The first and most important thing to say in opening this lookback over 2024 in my fiction writing is thank you to everyone who has bought my novels and short stories or reviewed them (or both). I’m also thankful to everyone who has supported me in other ways, whether via Patreon, or through Medium, or by subscribing to read my work on Substack. I’m extremely grateful to all of you. I know this is already sounding like an Oscar acceptance speech, so before it degenerates into such nausea, I’ll move on with a quick glide through my fiction work in 2024.
New Novel Release: Ravenseed
After years of dithering, I finally released my first-ever fantasy novel: Ravenseed. An epic adventure of love, lust, betrayal, and vengeance primarily set in the Dark Ages, with a parallel plot in the present, this novel has been warmly received so far. I’m extremely proud of this story, and I’m thrilled to finally have dipped a toe into the world of fantasy, as it is such a difficult genre to get right. For years I was scared of putting off non-fantasy readers, whilst not getting it right for those who eat, sleep, and breathe such tales. But it turned out well in the end. Ravenseed represents what I’m most proud of in my fiction writing this year.
Ravenseed is available on Kindle or paperback from Amazon here or from Draft2Digital and other outlets here.
New Novel First Draft Written: False Witness (not the real title)
This year, I’m also extremely pleased to have written the first draft of a new novel. It’s not really called False Witness (too generic, and too many other novels already have that title). I’m keeping the real title a secret for the time being, but that will do as a placeholder to discuss it in public. The plot concerns a prank that goes wrong, as well as a dark secret in the protagonist’s past that comes back to haunt her present. And yes, I know that’s vague and could apply to pretty much every thriller I’ve ever written, but I really don’t want to say too much more at this stage. Just believe me when I say this dark secret is exceptionally dark.
New Novel Rewritten: A Thorn in Winter
I originally wrote this mystery thriller in 2023. I’d intended to prepare the second draft this year, so that was another annual goal duly ticked off. I plan to submit it to mainstream agents and publishers probably next year in the hope of finally cracking into bigger markets (I have been traditionally published before, but with smaller indie publishers). So far, feedback on this novel has been positive, so who knows? Perhaps this will be the one. The story? It’s still mostly under wraps for now, but I will reveal the first act features a tangled web of blackmail, before a decades-old unsolved murder comes into the picture.
Novel Submitted to Agents and Publishers: The Hobbford Giant
You’ll get to see this horror-thriller novel pretty soon, I daresay. Why? Because I will almost certainly release it next year – unless the remaining mainstream agents and publishers I’m waiting to hear back from snap it up. I’ve had some hugely encouraging feedback about The Hobbford Giant, but it is now looking unlikely that it will land a traditional publisher. I’m not discouraged, as I have many other novels lined up to try. Besides, this way you’ll get your hands on it sooner. What’s it about? Here’s part of the pitch I’ve been using:
Is it sometimes better not to know the truth? This question lies at the heart of The Hobbford Giant. Set in 1997, it concerns a young journalist investigating an unusual archaeological dig, an abuse scandal at a former children’s home, an ancient folklore legend, and a dark family secret that connects her to all three. The story also explores repressed memories, childhood trauma, and what happens when lies are covered by more lies. A tagline for the novel: “Some secrets can claim your soul.”
Against the wishes of her parents, Mira Webb moves in with her estranged uncle, after getting a job at the local paper in the southwest town of Hobbford. Her first assignment involves a piece on archaeologists digging in the grounds of a children’s home closed years previously in the aftermath of an abuse scandal. Their discoveries may shed light on the legend of a giant that once menaced the area, but after she experiences ghostly visitations, and the archaeologists start winding up in comas, Mira comes to believe an ancient curse may be at work; a curse to which she has a horrifying personal connection.
I hope that whets your appetite. More on this novel soon.
Short Stories
In between writing, rewriting, or submitting novels, I’ve penned half a dozen short stories and novellas. Some of these were published on Medium and Substack, as well as a couple I wrote last year which were held over for this year. Here’s a complete rundown of those released this year. The titles link to Medium. Links to subsequent parts are included at the end of every instalment. Each story is also available on Substack.
Window of the Soul (in eight parts)
Fantasy. An adolescent girl faces life and soul-threatening danger in a dark fairy tale. Also available on Substack.
Trigger Warning (in four parts)
Satire. An author whose novels offend some readers to death has a crisis of conscience. Also available on Substack.
Drama. A man grapples with repressed memories of abuse in a cult his parents were part of when he was a child. Also available on Substack.
35 Chestnut Terrace (in four parts)
Mystery thriller. A young woman tries to exonerate her fiancé of a horrific murder, but is he innocent? Also available on Substack.
Horror. At a private girls school, an English teacher fond of shoplifting and married men stages a cursed play linked to a centuries-old ghost story. Also available on Substack.
An In-Between Christmas (in six parts)
Fantasy. A young woman tries to contact her comatose father on a spiritual plane between life and death. Also available on Substack.
Other Achievements This Year
You may have noticed I’ve slightly changed things on this site. I’ve made some visual tweaks, and I’ve also disabled comments. It is easy to interact with me on other platforms – on the Simon Dillon Books Facebook page, Medium, Substack, and Patreon, for instance – so I felt this site ought to be more like a brochure, showcasing my fiction work.
On the subject of Substack and Patreon, I’ve started running exclusives on the former, with monthly videos, and the serialising of my supernatural thriller novel The Thistlewood Curse available to those paying $5 per month. For that, paid subscribers also get access to my full film review archive, plus classic film analysis, top tens, and more besides. There’s a free subscription level too, purely for new release film reviews, but those disappear behind a paywall after four weeks. If you’re considering subscribing to my Substack page, but haven’t done so yet, take a closer look here.
As for Patreon, here I offer exclusive early access to short stories, sneak previews of artwork, exclusive insights into my writing processes, video updates, novel draft previews (including serialised unpublished novels), interviews with some of my characters, deleted scenes (sometimes entire chapters), and other material found nowhere else. Level of access depends on whether you become an Ally of the Dillon Empire, Free Citizen of the Dillon Empire, Knight of the Dillon Empire, or General of the Dillon Empire. Check out my Patreon page here, for more information.
All things considered, 2024 has been a challenging and fulfilling year, with many (though not all) of my annual goals achieved. As usual, I’m taking a short break over Christmas, but as per my tradition, I’ll reveal my goals for 2024 on New Years Day. Watch this space.
It only remains for me to thank you again and wish you all a Merry Christmas.
(All images by author or created by author in Canva, unless otherwise stated.)
Simon Dillon Books 
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