Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary: Recent Episodes
Jon Cronshaw
Jon Cronshaw shares the ups and downs of his life as a visually impaired science fiction and fantasy author.
The British journalist turned independent author released his debut novel Wizard of the Wasteland in June 2017.
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Visit: http://joncronshaw.com for all the latest news and discover how you can claim your free novella, Addict of the Wasteland.
This week marks eight years since I started this podcast—back in October 2017, I recorded the first episode, and here we are in 2025, still going strong!I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned about author branding, especially as I launch my new pen-name, J. Cronshaw, focused entirely on domestic psychological thrillers. Narrowing the audience has made everything—from messaging to marketing—so much easier.Branding has always been a challenge for me. I’ve wrestled with how to define what I do when my books range from dark fantasy to wacky steampunk to near-future sci-fi. Maybe I should have embraced pen-names earlier… but then again, setting up a new website, newsletter, and socials has been a lot of work.
This week, I’ve made the decision to close my paid Substack and focus fully on Patreon as the central hub for my writing, early releases, and community.
It feels like the right move to streamline things and better serve my readers.
On the writing front, I’ve continued working on my psychological thrillers, while also reviewing the audiobook editions of The Ravenglass Throne and Undead Anarchy (Punks Versus Zombies, Book 2).
Lots going on behind the scenes as I keep building stories across genres!
This week, I’ve been juggling projects—working on my psychological thrillers while doing final checks on the first two Ravenglass Guardians novels.
I’m also getting ready for the upcoming launch of Divided Crown (The Ravenglass Throne, Book 7), and exploring the idea of putting together Kindle boxed sets for other series.
On a less exciting note, I talk about my disappointment with the Punks Versus Zombies launch, which didn’t land as well as I’d hoped.
Outside of writing, I saw Spinal Tap 2 (yes, it goes to eleven), and reflect on the fact that my son’s about to turn 13—where does the time go?
This week’s been packed with releases and reader questions!
I launched The Ravenglass Throne: Parts 1–4 as a boxed set, available now in ebook and paperback formats.
The Punks Versus Zombies audiobook is now live, as is the Trial of Thieves audiobook (Dawn of Assassins, Book 2)—great news if you’re an audio listener!
I also took time to answer questions from readers about my writing process and worldbuilding techniques.
This week, I’m happy to share that I’ve finished the draft of The Sentinel’s Mercy, the latest standalone in my Ravenglass Guardians series. With that wrapped up, I’ve shifted gears and started writing a psychological thriller under a new pen name—an exciting side project that’s been on my mind for a while.I also talk about something more personal: I’ve received the official retirement date for my guide dog, Digit. It’s a big emotional moment, and one that marks the end of an important chapter.
foreshadow cellarThis week, I took a research trip to Lytham to scout locations for a future psychological thriller.
I’ve got two domestic thrillers planned and will be writing them as side projects under a new pen-name to keep them separate from my fantasy work.
On the fantasy side, I made solid progress on The Sentinel’s Mercy (Ravenglass Guardians). I’ve now reached 75% of the draft and hope to finish it next week.
Also—though I forgot to mention it in the video—both the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy and Dark Gambit (Ravenglass Throne: Part Six) are now live on Amazon!
Visit: joncronshaw.com to find out more.
This week, I’ve been recovering and feeling much better—just in time to reach the midpoint of The Sentinel’s Mercy, my latest Ravenglass Guardians novel.
The story’s hitting its stride, and I’m excited with how it’s coming together.
I’ve also been hard at work preparing for the launch of the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy, which goes live this weekend on August 31!
Can’t wait to get this wild post-apocalyptic ride into readers' hands.
This week’s been a bit rough—I’ve been dealing with a throat infection that had me in bed for a few days.
Despite that, I made good progress on The Sentinel’s Mercy (Ravenglass Guardians, Book 2), reaching eight chapters out of a planned 24.
I’ve also finished my final readthrough of The Silent Watcher (Book 1 in the same series). Though I’m calling them Books 1 and 2 for now, the Ravenglass Guardians series will be seven standalone novels, so their final order may shift.
Meanwhile, I’m gearing up for the launch of Punks Versus Zombies on August 31—just a few weeks to go!
This week, I took a mini-break to Chester, enjoying peaceful walks in Delamere Forest, the stunning Chester Cathedral, and strolling the historic city walls—a great way to reset.
Creatively, I’ve been working on Hunters, my wacky Space Western originally written as a Patreon side project. I’m now rewriting it as a nautical fantasy set in the Ravenglass Universe, and it’s been a fun challenge adapting the tone and setting while keeping the spirit of the original.
I also reflect on my prolific writing strategy—following my energy and excitement rather than rigid plans, which keeps things creatively fulfilling.
Elsewhere, Trial of Thieves has now been submitted to ACX, so the Audible edition should be available soon.
And my interview with the British Fantasy Society just went live—check it out at britishfantasysociety.org/meet-jon-cronshaw/
It’s been a busy week! I’ve been reviewing alpha reader feedback for The Silent Watcher and checking through the audiobook edition of Trial of Thieves (Dawn of Assassins, Book 2).
The paperbacks for the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy are now ready, and audiobook production is underway.
I’m also thrilled to have Emmy Coates back to narrate The Ravenglass Throne—she was brilliant on The Ravenglass Chronicles, so it’s great to have her voice returning to the Ravenglass Universe.
Plus, I’ve put the Ravenglass Throne Boxed Set (Books 1–4) up for pre-order ahead of its September 15 release.
To find out more about Jon, visit joncronshaw.com/books
This week, I finished my draft of The Silent Watcher—the first completed novel in my Ravenglass Guardians series—and sent it to alpha readers for early feedback.
I’ve also begun the next standalone in the series, centred on the Sentinel faction.
While The Silent Watcher is a slow-burn psychological thriller, the Sentinel novel is shaping up to be a gritty military fantasy—both firmly in nobledark territory.
On a personal note, my son is off to Denmark to compete in the Youth Games for karate.
This week, I’ve made solid progress on my Watcher story in the Ravenglass Guardians series, hitting the 75% mark in my draft.
If everything continues smoothly, I should have a complete draft by the end of next week.
I’ve also been outlining the next standalone novel, which will follow a character from the Guardians’ Sentinel faction. Each book in this series will explore a different path of the Guardians, with all seven forming a powerful nobledark saga.
Find out more about my work at joncronshaw.com.
This week, I hit the mid-point in drafting my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, focusing on the Watchers faction. It’s a nobledark fantasy with strong political thriller elements.
Since each of the seven planned books will be standalone, this may not be the first released—but my goal is to write the full series before launching it on Patreon.
I’m aiming for 60k-word novels (like my Guild of Assassins books), which allows me to draft a solid book in about four weeks, writing 3,000 words per weekday—a pace I’ve kept up for years. It’s a challenge, but one I’m excited to push through!
Visit: joncronshaw.com/books
This week, I’ve dived into my new series set in the Ravenglass Universe, focusing on the Guardians—a seven-novel, nobledark fantasy exploring the different paths within the order. I’ve written the first six chapters of Book 1, putting me at 25% of the draft already.
I also reflect on my shift toward writing more 60,000-word novels, similar in length to the Guild of Assassins books. This feels like the sweet spot for the kinds of focused, intense stories I want to tell going forward. Exciting times ahead!
To claim your free copy of Blades of Wolfsbane, visit joncronshaw.com.
This week has been a busy and intense one! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve finished the draft of The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4). It’s always a huge relief hitting that final chapter.
On top of that, I’ve been deep in website work—the book page platform I’d been using suddenly stopped working, so I rebuilt everything from scratch. You can now browse my updated book catalogue at joncronshaw.com/books.
I’ve also leaned further into my King of Nobledark rebrand, making sure everything aligns with the tone and themes of my work. It’s been a lot—but worth it.
This week, I’ve made solid progress on The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4), hitting the 75% mark in the draft. The story’s really coming together now as I push toward the final act.
I’m also busy getting Punks Versus Zombies ready for launch on Kindle, September 1, 2025. It’s up for pre-order now, so lock in your copy for a wild post-apocalyptic ride!
On a personal note, I had a fun night away in Blackpool—a much-needed change of scene that’s helped recharge the creative batteries.
AuthorDiary #ThePrinceAndTheFool #RavenglassLegends #PunksVersusZombies #ZombieFiction #KindlePreOrder #EpicFantasy #BlackpoolTrip #WritingProgress #JonCronshawBooks
This week was mostly spent on admin tasks—the essential but less exciting side of the author life. From scheduling to organising releases, it’s been a practical sort of week.
The highlight, though, was seeing Nine Inch Nails live in Manchester! It was an incredible show with a set packed full of early album tracks—intense, loud, and absolutely brilliant.
Best of all, my back held up, so I’m hoping that means I’m finally over the worst of it and can get back into the writing groove soon.
This week, I’ve hit the 60 percent mark on the draft of The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4).
The story is moving steadily, and I’m excited to see it coming together.
I’ve also been reading the 33 1/3 book on Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love—a fascinating deep dive into one of my all-time favourite albums.
And I’ve finally started watching House of Cards on Netflix—dark, sharp, and brilliantly acted.
I’m still dealing with a bad back, which has been slowing me down. I’m really hoping it improves soon, especially with Nine Inch Nails coming up next week—fingers crossed I’ll be well enough to go!
After taking last week off, I’m back at the writing desk and making great progress on The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4).
I’ve just hit the mid-point of the book—and the series itself!
I’ll be sharing unedited chapters on Patreon over the next few weeks for those following along early.
This week, I also chat about reading Homecoming by Robin Hobb—a beautifully written book as always—and watching Baby Reindeer on Netflix, a dark but excellent drama that’s definitely stayed with me.
On a less fun note, I’ve been nursing a bad back, which means I’ve had to miss out on seeing one of my favourite bands, James.
Hoping to be back on my feet properly soon!
Join the Patreon at patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
In this follow-up to the 400th episode celebration, I’m back with part two of the Q&A, this time answering questions from Facebook.
Once again, I’m joined by my wife and editor, Claire, for more behind-the-scenes chat about writing, editing, and the creative life.
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions!
And if you're looking for a brilliant editor, check out Claire’s work at cherryedits.com.
This week marks a major milestone—episode 400 of the Author Diary!
To celebrate, I’m doing something a little different. I answer questions from my Patreon supporters, covering everything from writing to reading.
I’m also joined by a very special guest—Claire, my wife and editor!
We chat about editing, storytelling, and what it’s like working together on my books.
You can check out her work at cherryedits.com.
Thanks for being part of this journey—here’s to the next 400!
This week’s been all about the behind-the-scenes work—the less glamorous side of being an author. I’ve been deep in admin, getting everything in place for the release of Severed Bonds (The Ravenglass Throne, Part Three) on May 19, and preparing the audio edition of Book 4 for my Patreon supporters.
It’s been a week of formatting, uploading, scheduling, and ticking boxes—but not much creative work. I’m itching to get back to actual writing and into the worlds that excite me.
Thanks for bearing with me during the admin grind—stories are coming soon!
This week, I completed work on my four speculative fiction collections: Influenced, Outraged, Cancelled, and Muted. If you’d like a taste, you can grab a free collection at joncronshaw.com/optimised.
I also returned to writing The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4). It feels great to be back in the world of epic fantasy after a detour into short fiction. The story’s gaining momentum again, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
On the publishing front, I’ve received two new covers for The Ravenglass Throne and am considering a pivot to releasing the series exclusively on Amazon—though it will remain Patreon-first for early access.
Thanks for following along!
In this week’s Author Diary, I’ve been continuing work on my Speculative Fiction collections, sorting through short stories and getting everything ready for release.
The first collection, Influenced, is now available to pre-order on all major ebook platforms.
It’s packed with dark, satirical tales that twist reality in unsettling—and sometimes all-too-familiar—ways.
I also talk about watching The Residence, a fun and clever murder mystery set in the White House—highly recommended if you enjoy sharp dialogue and political intrigue with your whodunnits.
Plus, don’t forget: you can download my short story collection Optimised for free at joncronshaw.com/optimised.
AuthorDiary #SpeculativeFiction #InfluencedBook #FreeShortStory #Optimised #TheResidenceNetflix #MurderMysterySeries #SatiricalFiction #DarkSpeculativeFiction #BookPreOrder
This week, I’ve been busy going through lots of short stories, organising them into collections ready for release. The first collection, Influenced, will be out on May 10!
Influenced is a series of dark, satirical speculative fiction tales, exploring twisted futures, sharp social commentary, and unsettling what-ifs.
I'm really excited to share these stories, and this marks the start of more short fiction collections to come.
Thanks as always for following along—plenty more on the horizon!
It’s been a big week!
I launched two new books:
🔥 Wyvern’s Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne, Book 2)
⚔️ Blade of Sorrows (Guild of Assassins, Book 3)
On top of that, I’ve started work on Book 4 of Ravenglass Legends.
I’ve made the decision to expand this into a seven-book series, with this fourth instalment serving as a mid-point in the larger story.
While it’s not my bestselling work, Ravenglass Legends remains my passion project—a world and cast of characters I care deeply about.
I’m writing it for the love of the story and hope readers will join me for the journey ahead.
This week has been all about juggling projects and getting things ready for some exciting releases.
I’ve been busy preparing my short stories for a new podcast — Speculative Fiction Tales. You can find it on your favourite podcast app or over on my YouTube channel.
I’m also gearing up for the launch of two books next week:
🐉 Wyvern's Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne Book 2)
⚔️ Blade of Sorrows (Guild of Assassins Book 3)
On top of that, I’ve started work on a new side project—a steampunk adventure novel featuring Lord Sidebottom.
I’ve written several shorts with this character over the years, and I’m excited to finally have a novel concept that I’m really pleased with.
Lots happening—and plenty more to come!
AuthorDiary #SpeculativeFictionTales #FantasyPodcast #WyvernsShadow #BladeOfSorrows #GuildOfAssassins #LordSidebottom #SteampunkAdventure #FantasyBookLaunch #FantasyWritingUpdates
This week, I’m excited to announce that Forged in Blood is now available! It’s always a great feeling getting a new book out into the world.
I’ve also been working on some new Guild of Assassins short stories, which are now available to download for free at joncronshaw.com/guildassassin.
If you're enjoying the series, these are a great way to dig deeper into the world.
On the viewing front, I watched Adolescence on Netflix—a gritty, intense drama that I highly recommend if you're in the mood for something powerful and thought-provoking.
Thanks as always for following along!
This week, I finished the draft of Hunters—a gritty Space Western I’ve really enjoyed working on.
I’m still undecided on what to do with it long-term, but for now, it may stay as a Patreon-only project.
April is shaping up to be huge, with three book launches on the way:
📖 Forged in Blood – April 4
🐉 Wyvern’s Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne: Part Two) – April 12
⚔️ Blade of Sorrows – April 17
I also wrote a couple of Guild of Assassins short stories, which I’ll be sharing on Patreon over the coming weeks.
Plenty of exciting content on the way—thanks for following along!
This week, I wrapped up the draft of Dragon Squadron (RAF Dragon Corps), and I’m thrilled with how it’s turned out.
But with three book launches on the horizon—Wyvern’s Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne: Part Two), Forged in Blood, and Blade of Sorrows—my focus now shifts to prepping those releases.
In this episode, I reflect on the many open projects I’ve got on the go and the importance of staying focused rather than jumping into something new (no matter how tempting!).
It’s time to clear the decks before taking on the next big adventure.
This week, I’ve been deep in Dragon Squadron (RAF Dragon Corps), and what started as a novella has now evolved into a full novel!
I’m currently 16 chapters in out of 24, and the story is shaping up beautifully—I’m absolutely loving where it’s going.
In publishing news, Shattered Kingdom (The Ravenglass Throne: Part One) is now released, and Forged in Blood is officially up for pre-order!
It’s been a busy but exciting time, with lots of new stories heading your way.
Looking forward to pushing ahead with Dragon Squadron and getting these books into readers’ hands!
This week, I completed a new novella in a new series and a new genre—alternative history/historical fantasy!
I’ve been working on Dragon Squadron, a story set in 1939 England that imagines what if there were dragons in World War II.
The novella follows Jim Ashford, a young man who defies his naval admiral father to join the elite RAF Dragon Corps.
Bonding with Aether, a midnight-blue combat dragon, Jim trains for the coming war against Germany’s ruthless dragon breeding programme, where dragons are raised for aggression and their riders show no mercy.
This story is deeply personal—I always wanted to join the RAF but couldn’t due to being legally blind.
Through this book, I’ve been able to explore that dream in fiction, blending military precision with fantasy adventure.
Chapters will be released weekly on Patreon, and the entire novella will be available to all patrons, including free members.
If dragons defending Britain’s skies intrigues you, I’d love for you to join me on this journey.
🔗 Read the first chapter now: patreon.com/collection/1360827
This week, I dusted off a project I haven’t touched since May 2023—The Chosen One, a heroic fantasy about a child of prophecy destined to defeat the Dark Lord…except the Dark Lord never came.
Now 40, he abandoned his heroic destiny 20 years ago, but fate may have other plans.
I also made progress on my Space Western, Hunters, writing a new chapter as I continue expanding that world.
This month has been incredibly productive, averaging 5,000 words per weekday, putting me at 100,000 words for the month!
On the reading front, I finished Alchemy: The Magic of Original Thinking in a World of Mind-Numbing Conformity, which was inspiring and full of fresh ideas.
For audio fans, the audiobook edition of Shattered Kingdom (The Ravenglass Throne: Part One) is now FREE on my Patreon!
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
I’ll be releasing the audio one episode ahead of the retail versions.
Speaking of which, Shattered Kingdom is available for pre-order on all major ebook platforms for just 99c/99p, launching on March 12!
This week marks a major milestone—I’ve finished book 12 of The Ravenglass Throne, meaning the entire series is now complete!
Now, it’s a waiting game for the edits to come back, but the hard work of drafting is done.
With The Ravenglass Throne wrapped up, I’ve been reflecting on what’s next.
I need to take stock of my open projects and decide which one excites me the most before diving in.
There are plenty of ideas pulling at my attention, so it’s all about choosing the right one.
I also discuss The Fourth Turning is Here, a thought-provoking book that explores generational cycles and societal shifts.
It’s made me think about how we’re in the midst of a zeitgeist shift, and what that means for the stories people will connect with most in the years ahead.
Exciting times ahead—both in my writing and in the changing landscape of storytelling!
Download Shattered Kingdom at: joncronshaw.com/shatteredkingdom.
This week has been a lighter one, as I’ve mostly been resting after a big push on Book 11 of The Ravenglass Throne over the weekend.
Now, I’m onto the final novella in the series—the last stretch is in sight!
I’ve also been reading The 10 Cent Plague, a fascinating history of comic books in America.
It’s been a great read, full of insight into the cultural impact and controversies surrounding comics.
On the scheduling side, I realised I miscalculated my timeline—I originally planned to have Book 12 finished by February 22, but I didn’t account for my son’s half-term break.
So, I’m pushing my deadline back a week to give myself more breathing room.
Looking forward to the final push on The Ravenglass Throne!
This week, I’ve finished drafting Book 10 of The Ravenglass Throne and even started on the first chapter of Book 11!
With the series nearing its conclusion, I’ve also been working through edits on Book 2, which I’ll start posting on Patreon soon.
As The Ravenglass Throne wraps up, I’m starting to think about what comes next.
Possible projects include:
•Guild of Assassins, book 4
•Dawn of Assassins, book 4
•Ravenglass Legneds, book 4
•Scoundrels (A Dawn of Assassins prequel).
•A follow-up to Wyvern Rider.
I’ll see where my energy takes me once The Ravenglass Throne is complete.
Outside of writing, I really enjoyed Season 2 of The Diplomat on Netflix—it’s packed with tension and sharp dialogue.
I also have some thoughts on WWE’s Royal Rumble, which was as chaotic and entertaining as ever!
Join the community at patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
This week, I’ve been pushing forward with Book 9 of The Ravenglass Throne—I’m just three chapters away from finishing my first draft!
The end is in sight, and I’m excited to bring this part of the story to a close.
Despite my focus on The Ravenglass Throne, inspiration struck for Guild of Assassins book 4, and I couldn’t resist writing the first chapter.
But for now, I need to rein myself in and stay on track with The Ravenglass Throne!
In terms of reading, I’ve been making my way through Crown, Cloak and Dagger, which delves into the British royal family’s connections with secret intelligence. It’s fascinating and definitely great story fuel.
Looking forward to wrapping up The Ravenglass Throne Book 9 and sharing more updates soon!
This week, I’ve made significant progress on The Ravenglass Throne series—I’m halfway through drafting Book 8, and the story is shaping up to be an intense and exciting continuation of the series.
I’m also thrilled to announce the launch of The Knight and the Rebel (Ravenglass Legends, Book 3). This new release is now available, and I can’t wait for readers to dive into this thrilling tale set in the Ravenglass Universe.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more updates soon!
This week, I’ve been making slow progress on The Ravenglass Throne—I’m now just three chapters away from finishing Book 7.
The story is heating up, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
I’ve also been enjoying The Diplomat on Netflix. It’s a gripping show full of political intrigue, and it’s been a nice way to recharge between writing sessions.
For the first time ever, I’m running a contest!
You could win a year of free access to my Patreon’s Hero Tier, where you can enjoy exclusive chapters, updates, and behind-the-scenes content.
Enter before January 31 here: https://kingsumo.com/g/1w9we63/win-a-free-year-of-patreon-hero-tier-membership
This week has been a bit of a mixed bag. I’ve been working on The Ravenglass Throne and Hunters, but progress has been slow as I’ve been feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
I realised I forgot to mention some big news in the podcast: I’ve started posting The Ravenglass Throne on Patreon!
The first few chapters are up now, and I’m also sharing Blade of Sorrows (Guild of Assassins Book 3). If you’re a fan of dark fantasy and epic tales, be sure to check them out!
On the reading front, I finished Ringmaster, a book about Vince McMahon, and I’m now diving into The Contrarian, a biography of Peter Thiel. Both are fascinating reads and fantastic sources of inspiration for storytelling.
Next week, I’ll be continuing with The Ravenglass Throne and pushing forward with my writing projects.
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
Happy New Year! I’m back at work on The Ravenglass Throne and making great progress—Book 5 is nearly complete, and Book 1 has returned from the editor. I’ve gone through the edits, and I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll start posting episodes on Patreon starting Monday!
This fast-paced epic fantasy series, set in the Ravenglass Universe, will have new episodes releasing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s an exciting time, and I can’t wait to share this story with you.
On the reading front, I’ve been diving into Doppelganger by Naomi Klein—a fascinating and thought-provoking book that’s giving me plenty to reflect on.
If you want early access to The Ravenglass Throne episodes, be sure to follow me on Patreon for exclusive updates and content!
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor and join today.
In this week’s Author Diary, I share exciting developments and reflections as the year draws to a close.
I’ve just completed the fourth novella in The Ravenglass Throne series, only to realise that what I’ve created is a full novel, not four novellas! Moving forward, I’ll start posting chapters exclusively on Patreon, as I shift to a Patreon-first publishing approach for my work.
I also look back on 2024, reflecting on the progress of the Ravenglass Legends series and my plans to expand it in the coming year. With several books currently with my editor—including Guild of Assassins 2 & 3 and the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy—I’m gearing up for a busy and productive 2025.
I discuss my open projects, including Dawn of Assassins 4 and Scoundrels Book 1, which are on my must-finish list for next year.
Additionally, I touch on a crucial area for growth: marketing. Feeling that my author business has plateaued, I’ve started a course on book marketing to refine the strategies I’ve been using since 2017.
Join me for updates, plans, and insights into what’s next for my writing journey!
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
In this week's Author Diary, I share the challenges of making slow progress on The Ravenglass Throne while navigating the struggles of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
On a brighter note, I’ve received edits back for my upcoming novel, The Knight and the Rebel (Ravenglass Legends, book 3), and I’m thrilled to announce its release date: January 30, 2025! This story blends adventure, rebellion, and political intrigue, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Join me as I discuss the ups and downs of the creative process, upcoming releases, and how I’m managing writing during the darker months.
This week, I’ve been writing the third novella in The Ravenglass Throne serial and reading Drumindor by Michael J. Sullivan. Join me for updates on my writing journey and thoughts on the Riyria series!
I’ve been making great progress on the third novella in my ongoing serial, The Ravenglass Throne.
The story continues to unfold with twists, political intrigue, and the personal struggles of its three royal sisters as they face mounting conspiracies and power plays.
In addition to writing, I’ve been rading Drumindor by Michael J. Sullivan, the latest instalment in his Riyria series.
Sullivan’s ability to craft rich characters and intricate plots is as gripping as ever, and it’s been a fantastic source of inspiration for my own storytelling.
Join me as I share updates on my writing process, thoughts on the Ravenglass Universe, and reflections on the brilliant world of Riyria!
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I make exciting progress on my new fantasy serial and dive into the world of epic reads!
👑 Introducing "The Ravenglass Throne"
This week, I continued developing my new project, The Ravenglass Throne, a 12-novella serial releasing monthly episodes. Subscribers on Patreon can enjoy three chapters per week before the full novellas are released on ebook platforms.
Set in the Ravenglass Universe, this epic fantasy follows three royal sisters navigating corrupted magic, political intrigue, and the shadowy conspiracy surrounding their father’s mysterious assassination.
📘 Current Reading
Alongside writing, I’ve been savouring Ezrahaddon by Michael J. Sullivan. It’s been a joy immersing myself in his world.
💷 Special Offer on Patreon
Don't miss out on my 70% discount on your first month of Patreon membership, running until December 9!
Use promo code WYVERN when signing up. If you're using the Apple app, please subscribe through a browser to avoid the surcharge.
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
📅 What’s Next
As I continue crafting The Ravenglass Throne, I’m diving deeper into the lore and political dynamics that shape the sisters' journeys. This world is brimming with secrets, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
🤔 Your Turn!
What are your favourite YA fantasy reads, or recent stories that have inspired you? How do you enjoy seeing conspiracy and mystery woven into epic tales? Share your thoughts below, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates on my wri
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I embark on an exciting new writing adventure and share my latest reading experiences.
👑 Introducing "The Ravenglass Throne":
This week marks the beginning of a new venture into YA epic fantasy with my latest project, "The Ravenglass Throne."
The story unfolds around three princesses thrown into turmoil after their father, the king, is mysteriously assassinated without naming an heir.
Set against a backdrop of looming conspiracy and dark secrets, the narrative explores themes of power, loyalty, and the quest for truth.
