iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Watch out, watch out, there are Skulls about. (See We Are The Dead for more details)

Reposted by Mike Shackle

Jason Copland @jasoncopland.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I offered a commission level pledge during the FULL TILT campaign but forgot to document them before I sent them out. I did an extra one in case one went missing in the mail. This one. One day I’ll frame it and get it on my wall.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Artist! Quote with your blood art!

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Tim Carter 🇨🇦 @tbcart.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Here's some news. To celebrate making the top ten in #SPFBO I moved Jester back to KU. If you subscribe, you can read it for free. Link in the comments.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Artists, quote with your blue art!

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Book cover artists QRP with your book covers. Here are some of my favourites

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I've got a new website up and running for all my fantasy writing/books. Check out www.mikeshackle.net and sign up for my mailing list to find out what's next.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This is an amazing special edition!

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The Low Town is one of my all-time favourite series. This is a must read for me

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

If anyone is wondering, I am working on a fantasy novel in between my detective books. The Song Of War is at 40k at the moment. It's a radically reworked novel about an Elizabethan witchfinder that I was originally serializing on my website. Hope to have it finished by the end of the summer

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I'm listening to The Blade Itself so had do an illustration of the Bloody Nine

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Amazing! There's a real sense of completion in having my books reviewed on Fantasy Faction! The first and the best review site. Thanks @fantasyfaction.bsky.social

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Reposted by Mike Shackle

Timy 🐼👑 @queensbookasylum.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

I review DEAD AND BURIED, the sixth book in @mikeshackle.bsky.social's thriller series, DI Simon Wise. "I'm absolutely delighted how the DI Simon Wise universe gets a little bit more complex with each book." #BookReview queensbookasylum.com/2026/05/28/d...

queensbookasylum.com

Dead And Buried By Michael Dylan - Queen's Book Asylum

Timy reviews DEAD AND BURIED, the sixth book in Michael Dylan's thriller series, DI Simon Wise.

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David Cotter @fliesonmyfruit.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Book 10 of 2026 completed. A really satisfying ending to a fantastic trilogy by @mikeshackle.bsky.social

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

The full set of character illustrations for Our Lady Of Blades by @decastell.bsky.social, his incredible new swashbuckling masterpiece. Go grab it today (1/2)

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Sebastien de Castell @decastell.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

They gave her a new name when they took everything else. She decided to keep it. Lady Consequence. 🗡️ Our Lady of Blades — out now. decastell.com/book/our-lad... @mikeshackle.bsky.social @bengalley.bsky.social

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Sebastien de Castell @decastell.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Who is Vicendi? In a world of silk and gold, one brave lawyer dared to speak out when others wouldn’t. Rijou wasn’t prepared for his boldness. Are you ready? Our Lady of Blades — out now! decastell.com/book/our-lad... @mikeshackle.bsky.social (portrait artist) @bengalley.bsky.social(animator)

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

One of my favourite characters to work on from @decastell.bsky.social brilliant new book, Our Lady Of Blades, was Spada. I wanted to capture that feeling of 'Oh shit' when she walks towards you. If you fancy some swashbuckling fantasy, pick up Our Lady of Blades today. It's Sebastien's best yet

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Sebastien de Castell @decastell.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Who is Spada?? She's everything they wanted to become. She's everything they should fear. Sometimes the most dangerous blade is the one you admire. Spada. 🗡️ Our Lady of Blades — decastell.com/book/our-lad... @mikeshackle.bsky.social (portrait artist) @bengalley.bsky.social (animator)

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I was really lucky to work on some character illustrations as well as the cover for @decastell.bsky.social amazing new book, Our Lady of Blades. I think it's his best yet, so go grab it today. There's a reason why he's the master of swashbuckling fantasy. Here's Castilis and Tazia

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Sebastien de Castell @decastell.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

⚔️ Meet Castilis. He didn't need a blade. He had something far more dangerous. A smile, a lesser house, and absolutely no conscience. decastell.com/book/our-lad... @mikeshackle.bsky.social (portrait artist) @bengalley.bsky.social (animator) #OurLadyOfBlades #SebastienDeCastell #FantasyBooks

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

My cover for FURY by @julianbarr.bsky.social coming soon to Kickstarter, part of his Ashes of Olympus series. It's the story of Achilles, told in a really beautiful lyrical way. Imagine yourself thousands of years ago, sitting around a campfire while a bard entertains you with Achillies' exploits.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Been tweaking my dragon racer illustrations. Really like how they've come out. Much moodier. (And if any indie fantasy authors need a cover, give me a shout)

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Another Dragon Racer. Trying to get both beast and rider to look different but similar to the first one. Like variations in Formula 1 cars and drivers. Having a lot of fun putting these together

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Had lunch the other day with my amazing writing friends and we ended up talking about racing dragons (as you do). So I ended up creating this over a few nights. I was thinking if you were racing, you'd want a dragon that was fast and agile, rather than a big beast. A TIE fighter as it were.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Playing around with this in some quiet moments. When Valhalla Calls. Still lots to do.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Orbital Drop by @stevemchugh.bsky.social is out now if you love a bit of tense sci-fi adventure. Run to your nearest Amazon store and grab it today

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I was lucky to illustrate the covers for the relaunch of @julianbarr.bsky.social's amazing Ashes of Olympus series. It's launching on Kickstarter soon

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Fancy a bit of Rangarok with your Midgard Serpent?

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

"There came an arm and a hand above the water." The return of Excalibur

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I've got a couple of spots free if any indie fantasy or sci-fi authors are looking for a cover artist! DM if you'd like to chat

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

A great review of THE NEW SPY by Tim Shipman, the Sunday Times political editor and the Spybrary podcast. He's a man who knows his espionage books. "I've just finished the book and it's terrific. Hugely propulsive, a gutsy lead, some terrific supporting characters and a genuine sense of peril."

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

And chocolate. Lots of chocolate

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Being productive with my insomnia. Fan art for The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee. Out in May

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The more I hear about The Last Contract of Isako by @fonda.lee, the more desperate I am to read it. "A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away." Yes please. (Fan art by me)

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

here's the art to ORBITAL DROP by @stevemchugh.bsky.social without the titles. I loved working on this cover

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Reposted by Mike Shackle

Brandon Sheffield @brandon.insertcredit.com · 16/03/2026

I was asked to give my thoughts on generative AI usage in games - here they are!

From the article:
"I think that until the bubble bursts, AI will be used by quite a few game companies, and perhaps even beyond the bubble," says Brandon Sheffield of Necrosoft Games, which released the RPG Demonschool last year. "Look, I am not a fool – I understand that AI has some uses. Primary among those being the devaluing of work, the cheapening of labour, the laying off of creatives, and the generation of busywork for humans to fix whatever AI generates."

"It's also useful for burning through water, raising the prices of RAM and chipsets globally, and poisoning anyone near the data centres that run them. So there are a lot of use cases for AI. From spurring on the death of the creative endeavour to dissolving our economy, AI is absolutely gangbusters at what it does. We don't use it in our studio though."

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Cover illustration by yours truly. And the book is utterly amazing ...

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Timy 🐼👑 @queensbookasylum.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

9. DROP DOWN DEAD by Michael Dylan - 4👑 The fifth book in the DI Simon Wise thriller series. Another one I'm a sucker for. In this one, Wise & team investigate the murder of a woman that turns into a case with a missing child. Time is running out. Review: queensbookasylum.com/2026/02/19/d...

the cover of Drop Down Dead by Michael Dylan. It has a night city view with a street lined with lamps and some buildings, with a bridge in the background.

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Hey wonderful fantasy indie authors. I've been doing cover illustrations for awhile now for some great writers and have a couple of spots free for January. Check out my work and give me a shout if you'd like to work together on something: www.theillustrationshack.com

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Lisadoeslife @lisadoeslife.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

5 star read for book three for me thank you so much @mikeshackle.bsky.social for writing such an amazing series! So many complex emotions and characters! If you haven't already read this gusy please go pick up the series!!!

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Tim Carter 🇨🇦 @tbcart.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

As part of the Indie Fantasy Addicts FB group's Christmas, Majordomo is free this week. The response yesterday on Facebook was awesome. Now I'm sharing it here. Get this award-winning novella for FREE!

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen… The Stone Roses New Order The Wonder Stuff Prince Paul McCartney (I used to love going to concerts. Probably why my hearing's shot to bits now)

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Mike Shackle @mikeshackle.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

This is really one of the greatest comic sagas of modern times. Everyone should be reading this.

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