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Steve Toase

@stevetoase.bsky.social

4.1K followers 460 following 2.1K posts

Writer based in Franconian Forest, Germany Fortean Times comics reviewer published at Tor.com Shimmer 3LBE, Lackington's, Lead writer on Haunt www.stevetoase.co.uk To Drown in Dark Water from Undertow Publications Dirt Upon My Skin from Black Shuck Books

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · May 1

Dirt Upon My Skin, my archaeology themed horror collection, is still available direct from the publisher @blackshuckbooks.bsky.social for the grand total of £5.99 for the paperback, or £1.49 for the ebook.

That’s 59p a story for the dead tree version or less than 15p a story in electrical form!

The cover of Dirt Upon My Skin by Steve Toase

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Reposted by Steve Toase

PJ Holden @pauljholden.com · 6h

Not mad busy so I’m going to do some detailed pencil sketches. First one! JOhn Constantine!

Pencil drawing of John Constantine. A ma looking tired with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Unshaded with spiked hair and a single earring.

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Reposted by Steve Toase

gm0rk.bsky.social @gm0rk.bsky.social · 1d

I remember someone once said that Reznor sang it with all the angst of the young person that he was, and that Cash lent it all the pain and regret of living sixty years as Johnny fucking Cash.

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 1d

The speed and booze addicted dressed in black playing raw live shows in prisons with a voice like god almighty himself guy is “deeply uncool”? What

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 1d

Compared to Dylan and Springsteen, country-music legend Johnny Cash can seem deeply uncool. It took time for me to appreciate his profound, plainspoken strength, writes Jon Fasman.

Essay | Can We Finally Give Johnny Cash His Due?

Compared to Dylan and Springsteen, the country-music legend can seem deeply uncool. It took time for me to appreciate his profound, plainspoken strength.

on.wsj.com

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Trix @trixranderson.bsky.social · 1d

Carrying on our theme of weaponry, I thought we'd take a short look at spearheads for today's Viking Camps #FindsFriday. Why just a short look? Because we really don't have many spears, and they're all only from one camp.

This is DB1423, one of the three possible spears from the camp at Torksey. /1

A finds photograph of a corroded iron spearhead, find DB1423 from the Viking Great Army camp at Torksey, Lincolnshire.

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 1d

Todays garden visitors, so far, have been seven magpies and two jays (at the same time), two goldfinches on the sunflower heads, and a woodpecker that didn't hang around long. There was a crow that didn't come into the garden, but I suspect is supervising the corvids.

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 1d

Ooof, that's cheeky, and that's being generous...

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 1d

Here's a great conversation between @archaeodeathprof.bsky.social and my good friend @trixranderson.bsky.social

Archaeodeath @archaeodeathprof.bsky.social · 15d

Hunting for the Viking Great Army with Trix Randerson @trixranderson.bsky.social youtu.be/qO10bpuU8p0

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Archaeodeath @archaeodeathprof.bsky.social · 1d

The Archaeology of Ghorman Pride - Andor Series 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGZE... See also my blog-post howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/a...

The Archaeology of Ghorman Pride - Andor Series 2

YouTube video by Archaeodeath

www.youtube.com

Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 1d

I'm trying to get some writing done, but this morning we had seven magpies and two jays feeding in the garden. It felt like I was in a Charles de Lint novel, and honestly, it's very distracting. However, it bodes well for my corvid army.

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Horrific Scribblings @horrificscribs.bsky.social · 1d

NEW SCRIBBLING ALERT! @stevetoase.bsky.social, who joined HORRIFIC SCRIBES with the #surreal "Dental Hygiene," returns with "Húsið Mitt," a story about rarefied dining that won four hearts for extremity. Very imaginative! Read for free: horrificscribblings.com

#horror #foodhorror #extremehorror

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 1d

A new Jeff Noon book is a very exciting event!

Angry Robot Books @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social · 2d

More moon related cover reveal action (though a different moon).

Coming on the 12th of May 2026 the new novel from Jeff Noon, award-winning author of Vurt and the Nyquist novels.

A new Noon is a cosmic event.

A cover reveal panel for Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon. The cover features two interlocking orange spheres on a black background, the lower one shows a pointed tower in front of an orange moon. The accompanying text reads: "Magical contemporary fantasy meets fantastical memoir in the new novel from a cult favourite author, Jeff Noon" and "12th May 2026."

Reposted by Steve Toase

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 2d

Fishing some 5,300 years ago: a Neolithic fishhook made of wild boar tusk, wrapped with a fishing line.
The size of the fishhook is 6.5 cm. It was used to catch pikes.
Found in the lake-dwelling settlement of Arbon Bleiche 3, Switzerland.

On display at Archäologisches Museum Frauenfeld

📷me

🏺

The picture shows a fishhook made of wild boar tusk. Only the curved, pointed end and the upper part are visible. The rest is wrapped in fishing line. The fishing line is made of twisted bast.

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

Note: Does not contain dentists, but if you're squeamish about teeth it might not be the story for you.

Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

If you missed it before, you can read my story Dental Hygiene in the latest Exhibit from @horrificscribs.bsky.social. horrificscribblings.com/exhibitfour/

Horrific Scribes, Exhibit Four: Pests and Puppetmasters

This exhibit moves through threats that cling, forces that devour, creatures that inveigle, and parasites that control.

horrificscribblings.com

Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

If you missed it before, you can read my story Dental Hygiene in the latest Exhibit from @horrificscribs.bsky.social. horrificscribblings.com/exhibitfour/

Horrific Scribes, Exhibit Four: Pests and Puppetmasters

This exhibit moves through threats that cling, forces that devour, creatures that inveigle, and parasites that control.

horrificscribblings.com

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 2d

A great article from Rachel, who really understands the heart and soul of Dad’s work.

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Stephen G. Rae @stephengrae.bsky.social · 5d

In Cumbrian dialects, 'broc' is badger

Badger is held in high esteem and 'brocan' means wise man. In lore, badgers protect against witchcraft and other evils

more in: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/

#NationalBadgerDay #folklore
art: Lily Seika Jones

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Reposted by Steve Toase

Kieron Gillen @kierongillen.bsky.social · 2d

I'm reminded of this scene I wrote in Darth Vader, which is born of me pitching "Okay - the reason Droids don't generally beat humans in Star Wars is they don't have blood, as that's where midichlorians are. So, how about syringe-powered vampire robots?" and (rightfully) being told no, kieron, no.

Page from Darth Vader 19, drawn by Salva Larocca. Triple Zero makes a speech to scare the humans attacking teh robots, claiming all the robots are definitely NOT vampires.

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

"The Black Widow" Episode 20 overall.

Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

@dieworkwear.bsky.social have you seen this? Found on FB from Meagan Mcgovern on FB.
Some hints
Editor: Print
Banker: Checks
Fisherman: Netting
Gardner: (sic) Lawn
Clockmaker: Ticking
Dairyman: cheesecloth
Storytellers: Yarn
Farmers and “grosgrain”
Might be from a theatre seamstress.

A sheet of paper with 13 fabrics pinned. In order
1. Prisoner
2. Editor
3. Clergyman
4. Banker
5. Fisherman
6. Gardner
7. Clockmaker
8. Dairyman
9. Soldier
10. Farmer
11. Undertaker
12. Sight-seer
13. Story-teller

Reposted by Steve Toase

The Ghost Monk @theghostmonk.bsky.social · 4d

An enormous scary tree in an illustration by Nikolai Vorobiev for a 1970s book on Russian folk tales. I'm embarrassed that I know nothing about the story because it looks cool. However, the picture seemed ideal for #ThickTrunkTuesday.
#folklore #legends #folktales #illustration #Russian

A gigantic tree with eyes waves claw-like branches menacingly as a knight on horseback, dwarfed by its size, prepares to fire an arrow. Crows are flying around.

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 2d

I love that this episode of Twin Peaks is rated for age 6 and above.
“Let me know when Paw Patrol is finished. I’ve got a new series I think you’ll love!”

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 3d

The whole thing has not been publicly posted yet - just sent out to participants ahead of time with the nod to share details.

Reposted by Steve Toase

Writeopolis @writeopolis.bsky.social · 3d

This Sunday! 8:30pm! Live in the Discord with @stevetoase.bsky.social

Join us for talk of horror, archaeology, motorbikes, vintage cocktails and cake!

discord.gg/TnVuER79

The cover of Dirt Upon My Skin by Steve Toase, featuring a black background and a circle with a pattern made up of brown trowels in the centre

A black and white photo of Steve Toase wearing a biker jacket with bare trees in the background

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Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 3d

There are never enough hours for the TBR pile. Last week I had time to read a book in a single day, and it felt like such a luxury.

Steve Toase @stevetoase.bsky.social · 3d

Some novellas are also twenty flash fictions in a trenchcoat. I think rhythm and pace also has a lot to do with it.