Polenth Blake
@polenth.bsky.social
Fantasy and science fiction writer/artist with a tendency towards ecology and quietly strange things. Keeper of invertebrates and fish. Enjoys walking simulators and Second Life. Multiply marginalised.
Website: http://www.polenthblake.com
Website: http://www.polenthblake.com
Pinned
Polenth Blake
@polenth.bsky.social
· Dec 2
Polenth's Nothing
The personal website of Polenth Blake.
www.polenthblake.com
It's the last month of the year, so a roundup of the stuff I've done this year. This focuses on writing, videos and walking. More about everything can always be found on my website (now with an old school links section): www.polenthblake.com
We've used most leftovers up, but did have some sweetcorn, so the mealworms and cockroaches got that.
January 1, 2026 at 3:18 AM
We've used most leftovers up, but did have some sweetcorn, so the mealworms and cockroaches got that.
Happy New Year! Next year's plan is releasing the Werecockroach sequel. I'm honestly not sure if there's interest for this, as it doesn't get a lot of response when I talk about it, but you can't say I didn't warn you! There will be a book!
January 1, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Happy New Year! Next year's plan is releasing the Werecockroach sequel. I'm honestly not sure if there's interest for this, as it doesn't get a lot of response when I talk about it, but you can't say I didn't warn you! There will be a book!
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Aaaaah. All That Glitters is up for preorders! Aaaaaah!!!!
Whelp. I guess that's my NYE present for you all: an upcoming novella about animal spies and delicious, delightful, amazing and glorious absolutely glorious UTTER nonsense. I love this story so much. Like. No words. Makes marketing hard.
Whelp. I guess that's my NYE present for you all: an upcoming novella about animal spies and delicious, delightful, amazing and glorious absolutely glorious UTTER nonsense. I love this story so much. Like. No words. Makes marketing hard.
All That Glitters ebook by S.L. Dove Cooper - Rakuten Kobo
Read "All That Glitters" by S.L. Dove Cooper available from Rakuten Kobo. Elaine is just an average young woman. If you ignore the wealth she inherited when her family died in an accident and th...
www.kobo.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Aaaaah. All That Glitters is up for preorders! Aaaaaah!!!!
Whelp. I guess that's my NYE present for you all: an upcoming novella about animal spies and delicious, delightful, amazing and glorious absolutely glorious UTTER nonsense. I love this story so much. Like. No words. Makes marketing hard.
Whelp. I guess that's my NYE present for you all: an upcoming novella about animal spies and delicious, delightful, amazing and glorious absolutely glorious UTTER nonsense. I love this story so much. Like. No words. Makes marketing hard.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Wonderful news right at the end of the year - @willthisbeaproblem.bsky.social's Anthology: Issue V made it onto AfroCritik's Notable African Books of 2025 list (alongside other fantastic books that you should definitely add to your reading list!)
afrocritik.com/afrocritik-n...
afrocritik.com/afrocritik-n...
Afrocritik’s Notable African Books of 2025 - Afrocritik
The good news is that African writers are still firing on all cylinders in all genres. Afrocritik’s Literature Board There is no doubt that 2025 began with high expectations from readers of African bo...
afrocritik.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Wonderful news right at the end of the year - @willthisbeaproblem.bsky.social's Anthology: Issue V made it onto AfroCritik's Notable African Books of 2025 list (alongside other fantastic books that you should definitely add to your reading list!)
afrocritik.com/afrocritik-n...
afrocritik.com/afrocritik-n...
Reposted by Polenth Blake
In an unexpected turn of events, the anthology I am a co-editor of is part of the B&N pre-order sale for US folks, just through tonight! It technically hasn't even had its cover reveal yet, so this is all very unexpected. Have a look-see! 😄
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thousand...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thousand...
A Thousand Nights|Hardcover
In the mold of Arabian Nights, this groundbreaking YA anthology—featuring sixteen Muslim women writers—links together fantastical stories that a group of refugees tell one another within a riveting fr...
www.barnesandnoble.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:55 PM
In an unexpected turn of events, the anthology I am a co-editor of is part of the B&N pre-order sale for US folks, just through tonight! It technically hasn't even had its cover reveal yet, so this is all very unexpected. Have a look-see! 😄
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thousand...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thousand...
Reposted by Polenth Blake
With zero context, this was an extremely interesting email to receive late on a Wednesday night 🤣
Just meant to email myself a wee section I'd wrote on my phone from new horror book, and accidentally emailed it to a pal (with similar name)...It's not letting me recall it, so now panic explaining why I sent an unhinged paragraph with zero context about imagining peeling my skin off...🙃🙈
December 31, 2025 at 12:05 AM
With zero context, this was an extremely interesting email to receive late on a Wednesday night 🤣
I'm up to five blankets now (and a hoodie and mask). Winter is wintering.
December 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I'm up to five blankets now (and a hoodie and mask). Winter is wintering.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
I have listed the kobold heart hoards for pre-order. These will go out mid-January. More (and better!) photos will come out later but I wanted to start taking orders so I have an idea of how many more hearts I need to make.
These start at $25.
nora.jewelry/products/kob...
These start at $25.
nora.jewelry/products/kob...
December 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I have listed the kobold heart hoards for pre-order. These will go out mid-January. More (and better!) photos will come out later but I wanted to start taking orders so I have an idea of how many more hearts I need to make.
These start at $25.
nora.jewelry/products/kob...
These start at $25.
nora.jewelry/products/kob...
Time to eat ice cream. I have jelly to make later for new year.
December 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Time to eat ice cream. I have jelly to make later for new year.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
I have a sale of standalone books on itch-io, most of which are queer! Do check them out! Deeply discounted!
#booksky #queersky 📚💙💕🌈📚🖤♿📚🌈📚🪐📚🌈♠️ 📦
itch.io/s/176154/win...
#booksky #queersky 📚💙💕🌈📚🖤♿📚🌈📚🪐📚🌈♠️ 📦
itch.io/s/176154/win...
Winter Sale 2025 by Niranjan
A bundle by Niranjan, $15.00 for 32 games
itch.io
December 30, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I have a sale of standalone books on itch-io, most of which are queer! Do check them out! Deeply discounted!
#booksky #queersky 📚💙💕🌈📚🖤♿📚🌈📚🪐📚🌈♠️ 📦
itch.io/s/176154/win...
#booksky #queersky 📚💙💕🌈📚🖤♿📚🌈📚🪐📚🌈♠️ 📦
itch.io/s/176154/win...
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Here is a little mushroom person called Mushley.
December 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Here is a little mushroom person called Mushley.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
I’m laughing so hard right now. My husband and I have been wondering if our Apple HomePod mini was malfunctioning, as music kept starting to play at random times. He set up a low quality video camera, and sure enough, there’s Millie, our little void cat, tapping the top to make music start.
December 30, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I’m laughing so hard right now. My husband and I have been wondering if our Apple HomePod mini was malfunctioning, as music kept starting to play at random times. He set up a low quality video camera, and sure enough, there’s Millie, our little void cat, tapping the top to make music start.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
It seems incredible to believe, but ten years ago today, my debut novel, FOURTH WORLD, was published! To celebrate, the complete series is on sale at Amazon. FOURTH WORLD and DIFFERENT WORLDS are free, and NEW WORLD and ONE WORLD are $0.99! www.amazon.com/dp/B07XM3WKS...
December 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
It seems incredible to believe, but ten years ago today, my debut novel, FOURTH WORLD, was published! To celebrate, the complete series is on sale at Amazon. FOURTH WORLD and DIFFERENT WORLDS are free, and NEW WORLD and ONE WORLD are $0.99! www.amazon.com/dp/B07XM3WKS...
It sounds like next door is trying to dig through the wall with a teaspoon. Life in terrace houses is full of "what is that sound?" moments and it's probably better not to know the answer.
December 29, 2025 at 9:40 PM
It sounds like next door is trying to dig through the wall with a teaspoon. Life in terrace houses is full of "what is that sound?" moments and it's probably better not to know the answer.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Also at normal price, EVERYDAY ALIENS was my new release for 2025. It's a flash fiction collection about very alien aliens. It focuses on slice-of-life told from alien perspectives. Often weird and experimental. Great for fans of xenofiction and weird ecology!
www.polenthblake.com/words/aliens...
www.polenthblake.com/words/aliens...
Polenth's Nothing: Words: Books: Everyday Aliens
Everyday Aliens - A flash fiction collection by Polenth Blake.
www.polenthblake.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Also at normal price, EVERYDAY ALIENS was my new release for 2025. It's a flash fiction collection about very alien aliens. It focuses on slice-of-life told from alien perspectives. Often weird and experimental. Great for fans of xenofiction and weird ecology!
www.polenthblake.com/words/aliens...
www.polenthblake.com/words/aliens...
Reposted by Polenth Blake
The last few days did not move the main story forward AT ALL. It's just a guy eating little treats and doing nothing. And so many plot holes. He says, "no more little treats," and then he's eating another little treat in literally the next scene.
December 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
The last few days did not move the main story forward AT ALL. It's just a guy eating little treats and doing nothing. And so many plot holes. He says, "no more little treats," and then he's eating another little treat in literally the next scene.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
Once all the festivals are done, I should actually do some spinning with my new wheel rather than just looking at it. Right now, I'm mainly eating sugar and tapping on my giant salt crystal.
December 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Once all the festivals are done, I should actually do some spinning with my new wheel rather than just looking at it. Right now, I'm mainly eating sugar and tapping on my giant salt crystal.
I've always been on the edge of the writing community at best, so my plea is not to react to the AI backlash by avoiding community outsiders and strangers. I wouldn't have sold anything if people hadn't taken a chance on my work without needing to be close to me.
December 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I've always been on the edge of the writing community at best, so my plea is not to react to the AI backlash by avoiding community outsiders and strangers. I wouldn't have sold anything if people hadn't taken a chance on my work without needing to be close to me.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
If you'd rather throw money at me instead, the other two books are at their normal prices.
WERECOCKROACH is a gentle novella focused on friendship. Rin moves into a new flat as aliens arrive and ends up travelling across London with their new flatmates.
www.polenthblake.com/words/cockro...
WERECOCKROACH is a gentle novella focused on friendship. Rin moves into a new flat as aliens arrive and ends up travelling across London with their new flatmates.
www.polenthblake.com/words/cockro...
Polenth's Nothing: Words: Books: Werecockroach
Werecockroach - A science fantasy novella by Polenth Blake.
www.polenthblake.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:12 AM
If you'd rather throw money at me instead, the other two books are at their normal prices.
WERECOCKROACH is a gentle novella focused on friendship. Rin moves into a new flat as aliens arrive and ends up travelling across London with their new flatmates.
www.polenthblake.com/words/cockro...
WERECOCKROACH is a gentle novella focused on friendship. Rin moves into a new flat as aliens arrive and ends up travelling across London with their new flatmates.
www.polenthblake.com/words/cockro...
Getting there with video editing. I have this compilation to do and a short of the town's decorations. Then it's back to writing for a bit.
December 28, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Getting there with video editing. I have this compilation to do and a short of the town's decorations. Then it's back to writing for a bit.
Reposted by Polenth Blake
RAINBOW LIGHTS is also free in the Smashwords sale. This is a short story and poetry collection of my earlier work. A wide variety of themes and speculative genres, some non-human viewpoints, fungi, robots, all the things you might expect from me.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3...
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3...
Rainbow Lights
Rainbow Lights is the first collection by science fiction and fantasy author Polenth Blake. Alien scorpions, vampire ice cream sellers and clockwork flies, try to find their place in worlds where bein...
www.smashwords.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:03 AM
RAINBOW LIGHTS is also free in the Smashwords sale. This is a short story and poetry collection of my earlier work. A wide variety of themes and speculative genres, some non-human viewpoints, fungi, robots, all the things you might expect from me.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3...
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3...
Reposted by Polenth Blake
Hey #booksky, check out the r/Fantasy holiday megasale on this weekend!
📚 650+ books from over 300 authors
🔥 All $0.99 USD (or local equivalent) or FREE!
🌎 Many books discounted everywhere, worldwide
❤️ Every sale/download benefits @marycariola.bsky.social
🔗 megasale.yrliu.com
Looking for recs? 👇
📚 650+ books from over 300 authors
🔥 All $0.99 USD (or local equivalent) or FREE!
🌎 Many books discounted everywhere, worldwide
❤️ Every sale/download benefits @marycariola.bsky.social
🔗 megasale.yrliu.com
Looking for recs? 👇
December 27, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Hey #booksky, check out the r/Fantasy holiday megasale on this weekend!
📚 650+ books from over 300 authors
🔥 All $0.99 USD (or local equivalent) or FREE!
🌎 Many books discounted everywhere, worldwide
❤️ Every sale/download benefits @marycariola.bsky.social
🔗 megasale.yrliu.com
Looking for recs? 👇
📚 650+ books from over 300 authors
🔥 All $0.99 USD (or local equivalent) or FREE!
🌎 Many books discounted everywhere, worldwide
❤️ Every sale/download benefits @marycariola.bsky.social
🔗 megasale.yrliu.com
Looking for recs? 👇
A moment of calm on my YouTube channel. One minute of festive tree lights on an outdoor tree with ambient crowd sounds. (The lights are flashing, though in a string light way, not a strobe light way.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUq...
One Minute Tree Lights
YouTube video by Polenth Blake
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:49 AM
A moment of calm on my YouTube channel. One minute of festive tree lights on an outdoor tree with ambient crowd sounds. (The lights are flashing, though in a string light way, not a strobe light way.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUq...
The thing about making friends in writing is that this is a workplace. People are busy with work and it might not happen. I have work friends here (chat on social media, talk about work when needed in private), but I don't have close friends.
December 27, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The thing about making friends in writing is that this is a workplace. People are busy with work and it might not happen. I have work friends here (chat on social media, talk about work when needed in private), but I don't have close friends.