Victoria Hayward
@writervh.bsky.social
Writer / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Birds / 🍸
Warhammer 40K Darktide / Black Library Author / Lancaster University Creative Writing Scholarship PhD Student 🌈
All views her own, she/her
https://linktr.ee/WriterVH
Warhammer 40K Darktide / Black Library Author / Lancaster University Creative Writing Scholarship PhD Student 🌈
All views her own, she/her
https://linktr.ee/WriterVH
Please enjoy this nuthatch hatching a whole nut 🖤
January 7, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Please enjoy this nuthatch hatching a whole nut 🖤
Meet Lobelia, a magnificent Eurasian Griffon Vulture at World of Wings in Cumbernauld!
She's currently in training & doing very well at not eating people's welly boots (mostly).
It was a pleasure to meet her - she was very boisterous & playful. Vultures are always fabulous & she is especially so 🖤
She's currently in training & doing very well at not eating people's welly boots (mostly).
It was a pleasure to meet her - she was very boisterous & playful. Vultures are always fabulous & she is especially so 🖤
January 3, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Meet Lobelia, a magnificent Eurasian Griffon Vulture at World of Wings in Cumbernauld!
She's currently in training & doing very well at not eating people's welly boots (mostly).
It was a pleasure to meet her - she was very boisterous & playful. Vultures are always fabulous & she is especially so 🖤
She's currently in training & doing very well at not eating people's welly boots (mostly).
It was a pleasure to meet her - she was very boisterous & playful. Vultures are always fabulous & she is especially so 🖤
My New Year read was @adamroberts.bsky.social very clever & very scary Lake of Darkness which gave me the mega creeps by chapter 2 but which I couldn't stop reading.
It's beautiful & horrible and I recommend/don't recommend reading it in a remote forest depending or not whether you value sleep...
It's beautiful & horrible and I recommend/don't recommend reading it in a remote forest depending or not whether you value sleep...
January 3, 2026 at 11:25 AM
My New Year read was @adamroberts.bsky.social very clever & very scary Lake of Darkness which gave me the mega creeps by chapter 2 but which I couldn't stop reading.
It's beautiful & horrible and I recommend/don't recommend reading it in a remote forest depending or not whether you value sleep...
It's beautiful & horrible and I recommend/don't recommend reading it in a remote forest depending or not whether you value sleep...
A brisk and bright start to the New Year aboard a Victorian steamship on Loch Katrine (whisky compulsory, it was gorgeous but very cold! ❄️)
...Then home for some writing! 🖤✍️
...Then home for some writing! 🖤✍️
January 1, 2026 at 8:27 PM
A brisk and bright start to the New Year aboard a Victorian steamship on Loch Katrine (whisky compulsory, it was gorgeous but very cold! ❄️)
...Then home for some writing! 🖤✍️
...Then home for some writing! 🖤✍️
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Grateful to reflect on a busy author year! ✨️
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
December 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Grateful to reflect on a busy author year! ✨️
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
Grateful to reflect on a busy author year! ✨️
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
December 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Grateful to reflect on a busy author year! ✨️
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
💀2 x Warhammer anthos
💀 1st translations of my work
💀 Buying Joe Haldeman a drink at WFC
💀 Signing books at Warhammer Tokyo
💀 Working on more Darktide
💀 Deathworlder in 2024's top 10 Black Library books
💀 Year 1 of PhD done
💀 Chatting 40K stories on WHTV
This was my Warhammer festive read - an absolute banger from Dan 🖤
Lovely character work & super evocative. It kept me guessing until the end and chomping through a *lot* of Christmas chocolate as the tension ramped up 😂 🍫
Lovely character work & super evocative. It kept me guessing until the end and chomping through a *lot* of Christmas chocolate as the tension ramped up 😂 🍫
December 28, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This was my Warhammer festive read - an absolute banger from Dan 🖤
Lovely character work & super evocative. It kept me guessing until the end and chomping through a *lot* of Christmas chocolate as the tension ramped up 😂 🍫
Lovely character work & super evocative. It kept me guessing until the end and chomping through a *lot* of Christmas chocolate as the tension ramped up 😂 🍫
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
i made an illustration for it last year... go read it, great writing
December 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
i made an illustration for it last year... go read it, great writing
Wouldst thou like a grimdark festive tale from a snowy corner of Warhammer?
