Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
@samarcand.itch.io
Girly Trans Soul Rebel, author & reader.
So many books.
So many comics.
So much tea.
Pronouns:she/her
https://linktr.ee/samarcand
So many books.
So many comics.
So much tea.
Pronouns:she/her
https://linktr.ee/samarcand
Pinned
I've decided that one of the reasons that people aren't buying my books is because they don't really know anything about them, because I'm really useless at publicising my work. But, if I can write threads talking about other people's books, then I can certainly do it for my own. So here goes.
The frocks in Bridgerton are absolutely gorgeous. But only when standing up.
February 7, 2026 at 8:52 PM
The frocks in Bridgerton are absolutely gorgeous. But only when standing up.
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 PM
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
Neil Gaiman and a Substack blog: how a so-called journalist trashed the notion of 'consent'
Technopathology produced pages of reporting under the title of "Neil Gaiman is Innocent". Yet the idea of consent has been manipulated.
www.thecanary.co/opinion/2026...
Technopathology produced pages of reporting under the title of "Neil Gaiman is Innocent". Yet the idea of consent has been manipulated.
www.thecanary.co/opinion/2026...
Neil Gaiman and a Substack blog: how a so-called journalist trashed the notion of 'consent'
Technopathology produced pages of reporting under the title of "Neil Gaiman is Innocent". Yet the idea of consent has been manipulated
www.thecanary.co
February 6, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Neil Gaiman and a Substack blog: how a so-called journalist trashed the notion of 'consent'
Technopathology produced pages of reporting under the title of "Neil Gaiman is Innocent". Yet the idea of consent has been manipulated.
www.thecanary.co/opinion/2026...
Technopathology produced pages of reporting under the title of "Neil Gaiman is Innocent". Yet the idea of consent has been manipulated.
www.thecanary.co/opinion/2026...
I have an interview next week! It's for a tech company doing admin that seems to be broadly in line with what I was doing. It's only 25k but it looks like I'll be earning pretty much what I was at the Trust because I won't have any debt to pay off.
February 6, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I have an interview next week! It's for a tech company doing admin that seems to be broadly in line with what I was doing. It's only 25k but it looks like I'll be earning pretty much what I was at the Trust because I won't have any debt to pay off.
An excellent, incisive thread about where we are now.
Lately I've been watching people argue about how they're going to vote and it strikes me how some of them are mistaking nostalgia for realpolitik, so I feel a need for a thread called Show Me the Way to Go Home ('Cause I'm Tired and I Want to Go to Bed).
February 6, 2026 at 10:04 AM
An excellent, incisive thread about where we are now.
I had a meeting with PsychiatryUK about getting back on to ADHD meds yesterday. It doesn't look it's happening anytime soon because my blood pressure has shot up again so it's too high to start and the waiting list titration is 10 months.
I think at this point I'm resigned to never getting them.
I think at this point I'm resigned to never getting them.
February 4, 2026 at 2:22 PM
I had a meeting with PsychiatryUK about getting back on to ADHD meds yesterday. It doesn't look it's happening anytime soon because my blood pressure has shot up again so it's too high to start and the waiting list titration is 10 months.
I think at this point I'm resigned to never getting them.
I think at this point I'm resigned to never getting them.
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
i see neil gailman has predictably slithered out from under a rock, so now is a great time to catch up on my essay about dave sim's nomination to the eisner hall of fame and his role as gaiman's enabler www.patreon.com/posts/eisner...
The Eisner Awards Are Decadent and Depraved | Veronique Emma Houxbois: Cartoonist
Get more from Veronique Emma Houxbois: Cartoonist on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:35 PM
i see neil gailman has predictably slithered out from under a rock, so now is a great time to catch up on my essay about dave sim's nomination to the eisner hall of fame and his role as gaiman's enabler www.patreon.com/posts/eisner...
I've just finished watching this fantastic video by @neillyleftistcook.bsky.social and @saribo.bsky.social - The Leftist Cooks and it made me think hard about when, where and how I would flee the UK.
And I realised that I have nowhere to go and no way to get there if I did.
youtu.be/tEFOUP866ls?...
And I realised that I have nowhere to go and no way to get there if I did.
youtu.be/tEFOUP866ls?...
Abolish ICE. Abolish Borders.
YouTube video by The Leftist Cooks
youtu.be
February 3, 2026 at 4:27 PM
I've just finished watching this fantastic video by @neillyleftistcook.bsky.social and @saribo.bsky.social - The Leftist Cooks and it made me think hard about when, where and how I would flee the UK.
And I realised that I have nowhere to go and no way to get there if I did.
youtu.be/tEFOUP866ls?...
And I realised that I have nowhere to go and no way to get there if I did.
youtu.be/tEFOUP866ls?...
Has anyone checked the Epstein Files for Gaiman? I find it hard to believe that he's not in them.
February 3, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Has anyone checked the Epstein Files for Gaiman? I find it hard to believe that he's not in them.
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover…
But come on. @lyssmenold.bsky.social has created something absolutely incredible.
And yes, superlatives are very much required when it comes to Trans+ art. Just look at it!
I only hope the inside of the book will turn out as good.
But come on. @lyssmenold.bsky.social has created something absolutely incredible.
And yes, superlatives are very much required when it comes to Trans+ art. Just look at it!
I only hope the inside of the book will turn out as good.
February 2, 2026 at 6:49 PM
You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover…
But come on. @lyssmenold.bsky.social has created something absolutely incredible.
And yes, superlatives are very much required when it comes to Trans+ art. Just look at it!
I only hope the inside of the book will turn out as good.
But come on. @lyssmenold.bsky.social has created something absolutely incredible.
And yes, superlatives are very much required when it comes to Trans+ art. Just look at it!
I only hope the inside of the book will turn out as good.
Proud to be the 3rd backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Trans in the Machine: Chronicling the New Cyberpunk Canon!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
Trans in the Machine: Chronicling the New Cyberpunk Canon
A first of its kind exploration of transness in cyberpunk. Putting Trans+ voices front and centre, this academic yet accessible book will feature interviews from dozens of creatives and media experts....
www.backerkit.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Proud to be the 3rd backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Trans in the Machine: Chronicling the New Cyberpunk Canon!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
Got a couple days of food together. But otherwise still presently rather royally fucked.
Anyone have need of a freelance editor/writer? I mostly work books/publishing, but I do everything from corporate to TTRPGs, so really open to whatever at this point.
Anyone have need of a freelance editor/writer? I mostly work books/publishing, but I do everything from corporate to TTRPGs, so really open to whatever at this point.
On the topic of work, while I wait for an invoice to be fulfilled, I'm flat broke and out of food again.
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Matheson Freelancing
Post by @sekisetsu.
mathesonfreelancing.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Got a couple days of food together. But otherwise still presently rather royally fucked.
Anyone have need of a freelance editor/writer? I mostly work books/publishing, but I do everything from corporate to TTRPGs, so really open to whatever at this point.
Anyone have need of a freelance editor/writer? I mostly work books/publishing, but I do everything from corporate to TTRPGs, so really open to whatever at this point.
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
On the topic of work, while I wait for an invoice to be fulfilled, I'm flat broke and out of food again.
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Matheson Freelancing
Post by @sekisetsu.
mathesonfreelancing.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:06 PM
On the topic of work, while I wait for an invoice to be fulfilled, I'm flat broke and out of food again.
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Can I interest anyone in hiring an excellent editor who works fiction (primarily spec, but also romance heavily) and non-fiction?
Inquire at the link or feel free to DM: mathesonfreelancing.com
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
We want to ask anyone who comes across this study to avoid and not to participate in it.
www.reddit.com/r/traaaaaaan...
www.reddit.com/r/traaaaaaan...
