Brian Johnson
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bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Brian Johnson
@bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Literary, nonfiction, and TTRPG editor | Humanities research consultant | Former CRM archaeologist | Translator of grimoires | Scholar of the arcane

https://bjohnsonfreelance.com/
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Hello!

In case you don't know me, I'm a freelance editor, translator, and humanities scholar, specializing in TTRPGs, as well as magic and the occult.

My research reconstructs the cosmologies, epistemologies, and practices of historical individuals who engaged with various esoteric disciplines.
Has there been any linguistic research into the arthrous/anarthrous distinction between American and British English usage? E.g. "in [the] hospital", "in [the] future", etc.
November 24, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Welp, looks like my external hard drive has died, exactly eight months after the warranty expired 😐 Thanks, Seagate. No, it's fine, I'm sure I won't need those 2000+ articles, WIP backups, rpg pdfs...
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
One of the most rewarding parts of doing serious philological research is getting to sometimes write lines like "ass-legged cannibal women" with a completely straight face.
November 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
Once again, @yaelrice.bsky.social and I published this article in 2020 so that no one ever has to debunk this vile nonsense point-by-point ever again. As we write (see the next post in this thread)...

hyperallergic.com/604897/how-s...
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Final reminder, then I'll shut up about it!

101 Tales of Magic and Mystery, a treasure trove of TTRPG adventure frames inspired by the culture, folklore, magic, and politics of Elizabethan England (six of which I wrote!), is fully funded, but you have less than 48 hours to get it for just $15!
101 Tales of Magic and Mystery
TTRPG adventure plots of mystery, magic, and intrigue, grounded in the history and folklore of Renaissance England.
www.kickstarter.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
This book has been far more useful than I expected, and I regret not ordering it as soon as it was released.
While we attempt to sort out a database error refusing to properly display my new book's description on most third-party retail sites, here's my own synopsis of just what _A Similitude of Nature_ is all about. Do feel free to pass it along to anyone you think may find it of interest.
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We're in our final week, and just short of the stretch goal for 10 more original illustrations!
Stop an investment scam at a dinner party. Save an ogre. Lay to rest a conclave of ghosts who commute to a small village. Lift a curse that left London speechless. These are actual adventures from our #TTRPG Kickstarter: 101 adventures for $15!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/she...
101 Tales of Magic and Mystery
TTRPG adventure plots of mystery, magic, and intrigue, grounded in the history and folklore of Renaissance England.
www.kickstarter.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Today's work is formatting text and footnotes for a Secret Project™ while listening to Vox Vulgaris, _The Shape of Medieval Music to Come_ voxvulgaris.bandcamp.com/album/the-sh...
The Shape of Medieval Music to Come, by Vox Vulgaris
8 track album
voxvulgaris.bandcamp.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
It's official, so you should officially consider donating to your local food bank or similar resource right now, if you're able.
October 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
Stretch goal unlocked! Our #TTRPG sourcebook 101 Tales of Magic and Mystery is 150% funded on Kickstarter! A treasury of narrative focused adventure plots grounded in the history and folklore of Renaissance England. Back now to help us reach the next goal!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/she...
October 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
I had the honor to contribute to this awesome collection of system-agnostic one-shots alongside talented creators like @chrishopper.bsky.social and @timothyferguson.bsky.social. @shewstone.bsky.social poured so much work and thought into this tome - check it out!
101 Tales of Magic and Mystery
TTRPG adventure plots of mystery, magic, and intrigue, grounded in the history and folklore of Renaissance England.
www.kickstarter.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
So, I coauthored a book of RPGs scenarios based on Elizabethan folklore. More commentary in the Kickstarter's page from the editor and coauthors. It's useful in most fantasy based settings, although my stories in particular lean toward urban settings.
October 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
(Quotations from Sachse, _The German Pietists_)
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
...by inquiring into the foundation and reasonableness of these notions which, thee knows, will not bear to be searched and examined into; though I handle these fancies with more tenderness with him, than I should with others...because I respect the man."
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It was "...furnished with books containing...Philosophy, Natural Magic, Divinity, nay, even Mystic Divinity; all of which were subjects of our discourse...", though he would go on to say that "When we are upon the topic of astrology, magic, and mystic divinity, I am apt to be a little troublesome...
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Writing to Royal Society member and fellow gentleman-botanist Peter Collinson of London in 1743, Pennsylvania farmer and "father of American botany" John Bartram described the library of Germantown clock-maker, astrologer, and doctor Christopher Witt.
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A brief vignette of the Colonial American intellectual milieu; or, "when your square friend gives you a good-natured ribbing for your weird hobby":
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
Since every comedic actor of a certain age gets a documentary after they die now i think it's important we establish that the dan aykroyd one should be no shorter than 6 hours, one episode of which is entirely dedicated to his relationship to fairies and magic
October 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
There are actual spells in the Greek magical papyri (<400 CE) for doing almost *exactly* this.
There are ghosts you can pay to torment people who have wronged you.
You have to get a supernatural court to approve your right for vengeance.
Then, you can hire a Bounty Haunter.
#GameIdeas
October 23, 2025 at 1:27 AM
6. "Not Saying He’s a Gold Digger, But …"

Last one! And you can read this one in full: shewstone.com/blog/categor...

This adventure was the inspiration for the book's cover art as well 😁
7/7
Tales of Wizardry — Shewstone Blog — Shewstone Publishing
shewstone.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
The campaign for the compiled book of Populated Hexes Monthly, Year Four is now live. We're raising funds for new art and an offset version of the book. You can check it out here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/thi... #ttrpg #dnd #osr #hexcrawl
Populated Hexes Monthly Year Four
A compilation of Issues 37-48 of Populated Hexes Monthly.
www.kickstarter.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Brian Johnson
🗣️ PLEASE SHARE 🗣️

I'm writing an intro & sourcebook on late ancient Gazan literature for Dar al-Kalima University Press. The press and I plan to produce an Arabic translation to make Gazan literature more accessible to Palestinians. Help me compensate the Gazan translator!

spot.fund/dn8t744sc
Click here to support Chance Bonar's story *AncientGazanLitTranslation
*spotfund is the easiest place to create beautiful and free online fundraisers. It takes just minutes to start raising money today.
spot.fund
October 21, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Honestly, I really don't care what anyone does to the East Wing — the building that stood there was younger than my grandparents. What's infuriating is the fact that $250 million is being spent on redecorating while SNAP benefits are being cut off for millions of Americans, to name just one outrage.
October 22, 2025 at 12:58 AM
5. "My Library Was Dukedom Large Enough": John Dee's library has been ransacked.

Among the missing volumes are Dee's personal alchemical notebooks, and he suspects another practitioner is the culprit. But the doctor has more than one rival, and things may be more complicated than they appear. 6/x
October 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
4. "Inspiration, Perspiration, Transmutation": Production has come to a halt at a metallurgical operation.

An alchemical manufactory funded by Lord Burghley has broken down, and the owner needs to get it running again before word reaches his patron. But who's really behind his transmutation method?
October 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM