Darby Machin - Author
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malibudarby87.bsky.social
Darby Machin - Author
@malibudarby87.bsky.social
2.4K followers 670 following 1.9K posts
Writer. Queer. Romani. Disabled. CBC 2025 Mentee. PMJ Horror Prize 2025 shortlisted.
He/Him. I still draw rats and butts, sometimes. Much love, always
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malibudarby87.bsky.social
Late night/early morning writing fuel in my little bear bowl
A brown metal and plastic bowl with a handle and a sculpted cartoon bear and fish on the lid A bright and colourful Japanese chicken curry with rice in a metal bowl
October 25, 2025 at 3:51 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Artists, QRP with you favourite portrait ✍️

A 90s style witch~
Purple toned portrait of a white woman with a black bob cut, glowing eyes, piercings, black lipstick and a general casual goth aesthetic surrounded by candles animal bones and various 90s paraphernalia
October 20, 2025 at 5:38 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Fnerff (Still alive. Sort of.)
October 15, 2025 at 2:48 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Notice to people in general and the delivery driver I just had in particular: “You were born the same year as me, why do you look *SO OLD*?” is likely to get a response of “go fuck yourself” rather than… whatever the hell you thought it was gonna get.
August 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Old yarn, new crochet project. Can’t wait for the cold to come so I can wear this 😩
August 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Oh, hey! They're try'na scam me! 😀
May 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Might have imagined it, but I think I saw a thread of very specific/niche dream Halloween costumes? Mine is forever Samantha Belmont from Night of the Comet.
screenshot of Kelli Maroney in the movie Night of the Comet, playing Sam Belmont. She has big 80s blonde hair, is wearing a blue and pink cheerleading outfit (complete with a sweater that says "REBELS" and is aiming a Mac-10 (Daddy would have bought us Uzis...)
April 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
And a bonus cosplay inception of my son, Doom Rat, in Monster Camp style, cosplaying as Damien from Monster Camp
April 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Uh oh... new Monster Prom game from @charamath.bsky.social !!! That means the return of my #monsterpromsona 😬
Cartoon illustration of a bearded, vaguely sad looking Gargoyle monster man with horns and several piercings and a grungey aesthetic Cartoon illustration of a bearded, vaguely sad looking Gargoyle monster man with horns and several piercings and a grungey aesthetic
April 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Fnerff (been a while since my last Fnerff, edition)
Photo of a bald, bearded, Roma man who’s very tired, very unwell, and struggling a lot. Probably needs a lot of help and support. Isn’t getting it.
April 22, 2025 at 4:20 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Repost a pic with your age.
Screenshot from Pride and Prejudice 2007, showing Charlotte, with (slightly edited) subtitles that say "I'm 37 years old. I've no money and no prospects. I'm already a burden to my parents. And I'm frightened."
April 5, 2025 at 11:29 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Want a horror novel with almost no horror? A Halloween tale with zero fall vibes? A protagonist who combines the thrill of being blonde and blue eyed, with the excitement of doing nothing?

Then boy howdy, do I got a book for you!

⭐️4/5. Trash, but I expected nothing less~
Cover of the novel Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick
April 5, 2025 at 7:27 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Advance readers are enjoying my debut horror novel Housekeeper, out May 5th (also my day of birth 👀)! If you'd like to be notified on release, sign up at www.dmachin.co.uk! 💙📚

#IndieAuthors #HorrorAuthor
Cover for HOUSEKEEPER, a Psycho/Cosmic Horror by Darby Machin. The cover features peach floral wallpaper with a disturbing void/corruption showing behind it.
April 1, 2025 at 5:11 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Her Instagram has a ton of ads for this Catholic prayer app called Hallow, where she's in full white lady church glam with ashes on her forehead for lent and shit. It's... a lot.
Gwen Stefani being a shill for Jesus.
March 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
As a lover of dashes, even I think this is excessive 😅
Short paragraph from a book: “With a gasp, she stared hard at the tree line, her mind confused. There was nothing therebut darkness — right, packed darkness — and yet somehow — somehow — she knew something was back there — unseen — unheard — just watching… “There’s supposed to be an old cemetery somewhere on the property…””
March 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
It’s been a real poop ass week (and it’s barely Wednesday 😩) of eviction threats and mental health service failures, so I’m treating myself to a Point Horror Break.

This time, it’s Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick!
Photograph of a hand holding a Point Horror paperback book. The cover features a yellow toned old American house, and a shadowy figure approaching it. The title reads “Trick of Treat” and the author is Richie Tankersley Cusick. The tagline reads: Trick or Treat, Trick or Treat, Candy is Dandy, but Murder is Sweet.
March 26, 2025 at 4:44 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Self promo is hard, but I'm trying! Here's what some early readers are saying about Housekeeper!

#BookSky💙📚 #QueerWriters #HorrorAuthor #WriteSky
Promo image for the upcoming lit-horror novel Housekeeper. The book is floating in a swirling sea of red and black. The quotes read "disturbing and chilling" "a hard book to put down" "his ability to create and build tension is exceptional".
March 26, 2025 at 3:59 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Will be sending out digital ARCs for my debut lit-Horror novel Housekeeper this Friday!

Drop me a DM if you'd like a free ARC ahead of the book's release in early May 🧡

Find out more about the book @ dmachin.co.uk
Promo illustration of the book Housekeeper by Darby Machin. The cover shows a floral peach wallpaper pattern showing a dark corruption peeling away at it. The promo text reads "This is not her house. These are not her rules. 5/5/25 For a chance to get a FREE e-book ahead of launch day, please DM me to confirm your interest in being an ARC reader."
March 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Aw, sheeet. The first proof copies have arrived 😶
Two proof copies of a novel called Housekeeper, one paperback, one hardback. The cover features a creepy illustration of floral wallpaper peeling to show a darkness underneath. Great "NOT FOR RESALE" bands are over both books, signifying them as author proofs
March 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Could I interest anyone in a cover reveal? 👀💦

How about a release date while we're at it? 👀💦💦

#HorrorAuthors #QueerWriters #IndieAuthors
Promotional image featuring mouldy, floral wallpaper and an illustrated book cover for HOUSEKEEPER, a Psycho/Cosmic Horror by Darby Machin. Text reads: "This is not her house. These are not her rules. 5/5/25. For a chance to get a FREE e-book ahead of launch day, please DM me to confirm your interest in being an ARC reader."
March 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Beard trummed. Powers… restored?
February 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
My current desk chair is actively choosing violence against me.
Photo showing a sharp metal armrest plate poking very far through a very damaged foam cover.
February 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Been itching to replay Breath of Fire 3 again... in the meantime here's some old Momo fanart~
monoline illustration of the character Momo from the videogame Breath of Fire 3. A redhaired, vaguely anthropomorphic rabbit woman with long braids, and scolarly robes in blue and off-white including a mortar. She's resting a large cannon over her shoulder that is smoking from recent use.
February 2, 2025 at 11:24 PM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
😐

I’m McFed Up
Photo of the last frozen ready meal I have, split open and busted out of the box.
February 2, 2025 at 12:34 AM
malibudarby87.bsky.social
Legit contemplating selling fresh noods to make ends meet.
Low colour count illustration of a small building. The building is cream with orange accents, and appears to be a noodle bar or ramen shop, with a large bowl of noodles on the sign which reads "FRESH NOODS". The building has an odd, toy robot quality to its design.
January 31, 2025 at 12:35 PM