Graeme Brandham
@graemebrandham.com
Writer | Artist | World-Builder
🌀Charting the intersection of story, philosophy & wonder in my Substack Atlas.
🌀Currently navigating rabbits, dinosaurs & the nature of reality. 🐰🦕☯️
📲 www.graemebrandham.com
🌀Charting the intersection of story, philosophy & wonder in my Substack Atlas.
🌀Currently navigating rabbits, dinosaurs & the nature of reality. 🐰🦕☯️
📲 www.graemebrandham.com
Amazon sometimes feels like an endless marketplace, but it is sorely lacking in depth.
Yesterday I went to Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester, the largest second-hand bookstore in England, and what a treat it was!
Yesterday I went to Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester, the largest second-hand bookstore in England, and what a treat it was!
September 14, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Amazon sometimes feels like an endless marketplace, but it is sorely lacking in depth.
Yesterday I went to Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester, the largest second-hand bookstore in England, and what a treat it was!
Yesterday I went to Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester, the largest second-hand bookstore in England, and what a treat it was!
Today I’m participating in an “at home” writing retreat organised by fellow Substack author Johanna C. Eschwald. So far, it’s been a really great experience.
It’s rare that I give myself an entire day to dedicate to my creative practice, so this already feels like a real treat.
It’s rare that I give myself an entire day to dedicate to my creative practice, so this already feels like a real treat.
September 12, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Today I’m participating in an “at home” writing retreat organised by fellow Substack author Johanna C. Eschwald. So far, it’s been a really great experience.
It’s rare that I give myself an entire day to dedicate to my creative practice, so this already feels like a real treat.
It’s rare that I give myself an entire day to dedicate to my creative practice, so this already feels like a real treat.
If you over-think your first drafts, change the medium - not your mind.
I’m in the final sprint of drafting my Halloween novella, and every single scene starts right here with the friendly touch of pen to page, and my hand resting on a notebook.
I’m in the final sprint of drafting my Halloween novella, and every single scene starts right here with the friendly touch of pen to page, and my hand resting on a notebook.
September 11, 2026 at 5:12 PM
If you over-think your first drafts, change the medium - not your mind.
I’m in the final sprint of drafting my Halloween novella, and every single scene starts right here with the friendly touch of pen to page, and my hand resting on a notebook.
I’m in the final sprint of drafting my Halloween novella, and every single scene starts right here with the friendly touch of pen to page, and my hand resting on a notebook.
I caught myself staring like a child in the middle of Victoria Station yesterday.
I was walking through the grey, hurried commuter crowd when I stumbled upon the Belmond Pullman vintage train.
I was walking through the grey, hurried commuter crowd when I stumbled upon the Belmond Pullman vintage train.
September 11, 2026 at 3:15 PM
I caught myself staring like a child in the middle of Victoria Station yesterday.
I was walking through the grey, hurried commuter crowd when I stumbled upon the Belmond Pullman vintage train.
I was walking through the grey, hurried commuter crowd when I stumbled upon the Belmond Pullman vintage train.
It turns out having no signal in a stadium can be a gift.
Last night I saw Bon Jovi at Wembley — the same stage that hosted Queen’s legendary set, and countless others.
Last night I saw Bon Jovi at Wembley — the same stage that hosted Queen’s legendary set, and countless others.
September 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM
It turns out having no signal in a stadium can be a gift.
Last night I saw Bon Jovi at Wembley — the same stage that hosted Queen’s legendary set, and countless others.
Last night I saw Bon Jovi at Wembley — the same stage that hosted Queen’s legendary set, and countless others.
I am having a cheesy day of rock n roll shenanigans before I go and see Bon Jovi tonight.
Here is a Hendrix outfit in the meantime 🤘
Here is a Hendrix outfit in the meantime 🤘
September 9, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I am having a cheesy day of rock n roll shenanigans before I go and see Bon Jovi tonight.
Here is a Hendrix outfit in the meantime 🤘
Here is a Hendrix outfit in the meantime 🤘
I once led the design of an entire fictional American football league, complete with 8 teams from around the world, a full roster of players, and a detailed backstory of the league and its founding, set in the year 2250.
Sometimes I am tempted to revisit it.
Would you like to learn more?
Sometimes I am tempted to revisit it.
Would you like to learn more?
September 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I once led the design of an entire fictional American football league, complete with 8 teams from around the world, a full roster of players, and a detailed backstory of the league and its founding, set in the year 2250.
Sometimes I am tempted to revisit it.
Would you like to learn more?
Sometimes I am tempted to revisit it.
Would you like to learn more?
The steam clears at 7pm UK. 🐇💧 Hec'ten and his human commander survived the explosion, but the real danger is what's hidden beneath the pipes... and the order to cover it up.
Read it here: graemesatlas.substack.com
#SciFi #WritingCommunity
Read it here: graemesatlas.substack.com
#SciFi #WritingCommunity
March 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The steam clears at 7pm UK. 🐇💧 Hec'ten and his human commander survived the explosion, but the real danger is what's hidden beneath the pipes... and the order to cover it up.
Read it here: graemesatlas.substack.com
#SciFi #WritingCommunity
Read it here: graemesatlas.substack.com
#SciFi #WritingCommunity
100 subscribers! 🎉 To celebrate, I’m testing a new community-powered launch model for my sci-fi serial, The Strings Of Us. Think indie pub meets co-op. Full details drop tomorrow at 6pm GMT! 🌌 Come join the Guild over on Substack: graemesatlas.substack.com
#WritingCommunity #IndiePub #SciFi
#WritingCommunity #IndiePub #SciFi
February 25, 2026 at 11:29 PM
100 subscribers! 🎉 To celebrate, I’m testing a new community-powered launch model for my sci-fi serial, The Strings Of Us. Think indie pub meets co-op. Full details drop tomorrow at 6pm GMT! 🌌 Come join the Guild over on Substack: graemesatlas.substack.com
#WritingCommunity #IndiePub #SciFi
#WritingCommunity #IndiePub #SciFi
22) WIP Aesthetic Board
#FantasyIndiesAugust
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM
22) WIP Aesthetic Board
#FantasyIndiesAugust
#FantasyIndiesAugust
21) Is my MC a morning person?
I would say yes and no. Once they get into their journey, strict regimented industrial earth time, i.e. doing a 9-5, is less relevant. He sleeps with the curtains open. So that helps to be a morning person by virtue of the light seeping through.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
I would say yes and no. Once they get into their journey, strict regimented industrial earth time, i.e. doing a 9-5, is less relevant. He sleeps with the curtains open. So that helps to be a morning person by virtue of the light seeping through.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
21) Is my MC a morning person?
I would say yes and no. Once they get into their journey, strict regimented industrial earth time, i.e. doing a 9-5, is less relevant. He sleeps with the curtains open. So that helps to be a morning person by virtue of the light seeping through.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
I would say yes and no. Once they get into their journey, strict regimented industrial earth time, i.e. doing a 9-5, is less relevant. He sleeps with the curtains open. So that helps to be a morning person by virtue of the light seeping through.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Ahh running out of time!
20) Superstitions in WIP
There is a thing called the strings. Its relatively unknown by humans, and those that have heard of it think its nonsense.
Rabbits on the other hand live with it every day. To them it is a way of life. Who has the truth of it?
#FantasyIndiesAugust
20) Superstitions in WIP
There is a thing called the strings. Its relatively unknown by humans, and those that have heard of it think its nonsense.
Rabbits on the other hand live with it every day. To them it is a way of life. Who has the truth of it?
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 28, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Ahh running out of time!
20) Superstitions in WIP
There is a thing called the strings. Its relatively unknown by humans, and those that have heard of it think its nonsense.
Rabbits on the other hand live with it every day. To them it is a way of life. Who has the truth of it?
#FantasyIndiesAugust
20) Superstitions in WIP
There is a thing called the strings. Its relatively unknown by humans, and those that have heard of it think its nonsense.
Rabbits on the other hand live with it every day. To them it is a way of life. Who has the truth of it?
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Time to break up my feed with some personal art. A quick scroll through my albums uncovered this. Painted on my iPad (procreate) about 2 years ago. It's an interpretation of Gavilar Kholin, from 'The way of kings' by Brandon Sanderson.
#ArtSky #Art #Illustration #ConceptArt #DigitalArt #Drawing
#ArtSky #Art #Illustration #ConceptArt #DigitalArt #Drawing
August 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Time to break up my feed with some personal art. A quick scroll through my albums uncovered this. Painted on my iPad (procreate) about 2 years ago. It's an interpretation of Gavilar Kholin, from 'The way of kings' by Brandon Sanderson.
#ArtSky #Art #Illustration #ConceptArt #DigitalArt #Drawing
#ArtSky #Art #Illustration #ConceptArt #DigitalArt #Drawing
19) "It's called ma. Emptiness. It's there intentionally. The time in between my clapping is ma. If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it's just busyness, but if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension".
#FantasyIndiesAugust
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
19) "It's called ma. Emptiness. It's there intentionally. The time in between my clapping is ma. If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it's just busyness, but if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension".
#FantasyIndiesAugust
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Still catching up
18) a WIP playlist. I tend to let the music fit the mood of what I'm writing. This recent fit of words has been quite a serene one, and so this playlist of mine has been in rotation. It's called 'working in the garden'
#FantasyIndiesAugust
open.spotify.com/playlist/6j5...
18) a WIP playlist. I tend to let the music fit the mood of what I'm writing. This recent fit of words has been quite a serene one, and so this playlist of mine has been in rotation. It's called 'working in the garden'
#FantasyIndiesAugust
open.spotify.com/playlist/6j5...
August 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Still catching up
18) a WIP playlist. I tend to let the music fit the mood of what I'm writing. This recent fit of words has been quite a serene one, and so this playlist of mine has been in rotation. It's called 'working in the garden'
#FantasyIndiesAugust
open.spotify.com/playlist/6j5...
18) a WIP playlist. I tend to let the music fit the mood of what I'm writing. This recent fit of words has been quite a serene one, and so this playlist of mine has been in rotation. It's called 'working in the garden'
#FantasyIndiesAugust
open.spotify.com/playlist/6j5...
Flash fiction:
It all started when the Koi walked.
I remember it well. Almost 2000 years ago a pair of gentlemen walked by my river and began a discussion that begged of each other to answer a ponderous question, ‘what is the happiness of fish'. (1/7) 👇
#FantasyIndiesAugust
It all started when the Koi walked.
I remember it well. Almost 2000 years ago a pair of gentlemen walked by my river and began a discussion that begged of each other to answer a ponderous question, ‘what is the happiness of fish'. (1/7) 👇
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Flash fiction:
It all started when the Koi walked.
I remember it well. Almost 2000 years ago a pair of gentlemen walked by my river and began a discussion that begged of each other to answer a ponderous question, ‘what is the happiness of fish'. (1/7) 👇
#FantasyIndiesAugust
It all started when the Koi walked.
I remember it well. Almost 2000 years ago a pair of gentlemen walked by my river and began a discussion that begged of each other to answer a ponderous question, ‘what is the happiness of fish'. (1/7) 👇
#FantasyIndiesAugust
(Catching up still)
Snippet Saturday:
'If she could sense it in them, why did they not sense it in us? Her song faltered as this new understanding dawned on her, and as she stumbled, she felt the child's string stumble too'.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Snippet Saturday:
'If she could sense it in them, why did they not sense it in us? Her song faltered as this new understanding dawned on her, and as she stumbled, she felt the child's string stumble too'.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
(Catching up still)
Snippet Saturday:
'If she could sense it in them, why did they not sense it in us? Her song faltered as this new understanding dawned on her, and as she stumbled, she felt the child's string stumble too'.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Snippet Saturday:
'If she could sense it in them, why did they not sense it in us? Her song faltered as this new understanding dawned on her, and as she stumbled, she felt the child's string stumble too'.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Catch up time!
15) Comfort movie/tv show.
Movie: Lilo and Stitch, Master and Commander, Way out west, Lost in Translation, My neighbor Totoro, Lord of the Rings.
TV show: The good place, Mash, Stargate Sg1, Downton Abbey, Only fools and Horses, Looney Toons.
I'm sure I've forgotten plenty!
15) Comfort movie/tv show.
Movie: Lilo and Stitch, Master and Commander, Way out west, Lost in Translation, My neighbor Totoro, Lord of the Rings.
TV show: The good place, Mash, Stargate Sg1, Downton Abbey, Only fools and Horses, Looney Toons.
I'm sure I've forgotten plenty!
August 20, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Catch up time!
15) Comfort movie/tv show.
Movie: Lilo and Stitch, Master and Commander, Way out west, Lost in Translation, My neighbor Totoro, Lord of the Rings.
TV show: The good place, Mash, Stargate Sg1, Downton Abbey, Only fools and Horses, Looney Toons.
I'm sure I've forgotten plenty!
15) Comfort movie/tv show.
Movie: Lilo and Stitch, Master and Commander, Way out west, Lost in Translation, My neighbor Totoro, Lord of the Rings.
TV show: The good place, Mash, Stargate Sg1, Downton Abbey, Only fools and Horses, Looney Toons.
I'm sure I've forgotten plenty!
New post exploring my drawings for one of my characters: Cash'ya.
Let me know what you think. 😀
open.substack.com/pub/graemesa...
Let me know what you think. 😀
open.substack.com/pub/graemesa...
August 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
New post exploring my drawings for one of my characters: Cash'ya.
Let me know what you think. 😀
open.substack.com/pub/graemesa...
Let me know what you think. 😀
open.substack.com/pub/graemesa...
14) Romance?
Not yet. But that does not mean there won't be. I just haven't got to it. I have a few suspicions as to how this might evolve. But also a theme I want to explore is to emotionally validate platonic companions as having just as much emotional and communal meaning.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Not yet. But that does not mean there won't be. I just haven't got to it. I have a few suspicions as to how this might evolve. But also a theme I want to explore is to emotionally validate platonic companions as having just as much emotional and communal meaning.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
August 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
14) Romance?
Not yet. But that does not mean there won't be. I just haven't got to it. I have a few suspicions as to how this might evolve. But also a theme I want to explore is to emotionally validate platonic companions as having just as much emotional and communal meaning.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
Not yet. But that does not mean there won't be. I just haven't got to it. I have a few suspicions as to how this might evolve. But also a theme I want to explore is to emotionally validate platonic companions as having just as much emotional and communal meaning.
#FantasyIndiesAugust
13) Ebooks for me. I like physical copies too. But I once lived on a boat, and now live in quite a small single room. There isn't much space for books, so when I buy physical, I make sure they're special.
EBooks are great space-savers. Much more boat friendly. #FantasyIndiesAugust #booksky
EBooks are great space-savers. Much more boat friendly. #FantasyIndiesAugust #booksky
August 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
13) Ebooks for me. I like physical copies too. But I once lived on a boat, and now live in quite a small single room. There isn't much space for books, so when I buy physical, I make sure they're special.
EBooks are great space-savers. Much more boat friendly. #FantasyIndiesAugust #booksky
EBooks are great space-savers. Much more boat friendly. #FantasyIndiesAugust #booksky
Last, current, and next reads:
🌀The old man and the sea - Ernest Hemingway
🌀 One thousand vines - Pascaline Lepeltier
🌀A pirate of exquisite mind - Diana and Michael Preston
Generally I'm more of a non fiction reader for some reason. 60/40.
#FantasyIndiesAugust #Booksky
🌀The old man and the sea - Ernest Hemingway
🌀 One thousand vines - Pascaline Lepeltier
🌀A pirate of exquisite mind - Diana and Michael Preston
Generally I'm more of a non fiction reader for some reason. 60/40.
#FantasyIndiesAugust #Booksky
August 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Last, current, and next reads:
🌀The old man and the sea - Ernest Hemingway
🌀 One thousand vines - Pascaline Lepeltier
🌀A pirate of exquisite mind - Diana and Michael Preston
Generally I'm more of a non fiction reader for some reason. 60/40.
#FantasyIndiesAugust #Booksky
🌀The old man and the sea - Ernest Hemingway
🌀 One thousand vines - Pascaline Lepeltier
🌀A pirate of exquisite mind - Diana and Michael Preston
Generally I'm more of a non fiction reader for some reason. 60/40.
#FantasyIndiesAugust #Booksky
Surprisingly I have not used the word split in my WIP so far. So borrowing some creative license, I have taken this excerpt instead from when a husband splits from his wife and daughter. 😭
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #Fiction #Writing
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #Fiction #Writing
August 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Surprisingly I have not used the word split in my WIP so far. So borrowing some creative license, I have taken this excerpt instead from when a husband splits from his wife and daughter. 😭
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #Fiction #Writing
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #Fiction #Writing