Victoria Hayward

@writervh

Writer / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Birds / 🍸 Warhammer 40K Darktide / Black Library Author / Lancaster University Creative Writing Scholarship PhD Candidate 🌈 Principal Investigator: Fair Realms Project (BA/ACE/AHRC funded) All views her own, she/her

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Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir writervh.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Victoria Hayward@writervh· 1d

🔮 Marketh your diaries welle! 🔮 @gavthorpe.bsky.social & myself will be out and about on Saturday 24th October at various locations as part of the Fair Realms British Academy / Arts Council England Project. Come and say hi and let us know your thoughts on fantasy worlds!

Fair Realms Author Visit
Informal drop-in

We are researching how to write new fantasy worlds and we'd like to hear your thoughts on fantasy!

Gav Thorpe & Victoria Hayward

Saturday 24 October 2026
10.00 - 11.30: Geeks Headquarters
3 High Street, Chesterfield, S40 1PS

14.00 - 15.30: Wargames Emporium
31 Leeming Street, Mansfield, NG18 1NA

16.00 - 17:30: Sanctuary Gaming Centre
Forest Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 1BE

Victoria Hayward@writervh· 6d

Please consider it. And I'm sorry to say - chameleonic life forms - no thanks 🙏

A wood pigeon sits on a fence post on which someone has written 'give quiche a chance'

Victoria Hayward@writervh· 9d

We’re researching fantasy settings for science! Thanks to support from @britishacademy.bsky.social & @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, @gavthorpe.bsky.social & I will be visiting local gaming clubs on 24th October with our mini postbox where you can share your thoughts on fantasy settings :-)

Author visit - informal drop-in

We are researching how to write new fantasy worlds & we’d like to hear your thoughts on fantasy!

Gav Thorpe
Gav is an award-winning game designer, New York Times best-selling author, David Gemmell Legend Award recipient and Warhammer author.

Victoria Hayward
Victoria has written for Grimdark Magazine, Black Library, AAN and Anthem Press and the award-winning Warhammer 40,000: Darktide game.

24 October 2026 14.00 - 15.30, The Games Emporium, 31 Leeming Street, Mansfield, NG18 1NA

Victoria Hayward@writervh· 19d

Also bonus gannet chicks because they are SO lovely

A very fluffy white gannet chick with a parent sits on a pale cliff overlooking the sea

A white fluffy gannet chick stretches out its wings which are very much a work in progress as a parent looks on proudly

Victoria Hayward@writervh· 19d

Gorgeous gannet at @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs this weekend! First visit to the site and it's absolutely amazing. The RSPB volunteers were fantastic on site and on the boat trip run aboard the Yorkshire Belle. Strong recommendation if you would like to see a LOT of gannets!! 🖤

A northern gannet gives a piercing stare. It is a striking bird with a pure white body with a gradient into a soft golden yellow head and neck with vivid blue eyelids. There are no visible nostrils - these are internal to withstand the force with which the bird strikes the water when diving.

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jun 20

He is beauty. He is grace 👑 You may not like it, but this is what peak bird performance looks like 🪶

A grey and yellow budgie lands in a very upright pose, his wings outstretched, his little pink claws dangling in front of him

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jun 11

Important update: bebe pigeon is fledging 🖤

A beautiful young wood pigeon sits on a branch

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jun 10

Got a nice camera and all of my pics are birds now 🖤🐦 These lovebirds just raised their third chick this season and are working on another nest already!

Two wood pigeons grooming each other and looking in love

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jun 6

Good selection of Warhammer books in Games Workshop Brussels! Spotted yours @squintywitch.bsky.social 🖤

A French version of Jude Reid's Fulgrim Black Library book

Victoria Hayward@writervh· May 22

I've been lucky to write diff 40K factions - all fab but Tyranids = 💯 obvs 😎🖤 ⚔️ Astra Militarum:Deathworlder, Nightsider Imperialis, Blood Sands 🛡 Imperial Knights:The Feast of Saint Luthera 💀 Inquisition:The Carbis Incident 🕵‍♀️ Crime:No City for Heroes, Siege of Ismyr ✈️ Imperial Navy:Wings of Faith

Black Library author Victoria Hayward stands outside the Games Workshop headquarters beside the Warhammer 40K Space Marine statue

Victoria Hayward@writervh· May 18

It's grim. It's dark. It's MONDAY! Starting the week with big writing plans & grateful for the support of my BL author crew to get there 💪 @robertrath.bsky.social @jonathandbeer.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social @richmcc.bsky.social @notsosilentrobb.bsky.social @mikevincent-author.bsky.social

A black and white photo of Black Library author Victoria Hayward leaning on the car park Rhino tank at Warhammer World. She is wearing a black shirt and trousers and smiling.

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Apr 21

NEIGH! My annual painting session has occurred and I have done a little more on the classic Warhammer green knight! Beautiful mini but complicated so taking it slowly 🖤

Tory holds a work in progress miniature - the Warhammer Green Knight model against a background of green wallpaper with parrots on it

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Apr 9

In the glam darkness of the 40K sequin mines there is only wa(utho)r! 💀 Tbt a special evening at Warhammer World 🖤

Author Victoria Hayward wearing a sequined evening dress in front of the the Warhammer World tank at Games Workshop headquarters

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 25

Northern Finland was absolutely magical - but my favourite part was being befriended by the wonderful kuukkeli (Siberian jay) birds during daily walks through the pine forests! 🖤❄️🌲

A kuukkeli bird lands on Victoria's hand in a snow covered forest

A photo of a kuukkeli bird some hikers have left treats for on a bench

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 24

Aurora & Stars. Arctic Circle, Finland. March 2026.

An astrophotography image taken of the night sky during the aurora borealis. A wash of colour - pink, green and purple - sweeps across the dark of the night sky sprinkled with the bright pinpoints of stars.

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 21

Stomping around in the snow in Finland for a few days! 🖤❄️

Victoria wears a burgundy velvet dress and stands in front of trees and snow

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 13

As soon as I see @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social has had @premeemohamed.com @margaret.bsky.social @decassette.bsky.social & Michael Moorcock producing work for them do I immediately sign up to the 2026 crowd funder?? Yes. Yes I do 🖤 ...Plus I immediately ordered a back issue to tide me over 😅

Victoria holds up a copy of issue 3 of New Edge Sword and Sorcery Magazine

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 8

Happy International Women's Day! Celebrating all women in SFF & in particular my pioneering sisters in Warhammer 40,000 💀 Thank you for creating & inspiring - it's an honour to be working in this setting with you 🖤 @skullqueen.bsky.social @danacea.bsky.social @squintywitch.bsky.social #IWD2026

Cover images of women characters from Black library Warhammer 40,000 stories by Sarah Cawkwell, Rachel Harrison, Danie Ware, Victoria Hayward and Jude Reid

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Mar 3

BRB battling deadlines 4 the Emperor rn 🙏💀

Victoria wields a giant bolt gun and wears a black and red floral dress

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Feb 23

Had a fabulous time at the Sisters & Allies of Battle at Warhammer World at the weekend! Organised by the wonderful @eldarexarch it was lovely to chat all things hobby with such fab folk 📚🖌🖤

A group of around 40 people stand in front of the Rhino and Space Marine statue
at Warhammer World, Games Workshop HQ

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Feb 16

Thesis writing essentials. It is absolutely *not safe* to commence PhD work without wine and a small parrot 🖤🦜🍷

A small yellow budgie jauntily grasps the edge of a glass of red wine with one claw

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Feb 15

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 24

Good morrow fellow bulwark admirers! May your weekend be fortified with rest & relaxation ✨️🧱

Tory stands in front of the Warhammer World space marine at Games Workshop HQ. She wields a sword and an Imperial Fists Soace Marine helmet

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 19

It's PLR statement day! In the UK authors receive payment every time you borrow one of their books from a library 🖤 This includes Warhammer books which you can certainly find if your local library is in Nottingham! 📚💀

Tory holds a copy of her Black Library novel Deathworlder in from of library shelves

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 18

Just picked up my first Warhammer read of the year - @andyclarkauthor.bsky.social's Black Library book Demolisher! It's a sequel to Steel Tread which I absolutely loved so am excited to crack in!

Victoria stands in front of the Warhammer World 40K tank. She is a woman with long blonde hair and a purple velvet dress

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 10

✨️His✨️Eyelashes*✨️ *exquisite modified feathers belonging to Leonard the budgerigar

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 7

Please enjoy this nuthatch hatching a whole nut 🖤

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 3

Meet Lobelia, a magnificent Eurasian Griffon Vulture at World of Wings in Cumbernauld! She's currently in training & doing very well at not eating people's welly boots (mostly). It was a pleasure to meet her - she was very boisterous & playful. Vultures are always fabulous & she is especially so 🖤

Lobelia, a magnificent Eurasian Griffon Vulture at World of Wings in Cumbernauld walking along the top of a fence with her rings slightly raised

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 3

My New Year read was @adamroberts.bsky.social very clever & very scary Lake of Darkness which gave me the mega creeps by chapter 2 but which I couldn't stop reading. It's beautiful & horrible and I recommend/don't recommend reading it in a remote forest depending or not whether you value sleep...

Victoria holds up a copy of Adam Roberts' book Lake of Darkness against a snowy backdrop and lichen-covered trees

Victoria Hayward@writervh· Jan 1

A brisk and bright start to the New Year aboard a Victorian steamship on Loch Katrine (whisky compulsory, it was gorgeous but very cold! ❄️) ...Then home for some writing! 🖤✍️