My latest short story, Trigger Warning, is now being serialised in Fictions on Medium, and also on Substack, if you are subscriber. Here’s a “friend link” to the first part on Medium, so you can get past the paywall and enjoy a free sample of this four part satirical tale.
Trigger Warning concerns a future where a small but growing minority of people are being offended to death when reading contentious novels. The protagonist, a novelist who unrepentantly writes controversial material, finds their persective challenged when they become romantically involved with someone whose close relative died reading one of the author’s books.
If you enjoy what you read so far, why not subscribe to me on Substack? In addition to full access to my film review archive, you also get access to all the other articles I syndicate from Medium (film analysis, top tens, classic cinema retrospectives, etc) plus many short stories. It’s well worth the $5 per month, I think, so why not at least give it a free trial? Subsequent instalments of Trigger Warning will appear each Friday over the coming weeks.
Alternatively, for Medium subscribers, the story will also be revealed in full over the next three weeks. I hope you enjoy Trigger Warning, wherever you read it.
If you click “Short Stories” on the menu, you’ll now find a handy directory of all my published short stories and novellas to date, and where you can read them. These are mostly on Medium, with some syndicated to Substack (more will gradually follow), and a few are exclusives to anthologies available on ebook or in paperback. I plan to add to this list as and when new short stories are published. In the future, I may revise the order or categorise them better, but at this point I rather like how they’re presented.
I enjoy writing short stories and novellas, because they provide a chance to let rip with some of my narrative ideas that don’t warrant fleshing out to novel length. Typically, the short stories are between 10,000 and 15,000 words each, and the novellas are between 15,000 and 25,000 words. I hope you dip in and enjoy what’s there, either on Medium, Substack, or by picking up one of my anthologies, which are themed by genre.
There are a lot of stories (plus others waiting in the wings that I’ve yet to publish), so where to start? Well, here are half a dozen I’m particularly pleased with: For a spine-chilling horror tale involving a ghost ship, check out Vindicta. Or perhaps you fancy a bit of romantic fantasy, in which case try Papercut. For something with a bit of satirical bite, Call the Number on Your Screen involves a televangelist being blackmailed. For sci-fi dystopia, Sweet Dreams concerns a conspiracy involving nanotech nightmare suppressing technology for children. And if you want something outside of traditional genre fiction, why not read Aftermath, about a young woman returning to her estranged mother after leaving a cult. One story quite personal to me is In-Between, a supernatural satire about a recently deceased man harassed by ghostly political campaigners whilst attempting to haunt his family.
I’ve recently written a new short story; a dark fairy tale entitled Window of the Soul. Well, I say short story, it’s actually closer to novella length, hence why Fictions on Medium are running it in eight instalments over last month and this month. It is also available on Substack, for those of you who subscribe to the paid version of the Dillon Empire on that platform.
Window of the Soul is set in an unnamed land akin to a modern western nation, but with key differences. They exist in a state of civil war between east and west. Into this mix, an adolescent girl finds her very soul in jeopardy, when ocular double-glazing salesmen urge her authoritarian stepfather to replace her eyes with new ones that will protect her from supposedly untoward spiritual influences. I won’t say anything else about the plot but do check out part one here (on Medium) or here (on Substack).
A very Happy New Year from the Dillon Empire. I hope you are enjoying your holiday. As per New Year’s Day tradition, it’s time to reveal some of my writing plans for 2024.
My top priority is writing my next novel. I spent the second half of 2023 researching, creating character profiles, and outlining my next mystery thriller, tentatively titled False Witness, though I promise that title will change. The plot remains a closely guarded secret at present, but I will say it concerns a female protagonist with a terrible secret in her past. Yes, I know lots of my horror-thriller novels feature imperilled heroines with dark secrets, but this one is darker than I’ve gone before, and involves a particularly intriguing premise, though I say so myself. I’m very excited about writing it and will keep you updated on progress.
I may also release another anthology of short stories this year, though please don’t hold me to it. If I do, it is likely to be a collection of dark fairy tales and fantasy stories, some of which you may already have seen on Medium, Substack, or elsewhere, and some of which I have yet to write. I may include my short story Papercut, which you can download free here, if you’re interested in a sample. I intend to write more short stories this year too, not necessarily just those that will appear in a hypothetical anthology.
Beyond this, I hope to finish another significant chunk 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 almost certainly change). This sequel has proved something of a monster to write, proving a hugely ambitious work that I’ve undertaken on and off over the past three years. I’m currently about halfway through, and my modest goal for this year is to get two-thirds of the way through. This story may wind up being split into three separate volumes akin to The Lord of the Rings, but I’m not certain yet. At any rate, given that the first book remains unreleased, this is likely to be a long-term project.
