Michael Johnstone
@mikejwrites.bsky.social
Dad of twins. Lecturer at UofT (English). Man United (and footy) fan. Boardgames and TTRPGs. Writer/author. He/him. https://www.michael-johnstone.com
My most recently published short story is at https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=3035
My most recently published short story is at https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=3035
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Indigenous book recs:
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
- Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
📚💙 📚🌎
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
- Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
📚💙 📚🌎
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Indigenous book recs:
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
- Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
📚💙 📚🌎
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
- Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
📚💙 📚🌎
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Because my children are Gen Alpha monsters, they want to know if I've sold 67 copies of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Vol 3 this month--get it? 6-7 * makes flailing juggling motion and despairs * I'm about 20 copies shy. For Black Friday, want to help an indie publisher pull one over on his kids?
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three: Kotowych, Stephen: 9781738187539: Books - Amazon.ca
a.co
November 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Because my children are Gen Alpha monsters, they want to know if I've sold 67 copies of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Vol 3 this month--get it? 6-7 * makes flailing juggling motion and despairs * I'm about 20 copies shy. For Black Friday, want to help an indie publisher pull one over on his kids?
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Awards Eligibility
A list of my awards-eligible works for 2025
gareths-newsletter.ghost.io
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
I've made another round of updates to my eligibility and recommendations link post. Keep sending your links my way!
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
What Have You Done, What Have You Loved 2025 – acwise.net
acwise.net
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I've made another round of updates to my eligibility and recommendations link post. Keep sending your links my way!
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hey, can folks also look at this *amazing* anthology by @tychebooks.bsky.social that keeps being pirated every time it goes semi-viral on the internet: Swashbuckling Cats
Link with buy links all over the internet: tychebooks.com/swashbucklin...
Link with buy links all over the internet: tychebooks.com/swashbucklin...
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Hey, can folks also look at this *amazing* anthology by @tychebooks.bsky.social that keeps being pirated every time it goes semi-viral on the internet: Swashbuckling Cats
Link with buy links all over the internet: tychebooks.com/swashbucklin...
Link with buy links all over the internet: tychebooks.com/swashbucklin...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
I posted a buy link here to "A Magical Inheritance" a few days ago, and 24 of you immediately went to Anna's Archives and fucking stole it from me.
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
November 24, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I posted a buy link here to "A Magical Inheritance" a few days ago, and 24 of you immediately went to Anna's Archives and fucking stole it from me.
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Here's my two cents on the piracy discourse this morning. Reading everything this morning, I remember those old FBI warnings at the start of videos: piracy isn't a victimless crime. 🧵
I have had it with the justifications. The weaponization of poverty, neurodiversity, mental illness, all of it.
if you follow me and are using my RTs of authors' books to pirate books (many who are financially struggling, I might add), then frankly fuck off.
if you follow me and are using my RTs of authors' books to pirate books (many who are financially struggling, I might add), then frankly fuck off.
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Here's my two cents on the piracy discourse this morning. Reading everything this morning, I remember those old FBI warnings at the start of videos: piracy isn't a victimless crime. 🧵
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
As always, I have books on sale on Kobo right now. The Unmage by Jane Glatt is 99 cents.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/...
The Unmage ebook by Jane Glatt - Rakuten Kobo
Read "The Unmage" by Jane Glatt available from Rakuten Kobo. Timo Valendi’s place in Mage Guild—the most powerful of all of Tregella’s guilds—seems secure. His mother is a magically...
www.kobo.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
As always, I have books on sale on Kobo right now. The Unmage by Jane Glatt is 99 cents.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Huge thread from Tyche Books, a Canadian publisher. Her authors are every day folks, with bills and rent and the physical requirement to eat every day.
Stealing the books she publishes is not a progressive act. It's not activism. It's not punk.
It's just stealing from people trying to live.
Stealing the books she publishes is not a progressive act. It's not activism. It's not punk.
It's just stealing from people trying to live.
Some of my authors are on disability. Some struggle to pay monthly bills. Some are retired & on limited income. Some were laid off in the past couple years & have yet to find new work. Some would love to quit the day job & write full time, but don't earn enough from royalties to do that.
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Huge thread from Tyche Books, a Canadian publisher. Her authors are every day folks, with bills and rent and the physical requirement to eat every day.
Stealing the books she publishes is not a progressive act. It's not activism. It's not punk.
It's just stealing from people trying to live.
Stealing the books she publishes is not a progressive act. It's not activism. It's not punk.
It's just stealing from people trying to live.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Graphic design skills I do not possess, as evidenced by this free template I selected because the other free templates kept crashing...
Still and all! Here are my awards eligible stories for this year ✨
Still and all! Here are my awards eligible stories for this year ✨
November 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Graphic design skills I do not possess, as evidenced by this free template I selected because the other free templates kept crashing...
