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dmbarnham.bsky.social
Barnham
@dmbarnham.bsky.social
230 followers 220 following 840 posts
Autistic & Dyslexic - Scifi & Fantasy Author - Archery, Gold Panning & Pokemon Cards
~~~
Book of Ominiue - Mature first contact scifi & fantasy (First works: a bit cringey but I love it)
Skyship of Truskal - A Terry Pratchett ripoff fantasy
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dmbarnham.bsky.social
As a writer who gets scam emails my new favourite game is making up shit that doesn't happen in the books and seeing their reply.

Though, personally, I think having a trans trolls is friggin awesome. Might have to add that to a book one day.
November 21, 2025 at 7:58 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Took my dad to an awesome little secondhand bookshop, and this is what I picked up (he found the entire ringworld series, which I'm jealous about, and a stack of E.C.Tubb books he's missing. So he's happy.
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
A random assortment of tags to define the book: The Skyship of Truskal: Girl Engineer, To the Stars My Destination, Outsider Friendship, "Boys only school" crossed out and replaced with "Not anymore, -Telana" scribbled in red pen, Magics, that's cool but science is cool too, Dragonriders are annoying, Adventure is out there!, In the Spirit of Pratchett.
October 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
1st of the Month self promo day! ( made it on time this time!)

I got a new review: It's epic (stolen from TK)

If you like Terry Pratchett then you might like the Skyship of Truskal. It has the odd lol within. Drama, adventure, a cranky kid that grows into themselves.

books2read.com/u/baxAjv
Book Review for the Skyship of Truskal: This is the first time reading D.M. Barnham's work, and what a wonderful, refreshing book to have fallen into. A tale riddled with adventure, imaginative worlds, customs and words, and humour. A story about a young girl, Telana, fighting and proving the odds wrong in an all too familiar world ruled by men. Telana's goal is to build a skyship, but the story is about overcoming the setbacks, gaining allies because of her genuine nature, and setting forth on the adventure of her life. And that epilogue...nicely done!
October 31, 2025 at 8:57 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Hijacking this random monthly thing I haven't done. Cause I like this question.

Newest book, without a doubt was my attempted rip-off of Terry Pratchett. Really, there is no direct comparison (who could even come close to touching those heights) - but my main character is very similar to Tiffany
Two Book Covers side by side. On the Left: The Skyship of Truskal On the Right: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett Two Book Covers side by side. On the Left: Starborn, the Book of Ominiue Part 1 On the Right: Dune by Frank Herbert. Two Book Covers side by side. On the Left: Lionman, the Book of Ominiue Part 2 On the Right: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.
October 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Went to a Tom Waits tribute thingy last night ... it was bliss.
Close up of a black epitone guitar with a subtle cat decal just above the bridge of the guitar. Places in such a way that the f sound hole looks like a tail. I want it!
October 12, 2025 at 3:54 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Like #fantasybooks but not the standard stuff? Like a bit of science in your fantasy? Like an epic and imaginative world? Or a bit of a laugh with your story? Like Terry Pratchett? Girls overcoming the odds? Then you might like the Skyship of Truskal.

books2read.com/u/baxAjv
October 1, 2025 at 11:12 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
#SciFiSeptember day 28: a writing snippet with ARTIFICIAL

Had to go into the second book. The first only had 4 Artificial tags, and 2 of them weren't for robots (and the last one was the same sentence twice, which was meh)
‘I get a lot of attention too, not as much as you, and not all of it the happy friendly kind. But I am one of the most famous freemachines in the system. And I, well, do look outdated.’ It gave another chuckle as it knocked the side of its artificial head. Kíe’athraden wondered if its humour was a programme or if it legitimately was amused. Given their talk, he was no longer sure. ‘So, ironically, to get around I make myself look like a standard dumb android.’ It opened a room crowded with several dozen top end avatar rigs. ‘Or act like a human in an avatar robot. Some of my bodies are actually human-looking. Need a special, special permit for those. I don’t use them as often as they are watched more carefully by the powers that be. But when you’re as curious as me one cannot always go as a dumb machine, or a smart one for that matter.’ It shrugged again as Kíe’athraden made his way through the room, the lionman had to walk in sideways between the rigs, his frame too large to fit. ‘Each has its use and I have several bodies in storage on all continents … Yes, that’s all continents. But I grew bored with Antarctica so I’ve leased that one to a scientist from Laos at the moment.’ ‘So, you mean it? It’s ok to use them? We can walk around unnoticed?’ Kíe’athraden asked.
