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cpcwrites.bsky.social
Chris Patrick Carolan 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
@cpcwrites.bsky.social
380 followers 180 following 660 posts
Author, Editor, Hovercraft Enthusiast. THE NIGHTSHADE CABAL released 2020 by Parliament House Press. Best First Novel finalist, Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence. (He/Him)
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cpcwrites.bsky.social
Thanks for another #FridayReads, Gabino!
There's a chill in the air, and it runs deeper than just the turn of the season

Check out the book Craig DiLouie(!) called "a powerful Victorian adventure, rich in detail and set in a fully realized world ... A stunning debut!"

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
Cover art for The Nightshade Cabal by Chris Patrick Carolan. Image shows a mail figured dressed in black, with his back to the viewer. A Victorian city scene in the background is shrouded in mist. Caption reads "Only the dead know the secrets of the Cabal..." A Crime Writers of Canada 2021 Awards of Excellence Finalist badge has been added. The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance.
November 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Situation Update:
November 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Yeah, the waiting is the hardest part
November 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
This is only a test.
October 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Grandpa Simpson hanging an American flag on a wall, saying: "I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Montana."
October 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
These bastards from Hell are called "Molasses Kisses," but we always just called them Witch Candies. They look fun but taste like sadness. I don't know if they exist outside of Canada, but y'all can have any that end up in my bag.
Witch Candies: individually wrapped taffy-like treats, dressed in orange waxed paper decorated with witches, bats, and spooky trees. Horrid.
October 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Thanks for another #FridayReads, Gabino!
Anyone up for a paranormal mystery set in and under 1880s Halifax, Nova Scotia?

Check out the book Craig DiLouie(!) called "a powerful Victorian adventure, rich in detail and set in a fully realized world ... A stunning debut!"

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
Cover art for The Nightshade Cabal by Chris Patrick Carolan. Image shows a mail figured dressed in black, with his back to the viewer. A Victorian city scene in the background is shrouded in mist. Caption reads "Only the dead know the secrets of the Cabal..." A Crime Writers of Canada 2021 Awards of Excellence Finalist badge has been added. The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance.
October 24, 2025 at 2:40 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Thanks for another #FridayReads, Gabino!
Horror, crime, magic, friendship, violence, and monsters?
Check, check, etc!

Check out the book Craig DiLouie(!) called "a powerful Victorian adventure, rich in detail and set in a fully realized world ... A stunning debut!"

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance. Image shows the cover of The Nightshade Cabal against a chalkboard background with a light blue skull. Captions read: "Victorian Era Mayhem and Mystery, Thrilling Inventions, Reanimated Corpses, Found Family, Dueling Spellcasters, Canadian Setting, Surly Fae, and Award Nominated."
October 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
My experience was extremely likely, thanks for asking.
Screenshot asking for customer feedback on a scale of one to ten. But there is no question being asked.
September 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Now shipping worldwide!
(to both of the world's many countries)
Screenshot from Ben Sherman's website proudly announcing "Now Shipping Worldwide!" The dropdown lets you choose from two shipping destinations: the United Kingdom or the United States.
September 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Someone: "Can you walk me through your writing and editing process?"

Me:
September 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Relevant:
A diagram from a medical textbook titled Skeleton Parts, Identified. A single arrow points to the skeleton, labelled simply "bones." This is not inaccurate.
September 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Once more for the scoundrels in the legislature.
#abpoli #ableg
Henry Jones (Sean Connery) catches a Nazi officer by the wrist and says "Goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them."
September 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
An' LinkedIn can fuck right off an' all.
Screenshot of an email from LinkedIn, encouraging human writers to train their AI replacements. Subject line reads "The AI Training Company is hiring a Freelance English Writer"
August 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
It might be time for us all to revisit and reevaluate S1M0NE (2002).
Movie poster for SIMONE (stylized as S1M0NE). A blonde woman, pictured larger than life, clutches her shoulder as it dissolves into pixels. A suited man in the corner looks up at her. Caption reads "A star is... created."
August 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Thanks for another #FridayReads, Gabino!
Horror, crime, magic, friendship, violence, and monsters?
Check, check, etc!

Check out the book Craig DiLouie(!) called "a powerful Victorian adventure, rich in detail and set in a fully realized world ... A stunning debut!"

LINK: books2read.com/u/490zOw
The first page of The Nightshade Cabal. Text Reads: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, 1881 "I’m telling you, Jonathon, these so-called stage magicians are nothing more than charlatans and hucksters of the highest order.” Isaac Barrow said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the crowded Theatre Royale. "The act is nothing but mirrors and wires and other trickery making you think you've seen something you haven’t.” Inspector Jonathon Eddings chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "And I keep telling you, Barrow, being fooled is the whole point of the bloody show!” Fifteen years in Halifax had done little to blunt the edge of his thick Mancunian brogue. His friend’s retort failed to quell Barrow's annoyance. The inspector's invitation had had all the cordiality of a press gang. Eddings had bought the tickets to thank Barrow for his help with a recent investigation. He hadn’t skimped, either; they sat just three rows back of the orchestra pit. The notion of putting down hard-earned coin with the express intention of being hoodwinked by some sham of a magician struck Barrow as inordinately foolish. He knew of the occult and the dangers of flirting with its deadly secrets. Real magic being his stock-in-trade, he considered the pretend variety, popular on stage, mildly offensive at best. It was only on his friend's repeated insistence that he had finally, against his own better judgement, agreed to attend the performance. Image shows the cover of The Nightshade Cabal against a chalkboard background with a light blue skull. Captions read: "Victorian Era Mayhem and Mystery, Thrilling Inventions, Reanimated Corpses, Found Family, Dueling Spellcasters, Canadian Setting, Surly Fae, and Award Nominated."
July 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
It was the 80s and we believed it because, well, it was a photo on the front page of (what we thought was) a newspaper at the supermarket.
Black and what image of the face on Mars.
July 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Number 3, the 'Gerin the Fox' series by @hntdove.bsky.social chronicles a frontier baron who builds his realm over several years as an empire contracts. The second book, Prince of the North, was the novel that made me want to be a writer.

For 5, Shelter for the Damned by @mikethorn.bsky.social
Cover art for the Baen edition of PRINCE OF THE NORTH shows Gerin and Van facing off against a longtooth in the woods. Art by Larry Elmore. I've owned this copy for close to 30 years and have read it countless times, as evidenced by the wear on the cover and binding.
June 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
post a trio of awesomeness ✨
The Doctor, THE Doctor, and the War Doctor.
June 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Hmm. Could you remove the existing pins from the brooch, then attach a swing pin? Either solder it in place or use some sort of epoxy?
June 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
I have several pins with little black rubber backers which work quite well. They're not really lower profile than the metal ones, but they do have fewer pokey bits. You can usually buy them cheaply in bulk online.
June 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
Drop some ARROWS 🏹➡️🖤

(One day I'll hear the word "arrow" without thinking of this. Today was not that day.)
June 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
I will never knowingly pay for AI trash. I keep a list of publishers and writers (indie and big) who openly laud their use of it, and will avoid them.

I love how imperfect my creations are. I write my stories and do my own character art, because I can't afford to pay an artist and refuse to use AI.
An unfinished pencil sketch of the characters Isaac Barrow and Emily Skye from The Nightshade Cabal, drawn by biological human writer and sometimes artist Chris Patrick Carolan (signed here as Caro).
June 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
cpcwrites.bsky.social
I deal with this fairly frequently, as many of my stories tend to be set in the 1700-1800s. I often refer to the Oxford English Dictionary, which provides the earliest recorded uses in English in the Factsheet for each entry.

To whit:
Screenshot from the Oxford English Dictionary. Text reads: "Where does the verb shrug come from? Earliest known use Middle English. The earliest known use of the verb shrug is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for shrug is from around 1440, in Promptorium Parvulorum."
June 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM