Wow, Humble Bundle is always a total treasure trove but this is on another level.
A friend of mine started me on Pratchett with Feet of Clay and totally drew me into Discworld as a whole, despite being the third book in the City Watch series!
(Cont.’d)
Mostly, I couldn’t work out why Harold’s wristwatch was important to the original manuscript. Since it’s his saving grace in the end, it seems like the narration about it was purely for our benefit; Harold never reacts to those comments.
At any rate, this one was a great date night flick!
(Spoiler:)
I’m probably reading too much into it, but it seemed to me like there was a sort of dual timeline narrative going on:
1. The narration Harold hears is from the original, in-progress manuscript
2. The narration we hear (especially about the wristwatch) is from the rewrite at the end
…
Just rewatched Stranger than Fiction (2006) last night, and WOW, what an enchanting flick. Will Ferrell is unrecognizable, the love story doesn’t have a lazy wrench chucked in the gears, and the supporting cast bring some depth!
(Spoiler down below for my favorite part)
#movies #writingcommunity
It was an absolutely killer one-season show back in 2002-2003 starring (among others) Nathan Fillion! It only had 14 total episodes but this book really brought the show back to the front of my mind.
Worth a watch, but a bit more gun violent than the book we’re talking about, so fair warning!
I loved this one! It was like a collection of vignettes; really felt like Firefly the show the book.
I think we’ve moved past “Lust” being considered a sin, but “Gluttony” seems to still be a weight against our collective necks under the new name “Overconsumption”.
In fact, “Apathy” could really just be a modern rebrand of “Sloth”, though I feel distinctly stronger emotions about the former.
There are plenty of arguments for the 7 Modern vs. Ancient Wonders of the World; but I wonder what the 7 Modern Deadly Sins would be, especially in regards to evoking strong emotions in horror.
Surely Apathy is at the top of the list? ✍️
#writingcommunity #horrorwriting @writingcommunity.bsky.social
In honor of the cyclical nature of time (especially on Groundhog Day), here’s some excellent advice from one of my favorite out-of-print calendars: Dreyer’s English (2022), from @bcdreyer.social
“Passive Voice Is to Be Avoided”
#writesky #writersofbluesky @writingcommunity.bsky.social
It’s excellent, top-to-bottom. One of the wonderful booksellers at The Strand in NY suggested it as a follow-up to Buffalo Hunter Hunter (by Stephen Graham Jones) and I’ve been raving about “Never Whistle…” ever since!
I just saw that on your page! I’ve been really taking my time with ‘Never Whistle…’, so it’s exciting to hear that there’s another whole collection coming down the pipeline!
The entire Never Whistle at Night anthology absolutely rocks, but ‘Behind Colin’s Eyes’ by @shanehawk.com sat me straight down. A killer, close-perspective trip into the woods in a subtly desperate search for dinner gone way wrong.
#booksky #horror @booksky.bsky.social
Killer spot! What’s the drink of choice? I have a local spot with a lot of plants and sunlight that does an excellent cortado—no better way to get writing than a shot of pure caffeine!
Seconded!
The Phoenix airport really knows what’s up. @stephenking.bsky.social and @sgj.bsky.social? Someone’s got killer taste in here.
#booksky #horrorlit #horrorwriters
Wow, Seattle’s gorgeous! Between the sunrise on Mt. Rainier and the fog boiling up out of the Sound to spill over downtown, I’m seeing nothing but killer views on this work trip!
#betweenrainandsnow #travel #cascadia
Dr Kareem Carr man: i wish to publish @kareem_carr Jan 21 reviewer 2: your paper is no good man: i'll do anything to improve reviewer 2: it's simple. you must read the work of the great scientist Pagliarini man: *bursts into tears* but i am Pagliarini Andre Pagliarini @apagliar Jan 21 a first: in rejecting an article I submitted to a journal, reviewer 2 noted I failed to engage the work of one Andre Pagliarini Jan 21, 2026 • 3:47 PM UTC
I just thought everyone should see this
2026 Fiction Submissions Strange Horizons January 19 to 21
Strange Horizons fiction submissions open next Monday!
The window will be open for 48 hours from 3 p.m. UTC on January 19th 2026 to 3 p.m. UTC on January 21st 2026.
There will be no cap.
More information on submitting, including the link to our Moksha portal ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti...
I’ve always enjoyed Poirots as great road trip companions; nothing to do but listen and keep track of the odd suspicious side-character. Which three did you end up saving for last?
That’s the one! I really dig the theme of this contest, so I think the winning stories will be right up my alley whether I’m included or not!
Interesting! Is this a semester reading list in the works?
Wow, that’s got to be striking…like it’s all dipped in blood. Seems like a Dracula special edition sort of bonus!
Hey, I was shortlisted in this one, too! Glad to have found a kindred spirit for this contest—best of luck to you and your Big Moose!
I have no doubts about that! This is the kind of cover I’d see in a rental store whose movie would end up scarring me for years. Great horror novel energy!
WOW, I love the cover on this one. Looks like an 80’s horror VHS!
I always thought the hate was overblown. They ended up right where they belonged! The trial may have been a little much and all, but I think the end result is overall satisfying for me—they’re still complaining about the same inane stuff as always, even behind bars.
Was it controversial? I guess I haven’t really dug into discussion feeds about it very deeply, but I’ve only heard overall satisfaction from those I know who finished it!
Cool concept! How did you find the publishing process? Was this self-pubbed?
Killer excerpt! I love the name “Treetop Hollow”, too. It immediately evokes the same resolute/solitary forest vibes that the excerpt highlights!
And what does Bessica think of the first draft? Was her attention ra(p)t?