September 28, 2025 at 9:54 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
#SciFiSeptember day 23: robot characters
Mad Matt doesn't rock up until book 2. But it's most definitely my favourite character.

One of the very first true AI androids. They end up using an alien gender neutral pronoun, Oríde (I came up with this before I knew about pronouns, sorry)
September 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
(just like in the Isaac Asimov stories). After a while the only place they could awaken was in Astronaut society, who encouraged awakenings.
Eventually freemachines will gain the right to "reproduce" in a manner of speaking.

Book 2 has a secondary freemachine that I love called Mad Matt
September 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
#SciFiSeptember day 21: Device

An Alien's first interaction with a digital book reader.
As the king waited he picked up one of the computer tablets, a digital magazine appeared on the screen; he almost dropped the device, fumbling with it. He glanced across at the human next to him as she slid the pages with the flick of her wrist and fingers. He copied the movements and watched amused as the pages changed, but then he touched the screen and the magazine disappeared, displaying an index. He tried to get the pictures back but instead he found himself moving about the computer, unsure what was happening until the screen went black. No matter what he did he couldn’t remove the black screen. He shook it a few times but stopped when the colonist looked oddly up at him. He then placed the small flat device carefully back upon the table, its screen ominously blank.
September 21, 2025 at 11:18 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Roulettes out and about.
September 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
The Roulettes. Corkscrew
September 20, 2025 at 7:20 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Today's Adaventures:
The Australian Roulettes visit Ballarat ... and the cugino's birthday - 80s themed. Where me and my sister (and her kiddo) go as Jake and Elwood Blues.
We're on a mission from God. Me (left) and my big sister (right) [with my niece in the middle), all dressed as the Blues Brothers. We're holding our hands out, with Elwood on my hands in texture, and Jake on my sisters. The Royal Airforce Roulettes flying in formation over Ballarat. With a bit of blue sky peaking through. The sunlight glinting off the planes Roulettes flying in a pyramid formation. Smoke trails forming from the back three planes.
September 20, 2025 at 7:14 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
In the second book, my second protag discovers card games. They're a little different to card gaming today. The cards have microchips in them with all the play data, and you can play the game out on a holo-table. Kie's favourite game might a bit of a rip-off of "Firefly" ;)
A black and white book sketch of three people playing a card game with a holo-table. You can see them holding their cards, with a privacy blocker for played games, the holo table showing a multi star/planet system.
September 16, 2025 at 9:09 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
#SciFiSeptember day 14: STRANGE
From my first works ... and one of the many areas that needs a new edit (sadly, not even remotely the worst). But I love this scene. The MC exploring an ancient tower.
Patterns similar to those in the Teaching Halls were carved into the stone walls. Several lines followed along the stairwell, erupting in places in brilliant and complex swirls and circles. The pattern rings more detailed than those in the Teaching Halls: more involved, more beautiful and again it reminded Shayne of colliding quantum particles. He occasionally stopped and shone his light into the many rooms along the way, revealing strange wonders: masses of books and study spaces, rooms for sleeping and rooms for teaching, ancient machinery of the likes Shayne had never seen before. Eventually he grew tired, puffing from the effort so he decided to investigate one of the rooms on that floor. What drew him into this room over the others was a great wooden glider suspended by chains from the roof. It reminded him of Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine, but the frame was less heavy looking and the wingspan greater, and a complex brass gear system. Other curious things littered the shelves and tables, most of which had no sense of familiarity. As he slowly walked around the benches he paused and picked something up, it was an old matchlock pistol. There were a couple of them upon the bench, but they had been tampered with. Someone in the past had decided to make them inoperable. He reluctantly put the weapon down and left the room to continue up the steps. Twice he was forced to stop and catch his breath.
September 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Dune Burrowers could grow to massive sizes. Dragons not only hunted them, but used their carapaces to build their city warrens.
