iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Susanna Crossman @susannacrossman.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Roll up, roll up! I will be interviewing @markabowles.bsky.social for the online launch of the excellent How Do People Stay The Same 20/08 7pm BST. @galleybeggars.bsky.social are opening up 15 extra places, on first-come-first-served basis. To claim a place email info@galleybeggar.co.uk - be quick!

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@Galleybeggars @galleybeggars.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Terrific review for Alex in Interzone: "Alex Pheby’s Cities of the Weft [...] novels continually justify their size and indulgences; [they are] works of sinuous prose, dense with extravagant worldbuilding, intriguing formal interventions, brimful with imagination..."

patreon.com

INTERZONE — a European magazine publishing fiction & non-fiction

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Jamedi @jamreads.com · 08/07/2026

Mordew, by @alexpheby.bsky.social, is a brilliant piece of weird fantasy that goes straight onto my fave list; an excellent idea that blends together weird cities and a dash of theology that I'm not sure I can capture in words. Full review: jamreads.com/reviews/mord... 💙📚

jamreads.com

JamReads - Making your TBR closer to infinite

In JamReads you will find content about books, and why you should read them more. This content may include reviews, interviews and occasionally, some news of the literary world

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Should be writing, but the cat’s on my lap and has been for two hours. Hence posting.

Cat on lap, no writing being done, laptop screen timed out.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Forgot the alt text. Can’t see how to add it. Little submarine, wishes big, go little submarine!, little submarine kills last sea turtle, you’re bad for wanting little submarine to get what it wanted.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Always nice to see someone do in four frames what it took me three long books to get at.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Looks like I’ve found our next guest speaker! (Seriously, you’d be a great guest speaker. DM me if you’re interested).

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Not sure what "outline" means. I imagine stuff happening, write it down, imagine what happens next, write that down, repeat until I get sick of it. Then I rewrite the bloody thing until someone either buys it or I give up. I'm teaching MA "Profession of Writing" again next year, so hope that's OK.

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Richard Strachan @richardstrachan.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Thoroughly enjoyed being on the Writing the Magic panel at @cymerafestival.co.uk yesterday, with @dancoxon.bsky.social, Hannah Kaner and @alexpheby.bsky.social. Great discussion and audience questions!

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Queen of Grimdark @annasmithspark.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

My first panel of this year's @cymerafestival.co.uk is at 1.45 on Saturday, talking about ruins and rebuilding and A Sword of Gold and Ruin with @clhellisen.bsky.social @alexpheby.bsky.social and Rafael Torrubia.

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Richard Strachan @richardstrachan.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

One week to go! Looking forward to being on this panel at the Cymera Festival with Dan Coxon, Alex Pheby and Hannah Kaner.

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Dan Coxon @dancoxon.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

If you saw Writing the Magic on the British Fantasy Awards shortlist and were intrigued, you can join me at Cymera Festival on Friday 5 June for a panel with three of the contributors: Hannah Kaner, Alex Pheby & Richard Strachan. Both in-person & livestream. www.cymerafestival.co.uk/programme-26...

cymerafestival.co.uk

Writing the Magic with Alex Pheby, Dan Coxon, Hannah Kaner and Richard Strachan — CYMERA

This event will feature a Brave New Words reading by Siobhán F. Murphy Join editor Dan Coxon and contributors Alex Pheby, Hannah Kaner and Richard Strachan as they pull back the ...

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Cymera Festival @cymerafestival.co.uk · 26/05/2026

Don't forget to check out this year's charity auction! ⬇️ The auction will close at 12pm on Friday 5th June. www.32auctions.com/organization...

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Here it is again, chasing me up for not replying. It's found some commas and full stops this time. Well done, Tricia.

Hello
Most authors in 2026 aren’t struggling because their books lack quality, they’re struggling because reader attention disappears too quickly.

The books building real momentum right now are the ones creating ongoing conversation, emotional connection, and reader curiosity long after the first discovery.
While revisiting your book, I could already see a few discussion angles that would naturally pull readers deeper into the story and keep people talking about it.
That’s exactly what our spotlight discussions are designed to do.
If you’re open to it, I’d love to share what I have in mind for your book specifically.
— Tricia

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I guess this AI marketing scammer has used up its last punctuation mark in the first line?

Hello Alex Pheby,

While reviewing titles that naturally invite meaningful reader discussion your book Mordew stood out for the way it builds a richly layered world where power hierarchy survival and transformation shape the lives of those within the city The journey of characters navigating harsh social divisions hidden forces and personal change creates strong opportunities for readers to interpret meaning reflect on power and discuss the deeper structures that shape communities

One pattern we have been observing across many authors is this strong books are still being written but reader engagement is becoming harder to sustain not because of story quality but because readers are distracted platforms are unpredictable and meaningful reader reactions often go uncaptured

That is exactly why we built Thrive in Midlife Learn and Share Discussion to help books move beyond being read into being experienced discussed and remembered

I would love to share how we structure that experience specifically for books like Mordew especially for authors whose work explores complex worlds moral tension and the relationship between power survival and identity

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

I feel your pain. My personal accounts are pretty good at weeding these out, but the work one - which should know better, I'd have thought, given the amount of time IT spend warning us about phishing, etc. and the mandatory courses we're all obliged to take every year - just wave them through.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Another load of AI marketing/phishing crap, this one pretending to be from a country where the book hasn't even been released. If "Craig Sailor" exists, can he clarify which of the three words in quote marks are the two words he wants me to reply with? I can think of a couple of my own, if not.

