Die Booth's Blog, page 2

Would you like some hope?

If you answered ‘yes’ then you’re in luck, because the latest issue of Worlds of Possibility is out now. Julia Rios has compiled another set of lovely, hopeful speculative tales for the June 2025 issue of their beautiful magazine Worlds of Possibility. This issue features my short story ‘Warning: Cats Eyes Removed’, which is a gentle tale of enduring queer friendship set in a post-apocalyptic near-future where rebuilding is already well underway. 

You can purchase the issue via Julia’s site here...

Happy Pride Month! Fundraising, partying and money off books!

Happy Pride Month!

It seems to have come around quickly again and I wish I could say something more positive, but things have only got worse in the last year for the worldwide LGBTQIA+ community, so now more than ever we all need to concentrate on affecting positive change in whatever way we can, no matter how small.

That said, I recently finished writing a new horror short called ‘Pri demon th’, I have an exciting announcement about a new happy queer story publication coming soon, I’ve been wor...

A recap on my last public reading

Last Saturday 17th May I was privileged enough to get to read the first few chapters of Cool S at Books on the Walls  which is a gorgeous little indie bookshop situated on the walls in Chester by the Northgate.

Thank you so, so much to all the folks who came along to hear me read and support me – and thanks especially to the wonderful Kate for hosting these events, being so incredibly supportive of local writers and providing a truly beautiful new space for people in the city. Thanks to everyone...

Free event, zines available and news!

First up, a reminder that I’m reading some of my work at Books on the Walls this Saturday 17th May at 2pm until 2.30pm. It’s a free event and the shop not only sells an amazingly curated collection of new books but also serves the best and most reasonably priced snacks and drinks. I’ll be playing some goth tunes for an hour after and it would be lovely to see you there. (Change to initially advertised – Mark can’t make it, so it’ll be me DJing and it’ll probably be on CD rather than vinyl so I d...

Free event at Books on the Walls

Even if you’re from Chester, you might not be familiar yet with Books on the Walls. This brand-new bookshop is little but powerful, occupying the space on the city walls by Northgate that Fika just vacated, in a picturesque location overlooking the canal.

Fellow Chester author Olivia Merrydale was kind enough to tell me about it and put me in touch with the owner, Kate. (If you have children who enjoy reading, I can recommend Olivia’s debut book ‘Rosie and the Secret of the Snogard’ which is ava...

New tiny story – read it free!

I have a new tiny story out called ‘Were’ and you can read it for free over on 100 Foot Crow.

100 Foot Crow is an online magazine specialising in drabbles – that is, flash fictions of exactly 100 words. You can sign up to their newsletter to get tiny tales delivered directly to your inbox, or browse their website for bite-sized stories just the perfect length for a coffee break.

Read ‘Were’ here at 100 Foot Crow

I’m also delighted to announce that my short story ‘Penny for them’ will be out ne...

Separating art from artist

There’s a lot of discussion going on around this lately, and rightly so.

 

I’d just like to add my subjective opinion.

 

I can understand people who say you can’t separate art from artist, especially when that artist is still living and profiting from their work. I can understand fully people who are no longer able to enjoy or engage with art they formerly loved and that meant a huge amount to them, when the creator is revealed to be somebody whose actions and views fall far short of human decen...

The Scumrag, and other news to start the year off right

January 2025 has been and gone and was somehow simultaneously the longest and quickest month ever. The world is burning (literally and metaphorically) and I started off yet another year with a surgical procedure.

Things somehow feel, on the whole, a little less bleak for me than last year so far, though.

I think a lot of that is due to me actually making good on my promise to myself to reel back the social media. I took the plunge and deleted my Whatsapp and three of my five Instagram accounts, ...

2025 wrap-up – highs and lows

It’s tradition now for me to do a yearly wrap-up post, so here goes.

I had high hopes for 2025. I started it in the most pain I’ve ever experienced after long-awaited essential surgery that I hoped would finally free me from health issues I’d lived with my entire life. 

Unfortunately, life had different plans. Whilst the surgery has improved my quality of life, I went on to spend almost the entire year being ill (covid, then whooping cough for five months, a broken rib, a severe ankle sprain.)

N...

You want 30% off my print books?

Course you do! We all love a booky bargain!! Behold the ugliest promo image you have ever seen!!! Bask in its low res glory!!!! It is 8.30pm on a Thursday and I’m tired!!!!! That is TOO MANY exclamation marks – five? That’s overkill! Anyway (please disregard my dyspunctuation) it’s the biggest Lulu discount of the year, so if you’d like any of my books in print, now is your time to get them for 30% off with code HOLIDAY30 at checkout until dingding on 2nd December. Go on go on go on! H...