Kell Shaw writes in the Vestiges of Magic urban fantasy universe. His books feature diverse characters and thrilling supernatural mysteries. https://kellshaw.com https://kellshaw.com/newsletter <-- Get a free introductory short story in my current serieshttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mkmrdthpns2wA time of madness! Incomprehensible tomes full of deranged ciphers. Mad scribblings. Anguished wailings as I try to piece together an intricate mosaic of arcane ciphers before the terrible hungry gods rise up and devour everything... (It's tax time...)29 Apr 2026 09:18 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmrdthpns2whttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mk5pnizrxk2sI've reviewed Threads of Memory by Richard Fierce on my blog. It's also a contestant in the SPFBO XI contest. Seamstress-based romantasy. Crisply written book. Short and pacy, and I loved how it got straight to the action. #booksky #spfboxi #spfbo #bookreview #fantasy https://kellshaw.com/threads-of-memory-by-richard-fierce-spfbo-xi/23 Apr 2026 09:37 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5pnizrxk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mjjac2cr6k27I've got a new book review on my blog: An Unlikely Coven by AM Kvita. Overall, fun, a touch of cozy, with queer found family tropes. Joan is a prodigal daughter of New York's ruling witch family, and she's been away for a long time. https://kellshaw.com/the-rib-an-unlikely-coven-by-am-kvita/ #urbanfantasy #booksky #bookreview15 Apr 2026 06:09 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjac2cr6k27https://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3miy3haofyk2lOver on my blog, I've done a quick review of book tracking apps (Goodreads, Storygraph, Pagebound and Hardcover) and settled on Hardcover.app for now, as it syncs with Kobo! (After some fiddling). What do you use to track your reading? Do you bother at all? https://kellshaw.com/a-brief-review-of-book-tracking-apps-and-the-winner/ #booksky https://Hardcover.app08 Apr 2026 10:27 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3miy3haofyk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3miqbrt4dmc2wI don't specifically write queer stories, even though, after four books I've only had one straight protag. I write more about people figuring out their identities and what makes them unique. I don't focus much hot times, more about connections between people. #LoreOutLoud https://bsky.app/profile/darylmarez.bsky.social/post/3miq347tblz2u [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Apr 2026 07:59 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqbrt4dmc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3miqb4wxsu225@kellshaw.bsky.social I've written a new blog post about my writing and publishing goals. https://kellshaw.com/easter-sunday-thoughts-goals-publishing-and-my-now/. Anyway, one thing I've noted is that I missed out on Buffy the first time. Now fixing that. Up to season 5. And there's a trans character! Kind of, Glory/Ben. Will this end well?05 Apr 2026 07:48 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqb4wxsu225https://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mhasxrf34k2s@kellshaw.bsky.social A new Review of Interesting Books (RIB) on my blog. https://kellshaw.com/the-rib-daughters-of-darkness-by-samuel-chatman-spfbo-xi/ Another entrant in the SPFBO XI contest. The Wakanda-esque nation of New Abyssinia is defended by a newly-formed group of female superheroes. Great action! #booksky #spfbo #spfboxi17 Mar 2026 10:59 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhasxrf34k2shttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mh4uy2etxz2rI’ve discovered silicon dice. I Iike them- they bounce and have an interesting texture. And a stepping on a silicon d4 won’t send you to hospital! #ttrpg #rpg15 Mar 2026 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh4uy2etxz2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mh2lb53z3c2qCan you downscale your author business to avoid burnout? Self-publishing/creating art as a side business can be a grind. Is there a way to strip your small business to your minimum, 'good enough' requirements to avoid burnout? Do you know what your goals are? #booksky https://kellshaw.com/can-you-downscale-before-you-burnout/14 Mar 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh2lb53z3c2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mgjoe4m5qk2gI've reviewed a fantastic book from the SPBFO XI competition on my blog. Two young outsiders, each with a mysterious heritage, get involved in court intrigues in an Indian-themed fantasy world and quickly find themselves out of their depth... https://kellshaw.com/the-rib-the-stonebound-heir-by-la-barnitz-spfbo-xi/08 Mar 2026 06:05 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgjoe4m5qk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mf4rbtja4s2pI've got a new Review of Interesting Books on my blog: https://kellshaw.com/blog/the-rib-legendborn-by-tracey-deonn - Knights on campus! #booksky #bookreview #urbanfantasy18 Feb 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf4rbtja4s2phttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mdfgxinzlc2g@kellshaw.bsky.social I've reviewed the first four books of the Alex Verus series on my blog. It takes a while for a series to get good, to reach a level where you can't wait for the next book, and book four, Chosen, is the best so far... https://kellshaw.com/blog/alex-verus-1-4-by-benedict-jacka #booksky #urbanfantasy27 Jan 2026 09:27 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdfgxinzlc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3md5qjwy37m2vI was running games for my younger #ttrpg group today at the gaming bar, Fortress, and one of them said, “They’re playing really old music.” It was Sk8ter Boi and some My Chemical Romance. I reflected that my version of ‘really old’ music is Buddy Holly or the Beatles.24 Jan 2026 07:57 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3md5qjwy37m2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mbqk6xjv4s2qI'm using a lot of Emma Ruth Rundle songs to get the head of my current main character, who's a three hundred year old half demon assassin. Especially 'Marked for Death'. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Jan 2026 08:34 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbqk6xjv4s2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mbob6a5qts2m@tinstargames.bsky.social I know you won't see this, but remember how we all started roleplaying in Brisbane together, and then all moved to Sydney independently? And it was always fun seeing you around the RPG scene, playing your games, seeing all the bright things you'd accomplished. Go well.05 Jan 2026 10:47 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbob6a5qts2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mbldokkyhk2rNew blog post about writing, what I did last year, and my 2026 plans: https://kellshaw.com/blog/reflections-on-2025-and-the-future-in-2026 #writingcommunity #writesky #indieauthors04 Jan 2026 06:54 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbldokkyhk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3mbdo2pnl4k27It is the year 2026, twenty years after Transformers the Movie was set. Or season 3, which was much poorer for the lack of Starscream.01 Jan 2026 05:38 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbdo2pnl4k27https://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m7z5ndiozs2aMy new book is out on all platforms! Reflections Upon the Anniversary of My Descent. Like Kill Bill with demons. A dark coming of age. An urban fantasy thriller. https://kellshaw.com/books/cambion-chronicles/reflections-upon-the-anniversary-of-my-descent #urbanfantasy #booksky15 Dec 2025 07:53 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7z5ndiozs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m6vgxrixbs2kNew book review on my blog: Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka. Hard magic meets urban fantasy. https://kellshaw.com/blog/an-inheritance-of-magic-by-benedict-jacka01 Dec 2025 03:04 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6vgxrixbs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m6h64ntvlk2gI hate my family and my small town. Except it's bordered by strange mist, and stalked by monsters. My close friends hate me. I'm getting sucked into a dream world that doesn't make any sense. And yet, I get a cool naginata and everything seems worthwhile. (I'm playing Silent Hill F.)25 Nov 2025 10:48 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6h64ntvlk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m6h4u3dukc2pFinal Night, the first book in my urban fantasy series is now free (or 99 cents) until November 30. It's about a girl who comes back from the dead to solve her own murder, twenty years later... books2read.com/final-night/ #urbanfantasy, #booksky https://books2read.com/final-night/25 Nov 2025 10:25 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6h4u3dukc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m5izcxtbuk2fMy character has died in Mothership. “(GM): Vangral has died from stimpak overdose”. After bleeding to death from two failed first aid rolls. Such is life in the harshness of space.... #ttrpgs #mothership13 Nov 2025 11:02 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5izcxtbuk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m55wgjb4oc2lNew book review! The Were Chronicles by Alma Alexander. Werewolves meets X-Men. Check out 'hard fantasy' in the urban fantasy genre; recommended read. https://kellshaw.com/blog/the-rib-the-were-chronicles-by-alma-alexander #bookreview #booksky09 Nov 2025 01:11 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m55wgjb4oc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m4pmivtdck2t@kellshaw.bsky.social ran Daggerheart yesterday. It took a few combats to work out how it was supposed to work, but flowed well once that happened. The main thing is reacting to the player's turns with your GM move. If they fail, or roll with Fear, you get to react. #ttrpg #dagggerheart03 Nov 2025 08:36 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4pmivtdck2thttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m4akm6hwqk2hWhat's the best idea for a quickstart RPG adventure setup? The PCs are working for the police force, solving supernatural mysteries? Or the PCs are drawn to a small town by strange dreams, where there is a strange cult and a mystery going on that links them together? #ttrpg #ttrpgdesign28 Oct 2025 08:52 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4akm6hwqk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m464mfkvpc2xRPG update - I've playtested the Fudge version of the game at a convention, and in an ongoing playtest campaign. It's holding together nicely. Hopefully if this keeps up, I can stop designing systems and get some content out! #ttrpg #ttrpgdesign27 Oct 2025 09:37 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m464mfkvpc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m3dtcugjq225New book review - Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella. Fight Club meets werewolves. https://kellshaw.com/blog/the-rib-bored-gay-werewolf-by-tony-santorella #urbanfantasy #booksky16 Oct 2025 22:41 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3dtcugjq225https://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m2lsl64exk27Just back from a ttrpg convention where I got to run a game nine times in a row. While my mind is now a bowul of mush, the actual mechanics for the draft RPG worked well! Especially for the late night session, when it’s easy to interpret a ‘Medicore’ or ‘Superb’ result. #ttrpg07 Oct 2025 09:24 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2lsl64exk27https://bsky.app/profile/kellshaw.com/post/3m262deoxb22wCurrently mothballed builds of the game include OpenQuest, d6 dicepool, and a few d12 variants (2d12 roll under was getting fairly mature...) Basically, I was designing all of these complicated subsystems I wasn't using at the table, so the lighter Fudge build is close to how I was GMing. #ttrpg01 Oct 2025 22:05 +0000at://did:plc:jx3wowiphsyphy7mw6edb2lq/app.bsky.feed.post/3m262deoxb22w