Steve Toase
@stevetoase.bsky.social
Writer based in Franconian Forest, Germany
Fortean Times comics reviewer
published at Tor.com Shimmer 3LBE, Lackington's, Lead writer on Haunt www.stevetoase.co.uk
To Drown in Dark Water from Undertow Publications
Dirt Upon My Skin from Black Shuck Books
Fortean Times comics reviewer
published at Tor.com Shimmer 3LBE, Lackington's, Lead writer on Haunt www.stevetoase.co.uk
To Drown in Dark Water from Undertow Publications
Dirt Upon My Skin from Black Shuck Books
Pinned
Steve Toase
@stevetoase.bsky.social
· May 1
Dirt Upon My Skin, my archaeology themed horror collection, is still available direct from the publisher @blackshuckbooks.bsky.social for the grand total of £5.99 for the paperback, or £1.49 for the ebook.
That’s 59p a story for the dead tree version or less than 15p a story in electrical form!
That’s 59p a story for the dead tree version or less than 15p a story in electrical form!
Reposted by Steve Toase
Happy Nov 14th, everybody!
November 14, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Happy Nov 14th, everybody!
On the weird fiction panel at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social I talked about how weird fiction can sometimes be like holding a joke until it enters that uncomfortable, unheimlich space. I Say (I Say, I Say) by Robert Shearman (in @datlow.bsky.social Best Horror 12) is a beautiful example of that.
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
On the weird fiction panel at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social I talked about how weird fiction can sometimes be like holding a joke until it enters that uncomfortable, unheimlich space. I Say (I Say, I Say) by Robert Shearman (in @datlow.bsky.social Best Horror 12) is a beautiful example of that.
Been a busy couple of weeks so forgot to mention this. The latest @forteantimes.bsky.social is out, including my comic page, where I review Low, Lookout, Chew: The Nomnibus Edition, Redcoat, Elric: The Balance Lost, and Hawkmoon: The Black Jewel.
November 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Been a busy couple of weeks so forgot to mention this. The latest @forteantimes.bsky.social is out, including my comic page, where I review Low, Lookout, Chew: The Nomnibus Edition, Redcoat, Elric: The Balance Lost, and Hawkmoon: The Black Jewel.
I’m proud of my lad for many things but these three things particularly.
1. He knows all the words to Rose Tattoo by the @dropkickmurphys.com
2. He knows all the words to Sonic Attack by Hawkwind
3. He does an excellent impression of Donald Sutherland’s bodysnatcher point & scream at random times.
1. He knows all the words to Rose Tattoo by the @dropkickmurphys.com
2. He knows all the words to Sonic Attack by Hawkwind
3. He does an excellent impression of Donald Sutherland’s bodysnatcher point & scream at random times.
a man in a trench coat and tie is standing in front of a building .
ALT: a man in a trench coat and tie is standing in front of a building .
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I’m proud of my lad for many things but these three things particularly.
1. He knows all the words to Rose Tattoo by the @dropkickmurphys.com
2. He knows all the words to Sonic Attack by Hawkwind
3. He does an excellent impression of Donald Sutherland’s bodysnatcher point & scream at random times.
1. He knows all the words to Rose Tattoo by the @dropkickmurphys.com
2. He knows all the words to Sonic Attack by Hawkwind
3. He does an excellent impression of Donald Sutherland’s bodysnatcher point & scream at random times.
Reposted by Steve Toase
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 18181999:
"Write what you know" is limiting advice, which leads to limited writing. Instead, know what you're writing about. That means due diligence: good research, wide reading, specialist help and advice if you need it. Stay curious. Try new ideas. No limits.
"Write what you know" is limiting advice, which leads to limited writing. Instead, know what you're writing about. That means due diligence: good research, wide reading, specialist help and advice if you need it. Stay curious. Try new ideas. No limits.
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 18181999:
"Write what you know" is limiting advice, which leads to limited writing. Instead, know what you're writing about. That means due diligence: good research, wide reading, specialist help and advice if you need it. Stay curious. Try new ideas. No limits.
