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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 2d

Started writing the actual first chapter for my novel yesterday. Did a bit more this evening. It's not going well, but I will say it's not going badly either. It feels good to be writing the actual book, rather than extended world-building essays and fictionalised vignettes.

#amwriting

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 4d

Rather than writing world-building planning material designed to be published as supporting blog posts, I have finally started writing the first chapter of the actual novel!

#amwriting

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Reposted by Mark Cantrell

Inspired Quill @inspiredquill.bsky.social · 5d

Big news!

Edge of Ascension (Resonance #4) is officially out and folks are already reading it! 🦊🐲🐺

You can order it now in paperback, Kindle, or ePub from our site or your favorite retailer.

#furrynovel #fantasybook #dragons #readindie #indiepress

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 6d

Ilkley Literary Festival marks 52 years of celebrating great literature with a focus on 'soft power' and the soul of Northern poetry. Read the story on my author newsletter...

markcantrellauthor.substack.com/p/theres-not...

#literature #books #booksky #authors @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 7d

Who's really encouraging attacks like the one on a synagogue? Look to our leaders
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...

Who's really encouraging attacks like the one on a synagogue? Look to our leaders

The attack in Manchester is evidence not of a rising tide of antisemitism but of something else entirely: a growing and dangerous political illiteracy being cultivated in our societies

open.substack.com

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 7d

I do like a good prologue!

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Reposted by Mark Cantrell

DARKantael 🦊 PangolinFox, Author, Streamer @pangolinfox.bsky.social · 7d

Dark spaces and strange inhabitants haunt the cast of Edge of Ascension...

A scarier piece for the beginning of the season~

The final book of The Resonance Tetralogy is released tomorrow from @inspiredquill.bsky.social!

Get your copy here: www.inspired-quill.com/product/edge...

#furlit

Cover artwork of the Edge of Ascension young adult furry fantasy novel, with a quote from the book:

"Between the dark and melted creatures it was like being held halfway into a grave, with inhabitants from somewhere else staring hungrily at the body he wasn't sure he'd get to keep."

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Reposted by Mark Cantrell

Tajja Isen @tajjaisen.bsky.social · 13d

I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...

The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus

Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it

thewalrus.ca

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 10d

This suggestion that Tony Blair becomes some kind of governor lording it over Gaza, just wondering -- does the job come with a plumed pith helmet and a bright red jacket bedecked in imperial bling?

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 11d

Politics and current affairs just keep on giving, every time I think my novel Citizen Zero is slipping out of the moment, along comes some new real-world twist to add relevance to its themes...

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

#ukpolitics #novel #dystopia #booksky

Labour plans to consult on use of live facial recognition before wider roll-out

Policing minister says government will ‘put some parameters’ around its deployment in England

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 12d

This week's post on my author newsletter is a short story culled from my archives. Hope you enjoy it...

markcantrellauthor.substack.com/p/sinners-in...

#fiction #creativewriting #shortstories #scifi

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 15d

So, let me get this straight, Labour wants to tag me with a national ID card because Keir Starmer wants to appeal to the racist gammon vote?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Keir Starmer expected to announce plans for digital ID cards

Measure could be announced as soon as Friday as government looks for ways to tackle illegal immigration to the UK

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Mark Cantrell

Hannah Fearn @hannahfearn.bsky.social · 15d

It's also worth noting that Torsten Bell - ex of this particular parish - knew this to his core, yet sat there on the flipping tellybox defending NOT lifting it.

If the people who do this research and lobby for this change then go into government and...do nothing...where do we stand? I don't know.

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 15d

Amid reports that MPs and an advisory taskforce will recommend scrapping the two-child limit on benefits, it's worth noting that this step would be the most targeted and cost-effective way for the Government to meet its aim of reducing child poverty ⤵️

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 15d

Just watched 28 Years Later, and I only have one thing to say -- where can I get one of those bone temples? I want one! It'd look really cool in the park out back.

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 19d

Scientists are 'fleshing' out the next stage of robot evolution by exploring the potential of lab-grown muscles, but will this bio-breakthrough cramp their style?

markcantrellauthor.substack.com/p/machines-m...

#technology #science #robotics #writing

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Reposted by Mark Cantrell

Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · Sep 2

A good post on the growing menace of AI-generated PR scam solicitations (I wrote about this type of scam a couple of weeks ago). Included are helpful practical tips on identifying these scams and protecting yourself todnewman.com?p=1656

When AI Becomes a Weapon: The Rise of Sophisticated Book Marketing Scams - todnewman.com

scams against writers using AI

todnewman.com

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 22d

Oh, yeah, I've had a few of those offering their 'services'. Kind of sad that the best praise I get comes from spammers. 🤣Suffice to say, I haven't replied to them.

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 22d

Enjoy the launch!

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 23d

Oops! I've basically damn near broken my author website. Tried to refresh it with a new theme, don't quite like it, tried to restore the old one I was using, can't find it... Bugger. Back to the drawing board. Oh well, it's not like the site gets any visitors any way.

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 24d

Well, wasn't that kind of the point?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK public has paid £200bn to shareholders of key industries since privatisation

Analysis reveals ‘privatisation premium’ of £250 per household per year paid to owners of water, rail, bus, energy and mail services since 2010

www.theguardian.com

Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 25d

A tiny Saxon cross unearthed in a Leeds field is telling a story about the city's early medieval past. Read the latest piece on my #author newsletter...

markcantrellauthor.substack.com/p/weve-all-g...

#culture #history #heritage #archaeology #museums #Yorkshire

Reposted by Mark Cantrell

Pete Apps @peteapps.bsky.social · 28d

Started work on this book in 2023, and it finally publishes in a fortnight. If you pre-order from this website, the sale goes to an independent book shop which helps keep them in business:

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/home...

Homesick: How Housing Broke London and How to Fix It

How Housing Broke London and How to Fix It

uk.bookshop.org

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · 29d

Am I to take it that Rachel Reeves is on the side of private equity fatcats, then, rather than we mere mortals? What a surprise...

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rachel Reeves tells private equity bosses she plans to shut down more regulators

Chancellor stopped short of saying which regulators were in government’s crosshairs

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · Sep 7

It wouldn't be Whitby without vampires, so as the town prepares to host its very first literary festival has it made room for these creatures of the night?

markcantrellauthor.substack.com/p/vampires-c...

#booksky #books #literature #readers #authors

Vampires can't partake without an invitation

Whitby hosts its very first literary festival later this year

markcantrellauthor.substack.com

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Mark Cantrell @man0words.bsky.social · Sep 6

One rejection I got that sticks in mind (if only because it kind of amuses/bemuses me) was the rather sniffy: "We don't consider children's fiction."

It wasn't, isn't, and my publisher certainly doesn't think it's for kids either. Go figure...

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