Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
LightNews LightNews
banner
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
@patricksamphire.bsky.social
4.8K followers 760 following 6.2K posts
Fantasy writer | Freelance developmental editor | Former physicist. #SPFBO/#BBNYA finalist. He/him.

Around the web and my books: http://linktr.ee/patricksamphire

🏳️‍⚧️ rights are human rights
Posts Replies Media Videos
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Look at this absolute fucking bullshit of fake left-wing smug pretension.
A post with the text: Eoin Ó Broin‬ ‪@greenkerfuffle.bsky.social‬ If most writers don’t make a living from their books then the class traitor is the one who only lets the wealthy read them
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
"You'll be visited by three spirits."

The three spirits:
The members of Motorhead. They've probably drunk the spirits.
November 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
THE DEAD MAN has been out for 5 days now. Thank you to everyone who's bought it. It's been far more of you than I expected for a prequel novella!

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: “I don’t suppose you take credit.” He snorted. “You’re a funny man, Mennik Thorn. Must be why everyone’s been laughing at you.” The Dead Man. Out now!
November 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Today is the day!

The long-awaited Mennik Thorn prequel novella, The Dead Man, is out now. I promised this to readers quite a long time ago. It works well either as an introduction to the series or for those who've read the other books, so no excuses! Go get it. :)

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: The Dead Man. A Mennik Thorn prequel novella. Becoming a mage-for-hire hasn't quite turned out the way Nik Thorn hoped. Out now in ebook and paperback.
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
The Dead Man is out today! If you pre-ordered, check your inbox or device. If not, you can now grab it and read it right away.

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: The Dead Man. A Mennik Thorn prequel novella. The very first Mennik Thorn adventure. Out now in ebook and paperback.
November 18, 2025 at 12:14 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
The Dead Man, my Mennik Thorn novella, is published tomorrow in ebook and paperback!

Thank you to Paul for this great review: paulgzareith.ink/book-reviews/the-dead-man-by-patrick-samphire/

Pre-order the book here: books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: “As a long-time fan of the Dresden Files, the mage-for-hire narrative was what initially drew me into the series. And while I have thoroughly enjoyed both - Mennik Thorn offers a fresh, distinctively unique experience. Go pre-order the book now. You won’t regret it.” - Paul G. Zareith Out November 28, 2025.
November 17, 2025 at 1:58 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
What's that you say? Only 6 days until The Dead Man hits the world? In ebook and paperback, you say?

And a great introduction to the series?

(Thank you to Sue Bavey for a fantastic review on Page Chewing.)

Pre-order: books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: “The Dead Man is a great place to start with this witty and highly enjoyable magical detective series.” - Sue Bavey, Page Chewing The Dead Man. A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella. 6 days to go.
November 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Because THE DEAD MAN is out in exactly one week, let's go for the first sentence of that.

Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!

books2read.com/thedeadman
Screenshot of the opening of The Dead Man showing the first sentence of the book. The text shown reads: The Dead Man There comes a point in the life of every mage-for-hire when the thing they want most in life is a knock on the door, an indication that someone – anyone! – might want to part with a few copper oars, maybe even a silver shield, to employ them for their valuable and irreplaceable services, preferably before they starve to death. And there comes a point sometime after that
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
It's now only 8 days until The Dead Man is out. If you've enjoyed the Mennik Thorn books or if you're curious as to what they're like, the prequel novella is for you!

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: I would be dishonest if I didn’t say that Benny looked like a ferret that had drowned then been left to dry on the cobblestones. There were stalls in Penitent’s Ear market that sold strips of dried goat meat that looked healthier than my best friend. “You look shit, mate,” he told me before I could share my observation. 8 days to go.
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Okay, yes, but also that's kind of what they're there for.
Louvre criticised for spending money on art instead of security in years before heist
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
12 days to go until The Dead Man is released. Sometimes Nik just can't get any respect.

Pre-order now: books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: “I don’t suppose you take credit.” He snorted. “You’re a funny man, Mennik Thorn. Must be why everyone’s been laughing at you.” 12 days to go. Pre-order now!
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
It's Book Quote Wednesday, and today the word is "colour" (or "color", if you prefer). Because it's only 13 days until The Dead Man is out, let's have a quote from that, and we're talking about how mages perceive magic in the Mennik Thorn series.

books2read.com/thedeadman

#BookQW #Booksky
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: Some mages heard magic as music, some felt it as fingers drumming on skin. For myself, when I unfocused my eyes, I saw magic as patterns of different coloured lines and shapes. It was a better way than most. I had once known a mage who sensed magic as different combinations of constipation and bladder infections. Needless to say, she hadn’t lasted long. Last I’d heard, she’d left Agatos to go and live as a hermit as far from any magic as she possibly could. 13 days to go.
November 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Nik's job keeps taking him to places he'd really rather not be in The Dead Man, out in just two week's time! Have you pre-ordered yet?

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: I’d had enough of hanging around in brothels. I wasn’t saying it would do my reputation any harm; any reputation I had was pretty much in the gutter already. But the smell of old sweat, stale air, spilled drinks, and other people’s sex was seeping into my skin, and I felt dirty. 14 days to go.
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
No lying or making yourself out to be a cool kid.

