James Bennett
@jamesbennett.bsky.social
British Fantasy Award-Winning author 🏳️🌈
The Ben Garston Novels. Book of Queer Saints. The Dark magazine.
Website: https://james-bennett.org/
'Inventive and vivid'
Publishers Weekly
The Ben Garston Novels. Book of Queer Saints. The Dark magazine.
Website: https://james-bennett.org/
'Inventive and vivid'
Publishers Weekly
Pinned
Seeing as we're having a 🌈SUPER GAY DAY🌈, I made a promo post for my profile. All links to independent outlets are in the alt text (or sail the Big River if it suits).
Featuring my British Fantasy Award winning story "Morta" and three shortlisted anthologies.
All gay. All slay. All day. 🏳️🌈☠️📚💙
Featuring my British Fantasy Award winning story "Morta" and three shortlisted anthologies.
All gay. All slay. All day. 🏳️🌈☠️📚💙
Reposted by James Bennett
Someone on Threads coined ai;dr and YES YES YES!! Brilliant.
February 11, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Someone on Threads coined ai;dr and YES YES YES!! Brilliant.
Reposted by James Bennett
Important thread. I've started getting these too. Watch out for these utter shitsmears, author friends.
The book club scam has taken an exciting new leap forward. I got one today from a "curated literary platform and newsletter" that, unusually, offered a link to its website. I'm in edits, so obviously I took the opportunity to procrastinate. /1
February 11, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Important thread. I've started getting these too. Watch out for these utter shitsmears, author friends.
One of those eke-out-the-words days until you lie deflated on the bed yearning for pink-sprinkled doughnuts.
But even a little step is a step.
But even a little step is a step.
February 11, 2026 at 5:27 PM
One of those eke-out-the-words days until you lie deflated on the bed yearning for pink-sprinkled doughnuts.
But even a little step is a step.
But even a little step is a step.
Reposted by James Bennett
More people should listen to @tressiemcphd.bsky.social
When people say AI is inevitable, let them know the future isn’t settled.
When people say AI is inevitable, let them know the future isn’t settled.
February 11, 2026 at 2:35 PM
More people should listen to @tressiemcphd.bsky.social
When people say AI is inevitable, let them know the future isn’t settled.
When people say AI is inevitable, let them know the future isn’t settled.
No notes. 🧵
For what it's worth - I believe that if you use AI to brainstorm ideas for your book, plan chapters, help with structure, edit, create dialogue, make story suggestions or ANY part of the creative writing process you are a hack and a fraud. You are not an author.
February 11, 2026 at 2:18 PM
No notes. 🧵
Reposted by James Bennett
I am not even kidding but I've been searching for the original MS of a story with "gaslight" in the title and file explorer says there never was one.
February 11, 2026 at 1:56 PM
I am not even kidding but I've been searching for the original MS of a story with "gaslight" in the title and file explorer says there never was one.
Reposted by James Bennett
Hey folks -- Signal Boost time for this week's #TheFullLid. If you have a creative project to promote, leave the details in a reply. Include the title and a link please, so folks can find it. For pre-launch crowdfunders let us know about 2 weeks in advance.
February 11, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Hey folks -- Signal Boost time for this week's #TheFullLid. If you have a creative project to promote, leave the details in a reply. Include the title and a link please, so folks can find it. For pre-launch crowdfunders let us know about 2 weeks in advance.
Dune't Look Now
Duneton Abbey
Watership Dune
February 11, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Dune't Look Now
Reposted by James Bennett
Thrilled to be part of this incredible roster with my story, “From the Ice and the Darkness.” A reminder that this horror anthology is still crowdfunding. It’ll happen regardless but if you can chip in it’ll help Stars and Sabers keep bringing you more great fiction.
ko-fi.com/post/Our-Thi...
ko-fi.com/post/Our-Thi...
Our Third Anthology: OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM
Jendia Gammon published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Thrilled to be part of this incredible roster with my story, “From the Ice and the Darkness.” A reminder that this horror anthology is still crowdfunding. It’ll happen regardless but if you can chip in it’ll help Stars and Sabers keep bringing you more great fiction.
ko-fi.com/post/Our-Thi...
ko-fi.com/post/Our-Thi...
Watership Dune
Dun Dun Duune
Dune Roamin
February 11, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Watership Dune
Pushing the envelope on the wattle and daub subgenre this morning.
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Pushing the envelope on the wattle and daub subgenre this morning.
I can't overstate the influence that "The Talisman" had on me when I was in school. The blend of fantasy and horror was just the thing.
Years later, Mr. Straub replied to my fanmail as well. Looking forward to this! 🔮
Years later, Mr. Straub replied to my fanmail as well. Looking forward to this! 🔮
Back in 2001 I was the production editor working on the King-Straub collaboration Black House. (We also did a light refurbishing of The Talisman and reissued it in a matching hardcover.)
I had no idea that a third volume was ever under discussion.
I had no idea that a third volume was ever under discussion.
Exclusive: The First Excerpt from Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Ending to ‘The Talisman’ Trilogy
King tells us about ‘Other Worlds Than These,’ where he’ll finish the saga after Straub’s death—and how his late friend’s ideas were resurrected for this epic goodbye.
www.esquire.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:30 AM
I can't overstate the influence that "The Talisman" had on me when I was in school. The blend of fantasy and horror was just the thing.
Years later, Mr. Straub replied to my fanmail as well. Looking forward to this! 🔮
Years later, Mr. Straub replied to my fanmail as well. Looking forward to this! 🔮
Lord knows I especially love it when a random man™️ who's never interacted with me previously appears to tell me that I don't understand Gothic fiction.
a woman says " i absolutely love that " in front of a black background
Alt: a woman says " i absolutely love that " in front of a black background
media.tenor.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Lord knows I especially love it when a random man™️ who's never interacted with me previously appears to tell me that I don't understand Gothic fiction.
What you're funding when you use AI in the arts.
Fascism and a high level paedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Fascism and a high level paedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
OpenAI’s president is a Trump mega-donor
Greg Brockman said he started ‘getting involved politically’ in 2025.
www.theverge.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:29 PM
What you're funding when you use AI in the arts.
Fascism and a high level paedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Fascism and a high level paedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Rainy afternoon stroll.
The keys are taken from the coat of arms of Tarifa and symbolize its ancient role as a fortified gateway between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and North Africa. 🌊
The keys are taken from the coat of arms of Tarifa and symbolize its ancient role as a fortified gateway between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and North Africa. 🌊
February 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Rainy afternoon stroll.
The keys are taken from the coat of arms of Tarifa and symbolize its ancient role as a fortified gateway between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and North Africa. 🌊
The keys are taken from the coat of arms of Tarifa and symbolize its ancient role as a fortified gateway between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and North Africa. 🌊
And a spot more editing upon learning that regnal numbers (King Robert II etc.) weren't used until *after* the medieval period.
Interesting, because I see this all the time in period fiction.
Interesting, because I see this all the time in period fiction.
February 10, 2026 at 11:08 AM
And a spot more editing upon learning that regnal numbers (King Robert II etc.) weren't used until *after* the medieval period.
Interesting, because I see this all the time in period fiction.
Interesting, because I see this all the time in period fiction.
Researching medieval quarries this morning. Quite strange to write "creamy lode" and not mean it as a euphemism.
February 10, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Researching medieval quarries this morning. Quite strange to write "creamy lode" and not mean it as a euphemism.
Them and their "write a book in an hour" schtick.
I wrote this book 5 years ago. I've written it about 6 times since. I've subbed and taken many a rejection. 2 near misses. Had a change of agent. Been to the edge of d e s p a i r with it.
But *I* wrote it.
I'd sooner die than change that. 📚💙
I wrote this book 5 years ago. I've written it about 6 times since. I've subbed and taken many a rejection. 2 near misses. Had a change of agent. Been to the edge of d e s p a i r with it.
But *I* wrote it.
I'd sooner die than change that. 📚💙
February 9, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Them and their "write a book in an hour" schtick.
I wrote this book 5 years ago. I've written it about 6 times since. I've subbed and taken many a rejection. 2 near misses. Had a change of agent. Been to the edge of d e s p a i r with it.
But *I* wrote it.
I'd sooner die than change that. 📚💙
I wrote this book 5 years ago. I've written it about 6 times since. I've subbed and taken many a rejection. 2 near misses. Had a change of agent. Been to the edge of d e s p a i r with it.
But *I* wrote it.
I'd sooner die than change that. 📚💙
Reposted by James Bennett
Do. This. Thing.
Going into the big scary cancer surgery tomorrow. Would be lovely if I came out of it and you've all pre-ordered Scratch Moss.
www.canelo.co/books/scratc...
www.canelo.co/books/scratc...
Scratch Moss by David Barnett | Canelo
Paperback and Ebook
www.canelo.co
February 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Do. This. Thing.
Right. Editing finished for now. Now I have to actually write something.
February 9, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Right. Editing finished for now. Now I have to actually write something.
If you're not into Hispanic music and culture is it really necessary to register that?
I don't see the point, especially at this time.
I don't see the point, especially at this time.
February 9, 2026 at 10:08 AM
If you're not into Hispanic music and culture is it really necessary to register that?
I don't see the point, especially at this time.
I don't see the point, especially at this time.
Bold of the US President to state that a musical performance is "bad for children" when his name appears over a thousand times in the Epstein files.
February 9, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Bold of the US President to state that a musical performance is "bad for children" when his name appears over a thousand times in the Epstein files.
"Wuthering Heights" *is* a love story.
It's quite clearly about a moor.
It's quite clearly about a moor.
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 AM
"Wuthering Heights" *is* a love story.
It's quite clearly about a moor.
It's quite clearly about a moor.
Reposted by James Bennett
We've hit the second milestone on the GoFundMe and I'm so so grateful to everyone who has donated or shared. The outpouring from our community has been incredible 💜💜💜
Donate to We Lost Everything to a Fire. Help My Family Rebuild., organized by Chloe Clark
On January 24th, our childhood home burned down. Our parents lost 50… Chloe Clark needs your support for We Lost Everything to a Fire. Help My Family Rebuild.
gofund.me
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
We've hit the second milestone on the GoFundMe and I'm so so grateful to everyone who has donated or shared. The outpouring from our community has been incredible 💜💜💜
Reposted by James Bennett
I have yet to see any evidence that there is a market for AI-generated books outside of people being tricked into thinking they are not AI-generated books. AKA, it is a project of scamming and deceiving people, and really should be treated as fraud
February 8, 2026 at 6:55 PM
I have yet to see any evidence that there is a market for AI-generated books outside of people being tricked into thinking they are not AI-generated books. AKA, it is a project of scamming and deceiving people, and really should be treated as fraud