Michael Johnstone
@mikejwrites.bsky.social
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
My most recently published short story is at https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=3035
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Eligibility lists are now OPEN for Canadian speculative fiction works published in 2025.
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) – Home of the Prix Aurora Awards and CSFFA Hall of Fame
www.csffa.ca
November 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Eligibility lists are now OPEN for Canadian speculative fiction works published in 2025.
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hey! Apparently it's #IReadCanadian day! If only there was somewhere readers looking for new #Canadian SFF authors to read could find a bunch of them all in one place... 🤔
a.co/d/azXj9pF
a.co/d/azXj9pF
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
a.co
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Hey! Apparently it's #IReadCanadian day! If only there was somewhere readers looking for new #Canadian SFF authors to read could find a bunch of them all in one place... 🤔
a.co/d/azXj9pF
a.co/d/azXj9pF
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
You may or may not know that I administer the SFWA NetGalley program. If you're an author without a big trad publisher, you might consider listing your book for reviews through this program.
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
SFWA Presents: Get to Know…Our NetGalley Partnership Program - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
To offer more writers a chance to connect their latest releases with reviewers, SFWA partnered with NetGalley to create a lower-cost option. We chatted with Adria Bailton, SFWA’s NetGalley…
www.sfwa.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
You may or may not know that I administer the SFWA NetGalley program. If you're an author without a big trad publisher, you might consider listing your book for reviews through this program.
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Come one, come all! Join us for the launch of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 this Saturday, Nov 8 at Bakka-Phoenix @ 3pm. Ten contributors will be doing brief readings from their work and the fine folks at @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social will have copies for sale. See you there and pls share WIDELY.
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Come one, come all! Join us for the launch of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 this Saturday, Nov 8 at Bakka-Phoenix @ 3pm. Ten contributors will be doing brief readings from their work and the fine folks at @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social will have copies for sale. See you there and pls share WIDELY.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
The sub call for Indigenous writers is now open! strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Indigenous Author Submissions
On November 3rd, we will be opening for speculative fiction stories written by Indigenous authors. We will be capping submissions at 500.
strangehorizons.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The sub call for Indigenous writers is now open! strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window!! We will open in November and close in April. See our announcement on the website for details. All our usual Submissions Guidelines still apply.
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window - PodCastle
Greetings, writers of fantasy fiction! We at PodCastle are due to open back up to general submissions in November. When we do, instead of our usual one month open period, we plan to open for six month...
podcastle.org
October 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window!! We will open in November and close in April. See our announcement on the website for details. All our usual Submissions Guidelines still apply.
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
We have 10 days left in the @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter and we've crossed 60% funding! Help us get to 100%! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
We have 10 days left in the @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter and we've crossed 60% funding! Help us get to 100%! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
My post-apocalypse story about fatherhood and fighting fascists "BUDDY RAYMOND'S NO-BULLSHIT GUIDE TO DRONE HUNTING" is in this!! Go check it out, and all the other amazing Canadian stories in this incredible anthology 🇨🇦
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
My post-apocalypse story about fatherhood and fighting fascists "BUDDY RAYMOND'S NO-BULLSHIT GUIDE TO DRONE HUNTING" is in this!! Go check it out, and all the other amazing Canadian stories in this incredible anthology 🇨🇦
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Here are the winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards!! Congratulations to everyone!!
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
Here Are the Winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards - Reactor
Congratulations to all!
reactormag.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Here are the winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards!! Congratulations to everyone!!
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Props to Benjamin for sharing the details of his contract. Unfortunately no props to MRM because there's a lot of extremely outre stuff in here that I'd refuse to sign. Let's run it down. (Context: If you're negotiating a contract with Strange Horizons, I'm the person you're negotiating with.)
New neuroscience short story forthcoming in @analogsf.bsky.social! Which also means a story of - ultimately successful - negotiations with their new publisher.
Includes full final text of my contract for all to use while they finish rewriting their boilerplate.
benjaminckinney.com/analog-negot...
Includes full final text of my contract for all to use while they finish rewriting their boilerplate.
benjaminckinney.com/analog-negot...
Analog Negotiations & Short Story Sale: Recognition, Memory » Benjamin C. Kinney - still pruning...
Successful negotiations with Must Read Magazines & Analog SF, who will publish my science fiction short story "Recognition, Memory."
benjaminckinney.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Props to Benjamin for sharing the details of his contract. Unfortunately no props to MRM because there's a lot of extremely outre stuff in here that I'd refuse to sign. Let's run it down. (Context: If you're negotiating a contract with Strange Horizons, I'm the person you're negotiating with.)
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
That's it! Congratulations winners and thank you for your contributions to such a beautiful SFFH landscape and community.
#2025IgnyteAwards
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2025-results/
#2025IgnyteAwards
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2025-results/
2025 Results - The Ignyte Awards
OUTSTANDING NOVEL: ADULT for novel-length work (40k words) Works intended for an adult audience BLACKHEART MAN – Nalo Hopkinson (S&S/Saga Press) METAL FROM HEAVEN – August Clarke (Erewhon Books) THE E...
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
That's it! Congratulations winners and thank you for your contributions to such a beautiful SFFH landscape and community.
#2025IgnyteAwards
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2025-results/
#2025IgnyteAwards
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2025-results/
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Speaking of @canconsffh.bsky.social , last year's starter pack for panelists, vendors and volunteeers was popular, so I made a new one for this year. Please tell me if you're on programming or helping out with Can*Con this year and would like to be added, or if you'd like to be removed.
September 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Speaking of @canconsffh.bsky.social , last year's starter pack for panelists, vendors and volunteeers was popular, so I made a new one for this year. Please tell me if you're on programming or helping out with Can*Con this year and would like to be added, or if you'd like to be removed.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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...
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...
October 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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
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
October 6, 2025 at 6:59 AM
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
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
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. 🎃
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
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. 🎃
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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%
September 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
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
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
September 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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.
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
September 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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.
These are the stories of working visual artists, who describe losing jobs, wages, and hope as their clients and bosses embrace AI.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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
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
September 21, 2025 at 8:19 PM
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
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
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
Vermithrax Pejorative, from Dragonslayer
The Bull, from Reign of Fire
The Lioness dragon, from Damsel
Warlock, the dragon-horse from Blackstar
September 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
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
Vermithrax Pejorative, from Dragonslayer
The Bull, from Reign of Fire
The Lioness dragon, from Damsel
Warlock, the dragon-horse from Blackstar
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
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.
September 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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.
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 📚💙🪐
#sff #booksky 📚💙🪐
clarkesworldmagazine.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
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 📚💙🪐
#sff #booksky 📚💙🪐