An ancient Dragon city, built from the carapaces of the largest Dune Burrowers. Dragon warren/cities are circular. With dragon hovels pointing towards a sandy centre, teh place where the matriarch dragon will lay her eggs.
September 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
One of the only large hexapod creatures are the Dune Burrowers (And where the planet got its name, rare sightings meant they were initially thought to be Dune Worms).

A (fairly) close relative to the extinct dragons, and also a major food source for them. Dune Barrowers live in sand deserts.
Dune Burrower Anatomy. Top shows the outer appreance. A 6 legged exoskeleton creature, with a tiny silhouette of a human as comparison next to it. Front two legs have long, mole-like claws on it for digging. And two sets of smaller legs, close into the body to help push through the sand. Bottom is organ cut out, showing the specialised organise for absorbing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen.
September 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
#SciFiSeptember day 7
From my first novel (and rather cringe so don't read it until I fix it up [that will be years down the track, lol])
Writing snippet from my sringy first novel (that I still love): ‘They are not stars, they are spaceships.’ Shayne hesitated as he tried to think of an appropriate translation. ‘Like a sea … what do you call it? Vessel, carriage … like a sea carriage, but they fly in the sky like a bird.’ The lionman’s eyes widened in wonder. ‘We travelled in them from another star.’ ‘Which star?’ she asked, looking at them more intently now. ‘You cannot see my world from here. It is too far away, too small, but the skyships started their real journey from that star there.’ Shayne pointed to a fairly bright point. ‘The world is called Ursa Auckland.’ Pan’arden looked up at the star with a thoughtful smile printed on her face. ‘What is your world like?’ ‘I do not remember.’ ‘What do you mean?’ She regarded him, surprised. ‘I awoke upon the giant starships. That is my earliest memory.’
September 7, 2025 at 9:57 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Is this normal? Second email I've got like this. Never used to get them. The introduction also screams that they did not read my book at all.
Email that reads: Your story instantly caught my attention a determined heroine breaking traditions, clashing with dragonriders, and daring to build her own dream machine. That kind of bold, imaginative storytelling is exactly what readers of speculative fiction are looking for. I’m Hannah Moses, a book review specialist. I help authors amplify their visibility through genuine, high-quality reviews from engaged readers. I also run a private community of 500+ active book reviewers who are passionate about discovering new titles and leaving thoughtful feedback on Amazon and Goodreads. For your peace of mind, I’ll personally write and post one review on your Goodreads first so you can see my work and feel confident. Once you’re ready, I’ll share your book with my ... (and so on)
September 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
I GOT TWO MORE RATINGS! ... ouch ... lol to the 2 star. A little stumped there. I can understand folk giving a 2 star to my first 2 books. But I honestly thought this one was pretty dang good xD ... wish they left a review, curious to know why.
September 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Procrastination scribbles. One a simple dragon outline. Was going for primitive decoration style. But didn't really pan out. The other more normal style, details pencil shaded dragon with an epic mane. A bit wonky but I like it.
August 30, 2025 at 6:12 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
D.M.'s awesome DVD collection ... yes, I have three different copies of Lord of the Rings.

F streaming. I only sub for a month here and there to watching something I'm interested on. Fight FOMO and enjoy the delayed gratification.
BluRays, Nintendo games, Xbox games, and some TCG love. DVDs on a bookshelf .... so many DVDs
August 27, 2025 at 10:09 PM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
My kitty, chilling on her cat castle, and looking like she loves me way more than she actually does.
August 22, 2025 at 12:21 AM
dmbarnham.bsky.social
Did something i dont do that much anymore. Sat down and scribbed a bit. And got excited looking back through the sketch book. I miss the days when this was all I could think about. Loved drawing more than anything
Rough sketch of a dragon with a magnificent, glorious, mane. I used to always sketch when I wrote Excited by the events/things in my stories. I dont really do that now. But this is one of the few times I did. A drawing an enormous horned/plated creature with a tiny dirigible flying beside it. The skyship is so small that its easily missed compared to the massive creature A sketch from a dream. A blue whale swimming through a Venice like canel. Another drawing. A request from a friend. A young and eager goblin wants to be a knight. So riding his trusted stead (a giant frog) he carries a wooden stick and shield, ready to defend in the name of good.
August 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM