Literally Lyndsey

Welcome to the latest instalment of Literally Lyndsey! It’s been a busy few months, with some exciting things to share, so read on for that, plus sub calls, updates, reading recommendations, submission calls, folklore facts, cat pics, and more!

Pre-order Dark Crescent

Just a week to go until Dark Crescent is published by Luna Press Publishing, with the beautiful cover by Jenni Coutts. Pre-order now from all the usual places! Or ask your local bookshop to get it in! I’m also running a giveaway on Bsky and Instagram.

“A terrific collection of Scottish folktales with a modern twist, lyrical and evocative.” – Joanne Harris

“Invites readers into a world of darkness, magic, and the disturbing beauty of Scotland. Gorgeous and compelling! Highly recommended.” – Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Burn to Shine and Mystic

“A captivating constellation of folklore that feels both modern and ageless, deeply rooted and wonderfully original at the same time.” – Lorraine Wilson, author of We Are All Ghosts in the Forest

“A stunning collection of stories. A dark and delicious treat for fans of Scottish folklore… The tales within are sometimes hopeful, usually dark, and always quickly devoured.” – Angie Spoto, author of The Grief Nurse and The Bone Diver

Other Writing News

New novella coming 2026

Delighted to be working with Luna Press again and to be joining their brilliant Luna Novella Series in 2026 with my Scottish gothic horror book In This City Where it Rains. The book is set in an alternative version of Edinburgh and follows Maggie, a woman haunted by ghosts that only appear in the rain – and it always rains in this city. At the edge of town, stands Tair House – a house that remembers, in a city that forgets. The mansion is so damned, it scares the clouds themselves from breaking, and the man of the house, Xavier Logan, and his wife Lucia, are harbouring a dark secret there – something that connects to Maggie and her ghosts. Soon all roads lead to Tair House, where Maggie hopes only to uncover more about her family’s past and her muddled memories. But the house is hungry, and something is waking deep within its roots…something that has been waiting a long time for Maggie.

Climate Fiction Writers League

Happy to have officially joined the Climate Fiction Writers League as an author member. The league is a group of authors who believe in the necessity of climate action, immediately and absolutely. Fiction is one of the best ways to inspire passion, empathy and action in readers. Our works raise awareness of climate change, and encourage action at the individual, corporate and government levels. I’ve been following them for a while and so it’s great to be part of it now. I’ll be doing a feature on their newsletter soon so watch this space!

Short fiction coming soon!

‘Under a Bleeding Sky’ a Scottish-folklore inspired story based on the Mirrie Dancers and Bloodstones folklore, will be out in Parsec Magazine soon.

Events

I’m delighted that June and July are going to be packed full with some exciting events and festivals. You can find all the links and details on my website here, and in a quick snapshot below!

Please do come along if you’re nearby to any of these! I’ll be signing books, and will have some special merch with me for these in-person events.

What I've Been Reading

• Thirsty Animals by Rachelle Atalla compelling and pacy, was hooked straight away! Dystopian read but felt too close to home exploring water shortages and drought in Scotland, as I read it in the driest month of the year.

• The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K Le Guin - feels currently prescient, and though short it packs a punch. Amazing worldbuilding and ultimately a complex reflection on pacifism, violence, and resistance

• Model Home by Rivers Solomon - dark, profound, and unsettling, completely drew me in and couldn't put it down. A twist on the haunted house story.

• Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle by Renan Bernardo. A tense and gripping space horror, exploring the moral quandaries of space exploitation.

• Send Flowers by Emily Buchanan - a heartfelt and moving exploration of grief, climate activism and resistance. A must-read for our current times! I’m doing an interview with Emily as part of the Climate Fiction Writers League soon so watch this space!

Submission Calls

• If you published weird fiction in 2024, send Undertow your stories for Best Weird Fiction of the Year by 30th May

• A bit different, The Scottish Wildlife Trust have a writing competition Words of the Wild with various prizes for adult and young writers. Submissions in Gaelic, English and Scots. Deadline 12th July.

• Diabolical Plots are open for submissions from 7th-21st July.

Scottish Folklore of the Month

As part of a social media giveaway I’m running, I asked people what their favourite Scottish folklore thing was - a lot of people said the Kelpie (alongside the Selkie!) So let’s have a look at this strange and fearsome water creature…

The Kelpie (found usually in rivers or lochs) and the similar creature Each Uisge (latter usually found by the sea) are shapeshifting creatures that may appear in different forms to lure humans to the water, then drag the victims to watery depths. Usually they are depicted in their horse forms, manes dripping, pondweed or seaweed in their manes, but can disguise themselves as humans.

What I’m working on/what I’ve been up to

I’ve been busy working on edits for both my upcoming Luna Novella, and for my latest novel to get it ready for submission very soon! I’m feeling good about how both are coming together, and hope the deep sea book will find the perfect home when I go on submission in the next month or two.

I’m also just generally getting excited for Dark Crescent launch and upcoming events in June. I unfortunately have ended May with a bad fall, so I’ll be on crutches over next few weeks - it’s never good timing, but feeling like particularly cursed timing ahead of a holiday this week and book launch things and festivals after that! But, I’m already improving and looking forward to some time off from the day job until mid June.

Summer feels well and truly here though, and it’s great to be getting out and about in the warmer weather. I’ll be sending out a brief launch day newsletter next week, but for now, happy writing and reading! Here is an obligatory Pippin pic too, enjoying his holidays up North…!