Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 1d

It's October, so it must be Gothic season! Check out this splendid new queer horror romance from our Heather Valentine, only available on The Pink Hydra.

@thepinkhydra.com @hexthervvv.bsky.social

www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/02022...

The Pink Hydra | Four Flowers in Formaldehyde - Heather Valentine

Four Flowers in Formaldehyde by Heather Valentine

www.thepinkhydra.com

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 1d

Hey, overseas friends! We've got a lot of spooky story news coming this week, so why not throw us a follow if you're not already?

@hexthervvv.bsky.social @neilwilliamson.bsky.social

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Luke SPELLcourt 🧙🏼‍♀️🦇✨ @lukebelcourt.com · 4d

VAMPIRES IN PARK CIRCUS!

🧙🏼‍♀️ Your favourite queer witches return!
❤️ Multiple F/F romances
🦭 The tragic end of your giant selkie gf
🦇 “I’m a vampire, you’re a witch, it can never work, and yet…”
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 More Weegie shit
🔪 Supporting women’s wrongs

CW: death, grief, toxic coping mechanisms

Luke SPELLcourt 🧙🏼‍♀️🦇✨ @lukebelcourt.com · 8d

COVER REVEAL! 🎉

After what feels like a lifetime, I finally get to show you what I've been working on the last few years! The long-awaited sequel, VAMPIRES IN PARK CIRCUS!

Coming Halloween 2025!

You can pre-order here! lukebelcourt.com/witches/two....

A photograph of the cover for Vampires in Park Circus. It is drawn in the same style as the 2025 Witches cover -- fine black lineart, but the colour scheme is red rather than teal.
A woman with long flowing black hair in a Kate Bush-esque gown runs towards the viewer. She looks behind her, afraid. Park Church Tower, a notable landmark in the centre of Park Circus, looms behind her. The same golden magic from the first book explodes from her head like psychic power.
The photograph is taken in a park, with tree cover behind it.

The epigraph to the book:

"A vampire moves to Scotland and makes friends with a local human at a bar.
'It's hard, not being able to go out in direct sunlight,' the vampire says.
'How long has it been since you've seen the sun?' the local asks.
'Since I died, nine years ago,' the vampire says. 'You?'
The local finishes his drink. 'Fifteen long years. I remember it like it was yesterday.'
- Anonymous

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 6d

Last call for the online launch of our Shona Kinsella's The Daughters of Nicnevin! Part of the BFS Online: Something Monstrous event, your ticket will get you into the full day, including Shona interviewing Scarlett St Clair!

For more details and to get your ticket, see below:
@shonak.bsky.social

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 26d

The BFS celebrates the launch of The Daughters of Nicnevin, Saturday 4th October 2025, 12:15pm to 1pm (BST).

Ticket: tinyurl.com/bfsmonster

@shonak.bsky.social @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social

#BritishFantasySociety #FantasyBooks #SFFBooks #AuthorTalk #WritingCommunity #BookParty

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British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 8d

Big news from BFS members (and leaders) @shonak.bsky.social and @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social: A new independent non-profit organisation designed to help creatives thrive in publishing. Here's @divergent-paths.bsky.social

britishfantasysociety.org/divergent-pa...

The main image shows four arrows; three are pointing up, and coloured white, while the fourth is coloured yellow and pointing to the side

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Amal El-Mohtar @amalelmohtar.com · 10d

Toronto pals! Gonna be at WOTS today for a 3:30 panel on JOURNEYS, I hope you can turn up!

toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca/events/journ...

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Journey Stories

Whether it’s a first day at school or a trip around the world, people are

toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca

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Omar Kooheji 🍉 @ohmz.bsky.social · 12d

Okay, list is shaping up pretty well… But there’s a few more spaces if people want added, will also remove if people want me to. (Limit is 150).

Folk attending @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social in Brighton next month…

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Omar Kooheji 🍉 @ohmz.bsky.social · 12d

Was about to do a promo post for @annabelcwrites.bsky.social , @gen-dimova.bsky.social , and @toribovalino.bsky.social ‘s event today, then I realised it was sold out…

Women with Warrior Hearts: Female-Led Fantasy Panel with V.L. Bovalino, Annabel Campbell, and Genoveva Dimova at Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh

www.toppingbooks.co.uk

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 13d

Good news, everyone! Cameron Johnston's got The First Mage on the Moon and here's the cover the prove it! Check out the reveal of his next Angry Robot novel over on Reactor Magazine now.

@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social

Reactor Magazine @reactorsff.bsky.social · 14d

We are delighted to reveal the cover for First Mage on The Moon by @cameronjohnston.bsky.social!

