iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Hi folks, quick update copied from our mailing list: CARMEN ET ERROR CLOSES FOR SUBMISSIONS IN 48HRS. 💚💚

Kym, you will say, if you know my name—which admittedly most of you don’t. So, in fact what you will say is Hey You, don’t submissions close on the 31st/haven’t they already closed on the 15th?

This is a fun phenomenon known as ‘Shrödingers Inbox’, wherein I’ve mucked the date of magazine subs closing back and forth over the last few months as I’ve varied between absolutely scarily inundated and… where have all the writers gone? And now our website says one thing and the submissions aggregators another.

This is objectively a good place to be, it means our readership and the popularity of what we do is growing, but it’s also tricky. We’re sitting on almost 700 individual pieces of work right now, competing for between 6-8 spots! That’s a 1% acceptance rate. That’s wild. The best thing for me to do is to give you a final 48hrs (until 21st Aug) for any last submissions and then close for the remainder of August, and we’ll aim to get back to you all by the end of the month. Remember, good work is good work - don’t talk yourself out of submitting.

This is all a little messier than I’d like it to be, and I’m sorry for the confusion, folks! But the daily running of The Braag and Carmen et Error comes down to me (my wonderful first readers aside) and while I continue to be excellent and dashing (and very handsome in a cravat) I’m also super chronically ill, so you get what you get. It’s not Carmen Sans Error after all.

Full of love and errors,
Kym

The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

guys. we've got almost 300 emails in the Carmen et Error inbox. Most people submit two pieces. which means we have 550 < pieces of work to consider... competing for a magazine that has EIGHT SPOTS. I think this round is the most competitive its ever been.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

As it stands, we're still shipping to the EU. It might change if the law gets really shitey but until it's actually physically painful or unfeesibly expensive we're still gonna offer our books worldwide.

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Suzanna Fitzpatrick @suzannafitzpatrick.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

#TheDeeperRead 31 features “My Heart in a Glass Case” from Lauren Thomas' Tiny Glories @greenbottlepress.bsky.social & my poem "Playdough Heart", from Obsessed with Pipework 102. Lauren's other pamphlet, Lavender Hill, is with @thebraag.bsky.social. suzannafitzpatrick.substack.com/p/the-deeper...

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Catherine Redford @catherineredford.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Day 4 of the #sealeychallenge - ‘Pond’ by @sarahbwestcottpoet.bsky.social. A meditation on the garden pond that breathes wildness into the small and local. Here’s a section from the brilliant ‘Pond II’. @thebraag.bsky.social

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hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Fabulous book post. Fantastic writing from @kymdeyn.bsky.social, @nathanielspain.bsky.social and @fworrallo.bsky.social .

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Just a handful of micros left by authors: @corinnaboard.bsky.social Lauren Thomas Stevie Ronnie Heather Chapman Last chance to get a physical copy if you want one! 💚

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Anthony Cartwright has won a Rubery Book Award for Necrosmologies, which was published by the Braag in 2025! A huge congratulations to Anthony for a much-deserved win 🖤

Necrosmologies by Anthony Cartwright has won the 2026 Rubery Award in the poetry & short fiction category!

“Reading this is like squinting one eye up and staring into a Black Country kaleidoscope which with each shift reveals something else of the region’s pre-history, mythologies, past, presents, and futures.”

Anthony Cartwright, a white man with greying hair smiles at the camera and holds up a copy of Necrosmologies and a small blue trophy from the Rubery book awards

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Caoimhe Deyn @empressofkashyr.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Had a great day at Heaton Pride Markets selling books from @thebraag.bsky.social

Kym Deyn and her beautiful hot wife Caoimhe sitting at a bookstall

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

New Braag micros up at thebraag.co/shop/ 🌸 Lavender Hill by Lauren Thomas looks unflinchingly at the natural world and the darker side of female experience. 🦠 Little Book O’ Moss by @corinnaboard.bsky.social is a bright glimpse into the miniature world of moss.

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Kym Deyn @kymdeyn.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Guys this is my press! If you've got a weird little manuscript hanging around, please send it our way!

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Poetry in Glasgow @poetry-in-glasgow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

It's PIG Sunday! Check out our latest update with all the news on local poetry events and some brilliant submission opportunities, including current submissions windows at @thebraag.bsky.social and Bad Betty Press. poetry-in-glasgow.art/updates/deta...

poetry-in-glasgow.art

Poetry in Glasgow

Welcome to Poetry in Glasgow (PIG), your community resource for local events, opportunities and helpful miscellany. No matter whether you are a seasoned poet, a regular slam champion, an aspiring bard...

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

What a thrill to see ‘Empirical’ highlighted by the Poetry Book Society for #SouthAsianHeritageMonth! Thank you to lovely Sarala for letting me know! #ukpoets #poetrysky Available here: www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/emp... or direct from @thebraag.bsky.social

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

💚 We're seeing poetry pamphlets and novellas from UK Authors + Smaller manuscripts from authors worldwide! 💚 #poetry #writingcommunity

The Braag is a poetry and speculative fiction publisher looking for manuscripts
July 1st - July 31st
thebraag.co

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

💚 We're seeing poetry pamphlets and novellas from UK Authors + Smaller manuscripts from authors worldwide! 💚 #poetry #writingcommunity

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Sexy Plato's Cave @andrewblair.co.uk · 14/06/2026

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Zee Zom @fnafilms.com · 26/05/2026

Solidarity is where it’s at. ✊🏽🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Screenshot from TUC on Facebook

Reform-led Durham council cut off funding to the annual Pride celebrations.
So trade unions launched a fundraiser to save it, eventually raising more money than was cut.
Which means this year's Pride will be bigger than ever.
In the 1980s, the LGBT+ community raised thousands of pounds to help striking miners and their families.
When we stick up for each other, we can achieve anything.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

You don't want to miss Issue 15.5 of Carmen et Error, which opens with this gorgeous Rachel Bruce poem, 'The Vampire'. carmenerror.com?page_id=662

The Vampire
by Rachel Bruce

I don’t feel real in my body
but at least I can imagine yours,
your cape and fangs,
your perfect skin and accent.
Halloween escapism,
delicious pretending.
You are nothing like the real creature.
I saw it once on a dark country road,
drinking blood through a straw,
bat-winged, blonde.
In my headlights its eyes
were white.
The next morning it was in my kitchen,
hair wet, drinking tea.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

You don't want to miss Issue 15.5 of Carmen et Error, which opens with this gorgeous Rachel Bruce poem, 'The Vampire'. carmenerror.com?page_id=662

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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

This has absolutely no business being so absolutely devastating

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Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

The thing about the poetry book Polblar Tmolkop is that it's only about Paul Blart Mall Cop in the way that it's not actually about Paul Blart Mall Cop at all. The other thing about Polblar Tmolkp is that it will make you weep.

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Nash @ericnash.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Spent Saturday in London checking out the new Tracey Emin exhibition (so good!) at the Tate, then over to Knightsbridge for the #FreeVerse poetry fair where I picked up Necrosmologies by Anthony Cartwright (an absolute dark gem of a book published by @thebraag.bsky.social)

Necrosmologies b/w cover: dark skies over a town.

B/W photo of a warship anchored in front of Tower Bridge on the river Thames

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Eleanor Ball @eleanorball.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Day 30(!!): "LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF CATERPILLARS" by Sam Grudgings in @thebraag.bsky.social. What a stunner to end National Poetry Month with! I love when I finish a poem and think "Wow, I'll never read anything like this again." carmenerror.com?page_id=652

carmenerror.com

Issue 15.0 - Carmen et Error

LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF CATERPILLARS by Sam Grudgings Hail our disordered bodies & their possible forms! Hail the scapegoat! The sending! The metamorphosis in waiting! Hail the bodies un...

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Timothy Fox @timothyfox.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Got word from @thebraag.bsky.social that my chapbook of Southern Gothic poetry and weird flash fiction is going into a second printing!!! Thanks to @kymdeyn.bsky.social for all their support and to all who have bought a copy!!! thebraag.co/product/ever...

Image of chapbook cover, with title 'every house needs a ghost' and author name 'Timothy Fox'. Spooky little house in the background. And also maybe the top of a spooky little circus tent.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Newsletter from The Braag today, featuring our recent books, sad trombone noises, a new micro, going apeshit, a letter from the editor and Carmen et Error Issue 15.0. Happy reading! 💚 thebraag.beehiiv.com/p/carmen-et-...

thebraag.beehiiv.com

Carmen et Error Issue 15.0 + Braag News

News

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Carmen et Error Issue 15.0 features work from: 🐛 @samjgrudgings.bsky.social 🦀 Andy Qifeng Zeng 🚦 Penny Blackburn 🦌 Jessica Tillings For an issue full of strange decaying, bodies & abandoned cooling towers. carmenerror.com?page_id=652

carmenerror.com

Issue 15.0 - Carmen et Error

LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF CATERPILLARS by Sam Grudgings Hail our disordered bodies & their possible forms! Hail the scapegoat! The sending! The metamorphosis in waiting! Hail the bodies un...

