Another Year Comes to an End

Welcome to my final newsletter of 2025. And what a year it’s been. Sometimes for the better, but often for the worse or simply the strange. It’s a natural thing, I think, to look back as we await next week’s turning over of another page on the calendar and start 2026. So let’s do that.

2025 was a year marked, writing-wise, by the release of Pyres, of course. Though, at the beginning of the year, I did also put out my first audiobook, of Shadow of the Hidden. A huge amount of time went into the ‘proof listen’ of the Shadow audiobook and the edits of Pyres. This left little time for working on the new book—the first in a series involving occult detective Aaron Miles, a side character from Pyres—but I went away for my usual summer hiatus with close to ten thousand words on the manuscript and fully expected to get back to it in October, after my summer work stint and holiday in Japan.

But, after getting back to Lisbon and starting my new full time teaching job, with long hours in two jobs, plus two hours’ driving in and out of different parts of the city on multiple days of the week, writing time has been hard to come by. I’ve managed perhaps a dozen sessions in the last two months.

This has meant a real lack of writing routine and, at times, questioning whether I can really even call myself a creative anymore. Since work ended yesterday, though, I’ve managed a couple of decent sessions, and I suppose I may just have to lower my expectations during school term time and really make holidays count. It’s an adjustment, but it’s possible.

The other thing which has been difficult has been seeing both Pyres and Shadow of the Hidden struggle to find their audience after the initial buzz died down. I think living in a non-English-speaking country, and one that really doesn’t care much for horror, has exacerbated that, as face-to-face events are a rarity for me, and when I do do them, it’s logistically difficult to do, and very expensive, aside from my summer UK work periods (which I am hoping to rely on less in the future - hence the new job here).

Among other challenges is the seeming need to be so present on social media these days in order to get any traction. What with the combination of my face being made for radio, and my total lack of marketing skills, I really just run out of ideas for TikTok and Instagram posts, and don’t have the visual arts nous to participate in trends.

I’ve thought long and hard about just giving up writing altogether over the past year or so, but then I start to think about a life where I do nothing that’s truly meaningful to me and don’t know how I could possibly fill that void, so I continue writing stories that I love.

Which brings me to the final question I’ve been facing up to recently—am I writing stories people want to read? I see so much promotion and excitement for extreme horror these days—a perfectly valid sub-genre, but not one I’m interested in writing myself—and wonder if my slightly left-field stories about djinn curses from distant parts of the world, or spirit painters and fire gods, are just not in sync with the zeitgeist.

I always come back, though, to the idea that the creative process is at its best when the creator is enthralled by the stories they write, and so I’m trying to make my peace with perhaps only ever having a tiny niche of the global readership, but continuing to write the stories which thrill me, first and foremost. And, of course, I’m forever grateful to constant readers like you, who subscribe here and pick up a lot of my books. I appreciate every single read, click, and purchase. Thank you!

Anyway, enough introspection, let’s get back to some book news.

My collection, Paths Best Left Untrodden is on sale for just 99¢ in eBook format over on the Smashwords end of year sale, which runs until the 1st January. There are thirteen horror tales in the book, from dystopian to folk to occult horror. Think of it as a mixtape of my work from 2017 through to 2021. Grab your copy here or by clicking the image below.

The aforementioned audiobook of Shadow of the Hidden is going to be available for half price at Barnes and Noble for all of January. That’s $2.99 for four and a half hours of audio adventure horror. Narrator Pete Eaton did an incredible job, even with the snippets of multiple languages which occur in the globetrotting story.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait for January and you have a Spotify Premium subscription with audio books, you can listen right now without paying a penny:

Finally, I’m still working away on edits for the three drafted novellas I mentioned a couple months ago. I’m fairly sure that at least one of these will see the light of day in 2026. Possibly even two. More news on those as I have it, but now, let’s get into some recommendations.

Recommendations

Reading - My top three reads of 2025

Something a bit different for this month as, with it being year end, I’ve posted my favourite three books of the year (technically October 2024 - September 2025) to the marvellous people at Shepherd. All of these books have been mentioned in these newsletters before, but some of them more than a year ago now, so have a look at my top 3 and see if there’s something that catches your eye for your holiday reads.

Listening - Embers by Sindre Nedland

I’ve recommended music here by the avant garde progressive death metal band, In Vain before. Earlier this month, I was sadly informed that the singer, Sindre Nedland, had passed away aged 40 after a second battle with cancer. During his final months, with the help of his brother and close friends, he produced what he described as a pop-rock album. That checks out, but there are still some themes here which are reminiscent of In Vain’s sound. I love the record, even if there is a terrible emotional weight to it, a sense of finality which lives through the music. It’s only available on Bandcamp, where you can listen to it for free but, if you enjoy it, consider grabbing a digital or vinyl copy of the record, where all proceeds will be directed to the musician’s children.

Oh, and fuck cancer, always.

Watching - The Beast in Me - Netflix

I’d totally missed this series when it landed earlier in the year, so it was such a pleasant surprise when I checked it out. Great performances from Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys and the supporting cast, along with writing which keeps you guessing with twists and turns, and isn’t afraid to go to genuinely nasty places, this was a great show. And they finished it in one season! Check out the trailer here.

Bargains and Freebies

For anyone not in the mood for Christmas, author Jessica Miller has you covered. With three books by me, alongside more than a hundred others in a variety of genres, find a book to take your mind off the holidays in the full list here.

My friend and multi-genre author Miranda Kate has set up this list of almost thirty FREE horror books to feed your horror habit. You can find your next free spooky read here.

Horror creator Newton Webb has selected almost sixty horror reads, all of which are on Kindle Unlimited, to terrify you for free over the holiday period. You can get my latest release, Pyres, and dozens of other books as part of your KU subscription, here.

And finally, Alexis Lantgen has compiled a promo of seventy books of sci-fi, fantasy and horror, perfect for the dark winter nights. Grab yourself a bargain read here.

And so, 2025 draws to a close. I’ll be back with more news (and hopefully a whole lot of new words written!) in January. I’m going to Lyon in France with the good lady for new year. I’m too old for wild parties now, so I’m well and truly settled into the pattern of a really good meal at a nice restaurant as my new year’s tradition of the last few years. I hope that whatever you have lined up, you enjoy it and welcome the new year in good health and spirits.

In the meantime, remember the holiday period is tough for some. Try to act with kindness when you can. Feel free to reach out to me, on Bluesky, Xitter, Instagram, or even TikTok. Stay safe, take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you next month.

Kev