Siân O’Hara

A graphic made to look like an aged parchment. There is a pen and ink drawing of waves forming a border and a photo of V. Castro. Text reads: Fantasycon 2026 Guest of Honour V Castro

We are delighted to announce our second Guest of Honour for Fantasycon 2026 - V. Castro! @vlatinalondon.bsky.social

britishfantasysociety.org/fantasycon-2...

Graphic made to look like aged parchment with a pen and ink drawing of waves forming a border. Text reads: Advertise with us, Fantasycon 2026 Souvenir Book

Would you like to advertise in the Fantasycon souvenir book? How about have your books for sale at the Fantasycon table in the Dealers' Hall? You can now arrange both in our shop: britishfantasysociety.org/shop/

Eeep. New series of Bridgerton 🥰🎭🥂👠

I would beg and plead everyone to vote, but it looks like a rare occasion where the overwhelming majority are aligned with my viewpoint!

But do vote anyway, just in case 🦆🦆➡️

Shown is a graphic with a path through a foggy forest in the background; there is an empty bench barely seen through the mist. On the top right and left is the BFS logo, a white dragon design curling around the letters ‘BFS’. Left is a photo of Dean Koontz, who has dark hair and is wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue trousers. Dean is kneeling with his hands on his dog, a golden retriever called Elsa. Right is the cover for The Friend of the Family, Dean’s latest book. The cover has a blue background, four white feathers and one black feather.

BFS Online is excited to announce a special guest interview. International bestselling author Dean Koontz chats to BFS Chair Shona Kinsella Wed 21st Jan 2026, 7pm (GMT).

Ticket: tinyurl.com/dkoontz

#BritishFantasySociety #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #DeanKoontz

@shonak.bsky.social

Ooh, love it! Isabel’s already got us listening to Christmas songs so I’m going to have to try this 😁

Absolutely! We’ve had far too long with hetero-normative assumptions. Give us a break (and some representation) please

This was so much fun! Already got my ticket for Glasgow 2026 :)

Image shows empty bamboo shoot tin with a pale strip running down the edge

Anyone else spend too long trying to get the last bamboo shoot out the tub? (Really should have learned by now!)

And I suppose entrails are too messy, as well as ethically questionable.

Maybe all it wanted was to be appreciated so reupholstering it might be sufficient?

(P.S. love the storytelling, it’s almost like you should write or something 😁)

Have you tried offering sacrifices to it to placate it??

"The moment you allow AI to write a sentence for you, you lose your voice."
Francesca Barbini @lunapress.bsky.social nailing it in her guest of honour interview with @megintransition.bsky.social.
#pictcon

Book cover - Daughters of Nicnevin. Two women in 18th century highland dress stand back to back, surrounded by men made of straw. Author photo - a black and white photo of a woman in a dark dress, with long dark hair, looking towards the camera and smiling. Text reads - Upcoming events, November 20th - Waterstones Argyle Street Glasgow, 7pm, In Conversation with Sam K Horton November 22nd, The Highland Bookshop, Fort William, 6pm November 25th, Waterstones Edinburgh West End, 7pm, In Conversation with Rafael Torrubia

I would love it if you could join me at one my upcoming events to celebrate the release of Daughters of Nicnevin

Waterstones events here: www.waterstones.com/events/searc...

The Highland Bookshop tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/daughters-...

Lots of cuddles over the weekend then!

(My little fluffball of terror used to protest poo in his carrier. So that was added fun…)

Oh no! Poor floof 😿hope the vet can make her all better 🤞

Lovely to meet you at WFC. Thank you for signing the book and the lovely chat. And telling me Ben Baldwin (the cover artist) was in the art show - I made him sign the book too 💜

Mentioned UBI to a few people over the weekend at WFC, so seems timely to share this 🤓

Cancer of the ovary, fallopian tube or peritoneum usually causes symptoms that are similar to common non-cancerous conditions. This can make it difficult to diagnose early. If you have any of these symptoms or get these symptoms regularly, your GP should offer you cancer tests: • a long-lasting bloated or swollen tummy • feeling full quickly when you eat • loss of appetite • pain in the lower tummy area or back • peeing (passing urine) more often than usual • needing to pee urgently (feeling like you cannot hold on). Other symptoms may include: • a change in your normal bowel function (diarrhoea or constipation) • weight loss for no obvious reason • unexplained or extreme tiredness (fatigue) • vaginal bleeding after the menopause. If you are aged 50 or older and develop symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for the first time, you should also have tests. IBS can cause bloating and changes in bowel function. But it does not usually start after the age of 50.

There’s no screening for ovarian cancer and it’s really difficult to spot: you can’t squidge your ovaries in the shower to check for lumps. Also it’s very good at masquerading at other things, like IBS and diverticulitis.

Please take a look at this list of symptoms - and share if you can.

Hi 👋 👋
Same and same 😁

The con comedown is harrrrrrrrrrrd (but worth it!)

100%

Picture of baby change sign on accessible toilet where the head looks like an “o” and the arms and legs like “LS”

Not me wandering past this sign all weekend and wondering why the accessible toilet had oLS written on it…

So I’m totally going to bounce up to you at the banquet and ask how your squishy eyeball dress is going 😂

(Eurgh. I tried to make that last bit non-binary-inclusive but it just feels awkward. Anyone happening to read this, let me know if any tips for better wording??)

This was an awesome dress. So impressed with your skills and eye for material!! (Not literally, eww, can you imagine sewing retinas…)

… their reaction was to be all concerned and ask if everything was ok with my OH - like, damn, didn’t think you’d need to check your prejudice but fyi it’s perfectly possible to be in a relationship with someone of a different gender and still be not heterosexual!

Also reminds me of a pub chat I had with a uni friend where I mentioned being on a panel for queer rep and being able to bring the bi perspective - now, bearing in mind this person saw me in my “wilder” days so knew I had kissed boys and girls… (1/2)

Oh. Oh dear. Well, at least you’re not letting that stop you!! 💪

Whoooooo!!!! You’re going to have so much fun and be totally brilliant 🤩

Issue 50 ​*   Managing Editor: Edward Ahern    * *   Associate Editor: Alison McBain    * *    Special Features Editor: Matthew P.S. Salinas    * *    Poetry Editor: Mary Keating   * ​...

A Drabble I forgot I had submitted is out in Issue #50 of ScribesMICRO:

www.fairfieldscribes.com/issue-50.html/

Not spec fic (unusual for me) but prompted by cooking a family recipe that brought bittersweet memories