iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Watching an episode of Vikings where two women are having a conversation - which they could have anywhere - naked in a bath, and I'm shocked to learn it was written by a man.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Buy my books please! You can find them in all the usual book places, but if you buy direct from the publisher both they and I make maximum money. Which we'll use for more books! The system works. srlpublishing.co.uk/authors/w/ro...

The covers of Ideal Angels, Belonging, Great Romances of the 20th Century, and The Ones We Fear by Robert Welbourn.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I got my latest royalty statement from @srlpublishing.bsky.social yesterday. Firstly, thank you to everyone who's bought a book! Secondly, I'm thrilled that for reasons unknown Belonging sales have really taken off recently. It had the highest sales of my blacklist, which is just so awesome.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Keeping my dog grounded by calling her beautiful then reminding her her worth isn't based on her beauty.

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Sophie Labelle @assignedmale.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It's never too late.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Granted I haven't listened to them loads, but every song makes me think Turnstile is hardcore music for people who don't like hardcore.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

With new adaptations of East of Eden, Carrie and The Bell Jar, I feel like the TV gods hate me.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Blocking every account I see that talks about the East of Eden adaptation because just read a fucking book.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

You don't have to be published to be a writer. You don't have to have an agent to be a writer. Anyone can be a writer. If you write, you're a writer. However: if you use AI in any form whatsoever, you're not a writer.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Don't get me wrong, I adore the series, but the damage Dark Souls has done to all kinds of games is infuriating.

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Ancillary Review of Books @ancillaryreviewofbooks.org · 06/10/2026

If you're interested, it's @bookshop.org's anti-prime days today and tomorrow, so free shipping! You can support ARB & AMOT by picking up any titles we've talked about through our Bookshop:

bookshop.org

ARB's Coverage

Check out this list on Bookshop

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Definitely definitely definitely definitely do!

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

5 star book. Lives up to all the hype and then some. I used to wonder why bookshops would have it on the classics table, a book no one talks about among others never not mentioned. Now I get it.

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SRL Publishing @srlpublishing.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Congrats to Wendy Sacks Jones and THE CANDIDATE'S HUSBAND - longlisted in the Page Turner awards for BEST FICTION After a local MP resigns due to a sex scandal, Kirsty throws her hat in the ring. But with a resentful husband using Kirsty's status for his own good, will she succeed? #BookSky

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It also feels very Stephen King that he's co-authored a book with a dead man.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The issue with receiving it is that there is now, unfortunately, a Stephen King book in existence I haven't read. Just this one mind you, and that'll soon be corrected.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

What a treat to receive in the post, the day before it's due to be published. I won't be reading it for a while - I have to send back edits on my next novel, finish a little freelance editing work, and re-read Black House first - but it's still nice to have it a little early.

The cover of Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'd forgotten how dark it is - he spends the entire game talking about murdering everyone, like constantly! I remembered him as bad but it's so much worse than I remembered - I love it.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I've spent the weekend playing Arkham Asylum; it's 10 years old but still holds up, it's absolutely brilliantly fun. The combat, the sneaking around, the investigating. I love it.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It must be awesome being a celebrity. "Here's a shit load of money, a bunch of free clothes and jewellery, and all you have to do is, well, nothing." Dream job.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🎃 happy October! 🎃 Now we're officially in spooky season, spook up your TBR with The Ones We Fear, a chilling tale of witchcraft, monsters, and the scariest thing of all: Humans. Available from @srlpublishing.bsky.social starting at just £3.99 for the ebook: srlpublishing.co.uk/product/the-...

The cover of The Ones We Fear by Robert Welbourn with the wording:

"emotional, desperate, shocking and beautiful"

We always want to protect the ones we love. They don't always need it.

"a witch story told amazingly"

"I loved the eerie, ethereal and dream-like quality"

"leaves you feeling unsettled long after the final page"

"an atmospheric, compelling read"

Out now

srlpublishing.co.uk

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My next newsletter is coming tomorrow! Fun fact: if you're worried about spam, don't be. Tomorrow will be the 12th email I've sent in a year. Definitely not spam. Please subscribe?

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Last day at the day job! My temp contract is ending today, and I don't have anything to go into which is a little scary but also kinda exciting. Something will come up soon I'm sure. In the meantime: I write.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Join me on Buttondown! I'm going to be using socials less and Buttondown much more in the future. Subscribers will be the first to read excerpts from upcoming books, they'll be the first to learn exciting news, and they'll have chances to win free copies of my books. buttondown.com/RobertWelbourn

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The thing is, I had an idea this morning and I really want to write the new book 😭

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A feeling I'm sure all writers can relate to: I have a book coming out next year, which means I'm trying to force myself to respond to the edits and not just write a whole new book instead.

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SRL Publishing @srlpublishing.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It falls to Mabel to bail out failing estate Dorrage Hall, coming up with a series of ingenious wheezes, including selling erotic art Bailiffs threaten, claimants circle, and an almighty row brews Can Mabel sort out the family’s biggest mess yet? Pre-order now, publishes 10/11

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Here are the books x celebrity loves" Fuck off Fuck offffff Fuck all the way off. Celebrities are just people, who fucking cares what they like? I'm much more interested in my neighbours and friends and colleagues, actual people who live in the actual world.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Wow, well I'm embarrassed. But also I've read it several more times and feel like I won't be the only one making that mistake!

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Blue Poppy Publishing @bluepoppypub.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

... and the selling

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I really hope this is someone at the BBC purposely misgendering Streeting because he's a transphobic piece of shit.

A screenshot of a BBC sub headline which refers to Wes Streeting as 'she'.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Thank you so much @catapultbooks.bsky.social for the ARC of The Ruiners by Ellena Savage, I can't wait to dive into this one. Publishing December 2026, it's the story of a lost 29 year old Australian waitress who, receiving an unexpected inheritance, buys a run down house on a Greek island.

The cover of The Ruiners by Ellena Savage.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I've just had to shell out a similarly large amount for work on my roof; ain't adulthood grand?

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

If a company won't allow you something so simple as a drink in a job interview, imagine what else they won't allow if you actually get the job.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Can you imagine being such a joyless freak? My last interview was literally in a coffee shop; I brought water and bought a big ol' hot chocolate. Life is rough enough as it is, stop being such a whiny little bitch about something so incredibly insignificant.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I feel this so hard. As a kid I used to ask for extra homework. As an adult I spend the vast majority of my non-work time writing. And I wonder why I'm so stressed and anxious all the time 🤔

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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I think the most “adult who was in a gifted and talented program as a kid” thing I could have done to myself was become an author. Just giving myself endless homework and a need for people to be proud of me forever.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is equal parts hilarious and excruciatingly uncomfortable. I loved it.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This is going to be genuinely incredible. The world will not be the same after its release.

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Musa Okwonga @okwonga.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This AI discourse is amazing. "We've created this very dangerous thing, based largely on the mass theft of labour, that we should stop developing" - okay, so that means that you should be treated like social and economic vandals, not revered as sages on podcasts.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Reading the September bookseller; there are 16 jobs listed, 15 based in London. The other can be done in either Sheffield or London. Bangin'.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Thinking about blurbs is a bit like when someone asks you your favourite song: I cannot think of a single author in existence.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Just seen a video on Instagram from a prominent literary agent saying not to put comps in your query letter. We've officially reached the point where there is no general advice for querying agents, because every single one has a completely unique set of requirements.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Now I have a book to beta read, a book to review, and then my first read through of The Woman of the Woods! It's a good thing my wife is away this weekend, I am BUSY.

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Robert Welbourn @robertwelbourn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I finished Sweetbitter Song this morning. Overall I enjoyed it; it's a bit long and repetitive, but it's very interesting to see a female POV of the Odysseus story. But now I feel like I need to watch Nolan's The Odyssey again, even though I know it's a hot mess.

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