E.M. Faulds / Beth or Taxes
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bethkesh.bsky.social
E.M. Faulds / Beth or Taxes
@bethkesh.bsky.social
2.6K followers 760 following 8.6K posts
Award-winning Scottish science fiction & fantasy writer. Podcastle, Strange Horizons, Shoreline of Infinity, ParSec, ECO24 anthology. More info: emfaulds.com
#scruffyGarden
Runs @bibliotta.bsky.social
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bethkesh.bsky.social
My favourite part is the change of font. Makes it so much more believable when you follow up with your marketing advice.
Email continued: " I should also share who I am and why I am writing. My name is Bertha Empress and I am the author of the blog Why Good Books Fail. The Real Reason Your Readers Cant Find You. My focus is on market research reader search behaviour and understanding why strong thoughtful books often struggle with discovery long after publication. I write for authors like you who care deeply about community and impact and who sense that the gap is not the work itself but how it is being encountered. If you are open to replying I would love you to answer one simple question for yourself and for me. In one sentence who do you believe Bring Me Home is truly for right now and what feeling do you think they are searching for when they go looking for their next read. That clarity alone can reveal whether a visibility or alignment gap exists. What comes to mind when you think of that reader today? Best Regards, Bertha E. Writer | Market Researcher Writer of the blog 'Why Good Books Fail: The Real Reason Your Readers Can’t Find You' "
January 30, 2026 at 5:38 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Got one of those AI book club scam emails. Sent to my personal email and a work one unrelated to my writing, which is creepy, it blew a lot of smoke up my arse with stuff scraped off my blog, or just made up to pump my ego. Anyway, "Bertha Empress" I reallly don't think you're that into my novella.
An email filled with AI word salad that attempts to play off a writer's ego. "Hello Beth. I wanted to reach out because Bring Me Home feels like one of those quiet powerful stories that lands softly but stays with you. It speaks to readers who love spaceships and feelings and who want science fiction that trusts them to sit with moral complexity instead of spectacle alone. Those readers exist right now and many of them are tired and searching without knowing your novella is already waiting for them. 🌍📘 A lot of readers today are worn down by noise and hype. They are not looking for the loudest story but for one that understands distance sisterhood and the cost of choice in a future that feels uncomfortably close to our own. Your work matters because it offers intimacy hope and recognition without asking readers to drown in the enormity of existence. As you once said you write stories about humanity with friendship and solidarity and hope thrown in so readers can feel and recognise. That is exactly what many people are quietly craving. Bring Me Home published in May 2025 carries that balance beautifully. Two sisters divided by geography and power an unintended ability that changes everything and a world shaped by climate and access all wrapped in a novella that trusts the reader. It is precise thoughtful and emotionally grounded which is a strength but also part of why it can slip past casual discovery in a market that often rewards exaggeration. ✨ In terms of positioning your work sits comfortably alongside writers like Ann Leckie Becky Chambers and N.K. Jemisin yet with a distinctly Scottish grassroots sensibility. Readers who seek feminist near future speculative fiction and subtle political themes are already reading and recommending books using that language. The challenge is not comparison or quality but whether Bring Me Home is intersecting with those exact reader conversations at the right moment. Those readers gather in places you already value like commu
January 30, 2026 at 5:36 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Just watched No Other Choice at the cinema, and it was excellent. Cackling at the dark humour and great deadpan performances. First time back to the cinema for quite a while so I'm glad it was this. Definitely no 1 in my top three best paper mill industry dark comedy films. 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Official film poster for Korean film No Other Choice, dir Park Chan-wook
January 29, 2026 at 10:17 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Here's Angie speaking about storytelling!
Author Angie Spoto, centre, speaking into a mic. Left is Christopher Caldwell, right is Lorraine Wilson. All are seated in a book store. Books are propped up to display their covers.
January 22, 2026 at 7:37 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Readings from all! Missed picture of Angie's, damnit. But all brilliant.
Christopher Caldwell, author, reads from his new collection, Call and Response. Fellow panellist, Angie Spoto listens. Lorraine Wilson reads from the Salt Oracle, her new book. To her left, Angie Spoto listens. To her right, Elaine Gallagher
January 22, 2026 at 7:27 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
At An Evening of Scottish Speculative Fiction in Waterstones Glasgow Argyle Street for three brand spanking new books from @seraph76.bsky.social, Angie Spoto, @rainewilson.bsky.social (@theelaineg.bsky.social chairing)
Photo of a book event in a book store. Behind a row of tables, left to right are authors Christopher Caldwell, Angie Spoto, Lorraine Wilson, Elaine Gallagher
January 22, 2026 at 7:18 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Well this was interesting.