"Write what you know" is limiting advice, which leads to limited writing. Instead, know what you're writing about. That means due diligence: good research, wide reading, specialist help and advice if you need it. Stay curious. Try new ideas. No limits.
Reposted by Steve Toase
I gave excavated wooden planks in permafrost (not as old, but still old) and it influenced everything I've done after, working in places where all that organic material is missing. Wjat do you find between 800 year old wood planks? Arrow shaft fragments, little wood figurines.
Memories of plunging my hand deep into the very cold peat to uncover Iron Age wooden planks last seen over 2,000 years ago.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I gave excavated wooden planks in permafrost (not as old, but still old) and it influenced everything I've done after, working in places where all that organic material is missing. Wjat do you find between 800 year old wood planks? Arrow shaft fragments, little wood figurines.
Reposted by Steve Toase
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"The odor hit me before the sound: exhaust. Exhaust from a jet fuel engine. I must have been sleeping like a stone."
"Sharp Resistance" In Nocturne
www.nocturnezine.com/issue-5
"The odor hit me before the sound: exhaust. Exhaust from a jet fuel engine. I must have been sleeping like a stone."
"Sharp Resistance" In Nocturne
www.nocturnezine.com/issue-5
November 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"The odor hit me before the sound: exhaust. Exhaust from a jet fuel engine. I must have been sleeping like a stone."
"Sharp Resistance" In Nocturne
www.nocturnezine.com/issue-5
"The odor hit me before the sound: exhaust. Exhaust from a jet fuel engine. I must have been sleeping like a stone."
"Sharp Resistance" In Nocturne
www.nocturnezine.com/issue-5
Beautiful out there tonight, over the Frankenwald.
November 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Beautiful out there tonight, over the Frankenwald.
Reposted by Steve Toase
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(This is Spinach 419 which came out in the summer dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/spinach-41... )
(This is Spinach 419 which came out in the summer dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/spinach-41... )
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(This is Spinach 419 which came out in the summer dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/spinach-41... )
(This is Spinach 419 which came out in the summer dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/spinach-41... )
Reposted by Steve Toase
Her bookshelf scares all the boys in the yard,
Damn right, it's got Lucy Maud,
Damn right, there's Baudrillard.
She's out read you, and it's not that odd.
Damn right, it's got Lucy Maud,
Damn right, there's Baudrillard.
She's out read you, and it's not that odd.
New fear unlocked
There is a subreddit where people post pictures of bookshelves "bookshelf detective", and sometimes it's like "girl I'm dating, what do you think she is like"
And then the comments guess at what kind of person the owner of the bookshelf is and it feels ODDLY HUMILIATING LOL
There is a subreddit where people post pictures of bookshelves "bookshelf detective", and sometimes it's like "girl I'm dating, what do you think she is like"
And then the comments guess at what kind of person the owner of the bookshelf is and it feels ODDLY HUMILIATING LOL
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Her bookshelf scares all the boys in the yard,
Damn right, it's got Lucy Maud,
Damn right, there's Baudrillard.
She's out read you, and it's not that odd.
Damn right, it's got Lucy Maud,
Damn right, there's Baudrillard.
She's out read you, and it's not that odd.
Reposted by Steve Toase
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Robert first noticed the head in the pantry on a Tuesday morning."
The Head in the Pantry published at @chmmagazine.bsky.social
cosmichorrormonthly.com/fiction/the-...
"Robert first noticed the head in the pantry on a Tuesday morning."
The Head in the Pantry published at @chmmagazine.bsky.social
cosmichorrormonthly.com/fiction/the-...
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Robert first noticed the head in the pantry on a Tuesday morning."
The Head in the Pantry published at @chmmagazine.bsky.social
cosmichorrormonthly.com/fiction/the-...
"Robert first noticed the head in the pantry on a Tuesday morning."
The Head in the Pantry published at @chmmagazine.bsky.social
cosmichorrormonthly.com/fiction/the-...
Reposted by Steve Toase
"Renew forced one eye open. Spots of red floated in her vision.
No, those were blood droplets, suspended on the interior of her visor."
astral-af.org/issues/02/in...
No, those were blood droplets, suspended on the interior of her visor."
astral-af.org/issues/02/in...
