Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
@ruthejbooth.bsky.social
SFFH Author/Critic. BSFA & British Fantasy Award Winner. Shoreline of Infinity columnist. GSFWC. #SGSAH funded. #StrathLife
Queer Neurodivergent Human with Chronic Illness.
Stories and more: https://linktr.ee/ruthejbooth
Queer Neurodivergent Human with Chronic Illness.
Stories and more: https://linktr.ee/ruthejbooth
Pinned
**New Blog** Thank you, everyone, for your kind Birthday greetings! As thanks (as well as apology for missing World Fantasycon later this month), please accept this wee seasonal gift from me...
www.ruthbooth.com/2025/10/hall...
www.ruthbooth.com/2025/10/hall...
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
They’re running Under Milk Wood as originally broadcast, for the first time, this weekend on R4 Extra. Obviously, it’s brilliant. And I highly recommend a listen. It still sounds amazing; truly timeless. The most dated bit is the credits - but, oh, those character names.
November 8, 2025 at 2:19 PM
They’re running Under Milk Wood as originally broadcast, for the first time, this weekend on R4 Extra. Obviously, it’s brilliant. And I highly recommend a listen. It still sounds amazing; truly timeless. The most dated bit is the credits - but, oh, those character names.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
"What most clearly sets it apart from other genres is that it’s so rooted in anger and sadness — or their common ancestors: terror, lack, isolation and despair. Metal, one fan told me, is 'a strange road to joy.'" This is so lovely, @btoastie.bsky.social:
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation - High Country News
In response to youth suicides, teachers show students the power of headbanging at Fire in the Mountains festival.
www.hcn.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
"What most clearly sets it apart from other genres is that it’s so rooted in anger and sadness — or their common ancestors: terror, lack, isolation and despair. Metal, one fan told me, is 'a strange road to joy.'" This is so lovely, @btoastie.bsky.social:
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
(2/2)
Fort William - 22/11
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/daughters-...
Edinburgh (with Rafael Torrubia) - 25/11
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
@shonak.bsky.social @samkhorton.bsky.social #FlameTreePress @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social
Fort William - 22/11
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/daughters-...
Edinburgh (with Rafael Torrubia) - 25/11
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
@shonak.bsky.social @samkhorton.bsky.social #FlameTreePress @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social
Daughters of Nicnevin: A Scottish Fantasy Book Event with Shona Kinsella
Get ready to dive into a world of Scottish fantasy with Shona Kinsella and the Daughters of Nicnevin - a book event you won't want to miss!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
(2/2)
Fort William - 22/11
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/daughters-...
Edinburgh (with Rafael Torrubia) - 25/11
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
@shonak.bsky.social @samkhorton.bsky.social #FlameTreePress @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social
Fort William - 22/11
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/daughters-...
Edinburgh (with Rafael Torrubia) - 25/11
www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
@shonak.bsky.social @samkhorton.bsky.social #FlameTreePress @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Happy Book Birthday Week to Shona Kinsella's Daughters of Nicnevin (Flame Tree Press)!
Learn about these Jacobite witches from the woman herself in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fort William at these special events:
Glasgow (with Sam K. Horton) - 20/11
www.waterstones.com/events/sam-k... (1/2)
Learn about these Jacobite witches from the woman herself in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fort William at these special events:
Glasgow (with Sam K. Horton) - 20/11
www.waterstones.com/events/sam-k... (1/2)
Sam K. Horton and Shona Kinsella In Conversation | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Sam K. Horton and Shona Kinsella In Conversation today.
www.waterstones.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Happy Book Birthday Week to Shona Kinsella's Daughters of Nicnevin (Flame Tree Press)!
Learn about these Jacobite witches from the woman herself in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fort William at these special events:
Glasgow (with Sam K. Horton) - 20/11
www.waterstones.com/events/sam-k... (1/2)
Learn about these Jacobite witches from the woman herself in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fort William at these special events:
Glasgow (with Sam K. Horton) - 20/11
www.waterstones.com/events/sam-k... (1/2)
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Hostess @sindhurajasekaran.bsky.social discusses Anglophone Indian writing, readership & the mechanics of publishing w/ the Editorial Director of Pan Macmillan India, Pujitha Krishnan.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/3s84...
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/3s84...
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Hostess @sindhurajasekaran.bsky.social discusses Anglophone Indian writing, readership & the mechanics of publishing w/ the Editorial Director of Pan Macmillan India, Pujitha Krishnan.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/3s84...
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/3s84...
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
I've written a short story every month for about 10 years, and it made me very good at the repetitive form of beginning/middle/end. Endings are easy for me because the key to the ending is always in the beginning. Here's easy hack from a workshop talk I gave awhile back:
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I've written a short story every month for about 10 years, and it made me very good at the repetitive form of beginning/middle/end. Endings are easy for me because the key to the ending is always in the beginning. Here's easy hack from a workshop talk I gave awhile back:
Sorry, I know I've been reposting a lot of (hopefully useful) stuff recently rather than sharing. I'm very busy at the moment trying to meet some hefty deadlines. Hopefully more news soon!
November 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Sorry, I know I've been reposting a lot of (hopefully useful) stuff recently rather than sharing. I'm very busy at the moment trying to meet some hefty deadlines. Hopefully more news soon!
A long and detailed read, but worth it for consideration of the legal implications of the specific wording of contracts.
On August 12, 1971, 16-year-old me mailed the first story I ever wrote off on its first submission to my dream market, F&SF. My tale was quickly rejected. On July 17th, 2025, I finally sold a story to that magazine. Here's why I felt I had to withdraw that story. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
November 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
A long and detailed read, but worth it for consideration of the legal implications of the specific wording of contracts.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
In case you missed it earlier, I've started collecting links for my annual eligibility and recommendation links post. I added several earlier and will update again soon, so please spread the word and 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 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
In case you missed it earlier, I've started collecting links for my annual eligibility and recommendation links post. I added several earlier and will update again soon, so please spread the word and keep sending your links my way!
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Has our Ivor K. Hill got a tale for you! Hiding Under the Leaves (Slab Press) features 'The Crow Who Burned', folk horror about the "terrifying certainty of the mob".
Get yours below:
theslab.press/store/
www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Under...
@ivorkhillauthor.bsky.social @theslabpress.bsky.social
Get yours below:
theslab.press/store/
www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Under...
@ivorkhillauthor.bsky.social @theslabpress.bsky.social
Store
Our books are available from all good bookshops, but you can also buy from The Slab Press here via our Publisher (UK&US), or direct from us where we have stock (UK only) Vivid Worlds UK £12.99 …
theslab.press
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Has our Ivor K. Hill got a tale for you! Hiding Under the Leaves (Slab Press) features 'The Crow Who Burned', folk horror about the "terrifying certainty of the mob".
Get yours below:
theslab.press/store/
www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Under...
@ivorkhillauthor.bsky.social @theslabpress.bsky.social
Get yours below:
theslab.press/store/
www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Under...
@ivorkhillauthor.bsky.social @theslabpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Scottish SF and Fantasy microcon Pictcon has just announced their 2026 Guest of Honour -- it's our own Neil Williamson!
@pictcon.bsky.social @neilwilliamson.bsky.social
Pictcon 2 takes place on Sat 17th October 2026 in Perth. Get your tickets (£30/£20/under 18s, childcare, dogcare options) below:
@pictcon.bsky.social @neilwilliamson.bsky.social
Pictcon 2 takes place on Sat 17th October 2026 in Perth. Get your tickets (£30/£20/under 18s, childcare, dogcare options) below:
PictCon2
A Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention for everyone who reads, writes and watches.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Scottish SF and Fantasy microcon Pictcon has just announced their 2026 Guest of Honour -- it's our own Neil Williamson!
@pictcon.bsky.social @neilwilliamson.bsky.social
Pictcon 2 takes place on Sat 17th October 2026 in Perth. Get your tickets (£30/£20/under 18s, childcare, dogcare options) below:
@pictcon.bsky.social @neilwilliamson.bsky.social
Pictcon 2 takes place on Sat 17th October 2026 in Perth. Get your tickets (£30/£20/under 18s, childcare, dogcare options) below:
Well, you'd notice the Crimson Permanent Assurance sailing into your front yard.
"porch pirate" makes them sound like someone who sails into your house on a patio flying a jolly roger
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Well, you'd notice the Crimson Permanent Assurance sailing into your front yard.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
That’s Daniel Hannan, the most famous Peruvian after Michael Bentine.
Spectator running a piece by Daniel Hannan which leans heavily into the inferred idea that you're not necessarily British if you come from a migrant background, even if you were born and brought up here.
November 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
That’s Daniel Hannan, the most famous Peruvian after Michael Bentine.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
It's painful because it's true.