Dear Alex Pheby

My name is Craig Sailor, and I am the founder and organizer of the Berlin Book Club, a thriving community of 603 passionate readers spread across the country. We are a book-loving community that celebrates stories and ideas across every genre, from fiction and memoir to business, self-help, spirituality, and beyond. Every month, we come together, both in-person and virtually, to read, discuss, and connect over books that challenge, inspire, and transform us. We feature books from all genres and we would love to feature Waterblack in one of our upcoming Author Spotlight Events.

The reason I am reaching out is both personal and community-driven.Waterblack is exactly the kind of book our community lives for The grand culmination of the surreal Cities of the Weft trilogy explores how corporate, state, and personal power structures warp our understanding of reality. It offers a deeply intellectual and cinematic core for debating the fine line between absolute control and systemic decay.. During one of our recent member discussions, one of our readers passionately recommended your book to the group. The conversation it sparked was so compelling that we decided to put it to a community vote, and Waterblack came out as the #1 most voted pick among our members. That does not happen by chance. It tells us your work has already touched people in our community deeply, and we would love to honour that by giving it the spotlight it deserves.

We would be truly honored to have you join us as our Featured Author. This is a rare opportunity to connect directly with readers who are already invested in your work and eager to hear your story. If this resonates with you, all you need to do is reply with two simple words: 'Yes, I'm interested.'

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

More AI marketing slop/phishing, this one from some guy's ChatGPT that runs a website that bilks people who've written "Business Secrets of the Pharaohs"-type books out of their money. Guess ChatGPT thinks he needs to branch out...

Dear Alex,

I recently came across your work while exploring writers whose fiction and nonfiction operate across genre boundaries while still maintaining a strong literary core, and I was particularly struck by the scale, ambition, and conceptual range of your writing across both experimental fiction and narrative driven work.

If this is of interest, I would be happy to share a brief outlining how I approach these features and what the collaboration would involve.

Warm regards,

Alex Wieckowski

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

...and I've no idea what relationship the summary is supposed to have with "seasonal moments". It doesn't make the book sound very Easter-y, if that what they think. I'm not even sure these AIs read what they've written before they press send...

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

If there's one thing I'm confident about it's that my hidden potential elements are naturally captivating.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Here's another pick from this week's work email junk folder. If "Bella Monroe" exists, I wonder whether she'd like to explain what that second paragraph means?

Hi Alex Pheby,

I hope you’re doing well. My name is Bella Monroe, and I’m the Book Club Director at Fable, a platform built around vibrant, engaged reading communities.

With seasonal moments and themed reading selections driving reader interest, we’re always looking for bold, imaginative fantasy titles to feature and discuss. Mordew stands out with its dark, richly constructed world, striking premise of a fallen god, and a compelling underdog protagonist navigating power, corruption, and hidden potential elements that naturally captivate book club readers.

Many authors find that the real challenge isn’t publishing, but sustaining reader engagement and visibility. Book clubs create space for deeper discussion of worldbuilding, moral complexity, and layered storytelling, helping stories resonate long after the final page.

I’d love to take a closer look at Mordew and suggest Fable book clubs where it could be a strong fit. If you’re open to it, feel free to share more details.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

If there’s one thing I’m confident about, it’s my ability to handle [specific theme].

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I'm getting about a billion of this phishing attempts a day, but not usually as crap as this one:

Phishing email:
Hi Alex Pheby ,

While reviewing contemporary fiction for our upcoming cycle, your book stood out to me, especially the way you handle [specific theme]. It feels like a work that naturally invites meaningful discussion. At Quixotic Book Club, we design focused 7 day reading experiences built around structured dialogue and active engagement. Typically, over 70% of participating members complete the book and contribute thoughtful reflections and reviews. We are currently selecting one or two works for our next feature, and your book feels like a strong fit.
If this sounds of interest, I would be happy to share more details at your convenience

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I’d have put a question mark instead of an ellipsis.

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Reactor Magazine @reactorsff.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Some weird city recommendations for your weekend. The weirder, the better.

Six books on a green background with the words “Weird Cities” in pale font. The books included are Mordew by Alex Pheby; The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead; The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes; The Practice, The Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar; Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake; and Imajica by Clive Barker

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Square Enix Manga & Books @square-enix-books.com · 14/03/2026

The very first copy of LOGOS: The World of FINAL FANTASY XVI was delivered to none other than @square-enix-games.com #FFXVI Localization Director & Lead Writer for LOGOS, Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, and he can't wait to share it with all of the fans on release day -- March 31st! 🥳 #FFXVI

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Square Enix Manga & Books @square-enix-books.com · 15/03/2026

HOT OFF THE PRESS! 🔥 Uncover the secrets of Valisthea and its inhabitants in this expansive compilation of Final Fantasy XVI lore! LOGOS: The World of FINAL FANTASY XVI goes on sale March 31st! ⚔️ #FFXVI

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@Galleybeggars @galleybeggars.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Also in our newsletter, a new novel by Alex Pheby. I said, A NEW NOVEL BY ALEX PHEBY. The Picnic. It is extraordinary. More information soon. Get ready.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

I'm taking credit for this book because he's one of my ex students (joking, obviously, but...)

