Jayde Holmes
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jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Jayde Holmes
@jaydeholmes.bsky.social
85 followers 55 following 210 posts
Hi I'm Jayde. I am a science fiction and fantasy writer of questionable talent and a book connoisseur with a habit of buying more books than I ever get around to reading.

You can read my stories at my website http://jaydeholmes.com
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jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Miss my Book Bingo reveal? Check out my 2026 #BookBingo card now before I start filling it in.

#reading #books #2026ReadingChallenge #sciencefiction #SFF
A five-by-five bingo card. Colour scheme is orange and grey and there are gears in the background. In the heading is the title ‘2026’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written in the 90s 2. Miliary Science Fiction 3. Translated from Spanish 4. Title Contains the Letter ‘X’ 5. Written in the 80s Row 2: 1. Psycological Horror 2. Recommended by a Friend 3. Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel Winner 4. Set on a Spacestation or Space habitat 5. Own Voices Row 3: 1. Has Non-Humanoid Aliens 2. Set in the Ocean/Under the Sea 3. Free Square 4. Has Werewolves 5. Post-Apocalyptic Row 4: 1. Tittle Starts with ‘J’ 2. Alternate History 3. Written in the 1920s 4. Isekai 5. Start or Continue a Series with Six Books or More Row 5: 1. Hugo Award Winner 2. Non-Fiction 3. Hard Science Fiction 4. Animal Protagonist 5. Twenty Flash Fiction Stories.
January 6, 2026 at 3:01 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Sneak peek at my 2026 #BookBingo card. Challenges will be revealed next week (next year haha), and will be mostly #Sciencefiction, #Fantasy and #Horror related. Feel free to play along with me this year. Go to jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-c... for more information.

#reading #books
A five-by-five bingo card with empty tiles. Colour scheme is orange and grey and there are gears in the background. In the heading is the title ‘2026’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/
December 31, 2025 at 7:05 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
The frogmouths are back and showing off their camouflage with the branch pose.

#australianwildlife #aussieanimals #tawnyfrogmouth #bird #garden #backyardwildlife
Two tawny frogmouths (owl-like birds with feathers that look like tree bark) sit together on a tree branch. They have their feathers flattened and necks stretched out so they look like branches.
December 28, 2025 at 4:36 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
New #bookbingo update. Read World Fantasy Award Winner "The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett, and damn, I can see why this was nominated for so many awards. Amazing fantasy murder mystery that was impossible to put down. Loved it.

#reading #books #shadowoftheleviathan #fantasy #mystery
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (What Moves the Dead) 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship (Murder by Memory) 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner (The Tainted Cup) 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O (One Step From Earth) 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches (The Summer War) 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
December 28, 2025 at 1:10 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
The tawny frogmouth in my backyard came back with a friend. Can you see both birds?

#australianwildlife #birds #nature #tawnyfrogmouth #camouflage
Two tawny frogmouths (owl-like birds whose feathers look like tree bark) sit in a tree. One looks at the camera, seemingly confused, whilst the second is stopped over, camouflaged and hard to see.
December 20, 2025 at 1:49 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Been a busy year. Here are all my new stories published in 2025.

#writing #sciencefiction #SFF #Fantasy
The following text on a purple background: "Jayde Holmes 2025 Stories. Novella: The Strongest in the Forest. April, jaydeholmes.com. Short Stories: he Feeding and Breeding Habits of Southern Treasure Mimics. May, Dirty Magick Magazine. Lucky Charm. June, Madam, Don't Forget Your Sword."
December 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo Update time! Got two bingos by filling the 'Title Starts with 'O'' challenge with 'One Step From Earth' by Harry Harrison. Thought-provoking short story collection about teleporters and their impact on humanity. Highly recommended.

#reading #book #sciencefiction
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (What Moves the Dead) 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship (Murder by Memory) 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O (One Step From Earth) 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches (The Summer War) 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
December 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#BookBingo Update, completed the 'Set on a Spaceship' challenge with the first installment of Olivia Waite's Dorothy Gentleman detective series, 'Murder by Memory'. Great worldbuilding and characters make an awesome murder mystery. Cannot wait for more!

