Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary - The Real Life of an Indie Author | Writing | Publishing | Disability

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 s...

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...

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...

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 Assass...

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, an...

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...

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, an...

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 th...

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 platform...

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 assassina...

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 M...

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 dy...

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, recog...

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...

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 l...

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...

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 o...

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,...

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...

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 ancien...

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...

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 d...

📘 "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...

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...

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...