From the traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns2 community on Reddit: PSA: Ayagdos study
Explore this post and more from the traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns2 community
www.reddit.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:49 AM
We want to ask anyone who comes across this study to avoid and not to participate in it.
www.reddit.com/r/traaaaaaan...
www.reddit.com/r/traaaaaaan...
And the Kobo version is now live!
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
January 30, 2026 at 5:08 PM
And the Kobo version is now live!
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
Does anyone else find Holly Hunter's manic pixie dream captain somewhat annoying in Starfleet Academy?
January 29, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Does anyone else find Holly Hunter's manic pixie dream captain somewhat annoying in Starfleet Academy?
Everyone else is doing so why not me?
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
January 29, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Everyone else is doing so why not me?
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
Twice in two nights Stephen Colbert has referenced Harry Potter.
It looked a lot like Sam Rockwell wanted to say something about watching/reading it but decided against it.
It looked a lot like Sam Rockwell wanted to say something about watching/reading it but decided against it.
January 29, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Twice in two nights Stephen Colbert has referenced Harry Potter.
It looked a lot like Sam Rockwell wanted to say something about watching/reading it but decided against it.
It looked a lot like Sam Rockwell wanted to say something about watching/reading it but decided against it.
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
"It's called 'literary sci-fi,' T — it's when you rewrite a Twilight Zone episode with a thesaurus and sell it to a bunch of fanooks who think 'Heinlein' is a cheap beer"
June 2, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"It's called 'literary sci-fi,' T — it's when you rewrite a Twilight Zone episode with a thesaurus and sell it to a bunch of fanooks who think 'Heinlein' is a cheap beer"
Whichever radio station the hospital waiting room is playing has proclaimed that it plays "The best music for the UK". It immediately started to play 'St Elmo's Fire'.
January 29, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Whichever radio station the hospital waiting room is playing has proclaimed that it plays "The best music for the UK". It immediately started to play 'St Elmo's Fire'.
I wonder how good an artist you have to be to actually make art that looks like it was made by AI but isn't? Is it a 'Les Dawson playing piano' type of thing?
(For those too young or too not British to get the joke: youtu.be/9nNGlaiVypU?...)
(For those too young or too not British to get the joke: youtu.be/9nNGlaiVypU?...)
Les Dawson, playing the piano
YouTube video by basinbasin
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I wonder how good an artist you have to be to actually make art that looks like it was made by AI but isn't? Is it a 'Les Dawson playing piano' type of thing?
(For those too young or too not British to get the joke: youtu.be/9nNGlaiVypU?...)
(For those too young or too not British to get the joke: youtu.be/9nNGlaiVypU?...)
Now properly available on Am*z*n. Well, I say properly. It's not showing the cover for some reason. But nearly properly.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK2WN2Y...
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK2WN2Y...
January 29, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Now properly available on Am*z*n. Well, I say properly. It's not showing the cover for some reason. But nearly properly.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK2WN2Y...
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK2WN2Y...
Reposted by Ellen Mellor 🏳️⚧️ Samarcand Books (she/her)
Today I'm announcing the AI Shills Hub - free AI training, available now for every adult in the UK 🇬🇧
You'll learn:
- Torrenting pirate libraries
- AI scamming
- Ensloppification
- Misinformation 101
and much more!
aishillshub.org.uk
You'll learn:
- Torrenting pirate libraries
- AI scamming
- Ensloppification
- Misinformation 101
and much more!
aishillshub.org.uk
AI Shills Hub
Upskill in AI using our range of free courses, all paid for by big tech!
aishillshub.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Today I'm announcing the AI Shills Hub - free AI training, available now for every adult in the UK 🇬🇧
You'll learn:
- Torrenting pirate libraries
- AI scamming
- Ensloppification
- Misinformation 101
and much more!
aishillshub.org.uk
You'll learn:
- Torrenting pirate libraries
- AI scamming
- Ensloppification
- Misinformation 101
and much more!
aishillshub.org.uk