Ella is on a mission to reach the moon–even if that incurs a little blasphemy (and Unity interference). Look for it April 14, 2026 from @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social!

reactormag.com/cover-reveal...

Revealing First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston - Reactor

Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven, returns with an innovative space fantasy, where wizards race to be the first on the moon—also known as the land of the gods. We’re thrilled to share t...

reactormag.com

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 13d

Hellarkey is now sold out, but you lucky ducks you who already bagged one can check out the new story 'Ee Flow A Sustenance' from our Will Couper.

@malarkeybooks.bsky.social

Will @willcouper.bsky.social · 15d

Ye wa-an' tae read my stuff, aye, well ye kin read "Ee Flow A Sustenance" here, along wi bunch of other great stories: malarkeybooks.com/store/hellar...

Hellarkey vol. IV — Malarkey

Hellarkey IV 56 pages. 6.14 by 9.21 inches. This item will ship in September or early October. Hellarkey is a horror-themed magazine published by Malarkey every October. Each summer, mystical ed...

malarkeybooks.com

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 13d

You can also find out more about the starring characters here:

Cameron Johnston @cameronjohnston.bsky.social · 14d

Meet the crew of my upcoming space race fantasy, First Mage on the Moon! 1/2

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 13d

Good news, everyone! Cameron Johnston's got The First Mage on the Moon and here's the cover the prove it! Check out the reveal of his next Angry Robot novel over on Reactor Magazine now.

@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social

Reactor Magazine @reactorsff.bsky.social · 14d

We are delighted to reveal the cover for First Mage on The Moon by @cameronjohnston.bsky.social!

Ella is on a mission to reach the moon–even if that incurs a little blasphemy (and Unity interference). Look for it April 14, 2026 from @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social!

reactormag.com/cover-reveal...

Revealing First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston - Reactor

Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven, returns with an innovative space fantasy, where wizards race to be the first on the moon—also known as the land of the gods. We’re thrilled to share t...

reactormag.com

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 15d

Happy 71st Anniversary of the Hunt for the Gorbals Vampire, when school children gathered at Glasgow's Southern Necropolis to seek out the rumoured kidnapper of small boys!

Read our Cameron Johnston's take on the legend, Surviving Life, at the link below.

@cameronjohnston.bsky.social

A Halloween Special - Surviving Life by Cameron Johnston | Glasgow 2024

Her grandpa Rab struggled up in bed, rheumy blue eyes squinting out into the hospice corridor. Satisfied nobody was eavesdropping, he slumped back into his

glasgow2024.org

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

Luke SPELLcourt 🧙🏼‍♀️🦇✨ @lukebelcourt.com · 19d

A thing of beauty ✨

Now in circulation!
lukebelcourt.com/witches/one....

The new paperback cover for Witches of Merchant city, with a white curtain backdrop

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

Meghan Ellis @meghan0n.bsky.social · 16d

In my latest for @tabletopbookshelf.com I review why Rune by @gilarpgs.bsky.social is a fantastic little homage to FromSoft games in tabletop form ✨

(One of the tactical combat enjoyers, myself included)

tabletopbookshelf.com/blogs/tablet...

READ & REVIEWED: RUNE

By Meghan Ellis A dangerous zealot rushes towards a solitary figure, chanting a hymn of the stars. Nearby, a skeleton waits to join the fray, wearing clothes of an unfamiliar land. The sky above march...

tabletopbookshelf.com

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Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 16d

www.shonakinsella.com/shona-kinsella-blog/mabon-the-autumn-equinox

Mabon - The Autumn Equinox — Shona Kinsella

Today marks the Autumn Equinox, also known to some as Mabon. At the equinox, the earth is neither tilted toward nor away from the sun, and so we have (almost) equal hours of light and dark. This is a ...

www.shonakinsella.com

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Luke SPELLcourt 🧙🏼‍♀️🦇✨ @lukebelcourt.com · 16d

Inside me are two wolves:

One wants to wait until tomorrow to announce Witches 2 because by then at least one of the big paperback distributors will notice it's available

The other is like "Announce on the equinox, release on Samhain! Announce on the equinox, release on Samhain!!" 👏👏👏

a group of people are standing on top of a snow covered field with their arms in the air .

Alt: GIF: The four main characters in The Craft (1996) call the corners

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

Brian M. Milton @munchkinstein.bsky.social · 17d

A lovely autumnal morning for a running update that will annoy Tonka Toy drivers in the southside.
www.justgiving.com/page/brian-m...

