Ches
chesj.bsky.social
Ches
@chesj.bsky.social
I write and read urban fantasy. I live in London. Sometimes, I code. I (re)watch a lot of telly.
Until my niblings get older, I have to find reasons why a teenage character doesn't use slang. So far I've used posh and brought up in an isolated magic commune, or relied on situational appropriate mirroring. But it's limiting.

I made an mdb thesaurus for London slang from my era. Beautiful relic!
May 23, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Just got round to reading The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. Bit weird I haven't yet, but it's nice having more to read. He's been a (very)long-time inspiration - I'm hoping this refresher might help drive my next novel. Got a plot and characters, but felt a bit flat, and now I have some oomph!
May 6, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I'm really enjoying @alethearlyons.bsky.social's The Somnia! So happy to be back in that world with those characters. Gripped from chapter one!

I chose this book first after moving house (and associated packing and unpacking) 😁
April 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Ches
I’m creating several starter packs for indie writers – one for each genre – that I then would regularly post links to. If interested in being in a starter back, please reply with your genre.
#Indieauthor #authorsky #writersky #writingcommunity #authorsofsky #booksky
April 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I finished reading the Alex Verus series (Benedict Jacka) and was not disappointed. The final book was impressively action-packed and satisfying. Everything that went before built to it - amazing (and enviable!) planning behind that.
April 16, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I finished editing and publishing a 9-book series, and weeks later found book 10 on the harddrive. I forgot I wrote it. Had it printed and read it, and blimey is it slow and dull. No loss there! Series ends at 9 😄
Some you trunk, some you plain forget.
April 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Woah, someone in Australia bought one of my novels! How on earth did they find it? I don't do marketing 😄
I hope they liked it, and that it made them smile as much as their £2.46 did me!
How the hell did they come across it? Baffling. Maybe they'll get the rest of the trilogy. The other 15 books...😄
March 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Editing this latest book was a pain. Past me was very indecisive about word choices, and left me options, thousands of them. Maxed 20 pages a day, usually fewer, but I've chugged through and today, it's done! Do a little every day, and you get there in the end.
March 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Ches
See you in a few hours. Links below.
March 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The third book of my prize came!Just released, The Somnia by @alethearlyons.bsky.social - very exciting. There's a launch party online tomorrow, I believe: that's how new it is! Gorgeous cover, intriguing blurb 😁

Thanks, @brigidsgatepress.bsky.social, this is brilliant ☺️
March 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I received two of my prize books from @brigidsgatepress.bsky.social and am duly excited. (Still can't believe I won something 😄 ) They look beautiful and I can't wait to read them. Top of my to-read stack!
Thanks again, @alethearlyons.bsky.social ☺️
March 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Do you get flashbacks to scenes you've written (or read)? There's this one (bloody awful) book I wrote, and I often see scenes from it at random mundane moments. I can't work out why that story, above others. Why that character. It's bizarre but been going on years, so now kinda comforting 😄
February 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
@buffyrevamped.bsky.social is a very funny one-man show recapping the series from Spike's point of view. My cheeks hurt from laughing. Beautifully done, with plenty for the experts & my less expert friend was just as entertained. The energy is incredible - don't know how he does it! Recommended.
February 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Gentle, magic story about life, aging and death. Bisexual, kind cast; no romance; occasional sex; lots of tea. #urbanfantasy in English countryside. Nothing much happens in a nice way. Kinda funny. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DXDBCZWV
February 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Blimey! I just won three books from @brigidsgatepress.bsky.social through this platform. Incredibly unexpected. Bluesky has hugely increased my to-read pile, and now in a new way 😄
Also thanks @alethearlyons.bsky.social for mentioning the competition (and writing the books I want 😁 )
February 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM
My process is very papery. I've just sent 3 novels off for wirebound printing. The markups I make are part of a penultimate edit, then I get a paperback & write edits in a notepad. I notice different things in print. Plus no screens at bedtime.
Only a small part of why I often need more bookshelves!
February 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Every time I travel through London (proper), I'm reminded of Kate Griffin's exceptional descriptions (Midnight Mayor series) and that I could do better - very inspiring. Her description of the square mile predawn is etched into my memory, so familiar from traipsing home after a club night!
January 27, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I tend to sample a new series buying secondhand. I feel guilty about the lack of royalties, but good about the re-use aspect. That the secondhand book I just got is signed has added complexity - feels like an undeserved win!
January 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Just finished The Hiding by Alethea Lyons. I'm not the best at reviewing but here's a few reasons I liked it. Very atmospheric with an interesting, modern alternative York. Has a believable sibling relationship centrally & strong side characters. I loved Harper's development, heart & convictions.
January 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It's a good job I don't care about selling my novels, coz I'm not sure how you'd sell a cosy book about death & life. Bi MCs with polyamory, but no romance just a couple of sex scenes. It's friendly & funny, but doesn't tick any marketing boxes 😄 I love it & now I have it in paperback, so yey ☺️
January 8, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Wrote all yesterday and a little of today, and my bodyclock's gone wonky. This is breakfast time! Terry's Chocolate orange counts as fruit at this time of year, right?
December 26, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Ches
"it’s my signature move to slip a single scifi story into these magic-focused articles"
mythcreants.com/blog/six-fan...
Six Fantastic Uses of Magic in Popular Stories
The real magic is designing a perfect, fantastical twist.
mythcreants.com
December 7, 2024 at 11:06 PM
Books/Author & what they taught me: 2
Seanan McGuire incryptid - giving MCs a hobby/obsession (which helps them, affects easy they act/think or plot) makes characters very memorable, distinguishing siblings easily (along with other traits obvs!). As story progresses, I forget my chars have hobbies 😄
November 26, 2024 at 4:09 AM
Reposted by Ches
"For instance, when Eleanor tells Chidi that she’s giving him a gift by pronouncing his name correctly, he tells her that’s not a gift – it’s basic human decency."
mythcreants.com/blog/narrati...
Narrative Pushback Can Make the Jerks You Write Palatable
Audiences are much less angry when the story addresses their concerns.
mythcreants.com
November 22, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Wondering how long it took to shake media's heteronormative indoctrination, I made a spreadsheet to track increasing queerness % of main chars. 2nd novel, 16yo, 25% - not as brainwashed as I thought, then 😄 (and in the days of section 28 (awful UK school policy).)
November 25, 2024 at 3:49 AM