94 posts in Books that are creative work and self-promotion, where the model is sure of the intent. Page 1 of 3: the top 7, then 14 the model is less sure belong here.
Ranked Bluesky · Mastodon
About 5 in 10 posts here get an intent label; the model only labels the ones it is sure of.
A Dark Matter is the first in Doug Johnstone’s Skelfs series. The Skelfs are three women: grandmother, mother, & daughter who, upon the death of the paterfamilias, find themselves running an Edinburgh-based funeral home & private investigation service. Dark, funny, thrilling. ⚡️📚💙
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A photograph of the British paperback edition of Doug Johnstone’s novel A Dark Matter, sitting on a cozy wool blanket: perfect cold weather reading material.
7) Narrative Voice I'll share a snip from my short story collection (that one that comes with my newsletter). It's one of the few times I write in first person. And if you're thinking "Silver, this sounds like Ace Attorney with Dragons," I say "Yes, and?" From "Turncoat": #LitHodgePodge
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“What do you want?” A young cave dragon stood before me. Very young, barely more than a child, with pure white scales. And she needed my help. “I’m here to defend you.”
The child looked up at me. Her eyes were pink. A true albino, then. She was unusual, in more ways than one. “That can’t be true. They told me no one would defend me. That defending me would be career suicide.” “Well, regardless, here I am. My name is Alistair.” She looked back down and mumbled. “Crystal,” I caught. Of course I already knew her name. What I didn’t tell her was that I was a rookie defense attorney and this was my first case. I didn’t have any career to ruin by taking her on. Was I crazy? Probably. But I could not stand by and let her face her accusers alone. That’s what defense attorneys were for! I opened my case notebook. “We don’t have much time. The trial is tomorrow. Can you tell me what happened?” The young dragon looked down at her claws. “Well, I couldn’t sleep last night…”
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The next morning, I entered the lobby right on time. It wouldn’t do to be late to my first trial! I looked around for my client and found her in the corner.
Her wings were tucked tightly against her back and she had wrapped her forearms and tail around herself. She looked so small and scared. I slowly slid up next to her and cleared my throat to announce my presence. She flinched and didn’t look up. “You ready?” I asked her. Just then, the bailiff came into the room to fetch us for the trial. I walked beside my client into the courtroom. My eyes swept around as we took our places at the defense bench. My heart sank. Presiding over the trial was Rockayus: the High Dragon himself. This case was indeed as bad as I’d heard. The High Dragon did not involve himself in everyday, ordinary cases. This one had become an overnight sensation, and the High Dragon was treating it with due gravity. What had I gotten myself into? Rockayus banged his gavel on the podium. “Court is now in session for the trial of Apprentice Mage Crystal. Is the prosecution ready?” From the other side of the well, the prosecuting dragon nodded. “The prosecution is ready, High Dragon.” Before I could contemplate my opposition, the High Dragon continued. “Is the defense ready?” “The defense is ready, Your Honor, I mean High Dragon.” I felt my face flush as I cursed myself for my blunder. Rockayus peered down at me. “Defense, approach the bench, if you would.” Wincing, I bent down to whisper to my client. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right back,” and did as I was bid. I stood in front of the High Dragon, trying not to betray how badly I was shaking. Be strong for your client. Never let them see your fear, I repeated my lessons to myself.
My first academic journal article came out in Anarchist Studies four years ago. It has long since been posted on the Anarchist Library where you can read it for free: "From the Ashes of the Old: Anarchism Reborn in a Counterrevolutionary Age (1970s-1990s)" theanarchistlibrary.org/librar… Abstract: After almost a century of Marxist predominance, how did anarchism develop from a marginal phenomenon into a force at the centre of the anti-globalisation movement? This article explores how anarchism was reborn in a counterrevolutionary age.
Part one investigates how the New Right’s post-1960s counterrevolution defeated the New Left and remade US society, including by recuperating potentially liberatory elements of social movements. Part two examines how a new generation of radicals critiqued the failures of Marxism-Leninism and popularised the anarchist analysis and principles that provided the foundation for the anti-globalisation movement. The article discusses five examples of the development of anarchist theory and practice: Black/New Afrikan Anarchism, anarcha-feminism, eco-anarchism, punk anarchism, and revolutionary social anarchism. Ultimately, the article argues that anarchism was revitalised in the late twentieth century because it provided compelling answers to the new problems posed by the neoliberal counterrevolution and the crisis of state socialism.