#books #sciencefiction #murdermystery
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (What Moves the Dead) 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship (Murder by Memory) 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches (The Summer War) 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
December 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
More nature in my backyard. Saw a tawny frogmouth sitting in the tree, acting like a branch. So beautiful... even if it may have eaten the tadpoles in my frogpond.

#garden #australianwildlife #birds #tawnyfrogmouth #owl #notanowl #backyardwildlife
A tawny frogmouth (owl-like bird with grey and brown feathers that look like tree bard) perched on a tree branch looking down at the camera.
November 30, 2025 at 6:45 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#BookBingo Update, completed the 'Has Witches' challenge with Naomi Novik's original fairy tale 'The Summer War'. Such a cool take on the fae, with curses and oaths stacking up.

#books #reading #fantasy
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (What Moves the Dead) 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches (The Summer War) 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
It's #BINGO time on my #BookBingo card. Read the Amazing Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (2023) "What Moves the Dead" by T. Kingfisher. A wonderful, disturbing novella that I couldn't put down. Based on a Poe story that I should probably read too.

#books #reading #horror #readingchallenge
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner (What Moves the Dead) 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Filled the "Written between 1930-1950" square with 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward' by #Lovecraft. Found out after starting it was actually written in 1927 but first published in the 40s. I'll call it close enough this late in the year. Top Tier Lovecraft.

#reading #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update. Filled the "Set during the Cold War" square with "Three Miles Down" by Harry Turtledove. Interesting ideas and characters, felt very relevant to today, but felt way too long and slow for me.

#readingchallenge #alternatehistory #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (FILLED by “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (FILLED by “The Liminal Zone’ 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Got another #bookbingo, filling 'Translated from Japanese' with #horror master Junji Ito's 'The Liminal Zone'. Even when just taking a stab at old un-used ideas, Ito still makes creepy stories. Contains 4 short stories in comic form. I liked 'Weeping Woman Way' and 'Slumber' best.

#manga #reading
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (FILLED by “The Liminal Zone’ 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Just got my copy of the "Madam, Don't Forget Your Sword" anthology from #DeadFishBooks. It's full of good stories about various sidekicks and minions. And I'm not just saying that because my story 'Lucky Charm' is in it. But my story is in this book and you should check it out.

#bookhaul
A white hand holding up a paperback book copy of "Madam, Don't Forget Your Sword" edited by H. Davis and E. Davis. Has the tagline "Tales of the Companions, Sidekicks, and Minions" and a cover illustration featuring a man in a hooded robe holding out a sword. Photo of a book page with the heading "Lucky Charm by Jayde Holmes" at the top. The first paragraph is visible and reads; "The claxons roared and dozens of heroes flew out the blast doors, their glitzy costumes bringing colour to the ruined world. Aircraft and artillery were already engaging patches of complete darkness, swimming through the grey sky above the valley, but we all knew from painful experience that they wouldn't be enough. To fight a supernatural threat, you needed supernatural abilities."
October 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Been offline a bit, but guess who turned seven on Monday? My fluffball Knight did. He loves his birthday boxes.

#caturday #cat #tuxedocat #catpictures
Looking down at the front of a large brown box, where a black and white cat has rolled onto his back, sticking one paw and his head out the front of the box. The cat looks content.
October 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Exciting #frogpond update. After a few false starts, we definitely have legs now. Saw this #froglet zipping around. Looks like a #StripedMarshFrog. Also still have some #tadpoles who are not making the leap into froghood yet. They have really grown up.