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"Renew forced one eye open. Spots of red floated in her vision.
No, those were blood droplets, suspended on the interior of her visor."
astral-af.org/issues/02/in...
No, those were blood droplets, suspended on the interior of her visor."
astral-af.org/issues/02/in...
Reposted by Steve Toase
I got to listen to Steve read this story at World FantasyCon and it's one of those ones that keeps floating around your head for a while. Fwaaaaah.
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I got to listen to Steve read this story at World FantasyCon and it's one of those ones that keeps floating around your head for a while. Fwaaaaah.
Reposted by Steve Toase
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Steve Toase
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"You find the dead man waiting for you right where you left him, leaning against the old wooden fence at the side of the road."
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road” in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social
"You find the dead man waiting for you right where you left him, leaning against the old wooden fence at the side of the road."
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road” in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"You find the dead man waiting for you right where you left him, leaning against the old wooden fence at the side of the road."
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road” in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social
"You find the dead man waiting for you right where you left him, leaning against the old wooden fence at the side of the road."
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road” in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Toase
Steve's stories are *chef kiss*
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Steve's stories are *chef kiss*
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
"Jamie found the book in our second year at art school. I remember this because he never made it to the third."
The Charcoal Sovereign published at @bourbonpenn.bsky.social www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/the...
Reposted by Steve Toase
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(This is WATERBIRDS, which I'm still fond of.) @lightspeedmagazine.com
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/wate...
(This is WATERBIRDS, which I'm still fond of.) @lightspeedmagazine.com
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/wate...
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Convincing you to read my short story with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(This is WATERBIRDS, which I'm still fond of.) @lightspeedmagazine.com
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/wate...
(This is WATERBIRDS, which I'm still fond of.) @lightspeedmagazine.com
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/wate...
Reposted by Steve Toase
389) Scarecrowbot. Why put up a weird, straw-filled homunculus to guard you precious, precious crops from marauding corvids when you could use a dedicated small robot instead? #SmallRobotsRemastered
November 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
389) Scarecrowbot. Why put up a weird, straw-filled homunculus to guard you precious, precious crops from marauding corvids when you could use a dedicated small robot instead? #SmallRobotsRemastered
Very happy to say my weird horror story “The Orange Room” will be published in a future issue of Not One of Us. Sometimes inspiration for a story is fairly vague. In this case, the story was directly inspired by these tiles in our house.
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Very happy to say my weird horror story “The Orange Room” will be published in a future issue of Not One of Us. Sometimes inspiration for a story is fairly vague. In this case, the story was directly inspired by these tiles in our house.
Reposted by Steve Toase
"The ghost has always been here. You just didn’t notice her before."
TODAY, beloveds!!
a bit of ghost FLASH, just for you 🖤
The Ghost of Cerrera Orbital Station Makes Herself Known by @amadolaila.bsky.social
TODAY, beloveds!!
a bit of ghost FLASH, just for you 🖤
The Ghost of Cerrera Orbital Station Makes Herself Known by @amadolaila.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
"The ghost has always been here. You just didn’t notice her before."
TODAY, beloveds!!
a bit of ghost FLASH, just for you 🖤
The Ghost of Cerrera Orbital Station Makes Herself Known by @amadolaila.bsky.social
TODAY, beloveds!!
a bit of ghost FLASH, just for you 🖤
The Ghost of Cerrera Orbital Station Makes Herself Known by @amadolaila.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Toase
They got me painting rocks again.
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
They got me painting rocks again.
Reposted by Steve Toase
‘Tis the season of Nick Drake and mellow fruitfulness youtu.be/j14PgxHghjQ?...
Things Behind The Sun
YouTube video by Nick Drake - Topic
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
‘Tis the season of Nick Drake and mellow fruitfulness youtu.be/j14PgxHghjQ?...
Reposted by Steve Toase
Paging the ghost of M. R. James…
Somerset church tomb collapse exposes 1700s stone crypt
Somerset church tomb collapse exposes 1700s stone crypt
The church says it is currently unclear whether the collapse has damaged any surrounding graves.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Paging the ghost of M. R. James…