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

We pay speaker fees at Newcastle. We paid speaker fees at Greenwich. And Sunderland. And UEA (those are the ones I've worked at). It's both gatekeeping and untrue. We pay people to come and speak because people should be paid for their work. Anything else is exploitation.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

youtube.com/watch?v=Wud9... Cities of the West inspired hyperpop banger from STIM. My new theme tune.

youtube.com

STIM - unalive (Official GMV - Dark Souls)

YouTube video by STIM

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Dan Hartland @danhartland.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Core to that piece was "how literature interacted with itself"; in another of the nominated essays, I found Roberts' new history of fantasy essential in identifying the "wide range of resonances between Pheby’s work and the canonical texts of the genre." Pheby emerged as a key to contemporary SFF.

ancillaryreviewofbooks.org

Snap! Criticism: Roberts and Pheby

Dan Hartland Defining a genre is most often a fool’s errand. Take science fiction: from the almost open-ended capaciousness of Theodore Sturgeon (“a story with a human problem and a human solution”…

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Juliet E McKenna @julietemckenna.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

I am delighted to see The Green Man's Holiday on the BSFA Awards longlist. Inclusion in this preliminary stage of the awards process is a great compliment. Writing the Magic is also listed in the Non-Fiction category, rewarding all the contributors' and editors' work.

Text reads: Juliet E McKenna Publications in 2025
The Green Man’s Holiday Novel – Wizard’s Tower Press
What can Tolkien’s creative process teach a writer today?
Contribution to Writing the Magic – Essays on Crafting Fantasy Fiction Dead Ink Books

To the left, the cover of Writing the Magic lists the editors and contributors and has the letters for the word 'magic' in black outlined with gold, and floating on a background which shades from green to purple. The contributors are Francesco Dimitri, Hannah Kaner, RJ Barker, Kritika H. Rao, Juliet E. McKenna, Jen Williams, Jeff Noon, Alex Pheby, J.L. Worrad, Richard Strachan, Charlotte Bond Katherine Langrish and Lucy Holland. The editors are Dan Coxon and Richard V Hirst.
To the right, The Green Man's Holiday cover art by Ben Baldwin shows a creature crouching in a low tunnel entrance lined with grey stones and partly hidden by green undergrowth and white flowers. The creature has pale skin covered in sparse black hair and it looks a bit like an ape, a bit like a bear, and completely unlike either of those.

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Completely great. If I'm being picky, I would have liked the War of the Lions extras too, but they might DLC that. Otherwise a brilliant game with loads of quality of life improvements and some really nice voice acting.

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Mark Bowles @markabowles.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Come fellow writers, come willing to write what you’d rather burn:

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Collector alert! Limited edition Cities of the Weft prints from the genius cover artist James Nunn. Get them before they sell out. jamesnunnart.com/collections/...

jamesnunnart.com

Prints

James Nunn is a contemporary artist and printmaker, working primarily with ink, charcoal and pastel. Beautiful art for real homes.

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Dan Coxon @dancoxon.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Oh yes, we're doing this on Saturday 25th October at MCM Comic Con in London. Join me, RJ Barker, Alex Pheby and Juliet E. McKenna, as we discuss how to build fantasy worlds and our new book of essays, WRITING THE MAGIC (out September 18th).

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Dead Ink Books @deadinkbooks.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Don't forget to grab a ticket for a night discussing Fantasy fiction with Dan Coxon, Alex Pheby and R.J. Barker at Dead Ink Bookshop! We're celebrating the launch of WRITING THE MAGIC ✨ Date: 18.09.25 Time: 6 - 8 PM Tickets: £5 entry // £13 entry & book deadinkbookshop.com/products/sep...

deadinkbookshop.com

SEPT 18 - Book Launch: WRITING THE MAGIC

Date: 18 SeptemberTime: 6 PM - 8 PMDead Ink Books, 375 Smithdown Road, L15 3JJTickets from £5 WRITING THE MAGIC is the fourth in Dead Ink's award winning series of genre writing guides. Following on f...

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Alex Pheby @alexpheby.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Signing with Wes at Elliott Bay bookstore in Seattle. V. cool guy.

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Misha (she/her) @ahsimlibrarian.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

No Tropes For Me—Let’s Write Weird panel @seattlein2025.org #worldcon2025

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@Galleybeggars @galleybeggars.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Our short story prize is open for submissions again! Please share this widely - and please send us your stories: www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize Closing date 8 November!

galleybeggar.co.uk

Prize — Galley Beggar Press

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