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Gareth Lewis

@gdlewis23.bsky.social
244 followers 285 following 270 posts

Writer of wrongs, villain of my own story, and generally awful human being (due to lack of practice). A jumble of anxiety, too many thoughts, toxic neediness, and contagious awkwardness. My writing is 100% natural stupidity. Probably not a real person.

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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 10h
Lawless is now available wide. A city suspends its police force. As a teenager uses social media against corporate policing, a gang boss faces ethical questions policing his neighbourhood, and an unemployed detective hunts a killer, the city learns if law can exist without anyone enforcing it.
Book cover for Lawless, by Gareth Lewis, shows scales of justice weighed down by a closed sign.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Bad Neighbourhood is free on Kindle, Sep. 25th-27th A dark satire, set in a fictionalised Russian neighbourhood where they dump deposed dictators to whom they’ve given sanctuary. Slough House x The Death of Stalin. US – www.amazon.com/Bad-Neighbou... UK – www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Neighbou...
Book cover banner using a photo of Red Square, Moscow, heavily shadowed and very red. Title is Bad Neighbourhood, written by Gareth Lewis.
Blurb: Available for free on Amazon. Sept. 25th-27th.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Has the search for similar but different meant an increasingly risk-averse publishing industry has conditioned readers’ literary palettes to expect a homogenised experience? How has it shaped my reading tastes? And has it made us more amenable to GenAI slop manufactured to be average?
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The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship @thesfincs.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Have you submitted to SFINCS4 yet? Do you have a speculative fiction novella at 15,000 to 40,000 words? Submit it now! #writers #authors #publishers docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
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Gwrach Gymraeg @cherylmorgan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A party that promotes the forcible outing of trans people tried to use the right to privacy to cover up their leader’s arrest on assault charges nation.cymru/news/reform-...
nation.cymru
Reform UK tried to 'cover up' assault incident that led to its Welsh leader's resignation
Martin Shipton Reform UK tried to suppress coverage of its leader’s arrest on suspicion of assault and coercive control by warning news outlets they would break European privacy law by reporting it, w...
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The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship @thesfincs.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
As we prepare to open the entry form on September 19, 2026, we've established the timeline for judging rounds! We've also outlined when reviews are required and how many. 👀👀 #booksky💙📚👀 www.sfincscompetition.com/competition-...
sfincscompetition.com
Competition Timeline | The Speculative Fiction
Competition timeline details for The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)
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Joanne Hall @hierath77.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
If you live in Wales and support trans people please consider signing this? And please share widely!
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Finished the first (proper) draft of book 40.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A couple of weeks with some showers and most of the dying lawn is green again (or being overtaken by weeds which recover faster).
Two pictures of the same garden a fortnight apart.
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Hooray - the 99p September Kindle sale on Wooing the Witch Queen has now been price-matched by all the other ebook stores in the UK! Snap it up now from any of them: Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Wooing-Witch... Kobo: www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/... Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/wooi... #romancelandia
In the centre of this image is the beautiful British cover of Wooing the Witch Queen, by Stephanie Burgis. The illustration shows a man in a cloak riding headlong through the night towards an ominous castle with an illuminated, crowned female figure in its doorway and bats flying overhead in the moonlight. A potion vial surrounds that central image and is further framed by leaves and branches. Crows sit on the branches, and a tagline reads: Love can be a witch. A blurb from Sangu Mandanna reads: ‘Warm and lovely’
Around the image, against a starry night background, are various pieces of text connected to it by arrows. They read: “bi villainous heroine,” “sweet cinnamon-roll hero with a fake identity,” “crow friends,” “found family,” and “flirting with fountains pens.” At the bottom of the image are the words: Only 99p this September!
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Bad Neighbourhood is now available. It’s a dark satire, set in a fictionalised version of the Russian neighbourhood where they dump deposed dictators to whom they’ve given sanctuary. Slough House x The Death of Stalin. books2read.com/u/mBDePN
Cover of Bad Neighbourhood, by Gareth Lewis. The picture is a photo of Red Square, Moscow, heavily shadowed and very red.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Bad Neighbourhood is consigned to the obscurity of publication this Wednesday (26th). Available for pre-order - books2read.com/u/mBDePN
Cover of Bad Neighbourhood, by Gareth Lewis. The picture is a photo of Red Square, Moscow, heavily shadowed and very red.
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Joanne Hall @hierath77.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Buy us a Coffee to help keep our big hairy babies à bit dryer this winter? ko-fi.com/hierath/goal... No contribution too small, but if you can't contribute sharing is also wonderful and amazing xxx
ko-fi.com
Buy Joanne Hall a Coffee
Become a supporter of Joanne Hall today!
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Joanne Hall @hierath77.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
You all should go buy this, it's jolly good....
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Finished the zero draft of my 40th book.
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
As Steph says, we spent all morning at the emergency vet (again). By the time we're done with this, it's going to have cost over £1,000, assuming there are no complications. So now would be a really good time to buy our books if you've been considering it. patricksamphire.com/books
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Bad Neighbourhood now available to pre-order, out on August 26th. It’s a dark satire, set in a fictionalised version of the Russian neighbourhood where they dump deposed dictators to whom they’ve given sanctuary. Slough House x The Death of Stalin. books2read.com/u/mBDePN
Book cover banner using a photo of Red Square, Moscow, heavily shadowed and very red. Title is Bad Neighbourhood, written by Gareth Lewis.
Blurb: Out 26th August. Now available for pre-order.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
A city suspends its police force. As a teen uses social media against corporate policing, a gang boss faces ethical questions policing his neighbourhood, and an unemployed detective hunts a killer, the city learns if law exists without anyone enforcing it. Free this weekend. books2read.com/u/mZz2ne
Book cover of Lawless by Gareth Lewis, features scales of justice weighed down by a closed sign. The ebook is free until August 2nd.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Film you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, Marvel, Disney, or Ghibli
static.klipy.com
Charade Can'T Meet Anyone New
Alt: Audrey Hepburn in Charade: I already know an awful lot of people and until one of them dies I couldn't possibly meet anyone else.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
‘This isn’t the only reason people don’t like you, but it’s making my top five.’ #AmWriting
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
‘Whether predetermined or not, your choices are your choices. You own their repercussions.’ #AmWriting
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A chatbot told him so, and they never lie.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Bad Neighbourhood A dark satire set in a fictionalised version of the Russian neighbourhood that houses deposed dictators to whom they’ve given sanctuary. Out soon. Probably. Unless I just give up.
Book cover using a photo of Red Square, Moscow, heavily shadowed and very red. Title is Bad Neighbourhood, written by Gareth Lewis.
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
This is how countries fail. We shut down all learning and study that is for anything other than militarism, we defund arts and culture. All we're left with is the military and the police. What's the point of a country like that?
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
If I seem to lack enthusiasm for releasing a new novel, it was written 5 years ago, since which I’ve written another 7 novels, 4 novellas, and several short stories. Most of the enthusiasm gets used up driving me through the first draft of a story.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Lawless is now available for purchase on Amazon (only there for now, as I entered it in the Storyteller contest) in Ebook and paperback. Another book consigned to the obscurity of publication. books2read.com/u/mZz2ne
Book cover for Lawless, by Gareth Lewis, shows scales of justice weighed down by a closed sign.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
That's my outside work done for the next 12 hours or so. Hopefully stepping foot outside will be unnecessary.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A city suspends its police force. As a teenager uses social media against corporate policing, a gang boss faces ethical questions policing his neighbourhood, and an unemployed detective hunts a killer, the city learns if law can exist without anyone enforcing it. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H2YF7ZMZ
Book cover for Lawless, by Gareth Lewis, shows scales of justice weighed down by a closed sign.
Available for pre-order. Released July 6th.
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Joel Cornah @joelcornah.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
It’s 10 Years since Nigel Farage (in my opinion) incited the murder of Jo Cox.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Another short story, this time about a disillusioned Valkyrie. garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/s...
garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com
Short Story: Of Sober Demeanour
A newly dead berserker screaming in your face was no use as a hangover cure. She screamed back at him, though it pained her. A spike of agony through her already throbbing skull, to be precise. It …
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Shared another short story, about a patient trying to work out which of his personalities killed their doctor. garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/s...
garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com
Short Story: Therapy Shock
Don’t turn around. Don’t scream when you do. Someone killed Dr. Simpson, and from the blood on our hands, it was one of us. Who did this? This is Adam, by the way. He can’t be dead. What happened? …
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Had my first proper AI-generated scam email, finally. It feels like a milestone.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Realised a story idea I had for the next in a novella series could be detached from the series and done as a novel. The idea could be what finally gets someone interested in my writing. [Edit by future self: Spoiler, it doesn’t. It fades into obscurity like everything else.]
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Another of my short stories that doesn’t belong anywhere, this one a retelling of Swan Lake: Odile’s Tale. garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/s...
garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com
Short Story: Odile’s Tale
Once upon a time there lived a serving girl far too humble for a story of her own. But she could be a bit player in the tales of more influential folk. The types who shape the world to their will, …
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I’m thinking of dumping some short stories on my blog (might as well not be read there as on my computer). Here’s one that was rejected by its target and I can’t see anywhere else to try it: garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/s...
garethlewiswriter.wordpress.com
Short story: Doorstep Generals
The front door creaked and juddered, roused from slumber by the novelty of a visitor. Hardly alone in its suspicion, its owner was gripped by the rare frisson a visitor offered, clashing with the i…
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
First draft of book 39 (I think) finished.
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Joanne Hall @hierath77.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
What a great initiative. Will be supporting this. Please share!
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
If anthologies announce their submission details ahead of opening submissions, so writers can prepare stuff, I wish they wouldn't change details like word count range when they actually open submissions.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I know I started one of these, but can't remember if I gave up. Otherwise I've read 0 of them. And I'm fine with that. www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
theguardian.com
The 100 best novels of all time
The top 100 novels of all time published in English, as voted for by authors, critics and academics worldwide. How many have you read?
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Accidentally broke an antique. Does anyone know the proper name for this tool, and are they still made?
A metal hooked blade on a long wooden handle, the metal having snapped. It's oooooold (even older than me).
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Making notes for a couple of short stories, both of which are basically just conversations between two people, and I realise a few of my recent shorts have been primarily conversations. Now I wonder if this is a problem, and another reason for them to be rejected (as though they don’t have enough).
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Top 10 sci-fi films (that I recall off the top of my head): Blade Runner Fury Road Gravity (does this count as sci-fi?) Guardians of the Galaxy Looper Matrix Rogue One Silent Running Tenet Wall-E
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
His Girl Friday (1940)
media.tenor.com
a man in a suit and hat is pointing at the camera and says get out .
Alt: Cary Grant gestures and says 'get out'.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Finished rewatching The Blacklist, and I’m still undecided on whether I’d have preferred it to end with season 8. The story till then had primarily been Liz’s. Season 8 gives her an ending, and reveals the central mystery.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
After being with the AA for a couple of decades, their renewal fee has gone up by 50%. So they can fuck along.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
After some faffing about, my books are now delisted from Draft2Digital. Next up, publishing them individually on other sites. Not all, I’m not a masochist (in that way). And probably finding out the other sites have limits or something that interferes with this (let’s call it a) plan.
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Probably not all uncared about, but: Continuum (I did kind of use a character from it in a novella) Due South Sapphire & Steel (just realised an unpublished novella series isn't dissimilar) Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Why was it so easy to forget the calm, the peace attainable while inventing? So far from the frustration of having invented, with no real way to influence the myriad random factors that determined whether your invention was noticed. #Writing
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Gareth Lewis @gdlewis23.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
I’ve recently had a creeping realisation: Am I the world’s least successful author? (I make no claim of being the world’s worst writer. Other actively compete for that title, and I wouldn’t want to diminish their efforts.) But least successful author seems possible.
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Joanne Hall @hierath77.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Just FYI, there is a tiny indie bookshop in Afflecks Palace in MCR that ONLY sells fantasy (and a tiny bit of horror). Not even SF. Bugbear Books - check them out if you're in the area. I was very well behaved because I was already broke but I got a copy of The Fox Wife which looks great. Pls share?
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