Brian's "Reason to keep running" collection

Help Brian Milton raise money to support Trussell

www.justgiving.com

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

Shona Kinsella @shonak.bsky.social · 16d

Sending out my first newsletter in a while today, but there's still time to sign up first: mailchi.mp/f29dba8a3a74...

Website sign ups

mailchi.mp

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Neil Williamson @neilwilliamson.bsky.social · 16d

Woke up to a nip in the air. Season is turning, perfect timing for this contributor's copy of the Absolute Zero anthology to arrive!

If you're up for a collection of genuine chills, you can grab yours at:
deadskypublishing.com/portfolio-it...

A book titled Absolute Zero. The cover shows an iceberg whose submerged portion is a creepy skull.

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 20d

Ahead of the in-person launch later in the month, join our Shona Kinsella on 4th October at the BFS *online launch* of new novel The Daughters of Nicnevin! Ticket details and more in the post below.

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 26d

The BFS celebrates the launch of The Daughters of Nicnevin, Saturday 4th October 2025, 12:15pm to 1pm (BST).

Ticket: tinyurl.com/bfsmonster

@shonak.bsky.social @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social

#BritishFantasySociety #FantasyBooks #SFFBooks #AuthorTalk #WritingCommunity #BookParty

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

E.M. Faulds / Beth @bethkesh.bsky.social · 20d

I made a few promo images for my novella, Bring Me Home, in Wiz Duos book 2. Which do you think works best? Genuine question!

(The book in question shares a home with a Juliet Kemp novella! Find here: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...)

Promotional graphic for a science fiction book. Text reads "a near future science fiction novella. 'Bring Me Home' by E.M. Faulds. Find it in Wiz Duos book 2. Find out more at wizardstowerpress.com" There is a thumbnail of the Wiz Duos 2 book in the bottom right hand corner. The background shows a dark blue sparkly sky and silhouette of a person's head and hands raised with lights coming out of them.

Promotional graphic for a science fiction novella Bring Me Home by E.M. Faulds. Text reads "the unwise decisions two sisters make will affect the entire world. 'Bring Me Home', a science fiction novella by E.M. Faulds. Find it in Wiz Duos book 2. Go to wizardstowerpress.com" There is a thumbnail of the Wiz Duos 2 book in the bottom right hand corner. The background shows a female figure in a dark, misty landscape with a silhouette of another superimposed on top with a circular cutout to show the first one's face.

Promotional graphic for a science fiction book. Teaser text reads "Two sisters, separated by a whole world and no one is coming to save them." Titles read "Bring Me Home, a novella by E.M. Faulds." There is a thumbnail of the Wiz Duos 2 book in the bottom left hand corner, with the text "Search Wiz Duos book 2 in online bookstores", and the publisher web address, wizardstowerpress.com. The background images are of two young women facing each other diagonally opposite, from two different landscapes. Left top shows a pink-shaded evening with distant lights and a woman upright, the right figure is flipped upside down in a daytime desert location.

Promotional graphic for a science fiction novella. Teaser text reads "a near future science fiction novella" Titles read "Bring Me Home, by E.M. Faulds. Find it in Wiz Duos book 2. Go to wizardstowerpress.com." There is a thumbnail of the Wiz Duos 2 book in the bottom left hand corner. The background image is of an orange striped combi style van on a desert road in sunshine.

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Reposted by Glasgow SF Writers' Circle

FitchersLane @fitcherslane.bsky.social · 20d

Loved this book! 💕💕

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British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 20d

David & Robin meet publisher, editor, & author William C. Tracy of Space Wizard Science Fantasy to chat WorldCon, indie small press publishing, book selling, cats, bees, and commas.
#bfslss #swsf #spacewizardsciencefantasy #podcastepisode #indiepublisher britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-pod...

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 22d

With The Vampires of Park Circus out next month, our Luke Belcourt's Witches of Merchant City has had a glow up!

Check out the new cover by Jenni Coutts and get your copy at the link below:
amzn.eu/d/2bh5XHD

@jennicoutts.bsky.social

Luke SPELLcourt 🧙🏼‍♀️🦇✨ @lukebelcourt.com · Sep 3

COVER EVOLUTION!!

With the release of the sequel incoming, WITCHES OF MERCHANT CITY has gotten a brand new cover drawn by the inimitable @jennicoutts.bsky.social!

Look at it!! *grabby hands*

The new 2025 cover for Witches of Merchant City. It is drawn with fine black lineart with teal rumbling clouds in the background on a starry night. The protagonist, Holly Winter, stands in front of the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow City Centre, her leather jacket swirling behind her as golden magic crackles from her hands.

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