Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike Fox

@polyscribe70.bsky.social

220 followers 140 following 570 posts

Short story writer, delinquent poetry reader. Fictive Dream, The Lonely Press, Confingo, Fragmented Voices, Structo, Nightjar Press, Salt Publishing, Exacting Clam polyscribe.co.uk

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · Jun 19

Huge thanks to Joe Darlington and Manchester Review of books for this stunning review of my collection Things Grown Distant, still available from @confingopublishing.bsky.social manchestereviewofbooks.wordpress.com/2024/10/15/t...

3 10

Reposted by Mike Fox

Peter Devonald @pdevonald.bsky.social · 1h

Delighted to have work in the group show ‘SEASONS’ at The Addenbrooke’s Gallery/ Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ 11 October 2025 – 31 January 2026 .

Huge thanks to Monica Perez Vega and the Small Works Gallery

www.cambridgedrawingsociety.org/.../seasons....
smallworksartgallery.com/.../seasons-...

1 2 9

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1h

I should imagine so Nicola. It's fair to say she wasn't restrained in her language!

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1h

By chance I've just read Margery Kempe's graphic thoughts on this subject. Oh god...

Reposted by Mike Fox

Sherry Morris 💙🇺🇦💛 @uksherka.bsky.social · 3h

I've been away but September's excellent episode of Sherry's Shorts has played on! Listen Again to cracking stories from @ruthabrandt.bsky.social, Nazifa Islam, Cynthia Rogerson & me with the link⬇️. It's all change on Friday with a new show so catch this one now. www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...

Sherry Morris 💙🇺🇦💛 @uksherka.bsky.social · Sep 13

Gather round yer...er...phone, folks, for the September episode of Sherry's Shorts on @highlandhradio.bsky.social. Titled 'Tricky Talks' & featuring dynamite stories by @ruthabrandt.bsky.social Nazifa Islam, Cynthia Rogerson & me. Click the Listen Again link & enjoy www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...

2 2

Reposted by Mike Fox

Fictive Dream @fictivedream.bsky.social · 17h

ICYMI we're open for #submissions of #shortstories #flashfiction #microfiction #translations and looking fwd to reading your work #callforsubmissions. Please click on the link for our guidelines fictivedream.com/submission-g...

3 6

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 18h

For that reason I doubt Hildegard would disappoint, Justine.

Reposted by Mike Fox

Lucie McKnight Hardy @lmcknighthardy.bsky.social · 22h

Should you be that way inclined, you can pre-order Night Babies from today until Friday 17th October from Waterstones and get 25% off

Just use code OCTOBER 25

www.waterstones.com/campaign/oct...

4 3 8

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 22h

There's no value in describing a character's appearance. Good grief...

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

It's a biography, so in that sense no, but still very much a story in FM's hands. Hildegard is thought to be the first woman to write a book. She was a force of nature in the Margery Kempe mould, but of higher status. Also a genius - author, composer, apothecary and so on. It's a terrific read.

1 1

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Have you read Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks?

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

'Most mobile devices, as a result of the digital bonding that develops following proximity to a user, are imprinted with a sense of loyalty.' Love this tale of low-level empathy (man + phone, man + dog) by @niamhmaccabe.bsky.social. Some of Niamh's sentences are to die for...

Niamh Mac Cabe @niamhmaccabe.bsky.social · 2d

I'm very excited to be published in the exquisite 3:AM, and grateful to editor Daniel Davis Wood.
My story, about gates, hounds, and bottomless lakes.
www.3ammagazine.com/3am/tracker-...

Tracker on R***** – 3:AM Magazine

www.3ammagazine.com

1 4

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Pleasure, Vicky.

Reposted by Mike Fox

Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · 1d

Vincent van Gogh, Bowl with Daisies, 1888

1 4 29

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Me too, Cathy. Some authors try to impose a modern sensibility on the medieval mind. I thought Victoria avoided that really skilfully.

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Margery Kempe and Dame Julian of Norwich share the narrative in this exquisite novel by @vickymackenzie.bsky.social
Contrasting medieval lives, each with the same intent, their circumstances and inner worlds rendered with deep insight and authenticity. A wonderful book.

3 3 9

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks, Niamh. Glad it's not just me. I'll keep an eye out for when it's back.

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Alas, the site's not letting me in, Niamh.

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 1d

Clearly it's made you the woman you are today, Cathy!

Reposted by Mike Fox

David Frankel @daveyfrankel.bsky.social · 2d

It's been tough going for small publishers for a while, but they continue to publish a lot of the most exciting new work, and are the main supporters of the short story as a form. Support indie publishing when you can!
www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...

Open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK

The industry must work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses.

www.thebookseller.com

1 22 44

Reposted by Mike Fox

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · 4d

A fantastic idea. These look stunning

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 4d

This is quite exciting. Over the next year, we’re going to be giving away 12,000 of these little books to help spread the love of short stories:

Little Uncertainties

Little Uncertainties are very short books, each containing just a single story.

www.uncertainstories.com

1 2 6

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 4d

Absolutely. I was there for a group meditation with her daughter and friends. The garden ran down to the river Brent and contained trees from which, at age 93, she still still cut wood to make her sculptures. She was not in the least interested in her daughter's meditative activities...

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 4d

The advice came from an intrepid friend, who'd made a trip to London as her passenger. This is where she lived: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Her...

The Hermitage, Hanwell - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

1 1

Reposted by Mike Fox

Vicky MacKenzie @vickymackenzie.bsky.social · May 8

Happy Feast Day to #JulianofNorwich! She was an astonishing medieval theologian who had some pretty trippy visions and wrote the FIRST known book in English by a woman. If you want to know more about her, you could always read my novel, FOR THY GREAT PAIN HAVE MERCY ON MY LITTLE PAIN 💙

6 7 42

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 5d

Going next week!

1 1

Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social · 5d

My France