My 28th short story submission to one of the big fantasy magazines, my 28th rejection. I can’t decide if I’m being admirably persistent or I’m just wasting my time with them.

So, anything much on TV tonight?

Ah, the return of Only Connect. The world suddenly makes a little more sense.

Victoria Coren Mitchell@vcorenmitchell.bsky.social · 3w ago

Have you noticed the weather is changing at last? It’s almost as though an icy wind is blowing across the country. Only Connect returns, tonight at 8 pm on BBC Two.

I’m a bit confused about Count Binface. Is that bin his face or some sort of helmet he has to wear while on Earth?

To be fair to farage, he will be fighting this by-election against the establishment - just the establishment of Sigma IX, home world of @countbinface.bsky.social.

Writing an Office of the Witchfinder General short story revolving around the rare books store at the British Library - while sitting in the Rare Books Reading Room of the British Library. It’s a lovely place. I like it here.

The Eye Collectors - The Office of the Witchfinder General #1. Books 1-4 now available. "If you enjoyed Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series or the Dresden Files, then you’ll enjoy this one.” - British Fantasy Society @elsewhen.press #booksky #fantasy #writing books2read.com/TheEyeCollec...

Delighted to spot this blue plaque on a church wall in York this weekend. She’s someone I would have loved to meet. 🏳️‍🌈

Wordle 1,823 6/6* ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Phew.

"If you’re a fan of Alastair Reynolds’ Chasm City or James S.A. Corey’s gritty Expanse, The Twisted Road will feel right at home." A murder mystery, a political thriller set against humanity's push to the stars. @elsewhen.press #booksky #sciencefiction #writing books2read.com/TheTwistedRoad

I like that I can vote on which wildlife should appear on new English banknotes. My only problem is the Pine Marten. As a member of the local monitoring group, I’m beginning to think the creatures are entirely mythical. app.keysurvey.co.uk/f/41844465/6...

"No day without a line" was the mantra of James McNeill Whistler. He was talking about art, but it’s excellent advice for the writer, too.

In Nottingham and I keep seeing buses going to Rivendell. Should I get on one?

Today is my 10th anniversary of starting Parkrun. I can’t think of a single thing I’ve done that has been of more benefit to my physical and mental health. Wish I was quicker though.

Having completed a draft of The Infinite Road in my #scifi Möbius Sequence, I figured I’d take the summer off before starting work on the third and final volume. So, yep, I started writing it yesterday.

I see my books there!

Elsewhen Press@elsewhen.press · 3mo ago

We’re in the dealers’ room at Satellite9. come and say hello.

In just 48 hours, we'll be bringing all this indie awesomeness to #Shrewsbury. We can't wait to see you there! We'll be going a bit quieter over the next 48 hours as we make final preparations. It's been a long time coming...but SPOTLIGHT INDIE LIVE IS ALMOST HERE!

Phew, that's the prequel to The Twisted Road - The Infinite Road - completed* and sent off to my publisher. I hope they like it; I'm delighted with how it turned out. The Möbius Sequence #scifi * until, you know, edits

The new/last series of The Boys is as glorious as ever. I do slightly worry trump believers think it’s a documentary though.

Our bags are packed, the banners are ready, the books are towering and it's almost time for Spotlight Indie Live! FOUR DAYS TO GO. Is it Saturday yet? #Shrewsbury

Crosby Beach near Liverpool, home to Gormley’s “Iron Men” statues. Lovely place for a parkrun.

We lost Douglas Adams 25 years ago today. This has made a lot of people very sad and has been widely regarded as a bad move.

If they can find planets with 3 suns then maybe we’re looking at the central world in the Triple Stars Trilogy. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Scientists discover 27 potential new planets that orbit two stars in solar systems far, far away

On ‘Star Wars day’, researchers more than double the number of potential known ‘circumbinary’ planets like the fictional Tatooine, home to Luke Skywalker

theguardian.com

Redrafting/editing my current scifi novel. Is it wrong to be enjoying something I wrote so much?

It’s Indie Press Day, a day when you can help ensure that great books continue to be published by indie presses. The rest of the year it’s the big faceless corporate publishers who dominate the media. If you’ve loved a book, post about it today with #IndiePressDay …

I’m appearing on the panels talking about short stories/novellas and indie publishers. If anyone is in the area, come and ask rasy questions!

Spotlight Indie@spotlightindie.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🚨PANEL ANNOUNCEMENT🚨 Here it is folks! The panels for our in-person event are locked and loaded. We’re so happy to give you a taste of what you can expect to see at the Shrewsbury Flaxmills on May 23rd! CUE THE EXCITEMENT!!! 🥳🥳🥳

I couldn’t put this better. Big presses are too often focussed on celebrity names and fiction that follows a successful formula. It’s the same in music: indies give you interesting, original and adventurous voices.

Elsewhen Press@elsewhen.press · 3mo ago

It’s Indie Press Day, a perfect opportunity to tell you about fantastic authors & books. Indie presses are the last bastion of truly independent publishing, often the only publishers prepared to take risks publishing new authors and complex, challenging or uncategorisable writing. #IndiePressDay

It's #IndiePressDay today which is about raising the profile of small presses. Why? Because their output is incredible: Compared to the big publishers, Indies are more likely to take a risk on an experimental manuscript or more difficult subjects, and we need that freedom of speech more than ever!

Went to see Paddington the Musical yesterday. Completely wonderful, and also a joyous hymn to inclusivity and tolerance.

Happy Beltane! Which isn’t a thing people say.