Tom Coombe
@calmtomb.bsky.social
Horror writer, occasionally funny
Pinned
Tom Coombe
@calmtomb.bsky.social
· Nov 23
The Clown King and Other Stories of the Pre-Apocalypse|Paperback
Something's coming...A teenage horror fan searches for the origins of a too-real, homemade slasher film. Two siblings inherit a statue that draws worshippers from around the world. A struggling restau...
www.barnesandnoble.com
Thank you to everyone who has picked up a copy of my first short story collection. Your interest is much appreciated, a rare bright spot in a grim year.
This isn’t even like one of situations where there’s a new Jurassic Park in theaters and they put out a ripoff called “Dinosaur Island.” This came out 7 years after the first film and 3 after its sequel. Someone just really wanted to make a 28 Days Later-style movie.
February 6, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This isn’t even like one of situations where there’s a new Jurassic Park in theaters and they put out a ripoff called “Dinosaur Island.” This came out 7 years after the first film and 3 after its sequel. Someone just really wanted to make a 28 Days Later-style movie.
I know this isn’t the quite same thing, but I have to think all the restaurant owners he barked at for serving frozen food have to see this and chafe just a little.
February 5, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I know this isn’t the quite same thing, but I have to think all the restaurant owners he barked at for serving frozen food have to see this and chafe just a little.
Two play throughs of “Run-Around” by Blues Traveler would make me give up state secrets.
Fuck your favourite song. Tell me your least favourite song. The one that makes you die inside the moment you hear the first 3 seconds.
February 4, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Two play throughs of “Run-Around” by Blues Traveler would make me give up state secrets.
Waking to a fox scream outside my girlfriend’s window at like 3 am. Like the old guy says in Close Encounters of the Third Kind: “It made a sound I would not want to hear twice in my life.”
What’s the worst *short-lived* scare you’ve ever had? Where you were genuinely freaking out but then it was all ok within minutes?
I had a literal moth get trapped inside my ear for about 40 seconds. I was screaming. Then it was out.
I had a literal moth get trapped inside my ear for about 40 seconds. I was screaming. Then it was out.
February 3, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Waking to a fox scream outside my girlfriend’s window at like 3 am. Like the old guy says in Close Encounters of the Third Kind: “It made a sound I would not want to hear twice in my life.”
The Boogie Nights soundtrack is near perfect
I've been on a big soundtrack kick lately. What are some of your favorite movie soundtracks that go unreasonably hard? I'm not talking about score, but licensed music.
The Guest and Empire Records are usually my go-tos, but I want more. GIVE ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
The Guest and Empire Records are usually my go-tos, but I want more. GIVE ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
February 3, 2026 at 8:35 PM
The Boogie Nights soundtrack is near perfect
Reposted by Tom Coombe
For You tab on X: woman possess secret chemical of evil. do not speak woman! light of christ be that woman be silence.
Discover tab on Bluesky: I quite enjoy movies on a night in, particularly dramas, thrillers, and comedies.
Discover tab on Bluesky: I quite enjoy movies on a night in, particularly dramas, thrillers, and comedies.
February 3, 2026 at 6:02 PM
For You tab on X: woman possess secret chemical of evil. do not speak woman! light of christ be that woman be silence.
Discover tab on Bluesky: I quite enjoy movies on a night in, particularly dramas, thrillers, and comedies.
Discover tab on Bluesky: I quite enjoy movies on a night in, particularly dramas, thrillers, and comedies.
Reposted by Tom Coombe
Finally had time to finish The Clown King by @calmtomb.bsky.social. Happy endings? Not here. Every ending is frozen in a sickly yellow amber of dread, despair and horror. Highly recommend this unique collection of terror tales!
The Clown King and Other Stories of the Pre-apocalypse
Check out The Clown King and Other Stories of the Pre-apocalypse - <p>A teenage horror fan searches for the origins of a too-real, homemade slasher film. Two siblings inherit a statue that draws worsh...
bookshop.org
February 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Finally had time to finish The Clown King by @calmtomb.bsky.social. Happy endings? Not here. Every ending is frozen in a sickly yellow amber of dread, despair and horror. Highly recommend this unique collection of terror tales!
A whole media ecosystem devoted to telling a dying Nazi, “No, they’re saying ‘boo-urns.’”
Kayleigh: My mom went to see Melania. She said the theater was packed, it was standing room only. People were cheering through it, they were excited. It was interactive—people interplaying with the film. She said it was just electric.
February 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM
A whole media ecosystem devoted to telling a dying Nazi, “No, they’re saying ‘boo-urns.’”
Nice to see my library calling attention to an under-the-radar author.
February 2, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Nice to see my library calling attention to an under-the-radar author.
My Legion of Doom for awful music has been unchanged for the better part of 30 years:
Dave Matthews Band
Hootie and the Blowfish
Blues Traveler
Matchbox Twenty
Blink 182
Dave Matthews Band
Hootie and the Blowfish
Blues Traveler
Matchbox Twenty
Blink 182
I want five bands you can't fucking stand
1. Blink 182
2. Fall Out Boy
3. Panic At The Disco
4. I Hate Billy Joel So Much
5. That I Will List Billy Joel Twice
1. Blink 182
2. Fall Out Boy
3. Panic At The Disco
4. I Hate Billy Joel So Much
5. That I Will List Billy Joel Twice
February 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
My Legion of Doom for awful music has been unchanged for the better part of 30 years:
Dave Matthews Band
Hootie and the Blowfish
Blues Traveler
Matchbox Twenty
Blink 182
Dave Matthews Band
Hootie and the Blowfish
Blues Traveler
Matchbox Twenty
Blink 182
Reposted by Tom Coombe
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Reposted by Tom Coombe
The man circling our property with a megaphone, repeating "We are all called to the river," is not affiliated with the casino.
January 30, 2026 at 5:51 PM
The man circling our property with a megaphone, repeating "We are all called to the river," is not affiliated with the casino.
Reposted by Tom Coombe
On one hand, the richest people in the world are sociopathically accumulating wealth instead of helping those in need, but on the other hand they're Nazis and pedophiles
January 31, 2026 at 4:50 PM
On one hand, the richest people in the world are sociopathically accumulating wealth instead of helping those in need, but on the other hand they're Nazis and pedophiles
Five jobs I’ve had:
- Dishwasher
- Cafeteria worker
- Factory worker
- Taking pictures for a law firm who was trying to sell abandoned homes
- Reporter
- Dishwasher
- Cafeteria worker
- Factory worker
- Taking pictures for a law firm who was trying to sell abandoned homes
- Reporter
Five jobs I’ve had:
- corn detasseler
- theater concessionist
- bookstore clerk
- television PA
- screenwriter
- corn detasseler
- theater concessionist
- bookstore clerk
- television PA
- screenwriter
5 jobs I’ve had
- clerk at video rental place
- receptionist at stroller factory
- retail and marketing assistant at shopping mall
- intl sales manager at single use surgical device manufacturer
- illustrator
- clerk at video rental place
- receptionist at stroller factory
- retail and marketing assistant at shopping mall
- intl sales manager at single use surgical device manufacturer
- illustrator
January 31, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Five jobs I’ve had:
- Dishwasher
- Cafeteria worker
- Factory worker
- Taking pictures for a law firm who was trying to sell abandoned homes
- Reporter
- Dishwasher
- Cafeteria worker
- Factory worker
- Taking pictures for a law firm who was trying to sell abandoned homes
- Reporter
The Melania movie addresses this in detail.
Oh look, it's Melania emailing Ghislaine, praising a profile of Jeffrey Epstein, and signed Love, Melania.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
January 30, 2026 at 9:47 PM
The Melania movie addresses this in detail.
Reposted by Tom Coombe
My story “The Teeth of America” (free at michaelwehunt.com/2020/05/31/t...) imagines the beliefs of white supremacists transmuting them into literal monsters. But as grim as this story was years ago, it failed to predict how fully the alignment of the U.S. government with such evil could be.
January 30, 2026 at 2:53 PM
My story “The Teeth of America” (free at michaelwehunt.com/2020/05/31/t...) imagines the beliefs of white supremacists transmuting them into literal monsters. But as grim as this story was years ago, it failed to predict how fully the alignment of the U.S. government with such evil could be.
I was right to hate 90% of my classmates.
Backing up The Argument in NYT/Siena, Gen X still has an astonishing 49% approval for Trump (!), while Boomers have dipped to 42%.
Gen X is currently tracking at 12 pts to the right of the electorate on the generic ballot. Now 9 pts to the right of Boomers, which has to be the largest gap ever.
Gen X is currently tracking at 12 pts to the right of the electorate on the generic ballot. Now 9 pts to the right of Boomers, which has to be the largest gap ever.
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 PM
I was right to hate 90% of my classmates.
Reposted by Tom Coombe
PI and FOLLOWING both came out in 1998 and it’s so funny 25+ years later that Christopher Nolan is editing a huge blockbuster epic shot entirely on film with IMAX cameras for cinemas while Darren Aronofsky is using AI to produce some dogshit special called “Thomas Edison: The Light Bulb Boy!”
January 29, 2026 at 6:36 PM
PI and FOLLOWING both came out in 1998 and it’s so funny 25+ years later that Christopher Nolan is editing a huge blockbuster epic shot entirely on film with IMAX cameras for cinemas while Darren Aronofsky is using AI to produce some dogshit special called “Thomas Edison: The Light Bulb Boy!”
Yeah, let's all listen to the guy still young enough to be covered by his parent's insurance.
January 29, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Yeah, let's all listen to the guy still young enough to be covered by his parent's insurance.
Reposted by Tom Coombe
The janitor who carved “Remember the story of Bluebeard” into all the fifth floor closets has been fired.
January 26, 2026 at 9:32 PM
The janitor who carved “Remember the story of Bluebeard” into all the fifth floor closets has been fired.
Five ‘70s flicks that you love and return to time and again:
Black Christmas
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A Clockwork Orange
The Taking of Pelham 123
Black Christmas
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A Clockwork Orange
The Taking of Pelham 123
Five ‘70s flicks that you love and return to time and again:
All the President’s Men
Dawn of the Dead
Rocky
Star Wars
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
All the President’s Men
Dawn of the Dead
Rocky
Star Wars
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Five ‘70s flicks that you love and return to time and again:
Suspiria
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Harold and Maude
Carrie
Dawn of the Dead
Suspiria
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Harold and Maude
Carrie
Dawn of the Dead
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Five ‘70s flicks that you love and return to time and again:
Black Christmas
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A Clockwork Orange
The Taking of Pelham 123
Black Christmas
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A Clockwork Orange
The Taking of Pelham 123
Reposted by Tom Coombe
Thanks for a fun #HorrorWritersChat @greethewriter.bsky.social !
1. Shamelessly plugging my newest story "Onions" out on The Brussel's Review Dark Anthology.⤵️
1. Shamelessly plugging my newest story "Onions" out on The Brussel's Review Dark Anthology.⤵️
January 28, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Thanks for a fun #HorrorWritersChat @greethewriter.bsky.social !
1. Shamelessly plugging my newest story "Onions" out on The Brussel's Review Dark Anthology.⤵️
1. Shamelessly plugging my newest story "Onions" out on The Brussel's Review Dark Anthology.⤵️
Reposted by Tom Coombe
Just finished up my proofreading round of IN THE DOLLHOUSE WE ALL WAIT. Coming soon April 2026!
-THE NANNY DIARIES x HOSTEL 2
-Extreme horror/splatterpunk
-Music box ballerinas and teddy bears, in the worst way
-The rich really are different
#HorrorWritersChat
-THE NANNY DIARIES x HOSTEL 2
-Extreme horror/splatterpunk
-Music box ballerinas and teddy bears, in the worst way
-The rich really are different
#HorrorWritersChat
The fens shiver. Baleful green fires sprout out of the burial mound. Hand-shaped roots crawl through the earth.
You emerge, a shadow in the entrance, a burning dagger, and a burning head, in your hands.
Your vengeance continues… next week.
#HorrorWritersChat
You emerge, a shadow in the entrance, a burning dagger, and a burning head, in your hands.
Your vengeance continues… next week.
#HorrorWritersChat
January 28, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Just finished up my proofreading round of IN THE DOLLHOUSE WE ALL WAIT. Coming soon April 2026!
-THE NANNY DIARIES x HOSTEL 2
-Extreme horror/splatterpunk
-Music box ballerinas and teddy bears, in the worst way
-The rich really are different
#HorrorWritersChat
-THE NANNY DIARIES x HOSTEL 2
-Extreme horror/splatterpunk
-Music box ballerinas and teddy bears, in the worst way
-The rich really are different
#HorrorWritersChat
Reposted by Tom Coombe
#HorrorWritersChat
Thanks for the fun chat!
Plugging my drabble which won the December drabble contest from Anomaly and is up today!
www.patreon.com/posts/decemb...
Thanks for the fun chat!
Plugging my drabble which won the December drabble contest from Anomaly and is up today!
www.patreon.com/posts/decemb...
January 28, 2026 at 8:39 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
Thanks for the fun chat!
Plugging my drabble which won the December drabble contest from Anomaly and is up today!
www.patreon.com/posts/decemb...
Thanks for the fun chat!
Plugging my drabble which won the December drabble contest from Anomaly and is up today!
www.patreon.com/posts/decemb...
Reposted by Tom Coombe
#HorrorWritersChat
Thanks so much Gree! Very good questions that make me think!
As usual I have stories on my Itch page for those interested. Two short stories and my book The Assassins Raven, all free to download. (Hopefully more to put on there soon).
anna-verner.itch.io
Thanks so much Gree! Very good questions that make me think!
As usual I have stories on my Itch page for those interested. Two short stories and my book The Assassins Raven, all free to download. (Hopefully more to put on there soon).
anna-verner.itch.io
January 28, 2026 at 8:41 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
Thanks so much Gree! Very good questions that make me think!
As usual I have stories on my Itch page for those interested. Two short stories and my book The Assassins Raven, all free to download. (Hopefully more to put on there soon).
anna-verner.itch.io
Thanks so much Gree! Very good questions that make me think!
As usual I have stories on my Itch page for those interested. Two short stories and my book The Assassins Raven, all free to download. (Hopefully more to put on there soon).
anna-verner.itch.io