha...

The cover is now live for this amazing book. Savannah was of the first authors that signed with me. This was one of the first books I sold. Finally we get this gorgeous cover reveal. I am in love. @booksbysavannah.bsky.social @acebookspub.bsky.social @gollancz.bsky.social @kiagency.bsky.social

Today a little research and writing has occurred. But I'll admit I'm pretty washed out from the first week of term, so excuse me while we schlomp.

Minorities are afraid the right wing will kill them. The right wing are afraid you'll laugh at them.