Reply to post marked by bluesky as needing translation to German. Original post says "I would give you an health too, but I'm experiencing sinus issues and ever crusty nostrils". None of it is in German.
January 21, 2026 at 8:15 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
This used to be a site where we looked at food and judged it. Here's a throwback for you. Food.
Ramen soup. A dark broth, visible ingredients are edamame, pepper, halved boiled eggs covered in thick dark sauce, mushroom, sliced bbq pork.
January 19, 2026 at 8:07 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
THAT'S what it reminds me of
Family Fortunes meme. The host, Les Dennis asks, "Name a bird with a long neck." The contestant, answering as AI (llm) says, "giraffe planes are common birds known for their long necks. Indigenous to the British isles..." It's a play on the time that question was answered by a contestant "Naomi Campbell" considered to be one of the funniest ever answers.
January 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
May I offer you a duck in this trying time?
Icy pond with many waterbirds: mallards, tufted ducks, coots, seagulls etc, all flocking at the edge of a large hole in the ice where they bob and paddle.
January 8, 2026 at 12:48 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
After the band broke up
Three white swans standing on an icy lake, looking in different directions. One waljs off left. One feigns ignorance, right. The centre swan looks at the reflection between his flippers. Behind a castle slash palace. A swan, contemplates the meaninglessness of existence in its reflection on an icy Scottish loch's frozen, mirrored surface.
January 7, 2026 at 9:52 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
New album cover dropped.
Three white swans stand on an icy loch with Linlithgow Palace in the background.
January 7, 2026 at 2:45 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Proof of life 😁
The Scottish South African fantasy author CL Hellisen standing by a small loch with an arch of winter-bare weeping willow branches overhead. The loch is icy, the author is warmly dressed.
January 7, 2026 at 12:49 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
I'm a weirdo who likes taking pictures out of grubby train windows.
Sunrise over British countryside. Trees in motion. A road swoops down to the bottom. Orange and blue clouds, silhouettes dark green. Verdancy in winter.
January 7, 2026 at 9:05 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Decided to go full scooby snax with the boxing day sammich. Turkey, stuffing, cheese, crunchy salad, pickled red cabbage, chutney and mayo. If I'd had ham and roast potatoes left those would go in too.
A sandwich. White bread cut triangularly on a wooden board, stuffed messily with ingredients as per the post.
December 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
I decorated a plain tote bag for a present sack and I'm happy how it turned out. Hope Santa Roo has been kind to you.
X
A hand-drawn kangaroo on a natural cotton coloured tote bag. It is holding a red Santa sack and its ears are jauntily flattened by a red Santa hat with white pompom on its drooping point and fluffy white trim. It is waving and its pouch has extra presents and candy canes. It is sticking its tongue out derpily and waving.
December 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Eating like crap recently. Time for some healthier fare. At least until Christmas.
A bowl of veg, meat, eggs, rice.
December 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Came up with a few ideas for secular activities (rituals?) to mark the winter solstice. Or new year, I guess.

I'm a terrible artist but it brings me pleasure, and this is mostly for me. But if you want to, do your own terribly drawn list, with your own ideas!
Hand illustrated list by E.M. Faulds. Format for each item is tile, illustration, supporting text. List Title "things to do on a winter's solstice". 1. Tidy and clean. A broom sweeps up some crumpled paper. "Good health, good hygiene, peace of mind, find that thing". 2. Candles / lights. A yule log with candles. "Careful, don't set your world on fire, eh?" 3. Meditate. An incense burner with a lit stick. "On who you want to be, how you want next year to go? What is in my power to change?" 4. List stuff. Bullet points say "bad out, good in" then "good in, bad out" twice. "Hobbies, habits, recipes, exercise, ambitions, where I need help, recipies, opportunities." 5. Write a song. Musical notes and a lyric, "On midwinter did a maiden sit..." "Or a poem, or a story, or a joke, or an xmas card, or tweet it, or take a piccie, or dress up nice, or do makeup n hair or..." 6. Dance. A figure dancing with abandonment in jeans and a shirt, feet splayed, arms flung wide, hair blown back. "Like joy depends on it. (Unless it hurts you.)" 7. Repair. A text balloon and a hammer crossed with a sewing needle and thread spool. "Words and deeds. Where it's broken, arrange a mend. Talk to a friend. Maybe inside you could use a loving hand. Remember, you can't fix everything." 8. Give. A bank note with a monarch's head and arrow indicating outward movement. An arrow points at the money, "do some good for once, you". 9. Eat (drink, be merry). A cup of tea and a slice of toast. "Simple food is ok too. Non-alco bevvies are still drinks." In the corner, a small round brown sweet. "(Maybe the odd bon bon)"
December 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Here's a graphic for my personal categories, but also a link for full lists including anthologies and artists and editors who should also get their flowers! 💐It's like the credits at the end of the film...
emfaulds.com/news/end-of-...
