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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

@russeldmclean.bsky.social

870 followers 1K following 1K posts

Novelist, screenwriter, freelance dev editor. Crime/thriller/sff/horror. General miscreant. Dad of cats. Scottish. Latest Book: THE FRIDAY GIRL (as R.D. McLean) https://www.russeldmcleanbooks.com

www.russeldmcleanbooks.com

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · Aug 15

As an experiment, putting the J McNee series on Kindle Unlimited -- so if you have a membership, you can now read books 2, 3 and 5 as part of your subscription (the rest'll be coming after delisting completes) -- go get yer fill of some Dundee noir! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0822L7CP... #booksky 💙📚

J McNee

Visit Amazon's J McNee page and shop for all J McNee books. Check out pictures, author information and reviews of J McNee

www.amazon.co.uk

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 16h

Tonight's October creepy watch is NIGHTBREED (1990, dir. Clive Barker) featuring a creepy David Cronenberg, an impressive amount of makeup for monsters and a plot butchered in the theatrical cut (Thankfully @arrowvideo.bsky.social blu ray restores original intent)

The blu ray cover for Nightbreed shows a man in a mask with a blade standing behind a selection of monstrous visage.

Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

Far From The Madding Crowd Bookshop @ffmaddingcrowd.bsky.social · 1d

Not long now until we welcome brilliant Lesley McDowell back to Linlithgow to discuss her new historical novel Love and Other Poisons! Set in Victorian era Glasgow and jam packed with scandal and murder - what more could you want for the season? Tickets: tinyurl.com/2atjyjkr

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 2d

Okay, now I'm going to have down a further rabbit hole...

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 2d

I only just learned today that THE WARRIORS (1979) was based on a 1965 novel. And now I have to get my hands on that novel...

a man sitting in a car talking into a microphone with the words warriors came out to play below him

ALT: a man sitting in a car talking into a microphone with the words warriors came out to play below him

media.tenor.com

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 2d

An absolutely brilliant book. So put on the playlist, open the book, and enjoy, folks -- it's one helluva ride!

Orenda Books @orendabooks.bsky.social · 2d

🎶 #TheWinterJob: The Playlist 🚗

Buckle up for Antti Tuomainen’s wild Finnish road trip a hilarious & nail-biting #Thriller about a dad, a piano & a snowbound mission gone sideways❄️

🇫🇮 t David Hackston

🎵 What’s your ultimate #RoadTrip song?
🚗 @ Tag your partner in crime!

❄️ bit.ly/46q4TLE

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 3d

It isn't October without a watch of THE OMEN (1976, dir. Richard Donner) which is one of the very first horror films I remember watching. And now in a fresh bou ray format too after many years of a slightly iffy DVD transfer...

Blu ray cover of THE OMEN (1976) showing a statue of an angel weeping blood from one eye against the background of a red sky.

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

Come on, folks -- you need to get clicking and send this one soaring up the charts! Do it! Do it now! Its a bloody brilliant read and a story that needs to be known not just in Scotland, but everywhere! Sex, scandal, murder, poison, social climbing and a very naughty Frenchman!

Lesley McDowell @lesleymcdowell.bsky.social · 6d

My story of a shocking real-life Victorian woman accused of murder is on special offer on Kindle for the whole of October! 'Enthralling' The Scotsman 'Gripping...memorably disturbing' The Herald

Green and black book cover with title Love and Other Poisons

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

Other bookshops available, but here's the Big River link to the Kindle version of THE FRIDAY GIRL if you're still to catch up! www.amazon.co.uk/Friday-Girl-...

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

Third draft finished! A bit more research and some chats to be had with people, but on track to submit to publishers for end of the month... *fingers crossed* (PS -- if you haven't already, you should the first book in this series, THE FRIDAY GIRL, right now to convince em its worth the next one!)

A screenshot of word count for Russel's next book showing 87569 of target of 90,000 words and THE END at the bottom of the screen.

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

It was a brilliant evening -- superb musical interludes and as always you're superb on the stage (Really looking forward to starting the new book!)

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

Tonight's creepy October watch -- BURNT OFFERINGS (1976, dir. Dan Curtis) in which a mysterious house brings out Oliver Reed's darker side -- a Southern Gothic slow burn that lingers unsettlingly...

The cover of Burnt Offerings on blu ray from Arrow Video shows a hand offering up a gothic mansion and a pair of eyes in red, lightning-lit skies.

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 4d

Some pics from @waterstones.bsky.social Sauchiehall tonight -- with the amazing @anncleeves.bsky.social interviewed by @louisewelsh00.bsky.social and special musical interludes from a Shetland musician (Chris Stout)

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

WHO WILL REMAIN by Kasim Ali just blew me away -- the story of Amir, growing up in, Birmingham & stuck between the expectations of family & the allure of easy money, it's a book that doesn't shy away from the worst instincts of its characters & yet treats them with true humanity. Absolutely superb!

The cover of WHO WILL REMAIN by Kasim Ali shows the bold main title superimposed on map of Birmingham.

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

Listen to @sirbenfro.bsky.social -- he knows whereof he speaks, and frankly, LOVE AND OTHER POISONS by my brilliant wife @lesleymcdowell.bsky.social is too good to miss out on at this price on Kindle!

James Oswald @sirbenfro.bsky.social · 6d

'Excellent' Me

Lesley McDowell @lesleymcdowell.bsky.social · 6d

My story of a shocking real-life Victorian woman accused of murder is on special offer on Kindle for the whole of October! 'Enthralling' The Scotsman 'Gripping...memorably disturbing' The Herald

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

PS -- please buy my books. They're untouched by AI and you might find them quite exciting little reads...

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

Phishing message/AI spam offering "visibility" for my book this morning -- four so far. All reported. I do worry something genuine will be caught up in this but frankly at this point, if you're unable to separate yourself from the AI masses you're clearly not going to be able to "promote" my books.

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

Kendra, regular version @kendrawcandraw.bsky.social · 20d

Please don't call it that

What You Will Need
• Experience: 5+ years as a video editor or producer-editor ("preditor").

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Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

Lesley McDowell @lesleymcdowell.bsky.social · 6d

My story of a shocking real-life Victorian woman accused of murder is on special offer on Kindle for the whole of October! 'Enthralling' The Scotsman 'Gripping...memorably disturbing' The Herald

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

More horror for Halloween -- THE EXORCIST III (1990, dir. William Peter Blatty) in which detective Kinderman searches for a serial killer and finds connections to the death of Father Damian Karris during an excorism 15 years earlier. In an odd way I find this one more rewatchable than part I...

The cover over the blu ray of EXORCIST III shows a statue of Jesus missing a head and a cloaked figure with what appears to be a giant pair of shears...

Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

Orenda Books @orendabooks.bsky.social · 6d

🎥💀 A final reckoning…

💀 Atmospheric, dark & chilling, #BlackAsDeath is the twisty finale to the Áróra Investigation #Series from @liljawriter.bsky.social, t L Garcia

As Áróra & her friends search for answers that may lead them to places even darker than death… 23/10

📖 https://bit.ly/4kKvI0u

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 6d

More reading -- GUNNER by @alanparks.bsky.social is an absolute gangbuster of a novel set in 1940s Glasgow following a man invalided from the front lines as he returns to Glasgow and gets caught in a mystery involving mutilated German bodies and... Rudolf Hess? Pacy, punchy & pure dead brilliant.

The cover of Gunner shows the silhouette of a man in a trenchcoat and trilby standing front of the Clyde river as German planes fly overhead.

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Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean

Doug Mack @douglasmack.bsky.social · 7d

the most delightful version of logging on to see what news you've missed

Dr Ramsdell, whose phone had been on airplane mode when the Nobel committee tried to call him, told the BBC's Newshour Programme that his first response when his wife said, "You've won the Nobel prize" was: "I did not."

To which Ms O'Neill replied that she had 200 text messages that suggested he had.

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 7d

Given their history and reputation, that blows my mind. But with my own prev experience of similar I don't know why I'm surprised. I'm hoping at the very least you get your damn rights back. It still shocks me how little protection the writers have in cases like this.

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Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 7d

Honestly? Sod. Off.

Text from an email that says:

"We're seeking writers to evaluate AI-generated content, develop effective prompts, and review AI workflows.

Your writing skills could be directly monetized while contributing to the advancement of AI technology.

The position offers flexible, remote work at $15 hour (US

Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean @russeldmclean.bsky.social · 7d

No one wants a small press to shutter, especially one that's got kick-arse authors involved, but if you're in business, you need to have a plan of sorts. Not just a "well, sorry everyone, you're screwed". At the very least more transparency would be useful to help authors know why etc.

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