John A. McColley
@jamccolley.substack.com
Writer(SFWA, Down The Drain, Ascendent Publishing, Feb 2025), Artist, Dad, DM, not-quite-musician and video maker. (He/They)
Breaking The Word, out Aug 15 2026:
https://linktr.ee/jamccolley
Breaking The Word, out Aug 15 2026:
https://linktr.ee/jamccolley
Pinned
If you're in New Hampshire or a nearby state, I'll be at the Oscar Foss Memorial Library in Barnstead in two weeks (8/15, 10am to 3pm) for Shirefest, a high fantasy celebration and fundraiser for the library.
I will also be releasing "Breaking The Word," book one of my new fantasy series. Link below
I will also be releasing "Breaking The Word," book one of my new fantasy series. Link below
Reposted by John A. McColley
Listen Up Dems. Congrats on your big wins, but today the work starts. Here's the plan.
Line up 5 simple bills in Congress. One pagers, easy to understand. No pork, just a clearly worded solution. Minimum wage. Health Care assistance. Child Care. Housing. Corruption reform.
Line up 5 simple bills in Congress. One pagers, easy to understand. No pork, just a clearly worded solution. Minimum wage. Health Care assistance. Child Care. Housing. Corruption reform.
November 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Listen Up Dems. Congrats on your big wins, but today the work starts. Here's the plan.
Line up 5 simple bills in Congress. One pagers, easy to understand. No pork, just a clearly worded solution. Minimum wage. Health Care assistance. Child Care. Housing. Corruption reform.
Line up 5 simple bills in Congress. One pagers, easy to understand. No pork, just a clearly worded solution. Minimum wage. Health Care assistance. Child Care. Housing. Corruption reform.
Reposted by John A. McColley
Reposted by John A. McColley
thinking about Patrick Stewart and Tim Curry and Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara and how many of the tributes shared after they died translate to something like “their art made me feel like I wasn’t alone in the world”
it is hard to think of a better way to spend a life than that
it is hard to think of a better way to spend a life than that
October 30, 2026 at 4:26 AM
thinking about Patrick Stewart and Tim Curry and Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara and how many of the tributes shared after they died translate to something like “their art made me feel like I wasn’t alone in the world”
it is hard to think of a better way to spend a life than that
it is hard to think of a better way to spend a life than that
Reposted by John A. McColley
I have over a hundred extra copies of my various foreign language editions. I’d love to place them in good hands!
I’m offering a free book giveaway (to USA & Canadian recipients only, at this time). Please fill out this form, and pass it on! Thank you!
docs.google.com/forms/d/1h4E...
I’m offering a free book giveaway (to USA & Canadian recipients only, at this time). Please fill out this form, and pass it on! Thank you!
docs.google.com/forms/d/1h4E...
October 27, 2026 at 11:49 PM
I have over a hundred extra copies of my various foreign language editions. I’d love to place them in good hands!
I’m offering a free book giveaway (to USA & Canadian recipients only, at this time). Please fill out this form, and pass it on! Thank you!
docs.google.com/forms/d/1h4E...
I’m offering a free book giveaway (to USA & Canadian recipients only, at this time). Please fill out this form, and pass it on! Thank you!
docs.google.com/forms/d/1h4E...
Reposted by John A. McColley
Apex Magazine @apexmag.bsky.social is doing their annual Kickstarter and I urge everyone to back one of the genre's most constantly amazing magazines!
BONUS: If you share this post you're in the running to receive a signed book from me. Details in thread. 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
BONUS: If you share this post you're in the running to receive a signed book from me. Details in thread. 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2027
An award-winning digital literary journal of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
October 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Apex Magazine @apexmag.bsky.social is doing their annual Kickstarter and I urge everyone to back one of the genre's most constantly amazing magazines!
BONUS: If you share this post you're in the running to receive a signed book from me. Details in thread. 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
BONUS: If you share this post you're in the running to receive a signed book from me. Details in thread. 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Reposted by John A. McColley
In case you missed it late last night, I released a #analoghorror #foundfootage #folkhorror trailer for my upcoming book, Rustbelt Gothic.
Filmed entirely on a VHS-C camcorder. No AI or anything funky involved. Music by Witchcandle
youtu.be/t2Y0FlgdWwQ
Filmed entirely on a VHS-C camcorder. No AI or anything funky involved. Music by Witchcandle
youtu.be/t2Y0FlgdWwQ
Rustbelt Gothic Book Trailer
YouTube video by Paul Jessup
youtu.be
October 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM
In case you missed it late last night, I released a #analoghorror #foundfootage #folkhorror trailer for my upcoming book, Rustbelt Gothic.
Filmed entirely on a VHS-C camcorder. No AI or anything funky involved. Music by Witchcandle
youtu.be/t2Y0FlgdWwQ
Filmed entirely on a VHS-C camcorder. No AI or anything funky involved. Music by Witchcandle
youtu.be/t2Y0FlgdWwQ
Reposted by John A. McColley
okay this deadline is in two days, and then we open for novella submissions 😅
Submissions are now open for speculative novelettes and/or tiny short story collection chapbooks.
Word limit: 7,500 to 12,000 words. Limited print run. Will pay $100 and 25 copies. Deadline: October 15th.
More info here:
neonhemlock.submittable.com/submit/36598...
Word limit: 7,500 to 12,000 words. Limited print run. Will pay $100 and 25 copies. Deadline: October 15th.
More info here:
neonhemlock.submittable.com/submit/36598...
Neon Hemlock - Speculative Chapbook/Novelette
Neon Hemlock Press is open to submissions of speculative chapbook manuscripts from August 20 to October 15, 2026.
We expect to publish at least one chapbook next year; if the stretch goal in our curre...
neonhemlock.submittable.com
October 13, 2026 at 5:19 PM
okay this deadline is in two days, and then we open for novella submissions 😅
Reposted by John A. McColley
4 HOURS LEFT! Last chance to get my cartography artbook UNBOUND with the special limited signed print of Camelot 🏰
October 9, 2026 at 12:01 PM
4 HOURS LEFT! Last chance to get my cartography artbook UNBOUND with the special limited signed print of Camelot 🏰
Writing buddy @jscottcoatsworth.bsky.social had a new book come out yesterday! MM Romantasy, the second of a series, if you're into series (I know I am!)
www.jscottcoatsworth.com/book/office-...
www.jscottcoatsworth.com/book/office-...
Office of the Lost
When Perfection Collides With Chaos, Sparks Fly Crispin Eladrin, desk fae at the Office of the Lost, could find a needle in ten haystacks. His desk is so neat it would make an accountant blush, and he...
www.jscottcoatsworth.com
October 8, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Writing buddy @jscottcoatsworth.bsky.social had a new book come out yesterday! MM Romantasy, the second of a series, if you're into series (I know I am!)
www.jscottcoatsworth.com/book/office-...
www.jscottcoatsworth.com/book/office-...
Reposted by John A. McColley
The co-author of this book, @tobiasbuckell.bsky.social, is brilliant. I've walked away from conversations with him with reshaped understandings of the written word. He's in a bad spot right now. His GoFundMe is nearly funded and every little bit will help!
www.gofundme.com/f/help-autho...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-autho...
September 23, 2026 at 12:55 PM
The co-author of this book, @tobiasbuckell.bsky.social, is brilliant. I've walked away from conversations with him with reshaped understandings of the written word. He's in a bad spot right now. His GoFundMe is nearly funded and every little bit will help!
www.gofundme.com/f/help-autho...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-autho...
Reposted by John A. McColley
Writing "wisdom" I hate:
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
This is the worst advice ever.
It would be better if it was KNOW MORE SO YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT IT.
Every good writer I know is constantly researching and getting new information and asking experts.
It's a terrible bit of advice!
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
This is the worst advice ever.
It would be better if it was KNOW MORE SO YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT IT.
Every good writer I know is constantly researching and getting new information and asking experts.
It's a terrible bit of advice!
September 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Writing "wisdom" I hate:
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
This is the worst advice ever.
It would be better if it was KNOW MORE SO YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT IT.
Every good writer I know is constantly researching and getting new information and asking experts.
It's a terrible bit of advice!
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
This is the worst advice ever.
It would be better if it was KNOW MORE SO YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT IT.
Every good writer I know is constantly researching and getting new information and asking experts.
It's a terrible bit of advice!
Reposted by John A. McColley
Lightspeed and Nightmare are running a kickstarter! Pick up a subscription and help spread the word!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lig...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lig...
Update 2: New Add-On Rewards are Here! · LIGHTSPEED & NIGHTMARE: Award-Winning SF, Fantasy, & Horror
Overnight, we surpassed 40% of our funding goal! Geting to that point has cleaned us out of most of the limited quantity rewards we had (including all 25 copies of LIGHTSPEED: YEAR ONE!), but good news: Today we've added a bunch more signed books and other goodies, including: LIGHTSPEED Issue #100: A physical copy of our landmark 100th issue. New signed books from Chuck Wendig, Daniel H. Wilson, Ken Liu, Paul Tremblay, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, Veronica Roth, and Victor LaValle. Signed two-book bundles from Olivie Blake, P. Djèlí Clark, and Seanan McGuire. Two more signed limited editions by Martha Wells: Witch King and Queen Demon. Plus, we found one more copy of the rare NIGHTMARE #1 in print. And lastly, we've moved our D&D experiences to the add-on menu. Bring some friends to play in a game alongside John Joseph Adams and/or play in a game DMed by JJA! If you've already backed, you can edit your pledge to add any of these new rewards.Thanks again so much to you all for the amazing amount of support.
www.kickstarter.com
September 22, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Lightspeed and Nightmare are running a kickstarter! Pick up a subscription and help spread the word!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lig...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lig...
Reposted by John A. McColley
luckily!!! in 2026 there are a lot of independent Webcomic templates that are more affordable and accessible than ever (thank you to the heroes building these!) this is one that I know of, but please reply if you have others:
rarebit.neocities.org
rarebit.neocities.org
Rarebit | HTML Webcomic Template
rarebit.neocities.org
September 22, 2026 at 9:38 AM
luckily!!! in 2026 there are a lot of independent Webcomic templates that are more affordable and accessible than ever (thank you to the heroes building these!) this is one that I know of, but please reply if you have others:
rarebit.neocities.org
rarebit.neocities.org
Reposted by John A. McColley
Today is #HobbitDay because Bilbo and Frodo Baggins were both born on September 22nd.
Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves.
Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. 📚
Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves.
Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. 📚
September 22, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Today is #HobbitDay because Bilbo and Frodo Baggins were both born on September 22nd.
Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves.
Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. 📚
Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves.
Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. 📚
Reposted by John A. McColley
Reposted by John A. McColley
We don’t have to put up with this. Not these policies or these politicians or even this system of politics. It's time for us to chase out corruption and build a politics that actually responds to the people.
September 20, 2026 at 12:56 PM
We don’t have to put up with this. Not these policies or these politicians or even this system of politics. It's time for us to chase out corruption and build a politics that actually responds to the people.
Reposted by John A. McColley
Reposted by John A. McColley
And we will obviously be watching and we’re not fucking around with do nothing about fascists any more. Do it or we will get rid of you too.
We are done.
We are done.
September 18, 2026 at 12:32 PM
And we will obviously be watching and we’re not fucking around with do nothing about fascists any more. Do it or we will get rid of you too.
We are done.
We are done.
Reposted by John A. McColley
Do you understand it!!
September 15, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Do you understand it!!
Reposted by John A. McColley
A minor detail is missing from the headline.
September 16, 2026 at 12:20 AM
A minor detail is missing from the headline.
Reposted by John A. McColley
Reposted by John A. McColley
It is so goddamn perfect out in Cambridge today. Here's your plan:
1. Wander to your local bookstore
2. Buy a book on a whim. (Don't overthink it, don't make it hard)
3. Get a tasty beverage
4. Set up somewhere outside & read for a bunch
5. Remember you deserve joy
1. Wander to your local bookstore
2. Buy a book on a whim. (Don't overthink it, don't make it hard)
3. Get a tasty beverage
4. Set up somewhere outside & read for a bunch
5. Remember you deserve joy
September 5, 2026 at 12:52 PM
It is so goddamn perfect out in Cambridge today. Here's your plan:
1. Wander to your local bookstore
2. Buy a book on a whim. (Don't overthink it, don't make it hard)
3. Get a tasty beverage
4. Set up somewhere outside & read for a bunch
5. Remember you deserve joy
1. Wander to your local bookstore
2. Buy a book on a whim. (Don't overthink it, don't make it hard)
3. Get a tasty beverage
4. Set up somewhere outside & read for a bunch
5. Remember you deserve joy
Reposted by John A. McColley
Reposted by John A. McColley
The President of the United States is a traitor and a rapist.
September 5, 2026 at 4:36 AM
The President of the United States is a traitor and a rapist.
Reposted by John A. McColley
An Aussie brings the 🔥🇦🇺
“You run a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street tonight. A country where 40% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money, a country where insulin costs more than a car payment and people are rationing it to survive.”
#EndOligarchy
“You run a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street tonight. A country where 40% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money, a country where insulin costs more than a car payment and people are rationing it to survive.”
#EndOligarchy
September 4, 2026 at 12:26 PM
An Aussie brings the 🔥🇦🇺
“You run a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street tonight. A country where 40% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money, a country where insulin costs more than a car payment and people are rationing it to survive.”
#EndOligarchy
“You run a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street tonight. A country where 40% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money, a country where insulin costs more than a car payment and people are rationing it to survive.”
#EndOligarchy