Jonathan Oliver - Editorial

Wrongest moment in cinema? For me it's that bit in Howard the Duck where she goes through his wallet and finds his duck condom. It's not even in its packet.

Last night's movie was Weapons. Strong Roald Dahl meets Rosemary's Baby vibes from this one.

I can't today, so I'm retiring to the sofa with a book.

Yesterday's movie was Bring Her Back and... bloody hell! I haven't been that shaken by a horror movie in a while. Amazing cast. A very grim movie but one that packs a powerful emotional punch.

Reaction videos all the way down.

Off. I meant off. Fuckin' words!

What about if I do it with my shirt of, eh?

Gimme a sec. Just filming a reaction video to this.

Can anyone recommend literary agents that operate at the 'literary fiction' end of the market?

The idea of there being 'gatekeepers' in publishing assumes a level of organisation and control that, on the whole, simply doesn't exist.

My mood has been improved this afternoon by a walk round the village with eldest daughter followed by reading comics.

So that shrinking of the friend circle you get in middle age is fun isn't it?

I am upstairs in my office. I can hear Minnie (our cat) snoring on the floor below.

Not enough! Cry more, Bennett!

Have you cried at the John Lewis Christmas ad yet? Have you? Have you? Why aren't you crying? CRY FOR SANTA! CRY DAMN YOU!

Now I am, of course, listening to these legends talk about religion and horror. Here’s mod @joshwinning.bsky.social with @sydneyficant137.bsky.social @jamesbennett.bsky.social and @jonolivereditor.bsky.social, all with very different experiences and beliefs, all fantastic horror writers.

I've managed to get a week ahead of schedule. This hardly ever happens. Part of me is tempted to cram in yet more work, but part of me could really do with a breather.

Last night's movie was Companion, which was a lot of fun, and had a punchier script than I was expecting. A good satire on incels and tech bros. Also, Sophie Thatcher really is superb.

World Fantasy Con in Brighton was brilliant. It has restored my batteries to see friends and meet new folk. And being on the jury for the awards was a great honour. My fellow judges were the best judges and we're so proud of the winners.

Do what Tom says. You want spooky? Hell, I do spooky? Available here: blackshuckbooks.co.uk/the-language...

Parenting SEN daughters is the hardest thing we've ever done, especially as you have to scrabble for support and jump through endless hoops to get it. My favourite bit of last night was the neighbour complaining about the noise, telling me I'm as bad as my daughter.

Sad to hear of the passing of Ace Frehley. KISS were a huge part of my teenage years and helped build my brain.

I really should have.

Last night's movie was The Well, which I gave up on. It wanted to be classic 70s Italian gothic horror, but it was pretty dreadful.

Went to church and a garden centre on Sunday. It could only have been more Sunday with an episode of Last of the Summer Wine preceded by 30 mins of Thora Hird with a rundown of the latest Jesus bangers.

Hmmm. Just been made aware of this: authors.ai/marlowe/

For clarity, I feel that it can absolutely get to fuck.

From the other side of the desk, though: if you read a book and think it needed an editor, be aware that it very well might have had an editor, but (depending on the circumstances) the author has final say and could’ve just ignored the editor’s advice. Readers don’t know a book’s history.

Yeah, it's not my thing. I don't much go for gore or slasher films, but it's an adequate one for those who do. It is, at least, not as misogynistic as some of the 80s/90s ones. Art seems to be a fairly equal opportunities killer. Men get offed as much as women.

I have now seen Terrifier. I mean, it achieves what it sets out to do, but this sort of movie leaves me cold.

Actually finishing work at a reasonable time and actually having free time? What witchcraft is this?