Shona Kinsella
@shonak.bsky.social
Scottish fantasy and horror author. Chair of the British Fantasy Society. Avid Reader. Vaguely gothic. She/her www.shonakinsella.com
Pinned
Shona Kinsella
@shonak.bsky.social
· Jan 8
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass: (Volume 4)
(Volume 4)
uk.bookshop.org
Books read in 2026
Book 1 - Wizard and Glass by Stephen King. Quite possibly my favourite in the series, but it’s so hard to choose. I love it!
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Book 1 - Wizard and Glass by Stephen King. Quite possibly my favourite in the series, but it’s so hard to choose. I love it!
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
I may have visited the book shop…
February 15, 2026 at 1:53 PM
I may have visited the book shop…
Following a conversation with Mr K over breakfast, I have a question, blueskiers.
Do you say the letter J to rhyme with die or with day and where are you from?
Do you say the letter J to rhyme with die or with day and where are you from?
February 15, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Following a conversation with Mr K over breakfast, I have a question, blueskiers.
Do you say the letter J to rhyme with die or with day and where are you from?
Do you say the letter J to rhyme with die or with day and where are you from?
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
Impending deadline reminder!
Organically inclusive reader? Fan of speculative fiction? Want to judge the 2026 Ignyte Awards? Judges compose our longlist before we open up to public voting. Applications are currently open thru 2/14.
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
Wanna Judge? - The Ignyte Awards
For the 2026 cycle, we are opening up our longlist judging cohort to folks who may be a good fit (interested, available, organically well-read in a diverse and inclusive titles in sffh whether profess...
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Impending deadline reminder!
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
Another last-year faves was Molly Tanzer's "City of Tears," which is on the Locus Awards preliminary ballot - side note, ANYONE CAN VOTE IN THE LOCUS AWARDS! @mollytanzer.bsky.social @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-...
poll.voting.locusmag.com?fbclid=IwY2x...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-...
poll.voting.locusmag.com?fbclid=IwY2x...
Welcome to the Locus Awards Poll. Deadline for voting is April 1. You can return and edit or add to your ballot up until the deadline.
poll.voting.locusmag.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Another last-year faves was Molly Tanzer's "City of Tears," which is on the Locus Awards preliminary ballot - side note, ANYONE CAN VOTE IN THE LOCUS AWARDS! @mollytanzer.bsky.social @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-...
poll.voting.locusmag.com?fbclid=IwY2x...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-...
poll.voting.locusmag.com?fbclid=IwY2x...
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
@bsfa.bsky.social Fission is now open! Please send us your words, we are excited to see them! :)
Any questions, please ask me.
www.bsfa.co.uk/fission
Any questions, please ask me.
www.bsfa.co.uk/fission
BSFA - Fission
www.bsfa.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:37 PM
@bsfa.bsky.social Fission is now open! Please send us your words, we are excited to see them! :)
Any questions, please ask me.
www.bsfa.co.uk/fission
Any questions, please ask me.
www.bsfa.co.uk/fission
First short story of the year finished. That feels lovely!
February 13, 2026 at 1:37 PM
First short story of the year finished. That feels lovely!
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
That, and their cowardly failure to make the radical changes possible with their large majority is why I have abandoned my 41 years of Labour support and joined the Greens as an active volunteer.
"They're serving the interests of multi-millionaires and billionaires."
@zackpolanski.bsky.social on @itvpeston.bsky.social
@zackpolanski.bsky.social on @itvpeston.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 10:29 AM
That, and their cowardly failure to make the radical changes possible with their large majority is why I have abandoned my 41 years of Labour support and joined the Greens as an active volunteer.
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
The BFS is delighted to announce our fourth and final Guest of Honour for Fanatsycon 2026 - Chris Baker (aka Fangorn) britishfantasysociety.org/fantasycon-2...
February 12, 2026 at 11:56 AM
The BFS is delighted to announce our fourth and final Guest of Honour for Fanatsycon 2026 - Chris Baker (aka Fangorn) britishfantasysociety.org/fantasycon-2...
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
Direct link to the consultation for ref: www.gov.uk/government/c...
NB some of the questions attempt to weasel you into agreeing with poor premises. Use your free text options to object to the framing rather than agree / disagree, so that they cannot use the numbers and ignore the text.
NB some of the questions attempt to weasel you into agreeing with poor premises. Use your free text options to object to the framing rather than agree / disagree, so that they cannot use the numbers and ignore the text.
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Direct link to the consultation for ref: www.gov.uk/government/c...
NB some of the questions attempt to weasel you into agreeing with poor premises. Use your free text options to object to the framing rather than agree / disagree, so that they cannot use the numbers and ignore the text.
NB some of the questions attempt to weasel you into agreeing with poor premises. Use your free text options to object to the framing rather than agree / disagree, so that they cannot use the numbers and ignore the text.
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
If you missed Neil Williamson's story The Packet, which was serialised in last year's ParSec magazine, here's your second chance. The Packet will be available as ebook, paperback and limited edition signed hardback from NewCon Press on 24th March.
For now, get your preorders in at the link below.
