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Gareth Southwell

@garethsouthwell.bsky.social
1K followers 408 following 1.3K posts

Self-employed writer, illustrator, philosopher. All views are those of my employer. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Runs woodpigpress.com, woodpigpress.bsky.social Sci-fi, philosophy and illustration: garethsouthwell.com Diary of a Micro-Press: woodpigpress.substack.com

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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
So much to unpack here. First of all, this is a very restricted definition of "conscious". When we describe humans as conscious, we're not just ascribing to them a set of capacities (e.g. able to distinguish between self and environment), but asserting the presence of qualitative mental states.
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Episode 74 of my sci-fi/fantasy serial is now up, in which we are schooled in declarative sentences. Tidelands is still free to read from the beginning, or available as an ebook (volume 1 paperback coming soon). garethsouthwell.substack.com #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Episode 73 of my sci-fi/fantasy serial is now up, in which we meet the local wizard. Tidelands is still free to read from the beginning, or available as an ebook (volume 1 paperback coming soon). garethsouthwell.substack.com #books #fiction #scifi #fantasy #booksky
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Rob DenBleyker @robdenbleyker.com · 18/08/2026
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Is it just me, or is autocorrect getting more aggressive? #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
An piece from the old days of Trump and May's "Special Relationship". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Good morning to my fellow toilers in the mines of sounds, words and images. What are you working on today? Currently I am: serialising my SFF novel on Substack, negotiating a possible non-fiction book contract, editing a sci-fi novel for the press, dealing with clients, looking for work. #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A depressing new development is clients using AI in communication. So, you're not even talking to a human being. Don't they trust themselves to be able to say what they mean? #books #booksky #illustration #bookdesign
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Illustration and cover design for Doug Hardenstein's children's adventure story, "Tolly to the Titanic". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I am currently corresponding with Nobel Prize winning author Annie Ernaux! That such an esteemed name should be interested in helping a lowly author such as myself with my book-marketing troubles! The Internet is truly a wonderful thing. #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I'm getting requests for design work from authors using AI for picture books, who have no idea how to amend the AI-gen files to fit printing templates. There's no bleed, and the text is often too small and cramped. It's a nightmare. My role is, "AI has made this shit, now you fix it!" #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Illustration and cover design for Hugh Stewart's cocktail poetry book, "Cocktails & Kicktails". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Illustration for my book, "What Would Marx Do?" Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for A.J. Caliendo's memoir novel, "Fun With Nuns". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for Paul O'Donaghue's comic novel, "Dark Cloud Over Muckish". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
News update: Bobby Knocking, Author Notes, Tidelands II, and Other Splendid Stuff. garethsouthwell.substack.com/bobby-knocking #books #booksky #writing #substack #scifi
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
My sci-fi serial Tidelands is now free to read on Substack: garethsouthwell.substack.com Parts 1 to 4 are complete, and part 5 has just begun. #books #booksky #serials #scifi #substack
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for Sean Delauder's comic spy novel, "Sexsassins". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for Michael G. Browne's comedy crime novel, "Cannabis Coast". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for Brett McDonald's pop psychology book, "Thermodynamic Psychology". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Illustration and Whiskey Leavin's comic novel, "The Devil's Own Piss". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Hi everyone. I'm a writer and illustrator from Wales, UK. Specialising in book covers and illustrations, usually with a bit of caricature and humour. Check out more of my work here: garethsouthwell.com/book-design-... Oh! And fuck AI. #PortfolioDay
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
"Everyday Stoicism" by Gareth Southwell. A practical guide to Stoic philosophy for modern day-to-day life. #philosophy #books #stoicism
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Illustration and cover design for Bonnie Stock's cozy crime novel, "Vengeance in Vermont". Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #booksky #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Cover design and illustration for "Emory Crider and the One Dollar Bounty" by Clif Haley. Available for commissions through garethsouthwell.com #books #authors #covers #coverdesign #illustration
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Animals feel pain – that much is obvious. Isn't it? Descartes's Dog, by Gareth Southwell, investigates the roots of our modern view of the mind, Descartes’s view of animals, AI, and the persisting puzzle of consciousness. Available from WoodPigpress.com and a range of online retailers. #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Writers: I am a professional editor and writer, specialising in speculative fiction and non-fiction, with a background in philosophy. I am now offering developmental and line editing. Find out more here: garethsouthwell.com/developmenta... #booksky
garethsouthwell.com
Developmental Editing
I’m editor-in-chief of WoodPig Press, where I assess and feedback on hundreds of submissions across multiple genres every year. I also work as a freelance developmental editor…
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This always feels timely. Illustration: Gareth Southwell Woodpigpress.com/publishing-services #booksky
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Diary of a Micro-Press, Week 17 – in which we slowly assemble our author contract, clause by mind-numbing clause woodpigpress.com/the-author-contract #books #writing #authors #contracts #booksky
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Diary of a Micro-Press, Week 15 – in which we consider what's really important about this book writing thing. woodpigpress.com/artisan-publishing #books #authors #publishing #writing #booksky Photo by Zeno Hind on Unsplash.
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Artist Spotlight on brilliant UK fantasy artist Jimmy Makepeace (@jimmymakepeace.bsky.social), one of WoodPig Press’s wonderful freelancers. open.substack.com/pub/woodpigp... #books #authors #publishing #art
open.substack.com
Artist Spotlight: Jimmy Makepeace
Week 21 – In which we interview the wonderful Bristolian illustrator of all things fantastical
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
If you're an indie author, you may be tempted to format (typeset) your own book. But is it worth paying for a professional? Find out here: woodpigpress.com/formatting WoodPig Press offers a range of publishing services. Go to woodpigpress.com/publishing-services #authors #writing #booksky
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Good God. Is this real?
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
New Substack post with all my publishing and illustration news: garethsouthwell.substack.com/p/a-long-ove... #booksky
garethsouthwell.substack.com
A Long Overdue Update
WoodPig Press, Tidelands, Substack, Philosophy, Illustration, and Other Stuff I've Not Been Telling You
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
It's called the principle of Osman's Razor: faced with two books of equal quality, the publisher will prefer the one written by a celebrity. #booksky #writing #books www.theguardian.com/books/2024/j...
theguardian.com
Keanu and co: how celebrities became bestselling novelists
From Richard Osman and Millie Bobby Brown to the upcoming book by Keanu Reeves, celebrity novels are everywhere. What’s behind the boom? And how do non-famous writers feel about it?
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WoodPig Press @woodpigpress.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Authors, mark your calendars! #booksky #writing
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Adam Farrer @adamjfarrer.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
I have seen the greatest minds of my generation radicalised into flat earth trutherism by the comment section of a Smashing Pumpkins Facebook fan page.
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
People come by the house and they're like, "Ooh, I like your Halloween cobwebs!" And I'm like, "Hallo-what, now?"
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Veronica Roth @veronicarothbooks.com · 12/10/2025
When people ask me what I think about using AI in writing I’m going to send them this screenshot
A screenshot of a post that reads David Simon, creator of *The Wire*, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro, NPR

And then a screenshot of a conversation that goes like this:

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.
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New York Times Opinion @nytopinion.nytimes.com · 30/09/2025
Mark Zuckerberg has a vision for how A.I. could be used in Meta's universe. But the actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt is here to point out a flaw in the technology: an apparent lack of guardrails around how the company's chatbot interacts with underage users. nyti.ms/3ILwCNo
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Michael Emonds @michaelje67.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Well said, Gary Neville! 👏
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Wonderful comment on this on Instagram which sums up how I feel.
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Oh, dear. Is it just me that has a bad feeling about this? I've been using Affinity programmes for years, and they're great. But anything that mentions "the future" gives off an aura of bullshit and AI flangery. #AI #art #books
"Creative freedom is coming". Affinity announcement.
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
It's ironic how when a big, faceless corporation treats you like you're not a person, you can't help but take it personally. #philosophy #books #AI
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Sad to hear philosopher John Searle has died. Big influence on my PhD, a wonderfully clear thinker and his views on consciousness are more important now than ever. That said, I found his atheism shallow and the sexual harassment thing tarnishes his reputation. Anyway, bon voyage! #philosophy #books
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
I ran a poll on Mastodon and Bluesky asking who'd read a book where the author used AI to some extent. Combining the results: of the 56 respondents, 82% said never, 16% said only if AI was used for editing, and 1% said they didn't care as long as it was a good book. #books #writing #AI #reading
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
I've just written an article on Stoicism for Welldoing, a UK-based site where you can find the right therapist for you: welldoing.org/article/stoi... #philosophy #stoicism #writing #books #booksky
welldoing.org
Stoicism: Why Be Lucky When You Can Be Happy?
Author Gareth Southwell explores Stoic attitudes to happiness, luck, control and uncertainty
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
My review of Steven Shwartz's "Evil Robots, Killer Computers, and Other Myths". A great, well-informed little book from a Silicon Valley sceptic. garethsouthwell.substack.com/p/evil-robot... #AI #philosophy #books #reviews #booksky
garethsouthwell.substack.com
BOOK REVIEW: “Evil Robots, Killer Computers, and Other Myths” by Steven Shwartz
Why Technogeddon is Overhyped.
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Book cover design and illustration for Clif Haley's comedy Western, "Emory Crider and the One Dollar Bounty". garethsouthwell.com/book-design-... #books #illustration #art #covers #booksky
Book cover design and illustration for Clif Haley's "Emory Crider and the One Dollar Bounty"
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Gareth Southwell @garethsouthwell.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Dear book marketer, thanks so much for your email, and for your eloquent praise of my book. You were "profoundly moved", you say? I am flattered - and doubly so that you've taken the trouble to hunt me down all the way from ... [checks website visitor stats] ... oh. #books #writing #AI #booksky
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