Tom Johnstone
@tjohnstone.bsky.social
Writes horror. Mows lawns.
Just in time for Halloween, BODY SHOTS returns for Volume 2, with a sizzling new cover to go with hot new fiction, including my story 'Visitor's Guide'. Thanks to @subtlebodypress.bsky.social for publishing my fiction a second time! There's a link to pre-orderin the comments.
We’re back for another round! BODY SHOTS returns for its Fall 2025 issue, featuring an eclectic variety of 15 all-new tales from established and emerging masters of the craft. Shipping begins soon; order now from our website to secure release window discount pricing.
October 30, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Just in time for Halloween, BODY SHOTS returns for Volume 2, with a sizzling new cover to go with hot new fiction, including my story 'Visitor's Guide'. Thanks to @subtlebodypress.bsky.social for publishing my fiction a second time! There's a link to pre-orderin the comments.
Tik TOC Three
I am delighted to announce another Table of Contents in which my work appears: Hiding Under the Leaves, the forthcoming folk horror anthology from Northampton-based publisher, The Slab Press. Here's Kev Rooney's stunning cover art: Here's the the TOC with an array of talented authors…
I am delighted to announce another Table of Contents in which my work appears: Hiding Under the Leaves, the forthcoming folk horror anthology from Northampton-based publisher, The Slab Press. Here's Kev Rooney's stunning cover art: Here's the the TOC with an array of talented authors…
Tik TOC Three
I am delighted to announce another Table of Contents in which my work appears: Hiding Under the Leaves, the forthcoming folk horror anthology from Northampton-based publisher, The Slab Press. Here's Kev Rooney's stunning cover art: Here's the the TOC with an array of talented authors and a host of intriguing titles already whetting my appetite to read them:
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
June 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Tik TOC Three
I am delighted to announce another Table of Contents in which my work appears: Hiding Under the Leaves, the forthcoming folk horror anthology from Northampton-based publisher, The Slab Press. Here's Kev Rooney's stunning cover art: Here's the the TOC with an array of talented authors…
I am delighted to announce another Table of Contents in which my work appears: Hiding Under the Leaves, the forthcoming folk horror anthology from Northampton-based publisher, The Slab Press. Here's Kev Rooney's stunning cover art: Here's the the TOC with an array of talented authors…
Delighted to report my sinister sourdough starter story, 'The Herman Condition', is now live (and fermenting) on @horrificscribs.bsky.social.
Follow link in comments to read the story.
Follow link in comments to read the story.
NEW SCRIBE ALERT! I welcome @tjohnstone.bsky.social to HORRIFIC SCRIBES. He brings his short #horrorstory "The Herman Condition," which has #darkcomedy but more #psychologicalhorror as a woman escaping domestic violence meets a scheming... sourdough starter. Read free: horrificscribblings.com
June 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Delighted to report my sinister sourdough starter story, 'The Herman Condition', is now live (and fermenting) on @horrificscribs.bsky.social.
Follow link in comments to read the story.
Follow link in comments to read the story.
Cover Ghoul
Further to my announcement in the previous post, here is Asya Yordonova's sexy, iconic cover for The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, in which my story, 'Body Worlds', has been selected to appear.
Further to my announcement in the previous post, here is Asya Yordonova's sexy, iconic cover for The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, in which my story, 'Body Worlds', has been selected to appear.
Cover Ghoul
Further to my announcement in the previous post, here is Asya Yordonova's sexy, iconic cover for The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, in which my story, 'Body Worlds', has been selected to appear.
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
April 21, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Cover Ghoul
Further to my announcement in the previous post, here is Asya Yordonova's sexy, iconic cover for The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, in which my story, 'Body Worlds', has been selected to appear.
Further to my announcement in the previous post, here is Asya Yordonova's sexy, iconic cover for The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, in which my story, 'Body Worlds', has been selected to appear.
