Rebecca Mae

Interview with CL Hellisen for the release of The Shape of Monsters And an offer for subscribers!

In which I answer questions about how I write, with middling success.

My methods are ... Well, let's just say they exist.

open.substack.com/pub/portobel...

Title: GODS & MONSTERS. July 31 2025 fiyahlitmag.com/submissions Image: A silhouette hand reaching toward ethereal light.

Submissions for our last themed issue of the year CLOSE in TEN DAYS! Get it polished, get it in. The squad can't wait to feast on your words 🍽️

All the info you need to submit is here: fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/

Share with a Black writer who needs to rip the band aid off. Don't self reject!!!

What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.

Frederick Douglass, 1852

A trope novel graphic, with the cover of The Shape of Monsters by CL Hellisen in the centre. Around it are the phrases family secrets, the slowest slowburn in existence, divination & sacrifice, betrayal & revenge, dead things that don't stay dead, totally normal relationships yessir, decaying gothic mansions, magic & darkness, sibling rivalry, and terrible bargains.

So yeah it's Monsters day!

Inject direct into your ear holes at www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0FGDJ5X1M

This was fantastic. Congratulations!

Cover for Dark Crescent by Lyndsey Croal

"Two nights before I died for the second time, the omen was painted clear across the sky"

#LunchtimeReading : Dark Crescent by Lyndsey Croal. @edinburghbookshop.bsky.social will be holding a launch for Dark Crescent on June 19th www.edinburghbookshop.com/events-1/lyn...
@lunapress.bsky.social

It's completely wild to me just how well The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet has done already, and it's only been out for a month! Hundreds of ratings and reviews and people posting their copies with the cutest floral arrangements 🥰

Support pride, buy queer; not just this month but all the year!

Cover of the novelization of My Neighbor Totoro, featuring artwork of Totoro on a branch with the girls playing flutes.

Went to a super mega nerd store today and came home with this gem. 💚

#totoro #miyazaki #readmorebooks

if the wheels had come off this thing any faster it'd be a Cybertruck

This is for an online game, for those who can't make an in person event.

My pal Fiona is short a few players so please jump on this if games are your thing

If you are making a derogatory statement about what "the Palestinians" say or what "the Palestinians" want or what "the Palestinians" do, that's called bigotry. Palestinians are human beings with agency and thoughts and feelings. They're not fungible, and they're not a mindless collective. Stop it.

6. Be happy for other creators who are having their moment, if you can. Creating is hard. Getting a moment is rare. So much is about luck and factors you can’t directly control. “Deserve” has so little to do with anything. So when someone catches that ride, cheer them as they go by. Wish them well.

That is so sad 😭

Small thread of goodness.

You guys are ADORABLE. Congrats on the book!!

If you are pondering your voting for the British Fantasy Awards, The Last Shield is eligible for best novel.
Just sayin' :)

A background of fire with a black crown in the centre. Pictures of Ruth Frances Long, Catriona Silvey, Amy de la Force, Sarah Rees Brennan and Megan Scott around the outside along with the Waterstones logo. Purple boxes in the centre with the words: The British Fantasy Society & Waterstones Leeds 'An Evening of Romantasy' (with BFS logos on either side) Catriona Silvey, Megan Scott, Amy de la Force, Sarah Rees Brennan (mod), Ruth Frances Long Thursday 10th July 7pm Waterstones

A background of fire with a black crown in the centre. Pictures of the authors around the outside and their books in the centre. Ruth Frances Long - The Book of Gold Catriona Silvey - Love & Other Paradoxes Amy de la Force - A Kiss of Hammer and Flame Sarah Rees Brennan - Long Live Evil Megan Scott - The Temptation of Magic

And another @britfantasysoc.bsky.social event is confirmed!

An Evening of Romantasy will be held at Waterstones Leeds, 10th July, 7pm

With Catriona Silvey
Megan Scott
@amydelaforce.bsky.social
@rflong.bsky.social
@sarahreesbrennan.bsky.social (mod)

Come listen to five fabulous authors discussing all things romantic fantasy, romantasy and romantic sci fi, ask your questions, buy all the authors latest books and get them signed!

Tickets available now:
www.waterstones.com/.../panel-an...

Wording the words??

Absolutely!

Western Pennsylvania chain of restaurants called Kings. I think there's maybe one left now? It was like Dennys (or Eat n Park) mixed with something like Perkins. They had this one Reese's ice cream dessert that I've never found an equal to. I can still conjure the taste, 20 years later...

This trailer is gorgeous

Dragon cat!? Aaaah.

Genre Creators for Trans Rights in the UK and SA Silent auction 'Genre Creators for Trans Rights in the UK and SA' hosted online at 32auctions.

So in the midst of the chaos and joy of Eastercon, @ngjeannette.bsky.social and I have set up a charity auction: Genre Creators for Trans rights in the UK and South Africa as a small personal response to what's happening in the world. You can bid on cool things here www.32auctions.com/genrefortrans

been a minute, time to bump the pack again

go.bsky.app/VaypaqC

Fantasy of all kinds!

"For fans of Regency romances and of the contemporary
friends-to-lovers stories created by Talia Hibbert and Casey McQuiston."
- absolutely lovely rec and review by @ala-booklist.bsky.social for THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET!

Black cat loafing in a cat carrier (willingly, as it is always left out for him and his brothers)

Eli the void says hi!

As RFK Jr. spreads his misinformation about autistics, a reminder I'm diagnosed Autistic/ADHD. I wrote twelve novels, hit #2 on the NYT bestseller list, have three of my books optioned for film/TV, started an online business that's grown to twelve employees. I'm middle aged. I got 40 more years.

You got this!