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SJ Townend

@sjtownend.bsky.social

1.2K followers 640 following 280 posts

A writer. A reader. A bit of a daydreamer. Unapologetically odd. AKA Miss, Mum, Squara. Here for the horror. Muppet me and I will unfollow. SJTownend.com BagofBonesPress.com 🇬🇧 🦋>🐦 🖤

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 10

AVAILABLE NOW!

PATTERNS - an anthology of pattern-themed HORROR.

All 2025 profit to NAPS, a menstrual disorder charity.

Paperback and e-book purchase link: t.co/zIAly7U1Dp

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 1d

Blasting out the new Taylor Swift album from my bedroom window so all my neighbours can enjoy it in case their copy of Life of a Showgirl hasn't arrived yet.

#goodneighbours :)
#taylorswift

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 2d

October not haunted enough for you yet?

After some spooky stuff?

There's a creepy story in here by me called GIVE AND TAKE that might unsettle you nicely:

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 4d

I just finished reading this. It's brilliant. That closing story! Wow.

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 6d

Oh, how exciting! I shall bring a book for you to sign!! (If you're open to signings, that is.)

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 6d

Not long until World Fantasy Con in Brighton now. It'll be my first con and I'm very excited. Is anyone else going? Any tips? Hoping to come back with lots of new books :)

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Locus Magazine @locusmag.bsky.social · 7d

We can't review what we don't receive! Check out our submission guidelines to consider sending us your work! We love small press authors and are always on the lookout for New & Notable work.

Submission Guidelines

What genres of books and stories does Locus review? We review science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative, surreal, slipstream, crossed genres, similarly themed YA, art books, and related nonfict…

locusmag.com

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Alex Woodroe @alexwoodroe.com · 8d

The Night Ship is up on Netgalley for those of you so inclined! Reviewers, friends, enemies, anyone, if that's not accessible for you drop me a line, I *am* keeping a list of who has asked and will be dropping emails shortly. ♥️

www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

As the world goes dark, smuggler Rosi and her crew sail their truck across a murky sea of nothingness.
But something hungry lurks below...

THE NIGHT SHIP BY ALEX WOODROE
PREORDERS OPEN! Coming January 20, 2026 from Flame Tree Press

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 8d

Cradled in his skyborne sanctuary, Ru watches on as his mother, her bare feet illuminated only by her swinging lantern's glow, runs towards the ladder. The earth begins to tremble. She trips. Her light dips. Ru opens his mouth to scream, but no sound comes. But their home groans. Oh, how it wails.

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 14d

Sending writing mojo your way! X

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · 14d

Drafted a short story today. In my head. But the ghost of an outline is there.

For a girl who hasn't put pen to paper for over six months, it's a start.
I'm back.
Or part of me is.

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Sep 7

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Basile Lebret writes The Void After You @evoripclaw.bsky.social · Aug 31

Tomorrow will see the release of LMS in Carnage House. A story about the End of the World, a rare topic for me.

Did you know I once tackled the subject in I'm a House but I must Scream, published by Bag of Bones - edited by @sjtownend.bsky.social - in their Step into the Light anthology?

Links 👇

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Tenebrous Press @tenebrouspress.bsky.social · Jul 31

Order WE LIKE IT CHERRY today, and Alex will HAND DELIVER YOUR COPY TO YOU, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD***

***(citation missing)

store.tenebrouspress.com/products/we-...

WE LIKE IT CHERRY **Preorder** - a novel by Jacy Morris (softcover, in

Documentarist Ezra Montbanc thinks he's hit the jackpot when he receives an invitation to document the rites of a mysterious, hitherto unknown tribe: the Winoquin, who reside in the harrowing, inhospi...

store.tenebrouspress.com

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 31

Before they make you feel better. Best to confide in a loved one/close friend before you start taking meds so they can keep an eye on you along with your GP etc. Best of luck. And well done for reaching out and asking for help...first step to feeling better! X

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 31

I'm in England. Your GP will probably ask you to complete a short questionnaire to assess how depressed/anxious you are. If you score high, they'll probably offer you meds there and then. Low dose to start, and will ask to see you again a few days/ a week later. SSRIs can make you feel weird/worse

Im.in

Reposted by SJ Townend

Kev Harrison @kevharrison.bsky.social · Jul 31

I've just queued up tomorrow's @thisishorror.bsky.social news, but while you wait, take a look at last week's edition: www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-u...
Your Last Sunset by @sjtownend.bsky.social - out now @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social ...

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News Round-up Week Ending 25 July 2025

Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Out now from author S J Townend and Sley House Publishing, Your Final Sunset This newest collection …

www.thisishorror.co.uk

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thanks for sharing this, Kev x

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 28

It's being republished by Pebumbric Magazine at the end of the year! Thanks for sharing, Basile. Made me smile :)

Reposted by SJ Townend

Daniel Mowery @dmowerywrites.bsky.social · Jul 26

⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of Step into the Light, from Bag of Bones Press, ed. @sjtownend.bsky.social

"A clever and consuming anthology of daylight themed horror, proving once and for all that evil and fright are not merely shadows, but irrepressible and diurnal."

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Daniel Mowery's review of Step into the Light

4/5: Step into the Light is a clever and consuming anthology of daylight themed horror, proving once and for all that evil and fright are not merely shadows, but irrepressible and diurnal. “This time,...

www.goodreads.com

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Odin Meadows @odinmeadows.bsky.social · Jul 26

"From inside, came the tips of fingers, then the hand, like a houndstooth glove extending between the folds of crumpled clothes in the bottom of the closet..." read Houndstooth now in the Patterns anthology edited by @sjtownend.bsky.social. mybook.to/patternspape...

A houndstooth glove reaching out from the crack of a door.

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Reposted by SJ Townend

Die Laughing Magazine @dielaughingmag.bsky.social · Jul 25

If you're feeling rushed today, why don't you slow down a bit and read the first free story from Issue 4 of Die Laughing Mag? No, slower than that. Slower. Slooooowwwwwwer..... Check out "You Always Drive Too Fast" by @sjtownend.bsky.social!

dielaughingmag.com/2025/07/25/y...

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 23

Thanks, Andy! X

SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 23

Thank you so much for this post, Mark. Only an idiot like me would forget their own book launch!!!! Xxx

Reposted by SJ Townend

Mark Peters @markpeters.bsky.social · Jul 23

Out now! YOUR FINAL SUNSET is the 2nd short story collection by the eminently talented @sjtownend.bsky.social . Includes “I Have Seen Seven Bad Things” as the lead tale, a haunting story you won’t soon forget.

Cover art for Your Final Sunset by SJ Townend. Shows an orange-ish sky with the shadows of bodies seeming to float in the air.

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SJ Townend @sjtownend.bsky.social · Jul 23

Happy to say that my story, QVC, has just been selected for reprint by the most excellent Penumbric Magazine!
🖤

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