📘 Current Reading:
Alongside developing this new tale, I'm engrossed in "Ezzraharden" by Michael J. Sullivan. Sullivan's ability to weave intricate plots and richly drawn characters never fails to inspire.
I'm reading "Wild Faith" by Talia Levin, a book that offers a fresh perspective on spirituality and belief systems within the context of far-right politics.
Both books provide a wonderful blend of escapism and intellectual engagement, feeding into my creative process.
📅 What’s Next:
As "The Ravenglass Throne" begins to take shape, I'm focused on outlining the complex relationships and political intrigue that drive the heart of the story.
I'm excited to develop this world and its rulers, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of each princess.
I’d love to hear about your favourite YA fantasy books or any recent reads that have captured your imagination.
How do you like to see conspiracy and mystery handled in fantasy settings?
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and updates from my author's journey!
AuthorDiary #TheRavenglassThrone #YAepicfantasy #MichaelJSullivan #Ezzraharden #WildFaith #TaliaLevin #NewWritingProjects #FantasyNovel #ReadingUpdates
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I celebrate a major milestone in my writing journey and share my current literary indulgence.
📘 Finishing "Blade of Sorrows":
I’m thrilled to announce that I've completed the draft of "Blade of Sorrows," the third book in the Guild of Assassins series.
📖 Current Reading:
As I take a brief pause from writing to recharge, I've started reading "Ezzrahdon" by Michael J. Sullivan. It’s proving to be an engaging read, filled with the compelling storytelling and rich character development.
📅 Looking Ahead:
With "Blade of Sorrows" now in draft completion, my focus will soon shift towards the editing process, a critical step in preparing the book for its journey to the readers.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with completing big projects or the books that currently captivate you. How do you transition from intense writing phases to other creative or leisure activities?
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and updates from my author's life!
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I make significant progress on my latest fantasy novel and share exclusive content with my Patreon community.
📝 Progress on "Blade of Sorrows":
This week, I reached a new milestone in the writing of "Blade of Sorrows," the third book in the Guild of Assassins series. I've now penned 40,000 words, diving deeper into the intricate plot and complex character dynamics that define this series.
📘 Patreon Updates:
I've been actively engaging with my Patreon supporters by sharing early chapters of "Forged in Blood" as well as the enthralling narratives of "Hunters" and "Niamh's Journey."
📚 Current Reading:
In terms of reading, I’m currently immersed in "Leviathan," the third book in the Illuminatus series by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea. This series continues to impress with its complex narratives and thought-provoking themes.
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
This week's Author Diary touches on managing seasonal affective disorder while progressing on exciting literary fronts.
🌨️ Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder:
As November rolls in, so does my annual encounter with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It's a familiar challenge by now, and understanding what to expect helps me navigate it more effectively. While SAD does pose its difficulties, recognising the symptoms early allows me to adjust my schedule and self-care routines to maintain productivity and well-being.
📖 Starting "Blade of Sorrows":
In terms of writing, I've begun drafting "Blade of Sorrows," the third book in the Guild of Assassins series. I'm currently 15,000 words in, about 25% through the manuscript. Diving back into this dark, intricate world is exhilarating, and the initial chapters are shaping up to bring more thrilling twists and deep character explorations.
📚 Reading Insights:
My reading this week included "Opus" by Gareth Gore, a deep dive into the enigmatic world of Opus Dei. The book provides an intriguing glimpse into the inner workings and controversies surrounding this Catholic institution. Additionally, I'm about halfway through "The Damnation of Power" from the Horus Heresy series, which continues to expand on the epic saga with intense conflicts and rich, detailed lore.
📅 Looking Ahead:
Despite the challenges posed by SAD, I remain committed to my writing goals and literary explorations. The support and understanding of the writing community also play a crucial role in managing these seasonal hurdles.
I’d love to hear from you about how you cope with seasonal changes or manage personal challenges while keeping up with creative or professional commitments.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly updates from my author's life and the ongoing journey through worlds both real and imagined!
Dive into this week’s Author Diary as I tackle a variety of writing projects, from editing a sequel to revisiting a prequel, and even venturing into festive zombie territory!
📝 Editing "Forged in Blood":
I'm deep into the editing process for "Forged in Blood," the second book in the Guild of Assassins series. It's always a detailed task to refine the narrative, enhance character development, and ensure the plot twists keep readers on the edge of their seats. This stage is crucial for bringing the polished version of the story to life.
📚 Revisiting "Scoundrels":
After a year, I've returned to "Scoundrels," a prequel to the Dawn of Assassins series. Diving back into this story is like reconnecting with an old friend and rediscovering their secrets. It's fascinating to explore the backstory that sets the stage for the events and dynamics in the main series.
🎅 Writing "Santa Versus Zombies":
In a lighter, more whimsical vein, I penned a short story titled "Santa Versus Zombies." This festive, fun piece provided a great creative outlet, blending the cheer of the holiday season with the thrill of a zombie apocalypse. It was a delightful project that offered a humorous break from my more intense writing.
🚶♂️ Completing "Niamh’s Journey":
I also wrapped up "Niamh's Journey," a side story in the Punks Versus Zombies series. Finishing this narrative provided closure for a thread that added depth and perspective to the main storyline.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on handling multiple projects, or your experiences with returning to a story after a long break.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights and updates from my journey through worlds both deadly and whimsical!
In this week's Author Diary, I celebrate a significant milestone in my writing journey and share my plans for the coming weeks as the seasons change.
📖 Completing "Forged in Blood":
I'm thrilled to announce that I've completed the draft of "Forged in Blood," the second book in the Guild of Assassins series. Finishing this draft marks a major achievement in the development of the series, and I'm looking forward to the next stages of editing and refining.
📚 Current Reading:
Continuing my literary exploration, I'm currently delving into "Illuminatus Part II" by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. This series, known for its complex narrative and intriguing themes, provides a thought-provoking read that perfectly complements the darker, introspective months.
🕰️ Adjusting to Seasonal Changes:
With the clocks changing and the onset of colder weather, I'm mindful of the impact this time of year tends to have on me, notably Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In anticipation, I plan to take things a bit easier over the next few weeks, allowing myself some needed rest and recalibration to stay healthy and maintain my creative output.
🍁 Looking Ahead:
During this quieter period, I will be focusing on self-care, continuing my reading, and beginning the initial edits on "Forged in Blood." It's important to balance productivity with personal health, and I'm committed to managing both as we move into November.
I'd love to hear how you adjust to seasonal changes and manage your creative projects during these times. Do you find certain times of the year more challenging or inspiring? Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and updates from my journey as an author!
In this week’s Author Diary, I share my experiences from Fantasycon, delve into new and ongoing writing projects, and explore some intriguing reads.
🏰 Fantasycon Adventures:
This past weekend at Fantasycon was a whirlwind of inspiration and connection. Participating in panels, enjoying the banquet, and meeting both fellow authors and avid readers was fantastic. It's always exhilarating to be part of such a dynamic gathering of creative minds.
🎩 Crafting a New Lord Sidebottom Tale:
In the spirit of Halloween, I’ve started working on a new Lord Sidebottom story. This steampunk adventure promises to be as wacky and inventive as its protagonist, perfectly fitting for the spooky season. I’ll be posting this as a free story on my Patreon on October 31! Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
🗡️ Progress on "Forged in Blood":
I’m also nearing the completion of "Forged in Blood," the second book in the Guild of Assassins series. Currently 80% through the draft, the final stages are both the most challenging and exciting as I tighten the narrative and escalate towards a compelling climax.
📖 Reading Update:
After finishing "The Eye in the Pyramid," the first book of the Illuminatus! trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, I’m still processing its wild and intricate narrative. Now, I’ve moved on to "Incarcerat," part of the TerrorTome series by Garth Marenghi. This horror parody offers a refreshing and humorous take on the genre, proving to be an entertaining read.
I’d love to hear about your experiences at conventions, any Halloween-themed stories you’re working on, or your thoughts on blending humour with horror in literature.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights from my author's journey!
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I explore new creative territories with a Space Western story, prepare for an exciting convention, and dive into some intriguing reads.
🌠 Writing a Space Western:
This week has been a thrilling ride as I've ventured into the realm of a Space Western, already hitting the 20,000-word mark. The process is as fun as it is challenging, weaving together elements of frontier lawlessness with futuristic sci-fi. While I'm still shaping the story's direction, the journey of crafting it is proving to be immensely enjoyable.
🎤 Gearing Up for Fantasycon:
I'm also gearing up for a busy weekend at Fantasycon in Chester. I'll be participating in four panels, discussing everything from genre nuances to character development. It's an opportunity I'm particularly excited about, as it allows me to meet fellow writers and fans, exchange ideas, and gain new insights.
📚 Reading Adventures:
On the reading front, I've finished "The KLF" by John Higgs, which delves into the eccentric and enigmatic music group known for their avant-garde antics. Inspired by this, I've started "Illuminatus" by Robert Anton Wilson, a complex and layered novel that promises to be as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
📅 Looking Forward:
As I prepare for the panels and continue my writing, I'm excited to see where both these adventures take me. The combination of discussing my craft with peers and pushing the boundaries of my creative work is what keeps this journey fascinating.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on blending genres like the Space Western, your experiences at conventions, or any transformative books you've read.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and stories from my author's life!
AuthorDiary #SpaceWestern #Fantasycon #TheKLF #Illuminatus #RobertAntonWilson #CreativeWriting #LiteraryPanels #BookDiscussion #SciFiWriting
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as we celebrate a significant milestone, delve into current projects, and look forward to an exciting event.
🎉 7th Anniversary of the Author Diary Podcast:
This week marks the seventh anniversary of my Author Diary podcast. It's been a wonderful journey of sharing insights, challenges, and triumphs from my writing life. I've enjoyed connecting with all of you, and I'm grateful for your continued support.
📖 Current Writing and Reading:
I've been making steady progress on "Forged in Blood," the latest installment in the Guild of Assassins series. Writing this book has been an intricate process, weaving complex characters and dark themes into the narrative fabric. Alongside writing, I've been immersed in "Vengeful Spirit" from the Horus Heresy series, a gripping tale that complements the intense and dramatic tone of my own work.
👥 Reader Interaction:
In this special anniversary episode, I took the opportunity to answer some reader questions.
🏰 Prepping for Fantasycon:
Looking ahead, I'm thrilled to be attending Fantasycon next weekend. I’ll be participating in four panels discussing topics ranging from rogues and grimdark to post-apocalyptic fiction and the portrayal of disability beyond the trope of 'superpower.' As I prepare for the convention, I'm excited to meet many of you there, share insights, and explore the diverse and dynamic world of fantasy literature.
Stay tuned for updates from Fantasycon and more adventures from the writing desk!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on podcast milestones, your experiences with fantasy conventions, or any questions you might have about writing and reading. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and updates from my author's journey!
This week's Author Diary is a testament to the challenges and triumphs of the creative process, even when under the weather.
🤒 Battling Illness:
Despite being ill this week, I pressed on with my writing commitments. It's often difficult to maintain momentum during such times, but staying connected to my projects helps keep my spirits up.
I managed to add about 10,000 words to "Forged in Blood," the second book in the Guild of Assassins series
📘 Reading Updates:
I wrapped up "Fake Heroes" by Otto English, a compelling read that offers sharp insights into cultural and historical narratives.
Moving on, I’ve started "Vengeful Spirit," part of the expansive Horus Heresy series. Diving into this new book has been a great way to escape and recuperate, immersing myself in the rich lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
📅 Looking Ahead:
As I recover and continue with "Forged in Blood," I look forward to regaining my full strength and embracing the creative challenges ahead.
Next week, I hope to share more positive updates and perhaps some insights from my journey through the Horus Heresy series.
I'd love to hear about how you cope with setbacks and continue to find inspiration in your projects or readings. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights from my author's life and the perseverance that drives it!
Step into this week’s Author Diary as I share my experiences from a recent cruise and delve into some compelling reads.
🚢 Cruise Adventures:
This week, I took a break from writing to embark on a cruise that took me to some of Europe’s most storied destinations, including Pompeii, Rome, and Girona. Each city offered its own unique blend of history, culture, and breathtaking sights. From the ancient ruins of Pompeii to the medieval charm of Girona, this journey was a treasure trove of inspiration and a wonderful escape from the daily grind.
📘 Reading Along the Way:
During the cruise, I immersed myself in "Among the Trolls" by Marianna Spring, a captivating exploration of modern conspiracism. I'm currently engrossed in "Fake Heroes" by Otto English, which offers insightful commentary wrapped in engaging storytelling.
Next week, I plan to return to writing, energised by the wealth of experiences and ideas gathered during my travels. I'd love to hear about your experiences with travel and how they have influenced your creative or professional life.
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I delve into new story experiments, prepare for an exciting journey, and share my latest reads.
📖 Working on "Hunters":
This week, I spent some time writing "Hunters," a nautical fantasy. Exploring new genres and themes is always an exciting part of the creative process, though I'm still gauging whether this particular story will be part of my ongoing projects.
🚢 Preparing for Pompeii and Rome:
As I prepare to embark on a cruise to see the historical sites of Pompeii and Rome, I've been taking it easy and getting ready for the trip. This journey isn't just a vacation; it's also a source of inspiration, feeding into the backdrop of stories.
📘 Reading Insights:
I finished reading "Pompeii" by Mary Beard, which provided a deep dive into the ancient city's history. Knowing that much of Pompeii's art is in Naples, I'm curious to see what still remains at the site itself. Additionally, I started "Hip-Hop is History" by Questlove, exploring 50 years of hip-hop culture and history.
📅 Note on Next Week’s Diary:
Please note that next week’s author diary will be posted later than usual as I'll be away, soaking in new experiences and historical marvels that I hope to share upon my return.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on exploring new sub-genres or your experiences with historical trips that have influenced your creative projects.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life and the inspiration that fuels it!
This week’s Author Diary takes a step back from writing to focus on administrative duties, setting up new platforms, and gearing up for an inspiring journey.
🌐 Launching Patreon:
My week has been heavily focused on preparing to officially launch my Patreon page.
This platform will provide a dedicated space for more personalized interactions with my readers and offer exclusive content that dives deeper into the worlds I create.
I'm excited about the opportunities this will open up for both new projects and the community that has been with me throughout my writing journey.
🛫 Preparing for Pompeii and Rome:
In preparation for an upcoming trip to Pompeii and Rome, I’ve been planning the details of the visit.
This adventure isn’t just a vacation; it’s a chance to gather rich historical insights and inspiration from some of the world’s most storied ruins and artworks.
The history and mystery of these places are bound to infuse new ideas into my future writings.
📖 Reading "Pompeii" by Mary Beard:
To enhance my upcoming trip, I’ve been reading Mary Beard’s "Pompeii."
Her detailed exploration of the ancient city provides a fascinating backdrop to the remains I will soon see firsthand.
The book is an excellent primer, enriching my understanding and anticipation of the historical context I will explore.
As I prepare for these exciting ventures, I’m reminded of the importance of taking time to fuel creativity with new experiences and dedicated planning.
I look forward to sharing the insights and inspirations from these adventures with you all.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on balancing creative work with travel, experiences with Patreon, or your favourite historical reads.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life and the experiences that shape my stories!
AuthorDiary #PatreonLaunch #Pompeii #RomeTrip #MaryBeard #CreativeInspiration #TravelPreparation #BookReading #HistoricalExploration #WritingCommunity
📘 "The Wolf and the Wyvern" Launch:
This week marked a major milestone with the launch of "The Wolf and the Wyvern," the second installment in the Ravenglass Legends series. It’s always exhilarating to see a project come to fruition, and I’ve been busy with the various aspects of the book release—from coordinating with distributors to engaging with readers. The feedback so far has been incredibly encouraging, and I'm thrilled to see how the book resonates with fans old and new.
🧟♂️ Finishing "Punks Versus Zombies":
In addition to launching the book, I've completed the redrafting of the final two episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies." Bringing this series to a close has been a bittersweet journey. These last episodes wrap up the story arcs that have been building over time, and I hope they provide a satisfying conclusion to the saga that has captivated so many.
📝 Reflections and Next Steps:
As I reflect on this week’s accomplishments, I'm also planning the next steps in my writing career. Finishing one project and launching another opens up new opportunities for creative exploration and development. I'm looking forward to diving into new stories and possibly revisiting familiar ones, depending on where inspiration leads.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on series endings, book launches, or any advice you might have on transitioning between major projects. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights into my author's journey and the evolution of my work!
Join me for this week’s Author Diary as I delve deeper into side stories, progress with new chapters, and prepare for an exciting book launch.
📝 Continuing Niamh's Story:
This week, I've been working on Niamh's story, a side narrative to "Punks Versus Zombies." Expanding this universe allows us to explore different dimensions and perspectives, enriching the overall saga and providing deeper insights into the characters’ lives.
🗡️ Progress on "Guild of Assassins" Sequel:
Exciting developments in the "Guild of Assassins" series as well! I’ve successfully completed the first two chapters of the sequel and have a draft of the third. The story is shaping up to be thrilling, building on the foundations laid in the earlier book and introducing new twists and challenges.
📘 Book Launch Prep for "The Wolf and the Wyvern":
We're on the final countdown to the launch of "The Wolf and the Wyvern," Ravenglass Legends book 2, set for release on August 29. The anticipation is building, and I'm putting the finishing touches on marketing and distribution to ensure a successful release.
📖 "The Knight and the Rebel" on Patreon:
Meanwhile, on my Patreon, I continue to post chapters of "The Knight and the Rebel," book 3 of Ravenglass Legends. For those eager to get early access to the latest adventures, visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I celebrate the completion of "Punks Versus Zombies," launch new reading opportunities, and dive into fresh storytelling perspectives.
🧟♂️ Finishing "Punks Versus Zombies":
This week marks a significant milestone—I've completed writing "Punks Versus Zombies." After crafting 52 episodes and a whopping 180,000 words, this series is ready to be repackaged into a trilogy and sent off for editing. It's been a rewarding journey, and I'm thrilled to prepare these stories for a new format.
📖 New Side Story Development:
In addition to concluding the main series, I've started work on a side story featuring Tommy's girlfriend, Niamh, and their son, Sean. This narrative explores a different point of view within the same universe, adding depth and new angles to the overarching story.
📚 "The Wolf and the Wyvern" Paperback Release:
I'm excited to announce that the paperback version of "The Wolf and the Wyvern" is now available on Amazon. As we gear up for the eBook release on August 29, I've also made the book available for early access to paid members on my Patreon. This approach ensures my most dedicated readers get first dibs on the new adventures awaiting in the Ravenglass Legends.
📘 Early Access on Patreon:
For those interested, "The Knight and the Rebel" is also now being serialized on Patreon. I'm posting chapters every weekday, giving members an exclusive first look at this fresh installment in the series. Additionally, Book 1 is available for free for members to read, providing a perfect entry point for new fans and a refresher for those following the series.
As we transition from one major project to another, I'm energized by the ongoing support and engagement from my readers. Whether you're a long-time follower or new to my work, there's plenty to explore and enjoy.
Check out my Patreon at patreon.com/joncronshawauthor for exclusive access and more.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on series finales, side stories, or your experiences with transitioning between major writing projects. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates and insights into my author's life and creative process!
Watch this week’s Author Diary as I make strides in writing, setting up a new platform, and gearing up for an exciting book launch.
📝 Progress on "Punks Versus Zombies":
This week, I wrote two more episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies," bringing us closer to the thrilling conclusion of this series. Crafting these episodes is always an intense process as I aim to escalate the suspense and tie up the overarching narratives.
🌐 Populating Patreon:
As I transition to Patreon, I've been busy populating the new account with content. This platform will offer a more direct way to connect with my audience, providing exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes looks, and first access to my writings. I'm committed to making this space vibrant and engaging for all my supporters.
📅 Launch Date Set for "The Wolf and the Wyvern":
I'm excited to announce that "The Wolf and the Wyvern" (Ravenglass Legends, book 2) is set to launch on August 29. Preparations are in full swing to ensure a successful release. This sequel will delve deeper into the entwined fates of its characters, expanding on the epic tale started in book 1.
📚 Current Reading - "The Quiet Damage":
This week, I've been reading "The Quiet Damage," a poignant exploration of the devastating impact the Qanon conspiracy has had on families and relationships. It's a heartbreakingly real account that sheds light on the personal toll of these widespread theories.
As I juggle writing, platform management, and book preparations, I'm reminded of the diverse challenges and rewards that come with being an author. I look forward to sharing more updates and hearing about your experiences with new reads, upcoming launches, or platform transitions.
Don’t forget to check out my Patreon for exclusive content and updates: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
Step into this week’s Author Diary as I near the conclusion of "Punks Versus Zombies," explore new platform opportunities, and dive into some captivating entertainment.
📝 Progress on "Punks Versus Zombies":
This week has been crucial for "Punks Versus Zombies" as I penned down episode 47. With only five episodes left, the excitement and anticipation are mounting. I'm fully immersed in bringing this story to a thrilling conclusion, ensuring that each episode builds up to a satisfying finale.
🔄 Transitioning to Patreon:
In a significant move, I've been building my Patreon page, planning to transition from Ream to Patreon later this year. This decision comes with a focus on providing a more stable and engaging platform for my supporters. Stay tuned for updates as I enhance the Patreon experience, ready to welcome readers and fans to a new home for exclusive content.
🎬 Documentary Delights:
I took some time to unwind with the documentary "Dig!" which explores the intriguing dynamics between the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. It’s a fascinating look at the music scene and the tumultuous relationships within it, providing a compelling narrative that's both enlightening and entertaining.
📚 Reading "Ezaara" by Eileen Mueller:
Amidst a busy week, I've been enjoying "Ezaara," a YA dragon rider novel that offers a delightful escape into an adventurous world. It's the perfect way to momentarily step away from the hustle and recharge with some engaging fantasy storytelling.
As I continue to write, transition platforms, and indulge in diverse media, I look forward to sharing more about these journeys. Visit my new Patreon page at joncronshawauthor on Patreon to stay updated and get exclusive content.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with nearing the end of long projects, transitioning to new platforms, or any inspiring documentaries or books you've enjoyed. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and creative endeavors!
Welcome to this week’s Author Diary where I delve into the latest developments in my writing projects, celebrate a personal milestone, and share my thoughts on content platforms.
📝 Progress on "Punks Versus Zombies":
This week has been productive with the completion of three new episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies." I am now approaching the final act of the series, a phase filled with anticipation and excitement as I aim to wrap up the story in a satisfying manner. It’s thrilling to see the end in sight, and I'm eager to bring a compelling conclusion to the fans of the series.
🥂 Celebrating 15 Years:
On a personal note, I celebrated my fifteenth wedding anniversary with my wife. It’s a significant milestone, and we took some time to appreciate the journey we’ve shared together, reflecting on the memories and looking forward to many more years.
🔄 Considering Platform Changes:
I also discuss my current concerns with the Ream platform. Despite enjoying the experience Ream offers to readers, recent issues with its senior management have raised doubts about the platform's long-term viability. These developments have led me to consider switching to Patreon, a platform known for its stability and strong creator-supportive community. For now, I will continue to post on Ream as usual, but I am exploring all options to ensure the best experience for my readers and a sustainable model for my content.
As always, I appreciate your support and interest in my work and personal updates. I'd love to hear your thoughts on approaching the end of a long-term project, celebrating personal milestones, or navigating changes with content platforms. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and the decisions that shape it.
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I celebrate significant progress across various projects, from novellas to novels and series episodes.📚 Completing "Wyvern Rider":This week marks the completion of my draft for the novella "Wyvern Rider." Finishing any piece of writing is always a moment of accomplishment, and this novella has been particularly rewarding to craft, adding depth and new adventures to its universe.🐺 "The Wolf and the Wyvern" Update:Exciting news on another front— "The Wolf and the Wyvern" is now in the hands of the editor. This phase is crucial for refining the narrative and ensuring the story is polished and compelling. I'm looking forward to receiving feedback and making the necessary tweaks to enhance the story further.🧟♂️ Progress on "Punks Versus Zombies":Episode 43 of "Punks Versus Zombies" is now written. Continuing this series is always exhilarating, and each episode adds to the dynamic world I've built, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.🗡️ Redrafting "Dawn of Assassins" Book 4:I've also started the redrafting process for Book 4 of "Dawn of Assassins." This project is particularly challenging as it involves deepening the plot and character arcs, ensuring consistency and excitement for the series fans.As I navigate through these diverse writing phases, from drafting to editing, I am continually reminded of the joys and challenges of the creative writing process. I'm eager to bring all these stories to their fruition and share them with you.I'd love to hear about your current writing projects or how you manage multiple projects at once. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights into my author's journey and the behind-the-scenes of storytelling!
Dive into this week’s Author Diary as I refine "The Knight and the Rebel" and immerse myself in engaging reads and lively music performances.
🔊 Audio Pass for "The Knight and the Rebel":
This week involved a detailed audio pass of "The Knight and the Rebel," where I listened to the manuscript through text-to-speech technology. This method is incredibly helpful for spotting plot inconsistencies, repetitive word usage, and other textual nuances that might be missed during regular editing. It's a crucial step in ensuring the narrative flows smoothly and cohesively.
📖 Weaving Together POVs:
Another major task was integrating the two distinct POVs into a single, seamless narrative. This process enhances the storytelling by ensuring the perspectives complement each other and build upon the overarching plot, adding depth and intrigue to the entire story.
📚 Reading Journey:
I continued my reading adventure with Maria V. Snyder’s works, finishing both "Magic Study" and "Fire Study." Her captivating style and compelling character developments offer both inspiration and a delightful escape into her fictional worlds.
🎤 Glastonbury Catch-Up:
My enjoyment of this year's Glastonbury festival performances extended into this week, with standout acts from Bombay Bicycle Club, Confidence Man, and Bloc Party. Each group brought their unique energy and creativity to the stage, providing a fantastic backdrop to my week’s work.
As I wrap up another productive week of editing, reading, and enjoying vibrant music, I look forward to the next stages of preparation for my book’s release and the ongoing enjoyment of great performances.
Feel free to share your experiences with audio editing, your thoughts on Maria V. Snyder’s books, or your favorite acts from Glastonbury this year. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and creative journey!
📘 Finishing "The Knight and the Rebel":
I'm thrilled to share that I've completed the draft of "The Knight and the Rebel," book 3 in the Ravenglass Legends series. Reaching the end of a draft is always a significant moment, filled with a mix of relief and excitement as I begin to look ahead to the editing phase and eventually sharing this story with you all.
📚 Reading "Poison Study" by Maria V. Snyder:
This week, I enjoyed delving into Maria V. Snyder's "Poison Study," an engaging and beautifully crafted novel that captivates from the first page. It's always refreshing to get lost in such a well-written story, and it's provided some wonderful inspiration.
🎤 Glastonbury Highlights:
Catching up on this year's Glastonbury festival has been a delight. I especially enjoyed performances by Alvvays, LCD Soundsystem, James Blake, PJ Harvey, and James. Each artist brought their unique style to the stage, making for an eclectic and enjoyable musical experience.
As I transition from writing to revising "The Knight and the Rebel," and reflecting on the creative energies from Glastonbury and "Poison Study," I am reminded of the vibrant and diverse world of art and expression. I'm eager to bring these influences into my future work.
Feel free to share your recent creative milestones, thoughts on "Poison Study," or your favorite performances from Glastonbury. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and the ongoing journey through storytelling!
Dive into this week's Author Diary as I share exciting progress on my latest writing project, revisit a favorite novel, and indulge in musical creativity.
📖 Progress on "The Knight and the Rebel":
This week, I've reached an important milestone in "The Knight and the Rebel" (Ravenglass Legends book 3), hitting the midpoint of Maja's POV. It's a pivotal moment that's both challenging and thrilling, as it shapes the direction of the story and deepens the narrative layers.
🎸 Rediscovering Music:
Alongside writing, I've been reconnecting with my musical side, playing music and writing songs. Returning to this creative outlet has been refreshing and invigorating, providing a wonderful balance to my literary endeavors. The joy of crafting melodies and lyrics reminds me of the interconnectedness of all creative expressions.
📺 & 📚 From Screen to Page:
I've just finished watching "The Three-Body Problem" on Netflix and decided to revisit the novel by Cixin Liu. Watching the adaptation brought new insights and perspectives, compelling me to dive back into Liu's intricate universe in the book. It's fascinating to compare the visual and textual interpretations of such a complex story.
As I balance writing, music, and reading, I'm reminded of the richness that diverse creative practices bring to my overall artistic journey. I look forward to seeing how these varied influences will weave into my future projects.
Share your experiences with balancing different creative outlets, or your thoughts on "The Three-Body Problem," either the series or the book. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life and explorations in storytelling!
TheKnightAndTheRebel #RavenglassLegends #CreativeWriting #AuthorDiary #MusicAndWriting #ThreeBodyProblem #CixinLiu #NetflixSeries #BookvsSeries #CreativeJourney
📘 7-Year Anniversary of "Wizard of the Wasteland":
This week marks seven years since the launch of my debut post-apocalyptic novel, "Wizard of the Wasteland." Reflecting on this journey fills me with gratitude for the experiences and growth it has brought me. Celebrating this milestone reminds me of how far I've come and the incredible support from readers like you.
📺 Watching "Three Body Problem" on Netflix:
I've started watching the new Netflix sci-fi series "Three Body Problem," based on the novel by Liu Cixin. The adaptation dives deep into the complexities and existential themes of the original book, and it's been fascinating to see how the intricate narrative translates on screen.
🖋️ Progress on "The Knight and the Rebel":
In writing news, I've begun working on the second POV in "The Knight and the Rebel," book 3 of the Ravenglass Legends series. This new perspective is adding layers and depth to the story, and I'm excited about the directions it's taking.
📚 Looking Ahead:
As I continue to develop "The Knight and the Rebel," I'm also starting to outline future projects and exploring where to steer my creative energies next. The journey of writing never stops, and each new project brings its own set of challenges and discoveries.
I'd love to hear how you celebrate your creative milestones, your thoughts on "Three Body Problem," or what projects you're currently working on. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life and the worlds I'm creating!
Welcome to this week’s Author Diary, where I share the exciting launch of "Guild of Assassins" and delve into some musical escapades that provided a refreshing change of pace from writing.
📘 "Guild of Assassins" Launch:
This week was a milestone event with the launch of "Guild of Assassins." Launch days are always exhilarating, filled with anticipation and excitement as the book finally makes its way to readers. Thank you to everyone who has supported the journey—your enthusiasm makes all the hard work worthwhile!
🎸 Rocking Out with Mr. Bungle:
In a thrilling switch from my usual routine, I attended a Mr. Bungle concert in Manchester. Experiencing their unique blend of music live was an absolute blast and a great way to recharge creatively.
🎶 Jam Session:
Additionally, I spent some quality time playing music with a friend. We laid down the foundations for a couple of new songs, tapping into a different vein of creative expression. Writing music offers a wonderful outlet and complements my literary endeavors beautifully.
While this week took a brief hiatus from writing, the experiences have provided new inspiration and energy, which I'm excited to bring back into my writing soon.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with balancing creative outlets or any recent adventures in music or reading. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and creative explorations!
GuildOfAssassins #BookLaunch #MrBungle #LiveMusic #Songwriting #AuthorDiary #CreativeBreak #MusicInspiration #WritingHiatus #CreativeJourney
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I gear up for the exciting launch of "Guild of Assassins," dive into some captivating reading, and continue my work on ongoing projects.
📘 Preparing for "Guild of Assassins" Launch:
The launch of "Guild of Assassins" is just around the corner, and preparations are in full swing. This phase is always thrilling as everything starts coming together—from final edits to marketing strategies. I'm eager to share this new installment with you all and hope it captivates and entertains.
📖 Current Reading:
This week, I've been engrossed in "Rip It Up and Start Again," a fascinating book about the post-punk music scene. It's an insightful exploration of the genre's evolution and its impact, offering great inspiration and a break from the writing routine.
📝 Writing Updates:
"Wyvern Rider": I managed to draft a new chapter for "Wyvern Rider," further developing the story's complex world and deepening the characters' journeys.
"Punks Versus Zombies": Additionally, I've written two new episodes for "Punks Versus Zombies." Keeping the narrative fresh and engaging in this series is always a fun challenge.
As I balance book launch preparations with writing and reading, I look forward to the new insights and developments each brings. Stay tuned for more updates on the launch and my creative progress next week.
I’d love to hear what you're reading or how you manage multiple creative projects. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's life and journey through the worlds I create!
Dive into this week's Author Diary as I share updates on my latest writing achievements, upcoming launches, and the creative decisions ahead.
📝 Writing New Short Stories:
This week, I penned two new short stories, "Hammer of Wolfsbane" and "The Mediocre Maverick." These stories allowed me to explore different facets of my creative universe and refine my storytelling skills. You can read them both for free at joncronshawauthor.com
🚀 Launching "Guild of Assassins" & Expanding Distribution:
The launch preparations for "Guild of Assassins" are in full swing, and I'm thrilled about bringing this new adventure to readers.
Visit: books2read.com/guildofassassins
Additionally, "The Fall of Wolfsbane" is now reaching a broader audience as it becomes available on more eBook platforms including Apple, Nook, Kobo, Google Play, and Ream. It's exciting to see my work accessible on such a diverse range of platforms.
Visit: books2read.com/fallofwolfsbane
🤔 Deciding What's Next:
As I look to the coming week, I'm at a creative crossroads with several potential projects vying for my attention. These include continuing "Punks Versus Zombies," further developing "Wyvern Rider," diving into "Ravenglass Legends Book 3," starting "Guild of Assassins 2," or advancing "Dawn of Assassins 4." Each project offers unique challenges and opportunities, making the choice both exciting and daunting.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how you prioritize multiple creative projects or which of these you’d be most excited to see progress. Your feedback is invaluable as I navigate these creative waters.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life, book launches, and the journey through the worlds I create!
Welcome to this week's Author Diary. Despite battling a virus, I managed to make some progress with my writing and engage with my Ream community.
🤒 Battling Illness:
This week has been challenging as I've been under the weather with a virus. It's always tough balancing rest and productivity during such times, but health comes first.
✍️ "Wyvern Rider" Progress:
Even with limited energy, I managed to write a few chapters of "Wyvern Rider." Progress might be slower, but each step forward is important and keeps the narrative alive and evolving.
📚 Sharing on Ream:
I've also posted some short stories to my Ream community. It’s always a pleasure to share these pieces and engage with readers, receiving their thoughts and feedback.
🔉 Short Episode:
Given the circumstances, this week’s diary entry is shorter than usual. I appreciate your understanding and support as I focus on recovery and maintaining a bit of creative output.
Looking forward to returning with more energy and updates next week. In the meantime, feel free to share how you manage creativity during downtime or illness. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into my author's journey!
Welcome to this week’s Author Diary! Dive into my latest writing achievements, exciting publishing plans, and my current engaging read.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Progress:
This week, I’ve been busy with the "Punks Versus Zombies" series, successfully writing episode 38 and drafting the first version of episode 39. Each episode brings new challenges and twists, keeping the series fresh and thrilling.
✍️ "Wyvern Rider" Redrafting:
I'm currently redrafting "Wyvern Rider," a story close to my heart. I’m excited to announce that I will start posting it on Ream starting May 18. It's shaping up well, and I can't wait to share this adventure with my readers.
📚 Expanding Content on Ream:
Alongside new stories, I've been posting a selection of my old short stories and novellas on Ream. There's a treasure trove of narratives I've crafted over the years, and I'm looking forward to bringing more of these into the light for new and longtime readers to enjoy.
🎶 Current Reading:
I’ve been engrossed in "Delta Blues – The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionized American Music." This book has been a fascinating journey into the roots and profound impact of Delta blues on American music, offering deep insights and appreciation for this influential genre.
As I continue to write, redraft, and delve into the profound depths of music history, I look forward to sharing more about my creative process and the inspirations behind my work.
Feel free to discuss your thoughts on the evolution of series writing, rediscovering old stories, or any profound music history books you've encountered.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life and explorations in storytelling!
PunksVersusZombies #WyvernRider #ReamPlatform #AuthorDiary #CreativeWriting #DeltaBlues #MusicHistory #StoryRedrafting #PublishingUpdates #ReadingUpdate
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I share a refreshing update from my restful week in Portugal, along with some reflections on my recent reads.
🌴 Restful Retreat in Portugal:
This week, I took some time off to unwind in the beautiful and sunny Portugal. The break was filled with relaxation and provided a wonderful opportunity to recharge. Sometimes, stepping away from our usual routines is essential for creativity and overall well-being.
📚 Reading Update:
"Soldier's Son" series by Robin Hobb: I wrapped up this series during my vacation. While I found the first book fantastic, the third installment didn't quite meet my expectations and felt flawed in several aspects. It's always interesting to see how a series evolves, even when it doesn't end as strongly as it began.
Currently Reading: I've started the "Keeper Chronicles" by JA Andrews. This series has begun promisingly, and I'm optimistic about the journey ahead in this new fantasy world.
As I bask in the afterglow of a relaxing week and dive into new literary adventures, I look forward to getting back into the swing of writing and sharing more updates soon.
Feel free to share your thoughts on taking breaks for creativity, your experiences with the "Soldier's Son" series, or any books you're currently enjoying. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights from my author's life and ongoing explorations in storytelling!
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I share updates on my latest writing projects and delve into some enthralling book and TV series experiences.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Updates:
This week, I've added two new episodes to the "Punks Versus Zombies" series. Continuing this saga is always an exciting challenge, and I'm eager to see how the story will evolve as it unfolds further.
📖 New Short Story Release:
I'm thrilled to announce another addition to the Ravenglass Legends series—a prequel short story titled "The Beast Hunt." It's now available on Ream (Visit: joncronshawauthor.com) and adds depth to the backstory of the world I've been crafting.
📚 Reading Journey:
Recently Finished: "Forest Mage" by Robin Hobb, which was a fantastic read, full of intricate developments and compelling character arcs.
Currently Reading: "Renegade Mage," the third book in the series. This continuation promises more intrigue and magical challenges, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the journey so far.
🎥 Entertainment Wrap-Up:
I've just finished watching the Fallout TV show on Amazon Prime. The series did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the game, and I thoroughly enjoyed the depth and twists of the storyline.
Feel free to discuss your own writing endeavors, your thoughts on the Fallout TV series, or your current reading list. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life and explorations in storytelling!
PunksVersusZombies #RavenglassLegends #TheBeastHunt #RobinHobb #ForestMage #RenegadeMage #FalloutTVSeries #AuthorDiary #CreativeWriting #FantasySeries #BookReviews #TVSeriesReviews
Welcome to this week's Author Diary! It's been a busy week full of writing, reading, and engaging entertainment.
🧟♂️ "Punks Versus Zombies" Updates
I've added two new episodes to the "Punks Versus Zombies" series. To make it even more accessible, I've uploaded a compilation of the audio versions of episodes 17-24 on YouTube. This format brings a new dimension to the storytelling experience, and I hope you enjoy it!
📖 New Short Story Release
I'm excited to share a new short story, "Siren's Song," a prequel to the Ravenglass Legends series. It’s available for free on my Ream page at joncronshawauthor.com. Dive into this enchanting tale and explore more of the Ravenglass universe.
📚 Reading Journey:
Recently Read: "Shaman's Crossing" by Robin Hobb, which I found to be an excellent start to her series.
Currently Reading: "River Mage," the second book in the series. It continues to captivate with its rich storytelling and compelling character development.
🎥 Entertainment
Finished Watching: Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen." This series wrapped up nicely, providing a satisfying conclusion to its cleverly woven plot.
Currently Watching: Halfway through the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime. It's been a thrilling ride, perfectly capturing the essence of the game while delivering a strong narrative.
As I continue to create and consume stories, whether through writing or media, I look forward to sharing more about my journey with you.
Feel free to share your thoughts on any of the series I've mentioned, your own creative projects, or what you're currently reading or watching. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life and creative processes!
PunksVersusZombies #RavenglassLegends #SirensSong #RobinHobb #TheGentlemenNetflix #FalloutTVSeries #AuthorDiary #CreativeWriting #BookSeries #EntertainmentUpdates
Dive into this week's Author Diary where I celebrate completing a significant writing milestone and share my latest entertainment indulgences.
📝 "The Knight and the Rebel" Update:
I've reached a pivotal moment this week by finishing the first draft of Ragnar's POV in "The Knight and the Rebel," part of the Ravenglass Legends series. It's always rewarding to complete a major section of a novel, and I'm looking forward to the next phases of revision.
🧟♂️ "Punks Versus Zombies" Progress:
In addition to my work on Ravenglass Legends, I've written two new episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies." Over the next few weeks, I'll be focusing more intensely on this series, aiming to develop and refine these episodes further.
🎥 Watching and Enjoying:
Fallout on Amazon Prime: I started watching the new series based on the Fallout video game. It's been an exciting watch, capturing the essence of the game with a compelling narrative twist.
Continuing "The Gentlemen" by Guy Ritchie: I'm nearing the end of "The Gentlemen" on Netflix. This series continues to impress with its clever storytelling and dynamic characters.
📚 Reading Update:
I'm almost finished with "Ferrus Manus," part of the Warhammer 40k universe. This novel has been a thrilling read, and I'm eager to share my final thoughts on it soon.
As I pivot my focus to "Punks Versus Zombies" while balancing my entertainment interests, I look forward to sharing more updates and insights.
Feel free to share your thoughts on completing drafts, your experiences with adapting video games into series, or any current reads. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life and creative journey!
TheKnightAndTheRebel #RavenglassLegends #PunksVersusZombies #FalloutAmazonPrime #TheGentlemenNetflix #FerrusManus #Warhammer40k #AuthorDiary #CreativeWriting #SeriesWatching
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I dive deep into writing "The Knight and the Rebel," the third book in the Ravenglass Legends series, and share a bit about family time watching a captivating TV show.
🖋️ Focused Writing on "The Knight and the Rebel":This week has been solely dedicated to writing the first draft of "The Knight and the Rebel," Ravenglass Legends book 3. It's been an intense and productive week with a significant 21,000 words added, bringing me a third of the way into Ragnar's POV. The story is taking shape in exciting ways, and I'm thrilled with the progress.
🐲 Watching "Dragon Prince" with My Son:In the midst of a busy writing schedule, I found time to relax and enjoy the first season of "Dragon Prince" with my son. It's been a wonderful experience to share this adventure-filled show together, and it's always special to find a series that appeals to both of us.
As I continue forging ahead with "The Knight and the Rebel," I’m looking forward to more writing breakthroughs and family moments like these.
Feel free to share your own experiences with intense writing sessions or any TV shows you've enjoyed with family. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's life and creative journey!
Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I dive deep into writing "The Knight and the Rebel," the third book in the Ravenglass Legends series, and share a bit about family time watching a captivating TV show.
🖋️ Focused Writing on "The Knight and the Rebel":This week has been solely dedicated to writing the first draft of "The Knight and the Rebel," Ravenglass Legends book 3. It's been an intense and productive week with a significant 21,000 words added, bringing me a third of the way into Ragnar's POV. The story is taking shape in exciting ways, and I'm thrilled with the progress.
🐲 Watching "Dragon Prince" with My Son:In the midst of a busy writing schedule, I found time to relax and enjoy the first season of "Dragon Prince" with my son. It's been a wonderful experience to share this adventure-filled show together, and it's always special to find a series that appeals to both of us.
As I continue forging ahead with "The Knight and the Rebel," I’m looking forward to more writing breakthroughs and family moments like these.
Join me in this week’s Author Diary where I celebrate the completion of a major redrafting milestone and embark on new writing adventures, along with sharing my current reading journey.
Completing “The Wolf and the Wyvern” Redraft:
I’ve hit a significant milestone this week – the redraft of “The Wolf and the Wyvern” is finally complete! It’s a momentous occasion in the journey of the Ravenglass Legends series, and I’m thrilled to have reached this stage.
Starting Book 3:
With “The Wolf and the Wyvern” now in its next phase, I’ve begun drafting the third book in the series. It’s always exciting to start a new chapter in this evolving saga, and I can’t wait to see where this next instalment takes us.
“Punks Versus Zombies”:
In addition to starting book 3, I’ve also drafted a new episode of “Punks Versus Zombies.” It’s been great to continue weaving this post-apocalyptic tale, and I look forward to sharing more of it with you.
Current Reading List:
– “Unruly” by David Mitchell: This book provides a comedic twist on the history of Britain’s first kings and queens. It’s been an entertaining and humorous read, offering a unique perspective on historical events.
– “Cults, Conspiracy Theories, and Secret Societies”: Delving into this book has been an intriguing experience, exploring the mysterious and often misunderstood world of cults, conspiracies, and secret societies.
As I continue on my writing journey and delve into these fascinating reads, I look forward to sharing more insights and updates with you.
Welcome to this week's Author Diary where I share the progress on redrafting "The Wolf and the Wyvern" and my recent reading adventures.
🖋️ Progress on "The Wolf and the Wyvern":
It's been an exceptionally productive week. I've made significant headway in redrafting several chapters of "The Wolf and the Wyvern" (Ravenglass Legends, Book 2). At this pace, I'm optimistic about completing the second draft by the end of next week. It's exciting to see the narrative take shape and evolve through this intensive redrafting process.
📚 Completed Reads:
"Last Night a DJ Saved My Life": I've finished this enlightening book about the history of the disc jockey. It's been a fascinating journey through the evolution of DJing and its cultural impact.
"The Book of Yokai": Delving into Japanese mythology, monsters, and folklore, this book provided a captivating exploration of a rich and mystical aspect of Japanese culture.
🔜 Plans for Next Week:
My primary focus remains on "The Wolf and the Wyvern." With Easter weekend approaching, I'm aiming to complete the second draft, which is an exciting milestone in the development of the book.
Stay tuned for more updates on my writing journey and feel free to share your own experiences with redrafting projects or any intriguing books you've recently read. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life!
Join me in this week’s Author Diary where I share updates on writing "Punks Versus Zombies," delve into the history of DJing through a fascinating book, and revisit a classic zombie film.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Updates:
This week has been productive with the addition of two new episodes to the "Punks Versus Zombies" series. Each episode brings its own set of intriguing challenges and exciting developments in this thrilling zombie narrative.
📚 Reading & Inspiration:
Reading: My current read is "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life," an engaging exploration of the history of DJing. It offers an enlightening perspective on music culture and its societal impact.
Film: I rewatched "Zombieland" for the first time since its initial release. Revisiting this iconic zombie film was a real treat, reminding me of the creative and humorous ways the genre can be explored.
These varied experiences – from writing my own zombie serial to reading about DJs and rewatching "Zombieland" – provide a rich tapestry of inspiration and entertainment, feeding into my creative process.
Feel free to share your thoughts on "Punks Versus Zombies," or discuss your favorite books on music, and movies like "Zombieland." Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author’s journey and cultural explorations!
PunksVersusZombies #AuthorDiary #DJCulture #LastNightADJSavedMyLife #Zombieland #WritingUpdates #MusicHistory #FilmRewatch #CreativeWriting #StorytellingInsights
Step into this week’s Author Diary where I share the latest updates on my zombie serial, "Punks Versus Zombies," and discuss some captivating TV shows I've been watching.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Updates:
It’s been a productive week! I've successfully written four new episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies." Diving deeper into this post-apocalyptic world has been an exciting and creative journey, and I can't wait to reveal what’s in store for the series.
📺 TV Show Discussions:
Traitors (US): I’ve been watching “Traitors (US)” and have found it quite intriguing. The blend of historical context with thrilling plot elements makes it a standout show.
Killing Eve, Season 2: Also, I delved into the second season of “Killing Eve.” It’s been an enthralling watch, filled with suspense and compelling character development.
These shows not only provide a great entertainment break but also offer a source of inspiration and insight into various storytelling techniques, which can be incredibly valuable as a writer.
Next week, I’ll continue with the momentum on "Punks Versus Zombies" and perhaps share more of my TV and film experiences.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the latest episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies," or your views on “Traitors (US)” and “Killing Eve.” Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's journey!
PunksVersusZombies #AuthorDiary #TVShows #TraitorsUS #KillingEve #CreativeWriting #SerialWriting #Storytelling #WeeklyUpdate #AuthorInsights
Join me in this week's Author Diary as I delve into the latest developments in my writing projects and share my recent reading experiences.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Update:
Exciting news for followers of the series - I've reached episode 25 of "Punks Versus Zombies!" Writing this far has been a thrilling experience, and I'm looking forward to bringing more of this story to life.
✍️ Redrafting "The Wolf and the Wyvern":
This week also saw significant progress on "The Wolf and the Wyvern," with two chapters undergoing a redraft. Refining these parts of the book is both challenging and rewarding, and I'm eager to see how these changes enhance the overall narrative.
📚 Reading Journey:
Finished “Yellowface” by Rebecca Kuang: An excellent satire on the publishing industry, this book was both insightful and entertaining, providing much food for thought.
Currently Reading “The Book of Yokai”: My current read delves into the fascinating world of Japanese folklore and mythical creatures. It's proving to be an intriguing and enriching experience.
As I continue with my writing and reading journey, I look forward to sharing more insights and updates with you.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the latest episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies," your experiences with redrafting chapters, or your own recent reads. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly updates from my author's life!
Welcome to this week's Author Diary where I discuss my latest writing ventures, including updates on "Punks Versus Zombies," plans for the Wasteland series, and the progress of "The Wolf and the Wyvern," along with my current reading journey.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Update:
This week, I’ve been working on the next episode of "Punks Versus Zombies." Crafting this series has been an exciting journey, and I’m thrilled to share the latest developments with you.
🌐 Posting Fiction on Royal Road:
I've started posting fiction on Royal Road. It’s a fantastic platform to reach new readers, and I'm looking forward to seeing how my work resonates with the community there.
📖 "The Wolf and the Wyvern" Progress:
I’ve completed redrafting Ragnar's POV in "The Wolf and the Wyvern," book 2 of the Ravenglass Legends. This has been a significant milestone, and I’m excited about how the story is shaping up.
🏜️ Wasteland Series Plans:
I'm also planning to publish my Wasteland series beyond Amazon next month. Stay tuned for more updates!
📚 Reading Insights:
Revisiting “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”: Rereading this classic has been a delightful experience, reminding me of the brilliance of Douglas Adams’ work.
“Yellowface” by Rebecca Kuang: I'm halfway through and finding it a thought-provoking read. I’ll share more of my thoughts on this intriguing book in the upcoming weeks.
Next week, I’ll continue with the creative momentum, further developing my ongoing projects and diving deeper into my reading list.
In this week's Author Diary, I'm excited to share my wonderful experiences from my week off in London with my family, filled with magic and history!
🏙️ Family Trip to London:This week was a special one as I took some time off to enjoy a family trip to London. It was a fantastic opportunity to step away from writing and recharge, spending quality time with loved ones.
🪄 Harry Potter Studio Tour:One of the highlights was the Harry Potter Studio Tour. As an author and a fan of the series, it was an enchanting experience to see the magical world of Harry Potter come to life. The tour was filled with amazing sets, props, and behind-the-scenes insights that were absolutely spellbinding.
🏛️ Visiting the British Museum:We also visited the British Museum, a place teeming with history and culture. Exploring the vast collections and exhibits was not only educational but also incredibly inspiring, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of our world's history.
Next week, it's back to the usual writing routine, but for now, I'm grateful for the memories made and the inspiration gained from this trip.
Share your own experiences of visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour or the British Museum, or tell me about your favourite family trip in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates from my author's journey!
In this week's Author Diary, join me as I delve into the progress of "Punks Versus Zombies" and the significant rewrites for "The Wolf and the Wyvern," along with my current reading adventure.
📝 "Punks Versus Zombies" Update:
Exciting news for fans of the series! I've completed writing episodes 20 and 21 of "Punks Versus Zombies." It's been a thrilling ride developing these episodes, and I can't wait to share them with you.
✍️ Rewriting "The Wolf and the Wyvern":
This week also involved a deep dive into rewriting the final scenes of "The Wolf and the Wyvern," book 2 of the Ravenglass Legends. It's always a unique challenge to refine these crucial moments in a story, and I'm eager to bring you a more impactful and satisfying conclusion.
📚 Current Read - "Esrahaddon" by Michael J. Sullivan:
I've started "Esrahaddon," book 3 in Michael J. Sullivan's Rise and Fall series. About 20 percent in, I'm still immersing myself in the story's world and getting to grips with the unfolding narrative.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into my writing and reading journey. Share your thoughts on creating climactic scenes in writing or your current reads in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's life!
PunksVersusZombies #TheWolfAndTheWyvern #RavenglassLegends #Esrahaddon #MichaelJSullivan #AuthorDiary #WritingUpdates #BookSeries #CreativeWriting #AuthorLife
Welcome to this week's Author Diary, where I share my progress with "Punks Versus Zombies" and the importance of rest, especially when under the weather.
🖋️ Progress on "Punks Versus Zombies":
This week, I focused on developing "Punks Versus Zombies." Despite the challenges of feeling unwell, I managed to make some headway with this exciting project. I'm eager to share more about the developments.
🤒 Battling a Cold:
Unfortunately, I caught a cold, which meant I had to slow down and prioritise rest. This week has been a reminder of the importance of listening to our bodies and taking the necessary time to recover.
🛌 The Importance of Rest:
Being unwell has highlighted the need for rest and self-care, especially in creative professions. It's crucial to balance work with health and well-being.
Next week, I'm looking forward to getting back on track with "Punks Versus Zombies" and sharing more updates with you all.
Feel free to share your own experiences with balancing health and work, or any tips you have for staying creative while recovering from an illness. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author's journey!
PunksVersusZombies #AuthorDiary #CreativeProcess #SelfCare #RestAndRecovery #WritingWhileSick #AuthorLife #CreativeChallenges #HealthInCreativity #BookSeries
Welcome to this week's Author Diary where I share the exciting journey of launching "The Fall of Wolfsbane" and my latest creative endeavours!
📚 Book Launch Update:"The Fall of Wolfsbane" is finally here! The launch has been my primary focus, and it's thrilling to see it come to life. Join me as I recount the exhilarating experience of this launch and what it means for the Ravenglass Legends series.
🐺 Progress on "The Wolf and the Wyvern":Despite the busy launch week, I've made significant strides in "The Wolf and the Wyvern." This week involved redrafting a chapter, removing another, and crafting a new one. I'm now just 8,000 words away from completing Ragnar's arc - a milestone I'm eagerly approaching.
🎮 Reading Insights:Diving into "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, I enjoyed the nostalgia as a former gamer and the book's exploration of creativity and collaborative efforts in the gaming world.
🌱 Next Week's Plans:After an eventful book launch, it's time for a well-deserved rest. I'm taking a break next week, so there's nothing specific set on the agenda. A time to recharge and gather inspiration for future projects!
Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with book launches, creative writing, or any reads you've enjoyed recently. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more author adventures!
Welcome to this week's Author Diary where I share the exciting journey of launching The Fall of Wolfsbane and my latest creative endeavours!
📚 Book Launch Update
The Fall of Wolfsbane is finally here!
The launch has been my primary focus, and it's thrilling to see it come to life.
🐺 Progress on The Wolf and the Wyvern
Despite the busy launch week, I've made significant strides in redrafting The Wolf and the Wyvern.
This week involved redrafting a chapter, removing another, and crafting a new one.
I'm now just 8,000 words away from completing Ragnar's arc!
🎮 Reading Insights
Diving into Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin,
I enjoyed the nostalgia as a former gamer and the book's exploration of creativity and collaborative efforts in the gaming world.
🌱 Next Week's Plans
After an eventful book launch, it's time for a well-deserved rest.
I'm taking a break next week, so there's nothing specific set on the agenda.
A time to recharge and gather inspiration for future projects!
Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with book launches, creative writing, or any reads you've enjoyed recently.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more author adventures!
TheFallofWolfsbane #BookLaunch #AuthorDiary #CreativeWriting #GamingNostalgia
Welcome to this week's Author Diary, where I bring you up to speed with some thrilling updates and announcements!
🚀 Launch of "The Fall of Wolfsbane" (Ravenglass Legends Book 1):
The countdown is on! January 18 marks the launch of "The Fall of Wolfsbane." Get ready to dive into the first book of the Ravenglass Legends series, a journey you won't want to miss.
🌐 My New Ream Account:
Big news! I'm setting up my Ream account, a new platform where you can follow the progress of my next novel, "The Wolf and the Wyvern" (Ravenglass Legends Book 2), almost a year before its release next January.
📖 Episode 17 of "Punks Versus Zombies":
I've completed episode 17 of "Punks Versus Zombies" and am excited to share it with you. Also, I'm transitioning from Substack to Ream, so stay tuned for more details!
📚 Currently Reading - "Spear" by Nicola Griffith:
This week, I've been engrossed in "Spear" by Nicola Griffith, an Arthurian fantasy with a literary touch. It's a captivating read that I highly recommend.
🎁 Special Promo for My Readers:
As a thank you, I'm offering a free month on my Ream subscription! Use promo code WYVERN for this exclusive offer.
To learn more about my Ream page and stay updated with my work, visit joncronshawauthor.com.
Don't forget to subscribe for more author updates and insights.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2024's first Author Diary! 🎉
This year, my main focus is on growing our community on Ream and enhancing our subscription experience.
📝 This Week's Highlights:
Doubling Down on Subscriptions: Join me as I share my vision and plans for moving more into a subscription model.
Writing Punks Versus Zombies Episodes 17-19: This week, I’ve been working on the first drafts of these thrilling new episodes.
Subscription Course for Authors: I've been enhancing my knowledge with a course specifically tailored for authors focusing on subscriptions
Join me in this special episode as I take a moment to reflect on the past year. 2023 has been a journey of both achievements and learning, and I'm excited to share it all with you.
🔍 In this Year in Review, I dive into:
Key Milestones: Celebrating the major achievements and events that have shaped my year.Personal and Professional Growth: How 2023 has contributed to my development as an author and individual.Lessons Learned: The valuable insights and experiences gained throughout the year.Challenges Faced: Discussing the hurdles I encountered and how I navigated them.Looking Forward: Setting sights on future goals and aspirations for the coming year.
This episode is not just a reflection but an appreciation of the journey. Whether you've been with me throughout the year or just joined, your support means the world.
Welcome to this week's Author Diary! 📘✨
🚀 Book Launch Update:I'm thrilled to share the latest on my book launch for "The Fall of Wolfsbane," Ravenglass Legends, Book 1. The journey is heating up as the paperback version is now live! Plus, mark your calendars - the Kindle edition releases on January 18, 2024. Get ready for a captivating read!
🎄 Christmas Special on Substack:Don't miss out on my festive treat! "Lord Sidebottom and the Christmas Caper" will be available on my Substack on Christmas Eve. It's a holiday story you won't want to miss. Check it out at joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
📚 This Week's Reads:
- "Endgame": Diving into this revealing exposé on the British royal family. It's an eye-opener!
- "The Eye of the World" by Robert Jordan: Continuing my journey with this epic fantasy saga.
Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and bookish conversations.
📚 Welcome to this week's Author Diary! 📚
It's been a week full of writing, refining, and some fascinating reading. Join me as I delve into the progress of my current projects, tackle the art of book descriptions, and explore intriguing new literary horizons.
What's in Store This Week:
🔪 Working on "Scoundrels"
I've been immersed in developing my thief fantasy novel, "Scoundrels." This novel is a prequel to "Dawn of Assassins," featuring the same beloved characters but set before the events of the original story.
📘 Crafting the Book Description for "The Fall of Wolfsbane"
Condensing a 108,000-word novel into a 120-word book description is no small feat! This week, I've been chiselling away at the book description for "The Fall of Wolfsbane." I'll discuss the challenges of distilling a complex narrative into a brief yet compelling summary.
📖 Reading Highlights
My reading list this week has been quite diverse. I've dived into "TerrorTome" by Garth Marenghi, a horror parody novel that's as entertaining as it is clever, and "Mud Ride" by Steve Turner, an exploration of the grunge band Mudhoney. I'll share my thoughts on these reads and how they've influenced my thinking.
🌑 Discovering Nobledark Fantasy
I've recently stumbled upon the fantasy sub-genre 'nobledark.' This discovery has been a revelation, as it perfectly encapsulates the thematic essence of my writing: flawed heroes navigating tough circumstances guided by their personal moral compasses. I'll talk about how this genre resonates with my work and my future explorations in this realm.
📚 Welcome to this week's Author Diary! 📚
It's been another engaging and productive week in my writing life, full of new learnings, progress on current projects, and preparation for upcoming releases. Let me take you through the highlights of what I've been up to.
In This Episode:
✒️ Redrafting "Guild of Assassins"
I've been diligently working on a redraft of "Guild of Assassins." Redrafting is always an enriching process, refining and shaping the story to its best form.
📈 Learning About Subscriptions for Authors
I've started a new course focused on subscriptions for authors. This learning journey is all about exploring new ways to connect with readers and provide valuable content. I'll talk about my experiences with the course so far and how I plan to implement these strategies in my own author business.
📚 Reading "Going Dark" by Julia Ebner
This week's reading has been "Going Dark" by Julia Ebner. It's an insightful and thought-provoking book, and I'm eager to share my takeaways and how it has influenced my thinking and writing.
📘 Formatting "The Fall of Wolfsbane"
Preparations are in full swing for the launch of "The Fall of Wolfsbane," the first book in the Ravenglass Legends series. I'm currently in the formatting stage, ensuring everything is perfect for its release early next year.
👍 If you're enjoying these weekly updates, please hit the like button, share with fellow book enthusiasts, and subscribe for more author diaries!
Thank you for watching, and I can't wait to share more of my author's journey with you next week!
Welcome to this week's Author Diary! 📚
It's been another action-packed week in my writing world, filled with progress, creativity, and some intriguing learning experiences. Let's dive into all the updates and explorations of the past week.
What's Inside This Episode:
🧟 "Punks Versus Zombies" - New Episodes!
Exciting news for fans of "Punks Versus Zombies" - I've written two more episodes! The story continues to evolve, and I can't wait to share these latest instalments with you. Get ready for more action, drama, and suspense in the world where punks clash with the undead.
🗡️ "Guild of Assassins" - Responding to Feedback
Based on some valuable feedback, I've added an extra chapter to "Guild of Assassins." Crafting a story that resonates with readers is a journey, and I'm dedicated to making each chapter as engaging as possible. I'll discuss how feedback influences my writing process and the importance of staying adaptable.
📖 Redrafting "Ravenglass Legends Book 2"
The journey continues with the redraft of "Ravenglass Legends Book 2." Delving back into this world is always an adventure, and I'm making steady progress. Join me as I share some behind-the-scenes insights into the redrafting process and how the story is shaping up.
🎧 Podcast and Learning Insights
This week, I've been engrossed in the "Tales from the Rabbit Hole" podcast, exploring the fascinating world of conspiracy theories. Additionally, I've been listening to the Great Courses lectures on Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories. It's been an enlightening experience, and I'll share how these topics have sparked new ideas and influenced my thinking.
🔗 Stay Connected and Engaged
To catch up on my stories and for more exciting content, visit https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com
👍 If you enjoy these weekly glimpses into my author's life, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support is invaluable!
Thank you for tuning in, and I look forward to sharing more adventures with you next week in the world of writing and storytelling!
AuthorsDiary #PunksVersusZombies #GuildOfAssassins #RavenglassLegends #WritingJourney #Podcasts #ConspiracyTheories #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife
📚 Welcome to Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary! 📚
What a week it's been! From major progress in my writing to embarking on a legendary literary journey, this episode is packed with exciting updates and insights.
✍️ A Productive Writing Spree
I've had a tremendously productive week, penning down five new episodes of Punks Versus Zombies.
The story is escalating—higher stakes, intense emotions, and fraying nerves.
📖 Embarking on "The Wheel of Time"
I've finally taken the plunge into Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World, the first book in The Wheel of Time series.
It's a world I've been hesitant to step into, given the sheer scale of the series, but I'm finding the journey enjoyable and intriguing so far.
🎉 New Releases and Endings
I released the ninth episode of Punks Versus Zombies on Substack this week.
Additionally, I've brought The Long Night, the second prequel to my forthcoming Ravenglass Legends series, to a close.
🎩 Lord Sidebottom's New Adventure
Get ready for a treat this weekend—a brand new Lord Sidebottom story is on its way!
These tales are always a delight to write, and I can't wait for you to see what's in store.
To read the latest episodes and stories, visit joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
👍 If you're enjoying these updates, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps keep this channel and my writing going!
Thank you for tuning in, and I'll see you next week for another exciting update from the world of writing and storytelling!
JonCronshawsAuthorDiary #PunksVersusZombies #TheWheelOfTime #RavenglassLegends #FantasyFiction #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife
🌟 Welcome back to my Author Diary for this week! 🌟
It's been a productive and exciting week in my writing journey, and I can't wait to share all the latest developments with you. From revisiting old projects to celebrating new achievements, there's plenty to talk about!
In This Week's Episode:
📚 Back to "Ravenglass Legends Book 2"
After a few months' break, I've returned to redrafting the second book of the "Ravenglass Legends" series. I'm diving deep into the world and characters once again, and it feels great to be back. Join me as I share some insights into the redrafting process and what it's like to revisit a project after time away.
🧟♂️ "Punks Versus Zombies" Episode 9
The ninth episode of "Punks Versus Zombies" is written and ready to thrill! I'll be talking about the latest happenings in this adventurous serial and what you can expect in this new installment.
🎨 New Cover Reveals!
I'm thrilled to share the brand new covers for "Punks Versus Zombies", freshly delivered from the designer! We've got covers for the book, podcast, and YouTube video, and they look fantastic.
📖 Book of the Week: "The Pagan Lord" by Bernard Cornwell
This week, I indulged in Bernard Cornwell's "The Pagan Lord". It's historical fiction but ticks all the boxes for a fantasy lover like me. I'll share my thoughts on this captivating read and why it resonated with me.
🔮 Looking Ahead
As always, I'll give you a glimpse into my plans for the coming week.
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
This week's author diary is a bit more personal and introspective, as I navigate through the ups and downs of a writer's life, including dealing with SAD, creative revelations, and some critical decision-making.
🌨 Coping with SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been a hurdle this week, but understanding and acknowledging its impact every November gives me a sense of empowerment.
It's a reminder that self-care is as important as productivity.
Despite these challenges, I've completed the final draft of episode 8 of Punks Versus Zombies and penned the first draft of a new Lord Sidebottom short story.
Pushing through the fog of SAD to create these pieces has been a challenging but rewarding journey.
And I did take some time off to rest and immerse myself in the comforting world of Terry Pratchett's Lords and Ladies.
It's amazing how the right book can act like comfort food.
🤔 A Revelation About Dawn of Assassins
A recent one-star review led to a startling realisation: my Dawn of Assassins series is misclassified.
It's not so much about assassins as it is about thieves and their moral journey around the idea of becoming or not becoming assassins.
This has me pondering—should I relaunch the series with new covers and titles that more accurately reflect its content, or should I leave it as is?
The decision to possibly relaunch Dawn of Assassins is a complex one, balancing the authenticity of the series against the practical aspects (and, let’s be honest, expense) of rebranding.
Thank you for joining me in this week's author diary, where the journey of writing is as much about self-discovery as it is about storytelling.
Take care,
Jon
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
Join me this week for an update brimming with new beginnings, exciting launches, and some seasonal festivities. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s been happening:
🌙 Finishing "The Long Night"
I've put the finishing touches on my short story, "The Long Night," and I can't wait for you to read it. This tale is set to unfold on my Substack in the coming weeks.
Subscribe to My Substack at https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com
📦 "Dawn of Assassins" Books 1-3 Boxed Set Launch
The wait is over! The first three books of my dark fantasy series "Dawn of Assassins" are now bundled into a thrilling boxed set. It's available on Amazon, ready to take you on a journey filled with danger and intrigue.
😂 Live Laughs with Garth Marenghi
I had the joy of experiencing Garth Marenghi live in Manchester - a blend of horror and humour that makes for an unforgettable night. It’s always refreshing to see how comedy and horror can intermingle so brilliantly.
🎃 Halloween at Blackpool's Illuminations
Halloween was a blast this year, as I found myself amidst the iconic Blackpool's Illuminations. The lights were spectacular, adding a bit of sparkle to the spookiest night of the year.
Hello from chilly Morecambe!
In this week's episode, I'm juggling short stories, audio projects, and boxed set preparations. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming your way:
🎅 New Short Stories: "Lord Sidebottom and the Christmas Caper" & "The Long Night"
The festive season may be approaching, but it's not all mistletoe and mince pies. Get ready for "Lord Sidebottom and the Christmas Caper", a holiday escapade that’s sure to tickle your fancy. Meanwhile, "The Long Night" serves as a gripping prequel to my upcoming "Ravenglass Legends" series.
🎧 Audio Stories for YouTube
I'm continuing to add to my YouTube channel with a couple of narrative treats. Look out for the audio version of the "Dawn of Assassins" prequel, "The Little Thief", as well as a story set in the Ravenglass Universe, "Clockwork Titan".
📦 "Dawn of Assassins" Boxed Set Launch
Mark your calendars! The "Dawn of Assassins" boxed set is set to launch on October 31st. It bundles together the first three books in the series and it's available for a special introductory price of just 99c/99p on Amazon for a limited time.
📚 Welcome Back to Jon's Author Diary! 📚
In this week's episode, it's all about progress, pre-orders, and a palate-cleansing read! Here's what I've got lined up for you:
🧟♀️ Two New Episodes of "Punks Versus Zombies"
I've penned not one, but two new episodes of our beloved zombie serial, "Punks Versus Zombies". If you're keen on undead drama, this is your jam.
📝 Opening Chapter for "Guild of Assassins: Book 2"
As promised, the wheels are in motion for the sequel to "Guild of Assassins". This week, I cracked open the proverbial ink bottle and drafted the opening chapter. You won't want to miss what's coming.
📦 Dawn of Assassins Boxed Set on Pre-Order!
Exciting news for fans of the "Dawnof Assassins" series! I've bundled the first three books into a special boxed set. The best part? It's already available for pre-order on Amazon and will go live on October 31st. Perfect for a Halloween binge-read!
📖 Currently Reading: "Big Beacon" by Alan Partridge
Switching gears a bit, I'm delving into "Big Beacon" by Alan Partridge. It's a welcome light read that offers a break from the darker books I've been absorbed in lately.
🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell icon to stay updated. 🔔
💌 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://joncronshaw.com/newsletter
Catch you in the next episode for more writing updates and bookish goodness.
Cheers,
Jon
📚 Hello from sunny Morecambe! 📚
In this week's episode, I have some exciting updates for all you bibliophiles out there. Here's what you can look forward to:
🖋 Finishing Guild of Assassins
Guild of Assassins is complete, and it feels like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders! If you're into tales that blend dark schemes with edge-of-your-seat action, then this book is for you.
🎩 New Steampunk Story--Lord Sidebottom and the Quicksilver Quandary
That's right! I'm diving into the Steampunk genre with a brand-new story. Expect cogs, gears, and a heap of adventure as Lord Sidebottom tackles his most perplexing quandary yet. You can listen to the audio version now on my YouTube channel.
📝 Starting the Outline for Guild of Assassins: Book 2
It's never too early to plan for the next book, and I've just started outlining the sequel to "Guild of Assassins". Stay tuned for updates!
📖 The Fall of Wolfsbane - Ravenglass Legends Book 1
The Fall of Wolfsbane is currently with the proofreadier and is almost ready for release. It's the first instalment in the Ravenglass Legends epic fantasy series, and I can't wait to share it with you all.
📣 Call Out for ARC Readers
In the coming weeks, I'll be making a call for Advance Review Copy (ARC) readers for The Fall of Wolfsbane. If you're interested, make sure to join my Facebook group, The Ravenglass Universe for a chance to be among the first to dive into these stories.
🧟♀️ "Punks Versus Zombies" Now a Podcast
Great news for fans of my ongoing zombie serial! Punks Versus Zombies is now available as a podcast, as well as on YouTube and Substack. Now you can enjoy the zombie apocalypse on the move!
🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell icon so you don't miss any updates. 🔔
👉 Join the Facebook group: The Ravenglass Universe
💌 Subscribe to my Substack at https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com
Hello from rainy Morecambe! Welcome back to another Author Diary entry. This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least.🌧 Struggles with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) 🌧I've been struggling a bit with Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it's had its toll on my productivity and mental well-being. However, I've managed to keep my nose to the grindstone and make progress despite the obstacles.🗡 Guild of Assassins - New Chapter Alert! 🗡I'm excited to announce that a new chapter for 'Guild of Assassins' is complete! It's been an emotional journey, but the chapter is now ready to go live on my Substack this Sunday. Don't miss it!🎧 Punks Versus Zombies Audiobook Episode 1 🎧In other news, the first episode of 'Punks Versus Zombies' is now available as an audiobook right here on YouTube. It's been an exhilarating project, and I can't wait for you all to hear it.🤖 Audiobooks with ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech Engine 🤖To make my content even more accessible, I've been using ElevenLabs' Text-to-Speech engine to create audiobooks of my short stories. I'm uploading these to YouTube for free, so everyone can enjoy them!🔔 Subscribe for More! 🔔
📚 Welcome back to this week's Author Diary! 📚
In this episode, we're talking about some exciting updates, despite having a bit of a rough week, health-wise.
🎉 BIG NEWS: Episode 1 of "Punks Versus Zombies" is Now Live on Substack! 🎉
That's right! I've officially launched the first episode of my new serial, "Punks Versus Zombies," and I couldn't be more thrilled. Dive into a world where rebellious punks face off against the undead. You won't want to miss it, and you can read it exclusively on my Substack.
📉 Productivity Slump 📉
This week has been challenging in terms of productivity. I've not been feeling my best, so things have moved slower than usual. But hey, we all have those weeks, right?
📖 Currently Reading: Grave Peril by Jim Butcher 📖
In between bouts of resting, I've been delving into "Grave Peril" by Jim Butcher. It's an excellent read, and I can't wait to share my thoughts on it with you all.
✍️ Indie Author Mastermind Blog Posts ✍️
Despite the energy lull, I’ve been writing some insightful blog posts over at Indie Author Mastermind. If you're an aspiring indie author looking to build a sustainable career, you'll find heaps of useful content there. Check it out: Indie Author Mastermind
🔮 What’s Coming Next Week 🔮
I'm aiming to get at least the next chapter of "Guild of Assassins" out on my Substack. Fingers crossed my energy levels co-operate!
So, there you have it! If you haven't yet subscribed to my channel, make sure to hit that subscribe button and ring the bell so you don't miss any future updates. 👇
Links & Resources:
🔗 Visit Indie Author Mastermind: https://indieauthormastermind.com
Thanks for tuning in, and I'll catch you next week! 🙌
AuthorDiary #PunksVersusZombies #IndieAuthorMastermind #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
Welcome back to another episode of my author diary series. In today's video, we're diving deep into the world of creativity, ideas, and a pinch of heavy metal!
🗡 Guild of Assassins Update
I've made some substantial progress on my upcoming novel, 'Guild of Assassins,' and I can't wait to give you all a sneak peek of what's to come. This book is shaping up to be an exhilarating adventure you won't want to miss!
🧟♀️ Introducing: Punks Versus Zombies
That's not all! I'm thrilled to announce a brand-new project: ‘Punks Versus Zombies.’ The first chapter will be posted on my Substack next week. Get ready for a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse that's as rebellious as it is spine-chilling.
🎵 Currently Reading: Doomed to Fail & Jeish Space Lasers
On the reading front, I recently finished ‘Doomed to Fail,’ a fascinating dive into doom, sludge, and post-metal music genres. If you're a fan of heavy, slow, and loud music, this book is a must-read.
Now, I've moved on to ‘Jewish Space Lasers’' a book that explores the history of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. It's an eye-opening read that I highly recommend.
👉 Get Involved
I'd love to hear from you. What are you reading at the moment? Are you excited about ‘Guild of Assassins’ or ‘Punks Versus Zombies’? Let me know in the comments below!
🔔 Don't Forget!
If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up, and if you haven't already, consider subscribing for more updates. Your support means the world to me!
💌 Stay Connected with Substack
For exclusive content and to be the first to know about my latest projects, subscribe to my Substack: joncronshawauthor.substack.com
Thanks for watching and catch you in the next video!
Welcome back to another edition of my weekly Author Diary.🚨 This week is a bit different 🚨I haven't managed to write any fiction this week. I've been under the weather and taking it easy to get back to full health. 🤒 However, I've been doing some reading in between my rest periods. I delved into "The Ultimate History of Video Games Volume 2," explored the intricacies of "Colonialism: A World History," and also read "Sellout." Fantastic reads and highly recommended!🎉 Exciting News! Indie Author Mastermind is LIVE 🎉Though I've not been working on my stories, I've been super productive in another realm. I've set up a brand new blog on Substack—Indie Author Mastermind. It's designed to help aspiring indie authors navigate the maze of self-publishing and create a sustainable income from their writing.🔗 Check it out here: Indie Author Mastermind🌟 Why should you visit Indie Author Mastermind?Strategies to maximise your incomeMarketing tips and tricksCrafting compelling storiesCommunity of like-minded authors💌 Get Your Free Ravenglass Universe Starter Library 📚As a token of appreciation for your support, visit joncronshaw.com/newsletter to claim your FREE Ravenglass Universe starter library. Don't miss out on this fantastic offer!
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
In this week's author diary, I dive into the latest progress on my Substack novel, Guild of Assassins.
Buckle up, as I've completed not one, not two, but three new chapters!
I also delve into my current reads from the Horus Heresy series—The Unremembered Empire and Scars. If you're a Warhammer 40k aficionado or just love a good sci-fi read, stick around.
Follow @joncronshawauthor on Substack.
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
In this week's Author Diary, I delved into the progress of my Substack novel, Guild of Assassins and share insights oncrafting three new chapters.
Not just content with the written word, I also used Eleven Labs to transform my novel Blind Gambit into an audiobook.
You can gain early access to novels and exclusive stories by signing up to my Substack page.
Subscribe for free at joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
Last week, I found myself overwhelmed by too many open projects, a struggle I shared with you all.
But then, as if by some cosmic joke, inspiration struck and I started a new project—a space opera with fantasy elements, set in the far future of my existing universe.
I outlined a trilogy and even wrote the first draft of a novella.
The words flowed and new worlds unfolded in my mind, sparking an excitement I couldn't resist.
I continued reading the Horus Heresy series, immersing myself in "Mark of Calth" and "Vulkan Lives."
Then a new thriller, "Fearless" by M. W. Craven, caught my eye and added a different flavour to my literary journey.
Outside the world of words, I'm excited about something very special happening on Saturday.
I'll be taking part in the Cross-Bay Walk to raise money for Galloway's Society for the Blind.
It's a walk over Morecambe Bay when the tide is out, and it promises to be an incredible experience.
I invite you to support this noble cause on my Facebook page @joncronshawauthor.
And lastly, if you're curious about my works, you can get early access to future stories on my Substack @joncronshawauthor
. I hope to see you there, joining me in this ever-unfolding adventure.
Hello from cloudy Morecambe!
This week was truly special for me. Finally visiting Ravenglass—where I derived the name of my main series from—was a moving experience.
Walking through the very streets that inspired so much of my writing and exploring the beauty of the surrounding area felt surreal and invigorating.
If you haven't been there, I recommend it—the place truly resonates with creativity.
Writing update:
In writing news, there's a fresh treat for you on my Substack—a brand new short story which serves as a prequel to the Dawn of Assassins series.
It’s my little way of saying thank you for the continued support.
I'm eager to hear what you think of it.
Visit: https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com to find out more.
I also continued work on the fourth installment in the series.
I've been redrafting scenes I dictated earlier in the year and hope to carry on with the full first draft in the not-too-distant-future.
Oh, and another chapter for the Guild of Assassins novel is complete!
Reading update:
I'm still on the Horus Heresy journey. After wrapping up Angel Exterminatus, I’ve moved on to Betrayer—the plot twists and turns never cease to amaze me.
A little confession:
I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of projects I've taken on.
But paradoxically, while juggling all these tasks might seem slower, it's making me more productive.
The key, I've realized, is to follow where my energy leads.
Yet, there's a nagging reminder in the back of my mind to wrap up Guild of Assassins—especially with The Fall of Wolfsbane soon returning from the editor.
If you enjoy these updates, don't forget to follow my journey on my YouTube channel and the ‘Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary’ podcast.
Do me a favour? Hit that thumbs up, subscribe, and let’s chat in the comments.
Your thoughts, as always, are my inspiration.
So, until next time, cheerio.
Jon
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
Another week, another set of chapters in the bag. I've been carrying on with my Substack series 'Guild of Assassins,' with two more chapters complete and ready for your eyes.
In addition to that, I've started writing a new story—a follow-up to 'Orphan Farm Boy of Destiny' entitled 'The Unchosen One.'
I'll be releasing on my Substack every other Wednesday…for free.
On the reading front, the Horus Heresy series remains my literary companion. Currently engrossed in 'Angel Exterminatus'—book 23, for those keeping track.
If you haven't already, do subscribe to my YouTube channel for regular updates and insights.
Visit: https://youtube.com/c/joncronshawauthor
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
This week, I took a short break to Jersey. Yes, that’s right, I swapped my author's den for a bit of beach-side brainstorming. Sun, sea, and scribbles…oh, and storms.
While escaping the rain, we watched 'Snow White' (1937) at the cinema. Nothing like a classic to make you appreciate the art of storytelling (and remind you of those dubious attitudes in the 1930s.)
Speaking of tales, I've got a fresh outline bubbling for Ravenglass Legends Book 3. Believe me, this one's shaping up to be a fun series.
In the spirit of branching out, I've ventured into the world of Wattpad! Soon, you'll find snippets, tales, and perhaps a few misadventures from yours truly. If I can work out how to post that is…
Finally, I’ve been reading Fear to Tread from the Horus Heresy series. Space Marines and epic sagas.. sometimes, one needs a dose of galactic grandeur amidst fairytales.
Don't forget to hit that thumbs up, subscribe, and leave a comment down below! Your feedback's always gratefully received.
So until next time, cheerio.
AuthorDiary #JerseyHoliday #StorytellingMagic #WattpadAdventures
Welcome back to my Author Diary!
In this week's episode, I share my progress on writing my book, Guild of Assassins, with three chapters completed and a first draft for a fourth one.
You can catch these chapters as they go live on my Substack in the upcoming weeks: https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
I also delve into my current read - the 20th book of the Horus Heresy series, The Primarchs.
Please note, next week's Author Diary will be a bit delayed as I'm taking a week off to recharge.
In the meantime, you won't be missing out as daily blog posts will still be going live on my website https://joncronshaw.com/blog as well as updates on my Substack.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Remember to hit the subscribe button and stay tuned for more insights into my writing journey.
So, until next time, cheerio!
Hello from sunny Morecambe!
Welcome back to my weekly author diary, where I share all the updates from my writing journey and reading escapades.
This week, I am thrilled to bring you the latest developments on my novel, “Guild of Assassins.”
I’ve been focusing my attention this week on my novel “Guild of Assassins.”
And another chapter is ready for you to read!
Head over to my Substack profile to read the latest installment of this action-packed adventure.
Your support and encouragement have been the driving force behind my progress, and I’m grateful for each one of you who has been on this journey with me.
I’ve also been continuing my epic readthrough of the Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy series. The battles, the mysteries, and the character arcs have kept me hooked.
As we venture into the school summer holidays, I’d like to share my plans for the upcoming weeks.
My main focus will be on writing “Guild of Assassins.” This is so I can be sure to get the next chapter out on Substack on time every Saturday.
You can read “Guild of Assassins” on my Substack site at joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
To stay connected and not miss a single update, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where you’ll find the latest video of this author diary.
By subscribing, you’ll be part of an incredible community of like-minded individuals passionate about storytelling, world-building, and thrilling adventures.
Visit: youtube.com/c/joncronshawauthor and hit that subscribe button!
This week, I'm excited to share my journey as I continue to delve deeper into the world of my epic fantasy series, Ravenglass Legends.
I've made substantial progress on the second draft, with 35,000 words already improved. I can't wait to share this story with you.
I also wrote the first draft for a short story centreed on Maja, one of the point of view characters in the Ravenglass Legends. Discovering her journey and experiences has been a fascinating process, and I believe it will add a new layer of depth to the whole series.
I also completed another episode of the Guild of Assassins which goes live on Substack on Saturday. If you've been following along, you know that this is my ongoing novel series that I've been releasing weekly. The story is gaining momentum, and I hope you're enjoying the ride!
This week wasn't all about writing, though. I was fortunate enough to have a work experience student helping me out. They've been a great asset, creating stunning graphics and engaging videos to help bring my books to life and reach more readers.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. I faced some technical challenges with Wordpress, where the formatting got lost during the transition from Microsoft Word. It was a bit frustrating, but, on the bright side, I've found a workaround. So, stay tuned for more polished blog posts in the future.
Until next time, cheerio.
Jon
This week, I balanced writing, web migration, and tax work.
A new chapter of Guild of Assassins is ready for Substack.
My website shifted back to WordPress.
Amid tasks, I read The Outcast Dead and began Deliverance Lost.
I plan to return to Ravenglass Legends book 2 next week.
Check out my new website at https://joncronshaw.com
Welcome to this week's author diary.
In today's episode, I'm excited to share updates on my progress with Guild of Assassins and the fourth Dawn of Assassins book, as well as details about outlining a brand new fantasy series.
I also discuss my thoughts on the Horus Heresy book series and my highlights of this year’s Glastonbury festival, as well as the importance of disability representation in popular music.
Don't forget to join my newsletter at https://joncronshaw.com to claim your free Ravenglass Universe starter library and stay up to date with my latest projects!
Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jon_cronshaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Substack: https://joncronshawauthor.substack.com
Welcome to the 300th episode of Jon's Author Diary. This week has been a tremendous journey, with progress on my books, indulgence in some fantastic reads, and a few hours well-spent on Netflix. This week, I've been channeling my inner rogue while working on my book, "Guild of Assassins", an exclusive Substack novel. It's an intense exploration of the shadows where the silent killers dwell. Stay tuned on Substack for thrilling chapter updates and some behind-the-scenes revelations about this unique guild.
Book 2 of the Ravenglass Legends is underway. This week, I have made significant strides in developing the narrative arc and the characters. There's plenty of surprises, mystery, and adventure to come. In the midst of writing, I've also been indulging in some quality reads. This week, I've delved into the Horus Heresy books - "The First Heretic" and "Prospero Burns". Besides writing and reading, I've found some time to unwind with Netflix. I watched the Arnold Schwarzenegger documentary – an insightful, inspiring dive into the life of one of the most iconic figures in the fitness and entertainment world. "Killing Eve" also kept me hooked with its intense narrative and outstanding performances. It's been an exciting week of writing, reading, and relaxing with some fantastic TV. If you want to join me on this journey and never miss an update on the "Guild of Assassins", follow me on Substack at joncronshawauthor.substack.com. Here's to many more shared stories and adventures together!
This week Jon shares details about wrapping up his fantasy novel, The Fall of Wolfsbane, the first book in the Ravenglass Legends series.
As one project ends, another begins. Jon is about to start releasing chapters of his dark fantasy thriller Guild of Assassins exclusively on Substack.
He talks about giving a lecture about the controversial modern sculptor Jacob Epstein to the Morecambe Rotary Club.
For pleasure reading, Jon has been delving into the dark world of the Horus Heresy and reading The First Heretic from the popular Warhammer 40k series.
Be sure to subscribe to Jon's Substack newsletter to receive new chapters of Guild of Assassins delivered straight to your inbox. The adventure begins now at joncronshawauthor.substack.com.
In this week's author diary, I talk about a new project, Guild of Assassins, launching a Substack, and my progress on The Fall of Wolfsbane.
Go to Jon's Substack: joncronshawauthor.substack.com
In this week's author diary, I talk about something I wrote, some things I read, and some things I did.
I also answer some of your questions about writers' block, character names, and fantasy movies.
The Ravenglass Chronicles audio edition is now live:
US: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BVY34KWL/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-340622&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_340622_rh_us
UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0BVY8854Q/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-340622&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_340622_rh_uk
In this week's author diary, I announce the title of Ravenglass Legends book 1, I talk about next week's launch of Trial of Thieves and the release date for Crucible of Shadows.
I also talk about forthcoming audio books and my goals for 2023!
Get your free Ravenglass Universe starter library at joncronshaw.com
In this week's author diary I talk about SAD, Crucible of Shadows, and Things Fall Apart. You can listen to this every week as an audio podcast. Simply search for Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary wherever you listen to podcasts to subscribe!
In this week's author diary, I talk about my progress on Crucible of Shadows, Trial of Thieves, and The Ravenglass Chronicles audio edition.
I also talk about the books Unruly Places and Legends of the Pyramids, and finishing Stranger Things 4.
amwriting #amwritingfantasy
In this week's diary, I talk about finishing my first draft of Crucible of Shadows, book 3 in my Dawn of Assassins series.
amwriting #amwritingfantasy
In this week's author diary, I talk about writing Crucible of Shadows and listening to the Game of Thrones season 8 Redux podcast.
Visit joncronshaw.com to claim your free Ravenglass Universe starter library.
In this week’s author diary, I talk about getting back to work on Crucible of Shadows, reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, and releasing my Wasteland series as a bumper paperback edition!
Visit: joncronshaw.com to get your free Ravenglass Universe starter library.
In this week's author diary, I talk about outling Ravenglass Legends book 3, reading, and the print version of The Ravenglass Chronicles! Visit https://geni.us/ravenglasspb to order yours.
Get your copy of The Ravenglass Chronicles on Kindle for just 99c/99p!
https://geni.us/ravenglassbox
In this week's author diary I talk about my progress on Ravenglass Legends and Crucible of Shadows. Visit joncronshaw.com to get your free Ravenglass Universe starter library!
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending June 19, 2022.
In this week’s diary I talk about finishing Trial of Thieves, starting Ravenglass Legends, and getting prepared for my next book launch.
Visit joncronshaw.com to claim your free Ravenglass Universe starter library.
Visit https://joncronshaw.com to get your Ravenglass Universe starter library...for free!
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his rewrite of Trial of Thieves, reading Good Omens, and project that may or may not happen.
Follow Jon on TikTok @joncronshawauthor
In this week’s author diary, Jon Cronshaw talks about writing up his outline for the second Ravenglass Legends book.
He also talks about reading The Eye of Obscurance by Jeffrey L. Kohanek, Take Off Your Pants! by Libbie Hawker, and others.
He then outlines his plans for next week.
Visit joncronshaw.com to get your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about having some time off, his progress on Trial of Thieves, and outlining the second book in his Ravenglass Legends series.
You can subscribe to Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary wherever you listen to podcasts.
Visit: joncronshaw.com to claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, The Wolf and the Wyvern, plus building a new Facebook group for readers.
Get your free copy of Birth of Assassins from joncronshaw.com
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, starting a new project set in the Ravenglass Universe, and some news on the future of Indie Author Mastermid.
Visit: joncronshaw.com to claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, and why he chjanged his method of writing.
He also discusses The Heroin's Journey by Christine Downing and The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett.
Visit joncronshaw.com
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about reaching the midpoint of Trial of Thieves, coming to an abrupt stop, and rewriting the outline for the second half of the novel.
He also reviews The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett and Character by Robert McKee.
Subscribe to Jon's YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/joncronshawauthor
Have you claimed your free copy of Birth of Assassins?
Get yours here: https://joncronshaw.com
This interview is used with kind permission of Beacon Centre for the Blind.
Visit: https://www.beaconvision.org/
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending November 7, 2021.
I’ve not had the best week in terms of mood. I can definitely feel seasonal affective disorder rearing its ugly head.
This means I feel both restless and tired and my creative energy has been very low.
I usually find this hits me around the end of October, so I’m not surprised that it’s here.
I’ve not written anything new this week, but I did get Dawn of Assassins back from the editor and went through that.
That book is now ready for publication, so that’s exciting.
My original plan was to release it as an experiment on Kindle Vella while I’m working on the second book, but it’s not available yet for UK-based authors, so I’ll be launching the book in January.
Hopefully that will do better than Black Death Survival, which on reflection has been a complete waste of time since starting the project.
In future, I need to remember not to fall for the sunk cost fallacy. I spent a lot of time working on the book, several months I could have spent doing other projects.
I’m sure it’ll pay for itself over time, but it’s not done well at all, and I don’t think a post-apocalyptic story featuring real people in the UK is what the readers want.
But this is good. This is me drawing a line under a project that had been open for over three years.
It’s also me drawing a line under writing post-apocalyptic fiction because what the readers want does not align with the types of stories I want to tell.
So lots of reflection this week. Reflection about my writing career so far, the successes and failures, the ups and downs.
In April 2017, I drew up a five-year plan to make a sustainable full-time income as an author.
The plan worked.
I did it.
But as we’re moving towards the end of 2021, I keep asking myself ‘what next?’
Do I continue writing books and building up my back catalogue?
Or, do I scale the business up?
I feel like it’s time draw up a new five-year plan.
I can write more stories in the Ravenglass universe.
I can work with other authors, outsource tasks, and expand what I do.
I’m inspired by what companies like Games Workshop and authors like Michael Anderle and Craig Martelle have built.
They’ve created universes and a cast of unforgettable characters.
I wrote my twenty-one book series The Ravenglass Chronicles and Dawn of Assassins is set in the same universe.
It’s a universe where I can tell many stories, from stone age fantasy to space opera, and everything between.
And that’s exciting.
That’s potential.
Me doing this alone isn’t sustainable. I need to grow this thing.
In terms of reading, I read Legion and Battle for the Abyss. These were books 7 and 8 in the Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy series.
They couldn’t have been different in terms of quality. Legion was very good, but I struggled to get through Battle for the Abyss.
I’ve found with this series that some books are much better than others, but I like the idea of having a huge overarching story that gives space for many smaller stories to be told.
So, next week is going to be interesting.
I should be going to Egypt.
We’ve got the tickets.
My bags are packed.
I’m still not fully convinced that I’m going, but if I do, I’m sure it will help with the SAD stuff.
Finally, if you haven’t done so already, you can get your free copy of Birth of Assassins by visiting joncronshaw.com.
So, until next time, cheerio.
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending October 31, 2021.
This is the Halloween special of Jon’s author diary.
And like all of my previous Halloween specials this episode is like any other, except I’m wearing an awesome vampire costume.
For those watching the video, you’ll obviously notice the lengths I want to make this costume as genuine as possible -- I am of course a modern day vampire who has done all he can to blend in with the populous.
This week has been the half-term break.
My wife and son have been at home, so I’ve done very little in the way of work.
I have spent a bit of time going over Trial of Thieves, which is the second book in my Dawn of Assassins series, previously called A Murder of Crows.
I want to make sure that the changes I made to Dawn of Assassins are reflected in the second book.
It’s basically meant adding an extra scene and removing references to an event that no longer occurs.
It also means I’ve got a new subplot in the story, which is always fun.
Not that this book isn’t complicated enough with its weaving subplots...
In terms of reading, I read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.
This is one of those books that gets under your skin.
It’s marketed as a fantasy book, but it really isn’t.
The story is excellent.
The world is fascinating.
The audiobook performance might be one of the best I’ve ever heard.
But it’s not fantasy.
It might appear on the fantasy shelves in a bookshop.
It might have been nominated for a bunch of fantasy awards.
But it’s not fantasy.
Or, at least, if it is fantasy, it’s fantasy in the same way Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood is fantasy, or Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five is sci-fi.
It feels like fantasy, but it isn’t.
It’s realism masquerading as fantasy.
But this isn't about arguing the borders of genre.
There's something very interesting going on with this book.
And calling it a fantasy would be taking away its power.
Piranesi is about a man living through something very traumatic.
The hints are littered throughout the text that this is a character living with Dissociative Personality Disorder in order to cope with the awful situation he finds himself.
It’s subtle. But it’s there. And it’s disturbing when you piece it together.
This is one of those books that I know will stick with me for years to come.
This led me onto another book about Dissociative Personality Disorder: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.
I’ve watched the film, so I knew the twist.
But the book is excellent.
The voice is off the charts.
And I’m convinced that Tyler Durden isn’t the only extra personality inhabiting the narrator.
I also read a non-fiction book by Carl Abrahamsson called Occulture.
A fusion of the words occult and culture.
This essay collection explores how occult ideas influence the development of art, philosophy, music, and film.
If you’re interested in thinkers like Carl Jung, Aleister Crowley, and Anton LeVey, this will make for a fascinating and insightful read.
Next week, I’m back to work on Trial of Thieves.
And I need to start packing for my research trip to Egypt, which still looks like it’s going ahead.
I have to say, I feel like I’m playing a game of chicken, and that I can’t get fully invested in the idea of going on a trip because of everything that has gone on during the past year-and-a-half.
I’m in the mindset that I’ll believe it when I get off the plane in Cairo.
Take care,
Jon
P.S. My novel Blind Gambit is now free on all major ebook stores.
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending October 24, 2021.
I have had a crazy busy week.
Black Death Survival is now live!
Visit: geni.us/blackdeathsurvival to get your copy.
If you’re a fan of dark, gritty post-apocalyptic tales about ordinary people in extraordinary times, get your copy now.
If you’ve been following my writing career for a while, you’ll know what a rollercoaster this story has been for me.
It was very close to being abandoned, but I hate leaving projects unfinished.
What this means is I’m at the point where the only live project I have is the Dawn of Assassins series.
So, that’s going to be something new for me.
We’ll see if I can cope!
As well as doing everything to do with the book launch, I also finished my redraft of Dawn of Assassins.
I ended up adding about 3,000 words to the manuscript, and tweaked the ending slightly.
This wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, but I’m happy with what I’ve done.
Which reminds me, I now have to covers back for the first three Dawn of Assassins books.
They look amazing.
After some feedback about the second book, that is no longer going to be called Murder of Crow, but trial of thieves.
This fits better with the story and won’t see my book competing with a bunch of others with the same title.
So, I’m looking at releasing Dawn of Assassins early next year, followed by Trial of Thieves, and Crucible of Shadows.
I’m writing it as a trilogy, but it has the potentially longer series.
As well as all the writing stuff, I had my friend Russ come to stay last weekend.
We spent most of Saturday drinking and coming up with ideas for his Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
I’ve not played D&D since I was a kid, but I do love worldbuilding and designing characters.
So, I had a lot of fun doing that.
I also went to the first in-person meeting of the Morecambe and Lancaster Speakers Group.
I joined the club during the early days of the pandemic and this is the first time we’ve met in person.
I had a really good time and it was great to meet people I’d known over Zoom face to face.
In terms of reading, I read the Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell. This is book 5 in his Saxon Chronicles series.
I really enjoy these books.
Great characters, great action scenes, and an excellent story.
I also read a writing craft book called the Creative Compass. This discussed the different layers of the writing process.
It was interesting to see how the technique pretty much mapped my own.
Though every time I read about the traditional publishing process of sending out query letters, waiting for months, and hoping an acquisitions editor will smile upon you seems so antiquated and unnecessary.
I’d definitely recommend the book if you’re interested in the actual process of getting a book down.
Next week is the October half-term.
This means my wife and son will be at home and that I will be having a much-needed break.
Do remember to get your copy of Black Death Survival.
If you go onto my YouTube channel, you can watch me reading the first chapter.
So, until next time.
Cheerio.
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending October 17, 2021.
I’ve had a busy week. Much of it has been spent getting everything ready for my launch of Black Death Survival.
This is now up for pre-order and the paperback is live.
The hardback is in review and I’ve been going through the auditions for the audio edition.
I’ve taken a step back from writing A Murder of Crows and have decided I need to write another draft of Dawn of Assassins.
I thought this book was done. But it needs something else.
My unconscious mind has been nagging at me for a few weeks about this book.
And it was right.
So, I’m going through one more time to make sure the setting feels more lived in. The story’s there, there characters are there, but I need to spend a bit more time showing the setting to the reader.
It’s a grubby, grimy setting, and although I can picture that in my mind, it doesn’t come through onthe page.
So, this is going to put my schedule back for this book, but I’d rather release something I’m proud of than a book I know isn’t as good as I can make it.
Reading
This week I read The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly. This was a book about how oral history is communicated through objects and markers on the landscape. Her main argument is the places like Goblekli Tepe, Stonehenge, and Easter Island could have been built to help tell stories.
Her research was fascinating, though I’m not sure I buy all of her arguments.
I also read The Bone Ships by RJ Barker. This was excellent. If you enjoy nautical fantasy with luscious worldbuilding, this is a book for you.
What’s next?
So, next week is all about getting everything ready for launching Black Death Survival.
Plus, I want to carry on with my redraft of Dawn of Assassins.
It also looks like my research trip to Egypt is going ahead next month, so I need to start gathering provisions for that.
Take care,
Jon
Want the video version?
Visit: https://youtu.be/jeKCZRRvgls.
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Visit: https://joncronshaw.com
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending May 23, 2021.
Get your free copy of Birth of Assassins at https://joncronshaw.com
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending May 16, 2021.
Watch the video version at https://youtu.be/elU-I-UVzIg
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending May 2, 2021.
Prefer to watch on video? Visit: https://youtu.be/orW_lkFKDCU
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending April 25, 2021.
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/edtU_HaCGSI
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending April 11, 2021.
In this week’s episode, Jon talks about his trip to Wolverhampton, his quarter two goals, and shares his impromptu speech about scary creatures.
Plus, he has an announcement about the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast.
Visit: joncronshaw.com to claim your free novel, Birth of Assassins.
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending April 4, 2021.
Jon talks about the barrage of ideas he gets when he stops writing.
He discusses the books Across the Nightingale Floor and theft of Swords.
Visit joncronshaw.com to claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending March 28, 2021.
In this week's episode Jon talks about his forthcoming launch of the Wasteland series boxset, his progress on Dawn of Assassins, and his plans for the Easter holiday.
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Visit subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending February 14, 2021.
It has been a busy week. I’ve written the first chapter to my next novel, working title Dawn of Assassins. I had February 22 down on my calendar to start this one, but I couldn’t wait to get going!
Throughout January and the first week I’ve February I wrote a short prequel novel and a short story to help me get the characters’ voices and motivations feeling real before I started writing the main series.
It’s set in the same universe as The Ravenglass Chronicles. Time has moved on a few hundred years, so the technology and society have progressed, and the city of Nordturm is much larger than it was in the original series.
It follows the life of a thief called Fedor who is dragged into the dark world of assassins. You can expect the wyverns, ravenglass magic system, and parallel worlds you saw in The Ravenglass Chronicles, but with the emphasis on Nordturm’s criminals rather than a spoilt princess.
I’m really excited about the story and my hope is that you’ll come along for the ride.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending January 17, 2021.
We’re a few weeks into the year, and I’m still writing 2020. Oh well.
If you’re a regular listener to my weekly Author Diary podcast, you’ll know that last week I had a crappy time dealing with the latest UK lockdown. I’ve not been able to see my mum, siblings, or friends since the summer, and it’s been very difficult to keep hope and have faith that things will get better.
So, this week, I decided to dig deep to get the words down. Even though we’re home-schooling my son, I’ve been getting up at 5.30am to write.
And it’s been going well.
I’ve passed the 20,000-word mark on my next book, which has the working title Birth of Assassinsand is the prequel to a new series set in in the Ravenglass Universe.
I figured it would be nice to move from telling the story of a magical princess to one about a gang of thieves.
It’s been a lot of fun discovering a group of new characters and I’m struggling to keep up with the ideas I’m getting for the series.
I’m doing this book as a freebie for you guys to thank you for your support over the past year. I know it’s been hard for everyone, so I’ll let you know when it’s ready and you can download your free copy.
I was disappointed this week to have to move a holiday I had booked to Egypt this coming March, but with the UK in lockdown, it’s looking highly unlikely that we’ll be able to travel any time soon.
So we’ve moved it to November. Hopefully, by then, there will be a little more normality…hopefully.
Egypt is one of my bucket-list places, so I can’t wait to go. I have wanted to see the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx since I can remember.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll discover for myself whether the pyramids were built by aliens, or whether, as I’m inclined to believe, they were actually built by humans.
We shall see.
Review milestone
I was very pleased to see this week that the first boxset in the Ravenglass Chronicles passed the 500 reviews mark on Amazon. And 70 percent of those reviews were five-star!
I’ve not had a book go over 100 reviews before, so that’s a nice achievement unlocked.
Long may it continue.
Release news
In terms of releases, the second half of the Ravenglass Chronicles (episodes twelve-to-twenty) is now live.
So, for those of you waiting for me to complete the series, it’s all done and dusted and available to enjoy.
Click HERE to order.
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Welcome to Jon’s Author Diary for the week ending October 11, 2020.
We’re still in local lockdown, but I’ve been keeping my head down and getting on with Judgement, which is book 20 of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
The first draft is complete and I’m about 3,000 words from the end of my second.
It’s such a strange feeling knowing I’ve got one more episode to write.
But it’s okay as I already have plans for my next series.
It’s going to be set in the same universe, but focused around a gang of thieves turned reluctant assassins.
It’ll have all the craziness you’ve come to expect from The Ravenglass Chronicles, with wyverns and magical realms, but with a focus on a male protagonist and the Ostreich Empire’s gritty underworld.
Black Death
If you’ve been following my author diaries for a while, you might recall I was working on a post-apocalyptic trilogy with a co-author, Lynn Sheridan.
I’m pleased to say that he’s done with the first book and is almost complete with his work on the second book, so we should have a final version of the Black Death trilogy ready for the editor by Christmas….hopefully!
We started working on this project in late-2017, so it’s weird putting the finishing touches to a series about a pandemic given what 2020 has handed us.
Throne of Glass
Finally, I’ve been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. A few readers had said how The Ravenglass Chronicles shares elements with the story, so I thought I’d check it out.
As I’ve not been able to get into fiction since the start of lockdown, I’ve really enjoyed getting back into fantasy (I’ve read the first three books over the past week and am enjoying book 4, Queen of Shadows).
I can see the parallels in terms of some of the story elements, but it’s also very different. If you’ve not read it and enjoy YA fantasy, I’d highly recommend the series .
If you’ve got any recommendations for similar stuff, let me know.
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending October 4, 2020.
It’s been a mixed bag of the week. I’ve been working on Judgement, which is the penultimate episode of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
I’m pulling together all the story threads for the final episode. I had hoped to have finished the series by now, but 2020 has thrown everyone’s plans asunder it would seem.
Although we’re in local lockdown, we did manage to celebrate our son’s eighth birthday with Super Mario LEGO and a trip to Blackpool.
If you listen to my Author Diary podcast, you’ll know that we scrambled before the local lockdown came in to make sure he had a birthday party with his best friends.
This year’s been hard enough for the kids, and I was determined to make his birthday as fun as it could be given the circumstances.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been watching the His Dark Materials TV series on BBC iPlayer, which is tremendous. Although we’ve watched movies and TV shows as a family before, we’ve never watched anything like a long-form drama together, so it was really nice to cuddle up on the sofa and watch with my guide dog keeping my feet warm.
Finally, The Sun, episode 19 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, is now available. Click HERE to grab your copy.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending August 30, 2020.
That's right, it’s the end of August. I cannot believe we already here—what a strange year 2020 has been.
This week I've continued writing The Sun, episode 19 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I’ve just finished writing chapter nine, so it’s coming along nicely.
I'm still getting used to the new way of writing where instead of racing through my first draft and spending weeks and weeks turning into something palatable, I’m doing that instead on a scene-by-scene basis, making sure each chapter is ready for the editor before moving onto the next one.
There are three episodes left to write, including this one, and it feels like everything is starting to come together with the story. The pieces are in place, questions get answered, and there are a few major revelations on the way that have even surprised myself!
Next week, my wife and son go back to school for the first time since mid-March (my son’s seven and my wife is an English teacher). Since lockdown, I’ve been doing my writing for three hours a day on weekdays, so it’s going to be quiet in the house, and strange to have all those extra hours at my disposal.
I’d like to think I’ll get much more writing done, but there’s Parkinson’s Law to contend with which states that work always expands to fill the time available!
Podcasting
I hosted this week’s episode of the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast on the topic of monsters in the mainstream. Shane Thomas, Stephanie Barr, Adam Stump, Jen Ponce, and I discussed demons, dragons, the fae, zombies…and humans.
It was a fun episode as ever. Visit: anchor.fm/sci-fi-roundtable to listen now, or subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
On this week’s author diary podcast, I talk about some of my ideas for my next fantasy series, my thoughts on the Ray Bradbury Challenge, Zecharia Sitchin, and an update on my co-authored Black Death series.
Visit: anchor.fm/joncronshawto listen now, or subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending June 28, 2020.
This week I had what I can only describe as writer’s block. Yes, the dreaded writer's block.
I always thought that writer’s block was a myth, that it is something that only happens to authors who don’t have a plan going in.
On last week’s Author Diary podcast, I talked about an experiment to write by the seat of my pants, to going in without a plan…and lo! Writer’s block reared its ugly head.
Many authors have told me they go in without a plan, that they follow their characters’ lead. I do this, but I also have an outline.
The first few days felt liberating. I followed my gut, the story seemed to flow out of me…, and then I stopped. The cursor blinked. It kept blinking.
I tried to sleep on it.
However, the words didn’t come.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was a failed experiment, because I learned a lot about my process. I’m an outliner. I need a plan.
My plans are pretty loose, maybe a sentence per chapter. But without that, I can’t seem to get through the story and the writing suffers on a sentence-level as a result.
At least I know where my strengths and weaknesses are, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.
Magic systems
I’m a huge fan of magic systems. A magic system done well is almost as satisfying as a great story. If those two things are combined—well, therein lays genius.
On the latest episode of The Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast, I’m joined by Shane Thomas, Ken Goudsward, and Geoff Habinger to talk all about magic systems.
We discuss Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Terry Pratchett, and J. K. Rowling.
Plus, I go into a lot of detail about the magic system I developed for The Ravenglass Chronicles, and some influences which will probably be obvious if you’ve read Temperance.
You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, or through your favourite podcast app (I like Podcast Addict on Android). Alternatively, you listen directly at anchor.fm/sci-fi-roundtable.
Cleric of the Wasteland
The fourth and final book in my post-apocalyptic Wastelandseries is almost ready for release.
All being well, the book should go live on July 18.
If you’ve not read my Wasteland books before, you can get the first three books for just 99c/99p for a limited time on Kindle, or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. Click HERE.
Blind Gambit
Finally, my gamelit novel Blind Gambit is free today on Kindle.
Think Ready Player One if the main character was blind, written from the perspective of a severally visually impaired writer. Click HERE to grab your copy.
Happy reading!
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending June 21, 2020.
After the intensity of last week getting Cleric of the Wasteland ready for the editor, I decided to take this week off. That lasted about two days before I started getting twitchy!
So, I started work on The Moon (episode 18 of The Ravenglass Chronicles). I’m five chapters in and I’m using a different method to write than usual. Instead of working from an outline, I thought I’d try writing on the seat of my pants.
It’s scary, as I’ve honed my method over the past decade of writing. But it’s an experiment to see whether I can do it. I’m not sure if it will work. I may end up halfway through, realise it sucks, and go back to my old way of doing things.
As a process, it feels weirdly liberating. I’m letting Kat and the tarot cards guide the story. I’m little more than a stenographer along for the ride at this point.
Let’s see how it goes…
The Star is now live!
Episode 17 of The Ravenglass Chronicles is now available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Click HERE to grab your copy.
This means we’re closing in on the final leg of the story. Based on my current trajectory, I’m hoping to have The World (episode 21) out by autumn. I’ll then turn my attention to writing you a free novella called Dawn of Assassins, which will be a prequel to my next series in the Ravenglass Universe.
I’m thinking of my next series as the midpoint between Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks. Imagine roguish thieves turned reluctant assassins…with wyverns—can’t forget the wyverns.
Sins of Empire
I read Brian McClellan’s book Sins of Empire this week, which I highly recommend. It’s a regency-era epic fantasy with guns, gods, and great characters.
It’s the second trilogy in his Powder Mage series (which is up there as one of my all-time favourites).
Because of the lockdown, I’ve not been in the right headspace to read fiction, so it’s been wonderful to enjoy a good story well told.
What are you reading at the moment? Can you recommend any fantasy series set in the 18thor 19th centuries?
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon’s Author Diary for the week ending June 14, 2020.
Woohoo! It’s taken a while, but the final draft of Cleric of the Wasteland is done and ready for the editor.
I started work on this book in winter 2017, so it feels good to finally be done and ticked off my list of open projects.
It’s been an intense week of getting up at 5 AM each day to get it done. But it’s done and that’s what counts.
As for The Ravenglass Chronicles, I received The Star (episode 17) edited and proofread. I’m going to give it a final look over and then get it up on Amazon for June 20.
I’ve had a few readers ask me when I plan to finish the series. The Ravenglass Chronicles is based on the tarot’s major arcana, which has 22 cards. This means there will be 21 episodes in the main series with The Fool representing card zero as the prequel.
The means that I should have the series wrapped up by the autumn.
Of course, my long-term plan is to write many more books in the Ravenglass Universe (there are the minor arcana cards too!)
Take care,
Jon
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Welcome to Jon’s Author Diary for the week ending May 17, 2020.
Something happened this week that felt like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders, like a huge ball of tension burst.
Some of the lockdown restrictions were lifted here in England on Wednesday, so I’ve been taking advantage of being able to go outside more than once a day.
However, that wasn’t what relieved the tension.
It was my birthday on Tuesday. I celebrated in true author in lockdown style by releasing a book and eating pizza. It’s the second time I’ve released a book on my birthday, and, if I’m being honest, it’s probably not the best idea, especially when the book in question didn’t exactly do well.
No. The thing that did it was a chiming melody coming down our street and an ice cream van stopping outside our house.
We all had a 99 (which for those unfamiliar is whippy ice cream on a cone with a chunk of Cadbury’s Flake sticking out of it.
This was the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
I’m not kidding. Sure, it tasted like every other 99 I’ve ever had, but this one brought huge smiles.
And, I can’t believe I’m writing this, when I reflected on it I ended up shedding a few tears. Crazy, right?
Of course, it was probably a whole bunch of tension about everything coming out, but for me it signified we’d passed an important point. We are now in a world where when an unexpected treat is possible, where spontaneity is possible.
When you’re planning your meals out two weeks in advance and the days seem to blend into one, a little thing like an ice cream van turning up unexpectedly represented something hopeful to me.
I hope wherever you are things are starting to look better.
Two releases
This week saw me release two books! I launched Blind Reset, which is the second book in my Gambit duology—a GameLit series about dealing with going blind.
The Tower, book 16 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, just went live in the Kindle store. Click HERE to grab your copy.
You can read both titles on Kindle Unlimited.
Writing update
I’ve sent The Star, episode 17 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, to my editor and have turned my attention to redrafting Cleric of the Wasteland, which will be the fourth novel in my Wastelandseries.
I wrote the first draft a year ago and I have to admit it feels very odd going back to that series. It’s a story I started writing in 2016, and so it’s been a bit of shift to get back into Abel’s head.
That being said, the writing is going well enough. It’s a slow process, but I’m 20 percent through the redraft. It’s just a case of working on a few thousand words each day until it’s complete.
This is part of my 2020 aim to clear all my open projects before moving onto my new series next year.
Looking forward
If you missed my author diary podcast last week, I talked about my plans for my next series when Kat’s journey ends.
I’ve really enjoyed using the tarot’s major arcana to inspire the story.
I’ve decided to keep going with the tarot influence and move on to the tarot’s suit cards—swords, cups, wands, and coins.
The new stories will be set in the Ravenglass Universe with new characters and new locations.
My head is filled with ideas for a series featuring a pair of thieves turned reluctant assassins. And, of course, there’s always room for more wyverns.
Take care,
Jon
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Welcome to Jon’s Author Diary for the week ending May 3, 2020.
As I write this, I’ve just finished my first draft of The Star, book 17 of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Book 16, The Tower is currently with the editor, so I’m hoping to get that released as soon it is proofread, which should be some time over the next week or two.
My novel Blind Reset, the follow-up to my GameLit novel/mediation on disability Blind Gambit, is also being edited, and should be back for the final proofread next weekend.
I don’t have a release date set, but as soon as it’s ready, I’ll get it out to the world.
Blind Reset will be the second and final book in that series as I’ve told the story I wanted to and anything else will be padding for sake of it.
If you’ve been following along with my Author Diary podcast, you’ll know that I came to a decision about the future of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Kat’s story is told using the cards of the tarot’s major arcana—22 cards equals 22 episodes (including the prequel).
I’ve built quite a world and magic system, and have a lot of stories I still want to tell in that universe. So once the final book of the current series is done and Cleric of the Wasteland is released, I’m going to carry on writing in the Ravenglass Universe.
It’s an ambitious aim, but I’m going to start writing series based on the minor arcana—four suits containing 14 cards. This means four series of 14 novellas.
By the time I’ve finished, I will have written 78 novellas. So this one’s going to keep me busy for the next few years.
With the backlog projects (three non-fiction books, two novels, and a collaborative trilogy) behind me next year, I’ll be able to focus my full attention on getting the stories out on a more consistent basis.
I’m excited and daunted by the prospect. But I love a good challenge!
Yours,
Jon
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending April 19, 2020.
I have had a busy week, working hard to get my redraft of The Tower, episode 16 of The Ravenglass Chronicles written. It’s now ready for the editor.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be working on episode 17, The Star, and on getting Blind Reset proofread and ready for publication, hopefully by June. And, then, I need to redraft Cleric of the Wasteland.
My goal for this year was to clear the backlog of open projects. So far, I’ve completed two non-fiction titles (The Stoic Writer and Podcasting for Authors) out to the world, Blind Reset redrafted, and three episodes of The Ravenglass Chronicles written. There’s still the Black Death trilogy lingering in the background, but I’m not sure how much of an appetite there’s going to be for a series about a worldwide pandemic.
Podcasting
I appeared on a few podcasts this week—Too Young Cinema Club and Sci-Fi Roundtable.
Too Young Cinema Club is a podcast about movies you watched when you were far too young that had a lasting impact. For me, that movie is Terminator 2: Judgement Day, which I first saw when I was about nine or ten.
During the podcast, it dawned on me just how much that movie inspired the way I tell stories.
Which movies did you watch when you were too young that stuck with you?
Visit: spreaker.com/show/too-young-cinema-club
On the Sci-Fi Roundtable, we discussed time travel (which inevitably led to a discussion about Terminator 2). It was a fun times as usual!
Visit: sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending April 12, 2020.
It’s been another busy week of lockdown. I've kept on with my schedule of writing in the mornings then home-schooling my son in the afternoons.
His guitar lessons are going really well. He’s getting the chords quite quickly and has got some strumming patterns down. I’ve taught him how to use a plectrum and started work on his first scale.
It’s surprising how fast he learns. He's seven, so he's basically a sponge at this age.
I love seeing his face when something clicks and he can do something he couldn’t before. I'm really proud of him for that.
We’ve definitely been enjoying the sunshine this week. It’s finally started to feel like spring. The sun’s been shining and winter seems like a distant memory.
We’ve been going out for walks each day. A few days ago, we took a walk along Morecambe prom and down the stone jetty to watch the tide coming in.
Taking a moment to get outside and appreciate nature is necessary in these testing times.
Book 15 is now live!
This week, I’ve been working on my first draft of The Tower, which is episode 15 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. Things are ramping up towards what I’m seeing as the final act (episodes 17-21) of the series.
In the meantime, episode 15, The Devil, is now live. As ever, I’ve kept the price down as low as I can—it’s 99p/99c or equivalent, or its available to read free on Kindle Unlimited.
Click HERE to get your copy.
The Devil has received the most pre-orders of any book I’ve released, so thanks to everyone who pre-ordered. It really means a lot to me.
Happy Easter!
I hope you’re having a hood weekend, especially if you’re celebrating Easter.
For lent, I gave up alcohol, chocolate, cake, biscuits, and bread. I’m sure my waistline has thanked me during this time being stuck at home, as I may have drifted into the habit of drinking far too much ale and gorging on German cookies. Mmmm…
It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for my son this year as we’ve not been able to buy him an Easter egg.
The shops are only stocking ‘essentials’ apparently, so no Easter eggs for us. We did manage to buy beer and gin though, so I guess alcohol is essential.
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending April 5, 2020.
Hasn't it been a strange couple of weeks? I hope you're keeping safe and you’re doing your part to keep this virus from spreading.
My family and I have been isolating since March 17. We’re using the time to home-school our son. My wife is teaching him in the mornings so I can get on with my writing, and I am teaching in the afternoons.
My son now knows a lot about Medieval England and I’ve introduced to Horrible Histories.
We've been working out ways that our son can interact with his school friends. He got quite upset when the schools closed and he realised it might be several weeks or months before he gets to play with his friends again. This has involved him writing letters and doing video calls. I can't imagine how strange it must be for him.
Instead of treating this period as dead time, I’ve decided I’m going teach my son how to play guitar. I've been playing since I was ten, and it’s something I planned to teach him when he turned ten. Nevertheless, fate has bought us an opportunity to do a few years earlier.
So far, he can strum an E minor and pluck the strings in time. I haven't told him yet how much practice he’ll need to do before he gets good!
Writing progress
Blind Reset is now ready for its final edit. I’ve decided that this is going to be a two-book series. Never say never, but Blind Gambit was a book I wrote in 2018 to explore my feelings about going blind, mixed with a fun sci-fi tale. It's the most personal thing I've written, but unfortunately, it's also the worst performing book I have in terms of sales.
I finished my final draft of The Devil, book 15 of the Ravenglass Chronicles, so that is now with the editor. I'm also five chapters into the first draft of The Tower, which is book 16.
The Tower looks like it's going to be quite a long episode. There's going to be another big game changer (like we saw at the ends of book four and book eleven), before we head into the final episodes of the series.
When you look at The Tower tarot card, it's quite a horrific image. It's a card about chaos—so, expect chaos.
Oxsight Prism
Last month, I asked to send me your ideas for ways to raise money towards a pair of Oxsight Prism glasses, which will improve my lost peripheral vision.
The glasses cost £4,000/$5,000 and I had some great suggestions about how I can raise the cash.
Some people suggested that I write an exclusive story and raise money through Kickstarter. Some suggested in-person events and book signings. A few of you suggested that I make T-shirts and mugs related to the series or fancy in general. The idea with the least amount of friction was to ask readers simply to share a link to my books with friends on social media, etc.
I spoke about it on last week’s Author Diary podcast, but I'm going to put fundraising on hold until the world gets back to normal. Hopefully, that won't be too far away.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending March 15, 2020.
I finally finished the second draft of Blind Reset…finally.
That took so much more effort than it needed. I ended up adding about 20,000 words to the manuscript. But it’s done and ready for…draft number three!
Fans of The Ravenglass Chronicles will be no doubt glad to hear that I’ve switched b to working on my draft of episode 15, The Devil.
I’ve cleaned up the scenes I’ve already drafted and gone over my outline to make sure this is another fun episode.
I cannot wait to start writing The Tower, which is episode 16, as…well, let’s just say some faeces hits the proverbial fan.
Oxsight Prism update
Last week, I mentioned that I was going to try out some specialised glasses made for people with my eye condition called Oxsight Prism.
They were much better than I thought they would be. They work by using a camera to project a streamed high definition image onto the lens.
You can adjust the zoom, the contrast, the brightness, etc. And it didn’t take 15 minutes to adjust to changes in light like my eyes usually do.
When I spoke to the rep prior to trying the glasses, I could see most of her face, and little else due to my lack of peripheral vision.
With the glasses on, I could see her face, the wall behind her, the sofa, the table between us, her bag in the corner…it was crazy.
I played around with them for about an hour. You can adjust the colours, make it monochrome, highlight the edges of objects, and there was even one option specifically used when looking for signs, which pixelates everything but signs so you can find them easier.
So, I’m definitely going to get some.
The trouble is, they’re £4,000 (about $5,000), so I need to work out some options for raising the funds.
A few people have suggested using Facebook or GoFundMe to raise the cash, but I’m not particularly comfortable asking people to hand over their hard-earned money.
I might run a few sales on my books and get some author friends to share them with their readers.
If you have any ideas for raising the funds that don’t require me to ask for donations or do anything illegal, hit reply and let me know.
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending March 8, 2020.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on my second draft of Blind Reset, the follow-up to my gamelit novel/meditation on disability, Blind Gambit.
I thought I would have had it done by now, but I’m 3,000 words away from the end. It’s been a slow process with a lot of re-working to improve the pacing and tighten up the story. I tend to under-write my first drafts, getting the story and dialogue down and ignoring things like description or action.
It’s definitely made me realise that even though I’ve got into a nice groove with The Ravenglass Chronicles, I still have the same struggles with Blind Reset as I did writing the first book. I put this down to the emotional rawness. Even though half the book is a fun adventure set in a virtual world, the other half is about coming to terms with going blind—something I’ve had to come to terms with myself.
All being well, I should have the second draft complete by Tuesday. This means I can put the project aside and dive into writing The Devil, episode 15 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I cannot wait.
My feelings are that once I’ve got my open projects out of the way (Cleric of the Wasteland, Blind Reset, and the co-authored Black Death trilogy), I want to focus on one thing—a sustained epic fantasy project.
I’ve been writing ideas down for a series in the Ravenglass Universe set a few hundred years after the events of my current series, with a new cast of characters and a bit of a darker feel, with thieves, assassins, and wyverns, of course! Think Scott Lynch meets Brent Weeks, with a bit of Robin Hobb thrown in for good measure.
2020 is about finishing open projects, including The Ravenglass Chronicles and the Wasteland series, so I’ve told myself I won’t start writing anything new until they’re done and dusted…though I have been toying around with an idea for a post-Earth space opera story…ooh, and that steampunk vigilante series…gah! Too many ideas and not enough time to write them.
I think I need to get the James Patterson setup where I write an outline and get someone else to write the stories :D
Oxsight Prism
I mentioned on last week’s Author Diary podcast that I'd put my name down for an assessment for the Oxsight Prism.
These are glasses made for visually impaired people that use streaming technology to improve visual acuity, peripheral vision, and allow users to adjust the contrast between objects, etc.
This is quite exciting as my eyesight really does suck—my left eye is shot and my right eye has five percent vision.
I’m not sure how much the glasses will cost, but I’m assuming they’ll be in the region of £1,000 as they are a very specialist tech.
Hopefully, they’ll be within my budget. If not, I’ll have to think of some fundraising ideas to raise the funds.
Ancient Civilizations
On this week’s episode of the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast, we dived into the speculative topic of advanced lost civilizations.
We covered the work of Graham Hancock, the show Ancient Aliens, ancient Egypt, and Atlantis.
Visit http://sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com or find the Sci-Fi Roundtable wherever you listen to podcasts.
Take care,
Jon
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending February 16, 2020.
This week was a mixed bag in terms of productivity. My voice has been a bit dodgy, so dictating my first draft of The Devil will have to wait.
Instead, I’ve been working on my second draft of Blind Reset, which is the follow-up to my gamelit novel/meditation on disability, Blind Gambit.
I’m halfway through and am happy with the scenes so far (or, at least, what I’ve turned them into). There were a few bits in the first draft where the pacing was all wrong and I needed to up the stakes in terms of conflict and tension.
That’s why I love the re-drafting process. It almost feels like cheating because I get to tell the story I wish I’d told in the first place. Life doesn’t get many do-overs, so that’s very cool to me.
Inconceivable!
I introduced my seven-year-old son to a couple of movies this week that I loved as a kid—The Princess Bride and Willow.
These moves were huge for me. I must have watched them hundreds of times, wearing out the VHS tapes and no doubt annoying my mum. I kept expecting to have to adjust the tracking at any moment.
It was interesting to see how they held up compared to some of the movies he loves, like How to Train Your Dragon and Detective Pikachu, etc.
It took him a while to warm to Willow. The first half was much slower paced than a lot of modern movies, but he stuck it out and enjoyed it by the end.
He absolutely loved The Princess Bride and laughed out loud at many of the classic lines. I was so proud.
He’s been getting me to pick movies and cartoons I liked as a kid for us to watch together. I’m weighing up whether to show him The Neverending Story or Labyrinth next (though I’m not sure how appropriate David Bowie’s leggings are for young eyes).
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending February 9, 2020.
I write this in a lot of pain because on Thursday I went to hospital and had my shoulder scanned and pumped full of steroids. It’s as if someone has come down on it with a brick.
I have a heat pack and some ibuprofen gel, so hopefully it should settle down over the next few days and I can start work on the physio exercises.
Temperance is out!
Temperance, episode 14 of The Ravenglass Chronicles has just gone live and I’ve already started work on book 15, The Devil. Click HERE to order your copy.
I’m really enjoying using the tarot cards as inspiration with this series—it's given me some great story ideas that I never would have considered on my own.
I was revisiting the tower card to start brainstorming ideas for book 16, and it couldn’t be more perfect. I’m over 70 percent through the story and each card brings new excitement, energy, and surprises.
I just need to work out what I should do after The Ravenglass Chronicles is complete…assassin series, anyone?
Twitter update
I finished reading the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It gave me a lot to think about in terms of my relationship with social media.
I decided I was long overdue to close my Twitter account. I started using Twitter in 2009, so it's something I've used for over a decade. It was a great platform when I worked as a reporter, but for the last couple of years it’s become a toxic cesspool of tribalism, anger, and people looking to ruin the lives of others to score political points. I don’t need that crap in my life.
I had to weigh up what I was actually getting from the platform and realised I was only staying on Twitter because I occasionally get messages from readers. I figured that if readers want to get in touch, they would find a way.
Closing it feels like a small weight has been lifted.
Groundhog Day
Last weekend, I appeared on the latest episode of the Now You’ve Seen It podcast to talk about Groundhog Day, the Bill Murray movie from the 90s. I’d never seen it before and I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
The podcast was a lot of fun to record and many laughs were had by all.
You can find Now You’ve Seen It wherever you get your podcasts.
The Good Place
I watched the finale of The Good Place this week. If you’ve not seen it, it’s a Netflix comedy series set in the afterlife. It’s produced by the same people who did things like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation.
The writing is tremendous and manages to create the perfect balance between comedy and an exploration of what it means to be a good person. The final episode fully encapsulated that, and I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t bring a tear to my eye.
I can't remember the last time I watched a show with such a perfect ending (maybe Breaking Bad did). I think back to shows I loved like Battlestar Galactica and Lost, which didn’t have satisfying finales, and am thankful the writers of The Good Place delivered an amazing finale.
And Janet might be one of my favourite characters in anything…except Sam Vimes.
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending February 2, 2020—that 02 02 2020!
I finished my third draft of Temperance this week, which is book 14 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. That’s now with a couple of early readers to get some feedback before it goes to the editor. This one was particularly challenging to write as it’s the most mystical/psychedelic thing I’ve ever written. It answers many questions about seers’ dreams…but raises some more about what Kat needs to do next.
I’ve started bringing together my plans for book 15, The Devil. I don’t want to give too much away, because it will spoil Temperance, but let’s just say the stakes get raised another notch…
Next week, I have a hospital appointment about an ongoing shoulder issue. The doctor wants to do some scans and inject me with steroids. I think my posture is causing the issues, probably because of spending most of my adult life working at computers.
I recently invested in a standing desk, so I'm sure that will help in the long-term, but in the meantime I’ve been doing physio exercises.
I hope that they don't need to do surgery, but that has been suggested. My rotator cuff and right shoulder blade are in a bit of a mess. My bad shoulder seems to stick out a weird angle as compared to the left.
I read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson this week, which I thoroughly enjoyed. What I love about astronomy and taking a cosmic perspective is that kicks you out of your ego and makes you remember how insignificant we all are in the grand scheme of the universe. The petty events of day-to-day life don't really matter in the scale of history and the universe.
That's a liberating thought.
Anything that gets away from worrying about the ins and outs on the latest events in the news cycle can only be a good thing.
Finally, I wanted to announce that I’m closing my Patreon page, effective immediately. I’d like to thank everyone who supported my work on the platform. If you’re a subscriber, I’ve made sure that you won’t be charged for February.
It was a difficult decision, but I want to focus primarily on producing the best stories I can, and creating regular content for Patreon was becoming too much of a time-sap. I hope you understand.
If you want to support my work, the most helpful thing you can do is leave amazing reviews on Amazon.
Take care,
Jon
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending January 12, 2020.
I returned to the writing desk on Monday and started getting up at 5am again to meditate and exercise before writing. Because of taking time off for Christmas and New Year, my sleep pattern shifted by about three-four hours.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were solid writing days…Thursday sucked.
I felt completely wiped-out. I’m not sure if it was the sleep pattern change catching up with me or whether it was SAD rearing its ugly head again, but I only managed to write 1,000 words (I usually do 5,000+). This was on the day I heard that Brandon Sanderson wrote 19,000 words in one day to finish the next book in the Stormlight Archive (I cannot wait to read that!)
I’ve been working on the first draft of Temperance, book 14 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, in the mornings, and on the second draft of Blind Reset (the follow-up to Blind Gambit) in the afternoons.
This new way of doing things has been working well for me (except on Thursday). Based on the way the stories are progressing, I should have Temperance ready for the editor in two weeks and Blind Reset by Easter.
Social media blackout
Throughout December, I decided to take a break from social media.
I went off Facebook and Twitter for forty days.
I’ve decided that Twitter showcases the worst of what humanity has to offer, so I won’t be going back on there again.
As for Facebook, I’ve installed a plug-in for Chrome which replaces the newsfeed with an inspirational quote (it’s called Newsfeed Eradicator). This means I can do the tasks I need to do on Facebook and get out without getting distracted. Perfect!
I’ve also decided to keep my phone free of social media and notifications. I have to admit that at first I found myself absently picking up my phone to check Facebook. But that stopped after a few days.
I realised I need social media to work for me, not for me to be compelled to use it without much conscious thought.
I’m definitely going to do more social media blackouts in the future…I’m sure my sanity will thank me.
Guilty pleasures
I got into a show on Netflix over the holidays called Ancient Aliens. I don’t subscribe to the whole ancient astronaut theory, but I am interested in ancient civilisations.
This show features amazing footage of megalithic structures, pyramids, underwater cities, etc. It’s a case of not throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Plus, the leaps in logic from “here’s a funny-looking rock” to “this is definitely evidence of ancient alien technology” is always entertaining.
Podcasting
Over the Christmas break, I posted a review of 2019, my favourite reads of 2019, and an outline of my 2020 goals on my author diary podcast feed.
In the latest episode, I talk about what I did over Christmas and New Year, how I plan to beat SAD next winter, my thoughts on The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, and my experience watching Groundhog Day for the first time… Visit: joncronshaw.libsyn.com to listen now or subscribe to Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary on you podcast app of choice.
If you have any questions you’d like me to answer on the podcast, hit reply now.
Take care,
Jon
Visit https://www.subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
Visit https://www.subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
Visit https://www.subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
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Find Jon online:
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Website. joncronshaw.com
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending December 8, 2019.
My wife and son have been ill this week, so I’ve not done as much writing as usual. My son was ill last weekend and was home on Monday, and then my wife got the same illness. I think it was probably the same virus that knocked me on my back a few weeks ago.
I didn't get anything done towards The Ravenglass Chronicles, save for a bit of outlining. But I did manage to do some final editing tasks towards my non-fiction book for authors, The Stoic Writer. I’m going to give it a final read, but I think it’s ready for the editor.
I had my best month ever in publishing in November. So, for a change, I’m actually going to treat my family with the money. Next year, I’m going to book a week holiday to get some late autumn sun. Hopefully, this will keep the worst symptoms of SAD at bay…hopefully. I've realised November is my worst month for Seasonal Affective Disorder—the depression is pretty hard-core at points. So, the extra sunshine can only help.
Finally, please visit https://patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to support this podcast and pay for my sun-cream.
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending November 17, 2019.
I was ill this week had what was probably the flu, so I was in bed for about four days. This was all the typical symptoms of cold sweats and waking up in the middle of the night full of snot and all that wonderful stuff.
I felt well enough to get back to work on Thursday. It was a bit slow-going but it was good to get back into writing Death, which is episode 13 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I managed to finish writing the first draft and now five chapters into the second. Hopefully by this time next week, I have a solid second draft ready.
I’ve had the first few reviews come in for book 12. They have been really positive, with some readers saying is strongest in the series. People who’ve read the author’s notes from that one will know has been difficult for me to view it objectively. I’m just pleased readers are enjoying it.
Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far, and to everyone who has helped The Ravenglass Chronicles episode 1-11 boxed set become a bestseller.
Jekyll and Hyde
I submitted the final draft of a story to a forthcoming anthology of tales inspired by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The anthology will raise money for Deaf Blind International feature stories from 16 authors, as well as the original tale by Robert Louis Stevenson.
My story is called The Princess and the Tailor and is a prequel to The Ravenglass Chronicles, telling the story of how cats mum and dad met for the first time. Let’s just say, it doesn’t go very well.
Black Death
The post-apocalyptic Black Death series is finally coming together. My co-author Lynn Sheridan’s now working through the final drafts of the trilogy, so that should be with the editor soon.
We are hoping to have everything done and dusted, ready for a release by spring…hopefully.
The Fool
I continue to post more chapters from the new prequel to The Ravenglass Chronicles on my Patreon page. Oppose new chapters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There are also dozens of short stories, a preview to the rewrite of Wizard of the Wasteland, early access to my author diary podcast, as well as exclusive articles and audio. You can access all of this for just one dollar per month.
Visit: https://patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending November 10, 2019.
It’s been a busy week. Last weekend I went to see my family in Wolverhampton. We celebrated bonfire night a few days early—so there were lots of fireworks, a curry, and gin.
I’m not sure if gin is a traditional bonfire night beverage, but it worked for me.
I was a little bit concerned how my guide dog Digit would react to the fireworks that have been going off all week, but he’s been fine. Explosions don’t seem to faze him…which might not be a good thing if the apocalypse comes.
I’ve been working on draft of Death, which is episode 13 of The Ravenglass Chronicles. If you’ve followed my work for a while, you might remember I wrote a story about three years ago called Her Name Was Red, which I got some great feedback for and was what inspired me to write The Ravenglass Chronicles. I’m now at that point in the overall story. There are some elements that remain from the original story, but around 95 percent is new.
This one has been a lot of fun to write.
This reminds me, book 12 is now live! Click HERE to get your copy. It’s 99c or you can read it on Kindle Unlimited. This one was extremely difficult to write, so I hope you enjoy reading it.
Reading
Based on a recommendation from a reader, I’m currently reading The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. I tend to have a fiction and non-fiction book on the go at any given time.
This book is excellent. It’s a close look at why people act the way they do. It’s a fascinating read. And I’m sure it will help to give my characters more depth.
Podcasting
As well as my usual Author Diary podcast, Dan Willcocks interviewed my on Great Writers Share. This is a podcast aimed mainly at other writers, but if you’re interested in getting an insight into my creative process, my philosophy on writing, and why I find Stoicism useful, do check it out.
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending October 27, 2019.
This week has been half-term holidays in the UK, so I have been in dad mode. It’s been great spending quality time with my son—the kid is so imaginative! He could talk for England on the subject of Pokémon and got quite competitive over a few games of Mario Kart.
I did manage to go over notes from beta readers for book 12 of The Ravenglass Chronicles and a short story set in the Ravenglass Universe for an anthology of stories inspired by Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde.
But, the half-term holidays are only a week, so my son goes back to school on Monday and I have to get back to the writing. My plan is start my first draft of book 13 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, which is inspired by the tarot card ‘death.’ I’ve written the outline and am I’m chomping at the bit to start writing—I have a feeling this episode is going to be far too much fun.
It’s interesting the types of things I’ve found myself researching for my books. Over the past year I’ve explored old ships and Anglo Saxon burial grounds, and learned about sword fighting, medieval food, and making poisons. This week I got far too much detail from an expert about how corpses decompose. Yuck! At least it’s inspired a rather disgusting scene in my next book.
My wife and I finished watching the new series of Stranger Things on Netflix. Maybe it’s because I’m the perfect age for the nostalgia to make me feel nice and fuzzy, but I loved this show.
Going in, I was a little bit worried that the quality might dip (I thought the second season paled in comparison to the first—and the less said about Eleven’s tangent episode, the better). But this series was fantastic. And The Neverending Story bit was hilarious.
I grew up on 80s movies where a group of friends go on an adventure (The Goonies, IT, Stand by Me, etc.), so this ticked a lot of boxes for me.
I’m now at loss as to what to watch next.
Now that I’ve finished posting the re-write of Wizard of the Wasteland on Patreon, I have started posting chapters from a new prequel to The Ravenglass Chronicles. The story is called The Fool, and it’s a new novella-length story about how Kat and Hansel first met. Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor and start reading today.
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Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending October 13, 2019.
I managed to finish the first draft of The Hanged Man and am almost done with my second draft. Hopefully, I’ll have the final draft ready for the editor by the end of next week.
Last week I mentioned that my guide dog Digit got attacked walking my son home from school, so I’ve had the fallout from that to deal with.
The police tried to fob me off to the dog warden. But because Digit is an assistance dog, it is treated as an assault against a person in the UK, so it is a police issue.
The police did come round and talk to me about it. Luckily, one of the parents got half decent photo of the guy and his dog, so that's with the police.
Since it happened, I've actually seen the guy with his dog three times over the past week. I’ve let the investigating officer know each time I’ve seen him, and it’s at the same time and place as the attack. So, if the police are actually looking to talk to him, they know exactly where to find him.
I’m sure the police have much more important things to deal with, so I don’t think anything will happen.
Digit is still injured. He’s been to the vets three times and will be going back on Tuesday to have the staples taken out his leg. Poor guy still has one of those cone things around his head and keeps bumping into things around the house.
Hopefully, the attack won’t have knocked his confidence when he gets back to work. I really struggle in the winter when I have to use a white cane, so I just hope he’s going to be okay.
So thank you to everyone who sent Digit well wishes, I tried to respond to as many as I could, but there were so many that some of them might have slipped through the cracks.
Finally, I also want to thank everyone who left a review on the episodes 1-11 of The Ravenglass Chronicles boxed set. I had one reviewer compare my writing to Robin Hobb, so I’ll take that :D
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending October 6, 2019.
It’s been a mixed bag of a week. It started well enough. I wrote a short story called The Princess and the Tailor for a charity anthology inspired by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I took the theme of a person transforming into a monster and ran with it. It tells the story of the way Kat’s parents met in The Ravenglass Chronicles. And if you’ve read the series, you’ll know that things didn’t exactly go well.
I want to thank everyone who helped make The Ravenglass Chronicles episodes 1-11 boxed set an Amazon best-seller. It was only there for a couple of days, but I did get a pretty orange tag on my book!
I went back to work on The Hanged Man, which is book 12 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, and I’m about three-quarters through now. I had hoped to have my draft finished by Friday, but life has a tendency to throw obstacles in the way…
Digit
On Thursday, my guide dog Digit was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier while I we were walking my son home from school. It was quite traumatic, but I managed to get the other dog off Digit before he could do any serious damage. Poor guy has three wounds on his front left leg. The vet has stapled and bandaged him and he’s walking around with a cone around his head. The wounds went down to the muscle, but didn’t damage the muscle, so he should be healed in a couple of weeks.
What made it particularly frustrating was that the dog’s owner was completely unapologetic and ran off when I tried to speak to him. Luckily, one of the other parents managed to get a photo of him, so hopefully the police will be able to catch up with him.
I had to deal with the fallout from that for the rest of Thursday and all day Friday. So this has meant going to the vets (twice), talking to the police, Guide Dogs, and the local dog warden to give statements, etc. And, now, I am out of a guide dog for two weeks meaning I have to go back to using my white cane…which sucks.
Podcasting
On the Sci-Fi Roundtable this week, Shane Thomas and I were joined by author Andy Zach to discuss the neuralink, which enables you to link your brain to a computer. But this isn’t science fiction; one of Elon Musk’s companies is working on this. Visit: sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com or find it wherever you download your podcasts.
Patreon
Finally, please do check out my Patreon page. We’re coming to the end of the Wizard of the Wasteland re-write, so, next, I’ll be posting the pre-edited chapters of the new version of The Fool, which is set about six months before The Ravenglass Chronicles and tells the story of how Kat and Hansel became friends.
Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor and get access today.
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to Jon’s author diary for the week ending September 22, 2019.
It’s been a busy week. Last Sunday I launched episode 1 to 11 box set of The Ravenglass Chronicles, so I’ve been doing a lot things this week to get new readers interested in that.
I want to thank everyone who has helped make it the number one new release in teen and young adult historical fantasy.
I also want to thank anyone who left a review on the episodes one to four boxset after a one-star review dragged my star average to the gutter and killed my sales.
The new version of The Fool is now with my beta readers. As soon as I get it back from the editor and proofread, you’ll be the first to get a free copy. It’s set about six months before the events of The Ravenglass Chronicles, and tells the story of how Kat first met Hans.
It was so much fun returning to Kat as a naïve young thing. It’s crazy how much her character has evolved since the first episode…and how much she’s going to change in the future.
Wizard of the Wasteland
My first novel, Wizard of the Wasteland is currently on offer for just 99c. If you’ve never read it before, now’s the perfect time to get stuck in. Click HERE to read now.
Patreon
I'm nearly done posting the rewritten version of Wizard of the Wasteland on Patreon. For just $1 per month, you get exclusive articles, short stories, and early access to all my major releases.
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending September 8, 2019.
I’ve had a difficult but productive week. I started working on my first draft of The Hanged Man, which is episode 12 of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
I’ve written the first four scenes, but it has been slow going. I think I need to revisit my outline and make it is strong as I can. It’s not there yet.
I broke away from the story and focused instead on a new non-fiction book for authors called The Stoic Writer, which is about how Roman stoicism can help authors with their mindset.
I managed to write the first and second draft over the week, and have sent it to beta readers.
It was a fun book to write, and I think it was the palate cleanser I needed.
Next week is my dad’s funeral. I’m not looking forward to that and I wonder whether the looming prospect of that is what is causing the resistance on the fiction.
And in the week following the funeral, we’re having a new kitchen fitted, so the house is going to be noisy and in disarray. I’m going to use this time to focus on editing. Hopefully, I’ll have a first draft of The Hanged Man to re-write. Failing that, I have plenty of other projects to complete.
Justice
Anyone who has pre-ordered Justice, book 11 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, will no doubt have received an email from Amazon saying the release date has been brought forward to September 12.
Click HERE to pre-order.
Check out this selection of novellas
If you can’t get enough serialised fantasy novellas, please check out the following promo featuring a bunch of authors write serials. Visit: http://www.fantasykindlebooks.com/novellas.html
Podcasting
Finally, on the latest episode of the Sci-Fi Roundtable, author Dr Wesley Britton joined us to talk about blind authors and characters.
He has the same condition as me (retinitis pigmentosa), but he’s much further along with the condition as I am.
It was cool to have a conversation about the experience of dealing with visual impairment and how there is no reason why it should stop anyone being an author.
Plus, last week, Shane Thomas read an excerpt from my novel, Blind Gambit.
Please search for Sci-Fi Roundtable wherever you get your podcasts or check out the podcast feed at sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com.
Take care,
Jon
Welcome to Jon’s Author Diary for the week ending September 1, 2019…yes, September.
I’ve had a productive week. If you’ve been receiving my newsletters for a while, you now that I've been telling myself not to start new projects until I clear the backlog of ongoing projects.
Well, I failed that this week.
I’ve been working on a new prequel for The Ravenglass Chronicles. It’s set about nine months before the events of The Magician, and gives some more insight into Kat’s life and how she first met Hans. I have a first draft complete and will be working on a second draft over the next week or so.
Those of you who on my Patreon page will get a first look at this as I post the unedited chapters as soon as the second draft is ready. The rest of you will have to wait! But, fear not, it’s going to be a freebie to say thank you for supporting my work.
The prequel will be called…
drumroll
The Fool.
“Wait! Didn’t you already release The Fool?”
Yes. The story I originally released under the title The Fool is now combined with The Magician. Amazon would not let me have a book 0 (The Fool is card 0 in the tarot) linked to a series. This meant readers missing out on the first episode of the series.
So, The Fool as a title was unpublished and there will be a new version.
I’m not going to make this available on Amazon, only to my newsletter subscribers. So, look out for the new version of The Fool coming at some point in the near future.
Black Death update
I have now compiled the Black Death series into three novels. It is now with my co-author, Lynn, so it's out of my hands for a while. I hope that it will get done in the not-too-distant future.
TOOL has a new album!
I was excited this week to see that one of my favourite bands TOOL released a new album for the first time in 13 years.
And it did not disappoint.
It is a great album. This will probably sound pretentious, but TOOL’s doesn’t write ‘songs’—they are more like musical experiences, hypnotic stories that take you on strange journeys.
The Wasteland series re-write
I continue to post chapters from the new, improved version of Wizard of the Wasteland every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on my Patreon page.
I’m about twenty percent through reworking Knight of the Wasteland—I forgot just how much I loved writing this story. As soon as I’m done posting chapters from Wizard, I’ll go straight onto this.
And, of course, I’m posting these in addition to short stories, podcasts, and exclusive articles.
You can access all of these for as little as $1 per month. Please visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
Assassin novels
I’m currently on a bit of grimdark fantasy assassin kick. I’ve recently read Andy Peloquin’s Darkblade Assassin and have moved onto Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
Do you have a favourite assassin novel or series you think I should read?
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending August 25, 2019.
This week has been a bit of a mixed bag. A virus knocked me back for a couple of days, so this gave me chance to read a big chunk of Anthony Ryan's Blood Songs, book one in his Raven Shadow series.
It’s a grimdark epic fantasy set in military order, so it ticks a lot of boxes for me. I’m about two –thirds through, and it’s a great story so far.
I managed to finish the third draft of Justice, which is book 11 of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
My process usually involves me writing a shitty first draft, which is where I vomit the story from brain to the page. In my second draft, I do a complete re-write, telling the story how I wish I’d told it first time around. And then my third is focused on making the writing on a sentence-level. It’s very important that my words have the right rhythm and flow. It’s now ready for the editor. So, hopefully, I’ll get that released mid-September.
I did make the mistake of putting all my ongoing and planned future projects onto a spreadsheet to share with my editor.
Eek!
I had three first-draft novels, three novels waiting for a final redraft, two Wasteland novels needing a rewrite, three non-fiction books drafted, and eleven novellas to write. This isn’t to count the series I’ve started planning when I’ve cleared the backlog of projects.
There’s a lesson there about focusing on one thing until the end, I’m sure…
One-hundred episodes!
Next seek marks the one-hundredth episode of my Author Diary podcast. For this episode, I’d like you to email jon (at) joncronshaw.com with a question for me to answer on the podcast. It can be about anything—my work, my life, or anything to do with books, movies, writing, etc.
Patreon
I’ve been continuing to post the re-write of Wizard of the Wasteland chapter-by-chapter on Patreon. Plus, podcasts, short stories, and articles. I post new chapters on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and you can get access for $1 per month. Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
Yours,
Jon
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Welcome to my author diary for the week ending August 12, 2019.
Support my work at https://patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
Welcome to Jon's author diary for week ending August 4, 2019.
It’s been a slow week in terms of actual writing. I have been in holiday mode, so I've been doing dad stuff.
My mother came to stay and took a daytrip to Blackpool in scorching sunshine. I spent most of the day nipping between areas of shade and pouring bowls of water for my guide dog, Digit.
It's been difficult to keep any kind of writing routine, so I’ve been snatching moments here and there to do small tasks, such as gathering quotes for non-fiction books and reading.
When I’m not focused on writing, my mind tends to run away with ideas. This is a blessing and a curse. I had the idea of writing a space fantasy series involving dragons…and a zombie apocalypse series…and a military fantasy series…a grimdark fantasy assassin series. I’m sure for some authors this would be wonderful, but for me they’re distractions.
I’m sitting on several books in various draft states—Cleric of the Wasteland, Blind Reset, the Black Death trilogy, Black Death: London, Justice, and three non-fiction books. Plus, I’m in the process of re-writing the first three Wasteland books! So, the last thing I need is more distractions.
I need to focus on finishing all the open projects before moving onto a new one, but it’s like my mind keeps going, ‘hey, what about this?’ I’m like a magpie drawn to shiny new things.
Patreon
I’ve posted the first four chapters of the re-written Wizard of the Wasteland onto my Patreon page. You can read the first chapter HERE for free, and get full access to exclusive short stories, audio, articles, reviews, and early releases from a dollar a month.
I’ll post a new chapter every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to support my work.
Black Death
I’ve been speaking to my co-author about potential release dates for the Black Death trilogy, and based on our current workloads, it looks like we’re either going to launch the series in November or next February.
The Ravenglass Chronicles
Wheel of Fortune, episode ten of The Ravenglass Chronicles went live this week. You can read the entire series through Kindle Unlimited, or each novella is 99c/99p. Click HERE to read Wheel of Fortune.
Question
Does it annoy you when authors write several genres?
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for July 29, 2019.
Last week was the 10th anniversary of my wife and me getting married. So we went to Scotland to spend a week in a log cabin enjoying wine and a hot tub.
We then went to Edinburgh, where I attended the 20books conference, and got to meet some great authors and catch up with some old friends. So my head is still spinning from that. I’m what you’d describe as an outgoing introvert—I can deal with meeting new people, but when it’s over, I just want to curl up in the dark and listen to a good audiobook.
Writing is a weird business, especially when you do it full-time, so having conversations with people who ‘get it’ was amazing. Even my closest family and friends don’t really understand what it is I do. Because write characters that connect on an emotional level with readers is more than just a hobby to me—it’s my calling.
Digit
When I went to Scotland, I decided to leave my guide dog Digit with a boarder for the week. Luckily, it was the person who’d trained Digit as a pup, so it was someone who knew Digit, which put my mind at rest.
I really missed having him to help me as using a white cane feels awkward. It was probably for the best though as I had some great discussions about books and writing at the conference which I’m sure would have all been about dogs if Digit was there.
Reading
I’ve started reading Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski, which is the first book in The Witcher series. I’m about halfway through and really enjoying the world and characters, though it does feel like a series of connected shorts rather than a fully realised novel.
Getting my son into fiction
My son turns seven in September and is starting to get into reading. He has recently read all of the How to Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell (they are very different to the movies), he's read the first two in her Wizards of Once series, and has moved onto Harry Potter—I couldn't be prouder!
Wheel of Fortune
The tenth book in my Ravenglass Chronicles series comes out on Thursday, August 1. I’m not a fan of the title—it reminds me too much of the game show, but it is a tarot card in the Major Arcana, so my hands are tied.
Wasteland series and Patreon.
As you may be aware if you listen to my Author Diary podcast, I’m in the process of re-writing my Wasteland series.
I’ve just posted the first chapter of the Wizard of the Wasteland onto my Patreon page patreon.com/joncronshawauthor. The first chapter is open to anyone, and I will post a chapter on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for patrons.
I’ve overhauled the entire series, rewriting every line to tighten up the language and story, turn it from present to past tense, and give readers access to Abel’s thoughts. This has added a new subplot, which I hope will make for a deeper story.
They are still in a draft state, but I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve done and give a bit more insight into my process.
This means as well as posting chapters from ongoing projects as I’m doing them, giving access to story months in advance, I’ll also share things like scrawled outlines and raw audio of dictated chapters if there’s interest.
I hope you’ll come and join me. I’d love to hear your feedback as I go. I want my stories to be as powerful as possible, and the best way I can do that is with your help.
Yours,
Jon
Hello, welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending July 21, 2019.
I have finished my first draft of Blind Reset! It’s taken me over a year, but I've done it. It's a good feeling to know that it’s not an abandoned project, just postponed one.
I also got Wheel of Fortune back from a proofread, so I just need to write an author's note and format it, so I’ll probably get that out in the first week of August.
I've also been carrying on my rewrite of Knight of the Wasteland, so am about 20 percent through doing that. It’s going slowly, but this one of those things I’ll keep chipping away when I don't have anything more urgent to do.
It’s really obvious revisiting the story that I’m much better at writing and telling stories than I was, so it’s been great to bring the quality up to a standard that will hopefully make for better reading experience.
There’s part me thinking that I should just leave it as a monument how I was, but I want to provide the best experience for the reader I can. I want it to be something I can be proud of in 10, 20, 30 years.
I'm on the verge of closing my Patreon page as, after six months, I have not seen any traction on the site.
I really appreciate everyone who has supported me, but this was one of those things where I have to decide whether it’s worth me spending the time working on stories and posts for less than $10 a month, and unfortunately, the answer is no. Writing books is my full-time job, so I have to focus on the areas that will pay my bills.
So, unless I suddenly get a surge that makes it worth it, I’ll be closing it over the next month or so.
Finally, I have been posting some stories on my website at joncronshaw.com. My latest story is a dark fantasy tale called No Rehab for Wizards, so please do check that out.
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending, July 14, 2019.
I’ve had another productive week. I’ve been working on my first draft of Blind Reset, my follow-up to Blind Gambit. I'm just about to write the final six chapters, so I should have a first draft of this book ready by the middle of next week. Consider I abandoned this book a year ago, it feels great to know I’ve nearly got the story out of my head.
Miracle mornings
I’ve continued to get up at 4.45am every morning to get the writing done. What’s surprised me is that having just a few hours of focused time where I can get into a flow state has almost tripled my production. The numbers don’t make sense, but I’m not going to complain!
I’ll admit that I’m starting to feel tired. It probably didn’t help that my son decided to wake me up at 1.30am on Tuesday morning. A few author friends of mine who have done something similar told me that the next couple of weeks are the hardest, but then getting up becomes a habit.
Because of the school summer holidays, I have three more full writing days left until September. I’m going to continue getting up early, but my writing time will only be those brief windows in the morning. This is why I’ve been so focused on getting first drafts of linger projects finished. My hope is that by the time I’ve finished writing The Ravenglass Chronicles, I’ll have no other projects to do, so I can focus on a new flagship series.
Since June 16, I have complete first drafts for:
- The Ravenglass Chronicles book 11, Justice.
- Cleric of the Wasteland, Wasteland book 4.
- Black Death: Outbreak.
- Black Death: Survival.
- Black Death: Apocalypse.
- Black Death: London.
- Podcasting for Authors.
Next week, I will add Blind Reset to this list!
Of course, I’ll have my work cut out for me in terms of re-drafting, but five of those projects have been hanging over me for a year or more. So, it’s a massive psychological boost to feel like I’m moving forward.
Reading
I read a very cool non-fiction book this week called Creative Thinking by Jonathan Firth. It was an advance copy and I think it’s set for release sometime in the next week or so.
In the book, a cognitive psychologist goes deep into how to be more creative. It was full of great tips and tricks, and I’ve been introduced to the idea of taking a ‘nappuccino’—essentially drinking a strong coffee before taking a power nap. It tried it on Friday and it worked really well.
I’d recommend to anyone who wants to boost their creativity, whether its art, music, coding, business, I think this book will be very beneficial.
Do you have any great productivity tips? Hit reply and let me know.
The Sci-Fi Roundtable.
On this week’s episode of the podcast, we had our biggest roundtable to date, with five authors, recorded over three continents, to discuss artificial intelligence and artificial life.
I think I might have been the most pessimistic about the future of AI and what how it will change what it means to be a productive person, so do check that out.
You can subscribe wherever you download podcasts, or listen at sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com.
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending July 7, 2019.
This week has been characterised by getting first drafts done. I complete the first drafts of Cleric of the Wasteland, the Black Death trilogy, and Black Death: London.
Black Death: London
Now, I’m not quite sure what Black Death: London will end up being. It could work as a standalone novella, my co-author could write his own point of view story around it, or I could write another point of view character and turn it into a standalone novel—I’ve got far too many ideas for this one!
Black Death: London is an apocalyptic story about a politician who uses the outbreak of a deadly plague to move up the political ranks. It’s probably the most satirical thing I’ve ever written, and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the insanity of the story…I know what they say about laughing at your own jokes.
The main character is a scheming egomaniac who will stop at nothing—and I mean nothing—to get just a little bit more power. I used to work as a political reporter and also worked as press coordinator for a shadow minister, so it’s definitely one of those ‘write what you know’ situations.
The Hermit
On Thursday, I released The Hermit, which is episode nine of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I didn’t think until I set the date for release that July 4 is a holiday in the States. I think it celebrates that time Will Smith punched an alien…I might be wrong. You can check that out HERE.
Blind Reset
I’ve just finished doing an edit of the first quarter of my follow-up to my gamelit novel/story about coming to terms with going blind, Blind Gambit, titled Blind Reset. If you have been following my work for a while, you’ll know that I abandoned Blind Reset a year ago. I didn’t think the story was working and I made the decision to give it up as a bad job.
I hate abandoning projects, and this has hung over me for the past year. So, a few weeks ago, I dug out what I had written so far and revisited the outline. I made a few tweaks and I’m now excited about the story again.
I think I made the decision to abandon Blind Reset at a time when I was dealing with depression, so it feels good to resurrect this project and throw up a middle finger to depression’s hold on me.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to focus primarily on getting a first draft done. So, wish me luck.
My thinking is that when I come to the end of The Ravenglass Chronicles next year, I want to be in a position where I have no lingering projects. I can start on something new and focus all of my attention on one thing.
If you enjoy reading these newsletters, my Author Diary podcast goes into more detail and is probably a bit more stream-of-consciousness than these posts. Got to joncronshaw.libsyn.com or find Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary on iTunes, Stitcher, or through your favourite podcast app.
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to my author diary for the week ending June 30, 2019.
I’ve had another productive week. I’ve continued getting up at 5am in order to get a few extra hours work done before everyone else in the house wakes up
I wrote the first draft of Justice, which is book 11 in The Ravenglass Chronicles. I also got book 9 The Hermit from the editor and has received a final proofread. It’s now formatted and ready to go, so it’ll be available on July 4.
I’ve just finished re-drafting book three of the Black Death series and added ten more scenes to book two. It’s a bit of weird experience having to write a novel’s worth of material over the trilogy, but I’ve managed to inject a lot of darkness and action into the story.
It’s finally starting to feel like it's coming together. We have a solid draft of books one and two, and next week I’m going to add ten more scenes to book three.
Because I am a few weeks ahead with my schedule for The Ravenglass Chronicles, I’m going to focus on finishing my first draft of Cleric of the Wasteland. I’ve got three weeks until the six-weeks summer break, so I’m determined to get this done…finally. I mean, I’ve only been working on it for a year and a half.
I’m in the process of rewriting the first three novels in my Wasteland series into past tense and bringing out the emotional impact of the stories, so I’ll probably re-release the whole series once book 4 is ready.
I’ve also been looking over Blind Reset. This is the follow-up to Blind Gambit I abandoned last year. I’ve decided to give it another go as soon as I’m done overhauling the Wasteland novels. It seems my reservations about the story were unfounded and I’ve concluded that you shouldn’t make important decisions while depressed.
I want to get done with all the lingering projects, so when I finish The Ravenglass Chronicles next year, I’ll be in a position where I can focus on one project at a time.
Finally, we had a fun discussion on the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast with post-apocalyptic author Darran Handshaw about engineering after the apocalypse. Visit: sfrtpodcast.libsyn.com to listen, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Visit subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
Visit subscribepage.com/ravenglass to join the VIP mailing list. You will receive free stories and be first to know about new releases.
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending June 9, 2019.
I am back at the writing desk after last week's half-term holiday and have been experimenting with a new schedule for my work. So instead of just focusing on one project at a time, I now work on a project that needs editing in the mornings and write first drafts and outlines during the afternoon.
I’ll track how much I do over the next six weeks to see if this is working, or whether it is slowing me down.
Writing
During the mornings this week, I worked on redrafting The Hermit, episode nine of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
In the afternoons, I worked on Cleric of the Wasteland, book 4 in the Wasteland series and have just reached the midpoint of the story. As I started work on this 18 months ago, I think it’s about time that I get this book finished!
I'm hoping that with this new way of working, I can have a solid first draft of Cleric of the Wasteland complete by the end of July.
Blind Reset?
When the fourth Wasteland book is complete, there’s a distinct possibility that I will write the follow-up to Blind Gambit. I abandoned the sequel a year ago, and revisiting it I’ve realised I wasn’t in the right headspace to make a judgement. Looking at it with a bit of distance, I can see the scenes I’ve written are solid and the outline is good.
If you’ve read Blind Gambit, you’ll know that it set half in a virtual world and half in the real world. The real world scenes were challenging to write because they are about a teenage boy coming to terms with going bling—something I have to deal with, so it’s very personal, very raw. I have half of the real-world scenes written for book 2, so it’s just a case of adding a few scenes a week to finish the story.
Book club read
I’ve started reading The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. This is an epic fantasy classic that I have not read before and has been on my TBR pile for years. We’re reading it as our June read in The Arcane Book Club Facebook group, so that force my hand. I’m only a couple of chapters into the audiobook and I’m already hooked.
Ancient Egypt
I’ve been on a bit of an ancient Egypt binge this week and watched a few documentaries and listened to several podcasts on the subject. I’m currently watching one on Netflix called The Pyramid Code. The first episode was great. It showed how many of the pyramids were lined up to the precession of the zodiac and arranged to reflect the solstices.
The second episode unfortunately went to the pseudo-science route, bringing in ‘subtle energies’ and magic. One of the contributors talked about the existence of light ‘orbs’ within the pyramids, suggesting untapped energy that scientists can’t explain. They can. I used to do photography. What they refer to as orbs are simply the camera’s flash bouncing off dust motes, creating the illusion of a light orb. The subject is fascinating enough as it without adding in woo.
Support my work
I continue to add content to my Patreon page—I’ve posted stories, articles, and audio, many of which are free to access, so please do check those out and support me for $1 per month at patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
Yours,
Jon
Welcome to Jon's author diary for the week ending June 2, 2019.
This week was the half-term holidays, so my wife and son have been at home. We visited my family in the Midlands, so it was great to catch up with my siblings.
On the car journey, we listened to How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. It was a lot of fun and vastly different to the movies. I think the only things they kept from the films were the setting and the character names. It was narrated by David Tennant, so that was a bonus.
In terms of actually writing, I made some slight tweaks to Finish Your First Novel after receiving feedback from beta readers. It’s now with the editor, so I’ll have some review copies over the next month or so if anyone is interested.
Next week, I’m going to carry on with my second draft of The Hermit, book 9 of The Ravenglass Chronicles, and hopefully get that to my alpha readers by June 14 for feedback.
I read a fascinating book this week called Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock. I recently heard an interview with him on the Joe Rogan podcast. The book outlines the possibility of an advanced lost civilisation. The only trouble with books like this is that they send my imagine racing, and I know I need to focus on my Ravenglass Chronicles series!
This weekend was the Morecambe Steampunk Festival. This was a great excuse for me to get out the house, check out some awesome cosplay, inventive contraptions, and drink beer.
Welcome to Jon's Author Diary for the week ending May 26, 2019.
I carried on writing my non-fiction books. I sent Finish Your First Novel off to my beta readers to get some feedback and finished the second draft of the main body of Podcasting for Authors.
The next step in that book is to write the appendices because the main section is principles on preparing a podcast and how to source and conduct interviews, etc. The appendices are going to be more technical walk-through guides on how to record, edit, upload, and promote a podcast. So when inevitable does happen and something like a podcast host updates its system, I’ll be able to go into the appendix pages and make those necessary changes without affecting the main body of the text.
Next week is the half term holiday, so I will only be doing about an hour a day as I plan on spending time with my wife and son.
After that, I plan on returning to my Ravenglass Chronicles series to get the second draft of The Hermit finished.
I’ve also started reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher. This is the first book in his Dresden Files series and it's been recommended to me countless times over the year. I’ve never been a fan of urban fantasy, but I am enjoying this book immensely.
I watched the finale of Game of Thrones this past week and I have a theory.
HERE BE SPOILERS
I’m convinced that Bran is a deeply evil character—if it is even Bran at all who inhabits his body. Because of his powers and the fact that he knew where he had to be and why, I’m convinced he must have known what would happen to King’s Landing.
He could have prevented a million deaths and he didn’t.
He was and still is the three-eyed raven. And the creation of the Night King was no accident.
There is no other way around it—Bran is evil.
What do you think?
Support me at patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.
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Hello and welcome to my Author Diary for the week ending May 12, 2019.
May 12 is my birthday. So happy birthday to me. I received a new guitar amp from my wife, so I’ll be annoying my neighbours/family with clumsy renditions of Queens of the Stone Age songs.
I had a mixed bag of a week. It was a bank holiday on Monday so that meant one less writing day and then on Tuesday and Wednesday I was feeling pretty rough. I’m getting over what was basically a chest infection, so that was fun and exciting.
Writing
I managed to complete the first draft of Wheel of Fortune, which is book ten of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I thought it was high time I named a book after one of my favourite games shows of the 90s—look out for my future books, Catchphrase and Bullseye!
Book eleven is going to be the end of the second main arc. There’s a lot of things coming together, a lot of revelations and a big game-changer at the end. It’s going to be a lot of fun to write.
Book eight, Strength, comes out tomorrow, along with the boxset of episodes five to eight. Click HERE to order.
Pikachuuuuu!
On Friday, I went to see Detective Pikachu with my son and wife. It was a fun film filled with jokes that will no doubt wash over kids’ heads. It’s one of those films that is a bit like Toy Story where it works for children of all ages.
Books
I finished reading The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler. I very much enjoyed that and look forward to reading more in the series.
I also started re-reading Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, which is the May read in The Arcane Book Club Facebook group.
More places to consume my fiction
My steampunk story Lord Sidebottom and the Awesome Airship Mystery was reprinted on the Science Fantasy Hub and it will be featured on next week’s Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast as an audio story, so do check that out.
Also, my first novel Wizard of the Wasteland is only 99c/99p at the moment, so grab yourself a copy HERE.
Hello, welcome to my author newsletter for the week ending May 5, 2019.
I’ve had a very productive week. I managed to finish my first draft of The Hermit, episode nine of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I'm really pleased with how that went. I think it answers a few questions and raise more.
I also finished writing the new scenes for the third Black Death novel. This was fast-paced, with a lot of drama and action. I really enjoyed getting to write a redemption story. As with all my first drafts, it’s in no fit state to read, but the story is there, and I can no build on the bones to make it palatable for human consumption.
To get me in the right frame of mind of writing in a thriller style, I read Dan Brown’s novel Angels and Demons. The pacing and action was excellent, but the story was preposterous. There more fantastical things going on than in my Ravenglass Chronicles, and my series features magic blades, talking wyverns, sentient ships, and prescient dreams. That being said, it was a fun, quick read.
I’ve also been reading The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler—now this is more to my taste! I’ve been recommended this book several times by readers who said it reminds them of my fantasy stuff. I can see where the comparisons are in terms of the writing style and the minimal level of description. It’s primarily about the characters and story, and doesn’t get bogged down in too much world-building.
I watched the latest episode of Game of Thrones this week (I use the word ‘watch’ very loosely as I’m convinced most of this episode was filmed with the lens cap left on).
This was a tense episode with a lot to keep track of—most of all the deaths. Shit is really starting to hit the fan. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. I cannot wait to see where this goes!
If you haven't done so already, please do subscribe to the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast. Last week we had a interview with Stephanie Barr, who is an author and rocket scientist. We talked about troubleshooting in space as well as cats and dragons, so that was a lot of fun.
Over the next month, we’ve got episodes about steampunk, genetically modified humans, and engineering after the apocalypse. So, please do check those out.
Until next time, cheerio.
Jon
Hello, welcome to my Author Diary for the week ending April 28, 2019.
I had a fun week. I’ve not done much in the way of work. My sister came to stay with her boyfriend and my nephew.
My nephew is eight and my son is six, and they get on really well. I have to say it was a bit noisy, but they had a good time, so that's the main thing.
In terms of actual work, I wrote two scenes for The Hermit (book 9 of The Ravenglass Chronicles), which brings my total up to four scenes! I also wrote an outline for the new scenes I need to write for the third book in Black Death trilogy.
My sister introduced me to a fun comedy called What we do in Shadows. I watched the film of this a few years ago, but didn't realise there wasa series. It’s a mockumentary about vampires living in the modern day, and it's hilarious.
I also watched the new episode of Game of Thrones, which I enjoyed, though it was definitely another episode of setup—they’ve had seven series of that, let’s just get to the finale!
I won’t give away any spoilers (that would be mean), but I did laugh uproariously at ‘giant’s milk.’
You can also check out the new podcast I host called Sci-fi Roundtable. This is a podcast where science fiction and fantasy authors have discussions about specific topics in the realms of sci-fi and fantasy.
The first five episodes are now live and include discussions about the multiverse and Japanese mythology. Next week, we have an actual rocket scientist talking about space, cats, and dragons, so that’s fun.
Yours,
Jon
Hello, welcome to my Author Diary for the week ending April 21, 2019.
This week has been a bit different to what I expected. My son went to stay with his grandma for a couple of days, so that gave me chance to do some writing.
Because this wasn't scheduled work week, I decided to focus on the Black Death series, so I wrote twenty scenes—ten for book one and ten for book two—to fill in the gaps from losing one the collaborators.
The scenes are very barebones at the moment—they are in a first draft state. I will add more descriptions and bringing out more of the emotional impact in later drafts, but the dialogue and the story are there. I tend to write something similar to a poorly written screenplay for my first draft and then build on that until I get to to third and fourth drafts where I focus on things on the sentence level. Draft one is just me getting the story out of my head as quickly as possible.
I’ve re-read the first two books, and I have to say I’m very excited about the story. We’ve sat on it for over a year and it’s a relief to see the story works really well, and I especially love the way the suspence ramps up in the second book.
The new scenes are quite dark, so this isn't going to be a book for younger readers. Most of the books I’ve written tend to be suitable for teenagers, but this one is definitely geared towards an adult audience. There are dark themes and bad language.
I made a start on The Hermit, which is book nine of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I’m not sure yet how it's going to work with getting this next book out in June based of how long they usually take to write. I’ve got my sister-in-law staying at the moment and then next week my sister and her boyfriend are coming to stay for the week. The week after that, we're getting a new boiler fitted, so having some quiet time to write will be a challenge. I'll just see how things work out, but I should have a solid first draft by mid-May…hopefully.
Reading
I'm currently reading a book called Yendi by Stephen Brust. It’s a fast-paced, tightly written fantasy assassin story. It's a six-hour audiobook, so it’s the perfect antidote to the thirty-three hour slog that was The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. I'm already halfway through, and it's a blast.
Game of Thrones!
I watched the new episode of Game of thrones this week, which is very exciting. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this whole things turns out.
My wife and I made a little bit of a date night of it. So we ordered some takeaway food and put our feet up and watched.
I don't know where I heard it, but I was sure the episodes in this series were supposed to be ninty-minutes long—this one wasn't. It was a standard episode. Without giving away any spoiler, it was basically a lot of setup for the finale.
Podcast
Aside from the writing, I’ve also also been working on getting the episodes ready for the Sci-fi Roundtable podcast.
This is a podcast I've been doing with other science fiction and fantasy authors where we geek out about specific topics in science fiction and fantasy. We’ve recorded episodes about the multiverse, steampunk, Japanese mythology, and troubleshooting (with a real rocket scientist!)
Our aim is to launch this on Thursday, April 24, so look out for next week’s newsletter for the download link.
Question
I had a question this week from Amelia. She asked “What is your favourite fantasy series?”
This is one of those questions where there are probably too many to name but think it has to be Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive…so far, at least
Hello, welcome to my author update the weekend. In April 14, 2019.
I've had a very busy week. Admittedly, most of it’s been spent playing with my son who is on his Easter holiday.
We’ve been enjoying the sunshine, wrestling on his trampoline, and bingeing on David Attenborough programs. We watched the whole series of Frozen Planet and Galapagos.
We also watched the movie Wreck-it Ralph, which I've never seen before. It's a kid’s movie a bit like e Shrek or Toy Story where there's a lot in there for grown-ups to enjoy. It’s basically a story about the bad guy in a 1980s videogame who wants a better life. I would recommend it.
Writing news
In terms of actual writing. I did manage to get some stuff done. I got feedback for Strenfth (book 8 of The Ravenglass Chronicles) from my alpha readers, so I’ve been go through those. I made a few structural changes to the story, just to get the pacing better.
There were one or two scenes where I'd indulge to be on the world-building and nothing really happened. So I’ve meshed a few scenes together. So, even though you’re getting the cool world-building details, stuff is happening and the story is moving.
Final draft complete, I've now got Strength ready for the editor. I'm hoping it will be out early May.
The Ravenglass update
I’m in the process of rejigging The Ravenglass Chronicles books. I’ve put The Fool and The Magician together as one title, The Magician, and resubmitted the series to Amazon.
What I’ve realised is I’ve still got a lot to do in terms of actually getting everything right with this, so I need to update my website and social media links
Black Death update
On last week’s Author Diary podcast, I mentioned that the third collaborator on the post-apocalyptic Black Death trilogy lost his contribution to the second novel and had not written his contribution to the third book (the other collaborator and I had written our parts over a year ago), so we are parting ways with the other collaborator.
Lynn Sheridan and I will now focus on getting the book finished over the coming months. There will be a bit of extra work to do in order to bring the wordcount back up to reasonable length.
I’m looking forward to getting this things finished. The new covers have been ordered and I’ve already put together the first book.
Reading
I have been reading the Prince by Machiavelli this week. This is a non-fiction book about the intricacies of ruling and leadership. There’s some stuff in there that I will no doubt inspire things in my fantasy series.
I've also been reading The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. I’m about halfway through, and to be honest, it's a bit of a slog. It feels a little overwritten. The story is definitely there, but I think it could have been told in a much tighter way. So, I know this is just a style thing. I prefer some of the more recent authors like Brian McClellan, Scott Lynch, and Brandon Sanderson—their writing is much tighter and pacier.
Reviewers wanted
I’m looking for advance reviewers for my Ravenglass Chronicle series. Because I removed The Fool from Amazon, a lot of my initial reviews have gone. At the moment, The Magician has only eight reviews—I want to get that to at least twenty.
If you're interested, email me at jon@joncronshaw.com and I will send you a review copy of The Magician and then if you like it I'd appreciate you leaving a review on Amazon.
Questions
I’ve had no questions this week, but if you have a question, please do email me at jon@joncronshaw.com
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Jon completed his second draft of Strength just in time for four weeks away from writing.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon started work on his second draft of Strength.
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Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon completed his first draft of Strength and talks about taking the Margaret Atwood Masterclass.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon was ill this week and talks about taking the Dan Brown Masterclass.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon completed his third draft of The Chariot and talks about taking the Neil Gaiman Masterclass.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon completed his rewrite of Wizard of the wasteland and carried on with his second draft of The Chariot.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon wrote through depression this week to write towards the first draft of The Chariot.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he is mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon finished his third draft of The Lovers and started work on the first draft of The Chariot.
He talks about re-reading Moby Dick, meditation, and learning harmonica.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon spent the week writing the second draft of The Lovers, episode seven of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
He talks about the book The Gulag Archipelago and his decision to join Patreon.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon is back at his writing desk after the Christmas break.
He wrote the first draft to The Lovers, episode seven of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
He talks about not missing Twitter, his new harmonica, and how he has taken up meditation.
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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It’s time to look forward. Jon outlines his goals for 2019.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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It’s time for Jon’s review of 2018. What went well? What didn’t?
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Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon launched The Emperor this week and outlined The Lovers, the next book in The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
*Follow Jon online:*
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Jon completed his final draft of The Hierophant and got The Emperor ready for publication.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon tore apart his draft of The Hierophant and rebuilt from the ground-up. He also talks about why he’s pulled back from using Twitter.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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This week, Jon re-drafted the first two books in the Black Death series.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon finished the second draft of The Hierophant, episode six of his serial, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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Jon started working on the second draft of The Hierophant, episode six of his serial, The Ravenglass Chronicles. He also added more chapters to his first draft of Cleric of the Wasteland.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com or to @jlcronshaw on Twitter.
Check out Jon’s other podcasts Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
*Follow Jon online:*
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If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review wherever you download your podcasts.
Jon completed his first draft of The Hierophant, episode six of his serial, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
Follow Jon online:
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If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review wheerever you download your podcasts.
Jon is back at the writing desk after the half-term break. He ended up adding another 2,000 words to The Empress and completed his third draft of The Emperor.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
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It’s half-term this week, so Jon has had a chance to step away from the writing and reflect on some aspects of his future writing career.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel and Otaku on Writing where Jon is joined by two other authors to dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at geni.us/ravenglass.
Follow Jon online:
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Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review wheerever you download your podcasts.
This week, Jon completed his second draft of the Emperor and launched the fifth collection of Otaku Stories.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
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BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
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Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
This week, Jon completed his first draft of the Emperor and brought the release date for The High Priestess forward. He also gives an update on the future of the Stop Booking Around! podcast and talks about this year’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
This week, Jon completed his final draft of The Empress, the fourth novella in his epic fantasy series, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
This week Jon completed his second draft of The Empress, the fourth novella in his epic fantasy series, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon is working on his second draft of The Empress and finished reading the Fellowhip of the Ring.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon launched The Magician yesterday, started writing The Empress, and continued working on Cleric of the Wasteland.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon outlined the next two novellas in his epic fantasy serial, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Download The Fool, the first book in The Ravenglass Chronicles for free at tinyurl.com/ravenglass
Follow Jon online:
Amazon. amazon.com/author/joncronshaw
BookBub. bookbub.com/authors/jon-cronshaw
Facebook. facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Instagram. @joncronshawauthor
Twitter. @jlcronshaw
Website. joncronshaw.com
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon finished his second draft of the High Priestess and The Magician is all ready for publication on September 15.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon continued re-drafting The High Priestess, has chosen a narrator for the Blind Gambit audiobook, and has been promoting his story Clockwork Titan.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon has started re-drafting The High Priestess and has launched The Fool as a free book on Amazon to get readers interested in his fantasy series.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Although Jon is still is summer holiday mode, he managed to complete another edit of The Fool and The Magician based on some great pointers from a beta reader.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon was on holiday in Scotland this past week and found some inspiration for his forthcoming fantasy series.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon launched the first in a series of short story collections this week. Awake: Otaku Stories Volume One contains three stories inspired by the movie Akira. You can listen to the creative process that inspired these stories on the Otaku on Writing podcast.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon has had another busy week. He launched a new podcast Otaku on Writing, where three authors dissect classic anime to inspire original fiction.
He also finished the first draft to The High Priestess, book 2 in his epic fantasy novella series, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Check out Jon’s other podcast Stop Booking Around!, where he his mentoring an old school friend through the process of writing his first novel.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Stop Booking Around!: How to Overcome Author Procrastination is now live on Amazon. If you’re listening to this podcast on July 15-22, 2018, you can get the book for free on Amazon here: tinyurl.com/stopbookingaround. And, if you get something useful from the book, please leave a review.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon has been finalising his non-fiction book Stop Booking Around!: How to Overcome Author Procrastination, and outlined the next book in his epic fantasy serial, The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon completed the second draft of his novella, The Magician.
He also received the Stop Booking Around! non-fiction book from editor, so has been working through some of the changes.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon completed the first draft of his novella in his epic fantasy series.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon completed the first novelette in his epic fantasy series.
He answers a difficult question about Blind Reset and reflects on the balance between art and business.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon had to make a difficult decision this week about Blind Reset.
He talks about his progress on Cleric of the Wasteland and his epic fantasy series.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon had much of the week off. He joined Pinterest and edited his short story for the Morecambe Steampunk Festival.
As a bonus, you can listen to the live recording of the story as performed today at Morecambe’s Winter Gardens theatre.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Amazon #1 best-selling author, Jon Cronshaw (yes, you read that right!), carried on with the first draft of Blind Reset. It’s going a bit slower than he’d hoped.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon started work on Blind Reset this week and wrote a slightly insane steampunk story to perform the Morecambe Steampunk Festival on June 3.
He also got the cover back for the Stop Booking Around non-fiction book.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
Jon sent his non-fiction book Stop Booking Around! to his copy editor and is geting ready to start work on Blind Reset.
Blind Gambit will be available at the limited price of 99p/99c for the next few days. Click HERE to order your copy today.
Email your questions to Jon (at) joncronshaw (dot) com.
Get your free copy of Addict of the Wasteland, the prequel to his Wasteland series, by visiting tinyurl.com/addictofthewasteland.
You can find out more about Jon Cronshaw and his work by visiting joncronshaw.com or Jon’s author page.
Like his Facebook page at facebook.com/joncronshawauthor
Follow him on Twitter @jlcronshaw.
If you want to help the show, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review on iTunes.
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