Tag: indie fantasy author

🌲 Mini-Break, Nautical Fantasy Rewrite & Staying Prolific | Author Diary – August 15, 2025 🐚🚀

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 https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-jon-cronshaw/

Project Tracker

Upcoming launches

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

Post-edit, final checks

The Ravenglass Throne: Part Seven – 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 – 70% complete, chapters posting on Patreon.
The Silent Watcher (Ravenglass Guardians).

Current focus

Hunters – rewrite from space opera to nautical fantasy, 50% complete.

Open projects

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

Planned / outlined

Ravenglass Guardians – Seekers.
Ravenglass Guardians – Keepers.
Ravenglass Guardians – Apothecaries.
Ravenglass Guardians – Inquisitors.
Ravenglass Guardians – Shadows.

🎧 Audiobooks, Alpha Feedback & Pre-Orders | Author Diary – August 8, 2025 📚🔥

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.

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.

Check out My Books.

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

I’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 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.

🛡️ 75% Draft Progress & Next Guardian Story Outlined | Author Diary – July 25, 2025 📚✨

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 Guardians’ Sentinel faction.

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.

👁️ Midpoint Milestone in Ravenglass Guardians | Author Diary – July 18, 2025 📚✨

This week, I reached the midpoint of my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, a nobledark fantasy with political thriller vibes. I’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. 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!

👑 New Series Begins: Ravenglass Guardians | Author Diary, July 11, 2025 📚✨

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 I’m focusing on shorter, 60k-word novels.

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!

Meet the King of Nobledark: Jon Cronshaw’s Author Manifesto

Jon Cronshaw declares himself the King of Nobledark—because someone had to. In this post, he explains what nobledark fantasy is, why it matters, and how a ravenglass sword and some highly trained wyverns keep the crown in place.

I didn’t mean to become the King of Nobledark.

Truly.

I was just minding my own business, poking around the edges of grimdark, whispering sweet nothings to hope, when I stumbled upon a dusty old crown lying in a forgotten corner of the fantasy genre.

No one was wearing it.

No one was even looking at it.

So, I picked it up, gave it a polish, and popped it on my head.

It fits rather well.

Naturally, I assumed someone would try to stop me. Perhaps a grimdark usurper, still drunk on blood and betrayal, lurching from the shadows, broadsword in hand, quoting Nietzsche and snarling about nihilism.

But alas, no.

Apparently, claiming the crown of Nobledark—that little corner of fantasy where honour still breathes (barely), where sacrifice means something, and where good people try to stay good in worlds that want them broken—isn’t high on anyone’s to-do list.

So here I am.

Jon Cronshaw. The King of Nobledark.

Now, I realise some of my fellow authors might feel tempted. You may think, “That crown would look rather fetching atop my morally complex, world-weary protagonist, actually.”

And I respect that.

But before you mount your literary siege engines, a word of warning: I’ve got wyverns. Highly trained ones. They don’t breathe fire—they just watch. Constantly. Silently. Judgementally. And if that doesn’t unsettle you, it really should.

I also carry a Ravenglass blade, forged with my own blood and tears. Beautiful, yes—but with the rather unfortunate side effect of burning its victims from the inside out. You won’t notice at first. You’ll think you’re fine. And then the screaming starts.

So if you, too, write stories where the world is cruel, but your characters dare to care anyway… then by all means, take up the mantle. Write nobledark. Spread the word. Let readers know that fantasy doesn’t have to choose between despair and delusion.

But the title?

That’s mine.

Unless, of course, you think you can take it.

(You can’t.)

Long live nobledark.
Long live the King.

🖤⚔️👑

🐉 Back to Writing, Midpoint Milestone & A Bit of Back Pain | Author Diary – June 6, 2025 📚🦌

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!

📚 Short Story Collections Done, Back to Epic Fantasy | Author Diary – May 9, 2025 ✨🐉

This week, I finished compiling four speculative fiction collections—Influenced, Outraged, Cancelled, and Muted. I’m also back writing The Prince and the Fool, and considering an Amazon-only release for The Ravenglass Throne.

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!