iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 15/10/2026

Thank you @adamchristopher.me for doing the legwork — I combed through my previous emails from the SoA and found nothing regarding this charter. I noted in my letter of membership termination to the SoA that there has been no consultation with members as as I could see. Wool over our eyes 👇

My email terminating my membership with the Society of Authors. Text reads:

Dear SoA Membership team,

I note that my membership for the SoA is up for renewal next month.

Following the news of the SoA's signing of the Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries without consultation (as far as I have been able to ascertain), I must withdraw my renewal of membership in protest in what I view as an egregious betrayal of the stated goals of the Society of Authors.

I would consider rejoining should the society have an honest and open discussion with its members regarding the implications of what the charter actually sets out to do, and reverse its current trajectory. Having read it through twice, the charter's wording does not advance – nor protect – the interests of SoA members; nor anyone in the industry.

As far as I'm concerned, fair pay and compensation for authors' creative work – especially when our collective creative intellectual property has been used to train LLMs without our permission – should be the association's priority.

Reading the fine print, I simply cannot be believe your aims with signing this ill-advised charter are aligned with your members at large. Please let me know how I can terminate my membership with the Society of Authors at your earliest convenience.

Regards,

Jordan

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 14/10/2026

Perhaps it might have been related to this conference by the SoA in Sheffield last month because there’s literally nothing else in my inbox about any form of consultation.

View this email in your browser

*New speakers*
SoA Conference 2026
AI and the creative workforce
Saturday 19 September 2026
10.00-17.30
Creative Lounge, WorkStation
Sheffield, S1 2BX

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 14/10/2026

After a year working on new projects, I now have an update via my newsletter, Edition #10 of The Dispatch, from my bare-bones blogging platform w/ reviews for @sunyidean.com and @davegoodman.bsky.social You can read the latest and/or subscribe by following the link👇 world.hey.com/jordanacosta...

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 13/10/2026

If you’re one of the few hundred people who subscribed to me on Substack, I’m no longer on Substack, and you should have an email in your inbox asking you to confirm a subscription to my new newsletter provider, Hey! Which is just as well, as tomorrow morning I’ll be posting a newsletter update! 📧

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 08/10/2026

I am also Glasgow bound for this year’s FantasyCon hosted by the @britfantasysoc.bsky.social to see my friends at the @edinburghsff.com — here’s a rundown of my schedule👇

Find Jordan Acosta at FantasyCon 2026 where he will attend no panels and will be wherever the bar is basically the whole time.

Also wearing a hat.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 27/09/2026

Fun Fact: I once did an album cover for the MSP. Still one of my career highlights!

James Dean Bradfield performing on stage. A sumarai’s head appears on the screen behind him.

Manic Street Preachers: Resistance is Futile
Vinyl record cover depicts a restored and colorized image of a samurai by me, original photograph taken c.1881

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 21/09/2026

Blasted through @adamsimcox.bsky.social TIME JUMP — a fun twist to the time travel genre. A time machine in more ways than one, as his descriptions of London in 1997 closely matched my own memories of the era. I could definitely see this as a limited series in streaming — make it happen!

The cover to Adam Simcox’s TIME JUMP — featuring a swimming pool with the title treatment superimposed on top

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 16/09/2026

Everyone thinks the apocalypse is Terminator 2: Judgement Day. It isn’t. It’s what’s left of humanity in Wall-E, where all friction — physical and mental — is completely removed, and we can’t do a single thing without depending on our AI Overlords. And it starts with the death of culture.

A T-600 robotic skeleton stalks the ruins of LA.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 15/09/2026

Sounds great, will check this out. Had a great time re-visiting Riveaulx the other day — couldn’t believe how quickly it went from sunny to sheeting it down, mind.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 09/09/2026

Picked up a few more for the collection. Cannot wait to add a signed first edition of The Taper Man to this shelf.

Photograph shows three signed books by John le Carré on a bedside table.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 03/09/2026

Yes I remember this one about five years ago going for nearly £10m. I saved it on Rightmove because it was such an absurd layout for what could’ve been an amazing space! Update: found it.

€9,950,000
Not Specified
St Pancras Chambers, Euston

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 01/09/2026

For the first time in a very long time, the story is pouring out of me quicker than I can write it! Hitting the last stretch of episodes for my upcoming audio drama series and after months of thinking around it, the structure of this story has finally unlocked itself. #audiodrama #thekinginyellow

LAITHWAITE:
And what did it contain?

