Donna Scott
@wishusdonna.bsky.social
540 followers 380 following 550 posts
Writer. Editor of Best of British Science Fiction and other things. Chief word wrangler at The Slab Press. Occasionally a comedian. www.donna-scott.co.uk
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wishusdonna.bsky.social
I have the image in my mind of you opening packets, pouring them into plastic pumpkin containers, then proffering these to the kiddies who come round saying "Trick or Treat".
Reposted by Donna Scott
chalkscribblers.bsky.social
Only two days before US-based literary agent Sheyla Knigge @sknigge.bsky.social joins us to comment on pitches and answer questions. Join us online this Friday if you have one of those pitches or questions. Cover charge £5.
#amwriting #amquerying

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1663223750...
Chalk Scribblers meet the agent: Sheyla Knigge
A talk, pitching session and Q&A with Sheyla Knigge, a literary agent at the US-based HighLine Literary Collective.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
wishusdonna.bsky.social
Books on the Hill - my favourite bookshop people!
You will probably come out with a load of tea!
wishusdonna.bsky.social
Very good. Mitch shared this an hour ago, and it has likely already had a bigger audience than some of the comics did in Riyadh in their echoey theatres.
wishusdonna.bsky.social
Also, that's an excellent bowl.
wishusdonna.bsky.social
People my own age never remember this one. Or Mr. Rossi.

youtu.be/G238WjBNY74
wishusdonna.bsky.social
"What, The Running Man? Not another remake, surely. Have we no new ideas...?"
*watches trailer*
*sees "Edgar Wright"*
*Hears ELO*
🤩Right, I don't care how busy November is. I'm going to go and see that! 🎥🏃
a man wearing a brown jacket with a red collar is smiling
Alt: a man wearing a brown jacket with a red collar is smiling
media.tenor.com
wishusdonna.bsky.social
For anyone going to World Fantasycon in Brighton this year, here is the list of all the places you can find me that aren't the dealer's room. Or bar, to be honest.
Woman smiling in glasses and Metallica t-shirt

Text: Donna Scott - World Fantasy Convention 2025 Appearances.
Friday 31st October - Noon - Launch of Hiding Under the Leaves Balmoral 1
Friday 31st October 7pm - Publishing Demystified Balmoral 2
Saturday 1st November 4pm Reading - The Fool's Grave Gloucester 2
wishusdonna.bsky.social
I am an eternal child. There was a treasure hunt at recent trips to Whitby Abbey and The Titanic Museum that I did. Did I have a child with me? No! Did I do them? Yes! At Whitby one of the volunteers even came over and started helping me. Look, I didn't say I was good...
hetanshah.bsky.social
This is such a clever idea on taking kids to museums/galleries
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Nadia from London has an idea that sounds such fun you'll be booking a day out asap.
"I've always loved museums," she says,
"but they can be overwhelming for children. For decades now, I've done something called 'playing postcards'
We do
the museum backwards, visiting the gift shop first. Each child gets to choose three postcards. Then they take it in turns to find that particular artwork in the museum and give us a little information about the piece from the details on the postcard, or from any gallery plaque. At the end of this treasure-hunt-style activity, we vote for our favourite in the cafe."
Reposted by Donna Scott
frazerlee.bsky.social
Day ticket booked & I’ll be at the @theslabpress.bsky.social launch of ‘Hiding Under The Leaves’ on Halloween 🎃 🍂 Look forward to seeing some of you there!
Reposted by Donna Scott
epiphanyferrell.bsky.social
I’ve got a story in this one!
theslabpress.bsky.social
It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is STRONG. #BookQW #BookSky
Hiding Under the Leaves is launching at World Fantasycon on Friday 31st October. Release date 3rd November. Pre-order now Amazon/Barnes and Noble: ISBN 9781738426867
“What the fuck, man, what are you doing in my house?”
Mateo roared, his voice scratchy and raw.
He sprang out of the bed straight at Jimmie, fast as a
coiled snake. Mateo caught Jimmie at the waist, his strong
arms holding him in a bear hug. Jimmie beat him with the
dead rabbit, pummelling so hard with it for a moment he
thought it, too, had come back to life.
The two men crashed to the floor. Mateo was bigger and
stronger, but Jimmie was meaner. And Mateo’s legs were
tangled up in bed sheets. Jimmie rolled away from Mateo,
got to his knees and swung the rabbit at Mateo again and
again. He’d forgotten what he held in his hand, only feeling
that it was a weapon. He lost his grip on the rabbit, and it
smacked against the wall. Mateo reached up with his hands
for Jimmie’s throat. He was on his back, Jimmie with a knee
on either side of him. Jimmie dropped down onto Mateo’s
stomach. Mateo grunted, the air driven from his lungs and
his grip on Jimmie weakened.