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
It's painful because it's true.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
So, for folks following my writing path -
There will be a sapphic Southeast Asian pirate collection of connected stories next year: Sailing The Golden Chersonese.
There will be a sapphic Southeast Asian pirate collection of connected stories next year: Sailing The Golden Chersonese.
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
So, for folks following my writing path -
There will be a sapphic Southeast Asian pirate collection of connected stories next year: Sailing The Golden Chersonese.
There will be a sapphic Southeast Asian pirate collection of connected stories next year: Sailing The Golden Chersonese.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
We've sold 26 tickets for PictCon2! I would love to sell 24 more before I pay the deposit next week.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pictcon2-t...
A Scottish science fiction convention about science fiction in Scotland. 🏴
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pictcon2-t...
A Scottish science fiction convention about science fiction in Scotland. 🏴
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
We've sold 26 tickets for PictCon2! I would love to sell 24 more before I pay the deposit next week.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pictcon2-t...
A Scottish science fiction convention about science fiction in Scotland. 🏴
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pictcon2-t...
A Scottish science fiction convention about science fiction in Scotland. 🏴
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
📅 Look at that, we already have dates for next year’s con dates. Mark your calendars, Flights of Foundry returns September 18 - 20, 2026.
See you there!
See you there!
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
📅 Look at that, we already have dates for next year’s con dates. Mark your calendars, Flights of Foundry returns September 18 - 20, 2026.
See you there!
See you there!
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
Right UK folks - @justinleeanderson.com and I want to build communities we want to see in the world. We've created a discord whose purpose is to share news with one another, look at who to write to, when to get out and act etc. If you want in, DM me or Justin and we'll sling you an invite
November 10, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Right UK folks - @justinleeanderson.com and I want to build communities we want to see in the world. We've created a discord whose purpose is to share news with one another, look at who to write to, when to get out and act etc. If you want in, DM me or Justin and we'll sling you an invite
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Heads up SF, Fantasy and Horror peeps! Fran Lacuata is now on Bluesky at
@franonimous.bsky.social.
Not only is she an author of genre fic, but also a published HEMA (historical and esoteric martial arts) expert, educator (School of the Sword Godalming), and advocator for women in martial arts.
@franonimous.bsky.social.
Not only is she an author of genre fic, but also a published HEMA (historical and esoteric martial arts) expert, educator (School of the Sword Godalming), and advocator for women in martial arts.
November 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Heads up SF, Fantasy and Horror peeps! Fran Lacuata is now on Bluesky at
@franonimous.bsky.social.
Not only is she an author of genre fic, but also a published HEMA (historical and esoteric martial arts) expert, educator (School of the Sword Godalming), and advocator for women in martial arts.
@franonimous.bsky.social.
Not only is she an author of genre fic, but also a published HEMA (historical and esoteric martial arts) expert, educator (School of the Sword Godalming), and advocator for women in martial arts.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
As someone who has previously been a starving writer treated like a disposable tool, this is both hilarious and hitting very close to home.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
As someone who has previously been a starving writer treated like a disposable tool, this is both hilarious and hitting very close to home.
If you're an academic talking to a non-academic audience, the goodwill you build by either not using jargon, or explaining any jargon you do use, is incalculable.
Correct use of jargon is about gatekeeping. But you're not here to show your credentials, you're here to engage with other people.
Correct use of jargon is about gatekeeping. But you're not here to show your credentials, you're here to engage with other people.
November 9, 2025 at 10:24 AM
If you're an academic talking to a non-academic audience, the goodwill you build by either not using jargon, or explaining any jargon you do use, is incalculable.
Correct use of jargon is about gatekeeping. But you're not here to show your credentials, you're here to engage with other people.
Correct use of jargon is about gatekeeping. But you're not here to show your credentials, you're here to engage with other people.
Reposted by Ruth EJ Booth (she/they)
I don't use generative AI because as a writer of fiction, it offers me nothing useful creatively and nothing trustworthy when I do research. It's not worth the environmental impact. That it's been created by stealing my work and using it in breach of copyright law is a further but separate issue.
Hands up if you've never used Chat GPT ✋
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
Probably a good way to tell right now if the job you’re applying for is run by absolute dumbfucks is to ask if they’re using AI.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I don't use generative AI because as a writer of fiction, it offers me nothing useful creatively and nothing trustworthy when I do research. It's not worth the environmental impact. That it's been created by stealing my work and using it in breach of copyright law is a further but separate issue.