Graphic with colourful blue to orange gradient. Text reads "E.M. Faulds 2025 awards eligibility. Best Short Story: "Godzilla as a Young Man Named Mike" - July 2025, PodCastle, "Hand of Fire" - June 2025 Fission #5, BSFA. Best Novella: "Bring Me Home" (in Wiz Duos Book 2)- May 2025, Wizard's Tower Press.
December 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Well, guess this is happening. The version number seems apposite.
( Waterfox is a version of Firefox without AI shoved in, so if you're unhappy with the latter's pivot to AI, perhaps you'll be trying this today, like me.
www.waterfox.com/download/ )
A screenshot of the Waterfox browser download page. The version number for the software is 6.6.6
December 17, 2025 at 10:05 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Thought about it for a hot minute
A tshirt design template with "Terrifying ghost-haunted sewer pipe" in drippy text.
December 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Not now, Great Britain Quake-o-meter

(source: allquakes.com/earthquakes/...)
From allquakes.com linked in post: Title: "Great Britain Quake-O-Meter" Text over graphic: "Has seismic activity increased or decreased? Number of quakes: 8." A graphic of a meter with needle pushing towards red, numbered 0 at one end, 9 at the maximum. The legend is "Number of quakes vs Average." Next to it, text over graphic: Seismic Activity: +22%" A graphic of a meter with needle pushing towards a little over average, numbered -100 at the green end, 100 at the maximum, 0 in the middle, so needle at about 22% above average. The legend is "Seismic activity vs average" A third bar shows the meaning of the colours, green is "below average", grey is "normal range" and red is "above average". Text below them both reads "Updated just now" Explanitory text follows. Title: "Number of quakes" A small box out to the side summarises: "UP by 274%" Detail text: "The total number of quakes above magnitude 1 that occurred in or near Great Britain during the past 7 days was 274% more than usually (8 in total vs 2.1 on average). How significant is this? The average number (0) of 2.1 quakes was obtained from 100 preceding 7-day intervals and has a standard mean deviation (σ) of 2.4. The mean deviation is a measure of the typical amount of variation, or spread, of a single data set compared to its average. In this case, the deviation (5.9 more quakes than on average) is unusual. Interpretation: There is a clear increase in detected quakes during the past 7 days. In particular, there was a strong increase in smaller quakes of magnitudes around 3."
December 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Weird that Nigel Farage was picking on the kids of a Scottish city about language etc. Scotland remains one of the whitest parts of the UK. We need more diverse voices, not fewer. That fash wank can do one.
(Source: populationdata.org.uk/population-o...)
Screen capture of webpage (linked in post, PopulationData.org.uk): Section title: "Scotland Ethnicity" Section text reads: "White is the largest single ethnic group in Scotland, comprising 96.02% of the population. Further to this 83.95% of people reported that they were White: Scottish. A further 7.88% reported that they were White: Other British. Other major ethnic groups reported in the 2011 census were Asian (2.66%), African (0.56%), Mixed (0.37%), Other (0.27%) and Caribbean or Black (0.12%). The chart below shows all groups with more than 0.5% of population" Bar chart showing population breakdown as: "White 96.02%; Asian 2.66%; African 0.56%" Text continues: "Scotland is less ethnically diverse than the UK as a whole. Across the entire United Kingdom 13% of people reported in the 2011 census but they were not White. In Scotland only 4% of people reported that they were not White."
December 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
Saw a hunting heron on the way to drop the little feller off in the brush, so not a bad walk.
A great heron, a tall grey bird on the bank of a brown watered stream. It is almost hidden in some small saplings. The picture is very late autumn. Or early winter. A slightly closer shot of a heron. It stands patiently at the riverbank behind some yellowing grass. It looks (and was) a kind of soggy day.
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
bethkesh.bsky.social
I'll wade in, I guess. Please do read the alt text.
Anakin and Padme meme. Anakin states "I think pirating books is okay, actually." Padme, smiling, says "at least you leave a good review and repost on socials, right?" Anakin deadpans, saying nothing and Padme, shocked, says "right?" And no, I am not personally endorsing book piracy, (are you on crack?), merely pointing out the entitlement hypocrisy of the kind of people who'll download a book, illegally, for free, and not even bother to do the author they've stolen from the bare minimum effort in return. Because fuck art, I guess. I mean, you even got AI to go make you a sloppulent version of any damn book in the world, but still you gotta steal from writers, artists, editors, small book publishers... Please get some damn empathy. You think art should be free? Fine, I think your car should be free, gimme the keys.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM