Darby Machin - Author
@malibudarby87.bsky.social
Writer. Queer. Romani. Disabled. CBC 2025 Mentee. PMJ Horror Prize 2025 shortlisted.
He/Him. I still draw rats and butts, sometimes. Much love, always
He/Him. I still draw rats and butts, sometimes. Much love, always
Not saying the UK is completely fucked, but, in my city the wait time for a wheelchair accessible NHS dental appointment is 45 weeks. 45. Weeks.
Now, if I was wealthy and could just fart out the cash to pay private, I could get a wheelchair accessible appointment today… I hate it here so much.
Now, if I was wealthy and could just fart out the cash to pay private, I could get a wheelchair accessible appointment today… I hate it here so much.
February 2, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Not saying the UK is completely fucked, but, in my city the wait time for a wheelchair accessible NHS dental appointment is 45 weeks. 45. Weeks.
Now, if I was wealthy and could just fart out the cash to pay private, I could get a wheelchair accessible appointment today… I hate it here so much.
Now, if I was wealthy and could just fart out the cash to pay private, I could get a wheelchair accessible appointment today… I hate it here so much.
Had a meeting with a (incredibly cool) literary agent from one of my dream agencies yesterday that was very positive… exciting things might be happening this year!!
Just gotta keep on through the struggle bus for a little while longer! 💪🥸
Just gotta keep on through the struggle bus for a little while longer! 💪🥸
January 31, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Had a meeting with a (incredibly cool) literary agent from one of my dream agencies yesterday that was very positive… exciting things might be happening this year!!
Just gotta keep on through the struggle bus for a little while longer! 💪🥸
Just gotta keep on through the struggle bus for a little while longer! 💪🥸
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
Hey, disabled writer here, asking for a little mutual aid. I’m between benefit payments at the moment and need to get some essentials like meds and groceries. Any help or signal boosts greatly appreciated 🧡
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
Buy MalibuDarby a Coffee
Become a supporter of MalibuDarby today!
ko-fi.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Hey, disabled writer here, asking for a little mutual aid. I’m between benefit payments at the moment and need to get some essentials like meds and groceries. Any help or signal boosts greatly appreciated 🧡
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
Hey, disabled writer here, asking for a little mutual aid. I’m between benefit payments at the moment and need to get some essentials like meds and groceries. Any help or signal boosts greatly appreciated 🧡
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
Buy MalibuDarby a Coffee
Become a supporter of MalibuDarby today!
ko-fi.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Hey, disabled writer here, asking for a little mutual aid. I’m between benefit payments at the moment and need to get some essentials like meds and groceries. Any help or signal boosts greatly appreciated 🧡
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
ko-fi.com/malibudarby
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
If the Spice Girls taught us anything it was that 40% of women are named Mel.
January 14, 2026 at 8:38 AM
If the Spice Girls taught us anything it was that 40% of women are named Mel.
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
Cartoon: Fuck it. I liked my sketch too much :) With apologies to the Addamses. Enjoy!
January 14, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Cartoon: Fuck it. I liked my sketch too much :) With apologies to the Addamses. Enjoy!
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
Cartoon: Working on a new fabric for my Spoonflower. I know Christmas is barely in the rear view mirror but I had it mostly finished and am happy to have it done now :)
January 12, 2026 at 5:12 AM
Cartoon: Working on a new fabric for my Spoonflower. I know Christmas is barely in the rear view mirror but I had it mostly finished and am happy to have it done now :)
2026 Sketch Bük opening spread.
Trying to treat art as a hobby this year, and just enjoy it for what I’m still able to do with my MS ✌️😤
Trying to treat art as a hobby this year, and just enjoy it for what I’m still able to do with my MS ✌️😤
January 9, 2026 at 11:54 AM
2026 Sketch Bük opening spread.
Trying to treat art as a hobby this year, and just enjoy it for what I’m still able to do with my MS ✌️😤
Trying to treat art as a hobby this year, and just enjoy it for what I’m still able to do with my MS ✌️😤
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
New to my convention booth this year - stickers! @printinkling.bsky.social made me the loveliest stickers of my three urban critters. Let the Ribbitt Family, Honk Paddleford, and Milo decorate your laptop, water bottle, or notebook!
$5/each, 3 for $12
Find them for the first time at @ane.boston!
$5/each, 3 for $12
Find them for the first time at @ane.boston!
January 8, 2026 at 2:04 PM
New to my convention booth this year - stickers! @printinkling.bsky.social made me the loveliest stickers of my three urban critters. Let the Ribbitt Family, Honk Paddleford, and Milo decorate your laptop, water bottle, or notebook!
$5/each, 3 for $12
Find them for the first time at @ane.boston!
$5/each, 3 for $12
Find them for the first time at @ane.boston!
Colourful Cthulhu sketch. Posca paint pen colours, but rendered all digital n stuff
January 6, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Colourful Cthulhu sketch. Posca paint pen colours, but rendered all digital n stuff
I’m so done with spending 2 weeks out of every 4 struggling to afford to eat…
Even the concept “cost of living crisis” is so wild. Our government has helped create a problem where, the poorest and most vulnerable among us literally cannot *afford* to *live*. Barbaric.
Even the concept “cost of living crisis” is so wild. Our government has helped create a problem where, the poorest and most vulnerable among us literally cannot *afford* to *live*. Barbaric.
January 5, 2026 at 9:30 PM
I’m so done with spending 2 weeks out of every 4 struggling to afford to eat…
Even the concept “cost of living crisis” is so wild. Our government has helped create a problem where, the poorest and most vulnerable among us literally cannot *afford* to *live*. Barbaric.
Even the concept “cost of living crisis” is so wild. Our government has helped create a problem where, the poorest and most vulnerable among us literally cannot *afford* to *live*. Barbaric.
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
i colored my flowers. and ambrose, i guess! he'd like to go back to his book now.
January 4, 2026 at 1:25 AM
i colored my flowers. and ambrose, i guess! he'd like to go back to his book now.
I chibi-died the protags of my latest finished manuscript, Slash Fiction - a gay, Section 28 meta-horror.
Edits and revisions are delayed while I work on stuff for Curtis Brown Creative and Penguin Michael Joseph, but I managed to do this, just for fun 💪🥸
Edits and revisions are delayed while I work on stuff for Curtis Brown Creative and Penguin Michael Joseph, but I managed to do this, just for fun 💪🥸
January 3, 2026 at 3:08 AM
I chibi-died the protags of my latest finished manuscript, Slash Fiction - a gay, Section 28 meta-horror.
Edits and revisions are delayed while I work on stuff for Curtis Brown Creative and Penguin Michael Joseph, but I managed to do this, just for fun 💪🥸
Edits and revisions are delayed while I work on stuff for Curtis Brown Creative and Penguin Michael Joseph, but I managed to do this, just for fun 💪🥸
Just typed “The End” on the first draft of my queer meta-horror manuscript..!! Feels good, lads. Feels real damn good.
#lgbtqwriters #horrorwriters
#lgbtqwriters #horrorwriters
December 29, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Just typed “The End” on the first draft of my queer meta-horror manuscript..!! Feels good, lads. Feels real damn good.
#lgbtqwriters #horrorwriters
#lgbtqwriters #horrorwriters
If you have any isolated friends/family/people in your life, give them a quick call and a check in today in lieu of a text. They probably want to speak to someone, and they’re possibly too proud/too worried about being a bother to make the first move.
December 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
If you have any isolated friends/family/people in your life, give them a quick call and a check in today in lieu of a text. They probably want to speak to someone, and they’re possibly too proud/too worried about being a bother to make the first move.
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
Spending the holidays alone as usual, but trying to conjure a small amount of joy with my capybara jumper in lieu of an x-mas sweater. It’s not quite working yet 😅
Hope everyone celebrating has a good day. Much love 🧡
Hope everyone celebrating has a good day. Much love 🧡
December 25, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Spending the holidays alone as usual, but trying to conjure a small amount of joy with my capybara jumper in lieu of an x-mas sweater. It’s not quite working yet 😅
Hope everyone celebrating has a good day. Much love 🧡
Hope everyone celebrating has a good day. Much love 🧡
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
The Beast getting ready to mess up some wolves from this day in 2020.
Marker drawing on toned tan paper.
Marker drawing on toned tan paper.
December 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Beast getting ready to mess up some wolves from this day in 2020.
Marker drawing on toned tan paper.
Marker drawing on toned tan paper.
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
'Keep going until you get to the end of the novel... everything can be fixed in editing' 📝
Acclaimed novelist and tutor of our upcoming three-month Writing Your Novel course Cathi Unsworth shares her top three tips for aspiring authors.
Acclaimed novelist and tutor of our upcoming three-month Writing Your Novel course Cathi Unsworth shares her top three tips for aspiring authors.
Cathi Unsworth: 'Keep going until you get to the end of the novel... Everything can be fixed in editing'
We interview author and CBC tutor Cathi Unsworth to find out more about her approach to crime fiction, teaching creative writing and her advice for writers.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:46 AM
'Keep going until you get to the end of the novel... everything can be fixed in editing' 📝
Acclaimed novelist and tutor of our upcoming three-month Writing Your Novel course Cathi Unsworth shares her top three tips for aspiring authors.
Acclaimed novelist and tutor of our upcoming three-month Writing Your Novel course Cathi Unsworth shares her top three tips for aspiring authors.
Heads up: the company behind the software Screenrec is currently trying to scam me into paying for a subscription to access potentially illegally obtained data and screen recordings, for an account that I never signed up for in the first place.
Proper scummy behaviour.
Proper scummy behaviour.
December 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Heads up: the company behind the software Screenrec is currently trying to scam me into paying for a subscription to access potentially illegally obtained data and screen recordings, for an account that I never signed up for in the first place.
Proper scummy behaviour.
Proper scummy behaviour.
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
It's Geeky Lunch Chat with Games time!
I'm in a LotR Christmas jumper and we're playing the Nordic Expansion for Ticket to Ride. Join us :)
www.twitch.tv/dcbradshaw
www.youtube.com/@dcbradshaw
I'm in a LotR Christmas jumper and we're playing the Nordic Expansion for Ticket to Ride. Join us :)
www.twitch.tv/dcbradshaw
www.youtube.com/@dcbradshaw
DCBradshaw - Twitch
Geeky Lunch Chat with Games: Ticket to Ride - Nordic Expansion!
www.twitch.tv
December 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
It's Geeky Lunch Chat with Games time!
I'm in a LotR Christmas jumper and we're playing the Nordic Expansion for Ticket to Ride. Join us :)
www.twitch.tv/dcbradshaw
www.youtube.com/@dcbradshaw
I'm in a LotR Christmas jumper and we're playing the Nordic Expansion for Ticket to Ride. Join us :)
www.twitch.tv/dcbradshaw
www.youtube.com/@dcbradshaw
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
So very proud to be part of the CBC Breakthrough Class of 2025! Working with Jake Arnott is an absolute joy.
With one horror novel being developed as part of this mentorship, and another horror novel being shortlisted for the PMJ Undiscovered Writers Prize 2025, I’m very excited for what’s next!
With one horror novel being developed as part of this mentorship, and another horror novel being shortlisted for the PMJ Undiscovered Writers Prize 2025, I’m very excited for what’s next!
'Winning a scholarship on the Breakthrough Writers Programme transformed my approach to writing.' – Zoë Wilkinson
In 2025, we supported 97 talented, under-represented writers via our Breakthrough Writers' Programme.
Meet the Breakthrough Class of 2025:
In 2025, we supported 97 talented, under-represented writers via our Breakthrough Writers' Programme.
Meet the Breakthrough Class of 2025:
Breakthrough Class of 2025
We were proud to support 27 under-represented writers with our Breakthrough Writers' Programme in 2025, read on to hear about what Breakthrough means to them and for details of their…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
So very proud to be part of the CBC Breakthrough Class of 2025! Working with Jake Arnott is an absolute joy.
With one horror novel being developed as part of this mentorship, and another horror novel being shortlisted for the PMJ Undiscovered Writers Prize 2025, I’m very excited for what’s next!
With one horror novel being developed as part of this mentorship, and another horror novel being shortlisted for the PMJ Undiscovered Writers Prize 2025, I’m very excited for what’s next!
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
Reposted by Darby Machin - Author
I’m officially a Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize 2025 shortlistee!
My folk horror novel, Our Devils Need No Doors is down to the final 10 and in great company 😊
#HorrorWriters #LGBTQIA+Writers
www.instagram.com/p/DSM-6rhiPP...
My folk horror novel, Our Devils Need No Doors is down to the final 10 and in great company 😊
#HorrorWriters #LGBTQIA+Writers
www.instagram.com/p/DSM-6rhiPP...
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December 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I’m officially a Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize 2025 shortlistee!
My folk horror novel, Our Devils Need No Doors is down to the final 10 and in great company 😊
#HorrorWriters #LGBTQIA+Writers
www.instagram.com/p/DSM-6rhiPP...
My folk horror novel, Our Devils Need No Doors is down to the final 10 and in great company 😊
#HorrorWriters #LGBTQIA+Writers
www.instagram.com/p/DSM-6rhiPP...