#australianwildlife #backyard #frog #garden
Looking down at a pond, a brown froglet with four legs, tail, and frog-shaped body is under the water clearly visible to the left of the image. There is a large black tadpole to the right, underneath a thin green stick-like leaf, but it is very difficult to see. Looking down at a pond, a large black tadpole can be seen beneath the water, hovering over a white rock. It has not yet grown any visible limbs.
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Filled 'Sitting on the Shelf for a Year' by Continueing Marvel's #Runaways Series with Teenage Wasteland by Vaughn, Alphona and Miyazawa. The relationships are being speedran, but the action, plot, and art are so cool.

#readingchallenge #books #reading #Marvel
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 27, 2025 at 11:38 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Read Dreadnaught by April Daniels for 'Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes'. Amazing superhero and trans coming of age story that was impossible to put down.

#readingchallenge #books #reading
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 20, 2025 at 1:34 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
For those who liked my tiny sketchbooks, here's some more drawings from my recent #canberra roadtrip. I drew the Australian War Memorial, Telstra Tower, and the view near Lake George.

#art #travel #sketchbook #travelsketches
A tiny book being opened with a thumb. It is open to a pen drawing coloured with pencils and markers of the Australian War Memorial. The domed building housing the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier is in the centre, with the rectangular Pool of Reflection in front of it. A flame is floating on the pool. A tiny book being opened by a thumb. It is open to a drawing of the silhouette of Telstra Tower Canberra, with a sunset sky coloured in with pencils. A tiny book being held and opened by a thumb and fingers. It is open to a sketch done with pen and markers of cars driving on a road lined with golden wattle trees, with a lake and white windmills in the background.
September 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Exciting news. Spring is here and my tadpoles have reappeared. They're so good at hiding and have gotten so big. There are at least three left, and after 11 months there are still no legs.

#backyard #frogpond #frogs #australianwildlife #tadpole
A large black tadpole leaning against a white pebble underwater and surrounded by leaves and plant roots. A large black tadpole with a big tail rests at the edge of a blue children's pool full of water. A tree branch is next to it, as well as a dead leaf, which is roughly the size of the tadpole's body.
September 7, 2025 at 6:26 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
More #BookBingo progress! Read 'Spear' by Nicola Griffith for the 'King Arthur' challenge. Beautiful queer retelling with a female Perceval. Then I got a bingo with the classic #Redwall by Brian Jacques, which has actually been adapted into a movie, in a roundabout way.

#reading #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 5, 2025 at 12:44 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I skipped my monthly promotions. Nothing bad happened, I just went on a nice little road trip to Canberra. Here, enjoy some photos of the Australian capital instead of a featured story.

#travel #australiantravel #canberra #roadtrip #australianwildlife
Australian Parliament House. A long white modern building with a giant flagpole on top, reflected perfectly in a fountain pond. A front on shot of a mother grey kangaroo eating grass next to a green picnic table. A tiny joey's head can be seen poking out of her pouch. A shot down a side walkway at the Hall of Memories of the Australian War Memorial. Concrete arches on the right wall show the reflecting pond and let in sunlight. The left wall has is lined with black panels full of names, with lines of vertical red poppies wedged between each panel. A view of Canberra at sunset, with Parliament House in the centre of the shot, and the lake, and ANZAC avenue leading to the Australian War Memorial at the bottom of the picture. Bush and mountains surround the city.
September 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Got a #BookBingo, with Hogfather by #TerryPratchett. My first Pratchett book and OMFG, I see why people love him, this was absolutely amazing. Mind is BLOWN. So funny, and such a beautiful message.

#reading #fantasy #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
August 20, 2025 at 5:07 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I haven't posted about #tadpoles lately because I haven't seen them in ages. Maybe they turned to frogs while I was away, or the pond turned inhospitable. I like to think they're frogs.

I have a lot of work to do to get this pond ready for the next generation. And no more water celery.
#backyard
Two overgrown frogponds - one in a brown pot with a fern and a branch inside it, and one in a blue plastic pool full of water celery - sit in a garden bed surrounded by lily-like plants and blades of yellow and green plants. Decorative fairy houses are scattered throughout the garden bed.
August 5, 2025 at 2:49 AM