Sarah Royston

It was an honor having @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social guest edit our Winter issue! You can read the stories and his thoughts on the collection at tractorbeam.earth

If this is your first time coming across us, nice to meet you. We're a quarterly science fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk. ❄️🌱❤️

Thank you to Mark for giving me this opportunity, it was a real treat and shows @urbanpigspress.bsky.social are one of the best.
Shoutouts within to @sarahkat.bsky.social and my collab pal, @matgost.bsky.social 🖤

There’s nothing like bad ice-cream and bullies to get a man riled 😝
Thanks so much for publishing this dark little treat 🖤

We're having a sale at thebraag.co/shop, with up to 50% off a whole BUNCH of our titles, including work by @timothyfox.bsky.social,
@sarahbwestcottpoet.bsky.social
@sarahkat.bsky.social
Kirsten Luckins, Nina Murray, & Anthony Cartwright ✨

💚 Sale ends February 10th 💚

Congratulations to all 750+ writers who had the perseverance to complete a story and the courage to submit it.

@thebulletin.org it's good practice to show respect for those who share their work with you (even if the editorial task can feel onerous at times!)

A collage of close-up photographs of winter tree buds on bare branches, each tightly wrapped and tipped with brown and green, against soft muted backgrounds. The images highlight the promise of new growth held within.

31 Dec: On the cusp of a New Year, nature carries its promise. These winter buds hold next season’s life, hope wrapped tightly within, waiting for the light to return. As midnight nears, we celebrate new beginnings already stirring beneath the earth and in the trees. #NewYearsEve

Christmas ’Lights, where one of our Trash Family tell you which anthology story they loved, and why. Leigh Loveday, author of Threequarter Lane, highlights A Crossing by Sarah Royston.

Our charity anthology authors share the love!

"A Crossing gives us pilgrims almost meeting on the road – but centuries apart. Rich with authenticity and memory, deftly unspooled in under 1000 words. A gem."

Paperback £7.50: mybook.to/WhatComesToL...

@leighloveday.bsky.social
@sarahkat.bsky.social

Christmas ’Lights, where one of our Trash Family tell you which anthology story they loved, and why. Sarah Royston, author of A Crossing, highlights For a While There, We Were Weightless by Mathew Gostelow.

Our charity anthology authors share the love!

"This story is a glittering shard of dark urban magic from the king of creepy-trippy-cool. Come scream into the void; you know you want to…"

Paperback £7.50: mybook.to/WhatComesToL...

@sarahkat.bsky.social
@matgost.bsky.social

Roger Clarke and I are writing a book about ghosts. We need a publisher. @tomsbrown.bsky.social
and I are writing a graphic novel about boy mire maids and need a publisher. If you are interested, DM me.

Day 20 of the #HooklandChristmasTree decoration comes. We set the Frost Witch to the tree, Drape the chain of miniature icicles falling from her cloak, unfurl the white lace trail that mimics her decoration of the lanes on winter mornings. Say a prayer for those sleeping rough.

Paperback copy of 'What Comes to Light' anthology stood on a kitchen table with an imperious chonker of a tabby cat named Arsehole looming majestically behind it

Happy Christmas panic-buying onset for those who celebrate! Must be time to bump this, suitable for anyone in your life who likes a) charity and b) animals. And optimally c) reading. 27 snack-sized stories curated by @trashcatlit.bsky.social for The Wildlife Trusts: trashcatlit.com/what-comes-t...

Can't wait to hear this!

David's work is such an inspiration. Because of Hookland, I shiver when I pass between two pylons. I often ask myself: "What would Emily Banting do?" And I know that the most ordinary places are alive with strangeness.

Sending gratitude and well wishes to you, David! @cultauthor.bsky.social

On Leaving a Familiar Place A Micro Fiction by Jo Clark

Delighted to be in the latest issue of WestWord (and alongside some other wonderful pieces from brilliant writers) with this little story from earlier this year:

open.substack.com/pub/westword...

"...when you naturally turn to weird and horny convention-defying queer ecologies" - I have NO IDEA what you're talking about... 😆

Woohoo! Good luck all!

Edited by the brilliant @matgost.bsky.social !

A photo: The Silent Screams book is clutched by two skeletal hands in front of a tombstone.

I'm ready for Halloween with this stunningly creepy anthology! 🖤

Silent Screams: An Anthology of Quiet Horrors share.google/gafGIwAXtsZR...

Every pylon was portal. Each transmission tower a temporary temple. We followed The Hum as an act of ecstatic pilgrimage. We were the 'filthy hippy cult' parent were afraid their child would run away to join. You either heard The Hum and understood or you didn't. – Trippy Pete, ex-Pylon Person #VOH

Want to read something a little folky, a little mystical?
Our print anthology has that among its 27 glorious short fictions.
Here are some teases to tantalise your storybuds 🦝

Then click here to buy our book and help raise money for charity 💜
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...

1/2

Very proud of this beautiful baby! 🦝
If you love short fiction and want to read 27 amazing writers' interpretation of "treasure in unexpected places", then please do grab a copy and help raise money for UK wildlife 🦡🦊🦢🦌

A promo image for my blog post on substack, showing the cover of my Silent Screams anthology, with a word cloud, and the post title: "Silent Screams for Halloween"

Three amazing charity anthology projects just landed...
My own Silent Screams antho, plus collections from @sasharavitch.bsky.social & @therelphian.bsky.social of @trashcatlit.bsky.social
Read all about them here:
matgost.substack.com/p/silent-scr...

The cover wrap for Silent Screams, An Anthology of Quiet Horrors - featuring a striking, surreal illustration by Eric Brenner, depicting a screaming face with far too many eyes. The book blurb states: The most terrifying horror stories don't churn your stomach. They creep like shadows, chilling with a touch. They build dread through atmosphere and emotion, rather than splatter and gore. Welcome to Silent Screams, an anthology of quiet horror stories. Within these pages, you will face strange and twisted scenes, dark and demonic characters, nightmares great and small, written by a host of talented authors from around the world. These are shattering tales of grief and loss, visitations from strange folk, troubled dreams, and cursed artefacts. These are whispers to make your skin crawl and your toes curl. Words to catch your breath and smother screams.

Silent Screams is out now.
It's the first anthology I've edited and I love every single story inside it.
If you prefer your #Halloween scares quiet and filled with creeping dread, then this is the book for you.
eBook and paperback:
mybook.to/SilentScream...
#Horror #ShortStories #WritingCommunity

No Writer is an Island - Part 1 As an editor I have the privilege of working with writers at all stages of their writing journeys.

Really valuable insights from @mattkendrick.bsky.social on feedback and editing processes, as always!
No Writer is an Island - Part 1 open.substack.com/pub/prattlef...

Resistance is fertile in this powerful piece! "Sporesong" is visually and lyrically stunning 👌🍄✊️

A briny blast of soilpunk (with extra punk), and a masterclass in character, setting and voice. Love this!

So excited to be part of this gorgeous anthology from the wonderful @trashcatlit.bsky.social ! My story follows two veterans walking the Icknield Way, 600 years apart, and a pilgrim badge that's lost and found.

A photo of text from Sick Ink, describing spiders pouring out of a doll's mouth.

Probably "Delirus" by @therelphian.bsky.social ... If you're into spiders or cursed dolls, why not try spiders AND cursed dolls? 😱(Available in the incredible Sick Ink collection:
amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNKZZVH8)

If you read anything today, read this. Gorgeous soil and fungi prose, masterful worldbuilding 💚

Thanks so much, Jo!