The official launch is not for another week, and if you're going to be at Novacon 55 in Buxton on 7 November, you are cordially invited to come and hear me read on Saturday night, and buy OPHELIA IN THE BATHTUB from my table in the dealer room.

But if you won't be there, guess what? You can ALREADY buy it from my website or from Amazon.

And naturally I hope you will do so, and thus stave off starvation here in my auctorial garret.

https://www.sandra-bond.com/ophelia-in-the-bathtub

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ophelia-Bathtub-Sandra-Bond/dp/B0HMRYRW4H/

#writing

#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 23: What "little thing" really helps you write?

My writer's block.

I see you raise your eyebrow, so let me explain; I refer to this writer's block, a pyrographed piece of wood made by my bestie, with holes in the top for pens which currently also hold screwdrivers, scissors, tweezers, a vintage cigarette holder (a prop from a bygone larp), and a $5 bill waiting patiently for a time when it's safe for me to visit the US again.

I once wrote a poem about the little frog.

#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 7: What's something you thought would help your workflow, but didn't work out?

Getting a keyboard for my tablet so I could write on my that as well as my PC. Three broken keyboards later, I gave up. Either I'm very unlucky, or very bad at choosing keyboards, or the manufacturers of keyboards for tablets are cutting every corner they can.

#PennedPossibilities 988: Tell us about your MC’s bravest moment.

Three published novels, a fourth complete one, a fifth in progress, and I honestly can’t answer this prompt without spoiling one of them. Is anyone else finding this difficulty? Surely it must be common for an MC’s bravest moment to form (or at least appear as part of) the climax of their book?

#PennedPossibilities 820 — Have you ever frightened yourself while writing a scary scene? If so, what was it about?

No. I've made myself cry occasionally at a sentimental high point, but never frightened myself. I have complete faith that I am in control of my own writing and stories, and that I have nothing to fear from them.

I might wryly add that it's the blank page that authors are supposed to be scared of.

In which I unbox my new book, squee at how good it looks for a bit, and then read the title poem.

Now available at all the usual places, including https://www.sandra-bond.com/ (which I now need to update again, sigh) if you prefer not to soil your hands dealing with Amazon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BkXzlpfBQs

#poetry #PoetryCommunity #unboxing

Much talk today from @pluralistic about centaurs and reverse centaurs and I can't see any of the toots on the topic without thinking of this golden oldie.

#writerscoffeeclub 10 June. Where is the line between between homage and theft?

There it is. Just there, right under my feet, with me balancing upon it extremely carefully.

#WritersCoffeeClub June 1 - Are there ethical principles fiction must adhere to? What are they?

No. There may be some, or many, to which it *should* adhere, but that's not the same question.

It reminds me of people saying "You can't do that!" to people who patently are doing that. The word you're looking for is "shouldn't" or "mustn't".

("You can't alter history! Not one line!" -- The First Doctor)

#WritersCoffeeClub 31 May
What fact of your life would give a reader a new appreciation for your work?

This is another prompt I really don't understand. Am I meant to tell people all about my hard times and physical conditions in order to guilt-trip them into buying my books? No-jolly-old-thank-you. I prefer my writing to represent me without such assistance.

#WritersCoffeeClub 5 May -- Have you ever working through a bad experience by writing fiction?

The sarcastic, sneering high school principal, Alvin Tidmarsh in The Psychopath Club, draws heavily upon a loathsome teacher I had at the age of nine or so in primary school. This wasn't so much therapy for my experience with him, though, as firstly inspiration to create the character, and secondly to make it easier for me to write when he meets an unpleasant fate.

Well knock me down with a feather (clever Trevor) ---

Within the space of 24 hours, I learn that THREE MEN IN ORBIT has a) been picked as Recommendation of the Episode by Hugo-award hem-hem winning podcast Octothorpe, and

b) appeared on the nominee list for Best Novel in the British Science Fiction Awards for work published in 2024. My first award nomination ever for fiction.

I hardly need add that I hope you'll a) buy it if you haven't already, and b) vote for it if you're eligible to vote.

#WritersCoffeeClub 12/7. What do you think is the most critical element in storytelling?

Characterisation. If you don't have characters who feel plausible and about whom the reader can care -- positively or negatively -- the best plot in history will go to waste.

It's August, and that means that -- after what seems a forever of waiting, as always with book launches -- Three Men in Orbit is now LIVE.

The official launch is at the Glasgow Worldcon, from a week tomorrow (8th August): but if you won't be there to buy it from me, feel free to order yours straight away.

#writing #steampunk #BookLaunch

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D9RTQF8B

Less than two weeks to go till you can hold Three Men in your hot little hands. No, that is not a double-entendre. I'm talkin' 'bout Three Men in Orbit, my newest novel.

#ScienceFiction #scifi #steampunk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWlu0Dc7ihE

Let me be businesslike: a pinned post with my available books!

All available from me as well as from Amazon, if you prefer. Message me if so.

THE PSYCHOPATH CLUB: alternate universes, a teenage wannabee serial killer, a strange supernatural horse-headed being.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Psychopath-Club-Sandra-Bond/dp/B091NRG2M9

THE DEVIL'S FINGER:
a standing stone, a nebbishy shapeshifter, a formidable middle-aged feminist comedian.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Finger-Sandra-Bond/dp/B0BZ2R2T4K

POETRY SLUM: ballades, blank verse, one lone sestina.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetry-Slum-Sandra-Bond/dp/B0CYV9CBS5