iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 9h

@mikehall314.bsky.social may I use your Doctor Who brain? Do you know what these disks would have on them?

Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

Michael West @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social · 13h

The NSW Legislative Council’s final report into university governance, released last month, has delivered a number of damning verdicts on the sector. michaelwest.com.au/university-wage-…

University wage theft. Australian academics owed hundreds of millions

The National Tertiary Education Union, which conducted the research, found that over 130,000 staff had not been receiving their full wage entitlements.

NSW Universities reported staff underpayments

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

This Friday (16th of October) Parks Library are putting on an author and craft market. I'll be there along with many other Adelaide creatives. I'd love to see you there, too! #markets #adelaide #indieauthor #books #libraries #parkslibrary

A map showing the parks library and Robert's position near the trees.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Okay, so it’s not my best story, but I needed to come up with it in one minute as the school readers hadn’t been changed. #parenting #instantstory #amwriting

The Giant Carrot
One day, a child at school left her lunch in a locker.
Everyone forgot about it. The sandwich grew mould. The sultanas went hard.
But the carrot was different. It grew larger and larger during the school holidays. When the children returned to school, the Carrot had grown arms, legs, and a face with a mouth full of sharp teeth.
It roared and chased the children around the classroom. Was it going to eat them all? The class pet, a rabbit, leapt to the rescue! The bunny chomped on the carrot until it was no more.
The children cheered. The end.

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Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

Mouse // Fiestyguava @fiestyguava.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

It's my birthday!!! If you would be willing to share my art to help me celebrate another year of being on the Earth, I'd appreciate it greatly!

Fullbody art of Samira, one of my dnd ocs. She is standing, looking at the viewer with her head tilted up. On her face, chest, arms, and exposed right hip she has red tattoos. She is wearing an outfit of mostly red, orange, and purplish tones. Her red pants are loose and draped in the style of dhoti trousers, and the maroon armor she's wearing is reminiscent of a coat of a thousand nails (Chilta hazar masha). Her reddish orange dupatta has patterns of waves and fire. She wears a corset-style belt and a more traditional belt over top, with a loop that connects her compass. In her right hand is a talwar with a gold hilt, in her left hand is a trident dagger. She also has several earrings on her exposed left ear. Her white hair is shorn short on the left side.

A close-up of recent art of Favor. She has light aqua skin and teal hair and clothing. Her expression and posture are wary, and she wears a sword and shield on her back.

Lena, an aasimar woman with tan skin wearing a red tabard with a red heart and steel armor with red roses

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Chilling at the City of Tea Tree Gully Spring Gift Market at the Golden Grove Recreation Centre.

Robert standing in front of his table with his books and banners.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Ready to teach the interactive fiction writing workshop at Aldinga Library. See you at 11 am! #gamebooks #pickapath #cyoa #ff #fightingfantasy #indieauthor #books #fantasy #scifi

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

@davidshoebridge.bsky.social are you genuinely against Australia sending military aid to Ukraine?

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Today, I updated my interactive fiction (gamebook) workshop. Here's part of a graphic for it. If you're interested in the workshop, are in Adelaide, are between 8 and 25 years, check out the Youth D&D Expo by Onkaparinga Youth #cyoa #interactivefiction #gamebook #fightingfantasy #rpg #writing

Excerpt of a graphic showing three levels of story from standard linear stories through the branching paths.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A stocktake revealed 4 copies of On Deadly Ground, an anthology with short stories about desperate last stands. Mine features a conflict with AI warships, but humans do their best to be a bigger problem. I’d love to clear my stock as I need the space. Let me know if you’re interested. Australia only

Four copies of On Deadly Ground. The cover image features a spaceship flying along a much larger one with motion blur.

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Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

There is a moment at the very very end of Abdul El-Sayed's podcast with Ezra Klein (book recommendation section) where he talks about the idea of "speaking truth to pain" and this will be staying with me for an extremely long time. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/o...

But there’s also something about truth to pain. We talk a lot about truth to power, but I think it’s actually a lot harder to speak truth to pain. I say that as someone who went to medical school, realizing that in a lot of our politics right now, we’ve got to get a lot better at speaking truth to pain if we’re going to get through some of these challenges that we have.

What does “truth to pain” mean?

It’s one thing to look power in the eye and say: You’re wrong about this. But there’s a way in which pain is very difficult to reason with. Because when somebody is in their pain, they’re in their trauma. They see that pain, and they may not see what’s causing it.

I remember just very explicitly being in a trauma ward with a gunshot wound patient and watching this big guy with his hand on his gunshot wound. All the folks are trying to pull his hand off his pain, that point of his gunshot wound, this clear vulnerability.

And this emergency room doctor had the presence of mind to be like: Everyone, stop. And she looks him in the eyes, and she’s like: I get that really hurts, and I’m so sorry that you’re here. You don’t want to be here. We don’t want you to be here. But if you don’t let us fix this, you could die. So I’m going to take your hand, and I’m going to move it off, OK? Because I need to get there so that you can live.

She was speaking truth to pain. He understands he’s at the hospital, he needs care, but he also doesn’t want anybody to touch the wound. Which is a natural thing. And I think it is a really great metaphor for how we think about a lot of these challenges we talked about today.

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Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

Deepcut News @deepcutnews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Albanese's proposal to water down Australian copyright to appease AI companies is a "terrible betrayal", writes Richard Flanagan in a blistering piece. "A government that doesn’t understand its nation’s culture is a government incapable of leading the nation." www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-great-...

deepcutnews.com

The great betrayal? AI imperialists and Albanese – Richard Flanagan

Australians should be furious that Anthony Albanese has opened the floodgates to American AI companies

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Cover reveal for Wayfarer's Blade! (The Wayfarer Chronicles Book 2) If you have any questions, leave a comment. #portalfantasy #fantasy #Wayfarer #magic #swords #indieauthor

Cover for Wayfarer's Blade by Robert Tillsley. White background. Outline of a blackbird, rampant. Inside the outline, a man with a sword faces of against a giant demon with glowing eyes and a flaming sword.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Here's another partial sneak preview for the Wayfarer's Blade cover. #portalfantasy #fantasy #cover #books #author #indieauthor

Partial outline of bird with the centre filled with a demon, a flaming sword and the head of an adventurer.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Wayfarer's Blade's front cover is almost there. Here's a tiny snippet. #cover #books #fantasy #portalfantasy #indieauthor

Small section of a piece of art show parts of a horn, a head, and a flaming sword. Red background.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

All edits are complete for Wayfarer Book 2. 140,000 words/532 pages. I am currently working on the interior layout, and the next step is the cover. Am I putting off writing the blurb? Yes, I am. That will have to be complete before I can finish the cover. #portalfantasy #fantasy #books #indieauthor

Text in fancy font: Wayfarer's Blade
The Wayfarer Chronicles book two
Robert Tillsley

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Dekitting is always nice. It’s important to hang up sweaty padded clothes to dry. Don’t ask how often they get washed. #HEMA #author #indieauthor #portalfantasy #fantasy

A wooden floor with a bunch of him kit lying on it. There is a mask with an overlay, two hard shell gloves, a jacket, a chest protector, and in the bottom left corner of the knees of my padded pants and the tip of my sneaker.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This month, I’ll be at: Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair St Clare Southern Youth D&D expo (workshop) Aldinga Beach Spring Gift Market Golden Grove Parks Twilight Market Angle Park Adelaide indie Author Book Festival (table and panel) Bowden Adelaide Supanova Wayville #books #markets #adelaide #author

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Demon’s winter. Massive world, party, levelling, ships, turn based combat. Just all round incredible with CGA graphics. Could run off a computer without a hard drive. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon%2...

en.wikipedia.org

Demon's Winter - Wikipedia

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

There are problems in schools, private school over funding, not enough planning time for teachers, hungry kids, parents in need of support, and yeah, some extra focus could be placed on fundamentals including reducing screen time and encouraging reading for pleasure. But this back to 1950s is a joke

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Wayfarer's Blade (Wayfarer Chronicles Book 2) has reached a major milestone. I am now going through proofing notes. Tomorrow, I promise I'll share some information about all the craziness that is October. #amediting #portalfantasy #fantasy #amwriting #books

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Chilling at the Author Showcase at Salisbury Community Hub thanks to Salisbury Library Service

Photo of Robert standing next to his table of books. Other author tables are visible in the background.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

95% or more of the supplements industry should be shut down as snake oil.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

While I’m not convinced that there is a lot of point to awards, especially for us indies, I can imagine that it would be fun to do all the reading as a judge. So if you have the time, you should check it out.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My editing companions are not radiating energy. #amediting #anwriting #cats

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Well, I don’t think you’ll miss me at the @salisburycommunitylibrary author showcase… I hope I don’t miss you! See you there on Saturday. #indieauthor #market #salisbury #fantasy #portalfantasy

Map of the library showing me near the entrance. Saturday 12 September
10am to 2pm | Salisbury Community Hub

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

For all those who put themselves in the category of fathers, happy Father’s Day. I hope you get to swing swords and generally have a great day. #HEMA #fathersday #longsword #fathers #dads

Feder raised in front of a hedge with the sun peeking through.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Freedom to blame for rise of wanna be dictators…

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Set up at Marion Cultural Centre library to continue editing the sequel to Wayfarer’s Rift. #amediting #fantasy #portalfantasy #indieauthor #library

Desk with laptop, notebook, coffee and a copy of Wayfarer’s Rift

View of library with borrowing kiosks in the foreground.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I am trusting my readers to know this chapter title is a joke, not a typo. #amediting #amwriting #fantasy #portalfantasy #chapters

White box. Chapter 15 titled: Duel Expectations

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Went to Monarto Zoo for a cheetah experience the other day. A lot of conservation work is being done, and it funds work with the CCF #monartozoo #cheetahs

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I swear in US English resources, kneeled was the popular version instead of the knelt that I grew up with as an Aussie. When I'm editing and checking my references, it seems to have shifted to knelt as still being more common in US English. I must have woken up in an alternate reality. #amediting

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The term is childish not provocative.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Do I love beta reader feedback? Hell, yes. So helpful. I even make notes on their notes. I should make notes on my notes as my handwriting is terrible. #amediting #betareaders #fantasy #portalfantasy

A small section of white paper with a tiny bit of printed notes visible. Parts of hand written notes are shown. The visible content is designed to not allow the viewer to make sense of what is there.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

So, technically, I am working on draft 2, but I have already had 3 drafts plus outline versions. I number my work like a piece of software. #amediting #indieauthor #fantasy #portalfantasy #wayfarer

Save As: Wayfarer's Blade - TWC B2 Draft 1.3

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Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

Karina S. @chirunax.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Taking commissions for September, RTs are appreciated! 🧡 If you are interested please contact me via e-mail: chirunax@gmail.com Full info: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

A giant woman dressed in white floating in the air. She has four white wings and two long black braids.
On her head there is a kokoshnik-like crown.

A huge woman with her hair made of roses
A small woman dressed in red is standing on her hand and holding a tiny flower

A giant man with white pearlescent scales on his shoulders and tail covers a small woman in a red dress with his hand
The man has a huge bleeding bite on his shoulder

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Some parkrun to keep my body going as well as my mind. Very different exercise to fencing. #parkrun #author #indieauthor #hema #fencing

Lakeside paving, fountain in lake, cream housing behind.

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Reposted by Robert Tillsley (Author)

The Arthur C. Clarke Award @clarkeaward.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Rewilding for the win! Team 🐺

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Jatz with butter, Vegemite, and cheese. The writing fuel of champions… #amwriting #amediting #indieauthor #fantasy #portalfantasy

Plate with Jatz, one is buttered with Vegemite and cheese on top.

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Typo time. Needless to say, Martin had tried rather than letting himself dehydrate. "As gravity relentlessly dragged me down, a calm sadness overwhelmed an instinctive desire to berate myself. I had dried." #amediting #amwriting #fantasy #portalfantasy #typo

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Robert Tillsley (Author) @tillsley.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A bit wet out, but I managed to finish a second chapter of editing under shelter. I love having a bit where it seems like it’s all gotten easier for my characters. Little do they know… #amediting #amwriting #fantasy #portalfantasy #indieauthor

A wet netball court under lights. Gum trees in the background.

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