A brief update on the new novel: I’m currently at about 91,000 words into the first draft. I’m well into the third act, and the book is taking shape nicely. I’m very excited about this novel. As you probably know if you’ve been following my updates, it is the first in a planned series of supernatural thrillers.
Of course, I had hoped to have the first draft finished by now, but it is taking longer than expected. I’ll get there, though. By the end of next month, without doubt. In the meantime, I’m still shopping A Thorn in Winter, a mystery thriller I wrote in 2023, around literary agents, hoping to spark some interest. If anything happens on that front, I’ll update you next month as well. In the meantime, I’d better get back to writing rather than keep spouting here. Bye for now.
What have I been up to lately? Well, besides the ongoing film articles and reviews that form a key part of my writing elsewhere, I’ve been hard at work on the first draft of my latest novel. It’s quite difficult to pen witty or interesting updates at this point in proceedings, since I’m naturally inclined to be tight-lipped about the plot, the title, and pretty much everything else. If you weren’t already aware, I can tell you this is a supernatural mystery thriller. It is also the first in what I hope will be a series, concerning the principal characters. However, each novel will be a standalone story in its own right.
I’m going to share more on this once the first draft is finished, but for now I’ll simply say this is probably the most ambitious long-term project I’ve undertaken as a writer, as there could be as many as twelve novels in this series. I’ve also penned a spin-off short story; a comedic mystery that contrasts the darker, scarier mystery of the novel. This short story is actually written by someone in the novel, so I’ve credited it to their character’s pseudonym. There will almost certainly be further short stories in this vein. Again, more on all that in due course.
As of today, I’ve written about 62,000 words (not counting the short story, which is about 9,000 words), and I estimate the final wordcount will be somewhere around the 90,000-word mark. I hope to have a first draft completed by the end of March, with the first round of initial revisions made by the end of April. I will then do what I always do and set the manuscript aside for a year, so I can review it with fresh eyes. In the meantime, I will work on other fiction projects.
That’s about it for now. Look out for further updates soon.
I’ve made a solid start to 2025 and am hard at work on the first draft of my next novel. What’s it called? What’s it about? I can’t give out any details at present, but I will say it is a supernaturally tinged mystery thriller and I’m very excited about it. That doesn’t really tell you anything, considering my genre mainstay, but if you want a few facts and figures, I can tell you I’m working on chapter eight, and I’m about 30,000 words into the manuscript. It’s also the first in a series that I have planned in rather minute detail. That said, each novel is a standalone story.
Other activities
Beyond that, I’m currently preparing A Thorn in Winter – the mystery novel I wrote in 2023 – to send to agents and publishers. I hope to have exciting news to share on that front soon, so watch this space.
I’ve also started serialising The Thistlewood Curse on Substack in weekly instalments. This is one of my earlier novels – another supernatural thriller – that has had tremendous response from those who have read it. I decided it would be fun to make it available this way as well. If you want to check it out on Substack, you can subscribe here (you’ll also get access to many of my other short stories, plus lots of film articles).
That’s it for now. I’d better get back to writing the new novel. Watch this space for further updates.
The Dillon Empire hereby wishes you a very Happy New Year, and hopes you have a splendid 2025. Tradition dictates that l set out my main writing plans for the year ahead, so here’s what I hope to achieve.
Since August, I’ve been researching, outlining, and creating character profiles for my next novel. It’s the first in a series of dark mystery thrillers with a supernatural edge featuring a private detective and her assistant investigating a particularly baffling murder. Each of these novels will be a standalone mystery, but a bigger mystery will start to reveal itself in the background as the novels progress. As you can see, this is a hugely ambitious project as I’ve not consciously undertaken the writing of a series before (The George Hughes Trilogy was an accident in that respect, so doesn’t really count). At any rate, I am about to start writing the first draft of the first novel, so I’ll keep you updated on progress.
Also, this year, I might release another of my novels: horror-thriller mystery The Hobbford Giant. I’m still shipping that one around agents and publishers, but if I draw a blank, I may self-publish it. Alternatively, I might self-publish another volume of short stories (probably some of my fantasy tales, a few of which have previously appeared on Medium and Substack, and some of which have never been published before). I can’t say for sure which way I’ll leap, but one or the other of those will hopefully be available by the end of the year.
On top of this, I aim to write a clutch of new short stories, as well as pen another significant segment of my epic sequel to an as-yet unpublished children’s fantasy novel I wrote ten years ago, tentatively entitled The Faerie Gate (though that title will change). I had hoped to make progress on that novel last year, but that didn’t happen for various reasons; mainly, I’d bitten off more than I could chew, and something had to give. However, this year, I hope I’ll have the window to get another chunk finished. The novel is about half finished at present, and if I can get to two-thirds finished by the end of the year, that would be splendid. It’s turned into a bit of a monster in terms of length, so this novel could wind up being divided into separate volumes akin to The Lord of the Rings. But we’ll see. At present, I still think of it as one novel.
Beyond all that, I plan to revise and polish the mystery novel I wrote last year. I call it False Witness at present, even though that isn’t the real title (I’m keeping it a secret, for now). In addition, if The Hobbford Giant fails to get snapped up by agents and publishers, I’m going to send out A Thorn in Winter; another mystery novel which I originally wrote in 2022. As you can see, I’m not giving up on that front. Who knows? Perhaps this will be the year I find a mainstream publisher (I’ve had novels traditionally published in small indie presses before, but not by any of the big guns).
It will be interesting to see where I get to with all the above by the end of the year. I’m sure I’ll be immensely busy. In the meantime, thank you for supporting my writing. Again, I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
A rather forced smile makes me look a bit evil by the Christmas tree.
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.
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.
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.)
What have I been up to lately? Lots, as it happens.
New novel
Most of my recent writing time has been spent working on the outline, character profiles, and research for my next novel. I’m very excited about this one, as I hope it will be part of a longer series, featuring the same protagonist. It’s a supernaturally tinged whodunnit, which will come as no surprise to any of you, given that mystery horror-thrillers are my bread and butter. But this is the first time I’ve planned a series of novels in that genre. It’s a challenging project, but one I can’t wait to share with you all. I begin writing the first draft in January.
New short story: An In-Between Christmas
Outside the next novel(s), one of my recently written short stories, An In-Between Christmas, is now being serialised in Fictions on Medium (see part 1, here). As a taster, here is the logline for this bittersweet dark fairy tale: “A young woman tries to contact her comatose father on a mysterious spiritual plane between life and death.”
An In-Between Christmas is also being serialised on Substack (here). It will appear in weekly instalments, every Monday, with the final part appearing on the 23rd of December. However, if you can’t wait that long, or if you want to read the story outside of Medium and Substack, all six instalments are available on Patreon, but at a price. I’m taking advantage of their new “buy a one-off post” scheme, so that’s available too, at a cost of £3 per instalment. I agree, that’s a bit steep, but that’s Patreon’s minimum price per post. All Patreon support is hugely appreciated, of course.
Substack or Patreon?
If you want full access to my short stories and novellas, as well as classic cinema articles, top tens, film review archive, and more, then Substack is probably a better bet at $5 per month (the free version gives you new release film reviews only, though after four weeks they disappear behind a paywall). Patreon provides more exclusive behind the scenes material, and exclusives such as video updates, story previews, deleted scenes, unseen designs, more in depth articles about my creative process, and so forth. But if you simply want to see the finished products, Substack is better value for money. Of course, if you’re on Medium, much of what I publish on Substack is there too. However, there are going to be exclusives on Substack very soon, so do bear that in mind if dithering over where best to view my work.
Subscribe to me on Substack here or support me on Patreon here.
Another new short story
Beyond all this, I’m working on yet another new short story. This time it’s a comedic detective story, the details of which I’m keeping under wraps at present. This story also has a connection to my new novel, but I’m keeping quiet on exactly how for now, except to say the light tone here will be in stark contrast to the much darker edges of the new novel.
That’s about it for now. Expect my final update for 2024 next month.
Over the last month, most of my fiction writing activities have centred around short stories. The first of these, a new fantasy tale presently untitled, is set at Christmas and concerns a young woman with a father in a coma. At the hospital, She meets a mysterious man who transports her to another dimension where she might be able to contact her father, if she undertakes a perilous journey. That’s all I’m going to say about the plot for now (I’m being deliberately vague on details) but I hope it will run on Medium and Substack this December.
The second short story is about a private detective investigating the murder of a much-loathed man involved in an online scam. However, this story might not see the light of day, because I wrote it mainly as an exercise in getting to know the protagonist of my next novel. I may write two or three more short stories involving this character in other cases, and might publish them further down the line, if all goes well with the novel, and if the short stories are compelling enough in their own right.
All of which brings me to the next novel. The preparations for writing the manuscript in earnest are presently underway. I’m preparing plot outlines, character profiles, undertaking research, and generally getting ready for the big push to write the first draft, early next year. Hence, the short stories being centred on the private detective protagonist.
That’s pretty much all I can say at present about my fiction writing. I’ll keep you updated with further news when I have it. However, if you are a Medium subscriber, or if you subscribe to me on Substack, do check out my ghost story presently being serialised on both platforms: Rachael.
Created by author in Canva.
A spooky, supernatural horror tale, Rachael is in five parts, the first four of which are now available to read. Here’s the subheading I’ve used: “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.”
Check out part one here (on Medium) or here (on Substack). The end of each instalment features links to subsequent parts, of the final part will be published on the 31st of October.
What have I been up to lately? Here’s a brief summary of my recent writing endeavours.
Short Story: 35 Chestnut Terrace
A young woman tries to exonerate her fiancé of a horrific murder, but is he innocent?
This mystery thriller whodunnit, inspired by a Sherlock Holmes short story I won’t mention (for fear of spoiling both my story and Arthur Conan Doyle’s) has just concluded on Substack and Medium, having been serialised in weekly parts every Thursday.
Check out part one of this suspenseful tale on Substack here. If you don’t subscribe to me on Substack, click here to do so (or upgrade your existing subscription for the appropriate access). Alternatively, part one can be read on Medium here (this is a “friend link” appetiser, so should bypass the paywall, though you’d need to subscribe to Medium to read the remaining parts on this platform).
New Short Story
I’ve just finished another new short story, but it has yet to be tested with beta-readers, so it is somewhat under wraps at present. I won’t reveal the title, but it’s a dystopian thriller, set a few decades in the future, involving an Oxford university student whose unusual dream makes him a target of cultists and sinister government agencies with dubious agendas. This is sci-fi, but it also blends elements of fantasy, and arguably horror. Although a bit of an odd tale, I enjoyed experimenting with it.
At present, this short story sits at a rather bloated 18,000 words, so more of a novella. I may hack it down a bit as I can think of at least one character and subplot I’d like to excise. But on the whole, I’m pleased with this. The premise fits nicely with some of my previous dystopian short stories, such as those I included in my dystopian anthology Love and Other Punishments.
Patreon
I’ve also recently updated my Patreon aims (click here for full details). How did I get on with the goals I posted last September? Check out this article here. Accountability is important on Patreon.
I started my Patreon page a couple of years ago. This has attracted a small but wonderful group of people who believe in my fiction writing endeavours, and financially support my ongoing quest for mainstream publication. They are hugely appreciated, and whilst they provide ample encouragement, I’m keen to grow this branch of the Dillon Empire.
Depending on giving levels, these lovely people are named Allies, Free Citizens, or Knights of the Dillon Empire. All giving levels get my awkward video updates, like this one (which I’ve made free to view). Then, at higher levels, there are insights into my writing process, interviews with my characters, exclusive deleted scenes or bonus material, advance peeks at covers and artwork, and previews of short stories, novellas, and novels. I’ve also finished serialising chapters from my current draft of mystery thriller The Balliol Conspiracy and have recently started another serial of a draft novel, dark fantasy tale The Deviant Prophet.
What have I been up to lately? Well, I’ve been enjoying my holidays, taking a bit of time off having done a lot of promotion for my recent fantasy novel Ravenseed. But what have I done when I’ve not been taking time off? Mostly writing short stories. I’ve written two of these, plus a novella. Here’s a little bit about each.
