James Oswald
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sirbenfro.bsky.social
James Oswald
@sirbenfro.bsky.social
4.3K followers 760 following 4.5K posts
I write stuff


He/Him
https://jamesoswald.co.uk
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sirbenfro.bsky.social
It's a hard life
Big black dog lies zonked out on the sofa.
November 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.

From Broken Ghosts, which far too few people have read.
Opening page of novel Broken Ghosts. The chapter number is a simple '1' and then the following text: 2023 No matter how many times she comes back, the house always looks wrong. Like a badly fitted false tooth, it's too modern compared to the buildings on either side. The windows don't match; the roof tiles are a different shade of grey; the harling has fewer cracks than the neighbours, even if there are more this year than last. None of the houses in this quiet cul-de-sac are the same any more, although she remembers a time when they were. A generation has come and gone, multiple owners making their small marks of difference, but the buildings are all essentially the same. Same shape, same dimensions, same size. Except the one in the middle. She sits in the car, unsure whether she has the strength of will to climb out, get closer. The view intermittently blurs and clears as the windscreen wipers sweep away the lightest of smirrs. There is no one left in this little community who would know who she is now. No one who would understand why that one house in the scheme is not like all the rest. On the passenger seat beside her, the bunch of flowers seems unnecessary, even a little vulgar. What would people think if they saw her placing it beside the low wall that separates the front garden from the pavement?
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
#CoosDay featuring Lee
Damp dark ginger Highland cow with wide, curving horns, stands in a field of green grass and ponders the meaning of life.
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Moon over Dundee
Large orange moon floats over the sparkly lights of a coastal city, all reflected in the calm waters of the Tay.
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Louise
Blonde Highland coo with wide horns and a slightly messy dossan, backgrounded by blue sky and fluffy clouds as she stands in the long grass as the top of the hill.
November 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
What, like this?
Big black dog tries to climb into my lap while I'm working at my desk. My lap is not big enough, but that doesn't seem to deter him.
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Having to be really careful with my chair just now.
Big black dog lies on the Persian rug, his nose perilously close to the castors of my office chair.
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
What's that you say? It's #CoosDay?
Close up of light ginger Highland coo's head. Her nose should be pink and shiny, but she's been at the sticky bucket so it's covered in brown molasses.
November 4, 2025 at 10:14 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Sprawl
Big black dog, downside up, leaves me only about a quarter of the sofa.
November 2, 2025 at 10:36 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Queen
Smol grey and white cat lounges decorously in my lap. She has magnificent whiskers.
November 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Visitor
Shaggy grey dog lies on a Persian rug. He’s three quarters Bedlington, apparently. No idea about the other quarter.
October 31, 2025 at 2:40 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Biscuits?
Extreme close up of blonde Highland cow's shiny pink nose. It's been raining, and his hair is in a state, but he'd like to know if you remembered to bring him his biscuits.
October 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Timeline cleanse! Post a beautiful or adorable thing, please.
Close up of a dark ginger Highland coo standing in a field. Her nose is pink, her horns wide, her dossan thick and unruly.
October 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Just wondered where you might have found your inspiration...
House with a fully glazed gable end sits under a rainbow. Alas, the pot of gold is off screen.
October 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
When even the 'AI' can't be bothered...
Screenshot of spam email from 'Priscilla's Page Turners' with the subject line 'Let's Get you book the Spotlight It Deserves' and the body text as follows: Hi [Author Name], I recently came across [Book Timmmm and I was genuinely impressed by how it stands out in its genre. You’ve managed to turn complex ideas into something deeply relatable and human filled with authenticity, purpose, and heart. You don’t just tell a story; you invite readers to grow through it. That kind of depth makes your work truly memorable. I’m reaching out from Priscilla’s Page Turners, where we specialize in helping authors like you expand their reach through Book Club Spotlights, Podcast Features, and Radio Campaigns across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Our goal is simple: to connect meaningful, purpose-driven books with the audiences who are actively seeking inspiration and genuine storytelling. Your book has that rare, empowering tone that speaks directly to readers’ hearts and I believe it deserves to be part of larger conversations where it can truly make an impact. I’d love to show you how we can position [Book Title] to shine in those spaces and reach the readers who will connect most deeply with it. Would you like me to outline what that could look like for your book? Warm regards, Priscilla’s Page Turners Book Promotion & Author Visibility Team
October 22, 2025 at 9:06 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Kissy Kissy? #Coosday
Extreme close up of ginger Highland cow's nostril and shiny pink nose. A rasping tongue can be seen poking from her open mouth, and a frizz of wayward hair above.
October 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Winter is coming
Smol grey cat sits on my lap as I sit at my desk. Keyboard, magic trackpad and coffee mug to the front, laptop, nail clippers, screwdriver, stapler, tube of something, old CD, remote control for monitor and a thousand other strange items litter the rest of the space. I should probably tidy more often.
October 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Putting together a talk for my event at Duloch Library in Dunfermline this Thursday, and I may have gone off on a bit of a rant about 'AI' and billionaires ruining the world. It's all good stuff for a talk though, right? www.onfife.com/event/james-...
Hardback copy of novel The Rest Is Death, superimposed over a background image taken from the cover. It is misty trees and all very sinister.
October 20, 2025 at 11:41 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Audiobook fans, there's a sale going on audible right now, and you can get #TheRestIsDeath narrated to you by the wonderful Ian Hanmore for half price! www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Rest-...
Promotional graphic - 'asset' in the industry vernacular - showing an iPhone with its screen depicting an audiobook app and the cover of the novel The Rest Is Death by James Oswald. The whole thing is superimposed upon the background misty forest image of the cover itself, without the title text. Amusingly, someone has photoshopped a pair of wired earbuds into the picture, although iPhones haven't had headphone sockets for years now. Marketing, eh?
October 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
I am supposed to be cooking supper. Guess we're fasting tonight then.
Smol grey and white cat lies across my lap, pinning me to the chair in front of my desk. There can be no escape.
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Honk!
October 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Smooch?
extreme close up of a ginger Highland cow's nose and face as she comes in for a big, wet, slobbery kiss. Thanks Lucy.
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Witchcraft you say?
Pale Ginger Highland coo calf looks cute as she poses for the camera.
October 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Feets #coosday
A row of tiny Highland cow calf feet all lined up as they help themselves to their feed.
October 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
sirbenfro.bsky.social
Beeves
A fold of Highland cattle taking shelter under an old granny pine tree. They are many colours, but the closest is black, and looking shifty.
October 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM