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My sci/fi story #buttonsinweirdplaces has been nominated for a Utopia Award (best Utopian Novelette) and public voting is open throughout August!

If anyone would like to read some fine optimistic sci/fi and maybe vote for their (ahem) favourite authors, the voting forms are here.

I received my author’s paperback copies of my latest book today – there it is, The Seven Succubi in all its glory. Always a thrill to see your books in good old-fashioned paper!

My story The Monster was recently reprinted in Dark Cheer – Cryptids Emerging (Volume Silver). In fact, it’s the lead-off story in the book, which is always cool.

I’ve just received my contributor copies: paperback and hardback versions of the book. They are seriously lovely things. Couldn’t be more thrilled.

A nice review of The Eye Collectors has just been published by the British Fantasy Society:

“I’ll be keeping an eye out for future books in the series – if you enjoyed Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London, then you’ll enjoy this one. Definitely one to look out for!”

The second story in my Office of the Witchfinder General series has been published! Elsewhen Press released the ebook version of The Seven Succubi on February 25th, with the print version coming in a month or so.

Full details of the book here.

Once again, I’m taking part in Loren Eaton’s Advent Ghosts shared storytelling event. The premise is simple: tell a creepy or ghostly tale in exactly 100 words, in classic spooky Christmas tale style.

My contribution this year is called Shortcut.

Laden with Christmas shopping, he took the churchyard shortcut. The gravestones, the cold tolling of the bell on the quarter-hour, the white moon through the Yew: there was nothing to fear. People muttered stories about the thing that happened, the resentful dead, but it was clearly ridiculous.

A fox screeched from the darkness. He gasped and stopped. Was it a fox? Did foxes sound so … anguished? Something moved behind the Yew, silhouette shifting. Mist crept through the air, obscuring details. He suddenly couldn’t see the gate.

Despite himself, he ran. The first icy hand grasped him a moment later.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all! As the man said, let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear.

For more hundred-word advent ghost stories, check out Loren’s blog.