TPB Writes (Thomas)
@thomasbooker.bsky.social
SFF writer always wrangling too many ideas and projects. Words in BFS Horizons and hopefully more places one day. Husband and dad. He/Him.
Has been described as 'alert and often uncannily correct.'
Has been described as 'alert and often uncannily correct.'
I've been working on my general health and fitness. Eating a bit less crap and getting more exercise in. Less about weight per se and more general fitness. For the first time in a long time this morning I did push ups with ease. Its a little victory but put me in such a good mood.
July 18, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I've been working on my general health and fitness. Eating a bit less crap and getting more exercise in. Less about weight per se and more general fitness. For the first time in a long time this morning I did push ups with ease. Its a little victory but put me in such a good mood.
With the current heat in the UK, playing any sort of games on my computer creates a sauna like effect in my little office. Even sitting to write for a bit has me sweating buckets. Can't wait for it to cool a bit.
July 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
With the current heat in the UK, playing any sort of games on my computer creates a sauna like effect in my little office. Even sitting to write for a bit has me sweating buckets. Can't wait for it to cool a bit.
There's something nice about starting the day pottering about watering a few plants. Especially as being UK based the weather does it for me most of the time. My favourite is the little mint plant because I get a waft of the gorgeous minty smell.
July 8, 2025 at 8:41 AM
There's something nice about starting the day pottering about watering a few plants. Especially as being UK based the weather does it for me most of the time. My favourite is the little mint plant because I get a waft of the gorgeous minty smell.
Fun DnD session this evening. Not much in the way of combat but plenty of role play thanks to a few nat 1s. I love seeing the players succeed but sometimes a Nat 1 makes for a perfect scene.
July 1, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Fun DnD session this evening. Not much in the way of combat but plenty of role play thanks to a few nat 1s. I love seeing the players succeed but sometimes a Nat 1 makes for a perfect scene.
Hot weather heading our way again this week so I spent a couple of hours making a little water feature for the front of our house. It doubles as a drinking fountain for our cats. Fun little project and upgrade to the standard water bowl we have for them.
June 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Hot weather heading our way again this week so I spent a couple of hours making a little water feature for the front of our house. It doubles as a drinking fountain for our cats. Fun little project and upgrade to the standard water bowl we have for them.
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, or Marvel.
There are a few, but The Martian is my current comfort watch.
There are a few, but The Martian is my current comfort watch.
June 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, or Marvel.
There are a few, but The Martian is my current comfort watch.
There are a few, but The Martian is my current comfort watch.
Not me wondering why the bath wasn't filling up only to see I hadn't actually closed the plug 🙃
June 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Not me wondering why the bath wasn't filling up only to see I hadn't actually closed the plug 🙃
Finished main story of Clair Obscur. What a game. I've not felt so torn over an in game choice in a long time.
June 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Finished main story of Clair Obscur. What a game. I've not felt so torn over an in game choice in a long time.
All caught up with Age of Umbra for now so gone back to Mighty Nein. I never finished watching this campaign. I got about 50-60 episodes in and then daughter was born and my free time dried up for a while. Its nice diving back in. Starting strong with episode 49 and the reveal of Nott's backstory.
June 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
All caught up with Age of Umbra for now so gone back to Mighty Nein. I never finished watching this campaign. I got about 50-60 episodes in and then daughter was born and my free time dried up for a while. Its nice diving back in. Starting strong with episode 49 and the reveal of Nott's backstory.
Got to have lunch with my daughter at her school today. Such a nice little thing the school does once a year. Little bit of a family time in the middle of a busy day ❤️
June 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Got to have lunch with my daughter at her school today. Such a nice little thing the school does once a year. Little bit of a family time in the middle of a busy day ❤️
Finished episode 2 of Age of Umbra... so good. Another classic Mercer NPC to enjoy.
I've treated myself to the Daggerheart core rules. It'll take me a while to get my head around everything because the system is so different to DnD, but I love the flow and the hope/fear dynamic.
I've treated myself to the Daggerheart core rules. It'll take me a while to get my head around everything because the system is so different to DnD, but I love the flow and the hope/fear dynamic.
June 15, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Finished episode 2 of Age of Umbra... so good. Another classic Mercer NPC to enjoy.
I've treated myself to the Daggerheart core rules. It'll take me a while to get my head around everything because the system is so different to DnD, but I love the flow and the hope/fear dynamic.
I've treated myself to the Daggerheart core rules. It'll take me a while to get my head around everything because the system is so different to DnD, but I love the flow and the hope/fear dynamic.
Into episode two of Age of Umbra. I don't want to spoil anything so all I will say is the system choices around low health look like so much fun.
June 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Into episode two of Age of Umbra. I don't want to spoil anything so all I will say is the system choices around low health look like so much fun.
OK diving back into the world of Critical Role. Just watched first episode of Age of Umbra. Loving the vibe and first impression of the system is that it looks good for the story telling/ narrative aspects of TTRPGs... and, of course, now I want to build a character 😆
June 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
OK diving back into the world of Critical Role. Just watched first episode of Age of Umbra. Loving the vibe and first impression of the system is that it looks good for the story telling/ narrative aspects of TTRPGs... and, of course, now I want to build a character 😆
Finally got my hands on Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew (alright it wasn't that hard but I kept forgetting)... Anyway, I was sceptical but actually makes a nice cuppa. Not one I'd want every time, but defo one for the right time/ mood.
June 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Finally got my hands on Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew (alright it wasn't that hard but I kept forgetting)... Anyway, I was sceptical but actually makes a nice cuppa. Not one I'd want every time, but defo one for the right time/ mood.
Reposted by TPB Writes (Thomas)
Lots of questions about Kobo, #kobowritinglife and how, when and why we are using AI. Putting "AI" in the same sentence as "authors", "books" or "publishers" makes a lot of alarm bells go off, and for good reason. 1/
June 3, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Lots of questions about Kobo, #kobowritinglife and how, when and why we are using AI. Putting "AI" in the same sentence as "authors", "books" or "publishers" makes a lot of alarm bells go off, and for good reason. 1/
Starting the day by opening the wrong version of a file and panicking that I'd lost hours of work. Nope just my dumb ass forgetting I saved it somewhere new.
April 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Starting the day by opening the wrong version of a file and panicking that I'd lost hours of work. Nope just my dumb ass forgetting I saved it somewhere new.
Reposted by TPB Writes (Thomas)
To celebrate the completion of The Library Trilogy with THE BOOK THAT HELD HER HEART, I'm giving away the full set of signed Locked Library special editions.
To enter just repost.
Contest held across my socials - enter elsewhere too to increase chances.
Winner chosen randomly from all entries.
To enter just repost.
Contest held across my socials - enter elsewhere too to increase chances.
Winner chosen randomly from all entries.
April 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
To celebrate the completion of The Library Trilogy with THE BOOK THAT HELD HER HEART, I'm giving away the full set of signed Locked Library special editions.
To enter just repost.
Contest held across my socials - enter elsewhere too to increase chances.
Winner chosen randomly from all entries.
To enter just repost.
Contest held across my socials - enter elsewhere too to increase chances.
Winner chosen randomly from all entries.
Heading home today after an amazing weekend away. I'll have about 15 hours at home before heading off again to a conference. Little one's wonderful grandparents are sticking around to help my wife so I feel a little less guilty running off during the Easter break.
April 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Heading home today after an amazing weekend away. I'll have about 15 hours at home before heading off again to a conference. Little one's wonderful grandparents are sticking around to help my wife so I feel a little less guilty running off during the Easter break.
Reposted by TPB Writes (Thomas)
Oh, they've been here all along, and what happens is they run into the wall of "don't engage, just block" and then they get frustrated that no one will bother with them. They just mewl "debate me" in sad, abandoned tones, out in the cornfield, all alone.
Sooner or later, the right-wing extremists will try to occupy BluSky as well. They need an opponent, which they increasingly lack on X, to prevent them from tearing each other apart.
April 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Oh, they've been here all along, and what happens is they run into the wall of "don't engage, just block" and then they get frustrated that no one will bother with them. They just mewl "debate me" in sad, abandoned tones, out in the cornfield, all alone.
Reposted by TPB Writes (Thomas)
LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 7:51 AM
LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
I don't mention work a lot because this is very much a personal account, but I am so excited to see what this new research centre achieves over the next five years. Centre for People's Justice - Improving law and lives through community led research. www.ukri.org/news/ahrc-fu...
AHRC-funded centre to put people at the heart of the legal system
AHRC is awarding £4.1 million to a new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need for the law to be fairer, safer and more inclusive.
www.ukri.org
April 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I don't mention work a lot because this is very much a personal account, but I am so excited to see what this new research centre achieves over the next five years. Centre for People's Justice - Improving law and lives through community led research. www.ukri.org/news/ahrc-fu...
Another step of renovating the garden is done. Our little herb garden is planted. Little one picked the herbs and then we worked with nana to plant them. We added oregano, parsley, and chives to the rosemary, mint, sage, and thyme we already had. Family effort.
April 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Another step of renovating the garden is done. Our little herb garden is planted. Little one picked the herbs and then we worked with nana to plant them. We added oregano, parsley, and chives to the rosemary, mint, sage, and thyme we already had. Family effort.
Fun date night last night. Ate at one of our favourite Italian restaurants and then listened to an hour of Hans Zimmer music played by a string quartet in a beautiful church lit by candlelight. Bliss.
April 6, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Fun date night last night. Ate at one of our favourite Italian restaurants and then listened to an hour of Hans Zimmer music played by a string quartet in a beautiful church lit by candlelight. Bliss.
This whole thread is great, but this part made me feel better. I mean I 100% need to spend more time writing... but also it takes so long and I don't know what I'm doing and it's nice to know it takes others plenty of time as well.
First draft (which is more like first 8 partial drafts, tbh) takes me about 7 months (bear in mind this is my job—would take longer if not).
Next round is structural/developmental edits, after I get input from my editor & beta readers. That usually takes me 3 months.
Next round is structural/developmental edits, after I get input from my editor & beta readers. That usually takes me 3 months.
April 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This whole thread is great, but this part made me feel better. I mean I 100% need to spend more time writing... but also it takes so long and I don't know what I'm doing and it's nice to know it takes others plenty of time as well.
Ordered some herb plants to grow in the garden. Starting with rosemary, thyme, sage, and mint because they're described as 'hardy'. Based on my current gardening skills, that's the only essential requirement 🤣
April 2, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Ordered some herb plants to grow in the garden. Starting with rosemary, thyme, sage, and mint because they're described as 'hardy'. Based on my current gardening skills, that's the only essential requirement 🤣