Tag Archives: Simon Dillon

2025 In Review

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According to my wife, when I try to smile, I look evil. Photo by author.

Given that this annual review will inevitably come off as smug and insufferable to some, to begin, I’ll attempt to stem at least some of the cynicism by thanking the most important person: You. All of you who read my novels and short stories, and especially those who are kind enough to leave rave reviews. Thank you. I am immensely grateful to every single one of you. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I am so glad you enjoy my stories. I’m also just as grateful to all those who support me on Patreon, or who subscribe to my exclusive material on Substack. Again, it is hugely, hugely appreciated.

Here’s a brief rundown of what I’ve achieved over the past year.

New Anthology Release: The Dark Forest Within

Following the release of my first-ever fantasy novel, Ravenseed , last year, this year, I released an anthology of fantasy short stories and novellas entitled The Dark Forest Within. Featuring six tales of magic and mystery, darkness and danger, adventure and romance, triumph and tragedy, this volume is both a companion piece to Ravenseed and a carefully curated collection of tales in its own right. One of the short stories is a direct prequel to Ravenseed, with the knights Sir Matthew and Sir Peter returning as supporting characters to a new protagonist: The mysterious Lady Amelia.

Totalling around 100,000 words, each story features literal journeys into forests of one kind or another, and each story’s protagonist also features an inward journey, hence the umbrella title for the anthology. Some of these stories were previously available to Substack or Medium subscribers, but 40,000 words worth of material (specifically the stories Wulfric’s Quest and Winged) were previously unpublished and are exclusive to this volume. Another entirely new short story, entitled Offline Dream was initially selected for inclusion but ultimately omitted for various reasons. However, I have made it available exclusively to paid Substack subscribers (except part 1, which I made available free, as a taster).

More on the short stories in The Dark Forest Within here. It is out now in ebook or paperback via Amazon here (in the UK) and here (in the US). For Draft2Digital and its various outlets, you can pick up ebooks and paperback copies here.

Substack: Short Stories, Novellas, and Exclusive Serialised Novels

I’ve written half a dozen short stories and novellas this year, most of which remain under wraps for the time being. One of these was the aforementioned Winged; four more are horror stories, and one other is top secret, for the time being. The horror stories will make their way onto Substack in 2026. Outside of anthologies, I’ve decided to publish short stories and novellas only on Substack from now on, so that’s another exclusive benefit to paid Substack subscribers.

For $5 per month, readers now get access to my entire short story and novella back catalogue (as well as syndications of almost every film-related article I publish on Medium), plus two serialised novels: Supernatural thriller The Thistlewood Curse (now fully available) and horror mystery The Hobbford Giant (new chapters available every Friday). The latter is not available anywhere else and won’t be for the foreseeable future. For more information about The Hobbford Giant, click here. As a taster, I’ve made the first chapter available for free, here.

New Novel First Draft Written: Title TBA

On the subject of novels, I wrote the first draft of a new one this year. It’s the initial story in a planned long-running series of supernatural mystery thrillers. I’m being extremely tight-lipped on details, but so far, I have revealed that the series is about an ex-police officer. She’s wondering what to do next in her life when a friend finds herself at the centre of a truly baffling, seemingly ghostly mystery, and asks for her help. A bigger mystery in the background is gradually revealed as the series progresses, but each novel in the series will feature a standalone story, including this one. I’m not putting out the title yet, or even a false placeholder title.

New Novel Rewritten: Killer Prank (not the real title)

This is the novel I wrote in early 2024, initially with the working title False Witness. The real title I had in mind was Killer Prank, but I’ve changed my mind about that, as it sounds too much like a Stephen King-style horror, rather than a mystery crime thriller. After further thought, I have a much better, more appropriate title, but I’m keeping it to myself for now. At any rate, this manuscript has now undergone a thorough spit and polish, as well as beta-reads and some great editorial feedback. I am presently submitting this to literary agents and publishers, so watch this space.

What’s it about? 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 the dark secret in the past bit 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.

Novels Submitted to Agents and Publishers

In addition to the above novel, I also submitted another mystery thriller, A Thorn in Winter, to certain agents this year, but I’ve now withdrawn it for the time being for strategic reasons. I might choose to do another publishing exclusive on Substack, or I may self-publish it more widely, or I may approach other agents and publishers. Instinct tells me to hang onto it for now, so my focus with literary agents is now the aforementioned Killer Prank manuscript.

What’s A Thorn in Winter about? Again, it’s top secret, but I will reveal that the first act features a tangled web of blackmail, before a decades-old unsolved murder comes into the picture. I like it very much (as did my beta-readers), so when it finally sees the light of day, I hope you will too.

Other Achievements in 2025

My most significant non-writing achievement this year is the start of my new film podcast, Dillon on Film. I discuss new UK cinema releases, along with my co-presenter, Michael Kenny. We’re currently taking a bit of a break from it, but it will return in the New Year. Watch this space. In the meantime, all episodes to date are available for your listening pleasure here.

I’m also still Patreon, offering 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 (for example, some of my Patreon supporters know the title of the novel I wrote this year, but they are all sworn to secrecy). 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.

Finally, in case you missed it, here’s a short film I recently made to promote my mystery thriller novel Death Nest, released a couple of years ago. It’s a meta-mockumentary in which I have mysteriously vanished. Investigative reporter Tommy Rogers looks into my disappearance, interviewing friends and former colleagues, uncovering scary reasons why I might have been “silenced” by sinister forces. Hopefully, it will give you a giggle.

In summary, 2025 has been a productive year, and I achieved many of my annual goals. I’m still chasing that elusive mainstream publishing deal, but there have been many flickers of interest, and I will keep pushing those doors. One day, they will open. Perhaps next year. In the meantime, I’m taking a short break this month. It only remains for me to say thank you again. I wish you all a peaceful and restful Christmas.

(All images created by author in Canva.)

New Novel Exclusively on Substack: The Hobbford Giant

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I’m thrilled to announce my horror mystery novel The Hobbford Giant is now being made available to paying Substack subscribers. It will be serialised over the coming weeks, but to whet the appetite, the first chapter is available to everyone. I do not plan to release The Hobbford Giant in any other format at this time. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, this novel is a Substack exclusive. Here’s a brief tease of what lies ahead, plot wise.

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.

The Hobbford Giant belongs at the darker end of my fiction. It opens like a mystery thriller, but evolves into a psychological horror story with (possible) supernatural elements in play. It explores themes of repressed memories, childhood trauma, and what happens when lies are covered by more lies. The tagline “Some secrets can claim your soul” feels apt, for reasons I obviously won’t spoil.

The first chapter of The Hobbford Giant is available to read now, entirely free of charge. Head over to my Substack page by clicking here. To read later chapters as they are released, and for full access to the rest of my archive on Substack (including several novellas, short stories, film retrospectives, top tens, exclusive videos, and more), upgrade from being a free subscriber to a paid subscriber at $5 per month.

(Header image created by author in Canva.)

2024 In Review

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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.

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.

Red Butterfly (in two parts)

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.

Rachael (in five parts)

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.)

Update: September 2024

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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.

Please do check out my Patreon page and consider supporting me. Thank you.

Update: August 2024

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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.

(Image Credits: All created by author in Canva.)

Ravenseed: Summary of Recent Articles

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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).

Ravenseed: The First Review is a Five Star Rave!

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Reviews are hugely important to independent authors like yours truly, as they encourage algorithms to show my novels to more people. Obviously, it’s also great when they are positive, and in the case of Ravenseed‘s first review, it’s a five star all-out rave. Author Claus Holm had this to say about my novel:

“Dillon reveals a new side of himself in this novel. Mostly known for gothic thrillers, this time he turns to a fantasy stories with knights, curses and dark wizards wielding evil magic. He knocks it out of the park!

In modern day, a teenage girl named Fay finds an old book, describing the adventures of two knights of the realm, Sir Peter and Sir Matthew, during the reign of King Arthur. The book tells of how they embark on a quest to absolve Matthew’s great love, Elisabeth, from a curse. As she reads the book, the events in the book being affecting Fay’s life, and she is soon stalked by an unknown enemy that has ties to the very story she reads. She must go on her own quest to find out what is happening.

The story is dark, full of rich flavor and told very well. Both Peter (the writer of the old book) and Fay are compelling protagonists, that you very quickly get to care about, and the descriptions of old Anglia that was are full of very lovely descriptions of a world long gone.

The book also frames the conflict between the old religions and Christianity in an interesting way, where they both have power in different ways.

The book is a rare gem, for well-written Arthurian fiction is hard to come by, and the modern twist only improves the story. Highly recommended for a darker fantasy reading.”

All very encouraging, and great to have the endorsement of a fellow fantasy writer. If you have read and enjoyed Ravenseed, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads, or ideally both. It doesn’t have to be long or eloquent. “I enjoyed it” is fine, and all reviews are appreciated. They are the lifeblood of independent authors, and literally put food on the table, due to the aforementioned algorithmic stimulation. Thank you to all of you who do review my work. You are hugely appreciated.