On top of this, I plan to revise and polish A Thorn in Winter, the mystery thriller novel I wrote last year. At the same time, I will keep showcasing The Hobbford Giant to agents and publishers, in the hope of finally cracking that mainstream publication deal. I am not giving up on that front and will keep you informed of all developments.
Perhaps, at the end of 2024, I’ll have achieved all the above. Perhaps not. Either way, as always, watch this space. Thank you so much for your ongoing support of my writing endeavours, and again, I wish you all a Happy New Year.
I was going to pose with a death stare for Death Nest, but my wife ruined that by telling a joke.
Annual reviews can sound terribly self-serving, so the first thing I want to say in this one is thank you so much to all of you. Thank you for buying my books, reviewing my books, and most of all, I’m thrilled that you are enjoying them. Thank you for all your kindness and support all this year, and through many previous years. Things are developing slowly but surely, as I ease my way into this full-time writing business, and I have much to celebrate and be thankful for in 2023.
New Novel Release: Death Nest
The achievement I’m most proud of this year is the release of my supernaturally tinged mystery thriller Death Nest. It’s had some stunning reviews so far (as you can see here) and readers are finding it every bit as gripping as I’d hoped. It’s a huge encouragement to me and something of a relief, considering how personal this novel is to me (as you may have already read about here).
New Anthology Release: Love and Other Punishments
This year also saw the release of another short story anthology entitled Love and Other Punishments. This one had a dystopian science fiction theme, with seven stories, most of them exclusive to this collection. Driverless cars being hacked by terrorists, mind-reading software implanted in the brains of office workers, nightmare-suppressing nanotech for children, and much more are explored in a wide-ranging set of tales incorporating satire, thrillers, and even a touch of romantic comedy. For more information, click here.
New Novel First Draft Written: A Thorn in Winter
Another major achievement this year was penning the first draft of this new gothic mystery thriller. It involves a young woman initially caught in a web of blackmail, only to uncover something much more sinister when a tarot card reading links her situation to a decades-old unsolved murder case. I’m very proud of what I hope is a page-turning whodunit, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.
New Novel Rewritten: The Hobbford Giant
This horror-thriller I originally wrote in 2022. It was on my list to polish up this year, and this has been done. It is now being submitted to mainstream agents and publishers in the hope that someone finally says yes on that front (I came frustratingly close this year with Death Nest, eventually self-publishing it, and feeling thoroughly vindicated by the positive feedback).
Here’s a brief idea of what the novel is about, from my pitch letter to literary agents:
Is it sometimes better not to know the truth? This question lies at the heart of The Hobbford Giant, my 83,000-word horror-thriller mystery. 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 might be: “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.
Sound gripping? I hope so. Hopefully, agents and publishers will think so too. I’ll keep you posted with updates on this next year.
I’ve written six short stories and novellas this year, some of which were exclusives for the aforementioned Love and Other Punishments anthology. Two others were released on Medium and Substack, the latter of which I branched out into recently. At this point, Substack is a mirror of my Medium output, with a free option for people who only want the new release film reviews (as you’ve probably noticed, I no longer host those here), and a paid option for those wanting everything. However, I may well start putting exclusives on Substack too. Here are the two short stories in question. Links to subsequent parts are included at the end of every instalment.
Aftermath
After leaving a cult, a young woman returns to her estranged mother. Read on Medium here, or on Substack here.
Crockern’s Curse
A young couple investigating a childhood mystery on Dartmoor are menaced by supernatural forces linked to local folklore. Read on Medium here, or on Substack here.
Other Achievements This Year
One of my long term projects is an epic sequel to an as-yet unpublished fantasy novel for children entitled The Faerie Gate (though that title will probably change). This huge undertaking is a novel I return to between other writing priorities, and this year I managed to write a hefty chunk, to the point that it is now about halfway finished. I hope to write more of this monster novel next year.
I’ve also continued to give 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), and other material found nowhere else, on my Patreon page. I still offer four levels of pricing support: Ally of the Dillon Empire, Free Citizen of the Dillon Empire, Knight of the Dillon Empire, and General of the Dillon Empire. I’ve grown my support a little this year, so that’s encouraging. Take a look at my Patreon page here, for more information.
In short, 2023 has been a breakneck year, with lots achieved, and much still to achieve. I’m taking a break over Christmas, but as usual, I’ll unveil my goals for 2023 on New Year’s Day. Watch this space.
It only remains for me to wish you all a peaceful, restful Christmas.
(All images by author or created by author in Canva, unless otherwise stated.)