COBB:
(TERRIFIED) I believe it contained a stage play in two acts.

LAITHWAITE:
What was the title of this stage play, Mr. Cobb?

COBB:
(REVERENT WHISPER) The headline read, The King in Yellow.

MUSIC MOTIF: LOST CARCOSA

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 31/08/2026

I’ve written more than 2000 words today on my phone for this audio drama set in 1955. It’s the most I’ve written in a day in six years. On my phone. Bonus: found out the price of meals back then, too.

A menu from Cliff Cafe in the 1950s.

LUNCHTIME HOT SNACKS
12 Noon - 2.30 p.m.
Scampi and Chips
Steak Pie and Chips
Egg and Chips
Hamburger, Egg and Chips
Sausages (2) and chips

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 20/08/2026

Being able to visit public and private libraries for research is one of the great privileges of writing novels. Being able to accidentally come across texts you otherwise would’ve missed by outsourcing makes for a better story, too!

The interior of Gladstone’s library in North Wales. Large space with wooded rafters and books in an Edwardian setting.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 20/08/2026

Warhammer fans had a meltdown because I had deigned to do my own illustration of my own faction which featured a battle-tank sized cyborg from one historical era with a warrior from the present timeline. And put searchlights on it. The lore and universe is a big place, their imaginations aren’t.💀

A Warhammer 40,000 dreadnought and Space Marine wade through a war zone

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 12/08/2026

Current reads: Will Guidara’s excellent memoir and guide to fostering once in a lifetime experiences in the restaurant business; and Alchemy by Rory Sutherland, on why economic logic should be challenged as it isn’t reflective of human behaviour.

The covers for Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidars (title on a yellow background) and Alchemy by Rory Sutherland featuring a golden gnome on a pink background

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 08/08/2026

Old Soul by Susan Barker. Reminded me of a modern version of Ring by Koji Suzuki (of which the film franchise was based on).

The cover of Old Soul by Susan Barker. Cover features a slicer of a white face and a black pupil obscured by black hair.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 06/08/2026

Colonial Hong Kong, ghosts and various fruits vegetables were all on the table tonight at Waterstones Trafalgar Square with the always excellent Claire North, @sunyidean.com and @elizachanwrites.bsky.social

Eliza Chan, Sunyi Dean and Claire North in conversation at Waterstones Trafalgar Square

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 28/07/2026

Chuffed to bits with my framed original Japanese theatrical release poster of Conan the Barbarian, with artwork by Seito I had never seen before. A gorgeous piece of artwork. I decided to go for a mount which complemented the palette in the painting and a reflecting frame to match the sword.

A framed Japanese poster of 1982’s Conan the Barbarian starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Conan wields a sword with raiders in the background with a young Conan and his mother cowering below, with Japanese text.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 22/07/2026

“There is usually a band t-shirt in there too, half-glimpsed under the jacket. It is chosen so a certain kind of reader leans in and goes, no way. If you clock it, we are friends now. If you do not, it stays our secret, and that is fine as well.” I also stood near a motorcycle one time, too.

A black and white shot of me, a mixed race man with long black hair wearing a leather jacket with a half-glimpsed Motörhead band t shirt

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 21/07/2026

Ordered two copies, but my god the retailer’s website should fix the line breaks they copied from the PDF press release!

Screenshot from a bookseller’s website showing awkward line breaks

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 23/06/2026

Clerk scribbling on the left: “Refuses to pay overdue fine even at the very end. Fine to roll over to his residual estate to be paid for by surviving family, with added interest.”

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 16/06/2026

Hi Alex, I’ve been truly mystified by your email. To answer your question, I stay motivated in the music industry by remembering [my company] has *nothing* to do with the music industry. Regards, Jordan

“Hi null,

l've been truly inspired by your work at [their company]-the way you champion artists and navigate the industry is nothing short of remarkable. It's clear you have a unique vision that makes a real difference. How do you stay motivates amidst the challenges of the music world?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best, Alex”

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 04/06/2026

Betrayal, corporate burnout, and the quotidian. Award winning spy author @davegoodman.bsky.social in conversation with @bingewriting.bsky.social at a packed out Waterstones Edinburgh. SOLITARY AGENTS (Headline Books) is out now! 🕵️

Nicholas Binge in conversation with David Goodman. David reads from his new book, Solitary Agents

Nicholas Binge in conversation with David Goodman at Waterstones Edinburgh. Crowd in the foreground

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 03/06/2026

It’s difficult to understate how much John Blanche’s works have had a profound visual impact on me growing up. Very sad to read of his passing.

John Blanche’s cover to Battlefleet Gothic, featuring a spacecraft coming out of a firestorm.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 01/06/2026

A blistering and vital conversation between journalists @hettieobrien.bsky.social and Vicky Spratt on the impact of private equity on our economy. I suspect Hettie’s new book The Asset Class will be just as illuminating at @doctorow.pluralistic.net’s Enshittification in explaining the world today.

Hettie O’Brien and Vicky Spratt in conversation at the Conduit club. Green panel display reads ‘The Conduit: How Private Equity Sold Out the West’

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 01/06/2026

OP complains that his detractors didn’t read his ‘book-like object’ something something ‘new technology like the TV’. If he can’t be bothered to write it, then I can’t be bothered to read it.

Well that was fun. Lots of people hated my post about generating a book-like object with LLMs.
As far as I can tell, none of them looked at it, and many explicitly stated they wouldn't. This doesn't seem like a very helpful way of responding to new technology

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 13/04/2026

Sad to hear about the passing of Ian Watson, whose Warhammer 40,000 books were seminal into getting me into reading science fiction back in the 90s. Going to have to re read these ones again.

The cover of Ian Watson’s Space Marine, featuring a group of futuristic soldiers fighting

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 01/04/2026

And that’s a wrap on an upcoming adaptation of The Repairer of Reputations! Phenomenal performances from our insanely talented voice actors @emilyinkpen.bsky.social, @georgeweightman.bsky.social, Alasdair Buchan, Tim Goddard, Sophie Macnair, with @storiesalt.bsky.social 👑 Pax Carcosa Aeternum!

A group of five people standing in a recording studio.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 30/03/2026

Back in the studio in London to record my audio drama adaption of Robert W. Chambers’ story, The Repairer of Reputations from The King in Yellow. Absolutely phenomenal performances from the actors so far!

A photograph of a recording studio, drum kit and the foreground and sound booths in the background. People in the reflection.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 26/03/2026

One of the big thrills about writing audio drama is doing the table read with all the actors and producers (@storiesalt.bsky.social & @emilyinkpen.bsky.social) — a productive and fun evening prior to recording Monday. 👑 The King in Yellow is coming your way before year’s end. Pax Carcosa Aeternum!

Zoom screenshot features several people partaking in a conversation online.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 21/03/2026

After months of wrangling, my soon-to-be recorded audio drama adaption of The Repairer of Reputations from Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow is now complete! Given the quality of voice actor performances produced by @storiesalt.bsky.social for my prequel, The Coronet, I am very, very excited 👑

THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS
BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS, ADAPTED FOR AUDIO DRAMA BY JORDAN ACOSTA & MICHAEL DODD

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 10/03/2026

Very disappointed to learn a prominent historical fiction author regularly uses AI to shortcut their way through research. Doing your own research by visiting a library is a vital component to working out your narrative. In the end, I found way more than I expected and it was worth the effort.

Photograph depicts the upper level of Gladstone’s library in North Wales. Long bookshelves and timber frames in an Edwardian grade one listed building.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 30/01/2026

Doctorow is actually very specific about his definition.

Because enshittification isn't just a way to say
"Something got worse."* It's an analysis that explains the way an online service gets worse, how that worsening unfolds, and the contagion that's causing everything to get worse, all at once.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 19/01/2026

On the plus side, Steve, it’s literally unreadable.

An ad filled shithole masquerading as a website

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 01/01/2026

First read of 2026 – The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. I began the book ages ago but for reasons didn’t get round to finishing, so I decided to start from the beginning. A unique exploration of the English class system and the notion of duty. Charming and disturbing in equal measure.

Yellow cover shows The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro featuring a silhouette of a main from behind.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 31/12/2025

As an aside, if you wanted this and other photographs like this in high resolution and in colour, I worked with Unsplash and the Library of Congress to make them available for the first time in colour, for free. 👇 unsplash.com/collections/...

Protesters in Washington DC during the March on Washington. People hold up placards.

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 14/12/2025

Spotted in Bookazine Hong Kong 🇭🇰 — a trade paperback of @vaseemkhanuk.bsky.social’s Quantum of Menace #007

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𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖆𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆 @jordanacosta.co · 04/12/2025

I literally had no idea Jon did a video for this song! Fun fact: I did the album art for this one.

Album artwork for The Filamenrs: Look to the Skies (2018), featuring Death riding an Atom Bomb on a WW2 era bomber

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