Post the first record you bought.

If you can remember the shop or circumstances add that too. Local colour appreciated.

Killers by Iron Maiden. I bought it on cassette tape in Woolworths in Weston-super-Mare.
Cover of Killers by Iron Maiden.
November 2, 2025 at 10:11 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
We're now only 18 days away from The Dead Man being published. A new Mennik Thorn story for existing fans or brand new readers (the miracle of a prequel!). You can be one of the first to read it by pre-ordering:

books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: It had turned out that, other than the odd curse that took me minutes to break, ordinary people didn't have that many magical problems. It was almost like the wealthy and the powerful of the city and their pet mages caused most of their own problems. Like if all the rich people and their mages suddenly disappeared, most the city's problems would disappear with them. 18 Days To Go
October 31, 2025 at 10:27 AM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Came across the image from when I was promo-ing Legacy of a Hated God. I don't know why I stopped using that template. I like it.
I had opinions on religion. Depths, given the chance, I had opinions on most things. It was one of my most endearing qualities. But when it came to religion, I had plenty, and they could be summed up fairly neatly: Gods were complete bastards, and only an idiot would get involved with them.
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
19 days until The Dead Man is out, and in today's extract, Nik is wondering why he is the only impoverished mage in the entire city of Agatos.

Pre-order: books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: At this stage, you might be wondering why I, a mage of Agatos, arguably the greatest city in the world, or at least the city that thought of itself as the greatest in the world, was living in near poverty, dodging my landlord, and taking on trivial jobs to pay for my next meal. After all, mages were rich, privileged, and powerful, in demand in the wealthiest parts of the city, wielding influence over politics, trade, and even crime, right? 19 days to go.
October 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
20 days until The Dead Man is published. Today, I ordered a proof copy of the paperback. Photos when it arrives! The paperback will be published on the same day as the ebook, November 18th.

You can pre-order the ebook now: books2read.com/thedeadman
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: Mages didn’t have the best reputation in this city, mainly due to the fact that most of us were complete wankers who wouldn’t kick you into the river if you were on fire. The Dead Man. A Mennik Thorn prequel novella. 20 days to go.
October 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
21 days until my novella, The Dead Man, is published! If you loved the Mennik Thorn books and want more, here it is. If you've been curious, this is a good introduction.

books2read.com/thedeadman
There comes a point in the life of every mage-for-hire when the thing they want most in life is a knock on the door, an indication that someone – anyone! – might want to part with a few copper oars, maybe even a silver shield, to employ them for their valuable and irreplaceable services, preferably before they starve to death. November 18, 2025
October 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
My copy of Songs of Seven Dials by @tricksterprince.bsky.social arrived while I was away at Bristolcon. Perfect timing for research for my current novel. It looks fantastic.
Cover of Songs of Seven Dials by Matt Houlbrook showing a map of the Seven Dials area of London.
October 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
These are the most addictive things in the universe, and it's not even close. I eat far too many at a time.
Packet of Forest Feast Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds. The package is a mid blue and shows an almond half coated in thick, dark chocolate.
October 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Give my poor story a break, AI spammer. It's not even out until November 18th.
Screenshot of an AI-generated spam marketing email. Email title reads "Bringing The Dead Man back into the spotlight." Text of email shows reads: Hi Patrick, Some stories fade because the timing wasn’t right not because they weren’t brilliant. The Dead Man feels like one of those rare books that deserves another wave of discovery. That’s what I focus on: giving books that already exist new, lasting visibility through emotion, precision, and creativity.
October 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
If you're a book blogger or reviewer and you would like a review copy of my Mennik Thorn prequel novella, The Dead Man, you can now request one!

forms.gle/Pok2zPfGCUZk...
Promo image showing the cover of The Dead Man, A Mennik Thorn Prequel Novella, by Patrick Samphire. Image includes the text: To say Dumonoc was cheap was like saying that a volcano was warm; it wasn't wrong, but it didn't exactly capture the essence of the situation. The Dead Man. Published November 18, 2025. Request review copy!
October 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
Steph and I went to the nice outdoor cafe as a reward for something or the other. Whatever we did, we deserved that reward.
Me, wearing an Iron Maiden t shirt, sitting at a small outside table under a fig tree, with a pot and cup of green tea. In the foreground is a latte with a heart on it. Steph sitting at a small outside table holding a latte, with a pot and cup of green tea in the foreground. In the background, a blue shed and blue-ish old buildings.
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
patricksamphire.bsky.social
"IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THEM "One thing I don't think people realize is that in arguments about human rights, it's not about trying to persuade the other party. It's not about convincing them at all. They've already made up their minds. It's about persuading the audience. "If call out my aunt about how racist she's being at Thanksgiving, it's not because I expect to change her mind. I'm hoping my little cousin hears and learns maybe skin color doesn't mean what she says it means. "If I call out my coach on being homophobic I'm not trying to change his opinion. I'm trying to convince the closeted gay kid on the team that they aren't the monster he's made them out to be. "People will try to hush you and say, "they're not going to change their minds, don't bother" but it's not about them. It was never about them."
September 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM