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cpcwrites.bsky.social
Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
@cpcwrites.bsky.social
380 followers 180 following 680 posts
Author, Editor, Hovercraft Enthusiast. THE NIGHTSHADE CABAL released 2020 by Parliament House Press. Best First Novel finalist, Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence. (He/Him)
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cpcwrites.bsky.social
Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @cpcwrites.bsky.social · Mar 24
Hi, new friends and follows! I'm Chris, and I write stuff. My book, The Nightshade Cabal, is an historical urban fantasy mystery tale set in 1880s Halifax. It was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada 'Best First Novel' award!
From @parliamentbooks.bsky.social

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
Image shows the cover of The Nightshade Cabal against a chalkboard background with a light blue skull. Captions read: "Victorian Era Mayhem and Mystery, Thrilling Inventions, Reanimated Corpses, Found Family, Dueling Spellcasters, Canadian Setting, Surly Fae, and Award Nominated." The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It. was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance.
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Author pals, here's yet another reason to insist on a No-GenAI clause in your contracts: your work may be disqualified from awards if your publisher slaps an AI cover on your book.

In this case, it seems like the publisher didn't know the "designers" they hired used AI in their "process." Still...
bookspotlight.bsky.social Indie Book Spotlight @bookspotlight.bsky.social · 10d
What an appalling choice by the publisher to submit gen AI covers for their authors' books to a CONTEST, and I'm glad the awards pushed back against the use of gen AI and disqualified them. Heartbroken for the authors who didn't know, though.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/b...
These Books Were Judged by Their A.I. Covers, and Disqualified
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Now more than ever!
tenebrouspress.bsky.social Tenebrous Press @tenebrouspress.bsky.social · 10d
🔥 COVER +TITLE REVEAL + SUBMISSIONS OPEN🔥

YOUR BODY IS A FEVER DREAM: A Cosmic Body Horror Anthology from Trans & Gender Nonconforming Voices

A Charity collection coming in October 2026🖤☠️🏳️‍⚧️

Art by @mxmorgan.com

All the info here: tenebrouspress.com/blog/2025/11...
Cover art, a swan alights on a cosmic celestial sea, the sky in the colors of the trans rights flag
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, I pledge to never forgive and never forget the cowardly and cruel actions of this Alberta government.

Make no mistake, Bill 9 will destroy lives.
#ABLeg #ABPoli #TransRightsAreHumanRights
#FireTheUCP #DanielleSmithIsUnfitToLead
The Transgender flag bearing the words "This Bill Will Kill," in reference to Bill 9, the so-called "Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act" which invokes the Notwithstanding Clause to prevent court challenges.
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
It was the 1980s and there were so many, but
November 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Someone asked me recently if I hear a voice in my head while I'm writing. I do, but it's not my own. Depending on what I'm working on, my internal narrator when I'm writing usually sounds like either David Tennant or Stanley Tucci.

How about you?
a bald man says " go ahead your turn " in front of an amazon logo
Alt: Stanley Tucci smiles and says "Go ahead, your turn."
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
The UCP are going to drop their shiny new anti-trans Bill 9 on the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, aren't they?
#abpoli #ableg
November 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
skyloftsword.bsky.social
"The Zelda movie actors just look like people playing dress up". Yeah I think that's how live action movies work.
November 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
"It was a very cold night."
Weaksauce.

"It was the coldest night Jane could remember."
Better, makes it personal.

"Jane clutched her flimsy jacket, pulling it tight around her shivering shoulders. Her breath had frozen her scarf solid. Frosted wool scratched her chin."
Now the reader feels it!
November 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Where did you learn to fly?
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Narcissists never admit, acknowledge, or even realize when they're in the wrong.
Poilievre says he is not reflecting on his leadership style after MP defections | CBC News
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday he is not reflecting on his leadership style after two MPs announced they were leaving his caucus — including one who cited the leader's "negative" ...
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
cpcwrites.bsky.social
If you hadn't heard, Canada's venerable On Spec Magazine is wrapping things up after 35yrs. Their next issue will be their last.

Thank you to everyone at @onspecmag.bsky.social for providing a platform for Canadian speculative fiction writers! And, as a reader, thanks for all the great stories!
Canada’s premier speculative fiction magazine calls it a day after 35 years | CBC Arts
Edmonton-based On Spec, which showcased authors like Julie E. Czerneda, Tony Pi and a young Cory Doctorow, will publish its final issue in December
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
That's a shame dot gif.
U.S. tourism faces $5.7B US loss as Canadians continue to stay home | CBC News
Many Canadians continue to boycott travel to the United States, and the U.S. economy is paying the price. A U.S. Travel Association report forecasts a 3.2 per cent decline in international tourism spe...
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
If you hadn't heard, Canada's venerable On Spec Magazine is wrapping things up after 35yrs. Their next issue will be their last.

Thank you to everyone at @onspecmag.bsky.social for providing a platform for Canadian speculative fiction writers! And, as a reader, thanks for all the great stories!
Canada’s premier speculative fiction magazine calls it a day after 35 years | CBC Arts
Edmonton-based On Spec, which showcased authors like Julie E. Czerneda, Tony Pi and a young Cory Doctorow, will publish its final issue in December
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
The world's first trillionaire?
Cool, I guess, but a Nazi's still a Nazi.
newschambers.bsky.social Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 23d
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
If I were a more popular/profitable writer, I would commission art of all my characters and have them printed up like 1980s trading cards, then seal them in wax packs to give away at readings and events.

Anyway...

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
cpcwrites.bsky.social Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @cpcwrites.bsky.social · Mar 24
Hi, new friends and follows! I'm Chris, and I write stuff. My book, The Nightshade Cabal, is an historical urban fantasy mystery tale set in 1880s Halifax. It was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada 'Best First Novel' award!
From @parliamentbooks.bsky.social

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
Image shows the cover of The Nightshade Cabal against a chalkboard background with a light blue skull. Captions read: "Victorian Era Mayhem and Mystery, Thrilling Inventions, Reanimated Corpses, Found Family, Dueling Spellcasters, Canadian Setting, Surly Fae, and Award Nominated." The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It. was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance.
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Even in space, Daylight Savings week be like...
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
This one has been on my TBR pile for far too many weeks already!
I'll need to dig into it over the weekend, maybe.
Join me in a read-along?
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
peterrosch.bsky.social
my latest MS is under consideration with my publisher, any chance kind words from @saderotica.bsky.social @pnwscribe.bsky.social or @scribeofhades.bsky.social gets you to grab my debut today is a chance I’ve got to take! a.co/d/9zhXl43 if you already have, review it, and thank you! 🙏
November 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
cjdaleywrites.bsky.social
I have a preorder up for the sequel story to Welcome to Cemetery!

Off with their Sleds is a fun, dark Christmas mystery just in time for the holidays.

Signup and read for free (& early)
mailchi.mp/c4252cf5668d...

Or preorder now! $0.99
books2read.com/u/3yn96p
November 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
gabino.bsky.social
It’s #FridayReads time! Let’s boost all signals. Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. I’m sharing this one because it’s very timely, helped me land an agent, was a Stoker nominee, was published in France and Italy, and it’s 30% off!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
November 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
I never really thought about it, but I guess it makes sense that someone had to invent the saxophone.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolphe...
Adolphe Sax - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:20 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Sometimes I think about all of the great comic book characters who are out there languishing unused and forgotten by their huge corporate owners, and get a bit sad.

(This post is mostly about Death's Head, but it's also about Prime and Sludge and Mantra and about a hundred others.)
November 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
I did it once and I have to believe I can do it again.
gabino.bsky.social Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 25d
Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.
November 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
"No person should ever do what they do to win awards, because their work will reek of desperation and therefore never ring true. Or, in the case of a chef, taste good."

- Stanley Tucci
November 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Yeah, the waiting is the hardest part
November 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM