Dr Mike Hollows/MJ Hollows He/Him
@mikehollows.bsky.social
"The John Lewis Christmas Advert of Authors." Historical fiction/SFF Author. PhD Creative Writing (Science Fiction)/Lecturer. ME/CFS, late diagnosed ADHD. He/Him. Liverpool-based. Rep’d by Liverpool Literary Agency
https://linktr.ee/mikehollows
https://linktr.ee/mikehollows
Pinned
Just listened to the sample of The Violinist's Secret audiobook read by the wonderful Sofia Engstrand.
It's always incredible and surreal to hear your writing read by someone. Sofia has done an amazing job. I couldn't be happier!
It's out today!
linktr.ee/mikehollows
#Books #HistoricalFiction
It's always incredible and surreal to hear your writing read by someone. Sofia has done an amazing job. I couldn't be happier!
It's out today!
linktr.ee/mikehollows
#Books #HistoricalFiction
Reposted by Dr Mike Hollows/MJ Hollows He/Him
We've sold out of Magic, Maps, and Mischief at The Syndicate table at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social but I'm told we can still sell them and ship them to you!
Plus, loads of other amazing books at the table.
Thanks to everyone who made Maps a sell out!! 🦉
Plus, loads of other amazing books at the table.
Thanks to everyone who made Maps a sell out!! 🦉
October 31, 2025 at 1:29 PM
We've sold out of Magic, Maps, and Mischief at The Syndicate table at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social but I'm told we can still sell them and ship them to you!
Plus, loads of other amazing books at the table.
Thanks to everyone who made Maps a sell out!! 🦉
Plus, loads of other amazing books at the table.
Thanks to everyone who made Maps a sell out!! 🦉
Sitting and listening to a panel about neurodiversity in fantasy and feeling guilty because I’m also reading stuff on my phone, but ya know: adhd.
October 31, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Sitting and listening to a panel about neurodiversity in fantasy and feeling guilty because I’m also reading stuff on my phone, but ya know: adhd.
On the train to Brighton with @losbennett.bsky.social for @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and I’m on a panel at 9pm tonight. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing good on telly at the same time… 😬
Who will I see there? Say hi!
Who will I see there? Say hi!
October 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
On the train to Brighton with @losbennett.bsky.social for @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and I’m on a panel at 9pm tonight. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing good on telly at the same time… 😬
Who will I see there? Say hi!
Who will I see there? Say hi!
Booo. They murdered my favourite. Not watching anymore
October 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Booo. They murdered my favourite. Not watching anymore
I would absolutely love to one day open up a little genre bookshop and hobby shop (boardgames, card games, etc.). So I’m thinking of starting small and online. Is this a terrible idea? I know I will need to get set up with suppliers, probably register at companies house, etc. But advice is welcome.
October 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I would absolutely love to one day open up a little genre bookshop and hobby shop (boardgames, card games, etc.). So I’m thinking of starting small and online. Is this a terrible idea? I know I will need to get set up with suppliers, probably register at companies house, etc. But advice is welcome.
Recommendations for Kindle Scribe covers please? I had a look on Etsy and got overwhelmed.
Or even if you have a nice Kindle Paperwhite, etc. cover, where did you get it from? (I'd prefer to support independent artists.)
Or even if you have a nice Kindle Paperwhite, etc. cover, where did you get it from? (I'd prefer to support independent artists.)
October 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Recommendations for Kindle Scribe covers please? I had a look on Etsy and got overwhelmed.
Or even if you have a nice Kindle Paperwhite, etc. cover, where did you get it from? (I'd prefer to support independent artists.)
Or even if you have a nice Kindle Paperwhite, etc. cover, where did you get it from? (I'd prefer to support independent artists.)
Reposted by Dr Mike Hollows/MJ Hollows He/Him
Oh yeah? Two can play at that game!!!
August 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Oh yeah? Two can play at that game!!!
Had one of those days. Seriously, what is it about Tuesdays?
But I’m really looking forward to Bake Off being back. Who’s watching? #GBBO
But I’m really looking forward to Bake Off being back. Who’s watching? #GBBO
September 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Had one of those days. Seriously, what is it about Tuesdays?
But I’m really looking forward to Bake Off being back. Who’s watching? #GBBO
But I’m really looking forward to Bake Off being back. Who’s watching? #GBBO
Maybe someone on here will know the answer to this: Why are pedestrian crossing signals now low on your side of the road where, say, someone can walk up and stand in front of them and you have no idea when it’s safe to cross as opposed to when they used to be the other side of the road and elevated?
August 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Maybe someone on here will know the answer to this: Why are pedestrian crossing signals now low on your side of the road where, say, someone can walk up and stand in front of them and you have no idea when it’s safe to cross as opposed to when they used to be the other side of the road and elevated?
I forgot I had this. If you’ve enjoyed my work (or haven’t, I’m not fussy) or waiting for a new book, you can buy me a coffee to help me out so I can get on with writing ko-fi.com/mikehollows
Buy Mike Hollows a Coffee
Become a supporter of Mike Hollows today!
ko-fi.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I forgot I had this. If you’ve enjoyed my work (or haven’t, I’m not fussy) or waiting for a new book, you can buy me a coffee to help me out so I can get on with writing ko-fi.com/mikehollows
Reposted by Dr Mike Hollows/MJ Hollows He/Him
In which @mikehollows.bsky.social discusses
war + empire --> impact on authors --> the impact of those authors on later writing...
Subscribe to read this & an extra essay every month: AUD30/year (GBP15 / USD19!) www.speculativeinsight.com
war + empire --> impact on authors --> the impact of those authors on later writing...
Subscribe to read this & an extra essay every month: AUD30/year (GBP15 / USD19!) www.speculativeinsight.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
In which @mikehollows.bsky.social discusses
war + empire --> impact on authors --> the impact of those authors on later writing...
Subscribe to read this & an extra essay every month: AUD30/year (GBP15 / USD19!) www.speculativeinsight.com
war + empire --> impact on authors --> the impact of those authors on later writing...
Subscribe to read this & an extra essay every month: AUD30/year (GBP15 / USD19!) www.speculativeinsight.com
Reposted by Dr Mike Hollows/MJ Hollows He/Him
A new subscriber essay in which @mikehollows.bsky.social discusses some immediate post-WW2 SF writers (mostly) and their influence on later authors.
Read it by subscribing (AUD30/year; ~USD19/GBP15) and get 11 other subscriber essays over the year too!
www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it by subscribing (AUD30/year; ~USD19/GBP15) and get 11 other subscriber essays over the year too!
www.speculativeinsight.com
![Purple background, white text, which says I argue that [the Second World War] was the genesis of the genre as we know it today, and in this essay I show a glimpse of that influence. "War and Empire in Post Second World War Science Fiction" -- Mike Hollows](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:etyqh3teyar75uaji3ts4goa/bafkreid5ncun3jpfnmqc3wat7qlzdv4yhu3sgfv4pmcxcyldt4iauz5wnu@jpeg)
August 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A new subscriber essay in which @mikehollows.bsky.social discusses some immediate post-WW2 SF writers (mostly) and their influence on later authors.
Read it by subscribing (AUD30/year; ~USD19/GBP15) and get 11 other subscriber essays over the year too!
www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it by subscribing (AUD30/year; ~USD19/GBP15) and get 11 other subscriber essays over the year too!
www.speculativeinsight.com
Me: emails
Company: phones me a week or so later
Me: doesn’t answer phone, I emailed for a reason, because there are details in the email.
Company: please call us
Why in the 21st-century are we still so shit at using emails?
Company: phones me a week or so later
Me: doesn’t answer phone, I emailed for a reason, because there are details in the email.
Company: please call us
Why in the 21st-century are we still so shit at using emails?
August 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Me: emails
Company: phones me a week or so later
Me: doesn’t answer phone, I emailed for a reason, because there are details in the email.
Company: please call us
Why in the 21st-century are we still so shit at using emails?
Company: phones me a week or so later
Me: doesn’t answer phone, I emailed for a reason, because there are details in the email.
Company: please call us
Why in the 21st-century are we still so shit at using emails?
I’m so exhausted from putting on a brave face and telling myself I have to somehow keep going. When I just want to cry all the time.
June 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I’m so exhausted from putting on a brave face and telling myself I have to somehow keep going. When I just want to cry all the time.
Lying in the floor (not really) watching TV right now because I feel like I need grounding.
I live in a 4th floor flat.
I live in a 4th floor flat.
June 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Lying in the floor (not really) watching TV right now because I feel like I need grounding.
I live in a 4th floor flat.
I live in a 4th floor flat.
Getting lots of work done this morning…
But then I needed kitten cuddles. Until he decided the tummy was a trap.
But then I needed kitten cuddles. Until he decided the tummy was a trap.
June 10, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Getting lots of work done this morning…
But then I needed kitten cuddles. Until he decided the tummy was a trap.
But then I needed kitten cuddles. Until he decided the tummy was a trap.
I walked too fast and now I’m too early for my therapy session. Having a sit down for a few minutes then I can go into the building and still be 10 minutes early…
June 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I walked too fast and now I’m too early for my therapy session. Having a sit down for a few minutes then I can go into the building and still be 10 minutes early…
@louiseminchin.bsky.social excellent talk tonight, brilliant authors, fascinating books and affirming writing talk. I would have bought them all, but I’m in the middle of moving from Liverpool to Chester so not allowed! Hope they come back for the next fest and there’s more crime on the programme!
June 8, 2025 at 7:25 PM
@louiseminchin.bsky.social excellent talk tonight, brilliant authors, fascinating books and affirming writing talk. I would have bought them all, but I’m in the middle of moving from Liverpool to Chester so not allowed! Hope they come back for the next fest and there’s more crime on the programme!
Just finished 4 inclusive sessions of counselling through the uni, with a 3rd party, and I've booked in for more sessions. It makes such a difference, I honestly believe that everyone in this country should have much better access to therapy. It's important to find the right therapist though.
June 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Just finished 4 inclusive sessions of counselling through the uni, with a 3rd party, and I've booked in for more sessions. It makes such a difference, I honestly believe that everyone in this country should have much better access to therapy. It's important to find the right therapist though.
I applied to be a Royal Literary Fund fellow and found out today I didn’t get shortlisted. I was really hoping I’d get a chance and quite looking forward to the role.
I don’t know what I have to do…
But I could really do with a win at the moment.
I don’t know what I have to do…
But I could really do with a win at the moment.
May 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I applied to be a Royal Literary Fund fellow and found out today I didn’t get shortlisted. I was really hoping I’d get a chance and quite looking forward to the role.
I don’t know what I have to do…
But I could really do with a win at the moment.
I don’t know what I have to do…
But I could really do with a win at the moment.
Really feeling the lyrics to We Came as Romans' Learning to Survive at the moment.
That and all of the new Sleep Token album.
That and all of the new Sleep Token album.
May 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Really feeling the lyrics to We Came as Romans' Learning to Survive at the moment.
That and all of the new Sleep Token album.
That and all of the new Sleep Token album.
Why do software available on Windows and Mac so often have very different user interfaces? Why is that even a design decision?
I'm using Nvivo on a Mac, but I've been trained to use it on Windows and things aren't even labelled the same. The terminonology should be universal.
I'm using Nvivo on a Mac, but I've been trained to use it on Windows and things aren't even labelled the same. The terminonology should be universal.
May 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Why do software available on Windows and Mac so often have very different user interfaces? Why is that even a design decision?
I'm using Nvivo on a Mac, but I've been trained to use it on Windows and things aren't even labelled the same. The terminonology should be universal.
I'm using Nvivo on a Mac, but I've been trained to use it on Windows and things aren't even labelled the same. The terminonology should be universal.