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

New Carmen et Error issue drops tomorrow, a little bit of strangeness for your easter 🐣💀

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Kym Deyn @kymdeyn.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Okay, I get publishers affirming that the books we've produced are human-made, but have we also considered bringing back medieval book curses??? Just saying.

If you steal from this book to feed
An AI made from peerless greed
May boils burn upon your skin
And worms bite you from within.

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Sexy Plato's Cave @andrewblair.co.uk · 27/03/2026

Launched a book tonight lads

The actual physical book of POLBLAR TMOLKOP (a poetry pamphlet written by me)

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Poets, poetry lovers (or even poetry curious) in Newcastle/the North East? Come to a free reading at lovely indie bookshop 1b books in Heaton tomorrow! I’ll be reading from ‘Empirical’ & @andrewblair.co.uk from ‘polblar tmolkop’ our new pamphlets with @thebraag.bsky.social #ukpoets

Empirical and Polblar Tmolkop launch 7pm 27/03/26
Image of hennaed hand holding tiny man in spacesuit

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

IT IS TIME! Come and see 2026 poetry authors and hear them read from their gorgeous, weird, wild pamphlets tomorrow night at 1b Books in NEWCASTLE ❤️

empirical and poblar tmolkop book launch poster with cover images of books. with readings by gita ralleigh and andrew blair. 7pm 27.03.28, 1b books in heaton postcode NE6 5PH. Free entry.

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

It's here! Huge thanks to the wonderful @thebraag.bsky.social and @kymdeyn.bsky.social #poetrysky #ukpoets Order here: thebraag.co/product/empi... “A gorgeous book; there are so many moments of transcendence in Empirical, a collection which sets ‘the blood singing.’” —Mona Arshi, author of Mouth

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Timothy Fox @timothyfox.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Not even 7am and I’m thinking about @andrewblair.co.uk’s upcoming grimoire.

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Sexy Plato's Cave @andrewblair.co.uk · 17/03/2026

Put a blog up with both launch events (Newcastle and Edinburgh) and pre-order links for polblar Tmolkop, the only known poetry pamphlet inspired by Paul Blart Mall Cop, which is published by @thebraag.bsky.social next week.

andrewblair.co.uk

Launches and Links

A blog about pop culture, software development and poetry.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Prerana Kumar, Zoë Green and Daniel Roop are our nominees for this year's Forward Prizes. You can check out each of their poems at carmenerror.com ❤️

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all who do the work of mothering! Here’s my beautiful mum, me plus kids when they were small and a poem, abecedarian for maternity ward, previously in The North & in my forthcoming pamphlet from @thebraag.bsky.social #mothersday #poetrysky #motheringsunday

Poem ‘abecedarian for maternity ward’ by Gita Ralleigh

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Kym Deyn @kymdeyn.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Gita's work is so astonishly gorgeous you all have to go and pre-order her new book!!

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Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

This deeply deranged pamphlet has been living rent-free in the heads of most of my friend group for over a year now. Let it infect your minds too.

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Sexy Plato's Cave @andrewblair.co.uk · 12/03/2026

Oh yes, I should also mention this aspect of reality.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

At this point, the fact we're publishing it seems relatiely normal.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

A segment from the opening poem of 'polblar tmolkop' by @andrewblair.co.uk! polblar tmolkop is available to pre-order via thebraag.co/shop 🛸🛸

3am, the smoking area of a tastefully upmarket bar on Santa Monica Boulevard, in the dying embers of the wrap party for King of Queens (CBS Productions, 1998-2007)

Kevin
Kevin James
The actor Kevin James
He-
Hello?
Hello Kevin
Are you a reliable narrator Kevin?
I think so?
Be sure Kevin.
History is written by the victors Kevin.
Are you reliable?
Alright. Yeah.
Yes. What-
What are you?
I am what you would call old
I am what I would call young
I am what kindness would call seasoned I
Am ready to die Kevin
I am ready to die.

- From ‘polblar tmolkop’ by Andrew Blair available for pre-order at thebraag.co/shop

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hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Goodnight from Sian Tapper, increasingly irritated that the ghost in her room has nothing better to do than wind her music box at random hours in the night. Goodnight from Andy Bail, suffering as the shrapnel in his leg attempts to align with True Faery North. Goodnight from Hookland.

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The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Sharing this absolutely extraordinary and unfortunately very relevant ghazal by @gitaralleigh.bsky.social which features in her upcoming pamphlet, Empirical, published by us here at The Braag.