Michael Johnstone
@mikejwrites.bsky.social
600 followers 420 following 300 posts
Dad of twins. Lecturer at UofT (English). Man United (and footy) fan. Boardgames and TTRPGs. Writer/author. He/him. https://www.michael-johnstone.com My most recently published short story is at https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=3035
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Reposted by Michael Johnstone
apexmag.bsky.social
Apex Magazine 2026 is A Project We Love on Kickstarter!! ❤️🍾🥂🎉

Thank you to everyone who's donated so far! If you haven't checked us out yet, don't be shy! There's room for everyone at the monster mash 👻🪦

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Where are the songs of Spring? ...
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too ....
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
clpolk.blacksky.app
wake up, hosers

new petition just dropped

e-6818 is calling to strengthen the Canada Health Act to stop provinces from privatizing health care and to force provinces to account for how and where they used health transfer money
Sign this Petition - Petitions
www.ourcommons.ca
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Starting THE KNAVE OF GRAVES today, the second novel by @sjshank.bsky.social! Ornery gravedigger who treats with a night hag? I'm in. A perfect read for Hallowe'en month. 🎃
Image of the cover of the novel THE KNAVE OF GRAVES, by S.J. Shank. Red-orange illustration of a pile of skulls.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
clpolk.blacksky.app
if you can help me (oh my god please help me) i have a glorified tip jar patreon (ive been doing co working two hour sessions and a monthly session for questions. this month i was going to play with the story engine so people could meet it) please don’t use the app they will take 30%
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
cypayseur.bsky.social
TELL ME YOUR 🏳️‍🌈QUEER SHORT SFF🏳️‍🌈 OUT IN AUGUST 2025!!! Originals only pls, up to novella in length, indie okay. Just reply with the author, title, and a link to read and/or buy and I'll get them on the list. Here's July's list for context & more info: www.patreon.com/posts/some-q...
Some Queer Short SFF - July 2025 | Charles Payseur
Get more from Charles Payseur on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
bcmerchant.bsky.social
Freelance illustration gigs drying up. Ad agencies using Midjourney instead of hiring human artists. Costume design turned over to AI wholesale. Good work vanishing.

These are the stories of working visual artists, who describe losing jobs, wages, and hope as their clients and bosses embrace AI.
Artists are losing work, wages, and hope as bosses and clients embrace AI
Visual artists, illustrators and graphic designers share their stories about how AI is being used to lower wages, degrade work and even replace it altogether, in this installment of AI Killed My Job.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
kercoby.bsky.social
Public service announcement:

ONTARIO SFF WRITERS PLEASE REMEMBER TO APPLY FOR THE OAC RECOMMENDER GRANT

AUGUR IS A RECOMMENDER

WE WANT TO RECOMMEND SFF WRITERS GET GRANTS

/end
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
claudiopozas.bsky.social
Your favorite dragons in media!

Vermithrax Pejorative, from Dragonslayer
The Bull, from Reign of Fire
The Lioness dragon, from Damsel
Warlock, the dragon-horse from Blackstar
Two movie stills from "Dragonslayer" of Vermithrax Pejorative, her head and full body. Photo of the Bull dragon from the movie Reign of Fire. Photo of the lion-like dragon of the movie Damsel. Image of the cartoon hero Blackstar riding the green dragon-horse Warlock.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
claudiopozas.bsky.social
I have some medical bills due, so I'm opening a short, heavily discounted commissions list. Full body character or monster for US$200, your choice of style. DM me to commission.
Colored drawing of Tri-Klops. Painting of an amused medusa with her snakes bunched up in a double ponytail.
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Starting off my Science Fiction course this week with @naomikritzer.bsky.social's excellent story "Better Living Through Algorithms." I'm looking forward to discussion in today's class!

#sff #booksky 📚💙🪐
clarkesworldmagazine.com
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Ooh, I highly recommend listening to Memory's Legion once you're done the novels. They fill in background stuff between each of the novels (chronologically, too, I believe). The one about Amos is particularly good.
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Yes, me, too! I've read good things about it. I loved The Expanse series, maybe especially the final three books most. Did you also listen to the book of novellas, Memory's Legion? The novellas are really good, and the last one is particularly elegiac. 😊
mikejwrites.bsky.social
It's the next one I'll be reading (after finishing The Reformatory)! ☺️
mikejwrites.bsky.social
I loved The Expanse series (novellas included), so I'm very curious to see what they've done in this new series. Keep hearing/reading good things about the first book.
mikejwrites.bsky.social
I've been waiting for it to come out in paperback to snatch it up. It'll likely be the first one I read from the stack.
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Recent book haul from @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social! 📚💙🪐

Very excited to get to each of these. ☺️

@manuscriptgal.bsky.social
@tananarivedue.bsky.social
@aptshadow.bsky.social
@adamroberts.bsky.social
@ursulakleguin.com
#jamessacorey

#BookSky #sff #fantasy #sciencefiction #amreading
Stack of six books by Helen Marshall, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Tananarive Due, Ursula K. Le Guin, James S.A. Corey, and Adam Roberts.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
kateheartfield.com
Today my novel The Tapestry of Time hits shelves in the US! (It's already available elsewhere.) It's about clairvoyants in WWII fighting Nazis for control of the Bayeux Tapestry. I wrote a Big Idea post for @scalzi.com about the real history behind the novel.
The Big Idea: Kate Heartfield
For her novel The Tapestry of Time, author Kate Heartfield took a real moment in time, involving a real object, and gave it just a little twist, threading a needle between fantasy and reality. What…
whatever.scalzi.com
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
claudiopozas.bsky.social
Happy Unexpected Cover Reveal Day! Earlier this year I got to paint the cover for All Her Demons Are Burning, by Tess C. Foxes, for Podium Entertainment. It was a challenge jumping onto book 2 in a series, having to build upon the stylistic choices of book 1, but I liked the results. AD: Leah Zink.
Cover of the book "All Her Demons Are Burning", written by Tess C Foxes. The painting by Claudio Pozas depicts an Asian woman with white eyes and long black hair, wearing firm-fitting blue plate armor and wielding an obsidian hand axe with a decorated wooden handle. She has fiery wings and a crown of thorns rests on her head, drawing blood.
mikejwrites.bsky.social
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. "Hard mode" no Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, or Marvel)
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
megelison.bsky.social
I just lost my day job to an evil twink named Big Balls so it's a great time to support my Patreon if you like short fiction or need writing advice. patreon.com/melison
Get more from Meg Elison on Patreon
creating stories, letters, and writing advice.
patreon.com
mikejwrites.bsky.social
THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER, by Simon Jimenez ... mesmerizing prose and world and story ☺️