A world of Ballardian abandoned aerodromes and Shakespearean body counts, where everyone has a terrible time except the reader. Me on Eoin McNamee’s The Comets, which might appeal to fans of David Peace, James Ellroy and Cormac McCarthy;
New book review! I finished reading EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF and rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 4). david.reviews/books/everyone-i… #books #bookstodon #review #davidreviews #davidreviewsbooks
Hermes was a bad god, a shifty fellow, a liar, a thief, a teller of the future (with dice, of course), a musician, herald and messenger of the gods… —Norman MacCaig, “Hermes-Mercury” published in THE POEMS OF NORMAN MACCAIG (Birlinn, 2009) birlinn.co.uk/product/the-poem… #Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #20thcentury #NormanMacCaig #Hermes #Mercury #Wednesday #Roman #Classical
Can somewhere be loved to death? My new novel ‘Bridge of Sighs’ is a fast-paced contemporary murder mystery set in Edinburgh and northern Scotland. Balnakeil Bay, in north-west Sutherland, offers a superb beach leading to Faraid head, seen in the distance. It plays a background role in the story. Find out more on my website: kenlussey.com/bos/index.html #Books #Bookstodon
The model is less sure these belong here, so they sit outside the ranking.
Now I'm working a fantasy, I call a character Vh-Uee. How would you pronounce that? What's the silliest name you've ever used? #writing #characters #AmWriting #fantasy
I've been short-listed for an award for the first time ever! It's "writer of the year" at the PPA awards. Here are the three pieces I submitted >>> ppaindpub.co.uk/2026/en/page...
25 days from now (10/31), I will have survived another solar cycle by some miracle. As usual, your well wishes and continued support have always meant the world to me, however, if you *want* to gift me something this month, here are a few suggestions: 1) Amazon Wishlist: a.co/0cnsJbdj I keep my Amazon wishlist pretty well updated with gift ideas. I know that Amazon is evil so if you prefer to buy something off the list from somewhere else and need my mailing address, you can DM me. 2) Patreon: www.patreon.com/lbbryant It would mean the world to me to get some new subscribers on my Patreon. Even if you only sign up for the "free" level right now, more eyes on my writing works would really cheer me up.
Coming to FantasyCon? Come say hi! I love to met new people, and I also baked SNAKESTONE COOKIES. Here's my schedule.
Black Autonomy vol. 3 no. 1 anarchistfederation.net/black-…
The Autumn issue of 2600 is now out!! 2600.com/content/autumn-issue-…
Published today - "Herrschaft kommunizieren Versammlung und Beratung im Früh- und Hochmittelalter", a set of essays edited by Matthias Becher and Phillip Merkel. www.vandenhoeck-ruprecht-verlage.com/themen-entde...
Calling all Static Shock fans! Static is back in the DC universe and @wegotissues.bsky.social breaks down why this is bigger than you think! ►iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w... ►Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5f31... ►YT: youtu.be/ya6gDFH7sL8?... ►SC: on.soundcloud.com/jBo7tGQ22un9...
"And so, having cracked and shattered beyond repair, Hope split herself into countless tiny shards, so that each and every soul could carry her with us into the great struggle we call Life." —The Start of All Things
We're delighted to announce that our first edition Issue One is now 'live' to read at corollarysf.com Please take a look. We are now collecting submissions for Issue Two, which is scheduled for release in January 2027.
Get a free copy of Machines of Consent! 🥰 prismata-press.itch.io/machines-of-...
Cliffjumper was going to head to his hab for the night, but it seemed his work wasnt done. He sighed, going through this thread and the others. Censoring content and context from the Cybertronian populace. As he did everytime it came to one of the higher ups. Last time it was for Ultra. -
Don't mind the decay Forest floor fragrance afoot An unawkward path #haiku #poetry #micropoetry #decay
"Sages say #sin is disobedience; immoral selfishness. Sin led to downfall. Looking from the other side, downfall was gravity, motion, direction. Without down, no up. Sin is to create, decide, shape, choose," he waved me over, "Come look from here. You decide. Who's guilty? Vote up or down?" #vss365
