matthewspalmer

@matthewspalmer

Geek, Dad, Gray Ace, He/Him. Enjoys reading words off paper, sometimes puts them there as well. Lost Talent, a YA/New Adult Contemporary Fantasy with a diverse cast is out now! More deails and four free chapters on

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matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· 13h

They fed Ellison's work into the drought engine, and: 'it ran into enough questions – exactly the kind of questions posed by the folks who have joined this conversation online' The machine that aggregates information aggregated information that you already expected it to aggregate? 2/4

Did it come up with these thoughts on its own? No, because AI can’t think, it can only process, weigh and scrape. But it seems clear that along the way, it ran into enough questions – exactly the kind of questions posed by the folks who have joined this conversation online – to not just include them in the analysis but put them in the forefront of the discussion.

And that felt noteworthy.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· 2d

...on the house without an issue. It steals their food (especially fast food) and generally makes a nusance of it's self, but any time they try to properly adopt it, it dissapears for a few days. It is baised on Cinnamon, my 20 year old cat who died while I was writing Lost Talent. 2/2

An old black cat, curled up on a window sil.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· 10d

Fuck Harry Potter Read Lost Talent

Trope map Alt Text
A Trope Map for Lost Talent, Shows the book cover with the two main characters on a purple background with golden stars around the edges. The tropes are:
Messy Magic School Graduates
Secrets, Corruption and Rebellion
Asexual Protagonist
What would you give up for Magic?
Rebuilding a Found Family
Neurodivergent Protagonist
LGBTQIA+ friendly
Finding your True Strength
At the bottom it says Available Now!

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· 13d

First image on your camera roll that makes you laugh out loud

Text that says:

Writer: Is it firsthand or first hand?
Editor: either one is fine.

Headline text:
Students get first hand job experience

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· 27d

At first, Q appeared as a loosly defined renaissance ship captain, then a 20th Century US army Captain, then a future soldier as pictured. He only started wearing the more well known Judge costume when he started the Mock Trial. There were more future soldiers in that scene, but Q wore it first.

Q, played by John DeLancie dressed as a Renaissance ship captain in Encounter at Farpoint

Q, played by John DeLancie dressed as a US Army captain in Encounter at Farpoint.

Q, played by John DeLancie dressed as a drug addicted Future Soldier, also presumably a captain, in Encounter at Farpoint

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jul 10

I always enjoyed this one I found when I was looking for a catflap...

An amazon product image of a black catflap, floating in white space, with the image of a tabby cat with it's mouth open badly composited on the other side. It has two paws hooked over the frame in a way that makes them look dislocated from the cat and the flap it's self is open and at an angle but with no obvious force applied to it. It looks like either the strange cat has telekenetic powers or is about to be hit on the face with it.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 27

My eyes might have been a little bigger than my shelf space on this one…

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 21

From what I am currently editing: I always find in funny writing my characters who grew up isolated from the modern world experiencing it for the first time and not know what to make of it, even at brekfast! #QueerWriters #pride #writesky #writingcommunity #LGBTQWriteAThon

“What is it made of?”
“Well... Sugar? Mostly.” They poured a measure into a bowl and splashed it with milk. “My mum always used to say that these would rot my teeth.” Beryl lowered their voice conspiratorially. “Jokes on her, now I can afford as much dental alchemy as I need...”
Curious, Lily cautiously ate a spoonful. “By Lud, it's so sweet...”
“I know right?” Beryl said, mouth half full, 'This is the good stuff, all the way from America. Did you realise that the food allowance scales with your bank balance? Crazy.”
Lily had in fact discovered that, shortly before subsisting on months of unsweetened porridge for breakfast. The cereal in front of her was a ludicrous overcorrection. “I’m sorry, if I eat too much of this, I think it will give me a headache.” She pushed the bowl away.
Beryl smiled and poured Lily's portion into their own bowl. “Don't worry, Sol's got some boring food in the cupboards as well. Did you sleep ok?”

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 17

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'never' After a hard day of work, Mina wasn't prepared to be dragged across town to the site of a impending alchemical disaster. She also wasn't ready for Heidi to volunteer them to solve it... Lost Talent is 99 pence/cents on kindle this week! #BookQW #BookSky

“You came to an alchemist’s house without an alchemist of your own?” She shook her head and gestured around her, “look at all these people! Are you seriously going to let them stand here getting soggy when me and my friend could solve this for you in a couple of minutes?”
Mina’s mouth dropped open. “Wait, what?” suddenly every-one was looking at her as well.
“She has just spent the whole afternoon divining potions. Send us in and let these people go back to their hearths and dry off.” Heidi raised her voice at that last bit, and there were grumbles of approval from the people nearby.
“If you go in there, that thing could blow up in your faces. I’m not sending two girls in to danger on their own.”
That got to Mina. She was too tired to hold in her anger at the implication. “Then come with us. Sol would NEVER brew something dangerous close to this many people!” He was the most conscientious alchemist she had ever known.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 17

After many years of keeping my daughter’s room cool in summer “Ed Sheerfan” has finally given up the ghost. At least he is still cheerful.

A standing electric fan with a mop of red hair and a cheeky expression drawn on stick figure style in felt tip pen.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 16

Yeah, I think Storm works best when she has a character that she can be human around, like forge, or Kitty, rather than being 'The godess' 24/7. I find her more interesting if that is a persona/mask rather than her actual core persona. Though it does give some excellent memes.

Magneto and the X men from X-Men '97 reinacting a scene from 30 rock:

Magneto: Quiet fives, a ten is speaking! Ororo, can we talk, one ten to another?

Storm: I'm an eleven, but continue.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 10

Does any-one else wake up with children's stories from their WIP/Setting in their heads? I'm not sure where this goes yet but I'm writing it down for posterity.

My grandmother told me a story once about a mage who enchanted every surface of their house to repel mess. It seemed fine at first, until they spilt their drink. It sprung off every surface flying around the house, accelerating as it went, until it hit them in the face. All magic has consequences, you either account for them, or you suffer them.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 7

Lily turns to Beryl claiming that she has nowhere else to go. It becomes clear that's not the only reason... #QueerWriters #pride #writesky #writingcommunity #LGBTQWriteAThon

Lily reached out and put her hand on Beryl's shoulder, feeling the soft cotton of the T-Shirt and the firm muscle beneath it. Her thumb brushed ever so slightly against Beryl’s skin. They turned and met her eyes.
Something in Lily felt suddenly bold. “Thank you. For the apology. For the Sofa. For everything.” Time seemed to freeze in that moment. It felt like the air had become electrified. Was this what magic felt like? Lily leaned forwards moving closer to Beryl.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 6

Mina, on the left of the cover is Aro/Ace! At Age 11 she let herself get enticed away to Magic school, only for it to sap her confidence for seven long years. If it wasn't for her friends, she would have left. 1/2 #AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

The Cover of Lost Talent by M S Palmer. It has a light purple background with a golden sunburst behind two characters. Mina, a tall south asian woman stand lifiting a thick wooden stave with golden glyphs along it's length.

beside her is Heidi, she has pale skin and large curly hair, freckles and big round glasses. She stands as tall as Mina's shoulder she holds her hand ready, with golden light around her hands. On one finger she has a golden ring set with a big red stone.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Jun 6

Yourself, but as a cartoon.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 29

But here was more. He continued: ‘…and Science Fiction writer Frank Herbert.’ Oh, my brother, please stop. The dish: Scallops flavoured with cinnamon (because spice), and Black Pudding Foam (because Lovecraft) The producers saw you coming man. The dish was plated to resemble Cthulhu as well. 2/3

Two Scallops seared with a dark orange from the Cinnamon rest on two blobs of black and grany black pudding foam.

Strands of the foam extend out from them, intended to resemble tentacles while some bean shoots are artfully posed on the scallops to resemble eyelashes.

The plate is garnished by three thin disks of radish and a sprinke of more cinnamon for decaration.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 28

Qual from episode three looks like this. I feel that it's hard to judge the use of Demons in the show very well, as I don't think we understand them or what drives them very well. it does feel like the 'acceptable villainous race' trope that is common in fantasy, which isn't perfect.

Qual, a large Demon from Freiren beyond journey's end, has grey skin, slits for eyes, a large mouth with pointed teeth and long pointed fingernails.

Around his shoulders is furry mantle and it isn't clear if it is clothing or part of him. He stands with his hand exteneded in front of him his fingers splayed.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 28

The Anakin and Padme Meme:
Anakin: It's going to be 39 Months before Ahsoka season 2
Padme: To make sure the script is good right?
Anakin: says nothing
Padmie: To make sure the Script is good right?

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 24

A #drable, inspired by a conversation on @britfantasysoc.bsky.social discord. #Writesky

A drop of cornflower pollen. A hint of strong cider. The wild berries of a hedge. The families of the town gathered enough coin to pay me for the journey to the front lines. To carry the scent of home to their sons and husbands. My art preserved them, and their request moved me.
When I arrived, none remained to receive my gift.
The stench of mud. The tang of blood. The smoke of gunpowder. These I carried home. They are no gift, and those who send men to war will smell nothing else for the rest of their lives.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 24

I couldn't miss this one... From A Coven for Outcasts, volume 2 of The Oakward Graduates, currently being polished. Mina, Heidi, Beryl and Sol are celebrating being reunited, when an unexpected guest shows up at their door... 1/2 #SundaySnips #Writingprompt #Writesky #HQpress

Every-one was momentarily frozen in surprise. Lily clearly wasn’t expecting to interrupt a party and stood there like a deer in headlights. None of them had seen her since they graduated, except perhaps Beryl. They had been coy over what had happened during their trip to Wales during Sol’s disappearance, but afterwards they had become uncharacteristically introspective.
“Hi Lily. ” Thank goodness for Heidi. There was no such thing as an awkward silence while she was around. “Beryl, are you going to invite her in?”
Lily took a half step back “I can go if it’s…”
“Nonsense, come in.” Beryl quickly gestured for her to enter.
Lily looked exhausted. She was always pale, but the winter cold hadn’t done her any favours. There was something deeper than just fatigue running through her body, making her eyes twitch and fingers fidget as she came in.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 21

This is a cat checkpoint; relinquish your most recent cat picture on your phone! This is Mumbo, she has two states, zoomies and sleep…

A black and white cat, curled up in a cat bed next to a radiator.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 9

It’s based on my cat, Cinnamon who passed While I was writing Lost Talent, after an adventurous long life (20yrs old!) 3/3

A black cat, curled up comfortably on a window sill.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 9

Today in physical media: I should have to justify why I needed the best anime of all time on Blu-ray, and now I have all three volumes of Mob! Astra: lost in space is a hidden gem. The ending is a bit shaky but the journey is excellent, and it was dirt cheap for a full series! #anime

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 3

Magister Glycho is Mina's first magic teacher. She is kind and understanding, but also a little patronising. Despite her good intentions, all it takes is a single mistake to destroy Mina's confidence for years. #SundaySnips #WritingCommunity #Writingprompt #Writesky #HQpress

The Magister briefly clapped their hands together in praise. “Yes, very good! Visualisation is how we translate the feelings from our sixth sense into a form that we can understand. Some people see magic as being like water that they draw from a great ocean. For some people it is like fire, or energy, or light. Some people use different visualisations for different tasks, but the clearer you can make your visualisation, the easier it will be it to shape.” She paused, satisfied that she had their full attention.
“The final principal is Intention. Your intention is how you take the energy that you have channelled and make it go exactly where you want it to go, and in the form you want it to be. Concentrate on your sixth sense. Visualise your magic and shape it with your intention. Do you all understand?” They nodded their heads. “Then we'll begin.”

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· May 2

#Booksky So here is mine! By the fantastic @isthiseva.bsky.social

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Apr 29

It's #BookQW and the word is 'free'. Heidi and Mina are looking for their missing friend. Does Beryl have the answers, or just more questions?

Beryl moved them far enough away from the other patrons for some privacy before they started chatting away. “So you're not here to congratulate me then? Did Sol tell you all about it?” They spread their arms as if they were waiting for applause.
Heidi was unimpressed. “We heard. Well done.”
Beryl rolled their eyes. “Sourpuss. Spill it then. What’s so important that you had to drag me off the dancefloor?”
When the pair had finished, Beryl had blanched in shock. “But why would the constables be there looking for him? It can't have been the blood – we were free and clear! Everything was one hundred percent legit!” They turned away to face the wall of the alley. “Those miserable sods.”
Heidi stepped in and placed a hand on their shoulder. “Can you start from the beginning?” Beryl and Mina knew the look on Heidi's face. All the distractions and sensory input from the rest of the world were being blocked out. She was one hundred percent focused on Beryl and their story. “What was it like? When the dragon died?”

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Apr 25

Here is my debut: Lost Talent, a contemporary fantasy about what happens when four friends graduate magic school and realise the lessons they learned were perhaps not in their best interests… It’s available on Kindle and Kindle unlimited!

A Trope Map for Lost Talent, Shows the book cover with the two main characters on a purple background with golden stars around the edges. The tropes are:
Messy Magic School Graduates
Secrets, Corruption and Rebellion
Asexual Protagonist
What would you give up for Magic?
Rebuilding a Found Family
Neurodivergent Protagonist
LGBTQIA+ friendly
Finding your True Strength
Available now

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Apr 20

A Meme image template that says: My Storm Trooper Told me rebels keep stealing his TIE Fighters So I asked how many TIE Fighters he has and he said he just goes to the shelter and gets a new TIE Fighter afterwards so I said it sounds like he's just feeding TIE fighters to Rebels and then his Emperor started crying.

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Apr 17

Well, that is just too close to home.

The result from an online quiz, with a man in a brown two tone shirt holding an Apple 2 and wearing oversized glasses, standing next to a a woman in smart clothing holding a woodwind instrument, an oboe maybe?

Next to them it says I am an 80's dork. The text at the top says DIE Metadungeon on Backerkit Now! the text at the bottom says a history of RPGs you can play

matthewspalmer@matthewspalmer· Apr 14

Time to move on to serious work on book 2, coming in 2027! A determined Mina returns to school for the first time since graduation. What is she planning, and what has driven her to confront the most powerful man in Arcane Society? #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts