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Horror Writer, Book Lover, Reader for Electric Literature’s The Commuter and Onetime Backup Dancer for Parisian Drag Queens. He/him www.daviddaviddavid.com

David Lewis

And speaking of reading, I stupidly only brought two carry-on sized bags on the plane this year. So I couldn’t get all the books I wanted. But this still isn’t a bad haul 😍

Next was the eldritch and uncanny by @rhiannonagrist.bsky.social, @benedictanning.bsky.social and @inkyrosey.bsky.social All their books sound deliciously terrifying. A brilliant talk with @beckywojturska.bsky.social on: horror as a dwelling, horror through isolation and childhood fears.

My Saturday at #Cymera2026 started with @catamaroon.bsky.social and @rainewilson.bsky.social talking about rewilding, ghosts of the internet, hope as necessary for survival and exploring where endings become beginnings

Thanks again @cymerafestival.co.uk for another uncannily fantastic festival! The atmosphere is wonderfully warm and supportive. This year, like others, I’m coming home with even more energy and excitement for reading and writing. 🤩📚📝

Just had time for one #Cymera2026 panel yesterday before my flight. A good one with @annasmithspark.bsky.social, @brigiddooks.bsky.social and Samantha Davey on the fantastical as an outlet for expression of hardships and the need to write difficult scenes fully for the integrity of their subjects.

After that I took this workshop with Samantha Davey. She made it a really supportive environment where I felt fully supported in the writing exercise where I tried to turn story of Prometheus’ capture and torture by Zeus into a queer, fantastical Western.

Y’all, I’m still starstruck from seeing one of my literary heroes @stephengrahamjones.com. @mkhardywrites.com’s interview was fantastic. I particularly loved the talk on the resurgence of slasher stories due to a collective realization that the world isn’t naturally guided by justice.

David Lewis

Next was a conversation about the evolution of gothic literature between @samkhorton.bsky.social @charlottecross.bsky.social @amyjanestewart.bsky.social and MK Hardy. Really insightful and interesting comments on agency, atmosphere, landscape and architecture in the gothic.

Great start to #Cymera2026 yesterday with @dancoxon.bsky.social @richardstrachan.bsky.social @alexpheby.bsky.social and Hanna Kaner discussing character, worldbuilding, magic and some writing advice to take home: “If you think something you’re writing is ‘too weird’ the double down on the weird”

The next panel was @sunyidean.com and @lyndseycroal.bsky.social’s ghost stories. A great discussion on Hong Kong’s experience of WWII, why so many ghosts tend to be women and why it doesn’t make sense for them to haunt cemeteries.

David Lewis