Tik TOC Two
Another TOC to post -- this is a particularly exciting one, because I'm proud to announce that 'Body Worlds', which first appeared in Body Shots, Vol. 1 (Subtle Body Press), last year, has been selected for reprint in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, alongside these…
Another TOC to post -- this is a particularly exciting one, because I'm proud to announce that 'Body Worlds', which first appeared in Body Shots, Vol. 1 (Subtle Body Press), last year, has been selected for reprint in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, alongside these…
Tik TOC Two
Another TOC to post -- this is a particularly exciting one, because I'm proud to announce that 'Body Worlds', which first appeared in Body Shots, Vol. 1 (Subtle Body Press), last year, has been selected for reprint in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, alongside these exciting names: Table of ContentsThe Cleaner Victoria Dalpe…
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Tik TOC Two
Another TOC to post -- this is a particularly exciting one, because I'm proud to announce that 'Body Worlds', which first appeared in Body Shots, Vol. 1 (Subtle Body Press), last year, has been selected for reprint in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, alongside these…
Another TOC to post -- this is a particularly exciting one, because I'm proud to announce that 'Body Worlds', which first appeared in Body Shots, Vol. 1 (Subtle Body Press), last year, has been selected for reprint in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 17, alongside these…
Events, Dear Boy…
T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month." I don't know about that, but for me it's a busy one, with a writing retreat, a panel and a public reading, this month then another public reading at the beginning of the next one. I've also got a not insignificant thing to…
T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month." I don't know about that, but for me it's a busy one, with a writing retreat, a panel and a public reading, this month then another public reading at the beginning of the next one. I've also got a not insignificant thing to…
Events, Dear Boy…
T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month." I don't know about that, but for me it's a busy one, with a writing retreat, a panel and a public reading, this month then another public reading at the beginning of the next one. I've also got a not insignificant thing to announce, but that will have to wait, as I'm sworn to secrecy for now...
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
April 5, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Events, Dear Boy…
T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month." I don't know about that, but for me it's a busy one, with a writing retreat, a panel and a public reading, this month then another public reading at the beginning of the next one. I've also got a not insignificant thing to…
T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month." I don't know about that, but for me it's a busy one, with a writing retreat, a panel and a public reading, this month then another public reading at the beginning of the next one. I've also got a not insignificant thing to…
Society of authors protesting against AI copyright theft outside Meta's London offices tomorrow.
#DoTheWriteThing
#DoTheWriteThing
Society of Authors anti-LLM AI protest tomorrow in London.
If you write, don’t bother looking up whether Meta stole your stuff. They did. It’s barely “content” to them. It’s soup. Arseholes.
Protest corporate colonialism / parasitic tech capitalism, or just come and shout. I’m going to.
If you write, don’t bother looking up whether Meta stole your stuff. They did. It’s barely “content” to them. It’s soup. Arseholes.
Protest corporate colonialism / parasitic tech capitalism, or just come and shout. I’m going to.
📢Join us tomorrow at Granary Square 1pm for a protest Meta following revelations of pirated books being used to train their large language models. More details below 👇
April 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Society of authors protesting against AI copyright theft outside Meta's London offices tomorrow.
#DoTheWriteThing
#DoTheWriteThing
See in Beltane in Brighton with some readings by yours truly and others, such as legendary local playwright Paul Light!
April 2, 2025 at 6:07 PM
See in Beltane in Brighton with some readings by yours truly and others, such as legendary local playwright Paul Light!
