Books and the Beard
@diovassallo.bsky.social
Writer, reader, and editor. Lives in the Midwest with his wife, son, and two black cats. Tends to stay out all night during the full moon.
Pinned
For those who don’t know me, I’m a quinquagenarian and lifelong lover of books and stories, and also music and movies, but books especially.
And that’s why I’m here—to talk books (and occasionally music and movies).
I’ll be posting about books new and old that I enjoy and love.
Ad infinitum!
And that’s why I’m here—to talk books (and occasionally music and movies).
I’ll be posting about books new and old that I enjoy and love.
Ad infinitum!
Convo at our house—
Heather: You’re a brat!
Me: You’re a brat!
Heather: I guess we are both brats.
Me: Yeah, we’re the wurst!
Heather: …
Heather: You’re done.
😆
Heather: You’re a brat!
Me: You’re a brat!
Heather: I guess we are both brats.
Me: Yeah, we’re the wurst!
Heather: …
Heather: You’re done.
😆
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Convo at our house—
Heather: You’re a brat!
Me: You’re a brat!
Heather: I guess we are both brats.
Me: Yeah, we’re the wurst!
Heather: …
Heather: You’re done.
😆
Heather: You’re a brat!
Me: You’re a brat!
Heather: I guess we are both brats.
Me: Yeah, we’re the wurst!
Heather: …
Heather: You’re done.
😆
Hi, Steve, writer of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and poetry.
My ideal writing place would be a study with a huge desk with lots of room for the computer, monitor, pens and other desk items, and lots of notebooks.
There would also be a magic shelf that instantly has any source book I need.
😎
My ideal writing place would be a study with a huge desk with lots of room for the computer, monitor, pens and other desk items, and lots of notebooks.
There would also be a magic shelf that instantly has any source book I need.
😎
Hi, Stephanie Ellis, writer of folk horror, gothic, historical & post-apocalyptic
My niche would be a very traditional book-lined study. A big desk at one end, wing chairs either side of an open fireplace + small tables more books. Not a huge room though, cosy, homely.
#HorrorWritersChat
My niche would be a very traditional book-lined study. A big desk at one end, wing chairs either side of an open fireplace + small tables more books. Not a huge room though, cosy, homely.
#HorrorWritersChat
QUESTION ONE - #HorrorWritersChat
Behind this door is your ideal writing room. 🚪
If money were no object and dreams were reality, this is where you’d write, relax, and conceive of your next great work.
Introduce yourself along with your horror niche, then open the door and describe your space.
Behind this door is your ideal writing room. 🚪
If money were no object and dreams were reality, this is where you’d write, relax, and conceive of your next great work.
Introduce yourself along with your horror niche, then open the door and describe your space.
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Hi, Steve, writer of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and poetry.
My ideal writing place would be a study with a huge desk with lots of room for the computer, monitor, pens and other desk items, and lots of notebooks.
There would also be a magic shelf that instantly has any source book I need.
😎
My ideal writing place would be a study with a huge desk with lots of room for the computer, monitor, pens and other desk items, and lots of notebooks.
There would also be a magic shelf that instantly has any source book I need.
😎
October 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Question for all you cool folks out there:
If they remade the show, Breaking Bad, with every role played by Sam Hyde, would you watch it?
And I do mean every role. Including Skylar and her sister, and Lydia.
😁
If they remade the show, Breaking Bad, with every role played by Sam Hyde, would you watch it?
And I do mean every role. Including Skylar and her sister, and Lydia.
😁
September 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Question for all you cool folks out there:
If they remade the show, Breaking Bad, with every role played by Sam Hyde, would you watch it?
And I do mean every role. Including Skylar and her sister, and Lydia.
😁
If they remade the show, Breaking Bad, with every role played by Sam Hyde, would you watch it?
And I do mean every role. Including Skylar and her sister, and Lydia.
😁
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Cover reveal! 🥳🎉
DEAD WEIGHT is translated by @maryrobinettekowal.com and will hit the shelves on May 26th.
Nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands 🩸
Preorder here:
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
DEAD WEIGHT is translated by @maryrobinettekowal.com and will hit the shelves on May 26th.
Nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands 🩸
Preorder here:
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
September 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Cover reveal! 🥳🎉
DEAD WEIGHT is translated by @maryrobinettekowal.com and will hit the shelves on May 26th.
Nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands 🩸
Preorder here:
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
DEAD WEIGHT is translated by @maryrobinettekowal.com and will hit the shelves on May 26th.
Nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands 🩸
Preorder here:
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
This looks fricking awesome!
Preordering it from my local bookstore!
Preordering it from my local bookstore!
Big thanks to @sgj.bsky.social for his time and kind words. I know you all will love this.
September 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This looks fricking awesome!
Preordering it from my local bookstore!
Preordering it from my local bookstore!
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Another gorgeous cover from Alison Flannery www.alisonflannery.com!
Fallen Destiny by Yolanda Sfetsos is coming Nov. 11th.
Fallen Destiny by Yolanda Sfetsos is coming Nov. 11th.
September 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Another gorgeous cover from Alison Flannery www.alisonflannery.com!
Fallen Destiny by Yolanda Sfetsos is coming Nov. 11th.
Fallen Destiny by Yolanda Sfetsos is coming Nov. 11th.
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Big thanks to @sgj.bsky.social for his time and kind words. I know you all will love this.
September 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Big thanks to @sgj.bsky.social for his time and kind words. I know you all will love this.
Reposted by Books and the Beard
LOTERÍA — my collection of 54+ Latin American short stories, poems, and experimental fictions influenced by the Mexican board game, LOTERÍA is arriving in bookstores early! 🥹❤️
Available (officially) Tuesday, September 2nd
Preorder: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/cynth...
Available (officially) Tuesday, September 2nd
Preorder: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/cynth...
August 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM
LOTERÍA — my collection of 54+ Latin American short stories, poems, and experimental fictions influenced by the Mexican board game, LOTERÍA is arriving in bookstores early! 🥹❤️
Available (officially) Tuesday, September 2nd
Preorder: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/cynth...
Available (officially) Tuesday, September 2nd
Preorder: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/cynth...
August 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Y’all have any dream teams of authors you’d love to see collaborate on a novel?
For me, I’d love to see Jonathan Maberry and Dan Abnett do a story. It’d be absolutely kickass!
For me, I’d love to see Jonathan Maberry and Dan Abnett do a story. It’d be absolutely kickass!
July 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Y’all have any dream teams of authors you’d love to see collaborate on a novel?
For me, I’d love to see Jonathan Maberry and Dan Abnett do a story. It’d be absolutely kickass!
For me, I’d love to see Jonathan Maberry and Dan Abnett do a story. It’d be absolutely kickass!
@jonathanmaberry.bsky.social
I’m rereading Rage, and I enjoy the rabbit hole I went down with this as the starting point:
😎
I’m rereading Rage, and I enjoy the rabbit hole I went down with this as the starting point:
😎
May 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
@jonathanmaberry.bsky.social
I’m rereading Rage, and I enjoy the rabbit hole I went down with this as the starting point:
😎
I’m rereading Rage, and I enjoy the rabbit hole I went down with this as the starting point:
😎
May 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Check out my new project! I'm setting up a speculative fiction micropress with a focus on Northern writers. I am EXTREMELY excited but more than a little nervous.
If you enjoy writing or reading literary/experimental fantasy, horror, or sci-fi, following and sharing the press would be lovely!
If you enjoy writing or reading literary/experimental fantasy, horror, or sci-fi, following and sharing the press would be lovely!
Hello Bluesky! We're a new micropress based in Tyne & Wear, specialising in strange and literary fantasy, horror and sci-fi.
We're planning to publish anthologies, short fiction collections, and novellas, with a focus on writers in the North of England.
We're planning to publish anthologies, short fiction collections, and novellas, with a focus on writers in the North of England.
May 17, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Check out my new project! I'm setting up a speculative fiction micropress with a focus on Northern writers. I am EXTREMELY excited but more than a little nervous.
If you enjoy writing or reading literary/experimental fantasy, horror, or sci-fi, following and sharing the press would be lovely!
If you enjoy writing or reading literary/experimental fantasy, horror, or sci-fi, following and sharing the press would be lovely!
#randomthoughts
It occurs to me I’ve never seen a breakfast sushi place.
Somebody should do that.
Breakfast sushi.
Think about it.
Sushi with maple syrup.
Poached sushi.
Sushi scramble.
The possibilities are endless.
😎
It occurs to me I’ve never seen a breakfast sushi place.
Somebody should do that.
Breakfast sushi.
Think about it.
Sushi with maple syrup.
Poached sushi.
Sushi scramble.
The possibilities are endless.
😎
May 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
#randomthoughts
It occurs to me I’ve never seen a breakfast sushi place.
Somebody should do that.
Breakfast sushi.
Think about it.
Sushi with maple syrup.
Poached sushi.
Sushi scramble.
The possibilities are endless.
😎
It occurs to me I’ve never seen a breakfast sushi place.
Somebody should do that.
Breakfast sushi.
Think about it.
Sushi with maple syrup.
Poached sushi.
Sushi scramble.
The possibilities are endless.
😎
#JoeLedger
What’s one of your favorite passages or quotes from the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry?
Here’s one of mine.😎
What’s one of your favorite passages or quotes from the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry?
Here’s one of mine.😎
April 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
#JoeLedger
What’s one of your favorite passages or quotes from the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry?
Here’s one of mine.😎
What’s one of your favorite passages or quotes from the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry?
Here’s one of mine.😎
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Tolkien's notion of evil can be summed up pretty simply: the domination of others. Stripping away their freedom and their will, forcing them to do yours instead.
So whatever his authoritarian fans might think, their actions are, in fact, textbook Tolkienian evil.
#TolkienTuesday #TolkienTrewsday
So whatever his authoritarian fans might think, their actions are, in fact, textbook Tolkienian evil.
#TolkienTuesday #TolkienTrewsday
April 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Tolkien's notion of evil can be summed up pretty simply: the domination of others. Stripping away their freedom and their will, forcing them to do yours instead.
So whatever his authoritarian fans might think, their actions are, in fact, textbook Tolkienian evil.
#TolkienTuesday #TolkienTrewsday
So whatever his authoritarian fans might think, their actions are, in fact, textbook Tolkienian evil.
#TolkienTuesday #TolkienTrewsday
What a damn day.
I feel like I’m at a standing room only performance of J.T. and the Traveling Dipshits.
It’s Monday morning on a Tuesday.
🙄
I feel like I’m at a standing room only performance of J.T. and the Traveling Dipshits.
It’s Monday morning on a Tuesday.
🙄
April 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
What a damn day.
I feel like I’m at a standing room only performance of J.T. and the Traveling Dipshits.
It’s Monday morning on a Tuesday.
🙄
I feel like I’m at a standing room only performance of J.T. and the Traveling Dipshits.
It’s Monday morning on a Tuesday.
🙄
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Please highlight this story.
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
'We're citizens!': Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they weren't suspects
A woman says her family’s fresh start in Oklahoma turned into a nightmare after federal immigration agents raided their home, taking their phones, laptops, and life savings – even though they were …
kfor.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Please highlight this story.
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
I know the underlying meaning of the old saying, but hey.
If I make or buy a cake, if a cake through some mechanism of the universe comes into my possession, I’m gonna damn well eat it.
😎
If I make or buy a cake, if a cake through some mechanism of the universe comes into my possession, I’m gonna damn well eat it.
😎
April 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I know the underlying meaning of the old saying, but hey.
If I make or buy a cake, if a cake through some mechanism of the universe comes into my possession, I’m gonna damn well eat it.
😎
If I make or buy a cake, if a cake through some mechanism of the universe comes into my possession, I’m gonna damn well eat it.
😎
Reposted by Books and the Beard
All right then.* But why use a misunderstood shortened version when, say, “you pusillanimous pillock!” is right there?
[*But not really, since “pussy” is a noun and “pusillanimous” is an adjective]
[*But not really, since “pussy” is a noun and “pusillanimous” is an adjective]
April 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
All right then.* But why use a misunderstood shortened version when, say, “you pusillanimous pillock!” is right there?
[*But not really, since “pussy” is a noun and “pusillanimous” is an adjective]
[*But not really, since “pussy” is a noun and “pusillanimous” is an adjective]
Reposted by Books and the Beard
Today's Word: Tacenda
Things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence. From Latin tacere (to be silent), tacenda refers to truths too sensitive or painful to speak aloud. "I'd tell you what's bothering me, but..."
Things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence. From Latin tacere (to be silent), tacenda refers to truths too sensitive or painful to speak aloud. "I'd tell you what's bothering me, but..."
April 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Today's Word: Tacenda
Things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence. From Latin tacere (to be silent), tacenda refers to truths too sensitive or painful to speak aloud. "I'd tell you what's bothering me, but..."
Things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence. From Latin tacere (to be silent), tacenda refers to truths too sensitive or painful to speak aloud. "I'd tell you what's bothering me, but..."
@jonathanmaberry.bsky.social
Well, sir, I just finished chapter 148 of Burn To Shine, and I must confess having a grin as I’m getting ready for the ‘jamboree’ that’s about to take place.
Well, sir, I just finished chapter 148 of Burn To Shine, and I must confess having a grin as I’m getting ready for the ‘jamboree’ that’s about to take place.
April 23, 2025 at 11:20 AM
@jonathanmaberry.bsky.social
Well, sir, I just finished chapter 148 of Burn To Shine, and I must confess having a grin as I’m getting ready for the ‘jamboree’ that’s about to take place.
Well, sir, I just finished chapter 148 of Burn To Shine, and I must confess having a grin as I’m getting ready for the ‘jamboree’ that’s about to take place.
Well, I’m reading Burn To Shine by @jonathanmaberry.bsky.social , and once again, I’m hooked.
I’m on chapter 98 and starting to get a bad feeling.😎
Not saying anything else, to avoid spoilers, but definitely got an “oh shit” suspicion brewing.
14 books strong, and Joe Ledger’s still rockin’!
I’m on chapter 98 and starting to get a bad feeling.😎
Not saying anything else, to avoid spoilers, but definitely got an “oh shit” suspicion brewing.
14 books strong, and Joe Ledger’s still rockin’!
April 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Well, I’m reading Burn To Shine by @jonathanmaberry.bsky.social , and once again, I’m hooked.
I’m on chapter 98 and starting to get a bad feeling.😎
Not saying anything else, to avoid spoilers, but definitely got an “oh shit” suspicion brewing.
14 books strong, and Joe Ledger’s still rockin’!
I’m on chapter 98 and starting to get a bad feeling.😎
Not saying anything else, to avoid spoilers, but definitely got an “oh shit” suspicion brewing.
14 books strong, and Joe Ledger’s still rockin’!