๐ŸŒฒ Mini-Break, Nautical Fantasy Rewrite & Staying Prolific | Author Diary โ€“ August 15, 2025 ๐Ÿš๐Ÿš€

This week, I took a mini-break to Chester, enjoying peaceful walks in Delamere Forest, the stunning Chester Cathedral, and strolling the historic city wallsโ€”a great way to reset.

Creatively, Iโ€™ve been working on Hunters, my wacky Space Western originally written as a Patreon side project. Iโ€™m now rewriting it as a nautical fantasy set in the Ravenglass Universe, and itโ€™s been a fun challenge adapting the tone and setting while keeping the spirit of the original.

I also reflect on my prolific writing strategyโ€”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 liveโ€”check it out at https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-jon-cronshaw/

Project Tracker

Upcoming launches

Punks Versus Zombies trilogy โ€“ all three books go live on August 31 (paperbacks are already available, audiobooks in production).
Dark Gambit (The Ravenglass Throne: Part Six) โ€“ launches September 1 on Amazon.
The Ravenglass Throne (Parts One to Four boxset) โ€“ goes live September 15 (paperback available, audiobook in production).

Post-edit, final checks

The Ravenglass Throne: Part Seven โ€“ need to schedule the final three chapters for Patreon.

Drafts completed, with editor

The Ravenglass Throne Parts Eight to Twelve.
Dragon Squadron (RAF Dragon Corps, book 1).

Final edits before sending to editor

Ravenglass Legends book 4 โ€“ 70% complete, chapters posting on Patreon.
The Silent Watcher (Ravenglass Guardians).

Current focus

Hunters โ€“ rewrite from space opera to nautical fantasy, 50% complete.

Open projects

Sentinelโ€™s Mercy (Ravenglass Guardians) โ€“ 40% through first draft.
Scoundrels โ€“ 25% first draft (last worked on March 2025).
Mark, The Chosen One โ€“ 70% first draft (last worked on April 2025).
Dawn of Assassins 4 โ€“ last worked on July 2024.
Guild of Assassins 4 โ€“ last worked on January 2025.
Lord Sidebottom novel โ€“ 25% first draft (last worked on April 2025).
Churchillโ€™s Dragons (RAF Dragon Corps, book 2) โ€“ 10% (last worked on March 2025).
Pen name sci-fi book 2 โ€“ 20% (last worked on June 2025).

Planned / outlined

Ravenglass Guardians โ€“ Seekers.
Ravenglass Guardians โ€“ Keepers.
Ravenglass Guardians โ€“ Apothecaries.
Ravenglass Guardians โ€“ Inquisitors.
Ravenglass Guardians โ€“ Shadows.

Punks Versus Zombies Trilogy Launches September 1 โ€“ Pre-Order Book 1 for Just 99p/99c!

The Punks Versus Zombies trilogy launches 1 September on Amazon. Pre-order Book 1 for just 99p/99c on Kindle or grab the paperbacks now. A high-octane zombie apocalypse road trip packed with punk rock grit, loyalty, and survival.

Get ready for chaos, riffs, and the undead.

The Punks Versus Zombies trilogy officially drops on September 1 in Kindle and paperback, and itโ€™s here to tear up the zombie genre with raw energy, fast-paced action, and characters youโ€™ll actually care about.

If you love your post-apocalyptic fiction with high-octane survival, barricades, back-alley brawls, and improvised weapons, youโ€™re in for one hell of a ride.

If you want a found family worth fighting for, a band that sticks together no matter what, this is your story.

If you want real moral stakes, the kind of choices that test who you are at the core, youโ€™ll find them here.

If you want a soundtrack in your head, punk rock attitude in every scene, youโ€™ve come to the right place.

The End of the World Starts on Tour

When the outbreak hits mid-gig, punk guitarist Tommy is stranded 3,000 miles from home.

His bandโ€™s unravelling.

The roads are swarming.

His girlfriend and son are waiting in Philly, if theyโ€™re still alive.

Armed with nothing but his instincts, a battered guitar, and two bandmates barely holding it together, Tommyโ€™s got one goal.

Cross a dying America and get back to the people he loves.

But the apocalypse doesnโ€™t care about your plans.

And the living can be just as dangerous as the dead.

Why Youโ€™ll Love It

Punks Versus Zombies blends the grit of The Walking Dead with the subculture heart of a punk tour diary.

Itโ€™s got relentless pace with no filler and no downtime.

Itโ€™s got gritty, character-driven drama with loyalty, betrayal, addiction, and survival.

Itโ€™s got zombie action that actually feels dangerous.

Itโ€™s got punk ethos, DIY survival, an anti-authority streak, and no compromise.

Launch Offer โ€“ Pre-Order for Just 99p/99c

Book 1 in the trilogy is just 99p/99c on Kindle for pre-order right now.

On release day, 1 September, the full trilogy will be live on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats.

Want a physical copy for your shelf?

The paperbacks are already live, so you can grab them now and be the first to read before the undead horde catches on.

The undead are coming.

The amps are plugged in.

The pit is about to get bloody.

Pre-order Punks Versus Zombies today and join the band on the loudest, bloodiest road trip of the apocalypse.

Order Now โ€“ Book 1 for 99p/99c on Kindle.