As you are no doubt aware, all my film reviews have now moved to Substack or Medium. I syndicate them to both sites, with Medium available only to those with a Medium account. However, those with a Substack account can access my film reviews for FREE – for four weeks, before they disappear behind a paywall.
This FREE option isn’t the only thing I’m up to on Substack. I’m also creating a mirror of my Medium account, which means for just $5 per month, you also have access to short stories, including horror stories like Crockern’s Curse or Once in a Lifetime, poignant dramas including Aftermath, satirical fantasy such as In-Between, satirical thrillers like Call the Number on Your Screen, and many others as I release them. For example, my dark fairy tale Window of the Soul will be serialised there over the next eight weeks, and new subscription-only material is added constantly (for one thing, I’m gradually transferring my entire Medium back catalogue, as well as releasing new stuff).
Your monthly subscription also gets you access to all the film essays, top tens, and other cinema analysis I write on Medium, along with access to the full film review archive, which doesn’t disappear after four weeks behind a paywall (unlike the FREE option). There’s also a try-before-you-buy option, so why not take a free trial of Dillon Empire on Substack? Click here and sign up today, as they say in commercial speak.
Thank you to everyone who has supported my writing by signing up so far.
In case you were unaware, I’ve recently released and have been extensively promoting my new dystopian sci-fi anthology Love and Other Punishments. Now available in ebook or paperback from Amazon, Smashwords, and associated outlets, this selection of novellas and short stories is proving a hit with readers. Featuring futuristic satire, technological speculation, alternative realities, and melancholy obsessions, Love and Other Punishments is a compelling compliment to my earlier dystopian novels Children of the Folded Valley and Peaceful Quiet Lives.
Some of these stories had previously been available on Medium (all except one are now removed), but three are brand new and exclusive to this volume. Two never-before-seen novellas of about 20,000 and 18,000 words each, and one new short story at around 12,000 words, have been added to the other earlier novellas and stories earmarked for inclusion. The total word count for the volume is around 85,000 words. Not bad value for £2.99 (or $3.99, in the US).
Here’s a plot taster for each story, plus the accompanying graphics. For more detail on the story and what inspired it, click on the link to the appropriate specific article on this blog.
Sweet Dreams
A journalist investigates a tech company manufacturing nightmare suppressing nanotech for children. “Sweet Dreams” refers to the technology involved, which the journalist comes to believe may be linked to an increase in suicidal tendencies among young people. Her investigations uncover conspiracies, cover-ups, and eventually murder.
For more about this story, click here. Also, if you want a taster of this collection, all five parts of Sweet Dreams are currently available on Medium, beginning here (each instalment contains a link to subsequent parts).
The Thought Improvement Plan
In a world where thought monitoring brain implants are standard employment practice, a man and woman conduct a secret workplace romance against company policy. Together they find devious ways to fool their thought supervisor by providing false brain metrics. New and exclusive to this volume. For more about this story, click here.
Driverless
When terrorists hack the Driverless Vehicle Network, threatening to crash cars unless their demands are met by the British government, a civil servant begins to suspect there may have been an inside job. New and exclusive to this volume. For more about this story, click here.
Bleed with Me
In the not-too-distant future, ghost sightings are found to be “quantum contamination” or “memory bleeds” that can be easily disposed of via scientific means. A quantum contamination cleaner becomes secretly obsessed with the unsolved murder of a young woman whose memory bleeds occupy his home. New and exclusive to this volume. For more about this story click here.
The Traffic Warden
A curious IT technician discovers a surreal, sinister truth about traffic wardens. I almost left this darkly comic tale out of the volume, but ultimately felt it made a nice a palate cleanser following the emotionally intense finale of Bleed with Me. Exclusive to this volume, previously available on Medium. For more about this story click here.
Apocalypse 1983
In a parallel universe, a Soviet Air Force officer holds the fate of the world in his hands. Inspired by the real-life 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident, in which Stanislav Petrov essentially saved the world from nuclear annihilation. Exclusive to this volume, previously available on Medium. For more about this story click here.
Love and Other Punishments
In a fascistic future London, a widowed salesman begins to suspect he has repressed memories when he encounters a mysterious woman. Exclusive to this volume, previously available on Medium. For more about this story click here.
To order a copy of the Love and Other Punishments anthology, click here (for Amazon in the US), or here (for Amazon in the UK). Digital versions are also available from Smashwords and associated outlets here.
I recently had a new short story published in Fictions on Medium, entitled Aftermath. This two-part tale concerns a young woman returning to her mother after leaving a cult, circa early 1978. It follows her attempts to reconnect with those she left behind, as well as rebuilding her life and introducing her young son to the father who doesn’t know he exists.
Part One can be read here. Part Two can be read here.
Aftermath doesn’t neatly fit into any of my usual genres, but it is thematically consistent with some of my earlier work. I’ve written about the effects of cults before, albeit with more of a dystopian sci-fi twist, in my novel Children of the Folded Valley. The story isn’t directly based on any of my own experiences, but those experiences nonetheless informed the telling. I’d add that I’ve written a second short story featuring a different character attempting to move on after emerging from a cult. It’s something of a companion piece and may also turn up on Medium in the future.
Over the past few weeks on the blog, I’m delved into the seven short stories and novellas contained within my recently released Love and Other Punishments dystopian sci-fi anthology. This week, I draw this series to a close with the titular novella itself.
Love and Other Punishments is a dystopian romantic mystery concerning, Shaun Harrison, a bereaved insurance salesman living in a not-too-distant future fascist London. Shaun’s wife and two children were murdered, and the grief has crushed him. The killer, Christopher Chapman, was sentenced to experience being stabbed in perpetuity, within a virtual reality matrix that continually resets itself. But such high-tech attempts at making the punishment fit the crime aren’t a comfort amid Shaun’s miserable existence.
Shaun begins to believe he has repressed memories when he encounters a mysterious woman, Lara Taylor. There is something familiar about her, but Shaun can’t put his finger on it. Images of a beach return to his mind, but he can’t place them. He and Lara become romantically involved, and for the first time in years, glimmers of happiness begin to return to Shaun. However, the mystery surrounding Lara deepens. Shaun is determined to discover the truth, but sometimes, the truth is best left undiscovered.
This story was inspired by an overthink on the nature of justice, and what Britain might look like in the future if it was run by the Daily Mail reading hang ‘em and flog ‘em brigade. At the same time, it’s a love story about memory and whether sometimes ignorance is bliss. I can’t say much more than that without getting into spoilers, but this final story in the collection is one of which I am most proud.
To order a copy of the Love and Other Punishments anthology, click here (for Amazon in the US), or here (for Amazon in the UK). Digital versions are also available from Smashwords (and their various outlets) here.
Over the next few weeks on the blog, I’m delving into the seven short stories and novellas contained within my recently released Love and Other Punishments dystopian sci-fi anthology.
This week: Apocalypse 1983
Soviet Russia, 1983. Colonel Andrei Fedorov is assigned to replace Colonel Stanislav Petrov for his shift at Serpukhov-15 bunker, monitoring the Oko nuclear strike early warning system, as Colonel Petrov is ill. Fedorov takes over this dull assignment from Colonel Komorovksy. The pair exchange remarks about the contraband Variety magazine Komorovksy had been reading, concerning the recent David Lynch-directed third instalment in the Star Wars trilogy, Revenge of the Jedi. Komorovksy departs. Federov watches, reflecting that lately, he hasn’t spent enough time with his wife and daughter.
Then, the unthinkable happens.
The Revenge of the Jedi remarks makes clear this story takes place in a parallel universe. David Lynch really was once offered the job of directing what became Return of the Jedi (Revenge of the Jedi was the working title George Lucas later changed). A far bigger difference between this history of our universe and that of Colonel Fedorov is also about to become apparent because in our universe, Colonel Stanislav Petrov – a real figure from history – was on duty on the fateful day I describe.
This story was inspired by the real-life 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident, in which Petrov, an officer of the Soviet Air Defence Forces, chose to ignore an alarm indicating the presence of incoming American nuclear missiles. Standing orders were to alert his superiors to wait for corroborating evidence; an instruction Petrov deliberately disregarded, as he knew this would cause the button to be pushed. When no such evidence arrived, he correctly concluded the warning had been a false alarm, caused by errors in the satellite warning system.
Petrov’s instincts are widely credited for having averted a full-scale nuclear war between the USA and USSR. Furthermore, Petrov subsequently stated that had someone else been on duty that night, a nuclear strike would almost certainly have occurred, as the other duty officers did not have a civilian background, and their military mindset would have meant orders were followed to the letter. Petrov was not rewarded for his heroic actions, but he was reprimanded by his superiors for improper filing of paperwork.
The inspiration for Apocalypse 1983 was simply to imagine what might have happened had Petrov not been on duty. Thinking about how close we came to a nuclear apocalypse freezes my blood. As for the story’s place in this collection, at a brisk 2,000 words, it acts as a palate cleanser between the suspense thrills of Sweet Dreams, and the enigmatic romantic mystery of Love and Other Punishments, the final novella in the collection.
To order a copy of the Love and Other Punishments anthology, click here (for Amazon in the US), or here (for Amazon in the UK). Digital versions are also available from Smashwords (and their various outlets) here.
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