Tom Cox

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Extreme linoprinting is one of my absolute favourite sports.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you. I assumed it was that way. But it’s still impressive. It costs me around £30 to send a hardback tracked to the US, via Royal Mail.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

It’s like Our Tune but for war crimes and whatnot.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

And while we're at it, I want museums to be full of exhibits, each with a detailed caption, not an "immersive experience" with loads of buttons to press.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Yes! The bullying music, with its false emotional crescendos, is the worst.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

The bullying music, with its false emotional crescendos, is the worst.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

It is BRILLIANT how inexpensively Blackwells can send books from the UK to the US and Canada. I urge more people to take advantage of it.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

tomcox.substack.com/p/im-sorry-i...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This piece is significantly better if you read it all the way to the end. I mean, I would say that, but honestly, trust me: it is. There's also an audio version, read by me, in case you can't be arsed to read longish essays from a screen.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Aren't country lanes brilliant? tomcox.substack.com/p/once-upon-...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I am choosing to keep this essay permanently unpaywalled. It's about the general idea of people reaching their artistic peak later in life, and the amazing art my parents have been producing in their 60s and 70s (much of which has made its way into my books): tomcox.substack.com/p/the-magic-...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"Here is your time machine. Your task is to return to the year 1995 and try to explain to someone what this news headline means. Good luck! Your mission will be an extremely tricky one."

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Ten minutes of drone footage set to dramatic music intercut with the presenter basically summarising a full hour’s worth of content. So, as you’ve basically covered the key points I don’t need to bother with the detail? It’s the TV documentary equivalent of ChatGPT.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"Let me spend a whole minute telling you what's coming up after this short break!" "Here's a one-minute recap of the five minutes of stuff that happened before the four minute ad-break!"

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Doomscroll break

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I almost joined ewe.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

That dreaded question. I get that with acting. "What have I seen you in?" Well I don't know, Melissa. Do you watch really awful movies on Amazon Prime late at night? Or anthology television series? Or the occasional syndicated show at 4am?

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

As you can see, it was the one at the bottom who was really working the dark magic on me.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Someone read one of my books and said to me, "Fucking hell, how did you manage to keep ALL THAT in your head?" I told them it's actually extremely simple and anyone can do it. You just need to forget everything else important in your life and totally stop functioning as a human for a year or so.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Flashback to the time I came dangerously close to being hypnotised into joining a lamb cult.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Extreme linoprinting is one of my absolute favourite sports.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

They are called szöcske in Hungarian, its original meaning was "a tube that escapes".

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

i was told it was so people on horseback could drop off mail without getting off their horse

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

It is BRILLIANT how inexpensively Blackwells can send books from the UK to the US and Canada. I urge more people to take advantage of it.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Just ordered. Considering the first book I bought from you via Unbound cost an extra 30 dollars in shipping, it is astonishing that shipping from Blackwell's to the U.S. is free!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thanks Gem! Yes, it made me wince how much Unbound charged people for shipping. I mean, to be fair, it costs me £30 to send a hardback tracked via Royal Mail to the US. But it's great to know Blackwells have a better way.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This is probably why my teenager thought Philomena Cunk was a real documentary presenter.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I'll take this a step further and say that near universally, I get the most enthusiastic responses to my weirdest works. Be shamelessly strange, friends. Find your flock of freaks and encourage their eccentric endeavours, as well. This is the path to freedom. 💕

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Yes

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I'm amazed more people haven't noticed him, or commented on his presence.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This contemplative creature regarding the sea has sold me on this book.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

They are (mostly)!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Love Adam Curtis and it's very much on my list.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Absolutely. He's the best.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"JOIN ME AS I EXPLORE HISTORY AND PULL EXCITED FACES ABOUT IT."

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Oh for more Ian Nairns.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Chuffed to discover it's already snuck onto the Blackwells bestseller list, over 2 months before publication. Which means it's sold a bit under 200 copies there since early yesterday afternoon. Which isn't big news in the grand scheme of things. But makes me very happy, as I love Blackwells.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

tomcox.substack.com/p/my-notebook

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

There was a point, wasn't there. It feels long in the past now.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

That agonising, pensive moment when you can hear your lover at the piano on the other side of the house and can't decide whether to be honest and tell him he's just chronically besmirched the second CS&N album by writing 'Our House'.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

What I want is a TV documentary channel entirely devoted to documentaries with no quick-cut montages of everything about to happen, which don't give a fuck about keeping my attention, presented by extremely knowledgeable people in a terrible mood who have no interest in trying to make me like them.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Aren't old postboxes brilliant?

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

The mistake so many of us make: waiting for some outside factor before we allow ourselves to be our true selves. A lesson to be had there. Thanks for the smile we so desperately need.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This thread has some other fun examples, and in a stressful day was full of #TinyJoys

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"You're an author? Would I know anything you've written?" "Have you heard of the book Eat Pray Love?" "I actually have!" "Well, one of my books was printed in a typeface not dissimilar to the one in that."

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

My favourite grasshopper fact: Grasshoppers first appeared on the planet 250 million years ago. Grass did not appear on the planet until 40 million years ago Imagine it: 210 million years, hopping around on any random surface you can find, waiting for the grass that will make you truly yourself.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I get SO excited when I hear song lyrics/stories that are open, vulnerable, fucked up. Because we feel things in a way that is HUGE. And using such language describes them. It's metaphor and fiction for the things in our heart that can only be named in the darkness or strangeness.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

One thing you will never think after reading a great book or listening to a great album or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious while they were making this and guarded against being perceived as weird.”

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Current reading.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you! The ebooks will be around by Sept too (and are pre-orderable from a few places, including Amazon, now).

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Absolutely. This is a thought I've had a lot, especially in recent weeks. It's easy to say "It's not me, it's the company." And I suspect there are some people who played a big part in ruinous (ie to authors' lives) decisions who left the burning building a while back & have escaped a lot of blame.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

THREAD. After a tough few months (involving my ex-publisher Unbound ceasing to pay their authors, then disintegrating) I am enormously relieved to reveal Joe McLaren's fantastic cover for my 3rd novel. The book will be published on September 11th. I believe it's the best thing I've ever written.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I will delete Facebook one day, forever, and I am certain it will significantly improve my life. But I am also sure I will miss certain small things about it.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This is being released into the wild in September, three months away, and I can't wait to read it. I'll obviously have to wait as it's only June now, but you know what I mean. Anyway, pre-ordering is possible right now. 📚

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I’m not much of a Tull fan, to be honest, but ‘Sweet Dream’ is an absolute banger.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

open.substack.com/pub/tomcox/p...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you so much to everyone who is pre-ordering. Impossible to emphasise just how much pre-orders help a weird book like this, attached to a small publisher, gain presence in bookshops. P.S. I massively recommend Blackwells (free delivery, inc international): blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thanks David. No, really not long at all! Just a short while ago it felt like forever.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Pre-ordered. 80 days doesn’t sound too long to wait. You can go around the world in 79! Very much looking forward to this… as usual.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Most definitely.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

they were known as Space hoppers in those days

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thanks Gerrard!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you! Yes, Joe is a rare talent.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Hurray!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This will be my first order from Blackwells.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

grasshoppers say don’t let circumstances define you

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This is pretty much my process too.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Will do (will send bank details for transfer if that is ok).

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Hi Judy. Thanks for asking this. Sadly that sale will go to Boundless (it's one of the last few remaining copies). Swift Press will republish in autumn. Drop me an email at hello@tom-cox.com with her address and I'll get a signed one out to her this week.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Patience, grasshopper.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"Who's that?" "Grasshopper" "What the fuck is 'grass'" "No clue, man"

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This little guy is grateful that grass came along…

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you! This one definitely leans more strongly towards the wyrd.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Tom's fiction is weird (frequently wyrd) and wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading #EverythingWillSwallowYou.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Fact: I walked past this firebasket in Dorset in late 2022 & had the unbidden thought "What if a record dealer was sitting down there on the beach & some weird creature staggered out of the sea towards him?" Also, who/what is this creature? So I decided to answer these questions by writing a book...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Ancient houseflies just sitting around and going, "Shit, are the humans ever going to invent housing?"

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

"You're an author? Would I know anything you've written?" "Have you heard of the book Eat Pray Love?" "I actually have!" "Well, one of my books was printed in a typeface not dissimilar to the one in that."

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I do love a good meyawn.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Barn owls must have been ecstatic when agriculture got going.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This is now my other favourite grasshopper fact.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Someone read one of my books and said to me, "Fucking hell, how did you manage to keep ALL THAT in your head?" I told them it's actually extremely simple and anyone can do it. You just need to forget everything else important in your life and totally stop functioning as a human for a year or so.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

On the contrary, our cat sometimes enunciates meow so clearly I suspect him of taking the piss.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

My favourite grasshopper fact: Grasshoppers first appeared on the planet 250 million years ago. Grass did not appear on the planet until 40 million years ago Imagine it: 210 million years, hopping around on any random surface you can find, waiting for the grass that will make you truly yourself.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

tomcox.substack.com/p/now-get-ba...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

This whole business about cats meowing is such fiction. In 50 years I've lived with 20+ cats and each of them has made their own individual, fucked-up sound, none of which could be rationally called a "meow". Maybe I'm just unlucky in acquiring cats who can't speak properly. But I somehow think not.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thanks Ruby!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Some fabulous foxgloves out there right now.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

open.substack.com/pub/tomcox/p...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

... I put the Blackwells link there first of all because it seems the most convenient option for everyone, since they deliver outside the UK, and have now started delivering to the US again. I'm also pointing people towards Waterstones: www.waterstones.com/book/everyth...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

... booksellers to stock more copies of the book upon its publication, so I am ENORMOUSLY grateful to anyone who is able to order in advance. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I've been going back and forth with them about why they think they can still sell books that they lost the rights to a year ago. Getting a lot of "the metadata" and "no one works here anymore" as excuses for why they continue to profit off of my work while not paying me.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

... when it wasn't, meant the shop sales weren't added on top of that, and scuppered its chances of getting the exposure it might have.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I remember being told something similar. I also remember being told, when Villager came out, that everything was going to be brilliant because all the pledge copies would FINALLY count towards chart placings. But then the figures went in a week too early, which made it look like the book was out...

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

I was told this was to ensure that pre-orders would count in the first week of chart placings. Which apparently a) isn’t what happens, b) is the opposite of what supporters were promised and c) doesn’t help when they fuck the launch week up totally, both upsetting supporters and failing to chart.

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Thank you!

Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social):

Having had bad experiences with two other publishers before, I sympathize with their difficulties and I am happy to see that they are moving forward with their writing. 😊