Still and all! Here are my awards eligible stories for this year ✨
Still and all! Here are my awards eligible stories for this year ✨
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hey Ottawa folks: I gave some kids' books to Twice Upon a Time and they said they've receved fewer donations than usual for this time of year. So if you have any kids' books in good condition, or time or money to spare, here's the info:
Donate - Twice Upon a Time
twiceuponatime.ca
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Hey Ottawa folks: I gave some kids' books to Twice Upon a Time and they said they've receved fewer donations than usual for this time of year. So if you have any kids' books in good condition, or time or money to spare, here's the info:
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Today’s the last day to vote in the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards! I’m so happy to see THE RIVER HAS ROOTS in the Fantasy category in stunning company. Go vote for your faves!
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
Opening Round: Vote for the Readers' Favorite Fantasy of 2025!
Discover the Readers' Favorite Fantasy in the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards.
www.goodreads.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Today’s the last day to vote in the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards! I’m so happy to see THE RIVER HAS ROOTS in the Fantasy category in stunning company. Go vote for your faves!
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- [email protected] or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- [email protected] or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Eligibility lists are now OPEN for Canadian speculative fiction works published in 2025.
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) – Home of the Prix Aurora Awards and CSFFA Hall of Fame
www.csffa.ca
November 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Eligibility lists are now OPEN for Canadian speculative fiction works published in 2025.
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
If you purchased a 2025 membership to vote in the Aurora Awards this past year, you can head over to www.csffa.ca and log in to add works to our lists. 1/
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Hey! Apparently it's #IReadCanadian day! If only there was somewhere readers looking for new #Canadian SFF authors to read could find a bunch of them all in one place... 🤔
a.co/d/azXj9pF
a.co/d/azXj9pF
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
a.co
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Hey! Apparently it's #IReadCanadian day! If only there was somewhere readers looking for new #Canadian SFF authors to read could find a bunch of them all in one place... 🤔
a.co/d/azXj9pF
a.co/d/azXj9pF
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
You may or may not know that I administer the SFWA NetGalley program. If you're an author without a big trad publisher, you might consider listing your book for reviews through this program.
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
SFWA Presents: Get to Know…Our NetGalley Partnership Program - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
To offer more writers a chance to connect their latest releases with reviewers, SFWA partnered with NetGalley to create a lower-cost option. We chatted with Adria Bailton, SFWA’s NetGalley…
www.sfwa.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
You may or may not know that I administer the SFWA NetGalley program. If you're an author without a big trad publisher, you might consider listing your book for reviews through this program.
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
www.sfwa.org/2025/06/24/s...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Come one, come all! Join us for the launch of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 this Saturday, Nov 8 at Bakka-Phoenix @ 3pm. Ten contributors will be doing brief readings from their work and the fine folks at @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social will have copies for sale. See you there and pls share WIDELY.
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Come one, come all! Join us for the launch of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 this Saturday, Nov 8 at Bakka-Phoenix @ 3pm. Ten contributors will be doing brief readings from their work and the fine folks at @bakkaphoenix.bsky.social will have copies for sale. See you there and pls share WIDELY.
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
The sub call for Indigenous writers is now open! strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Indigenous Author Submissions
On November 3rd, we will be opening for speculative fiction stories written by Indigenous authors. We will be capping submissions at 500.
strangehorizons.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The sub call for Indigenous writers is now open! strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window!! We will open in November and close in April. See our announcement on the website for details. All our usual Submissions Guidelines still apply.
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window - PodCastle
Greetings, writers of fantasy fiction! We at PodCastle are due to open back up to general submissions in November. When we do, instead of our usual one month open period, we plan to open for six month...
podcastle.org
October 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Announcement: PodCastle Is Trialling a Six Month Submissions Window!! We will open in November and close in April. See our announcement on the website for details. All our usual Submissions Guidelines still apply.
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
podcastle.org/2025/10/17/a...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
We have 10 days left in the @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter and we've crossed 60% funding! Help us get to 100%! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
We have 10 days left in the @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter and we've crossed 60% funding! Help us get to 100%! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
My post-apocalypse story about fatherhood and fighting fascists "BUDDY RAYMOND'S NO-BULLSHIT GUIDE TO DRONE HUNTING" is in this!! Go check it out, and all the other amazing Canadian stories in this incredible anthology 🇨🇦
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
My post-apocalypse story about fatherhood and fighting fascists "BUDDY RAYMOND'S NO-BULLSHIT GUIDE TO DRONE HUNTING" is in this!! Go check it out, and all the other amazing Canadian stories in this incredible anthology 🇨🇦
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
Reposted by Michael Johnstone
Here are the winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards!! Congratulations to everyone!!
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
Here Are the Winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards - Reactor
Congratulations to all!
reactormag.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Here are the winners of the 2025 Ignyte Awards!! Congratulations to everyone!!
reactormag.com/winners-2025...
reactormag.com/winners-2025...