Epiphany Ferrell - Muddy Water  - Hiding Under the Leaves.
Forthcoming from theslab.press 3rd November 2025


Book details: Black cover with red leaves and white badger skeleton
wishusdonna.bsky.social
I recognise this horror snoclone!
wishusdonna.bsky.social
Sorry to hear that. I would hover somewhere between 8 and 11 and brace for the stampede.
wishusdonna.bsky.social
I'm particularly annoyed by the ad for AI where someone puts "too much sugar in the gochujang pasta sauce" and AI suggests the meal can be rescued by making "cookies". Just no! Stop! Go to the library and go through some cookbooks, you freak!
youtube.com/shorts/i4w5d...
Stop Thinking Right Now!
YouTube video by Michael Spicer
youtube.com
wishusdonna.bsky.social
The Publishing is being very kind on the words side today, but not so much the printing side. I have at least got an auto-reply with some numbers I can shake at the problem next week.
wishusdonna.bsky.social
Ugh - hot chocolate and well wishes to you!
Reposted by Donna Scott
shonak.bsky.social
My 12yo has burst 3 pairs of shoes in 2 weeks and now needs both school shoes/boots and trainers immediately. Please buy my books so that I can keep this child shod
wishusdonna.bsky.social
The River Nene, or maybe Cogenhoe.
merriam-webster.com
What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?
Reposted by Donna Scott
rainewilson.bsky.social
🐙 1 month till THE SALT ORACLE is out🐙

So here's a closer look at the fab oracle cards by @hibernalbeast.bsky.social. I am very in love with the digital ghost orca ngl, they *have some fun* in the book! 🫢

Check out the preorder giveaway below too 👇🏽
An oracle type card with a border that's partly octopuses, jellyfish and fish skeletons & the title 'judgement'. The image is of two flying ravens against a backdrop of sea and giant tentacles. Same card design, title 'The Oracle'. Image is of a white teenage girl in tatty clothes, with long pale hair rising around her, lightning filled eyes and her hands raised as if in distress. Behind is a railing and the distant sea Same card design, title 'vengeance'. Image is an orca surrounded by static and with patches of pixelation, swimming down, holding some burning wreckage in its mouth, with more in the background. Same again, title 'the choice'. Image shows main character 'Auli', a white woman with black hair standing in a fog filled library holding a clipboard in one hand and a raised storm lamp in the other. She's looks a bit anxious
Reposted by Donna Scott
jimrion.com
I'm a Japanese to English #translator whose "general" work has vanished, but I do cultural articles (like on Nippon.com) etc. Lately, I've been translating novels, especially the mystery/horror works of author #Uketsu: Strange Houses, Strange Pictures, and coming soon, Strange Buildings!
Click it!
Reposted by Donna Scott
queex.bsky.social
The word for this week's #BookQW is STRONG. Eilert is not enjoying his time back "home".
Fulmorn, Maestro Bass, pretended not to notice me as I entered. He had three of his students with him, favoured not for their aptitude with their voice but for their eagerness to share his bed. I did my best to keep my distaste hidden.

Katka, Maestra Soprano, with the face of an angel. It belied her proclivities behind closed doors. She took a special interest in her most talented students, and when they became full cantors they were, without exception, brilliant, disciplined and irreparably broken.

Dieuwke nodded at me. Before she had started drinking in earnest her unusually deep voice had been the most powerful the Cathedral had seen in generations. She had never quite returned to her full strength even after getting her consumption under control.

Athol, Maestro Alto. His thin, expressionless face said that if he had any vices, they were so rarefied as to be almost unrecognisable as such. He had propelled himself into becoming the undisputed first among equals in his twentieth year, and was still going strong a century later. I knew to fear him above all else.