iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

One of the great editorial exchanges which unfortunately rendered any stated investigation of the human condition pompous and grifty. Do you take us for a gang of brainless lizards? Rich hoodlums? Dilettante thugs?

110

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 10h

I understand this one and Buddo, obviously, but what does the eye-roll car-crash guy signify in the Kirkdale canon?

110

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A problem when you're new and write things like this (hopefully not just cope): the piece expects close attention, but lack of standing as a writer hasn't indicated that you *deserve* close attention, and so much of slush is baffling because its bad that intentional bafflement is perfect camouflage.

141

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

In honor of scary media month: what is the first piece of media you remember truly frightening a child with? (I just thought Highlander would be fine for my sword-fight loving 4-year old if i covered his eyes for the decapitations. "THE HURGAN" is now a constant dread.)

001

Reposted by Pete Ward

Rock and a Hard Place @rhppress.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

SOME PLACES ARE BETTER LEFT ALONE: Ghosthunters, real or imagined, find disturbing things sometimes. Check out this great story from @phenryward.bsky.social in this month's Stone's Throw: bit.ly/4yESqyM #flashfiction #noir #crime

043

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

All of which is to say, god bless the slush readers and editors who Get It.

130

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

141

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

001

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A lot about this book to enjoy. Rather than ending, it diffuses, like the cognitive capacity of many of the characters, with a sense of slow stumbling doom as a near-extinction event. Didn't make me feel any better about buying sunscreen in October in the UK.

021

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This was such a good prompt the story pretty much fell out of the sky and embedded itself in my skull. So pleased @rhppress.bsky.social chose it for their Stone's Throw series.

001

Reposted by Pete Ward

Longbarrow Press @longbarrowpress.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Our books are well-constructed, good and useful things, and if you buy one, it will enable us to make more. Recent titles include Matthew Clegg's 'Have You Always Been Here?', Fay Musselwhite's 'The Gleaning', and Steve Ely's 'Eely'. You can order them here: longbarrowpress.com/current-publ...

Ten Longbarrow hardbacks, spines facing out.

03416

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

021

Reposted by Pete Ward

Wilson @wilsonjettone.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Sadly, still no luck. Here's all memories - it is Irish or Irish-American - everyone thinks the narrator is normal and boring, maybe an accountant - he is a hit-man, employed unwittingly by his brother-in-law -proved his worth by underlining a phone book in a bar, on a single name, and killing them.

457

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This was such a good prompt the story pretty much fell out of the sky and embedded itself in my skull. So pleased @rhppress.bsky.social chose it for their Stone's Throw series.

001

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A fair assessment / recommendation of this unsettling @nightshadesmag.bsky.social story.

020

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I've read so little fantasy that the lightness and craft of Lud is probably all the more notable for not being contextualised within a field of heavy-handed Tolkeinites. Especially Mirlees' refusal to explain whole chunks of history / culture, which i understand is a infodumping blight elsewhere

110

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I particularly liked the afterword to C&C, and the documents of real-life divided communities Mieville had drawn from. I think of Anna Burns' Milkman as a sort-of spiritual sequel - and (as much as I adore C&C) in many ways the better, more artful expression of the idea.

000

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I loved this book. It made me think about The City & The City - that legal framework to render the other culture technically invisible, inexpressible. (And Lud-ites, as they're called, and Luddites: coincidence feels unlikely.) Meal Of Thorns podcast has a good discussion on it.

310

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This has DeLillo-esque elements, especially the opaque poetry of dialogue, teetering on the edge of nonsense (before the illness that corrodes language fully takes hold). Some good jokes too:

010

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If you're a Morrissey fan, I can confidently say you should give this one a miss.

110

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Cheers James. Just got some promo art from @edgeandbusby.com for Witnessed: An Anthology of Literary Horror. Out next year, it features stories "where the worst things happen between people". I know that's exactly what some of you sickos (complimentary) are looking for...

Gore drips from ornate keyhole on cover for WITNESSED, out next year

185

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Jesus Christ, you offer someone a coffee at a meeting and the WSJ calls you a socialist. Youre supposed to put one coffee out for every three attendees and make them fight to the death over it.

021

Reposted by Pete Ward

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"Whats behind the popularity of liminal time-loop horror?" Meanwhile the state invents a way of killing you to not-death *twice*

021

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Watching my idea for this sail past the word limit, and now have to come up with a new idea

010

Reposted by Pete Ward

Rat Bag @ratbaglit.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Open now! And totally was opened at the start of today... not at all late on getting that up. ... That's what she said. duotrope.com/duosuma/subm...

095

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

An exciting call for which I am at least a 100 miles too south, but have a crack if you're eligible! (If you're even half-thinking "But where does the North start *really*...?", that's exactly the type of slipperiness they're expecting from Southerners, and you should have more self respect.)

120

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"Whats behind the popularity of liminal time-loop horror?" Meanwhile the state invents a way of killing you to not-death *twice*

021

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Jesus Christ, you offer someone a coffee at a meeting and the WSJ calls you a socialist. Youre supposed to put one coffee out for every three attendees and make them fight to the death over it.

021

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Nice of them to coincide this with your book launch!

020

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I thought flatness of tone (maybe the not-very-goodness others experienced) reflected the situation, a little like Camus' Plague, which I admire but cannot get through. But absolutely agree, stayed with me - especially that bloody secretarial course, somehow worse than the morse code shenanigans

010

Reposted by Pete Ward

William Beck @thatwilliambeck.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Also, just as I see some newer faces; one second promotion is for the #HorrorWritersChat anthology, featuring 19 fantastically talented authors from this chat (and 1 by me) with 100% of the profits going to Macmillan charity, in honour of the creator of this group, Matt Mason. amzn.eu/d/0gbq9DIm

amzn.eu

The Shadows That We Carry: A Horror Anthology eBook : Beck, William: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

11311

Reposted by Pete Ward

Trish Wilson @trishcwilson.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Thanks James and everyone for yet another great #HorrorWritersChat! Did you like WIDOW'S BAY? Wanna party? The show was filmed where I live in MA & there will be a Sunset Cocktails gathering in May '27 for season 2. I'm on a team setting it up. If you want to go keep an eye on my page for updates.

0145

Reposted by Pete Ward

James Ryan @jamesryan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#HorrorWritersChat Encore: "We hope you have enjoyed the show..." That was fun. Tell us in the Comments on THIS post what you're promoting on the road right now, putting the answers into this post with the hashtag: #HorrorWritersChat

Two tone red image of theater in the background

Text:
"We hope you have enjoyed the show..."

That was a great set you did tonight.
Come on out for an encore and tell us what work this tour's being done for.

COMMENT on this post with your self-promotion and use the hashtasg
#HorrorWritersChat
To help increase visibility, like, repost, quote post, and comment on the promos. Let's make it into a monster if we all pull together as a team...

543817

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Pleased this story found its audience. Had feedback along lines of 'not really a fan of these people', which is fair enough - you don't have to hang around with deeply unpleasant people in fiction as well as in fact - but it's a critical area of investigation, in this, the golden age of monsters.

020

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

185

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A little out of my wheelhouse here so i'll instead hype someone else's work. Alison Rumfitt's Tell Me Im Pretty has the most astonishing use of Morrissey. An extraordinary novel that I can't stop thinking about. #HorrorWritersChat

0112

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This is a great idea. I love W/IFS and so pleased I got to see them a couple of times in London

110

Reposted by Pete Ward

J. Neira - cozy horror author & slush reader @jneiraauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Ooh, I might pitch The World/Inferno Friendship Society with a story like Fright Night or the Burbs. Something fun but creepy that explores the shadows of suburbia! #HorrorWritersChat Q3

1164

Reposted by Pete Ward

M.H.Urban - Horror Author @mhurban.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Thinking about what I'm writing, it would be Robert Johnson in a Southern Gothic setting steeped in poverty, racism, and broken dreams, with a demon waiting at a crossroads to make a deal. Oh, wait! 😅 #HorrorWritersChat

142

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I thought that about this question - all Ive ever heard about sampling lyrics is the bureaucracy and cost! Makes weaving it integrally into your work a real risk...

010

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

As always, the hashtag, trailing along after like the child about to be monster-snatched: #HorrorWritersChat

021

Reposted by Pete Ward

Nate Crowder @natecrowder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My punk rock x folk horror novel starred an old punk musician, but his playlist was indie folk-girls and that built my writing playlist because it helped solidify the mood of the book. But I constantly reference songs and artists, and even wrote a song for that novel. #HorrorWriteresChat

1114

Reposted by Pete Ward

The Last Something @thelastsomething.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I did a series called "We Took the Long Way Home" about a spooky road that never ends. I listened to what the characters would be listening to on their drive, the very best of the 80s. Several songs made it into the story. Most notably, Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" #HorrorWritersChat

2239

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Not at all, really! Some mood-setting personally, maybe, but my cultural references in writing are lit and visual art and I write in silence / white noise. But I see it done elsewhere with awe: thought Hari Kunzru's White Tears was terrifying and fascinating about music and American culture.

1112

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Gutwrenching dubstep does sound great

010

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hey all, I'm Pete and write all sorts of grim tales usually featuring terrible people. I'm a write-in-silence kind of guy, but have a higher than average tolerance for drone-y minimalism if im listening alone. #HorrorWritersChat

0226

Pete Ward @phenryward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This was excellent. A random punt on something (and someone) id never heard of before. Any Jocelyn Brooke -heads out there? Is his other stuff anything like as weird?

Cover of The Image Of A Drawn Sword, by Jocelyn Brooke. Melancholic image of an Abbey near the shore in black and white.

000

Reposted by Pete Ward

Rock and a Hard Place @rhppress.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

SUBS OPEN OCT 1: For November, we’re looking for stories of revolutionaries, rebels, agitators, and terrorists. Show us what happens when their good plans go bad, or their bad plans go worse. Subs close Oct 4. Send us your <2k flash story: bit.ly/4fQLeGx

032