35 Chestnut Terrace
This is a mystery thriller directly inspired by a Sherlock Holmes short story. I shan’t say which, as I wouldn’t want to spoil your enjoyment either of my story, or of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s (in case for some absurd reason you’ve not read every Sherlock Holmes story already). The title pertains to the scene of a dreadful crime. The plot? A young woman tries to exonerate her fiancé of a horrific murder, but is he innocent?
35 Chestnut Terrace will be serialised in four parts on Medium and Substack this September.
Rachael
A spooky, supernatural tale, about which I remain fairly tight-lipped for now. It’s set in a private girl’s school, and the protagonist is a teacher. The plot involves a play, an ancient curse, and a ghost. I had a lot of fun writing the main character for this one, as she’s not the most well-behaved of my protagonists.
Rachael will be serialised in five parts on Medium and Substack this October.
Wulfric’s Quest
The title may change, but this novella is a second companion piece to Ravenseed, set in a kind of parallel universe Dark Ages Britain. I’m not giving any plot details at this point, but thematically, this is very much cut from the same cloth as both Ravenseed and the other companion piece novella I wrote, Bloodmire. Between the novel and its two supporting tales, I’ve probably written quite enough material set in the Dark Ages, for the time being at least. When will this one be published? I’m not sure. I might hang on to it as an exclusive for an upcoming fantasy anthology.
Ravenseed is available from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). It is also available from Draft2Digital and their associated outlets here.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been busily promoting my latest novel Ravenseed. Here’s a handy list of links to the various facets of the novel explored on this site, for those still considering whether to take the plunge and give this novel a go.
I can only again urge you to do so, as Ravenseed – an epic tale of love, lust, betrayal, and vengeance – is a story I’m particularly proud of. Blending Arthurian mysticism with adventure and romance, it’s the first fantasy novel I’ve ever released, but it isn’t aimed purely at the fantasy crowd. Ravenseed isn’t bogged down in world-building minutiae, but it deals with relatable themes via engaging characters, primarily in a Dark Ages setting, and in a present-day parallel plot that mirrors events in the past. Why not give it a go?
Here’s the blurb from the back of the book:
532 AD. Knights Sir Peter and Sir Matthew ride to battle, but when they take an ill-advised detour, the two friends find themselves involved in a quest to break a curse on Sir Matthew’s love, Elizabeth.
The quest sends them on a journey through Anglia, where they encounter magicians, spirits, gods, and dangers beyond their wildest dreams – from without and within.
In the present day, as teenager Fay Pendleton reads an ancient account of the two knights, scars start appearing on her face. Despite her ongoing disfigurement, she becomes obsessed with discovering the outcome of the quest, and her link to this mysterious story.
If that doesn’t whet your appetite, here are the aforementioned links to articles, exploring certain aspects of the novel in more detail.
Teaser Images
For a series of teaser images, hinting at some of the locations in the novel, click here, here, here, and here.
An Introduction
A lengthier introduction to the narrative and themes of Ravenseed can be found here. I also expound on why this isn’t just a novel for fantasy fans, but for all readers.
Excerpt 1
A brief taste of the novel, from chapter 3, introducing Sir Peter, Sir Matthew, and their squires. Click here to read it.
Excerpt 2
A second short excerpt, introducing the beautiful and beguiling Elizabeth. Click here to read it.
Settings, Research, Revisions
This article explores some of the research that went into the novel. This includes earlier iterations of themes and plot ideas from the original outline, as well as the physical locations, geography, histories, and folklore surrounding the story. Click here for more.
Influences and Inspiration
What novels or texts informed Ravenseed? I discuss the tonal inspirations in this piece.
Deleted Scenes
In an article about the editorial process, I reveal details of two major sequences (each about a chapter long) I decided to cut from the final draft. One involves a dragon, the other, a second battle sequence. Click here for more.
Bloodmire Revisited
A companion piece novella for Ravenseed entitled Bloodmire was published a couple of years ago on Medium. I’ve since decided to revise the ending, for Substack subscribers (exclusively, for the time being). More details can be read here.
The First Review
Fellow fantasy author Claus Holm offered this five-star endorsement of Ravenseed. To read it, click here.
Ravenseed is available from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). It is also available from Draft2Digital and their associated outlets (such as Smashwords).
Simon Dillon Books 
You must be logged in to post a comment.