Ravenseed is available from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). Downloads or paperbacks are also available from Draft2Digital, Smashwords, and associated outlets here.

Bloodmire Revisited: New Ending Exclusively on Substack

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Over the next seven weeks, I’m serialising my fantasy novella Bloodmire on Substack. It had previously been serialised on Medium, but this version has a revised ending exclusive to Substack. This is also the ending I prefer, on balance. I don’t generally revise the finales of my stories, but in this specific case, felt I had missed a trick concerning the fate of a particular supporting character. This has now been tweaked.

Bloodmire concerns a Dark Ages knight undertaking a quest to rescue the young woman to whom he is betrothed. She has been captured by a mysterious Beast and taken into a dangerous uncharted forest. On his quest, the knight encounters bandits, witches, and strange supernatural beings, journeying ever deeper into the forest, and ever deeper into himself. But this is no straightforward tale of a damsel in distress. Nor is the knight perhaps as noble as you might initially believe.

Curious? Why not check it out on Substack, over the next seven weeks (click here for part one). You’ll need to subscribe to me there, but for a mere $5 per month, you get access to multiple short stories and novellas, plus almost every article I publish on Medium is republished there too. On top of that, you get full access to my film review archive. In short, it is great value for money!

Bloodmire is also intended as a companion piece to my recently released novel Ravenseed and features one of the supporting characters. However, I stress Bloodmire requires no prior knowledge of Ravenseed. It stands entirely alone.

Incidentally, you can pick up Ravenseed from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). Downloads or paperbacks are also available from Draft2Digital, Smashwords, and associated outlets here.

Ravenseed: Deleted Scenes

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My recently released fantasy novel Ravenseed underwent substantial revisions from early drafts to the finished version. Various sequences were removed based on feedback from beta readers (who saw different iterations as the novel took shape). My first draft – written from an outline I’d already drastically altered many times – came in at over 122,000 words, with the released version cut down to about 113,000 words. As an insight into my writing process, here’s a look at two major sequences that were removed, and why.

During the outlining stage, I became anxious that the novel needed more action in the second half. Both the sequences in question were born out of this concern, but it rapidly became apparent after penning the first draft that both were unnecessary. Instead, I needed to trust the story and the character arcs rather than artificially insert extra perils. As a result, two massive sequences got the axe.

The Dragon Attack

Following the chapters where the knights take some rest in Kirkstall Abbey, a dragon attacks them at night. Carefully treading around spoilers, by this point in the story, schisms already exist between certain characters. The original idea was for them to be forced to work together to fight this monstrous threat, allowing for a brief flash of their former camaraderie. The dragon was also intended as a metaphor for the lusts and ambitions of one particular supporting character, who (it is later revealed) consorted with the main antagonist to bring about the attack in the first place, for their own ends.

After I’d left some time to distance myself from the manuscript and read it with fresh eyes, this sequence stood out like a sore thumb. The dragon lust metaphor was clumsy, and the Machiavellian machinations of the supporting character seemed absurdly convoluted. I eventually cut almost all that subplot, including the entire dragon sequence. Although Ravenseed features supernatural entities, this isn’t a novel that needed big monster scenes, so it was a good cut to make, and the story reads far better as a result.

The Second Battle

Another major chapter removed from the final version is a battle sequence told in flashback that details how Sir Matthew saved Sir Peter’s life, some years previously. I shan’t say exactly where this flashback would have appeared, again, for fear of spoilers, except to say it was intended to add contrast and irony with events later in the book, whilst beefing up the action.

The battle is fought in flat eastern lands, perhaps in Norfolk or East Anglia, amid freezing conditions. I rather liked some of the details – for instance, Sir Matthew’s distress at the suffering of their steeds during the attack, further exploring the animal-loving side of his persona, and a near-drowning moment. The terrain is also very different to the earlier battle (a castle siege), with ambushes in long grass and reeds. In addition, this was meant to expound on a key moment of character development for Sir Peter, who finds new reason for optimism and hope, after becoming disillusioned about notions of glory and honour in the face of warfare’s brutal realities.

However, whilst this sequence worked well in and of itself, it felt like seriously over-egging the pudding in the context of the novel. There’s already a major battle sequence earlier in the book, so adding another big-scale conflict at a time when the story has become more low-key, and dramatically focused on a smaller group of characters, didn’t work. In addition, the hoped-for irony and contrast didn’t come off as well as I’d hoped. It felt as though I was trying to be too clever for my own good by demanding additional calls on reader sympathy when I’ve already put them through the emotional wringer in other respects.

In short, this story didn’t need an extra battle or a dragon, and I am convinced no one will come away from it feeling short-changed. Ravenseed has plenty going on without additional razzle-dazzle. You get knights, sorcerers, sieges, spirits, gods, sword fights, supernatural duels, two love stories, epic journeys in past and present, plus a magical finale with more than enough climactic conflict and irony to be going on with.

Ravenseed is out now. 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.

Ravenseed is available from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). Downloads or paperbacks are also available from Draft2Digital, Smashwords, and associated outlets here.

Ravenseed: Influences and Inspiration

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The most obvious point of inspiration for my new fantasy novel Ravenseed is the Arthur Legends. Whether you’re reading Sir Thomas Mallory’s La Morte d’Arthur, TH White’s The Once and Future King, or any of the many other versions of Arthurian mythology, this is the most direct and conscious influence. Though Ravenseed is an entirely original work and makes no direct reference to Merlin, Guinevere, Arthur, or any of his various knights, the Dark Ages setting, and a couple of references to the unnamed King, make clear this tale belongs somewhere in the Arthurian timeline.

What other texts most influenced my work? Here are three books that lingered in my subconscious whilst writing, mostly as a tonal inspiration.

The Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel

I’ve written before about my theory that the Arthur legends were directly inspired by the story of King David. Just replace Samuel with Merlin, Saul with Uther Pendragon, David with Arthur, David’s Mighty Men of Valour with the Knights of the Round Table, Jerusalem with Camelot, and add supernatural artefacts (the Ark of the Covenant, Excalibur, and the Holy Grail). You get the idea. 

My primary source of inspiration for this tale is the forbidden romance aspect: Lancelot and Guinevere in the Arthur legends, and David and Bathsheba in the Bible. Their affairs lead to disaster in both cases (as well as causing war and division in the process – Absalom, Mordred, etc). In Ravenseed, there are two romantic stories, each a parallel of the other, one in the Dark Ages and one in the present. One is forbidden, the other isn’t, but both relationships face potential catastrophe.

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

This melancholy, elegiac tale of an elderly couple journeying in an attempt to find their son shortly after the reign of King Arthur is an unusual, vivid novel. A mysterious loss of memory seems to have gripped many in the land, though as they travel, the couple in question slowly recall their past. Along the way, they encounter knights, monks, ogres, dragons, and a number of travelling companions, some of whom are not what they seem. Much iconoclastic debunking of the supposed honour and justice of Arthurian rule ensues.

In this novel, Arthur is not the all-benevolent King generally spoken about in the legends, as the major revelations of the story reveal. In Ravenseed, the two knights, Sir Peter and Sir Matthew, are not as affluent or famous as many of their more celebrated kin, and whilst my book doesn’t reveal dark deeds performed by their King the way this one does, it does note that the King and his wizard (neither of whom are named) are often too wrapped up in loftier matters to care about important details like showing up for battles. In addition, Sir Peter and Sir Matthew are not treated well by the knights closest to the King, and understandably bear a certain amount of ill will as a result.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

This hugely enjoyable romantic fairytale features star-crossed lovers, quite literally, given that one of the central couple, Yvaine, is a fallen star. Tristan has vowed to bring this star to the object of his affection, Victoria, but finds himself drawn to Yvaine amid a supernatural comedy of errors that also features an evil witch, enchantments, and certain other fantastical complications, some of which were an influence on Ravenseed.

Chief among these is the main enchantment that afflicts Elizabeth in my story (the details of which I will not spoil). She has just got married to Sir Matthew, at a detour to the Raven Inn on their march to war, though they do not consummate the marriage. However, Sir Peter is also drawn to her, and gradually, she begins to reciprocate. Obviously, love triangles are nothing new, but the supernatural nature of those in Stardust informed both of the romantic narratives in my novel. I’d also add the comedy in Stardust also informed some of the lighter moments in Ravenseed.

Again, to be clear, Ravenseed is its own beast and stands out from all the above. But it would be disingenuous not to mention the inspirations and influences that informed the novel. Besides, if any of the above are your cup of tea, I reckon you’d definitely enjoy my book.

Ravenseed is out now. Here’s the blurb from the back of the book to whet your appetite, if you’ve yet to pick up a copy:

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.

Ravenseed is available from Amazon on Kindle or paperback here (in the UK) and here (in the US). Downloads or paperbacks are also available from Draft2Digital, Smashwords, and associated outlets here.