The Feast of Saint Luthera is available for £2.99 & your coin will buyeth more awful 40K swine than u ever knew u wanted 💀⚙️🐖
❄️
Plus
💀 Ruined castles
💀 spooky jester
💀 Decayed grandeur
💀 Flamboyant, evil king
🐖 Pig eggs
The Feast of Saint Luthera is available for £2.99 & your coin will buyeth more awful 40K swine than u ever knew u wanted 💀⚙️🐖
❄️
Plus
💀 Ruined castles
💀 spooky jester
💀 Decayed grandeur
💀 Flamboyant, evil king
🐖 Pig eggs
Black Library - The Feast Of Saint Luthera (eShort)
www.blacklibrary.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wouldst thou like a grimdark festive tale from a snowy corner of Warhammer?
The Feast of Saint Luthera is available for £2.99 & your coin will buyeth more awful 40K swine than u ever knew u wanted 💀⚙️🐖
❄️
Plus
💀 Ruined castles
💀 spooky jester
💀 Decayed grandeur
💀 Flamboyant, evil king
🐖 Pig eggs
The Feast of Saint Luthera is available for £2.99 & your coin will buyeth more awful 40K swine than u ever knew u wanted 💀⚙️🐖
❄️
Plus
💀 Ruined castles
💀 spooky jester
💀 Decayed grandeur
💀 Flamboyant, evil king
🐖 Pig eggs
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
On Christmas Eve, I’m back on the Scribes and Scrivners show on Warhammer+, talking about vampires and writing.
More here:
www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...
More here:
www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...
December 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
On Christmas Eve, I’m back on the Scribes and Scrivners show on Warhammer+, talking about vampires and writing.
More here:
www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...
More here:
www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl...
PSA - if you're in the Nottingham city centre Warhammer store you can pick up a signed copy of @robertrath.bsky.social's The Fall of Cadia (while supplies last! ;-) ) in the Black Li rary section :-) 🖤
December 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
PSA - if you're in the Nottingham city centre Warhammer store you can pick up a signed copy of @robertrath.bsky.social's The Fall of Cadia (while supplies last! ;-) ) in the Black Li rary section :-) 🖤
December 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
A veritable Exterminatus of Black Library Authors descended upon Warhammer World today!
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A veritable Exterminatus of Black Library Authors descended upon Warhammer World today!
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
A veritable Exterminatus of Black Library Authors descended upon Warhammer World today!
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A veritable Exterminatus of Black Library Authors descended upon Warhammer World today!
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
You may find that a few Black Library books in the store have now been signed ✍️
@notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @robertrath.bsky.social @noahvannguyen.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
@writervh.bsky.social just finished Deathworlder. Congratulations, that's the first book that ever made me cry.
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
@writervh.bsky.social just finished Deathworlder. Congratulations, that's the first book that ever made me cry.
Happy 50th Birthday to Games Workshop! 💀🎉
Lovely retrospective in White Dwarf including staff memories & the fun detail behind the first ever store gaming table!
What's your earliest memory of GW?
Here are two of mine - my first miniature and my first ticket to Games Day from ~20 years ago! :-)
Lovely retrospective in White Dwarf including staff memories & the fun detail behind the first ever store gaming table!
What's your earliest memory of GW?
Here are two of mine - my first miniature and my first ticket to Games Day from ~20 years ago! :-)
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Happy 50th Birthday to Games Workshop! 💀🎉
Lovely retrospective in White Dwarf including staff memories & the fun detail behind the first ever store gaming table!
What's your earliest memory of GW?
Here are two of mine - my first miniature and my first ticket to Games Day from ~20 years ago! :-)
Lovely retrospective in White Dwarf including staff memories & the fun detail behind the first ever store gaming table!
What's your earliest memory of GW?
Here are two of mine - my first miniature and my first ticket to Games Day from ~20 years ago! :-)
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Hello! I'm Victoria & I write Warhammer stories 💀
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
DEATHWORLDER: Interview with author VICTORIA HAYWARD | Warhammer Book Club
YouTube video by Arbitor Ian
m.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Hello! I'm Victoria & I write Warhammer stories 💀
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
Hello! I'm Victoria & I write Warhammer stories 💀
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
DEATHWORLDER: Interview with author VICTORIA HAYWARD | Warhammer Book Club
YouTube video by Arbitor Ian
m.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Hello! I'm Victoria & I write Warhammer stories 💀
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
If you'd like to hear about:
💀Writing for Black Library
💀Writing the first 100% consumption phase novel
💀Which is the most stylish Tyranid
💀Catachan poetry
Here's where you can hear more ⤵️
@arbitorian.bsky.social & @miramanga.bsky.social book club
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Hell's Last paperback, on sale today.
Cadia has fallen. Last to escape the hell that was the Thirteenth Black Crusade's destruction of their home world, the Cadian 101st are bloodied...
www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/m...
#MinkaLesk #CadiaStands #warhammer40k
Cadia has fallen. Last to escape the hell that was the Thirteenth Black Crusade's destruction of their home world, the Cadian 101st are bloodied...
www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/m...
#MinkaLesk #CadiaStands #warhammer40k
www.warhammer.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Hell's Last paperback, on sale today.
Cadia has fallen. Last to escape the hell that was the Thirteenth Black Crusade's destruction of their home world, the Cadian 101st are bloodied...
www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/m...
#MinkaLesk #CadiaStands #warhammer40k
Cadia has fallen. Last to escape the hell that was the Thirteenth Black Crusade's destruction of their home world, the Cadian 101st are bloodied...
www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/m...
#MinkaLesk #CadiaStands #warhammer40k
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Last week I had the pleasure of popping in to the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club (@srfantasyclub.bsky.social ) for a reading and a Q&A.
Before that, I had to figure out the right pacing. You can now find the (no spoilers) alternate reading up on Youtube (link in reply).
Before that, I had to figure out the right pacing. You can now find the (no spoilers) alternate reading up on Youtube (link in reply).
November 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Last week I had the pleasure of popping in to the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club (@srfantasyclub.bsky.social ) for a reading and a Q&A.
Before that, I had to figure out the right pacing. You can now find the (no spoilers) alternate reading up on Youtube (link in reply).
Before that, I had to figure out the right pacing. You can now find the (no spoilers) alternate reading up on Youtube (link in reply).
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Master of Rites is up for pre-order next Saturday in limited edition, hardback, French and German editions!
I’m so incredibly proud of this book, and taking on the next step in Ferren’s story has been an honour - I can’t wait to see what people think of it.
I’m so incredibly proud of this book, and taking on the next step in Ferren’s story has been an honour - I can’t wait to see what people think of it.
November 16, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Master of Rites is up for pre-order next Saturday in limited edition, hardback, French and German editions!
I’m so incredibly proud of this book, and taking on the next step in Ferren’s story has been an honour - I can’t wait to see what people think of it.
I’m so incredibly proud of this book, and taking on the next step in Ferren’s story has been an honour - I can’t wait to see what people think of it.
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Thank you for the review of my Warhammer 40K short story Nightsider Imperialis @goonhammer.com & @lenoongh.bsky.social!
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
November 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Thank you for the review of my Warhammer 40K short story Nightsider Imperialis @goonhammer.com & @lenoongh.bsky.social!
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
Thank you for the review of my Warhammer 40K short story Nightsider Imperialis @goonhammer.com & @lenoongh.bsky.social!
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
November 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Thank you for the review of my Warhammer 40K short story Nightsider Imperialis @goonhammer.com & @lenoongh.bsky.social!
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
It's in the Darkness Eternal Black Library anthology & features some of the characters from my novel Deathworlder.
So if you want more Adair, this is where you can find her;-) 🖤
Reposted by Victoria Hayward
Tank u for taking the time to review my stories! 🖤🙏
It is a much appreciated way of supporting authors and means a great deal - plus is of course a welcome motivator to hop into the ol' Black Library Rhino carpool to work and keep typing grim tales 💀
It is a much appreciated way of supporting authors and means a great deal - plus is of course a welcome motivator to hop into the ol' Black Library Rhino carpool to work and keep typing grim tales 💀
November 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Tank u for taking the time to review my stories! 🖤🙏
It is a much appreciated way of supporting authors and means a great deal - plus is of course a welcome motivator to hop into the ol' Black Library Rhino carpool to work and keep typing grim tales 💀
It is a much appreciated way of supporting authors and means a great deal - plus is of course a welcome motivator to hop into the ol' Black Library Rhino carpool to work and keep typing grim tales 💀