Mid-January 2026

Well, the weather cooled off but in a couple of days apparently we’re heading back into an oven. Thank goodness for air-conditioning!

I don’t have a lot of news. Life goes on as it does.

I will say here, though, I don’t intend to discuss politics, sports or religion here (unless I’ve got religion in my books). My mother always had a rule. At the dining table during meals those topics were banned. I think that’s a great idea. We had lively conversations, but no real fights over meals. One of the memories that sticks out is my sister and I swapping vegies and fruit – I hate pears and she wasn’t fond of peaches, so we’d swap. I still hate parsnips, but she loved them, so she got mine. I was amazed, though, to learn in later years that my father hated pumpkin. So, when I had him over for a roast dinner in my first place, I didn’t cook him pumpkin. He’d gotten so used it, he asked for it. So, there’s a lesson to parents – eat what is good for your kids whether you like it or not. ‘Cause I love pumpkin. Still hate parsnips and pears, though!

Clans in Conflict

For those who don’t know much about it, this is a series about a clan that is lost travelling through dimensions due to a scientific experiment gone horribly wrong and about the city-state Part 2 concludes in.

Dark Dimensions Part 1 and 2 is recounting that journey to Torkandisch. Dark Reign is the next book in the series and covers the next 12 months in the city-state.

The Dark Road is back with the beta readers. This story takes place about 16 years later. Lots in Torkandish has changed and there is lots of intrigue and heartache throughout this book. Some funny instances, too.

But Dark Beginnings will take us back to where it all started in Tordun, covering Vlad’s rise to power and, perhaps, that fateful experiment, along with the first 15 years of dimension-hopping. Dark Beginnings is still on the backburner. I have started this and I will return to it.

So, that’s what’s in store for anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in this world.

There are also going to be other stories, along with a special edition of Dark Dimensions where the two parts are combined. That will be in the future.

Speaking of other stories, Deadly Convergence is centred on Torkandisch 5 years before the Clan lands in the city-state and follows a crime that twists into something else. This is available only on Kindle and on Kindle Unlimited.

The Ryan Locke story has gone through two more edits and I’ll be having a read of it and possibly applying the Emotion Thesaurus to it in a week or two. Then it’ll go for editing, cover art and publishing. I’m currently using the read aloud function in Word (can’t stand my own voice) and picking up some updates. I may send it to beta readers as well.

Talking about Torkandisch, a thought came to me this morning in the early hours. I haven’t done a lot with Alex Travis and his mother Katarina. I feel that their history should be told, but I think that’s going to be in a book between Dark Reign and The Dark Road. So, stay tuned for that.

Consequences

This series follows the rise of Marek from a mastermind thief to the saviour of a nation.

Heart of Deception is now available through Amazon and Draft2Digital. And an update on that is that the 10 copies ordered came through early, so there will be a copy donated to Midland Library, as well.

Legacy of Risks will follow in the next few months, once cover art is finalised for it. The reason why it will take a few months is because I’m applying The Emotion Thesaurus options to it.

Dangerous Heart will then go to beta readers.

Watch this space.

There will be some short stories come out and, possibly, a fourth book that covers events much later after Dangerous Heart. Definitely a “watch this space” moment.

Other Universes

Strefinobhan

With Heart of Deception released and my work on the Otherworldly Emergence series coming to a conclusion, I should be able to get back into editing the first book of this series and sending it to beta readers. I am still unable to say when this will happen, but hopefully sooner rather than later.

Paranormal

Again, this will have to wait until work on the Otherworldly Emergence series is completed. One of my paranormal pieces, however, is in the Emergence series, so stay tuned for updates there.

Speaking of which, you can find the Otherworldly Emergence information at the website below.

Bushland Castle Productions

I have finished editing one novella, Not your Normal Heroes. I am still editing the other and will have that editing finished by the end of the week.

Both stories have gone through beta readers and I am awaiting the feedback from one. Once that comes in, I’ll study the feedback and make what changes I can, then it will go to copy editing.

Pitches for this novella series has now closed and we are working hard on our manuscripts to bring them to you in a timely manner.

All of the information regarding the novella series is at the website:

https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/emergence

BCP is planning its next series, which will build on the Otherworldly Emergence but this time will be Otherworldly Origins. Stay tuned for further information regarding that (along with a link).

While you’re on the website, is information about their nonfiction series Australia: Living in the 70s. If you have a life story about living in the 70s in Australia, check the website for more details on that series. I know if I were to submit, it would all be about CountDown, Sandman vans and learning about Unionism through school (and other things, of course).

Also check out their podcast – Finding Elara. Learn about Mindfulness from other creatives – not just writers, but other creative persons, as well as worldbuilding and other information. BCP are about to start on their 3rd season of the podcast, so stay tuned for updates on that.

At the end of each segment, there’s a prize drawn. Go in to win books and other goodies!

Not only that, but Finding Elara has just made it onto YouTube. There is a Halloween special up that features one of my short ghost stories being read out live. So, just search for Finding Elara and have a listen. I’m the one in the blue hat.

Grow Write

Once every fortnight, Grow Write meets at the Midland Library in Midland, Perth, Western Australia. We are very excited to announce that our very first anthology is being printed and we hope to have it in our hands very soon. Watch this space!

We hope to put one out this year, but my time is somewhat more limited than last year and so is that of the publisher, so it remains to be seen whether this will be able to be achieved.

Editing

I know this is probably a dead donkey to some, but I feel it is something that should be revisited occasionally.

I have been doing so much editing that I’ve nearly forgotten what it’s like to actually write raw prose (no I haven’t. Just kidding).

I do wish to remind everyone that editing is an important part of our development as a writer and author. It helps us grow our writing skills, gives us deeper understanding of our stories and helps us provide a comprehensive experience for our readers and audience.

I know everyone says get across all the platforms, but sometimes that can get in the way of actual writing. I had a friend lately who got caught up in the excitement of posting daily on social media and spiralled away from writing. I advised that engaging with an audience and followers, although important in its own way, is secondary to writing. (I say this from a position of someone who has totally disregarded one of their social media platforms because it’s got limited space to write something.)

Anyway, back to editing. There are various online tools and programs and although I don’t use them, if you do, then I encourage you to do so. Whatever works for you. There are also various style manuals, such as the Australian Government Style Manual, the Australian Style Guide and the Chicago Style Manual.

These manuals and guides are handy for the style your country uses for written works. Which is why all of my books has a disclaimer advising that I use the Australian Government Style Manual. I encourage you to investigate the appropriate manual or guide for your country.

Something to remember when editing is that there are rules and there are conventions. When people say there are no rules in writing, they are talking about these conventions. Because some of the conventions we still use date from the 1700s. Those include not starting a sentence with “and” and not finishing it with words like “with”. These are conventions and not rules.

The main rules every writer should follow are those that govern grammar and punctuation – including spelling. Spelling in the English language, as we all know it, can be problematic, but grammar and punctuation rules can be even more confusing. Which is where the style manuals and guides come in handy. Because they’re there to help us improve our creations for others to enjoy.

Now, even though I do my own editing, I still run my work through beta readers, an editor and, when I can, a proofreader. It would be lovely to have a team, but sometimes people who are willing to beta read and proofread for an autographed copy of the printed manuscript are few and far between. They are well worth it, however, because a good beta reader will point out plot holes, character inconsistences and general issues. So, they should be part of your editing process.

While most editors today go by a word count, mine charges by the hour. This means that the more concise the manuscript that goes to her, the better for me. She still picks up lots of issues, though, and she also keeps telling me she’s going to take my protagonists off me. One day she won’t say that, I’m sure.

So, that’s where I stand with editing. Do as much as you can. Use whatever tools work for you and make that manuscript as clear and concise so that your readers will fall into your novel and really connect with the story, the characters and the settings.