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
'Nick Tenconi talks baloney' chanted by Stand Up To Racism protestors today in Portsmouth
March 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
'Nick Tenconi talks baloney' chanted by Stand Up To Racism protestors today in Portsmouth
Tik-TOC
Being a Selection of TOCs from Recent Anthologies and Periodicals that Include my Work. See if you can spot my name among them... Chthonic Matter Quarterly #6 — Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Summer 2024) Table of Contents:“Corvid Summer” — Tom Johnstone“Exit Wound” — Phoebe Murphy“Rat Suit King” —…
Being a Selection of TOCs from Recent Anthologies and Periodicals that Include my Work. See if you can spot my name among them... Chthonic Matter Quarterly #6 — Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Summer 2024) Table of Contents:“Corvid Summer” — Tom Johnstone“Exit Wound” — Phoebe Murphy“Rat Suit King” —…
Tik-TOC
Being a Selection of TOCs from Recent Anthologies and Periodicals that Include my Work. See if you can spot my name among them... Chthonic Matter Quarterly #6 — Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Summer 2024) Table of Contents:“Corvid Summer” — Tom Johnstone“Exit Wound” — Phoebe Murphy“Rat Suit King” — Patrick Barb“Take This Body” — M.C. St. John…
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
February 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Tik-TOC
Being a Selection of TOCs from Recent Anthologies and Periodicals that Include my Work. See if you can spot my name among them... Chthonic Matter Quarterly #6 — Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Summer 2024) Table of Contents:“Corvid Summer” — Tom Johnstone“Exit Wound” — Phoebe Murphy“Rat Suit King” —…
Being a Selection of TOCs from Recent Anthologies and Periodicals that Include my Work. See if you can spot my name among them... Chthonic Matter Quarterly #6 — Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Summer 2024) Table of Contents:“Corvid Summer” — Tom Johnstone“Exit Wound” — Phoebe Murphy“Rat Suit King” —…
New Year’s News
In which I mention recent publishing news and review two anthologies that include my work and another two that don't... I've been very neglectful of this author blog, which I haven't updated since January 2024, and it's my new year's resolution to try and rectify this situation…
In which I mention recent publishing news and review two anthologies that include my work and another two that don't... I've been very neglectful of this author blog, which I haven't updated since January 2024, and it's my new year's resolution to try and rectify this situation…
New Year’s News
In which I mention recent publishing news and review two anthologies that include my work and another two that don't... I've been very neglectful of this author blog, which I haven't updated since January 2024, and it's my new year's resolution to try and rectify this situation with some news about my most recent publishing successes, most of which happened at the tail-end of last year...
tomjohnstone.wordpress.com
February 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
New Year’s News
In which I mention recent publishing news and review two anthologies that include my work and another two that don't... I've been very neglectful of this author blog, which I haven't updated since January 2024, and it's my new year's resolution to try and rectify this situation…
In which I mention recent publishing news and review two anthologies that include my work and another two that don't... I've been very neglectful of this author blog, which I haven't updated since January 2024, and it's my new year's resolution to try and rectify this situation…
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
New — @indivisible.org is holding a protest at the Treasury Building 5pm this Tuesday to take action against Elon Musk's hostile takeover
February 3, 2025 at 1:35 AM
New — @indivisible.org is holding a protest at the Treasury Building 5pm this Tuesday to take action against Elon Musk's hostile takeover
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
January 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
We distributed these materials in English and Spanish across our community this weekend and invite you to share these reminders widely.
Print it out and keep it in your wallet or on your fridge for reference and safe keeping. We are in this together. (3/3)
January 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
We distributed these materials in English and Spanish across our community this weekend and invite you to share these reminders widely.
Print it out and keep it in your wallet or on your fridge for reference and safe keeping. We are in this together. (3/3)
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
You do NOT have to speak to ICE without a JUDICIAL warrant. If they attempt to enter your home or your workplace, ask for a warrant. Sometimes they will try to use other, non qualifying paperwork. They need a warrant.
(2/3)
(2/3)
January 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
You do NOT have to speak to ICE without a JUDICIAL warrant. If they attempt to enter your home or your workplace, ask for a warrant. Sometimes they will try to use other, non qualifying paperwork. They need a warrant.
(2/3)
(2/3)
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
January 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
As it's my birthday, here it is again as a gift to you -- sad clown-based horror story narrated on @creepypod.bsky.social along with a number of other disquieting tales of terror.
My first podcast appearance, my story 'Coulrophilia', narrated by Jimmy Ferrer, is on Creepy. Content warning: 🤡
megaphone.link/BDA7677139156
megaphone.link/BDA7677139156
Nothing Helps by Creepy
The Creepypasta Anthology
megaphone.link
December 4, 2024 at 5:47 PM
As it's my birthday, here it is again as a gift to you -- sad clown-based horror story narrated on @creepypod.bsky.social along with a number of other disquieting tales of terror.
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
Monday December 2nd 8PM … Join ussssss … FREE EVENT: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebratin...
December 1, 2024 at 11:11 AM
Monday December 2nd 8PM … Join ussssss … FREE EVENT: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebratin...
Always lovely to get an honourable mention from @datlow.bsky.social in her list of recommended reads from 2023 -- and the one I least expected to receive such an accolade! It's literally a reading list too -- just bought something from Nightjar because of a mention there...
For those interested, I've just posted my entire recommended list of stories and poems from 2023 on my blog:
ellendatlow.com/category/news/
ellendatlow.com/category/news/
News
ellendatlow.com
November 29, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Always lovely to get an honourable mention from @datlow.bsky.social in her list of recommended reads from 2023 -- and the one I least expected to receive such an accolade! It's literally a reading list too -- just bought something from Nightjar because of a mention there...
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
I'm absolutely delighted to be on this list amongst actual luminaries!
My story, 'The Immortal Game', came out in January last year with @apexmag.bsky.social and is one of the best short stories I've EVER written. Check it out.
My story, 'The Immortal Game', came out in January last year with @apexmag.bsky.social and is one of the best short stories I've EVER written. Check it out.
November 29, 2024 at 1:55 PM
I'm absolutely delighted to be on this list amongst actual luminaries!
My story, 'The Immortal Game', came out in January last year with @apexmag.bsky.social and is one of the best short stories I've EVER written. Check it out.
My story, 'The Immortal Game', came out in January last year with @apexmag.bsky.social and is one of the best short stories I've EVER written. Check it out.
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
Lovely to see @datlow.bsky.social has included my story 'Come Sing For The Harrowing' (in Fiends in the Furrows III: Final Harvest) as part of her Recommended Reading list for 2023. It's also both the opening story and the title of my new collection, don't you know.
ellendatlow.com/2024/11/28/t...
ellendatlow.com/2024/11/28/t...
The Best Horror of the Year Volume Sixteen Recommendations (2023) Part One
Abbott, Megan “Scarlet Ribbons,” A Darker Shade of Noir.Addison, Linda D. “As Below, So Above,” (poem) Deathrealm Spirits.Addison, Linda D. “Things as They Seem…” (poem) The Drive-In: Multiplex. Ah…
ellendatlow.com
November 29, 2024 at 2:10 PM
Lovely to see @datlow.bsky.social has included my story 'Come Sing For The Harrowing' (in Fiends in the Furrows III: Final Harvest) as part of her Recommended Reading list for 2023. It's also both the opening story and the title of my new collection, don't you know.
ellendatlow.com/2024/11/28/t...
ellendatlow.com/2024/11/28/t...
Reposted by Tom Johnstone
An honour to see three of my pieces mentioned 😭🙇🏻♀️🤍
November 29, 2024 at 2:48 PM
An honour to see three of my pieces mentioned 😭🙇🏻♀️🤍
Five years ago, I went on a journey of discovery to find the source of the lost river of Wellsbourne buried beneath Brighton. The resulting book, Last Stop Wellsbourne, was lost too for a while -- but now it's back, courtesy of @crossroadpress.bsky.social!
books2read.com/u/3LEoM0
books2read.com/u/3LEoM0
Available now at your favorite digital store!
Last Stop: Wellsbourne by Tom Johnstone
books2read.com
November 23, 2024 at 8:34 AM
Five years ago, I went on a journey of discovery to find the source of the lost river of Wellsbourne buried beneath Brighton. The resulting book, Last Stop Wellsbourne, was lost too for a while -- but now it's back, courtesy of @crossroadpress.bsky.social!
books2read.com/u/3LEoM0
books2read.com/u/3LEoM0