๐ŸŽง Audiobooks, Alpha Feedback & Pre-Orders | Author Diary โ€“ August 8, 2025 ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ”ฅ

This week: alpha feedback on The Silent Watcher, audiobook progress on Trial of Thieves, Punks Versus Zombies paperbacks ready, Emmy Coates returns for The Ravenglass Throne, boxed set up for pre-order.

Itโ€™s been a busy week! Iโ€™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.

Iโ€™m also thrilled to have Emmy Coates back to narrate The Ravenglass Throneโ€”she was brilliant on The Ravenglass Chronicles, so itโ€™s great to have her voice returning to the Ravenglass Universe.

Plus, Iโ€™ve put the Ravenglass Throne Boxed Set (Books 1โ€“4) up for pre-order ahead of its September 15 release.

Draft Complete: The Silent Watcher & New Sentinel Story Begun | Author Diary, August 1, 2025

Iโ€™ve completed The Silent Watcher draft and sent it to alpha readers. Also starting my gritty Sentinel novel in the Ravenglass Guardians series.

This week, I finished my draft of The Silent Watcherโ€”the first completed novel in my Ravenglass Guardians seriesโ€”and sent it to alpha readers for early feedback.

Iโ€™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 fantasyโ€”both firmly in nobledark territory.

On a personal note, my son is off to Denmark to compete in the Youth Games for karate.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ 75% Draft Progress & Next Guardian Story Outlined | Author Diary โ€“ July 25, 2025 ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

This week, I reached 75% of my Watcher draft in the Ravenglass Guardians series and began outlining the next standalone novel, which will follow the Guardiansโ€™ Sentinel faction.

This week, Iโ€™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.

Iโ€™ve also been outlining the next standalone novel, which will follow a character from the Guardiansโ€™ Sentinel faction. Each book in this series will explore a different path of the Guardians, with all seven forming a powerful nobledark saga.

๐Ÿ‘๏ธ Midpoint Milestone in Ravenglass Guardians | Author Diary โ€“ July 18, 2025 ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

This week, I reached the midpoint of my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, a nobledark fantasy with political thriller vibes. Iโ€™m planning seven 60k-word standalones, written before Patreon release.

This week, I hit the mid-point in drafting my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, focusing on the Watchers faction. Itโ€™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 releasedโ€”but my goal is to write the full series before launching it on Patreon.

Iโ€™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 weekdayโ€”a pace Iโ€™ve kept up for years. Itโ€™s a challenge, but one Iโ€™m excited to push through!

๐Ÿ‘‘ New Series Begins: Ravenglass Guardians | Author Diary, July 11, 2025 ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

This week, I began work on my new seven-book nobledark fantasy series about the Guardians in the Ravenglass Universe, reaching 25% of Book 1. Plus, I share why Iโ€™m focusing on shorter, 60k-word novels.

This week, Iโ€™ve dived into my new series set in the Ravenglass Universe, focusing on the Guardiansโ€”a seven-novel, nobledark fantasy exploring the different paths within the order. Iโ€™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!

๐Ÿ‘‘ Draft Done, Website Rebuild, and Embracing the Nobledark | Author Diary โ€“ July 4, 2025 ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ› ๏ธ

This week, I finished drafting The Prince and the Fool, rebuilt my book page at joncronshaw.com/books, and fully embraced my rebrand as the King of Nobledark. A productive, intense week!

This week has been a busy and intense one! Iโ€™m thrilled to share that Iโ€™ve finished the draft of The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4). Itโ€™s always a huge relief hitting that final chapter.

On top of that, Iโ€™ve been deep in website workโ€”the book page platform Iโ€™d been using suddenly stopped working, so I rebuilt everything from scratch. You can now browse my updated book catalogue at joncronshaw.com/books.

Iโ€™ve also leaned further into my King of Nobledark rebrand, making sure everything aligns with the tone and themes of my work. Itโ€™s been a lotโ€”but worth it.

๐Ÿ‰ Draft Progress, Zombies Incoming, and a Night in Blackpool | Author Diary โ€“ June 27, 2025 ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸงŸโ€โ™‚๏ธ

This week, I reached 75% on The Prince and the Fool draft, prepped Punks Versus Zombies for its September 1 Kindle launch (pre-order now!), and enjoyed a short break in Blackpool.

This week, Iโ€™ve made solid progress on The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4), hitting the 75% mark in the draft. The storyโ€™s really coming together now as I push toward the final act.

Iโ€™m also busy getting Punks Versus Zombies ready for launch on Kindle, September 1, 2025. Itโ€™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 Blackpoolโ€”a much-needed change of scene thatโ€™s helped recharge the creative batteries.

๐ŸŽถ Admin Catch-Up & Nine Inch Nails Live! | Author Diary โ€“ June 20, 2025 ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

This week was admin-heavy, but the highlight was seeing Nine Inch Nails live in Manchester. A powerful set filled with early tracksโ€”and good news, my back held up! Hoping to dive back into writing soon.

This week was mostly spent on admin tasksโ€”the essential but less exciting side of the author life. From scheduling to organising releases, itโ€™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 tracksโ€”intense, loud, and absolutely brilliant.

Best of all, my back held up, so Iโ€™m hoping that means Iโ€™m finally over the worst of it and can get back into the writing groove soon.