Swan River Press
@swanriverpress.bsky.social
Independent press dedicated to literature of the gothic, fantastic, strange, and supernatural. Æon House, Dublin, Ireland. Posts by Brian J. Showers. www.swanriverpress.ie
Le Fanu! Le Fanu! Le Fanu!
There's a lot going around at the moment. Have you read him? Got a favourite ghost story or gothic novel?
Of the four recent publications, we've published three of them. Our friends at Tartarus did the other. Lovely schtuff.
wormwoodiana.blogspot.com/2025/11/le-f...
There's a lot going around at the moment. Have you read him? Got a favourite ghost story or gothic novel?
Of the four recent publications, we've published three of them. Our friends at Tartarus did the other. Lovely schtuff.
wormwoodiana.blogspot.com/2025/11/le-f...
Le Fanu Le Fanu Le Fanu
Recent publications by and about J. Sheridan Le Fanu deserve some attention here. Tartarus Press has just published Some Strange Disturbance...
wormwoodiana.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Le Fanu! Le Fanu! Le Fanu!
There's a lot going around at the moment. Have you read him? Got a favourite ghost story or gothic novel?
Of the four recent publications, we've published three of them. Our friends at Tartarus did the other. Lovely schtuff.
wormwoodiana.blogspot.com/2025/11/le-f...
There's a lot going around at the moment. Have you read him? Got a favourite ghost story or gothic novel?
Of the four recent publications, we've published three of them. Our friends at Tartarus did the other. Lovely schtuff.
wormwoodiana.blogspot.com/2025/11/le-f...
One of the things I like about being a publisher is the relationships I've forged with other publishers. We share information, offer advice, and commiserate. They're a support network that share passion. They understand. They're also friends. So here's to Steve, Ray, Ros, Adam, Maria, and Jonas!
November 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
One of the things I like about being a publisher is the relationships I've forged with other publishers. We share information, offer advice, and commiserate. They're a support network that share passion. They understand. They're also friends. So here's to Steve, Ray, Ros, Adam, Maria, and Jonas!
Watching the @nunkie.bsky.social live broadcasts of an M. R. James story is one of my favourite holiday traditions.
I buy tickets for my family in Wisconsin so we can watch together from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
I hope you'll join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-episode...
I buy tickets for my family in Wisconsin so we can watch together from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
I hope you'll join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-episode...
November 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Watching the @nunkie.bsky.social live broadcasts of an M. R. James story is one of my favourite holiday traditions.
I buy tickets for my family in Wisconsin so we can watch together from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
I hope you'll join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-episode...
I buy tickets for my family in Wisconsin so we can watch together from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
I hope you'll join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-episode...
Reposted by Swan River Press
5-starts review to our last pamphlet of the year, SOME THOUGHTS ON HORROR, over at @librarything.com: www.librarything.com/work/3516421....
You can still get a copy: calquepress.com/collections/...
You can still get a copy: calquepress.com/collections/...
November 17, 2025 at 12:19 PM
5-starts review to our last pamphlet of the year, SOME THOUGHTS ON HORROR, over at @librarything.com: www.librarything.com/work/3516421....
You can still get a copy: calquepress.com/collections/...
You can still get a copy: calquepress.com/collections/...
Reposted by Swan River Press
Still four performances and a few tickets left for "Count Magnus" in Belfast.
Escape the rain and book here lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
Escape the rain and book here lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
Count Magnus by M.R. James
The ghost stories of M R James amuse and terrify as powerfully today as when they were first written over a century ago. Nunkie Theatre Company brings two…
lyrictheatre.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Still four performances and a few tickets left for "Count Magnus" in Belfast.
Escape the rain and book here lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
Escape the rain and book here lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
When will we get a del Toro remake of this one?
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
When will we get a del Toro remake of this one?
I unreservedly loved del Toro's telling of FRANKENSTEIN. It seemed a deeply personal vision focusing on the father-son dynamic found so in so many of GDT's films. Plus you can never go wrong with his trademark circular window motif! A sumptuous achievement.
And now to revisit 1931 . . .
And now to revisit 1931 . . .
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I unreservedly loved del Toro's telling of FRANKENSTEIN. It seemed a deeply personal vision focusing on the father-son dynamic found so in so many of GDT's films. Plus you can never go wrong with his trademark circular window motif! A sumptuous achievement.
And now to revisit 1931 . . .
And now to revisit 1931 . . .
Dear writers, if a publisher rejects your query, synopsis, or proposal, do not, under any circumstances, explain to the publisher that they're missing out on an opportunity/your genius. Just don't.
Publishers make decisions based on an array of factors. Also, you're probably not a genius.
Publishers make decisions based on an array of factors. Also, you're probably not a genius.
November 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Dear writers, if a publisher rejects your query, synopsis, or proposal, do not, under any circumstances, explain to the publisher that they're missing out on an opportunity/your genius. Just don't.
Publishers make decisions based on an array of factors. Also, you're probably not a genius.
Publishers make decisions based on an array of factors. Also, you're probably not a genius.
There's a wee review of my new pamphlet, SOME THOUGHTS ON HORROR, over on LibraryThing. You can read the review here: www.librarything.com/work/3516421...
November 5, 2025 at 7:43 PM
There's a wee review of my new pamphlet, SOME THOUGHTS ON HORROR, over on LibraryThing. You can read the review here: www.librarything.com/work/3516421...
Belfast friends: You should attend this!
If any of you folks are within easy reach of Belfast, "Count Magnus" and "Number 13" by M R James are on at the Lyric next week, 11 - 16 November.
lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/cou...
Count Magnus by M.R. James
The ghost stories of M R James amuse and terrify as powerfully today as when they were first written over a century ago. Nunkie Theatre Company brings two…
lyrictheatre.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Belfast friends: You should attend this!
Folks, our friend Lynda E. Rucker (whose books I hope you've read!) has an editorial service.
If you'd like to find out more, here's a link: lyndaerucker.wordpress.com/editorial-se...
If you'd like to find out more, here's a link: lyndaerucker.wordpress.com/editorial-se...
Editorial Services
As time permits, I offer editorial services — manuscript critiques and copyediting. If you’re already here, you might know a little bit about my background, or you can find out more abo…
lyndaerucker.wordpress.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Folks, our friend Lynda E. Rucker (whose books I hope you've read!) has an editorial service.
If you'd like to find out more, here's a link: lyndaerucker.wordpress.com/editorial-se...
If you'd like to find out more, here's a link: lyndaerucker.wordpress.com/editorial-se...
David Warner is such a John Carpenter actor. You can just see him clicking into place. It's a pity they didn't work together more.
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
David Warner is such a John Carpenter actor. You can just see him clicking into place. It's a pity they didn't work together more.
It's a very grey-scale day in Dublin today.
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
It's a very grey-scale day in Dublin today.
A wonderful way to finish this trip to Brighton and environs--dinner and drinks with good friends.
November 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
A wonderful way to finish this trip to Brighton and environs--dinner and drinks with good friends.
Visited the grave of Count Stenbock this afternoon.
November 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Visited the grave of Count Stenbock this afternoon.
Reposted by Swan River Press
Great #BramStokerFestival Mount Jerome Cemetery tour - with a @swanriverpress.bsky.social shout-out at LeFanu’s grave.
November 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Great #BramStokerFestival Mount Jerome Cemetery tour - with a @swanriverpress.bsky.social shout-out at LeFanu’s grave.
This came as a great surprise and fills me with so much joy. Ro is much deserving of this recognition! ❤️👻🧐
The Karl Edward Wagner Special Award Winner is Rosemary (Ro) Pardoe.
November 2, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This came as a great surprise and fills me with so much joy. Ro is much deserving of this recognition! ❤️👻🧐
Saint Aubrey! Well done, Brighton!
November 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Saint Aubrey! Well done, Brighton!
In Brighton for World Fantasy. See if you can guess the theme of my room.
October 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In Brighton for World Fantasy. See if you can guess the theme of my room.
Reposted by Swan River Press
Thanks to @talkscaredpod.bsky.social and @swanriverpress.bsky.social I'm set up for the season.
#horrorwriting
#horrorwriting
October 29, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Thanks to @talkscaredpod.bsky.social and @swanriverpress.bsky.social I'm set up for the season.
#horrorwriting
#horrorwriting
Reposted by Swan River Press
28 October was the date in 1893 when M R James first read 2 ghost stories to The Chit-Chat Club in Cambridge. I have copies of a book for sale that commemorates this occasion and the supernatural output of other club members.
Interested in "Ghosts of the Chit-Chat" (HB or PB)? Then drop me a line.
Interested in "Ghosts of the Chit-Chat" (HB or PB)? Then drop me a line.
October 28, 2025 at 8:45 AM
28 October was the date in 1893 when M R James first read 2 ghost stories to The Chit-Chat Club in Cambridge. I have copies of a book for sale that commemorates this occasion and the supernatural output of other club members.
Interested in "Ghosts of the Chit-Chat" (HB or PB)? Then drop me a line.
Interested in "Ghosts of the Chit-Chat" (HB or PB)? Then drop me a line.
I love putting different artwork under the jackets. Something for readers to discover. I also tend not to include text on the boards either. Fantastic photos, thank you for posting!
@swanriverpress.bsky.social makes gorgeous limited edition hardcovers with complementary artwork under the jacket.
October 27, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I love putting different artwork under the jackets. Something for readers to discover. I also tend not to include text on the boards either. Fantastic photos, thank you for posting!