For now, get your preorders in at the link below.
Hey look! A new book!
Some of you may have caught The Packet serialised in ParSec magazine but this is its first outing as physical book. If you like stormy sea voyages and sci-fi, this is the one for you.
Out in April, opening for pre-order now.
www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.as...
Some of you may have caught The Packet serialised in ParSec magazine but this is its first outing as physical book. If you like stormy sea voyages and sci-fi, this is the one for you.
Out in April, opening for pre-order now.
www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.as...
February 10, 2026 at 6:43 PM
If you missed Neil Williamson's story The Packet, which was serialised in last year's ParSec magazine, here's your second chance. The Packet will be available as ebook, paperback and limited edition signed hardback from NewCon Press on 24th March.
For now, get your preorders in at the link below.
For now, get your preorders in at the link below.
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
We approve this message re: Friday's event with our Cameron Johnston. Please keep your favourite authors supplied with big coats and join us in #Glasgow.
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
I was umming and ahhing about buying a Big Coat I liked the look of, then I remembered I'm in Glasgow on the 13th doing a Pagans event. BIG COAT = PURCHASED
#Glasgow Join our Cameron Johnson for an evening with James Alistair Henry - creator of Green Wing, Smack the Pony, and now new novel Pagans! Get your tickets for 13th Feb at Waterstones Argyle ST below:
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
February 10, 2026 at 6:42 PM
We approve this message re: Friday's event with our Cameron Johnston. Please keep your favourite authors supplied with big coats and join us in #Glasgow.
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
I’m at the point of starting to think about who to approach to endorse my next book, and my word but it’s agonising. I hate this part of the process so much.
I don’t want to keep asking the same people and become a burden on them. I’m really anxious about asking people I have less connection with
I don’t want to keep asking the same people and become a burden on them. I’m really anxious about asking people I have less connection with
February 10, 2026 at 10:14 AM
I’m at the point of starting to think about who to approach to endorse my next book, and my word but it’s agonising. I hate this part of the process so much.
I don’t want to keep asking the same people and become a burden on them. I’m really anxious about asking people I have less connection with
I don’t want to keep asking the same people and become a burden on them. I’m really anxious about asking people I have less connection with
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
I was shy about sharing this, but I do think it's a rather nice story
It is, in fact, my first ever short story publication!
I've been rather touched (and occasionally embarrassed) by the positive reactions from people who don't even *have* to say nice things about my writing
It is, in fact, my first ever short story publication!
I've been rather touched (and occasionally embarrassed) by the positive reactions from people who don't even *have* to say nice things about my writing
Busy day at the Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast! We have a double fiction episode, finishing the stories bought last year, and it's the last day to submit stories for this year!
Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell
Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko
alpennia.com/blog/lesbian...
Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell
Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko
alpennia.com/blog/lesbian...
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 334 – Fiction Double-Header: Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell & Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko | Alpennia
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 334 - Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 334 – Fiction Double-Header: Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell & Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko - tr...
alpennia.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:44 PM
I was shy about sharing this, but I do think it's a rather nice story
It is, in fact, my first ever short story publication!
I've been rather touched (and occasionally embarrassed) by the positive reactions from people who don't even *have* to say nice things about my writing
It is, in fact, my first ever short story publication!
I've been rather touched (and occasionally embarrassed) by the positive reactions from people who don't even *have* to say nice things about my writing
9yo this morning:
Mum, mum, look! The snowdrops are out, spring is coming! Or, is it here?
Me: we’re in the part of the year where winter is passing into spring. So we still might get wintry weather for a while, but the earth is waking up and spring is on its way.
9: So it’s Springter?
Mum, mum, look! The snowdrops are out, spring is coming! Or, is it here?
Me: we’re in the part of the year where winter is passing into spring. So we still might get wintry weather for a while, but the earth is waking up and spring is on its way.
9: So it’s Springter?
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
9yo this morning:
Mum, mum, look! The snowdrops are out, spring is coming! Or, is it here?
Me: we’re in the part of the year where winter is passing into spring. So we still might get wintry weather for a while, but the earth is waking up and spring is on its way.
9: So it’s Springter?
Mum, mum, look! The snowdrops are out, spring is coming! Or, is it here?
Me: we’re in the part of the year where winter is passing into spring. So we still might get wintry weather for a while, but the earth is waking up and spring is on its way.
9: So it’s Springter?
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
As a kid I used to devour @starburst.bsky.social magazine. So I’m absolutely chuffed that they’ve given SCRATCH MOSS such an in-depth and fabulous review.
www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/scra...
www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/scra...
SCRATCH MOSS - STARBURST Magazine
Scratch Moss, David Barnett's new folk horror novel, is a spooky, sprawling history of a Yorkshire village through the ages.
www.starburstmagazine.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:18 AM
As a kid I used to devour @starburst.bsky.social magazine. So I’m absolutely chuffed that they’ve given SCRATCH MOSS such an in-depth and fabulous review.
www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/scra...
www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/scra...
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
"Stewart Hotston’s Project Hanuman is an epic story of life and death ripped from Hindu folklore and filtered through the wilds of space opera...at once thoughtful and rollicking."
Check out @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social's review of Project Hanuman!
Check out @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social's review of Project Hanuman!
Unite or Die: Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston - Reactor
Alex Brown reviews a soaring space opera epic that has some structural issues.
reactormag.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:19 PM
"Stewart Hotston’s Project Hanuman is an epic story of life and death ripped from Hindu folklore and filtered through the wilds of space opera...at once thoughtful and rollicking."
Check out @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social's review of Project Hanuman!
Check out @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social's review of Project Hanuman!
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
The Cymera Prize for Speculative Short Fiction is open to any writer living in Scotland or Scottish by birth or inclination, aged at least 14 years.
Submissions are open from Monday 12th January 2026 until 8pm BST on Sunday 22nd March 2026.
www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2026-prize
Submissions are open from Monday 12th January 2026 until 8pm BST on Sunday 22nd March 2026.
www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2026-prize
2026 Prize — CYMERA
www.cymerafestival.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 2:10 PM
The Cymera Prize for Speculative Short Fiction is open to any writer living in Scotland or Scottish by birth or inclination, aged at least 14 years.
Submissions are open from Monday 12th January 2026 until 8pm BST on Sunday 22nd March 2026.
www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2026-prize
Submissions are open from Monday 12th January 2026 until 8pm BST on Sunday 22nd March 2026.
www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2026-prize
I loved this book, and what a gorgeous edition!
We put a spell on you. We sprayed your edges.
Look out for the new paperback edition of @cmalongi.bsky.social's spellbinding new fantasy The Witch Who Trades With Death.
Coming 24th March.
And all love to our design department for this cover...
Look out for the new paperback edition of @cmalongi.bsky.social's spellbinding new fantasy The Witch Who Trades With Death.
Coming 24th March.
And all love to our design department for this cover...
February 6, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I loved this book, and what a gorgeous edition!
I’m running a workshop on writing witchcraft as part of the UK Ghost Story Festival Online this weekend and I’m really looking forward to it! Check out details here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ukghoststory... @ghoststoryfest.bsky.social
www.ticketsource.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I’m running a workshop on writing witchcraft as part of the UK Ghost Story Festival Online this weekend and I’m really looking forward to it! Check out details here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ukghoststory... @ghoststoryfest.bsky.social
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
The BFS is thrilled to announce our third Guest of Honour for Fantasycon 2026 - Peter F. Hamilton! @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social @torbooks.bsky.social britishfantasysociety.org/fantasycon-2...
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 AM
The BFS is thrilled to announce our third Guest of Honour for Fantasycon 2026 - Peter F. Hamilton! @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social @torbooks.bsky.social britishfantasysociety.org/fantasycon-2...
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
here we go! Check out this beaut
Check out the cover for #TheDeepAndTheDrowned, the first in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the #Rotstorm & #Extremophile @ianthegreen.bsky.social
With an incredible illustration by Marcela Bolivar (@tropicalgloom.bsky.social) and Simon Michele
Pre-order now: https://geni.us/TDATDcovrev
With an incredible illustration by Marcela Bolivar (@tropicalgloom.bsky.social) and Simon Michele
Pre-order now: https://geni.us/TDATDcovrev
February 4, 2026 at 1:26 PM
here we go! Check out this beaut
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
#Glasgow Join our Cameron Johnson for an evening with James Alistair Henry - creator of Green Wing, Smack the Pony, and now new novel Pagans! Get your tickets for 13th Feb at Waterstones Argyle ST below:
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
An Evening with James Alistair Henry | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about An Evening with James Alistair Henry today.
www.waterstones.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:44 PM
#Glasgow Join our Cameron Johnson for an evening with James Alistair Henry - creator of Green Wing, Smack the Pony, and now new novel Pagans! Get your tickets for 13th Feb at Waterstones Argyle ST below:
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@cameronjohnston.bsky.social @jamesbluecat.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
February 4, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Shona Kinsella
Fantasycon 2026 prices will increase on 1st March, so if you haven't booked yet, now is a great time to do so!
britishfantasysociety.org/events-calen...
britishfantasysociety.org/events-calen...
February 4, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Fantasycon 2026 prices will increase on 1st March, so if you haven't booked yet, now is a great time to do so!
britishfantasysociety.org/events-calen...
britishfantasysociety.org/events-calen...
It's #BookQW and the word this week is 'back'. In The Heart of Winter, Brigit creates a dolly out of oat stalks in honour of the Cailleach, the goddess of winter, who she prays to for help getting out of an arranged marriage to Aengus, god of summer.
www.flametreepublishing.com/the-heart-of...
www.flametreepublishing.com/the-heart-of...
February 4, 2026 at 12:09 PM
It's #BookQW and the word this week is 'back'. In The Heart of Winter, Brigit creates a dolly out of oat stalks in honour of the Cailleach, the goddess of winter, who she prays to for help getting out of an arranged marriage to Aengus, god of summer.
www.flametreepublishing.com/the-heart-of...
www.flametreepublishing.com/the-heart-of...