Thomas Howard Riley
@thomashowardriley.bsky.social
author of rated-R fantasy sagas | cat whisperer | father of 2 tiny superheroes | history nerd | guitarist | swordfighter | evil wizard | lover of chonky books | notorious car radio singalong extraordinaire
thomashowardriley.com
thomashowardriley.com
Penelope is supposed to be writing my next book and acting as my publicist but instead she is sleeping the day away at the spa.
November 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Penelope is supposed to be writing my next book and acting as my publicist but instead she is sleeping the day away at the spa.
Seems to me this is usually the kind of thing an author writes when a book is about to be finished 👀
I really tried not to make this one a chonker, I really truly did, but I can’t escape who I am
I really tried not to make this one a chonker, I really truly did, but I can’t escape who I am
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Seems to me this is usually the kind of thing an author writes when a book is about to be finished 👀
I really tried not to make this one a chonker, I really truly did, but I can’t escape who I am
I really tried not to make this one a chonker, I really truly did, but I can’t escape who I am
Corrin is as Corrin does
October 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Corrin is as Corrin does
Aha! I had forgotten about this! This was a little bonus card that went out with @yourpaperquest.bsky.social’s edition of The Light Of Kasaban.
This is the recipe for Saya’s Shoe Leather Soup, serves up to 15 hungry child wizards.
A bit of lore that didn’t make the final cut of the book.
This is the recipe for Saya’s Shoe Leather Soup, serves up to 15 hungry child wizards.
A bit of lore that didn’t make the final cut of the book.
October 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Aha! I had forgotten about this! This was a little bonus card that went out with @yourpaperquest.bsky.social’s edition of The Light Of Kasaban.
This is the recipe for Saya’s Shoe Leather Soup, serves up to 15 hungry child wizards.
A bit of lore that didn’t make the final cut of the book.
This is the recipe for Saya’s Shoe Leather Soup, serves up to 15 hungry child wizards.
A bit of lore that didn’t make the final cut of the book.
The Monsters We Feed was the result of a bunch of challenges I set for myself:
1) Weave a story out of one tiny piece of lore from my world
2) Make an MC who can’t wield a sword & has no magick
3) Make it 1 location
4) Make it noir
5) Make it a 40k world novella
I failed at #5😂
1) Weave a story out of one tiny piece of lore from my world
2) Make an MC who can’t wield a sword & has no magick
3) Make it 1 location
4) Make it noir
5) Make it a 40k world novella
I failed at #5😂
October 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The Monsters We Feed was the result of a bunch of challenges I set for myself:
1) Weave a story out of one tiny piece of lore from my world
2) Make an MC who can’t wield a sword & has no magick
3) Make it 1 location
4) Make it noir
5) Make it a 40k world novella
I failed at #5😂
1) Weave a story out of one tiny piece of lore from my world
2) Make an MC who can’t wield a sword & has no magick
3) Make it 1 location
4) Make it noir
5) Make it a 40k world novella
I failed at #5😂
Going out with a bang on the last edit of this beast. Worked out that the final touch I’ll be adding is a tiny bit of brutal combat in the middle of an already 110 page finale
30 paragraphs ought to be enough to get out the fight I’m seeing in my head
So let the countdown begin
30 paragraphs ought to be enough to get out the fight I’m seeing in my head
So let the countdown begin
October 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Going out with a bang on the last edit of this beast. Worked out that the final touch I’ll be adding is a tiny bit of brutal combat in the middle of an already 110 page finale
30 paragraphs ought to be enough to get out the fight I’m seeing in my head
So let the countdown begin
30 paragraphs ought to be enough to get out the fight I’m seeing in my head
So let the countdown begin
Sometimes you stumble across a line while editing that you’d forgotten you wrote
Sometimes those words are a perfect distillation of your main character
I’d say this is by far the best way to summarize Evran Caid (from The Heroes We Never Were)
I can’t wait for you to meet him
Sometimes those words are a perfect distillation of your main character
I’d say this is by far the best way to summarize Evran Caid (from The Heroes We Never Were)
I can’t wait for you to meet him
September 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Sometimes you stumble across a line while editing that you’d forgotten you wrote
Sometimes those words are a perfect distillation of your main character
I’d say this is by far the best way to summarize Evran Caid (from The Heroes We Never Were)
I can’t wait for you to meet him
Sometimes those words are a perfect distillation of your main character
I’d say this is by far the best way to summarize Evran Caid (from The Heroes We Never Were)
I can’t wait for you to meet him
I finally found my favorite coffee mug hiding in the back of my cabinet!
Being an author sometimes feels like being on both sides of this at once 😅
Being an author sometimes feels like being on both sides of this at once 😅
September 13, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I finally found my favorite coffee mug hiding in the back of my cabinet!
Being an author sometimes feels like being on both sides of this at once 😅
Being an author sometimes feels like being on both sides of this at once 😅
I really dig chapter titles for a whole variety of reasons (some rational and some neurotic)
I do wonder how many people are like me vs how many think I’m crazy
Here are the ones from The Light Of Kasaban—mostly because it’s my only book short enough to all fit on one page 😂
I do wonder how many people are like me vs how many think I’m crazy
Here are the ones from The Light Of Kasaban—mostly because it’s my only book short enough to all fit on one page 😂
September 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I really dig chapter titles for a whole variety of reasons (some rational and some neurotic)
I do wonder how many people are like me vs how many think I’m crazy
Here are the ones from The Light Of Kasaban—mostly because it’s my only book short enough to all fit on one page 😂
I do wonder how many people are like me vs how many think I’m crazy
Here are the ones from The Light Of Kasaban—mostly because it’s my only book short enough to all fit on one page 😂
I know I say this about every new book I write but this one is quite simply the best thing I’ve ever written
It has the best qualities from each of my previous books and I just love this new story and it’s characters
Here are some fire emojis so you know I’m serious🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It has the best qualities from each of my previous books and I just love this new story and it’s characters
Here are some fire emojis so you know I’m serious🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
September 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I know I say this about every new book I write but this one is quite simply the best thing I’ve ever written
It has the best qualities from each of my previous books and I just love this new story and it’s characters
Here are some fire emojis so you know I’m serious🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It has the best qualities from each of my previous books and I just love this new story and it’s characters
Here are some fire emojis so you know I’m serious🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
One of a absolute coolest parts of being an author is the cover art for your books—art that wouldn’t exist without you
Here is the naked cover art for We Break Immortals (my personal fav) from the hardcover edition
I just love looking at it
Three cheers for amazing artists
Here is the naked cover art for We Break Immortals (my personal fav) from the hardcover edition
I just love looking at it
Three cheers for amazing artists
September 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
One of a absolute coolest parts of being an author is the cover art for your books—art that wouldn’t exist without you
Here is the naked cover art for We Break Immortals (my personal fav) from the hardcover edition
I just love looking at it
Three cheers for amazing artists
Here is the naked cover art for We Break Immortals (my personal fav) from the hardcover edition
I just love looking at it
Three cheers for amazing artists
I can’t believe this little warrior is turning 5 already!
I swear it was only yesterday he was just this tiny little guy helping me write my stories (mostly by sleeping)
I had no idea at the time that he’d grow into such a brave creative inquisitive dude
My heart is full☺️
I swear it was only yesterday he was just this tiny little guy helping me write my stories (mostly by sleeping)
I had no idea at the time that he’d grow into such a brave creative inquisitive dude
My heart is full☺️
September 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I can’t believe this little warrior is turning 5 already!
I swear it was only yesterday he was just this tiny little guy helping me write my stories (mostly by sleeping)
I had no idea at the time that he’d grow into such a brave creative inquisitive dude
My heart is full☺️
I swear it was only yesterday he was just this tiny little guy helping me write my stories (mostly by sleeping)
I had no idea at the time that he’d grow into such a brave creative inquisitive dude
My heart is full☺️
We Break Immortals: violence aplenty, some spice, mild profanity
The Monsters We Feed: violence, spice, profanity all up to 11
The Light Of Kasaban: just violence
The Last Gasp Of Midnight: just violence
new WIP The Heroes We Never Were: no spice, tons of violence & profanity
The Monsters We Feed: violence, spice, profanity all up to 11
The Light Of Kasaban: just violence
The Last Gasp Of Midnight: just violence
new WIP The Heroes We Never Were: no spice, tons of violence & profanity
September 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
We Break Immortals: violence aplenty, some spice, mild profanity
The Monsters We Feed: violence, spice, profanity all up to 11
The Light Of Kasaban: just violence
The Last Gasp Of Midnight: just violence
new WIP The Heroes We Never Were: no spice, tons of violence & profanity
The Monsters We Feed: violence, spice, profanity all up to 11
The Light Of Kasaban: just violence
The Last Gasp Of Midnight: just violence
new WIP The Heroes We Never Were: no spice, tons of violence & profanity
I love to sprinkle in worldbuilding via dialogue. Like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
It may not be the answer for every situation, but it’s my 1st choice always. Info from the mouths of the characters just feels more effective than from me the narrator.
It may not be the answer for every situation, but it’s my 1st choice always. Info from the mouths of the characters just feels more effective than from me the narrator.
September 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I love to sprinkle in worldbuilding via dialogue. Like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
It may not be the answer for every situation, but it’s my 1st choice always. Info from the mouths of the characters just feels more effective than from me the narrator.
It may not be the answer for every situation, but it’s my 1st choice always. Info from the mouths of the characters just feels more effective than from me the narrator.
Penelope survived her visit to the vet. But not without a certain amount of disgruntlement. She is now demanding I kill off all your favorite side characters
August 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Penelope survived her visit to the vet. But not without a certain amount of disgruntlement. She is now demanding I kill off all your favorite side characters
I stumbled across this bit from We Break Immortals that I’d forgotten was in there and it made me chuckle. (a very welcome thing since I’ve been down sick) I’m really looking forward to showing where this very pompous and un-self aware rogue’s story is going next.
August 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I stumbled across this bit from We Break Immortals that I’d forgotten was in there and it made me chuckle. (a very welcome thing since I’ve been down sick) I’m really looking forward to showing where this very pompous and un-self aware rogue’s story is going next.
It is once again time for my bi-annual reminder that Count Rugen from The Princess Bride and Nigel the guitarist from Spinal Tap are the same person.
August 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It is once again time for my bi-annual reminder that Count Rugen from The Princess Bride and Nigel the guitarist from Spinal Tap are the same person.
Treat yourself to an emotional deathmatch of the bloodiest order.
My novelette The Last Gasp Of Midnight is still FREE at my website.
It aims for the feels. So stop by ThomasHowardRiley(dot)com and let thyself be gutpunched.
bonus points if you can guess what face I’m making.
My novelette The Last Gasp Of Midnight is still FREE at my website.
It aims for the feels. So stop by ThomasHowardRiley(dot)com and let thyself be gutpunched.
bonus points if you can guess what face I’m making.
August 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Treat yourself to an emotional deathmatch of the bloodiest order.
My novelette The Last Gasp Of Midnight is still FREE at my website.
It aims for the feels. So stop by ThomasHowardRiley(dot)com and let thyself be gutpunched.
bonus points if you can guess what face I’m making.
My novelette The Last Gasp Of Midnight is still FREE at my website.
It aims for the feels. So stop by ThomasHowardRiley(dot)com and let thyself be gutpunched.
bonus points if you can guess what face I’m making.
Show off your books
I have published four so far and my favorite one is all of them
they may be very different from one another but I am enormously proud of them
I have published four so far and my favorite one is all of them
they may be very different from one another but I am enormously proud of them
August 10, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Show off your books
I have published four so far and my favorite one is all of them
they may be very different from one another but I am enormously proud of them
I have published four so far and my favorite one is all of them
they may be very different from one another but I am enormously proud of them
This little superhero once again saved me from a nasty run in with a scorpion
Penelope spotted it crawling on my pack of crackers I was snacking on and when I reached for another bite she placed a paw on my hand and stared until I noticed
42-0 her streak continues!
Penelope spotted it crawling on my pack of crackers I was snacking on and when I reached for another bite she placed a paw on my hand and stared until I noticed
42-0 her streak continues!
August 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This little superhero once again saved me from a nasty run in with a scorpion
Penelope spotted it crawling on my pack of crackers I was snacking on and when I reached for another bite she placed a paw on my hand and stared until I noticed
42-0 her streak continues!
Penelope spotted it crawling on my pack of crackers I was snacking on and when I reached for another bite she placed a paw on my hand and stared until I noticed
42-0 her streak continues!
Saturday morning wake up call, courtesy of Queen Penelope
August 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Saturday morning wake up call, courtesy of Queen Penelope
Anyone else obsessed with maps?
@thomrey.bsky.social did such a fantastic job bringing my maps to life that I framed them
@thomrey.bsky.social did such a fantastic job bringing my maps to life that I framed them
August 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Anyone else obsessed with maps?
@thomrey.bsky.social did such a fantastic job bringing my maps to life that I framed them
@thomrey.bsky.social did such a fantastic job bringing my maps to life that I framed them
trying out some new filters
July 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
trying out some new filters
Someone thinks they are a little tiger
No, Jasper, nobody can see you. You are very sneaky. You are doing amazing
No, Jasper, nobody can see you. You are very sneaky. You are doing amazing
July 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Someone thinks they are a little tiger
No, Jasper, nobody can see you. You are very sneaky. You are doing amazing
No, Jasper, nobody can see you. You are very sneaky. You are doing amazing
One of my favorite quotes from Keluwen in WE BREAK IMMORTALS. She is a batshit crazy but awesome character and I love her to death.
July 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
One of my favorite quotes from Keluwen in WE BREAK IMMORTALS. She is a batshit crazy but awesome character and I love her to death.