Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you! 🙏🏼

Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · 2d

I’m happy to announce I am being represented by the Elise Dillsworth Literary Agency 🥳 in particular for my current novel in progress (nearly there!). ✍🏼

I’m grateful to Elise for the opportunity and believing in my writing. 🙏🏼

We keep on writing!

elisedillsworthagency.com/authors/step...

Stephen Embleton - Elise Dillsworth Agency

Stephen was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is now a resident in Oxford, United Kingdom. His background is in Graphic Design, Creative Direction and Film, and in 2022 he was an academic visito...

elisedillsworthagency.com

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Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · 3d

Congrats to Eugen Bacon (ed.) and all involved! This collection of essays is unique, bold and insightful. African speculative fiction for the win! 🔥

Eugen Bacon @genni.bsky.social · 3d

Wait. What! OMG! 🙏🏾🙏🏾
@bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, @nuzo.bsky.social, @suyidavies.com, @tobiogundiran.com, @xanwriter.bsky.social, @nerinedorman.bsky.social, @shingai-be-like.bsky.social, @dilmandila.com.web.brid.gy

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 3d

Congratulations @genni.bsky.social on winning the #2025IgnyteAwards in Outstanding Creative Nonfiction for AFRO-CENTERED FUTURISMS IN OUR SPECULATIVE FICTION

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Wole Talabi @wtalabi.bsky.social · 10d

I was in the UAE with Zuks just a few months ago, talking, laughing, reading. She's such a force of life and creativity. Her abduction, like so much else, is heartbreaking.
"South African writer & activist Zukiswa Wanner Among Those Detained on Gaza-Bound Flotilla" brittlepaper.com/2025/10/brea...

Breaking: Zukiswa Wanner Among South Africans Detained on Gaza-Bound Flotilla

South African author and editor Zukiswa Wanner is among several South Africans detained after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza on October 2. In a statement, the So...

brittlepaper.com

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Adrenalynn (she/her) @adrenalyn.bsky.social · 11d

South African journalist & author Zukiswa Wanner among those detained by Israel's military

youtube.com/watch?v=KO-P...

South African author detained by Israeli authorities from Gaza flotilla

YouTube video by CGTN Africa

youtube.com

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 15d

I was lucky enough to hear Wole Talabi read some of his novella "Descent" at Flights of Foundry, and having just finished reading it, I want to make everyone else read it, too. Fascinating worldbuilding; gorgeous images; a thoughtful portrayal of how and why we seek knowledge. tinyurl.com/wt-descent

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Wole Talabi @wtalabi.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you so much. I really appreciate everyone that has read and talked about my @sauutiverse.bsky.social novella! Its getting so much love from readers and I am humbled by it. 🙏🏾🚀 📖☁️

A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 15d

I was lucky enough to hear Wole Talabi read some of his novella "Descent" at Flights of Foundry, and having just finished reading it, I want to make everyone else read it, too. Fascinating worldbuilding; gorgeous images; a thoughtful portrayal of how and why we seek knowledge. tinyurl.com/wt-descent

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Atthis Arts @atthisarts.com · 20d

A wonderful treat (we'll for sure be there) - On 07 November, Cheryl S. Ntumy will be reading from her novella Songs for the Shadows and also talking a bit about the @sauutiverse.bsky.social.

Sign up now at: www.eventbrite.com/e/first-frid... #BookSky

Strong Women Strange Worlds presents First Friday Quick Reads of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror by Brenda W. Clough, Chelsea Conradt, Lindz McLeod, Cheryl S. Ntumy, K. J. Harrowick, Sylvie Cathrall. November 7, 12 noon EST Free On Zoom, Preregister now at StrongWomenStrangeWorlds.weebly.com

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Otherwise Award @otherwiseaward.org · Sep 11

Spotlighting more gender-expanding genre fiction from 2022 & 2023:

"Squire" (@nadiashammas.bsky.social & @saraalfageeh.bsky.social)
winners of the 2023 @goldencobra.bsky.social
"The Unbalancing" (@rblemberg.bsky.social)
"Mage of Fools" (@genni.bsky.social)
"The Way of Baa’gh" (Cheryl S. Ntumy)

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Wole Talabi @wtalabi.bsky.social · Sep 9

Edited by @genni.bsky.social @stephenembleton.bsky.social and Cheryl Ntumy. With cover insert art by @destructcode.bsky.social.

@sauutiverse.bsky.social

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Wole Talabi @wtalabi.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Sauútiverse keeps expanding! Behold the cover for our 2nd anthology: Sauúti Terrors!

Following Mothersound, return to the Sauútiverse - our collectively-built, Afrocentric, matriarchal shared-world of strange planets & sound magic - for dark fantasy, SF & horror stories & poetry.

Jan 2026.

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Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · Sep 8

Sauúti Terrors Cover Reveal!

Out in January 2026 👻☠️🔥

The Sauúti Collective @sauutiverse.bsky.social · Sep 8

Flame Tree Publisher, Nick Wells, and Sauúti Collective co-editors, Eugen Bacon, Cheryl S. Ntumy and Stephen Embleton, are thrilled to share with you the cover of Sauúti Terrors.

@genni.bsky.social
@stephenembleton.bsky.social
@nickwells451.bsky.social

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Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · Aug 26

Just one week to the release of The Nga’phandileh Whisperer: A Sauútiverse Novella by @genni.bsky.social! This is a lyrical, otherworldly book. Get your preorders in today from your favorite bookseller!
www.starsandsabers.com/books/the-ng...

#SFF #scifi #fantasy #horror #Sauútiverse

The Nga’phandileh Whisperer – Stars and Sabers

www.starsandsabers.com

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Lauren (LJ) McMenemy @laurenwrites.bsky.social · Aug 31

So what will you be in for when you log on for Writing the Occult: Belief on Saturday 6 September? A whole bunch of fascinating discussions about belief and speculative fiction, including this one with @wtalabi.bsky.social ⬇️

A text-heavy graphic features the same description as in this threaded post. To the right is the book cover for Wole Talabi's Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon.

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Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · Aug 22

Works of art. The Nga’phandileh Whisperer -
@genni.bsky.social (Sept. 2); cover - @stephenembleton.bsky.social
Echoes and Embers: Speculative Stories - @pedroiniguez.bsky.social (out now); cover - RACRUFI
The Legend Liminal - @voidcricket.bsky.social (Sept. 30); cover - @kiwifruitbird.bsky.social

The Nga’phandileh Whisperer by Eugen Bacon, cover art by Stephen Embleton
Background abstract mixed media art by Jendia Gammon

Echoes and Embers: Speculative Stories by Pedro Iniguez, cover art by Raul Cruz (RACRUFI)
Background abstract mixed media art by Jendia Gammon.

The Legend Liminal by Ren Hutchings, cover art by Kim Herbst.
Background abstract mixed media art by Jendia Gammon.

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Eugen Bacon @genni.bsky.social · Aug 21

2 weeks to go! This story bundle is flying high! #africanSF #novels #novellas @storybundle.bsky.social, @meerkatpress.bsky.social, @atthisarts.com, @stephenembleton.bsky.social, @nuzo.bsky.social, @tobiasbuckell.bsky.social , @xanwriter.bsky.social, @transitlounge.bsky.social
storybundle.com/scifi

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Jendia Gammon @jendiagammon.bsky.social · Aug 20

Gorgeous book, inside and out, with @genni.bsky.social's amazing writing and @stephenembleton.bsky.social's lovely cover art!

Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · Aug 20

It’s an #unboxing for @genni.bsky.social’s The Nga’phandileh Whisperer: A Sauútiverse Novella! Available for preorder and out September 2. This is a genre-bending #scifi, #horror, and #fabulism marvel!
Learn more: www.starsandsabers.com/books/the-ng...
#sauútiverse #afrofuturism #comingsoon

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Wole Talabi @wtalabi.bsky.social · Aug 19

Great @locusmag.bsky.social of my @sauutiverse.bsky.social novella "Descent" published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com!
"evocative descriptions and worldbuilding as well as some wonderful visceral writing"
Awesome to see people have enjoyed the story.
Read/Listen: clarkesworldmagazine.com/talabi_05_25/

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Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · Aug 18

“This book is a philosophical thriller that is as complex as it’s action-packed.”

Thanks to @genni.bsky.social for the inclusion and review of Soul Searching 💫🙏🏼

Available in the latest StoryBundle:
storybundle.com/scifi

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Eugen Bacon @genni.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sharing some short story collections I've enjoyed! 😍@dilmandila.com.web.brid.gy, @tobiogundiran.com, @tananarivedue.bsky.social , @shepherdbooks.bsky.social
shepherd.com/best-books/a...

The best Afrocentric short story collections in speculative fiction

Eugen Bacon shares the 5 best books on Afrocentric short story collections in speculative fiction. Have you read Black Friday?

shepherd.com

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Eugen Bacon @genni.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sharing some cultural anthologies worth checking out. 😍@sauutiverse.bsky.social , @chineloonwualu.bsky.social , @khadijahqueen.com, @xuetingni.bsky.social
shepherd.com/best-books/c...

The best cultural anthologies in speculative fiction

Eugen Bacon shares the 5 best books on cultural anthologies in speculative fiction. Have you read Mothersound?

shepherd.com

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Eugen Bacon @genni.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sharing some Afrocentric futuristic books I've enjoyed. 😍@wtalabi.bsky.social, @stephenembleton.bsky.social, @miltonmvmedia.bsky.social , @atthisarts.com
shepherd.com/best-books/a...

The best Afrofuturistic books in speculative fiction

Eugen Bacon shares the 5 best books on Afrofuturistic books in speculative fiction. Have you read Songs for the Shadows?

shepherd.com

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Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · Aug 18

Now available to watch: reading my @sauutiverse.bsky.social novella, 'Undulation', from Seattle Worldcon 2025 on Wednesday.

@press-android.bsky.social
vimeo.com/1109895345/3...

Stephen holds up a copy of the book, Mothersound

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E.D.E. Bell @edebell.com · Aug 16

We're on the edge of tipping both percentages. Got a small donation or Art Shop purchase before I head off to bed?

E.D.E. Bell @edebell.com · Aug 15

Very grateful for Yilin Wang's message of support, which brought in a large donation. We are rolling toward enabling this second book; we will not be able to start translation without reaching Goal 2 by the end of August. I know we can do this! ko-fi.com/africantrans...

In pan-African colors: African Translation Project, 15 August; Goal 2: Start translation of Zvinobvinza, only 16 days left, 28%; Full Goal: Translate all three books, by 31 October, 28%, ko-fi: AfricanTranslationProject

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Stephen Embleton @stephenembleton.bsky.social · Aug 15

Thanks so much for the kind words, Cat 🙏🏼❤️

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