Christopher Ainsworth
@ruinoustower.bsky.social
Big boots, owner of multiple candlebras, and more second hand paperbacks than I can reasonably expect to read in this lifetime.
Piers Morgan “Mohammed, do you condemn the Hamas attacks on October the 7th?” Mohammed Hijab “Yes, I do. Do you condemn Israel killing over 1000 kids?” Piers Morgan “I believe Israel has a right to defend themselves” That answer should be on the tombstone of his career.
Goodnight from Gary Atkins, taking haven from the Grinning Man’s pursuit in a midnight showing of City of the Beasts. Goodnight from Roy Bloom, walking Molly Sayle home from the High Barley youth club dance on the pretext of Harrow Hound sightings. Goodnight from Hookland.
Seen in an old cookbook, a recipe that resonates with me today.
We may walk morning streets and meet old gods and their hare-headed messengers in gallery windows. Find shops shut for the days of obscure, misremembered saints. Everywhere a sense of the pagan breaking through. Everywhere the tingling possibility of magic. – #DAKilroy, 1982
Meditation of the day: Who were the LGBTQ+ folks that H. P. Lovecraft knew?
Goodnight from Ashcourt’s Empress Dock, its workers nervous about what may happen on the hundredth anniversary anniversary of the RMS Darrow’s burning. Goodnight from ‘Witch Kettle’ Sam, making hard bargains with shadows in Hamble Woods yet again. Goodnight from Hookland.
One for the Bernard Cornwell fans - I've been keen to visit the site of the tragic collapse of the Ponte das Barcas during the First Battle of Porto in 1809. It appears memorably during the start of Sharpe's Havoc which I'll read in these appropriate surroundings.
🎬 38 years ago today, on July 8, 1988, "Phantasm II" premiered in Brazilian and American theatres. Written & directed by Don Coscarelli and starring Angus Scrimm, James Le Gros, Reggie Bannister, Paula Irvine, Samantha Phillips & Kenneth Tigar. BOOOOOOOY!!! #Phantasm #Horror #16mmInferno
If a racist resigns in disgrace, And sparks an electoral race, And the rest step aside, Could the people decide On a man with a bin for a face?
Narrowly avoided throwing up at the end there. 😅
I swear there used to politicians who, while I wildly disagreed with them, used to genuinely want what they thought was best for the country, rather than just feathering their own beds. I'm not saying they didn't have rational self interests, but it was less of an obvious cash grab.
Writer/Director Richard Linklater’s cult animated sci-fi thriller ‘A Scanner Darkly’ starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson, and Winona Ryder was released on this day twenty years ago (July 7, 2006) 💊 👀 🌽 #OTD
As one of the first 3D computer games I ever played, I have an immense affection for 2000's Medievil. Im always glad when they remake things or do anything with the series, but they never seem to get the tone right. From removing the screams from the villagers when the Big Bad steals their souls...
In other news I had a dream that an incredibly beautiful blonde man, in a nepoleonic uniform, gifted me his hat/helmet/crown. Green leather over wood. For some reason people kept saying I shouldn't have it but, backed off when they realised I'd been given it.
Cats also enjoy tunnels formed of rugs or newspapers. —H. P. Lovecraft to Arthur F. Sechrist, 14 Feb 1937
The Horrible Sexy Vampire. 1971. Rather misleading retitle but its an atmospheric Eurotrash romp with a splash of Spanish sauce for the easily pleased. Like me. #horrorcommunity #horrorfamily #horrormovie #horrorfilm #horrorfan #spanishhorror #horroraddict #filmsky #horrorsky #mutantfam #horrorfam
Reminding myself theres always an excuse for a cravat or ascot. Even with my bull neck.
I can't do it either. I think it comes from long years of borrowing all my books from the library. Now I treat every mass market paperback like precious First Edition. Though it's rare i buy books new, and I love finding old dedication or stamps from ex-libris copies at the front. #booksky
Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein@deepcuts.blog · last mo.I really struggle with this. I don't blame folks that do. It's just so hard for me to do it.
That's mildly better. But it likely won't last. I always forget that all this is mildly more tolerable on anything more than the bare minimum of sleep. But my body is so unaccustomed to it I'm a groggy mess. Tea may be the first order of business.
Goodnight from Peggy Cudford, leaving an offering of eggs at St. Swithin’s feet in hopes of happy harvest weather. Goodnight from Brooke Harper, working late on her PhD on mediaeval bestiaries, Hairy Pikes and Antlered Dormice floating before her eyes. Goodnight from Hookland.
I envy writers who can write anywhere. I need a carefully curated space, incense, and certain kinds of music . . . open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The Sacred Space
Or, Why I'm Not a Cafe Writer
open.substack.com
ALL of the covers of my books—that I author and/or edit, package, and/or publish—are done by human beings. Often, me in collaboration with a paid amigo (paid by me) for color/digital production/creative jamming. To the best of my knowledge, I've never ever ever used A.I. on or in my projects.