What a start to the year! Baby is three months old now, and my time for writing has taken a significant dive. I’m tired all the time and am frequently drawn away from the computer to play with an angry infant! It’s been wonderful getting to know her, but it has taken some rearranging of time I had previously taken for granted.
These days, I have time to either work on the monthly short stories or Intimate Ships, rather than both at once. If I can smash out a story in time for the end of the month, I’ll use that time on Marcus and Rune. As a result, I’m a mere two chapters into book three, where in a previous life I could have been half way done by now.
Book three starts with a prison break, which is something I’ve not written before. It’s tricky! Also difficult, putting sex scenes into prison where it can quickly get creepy. I got a good one in there, though.
I’d love to be done with the Intimate Ships finale by June, which will mark one year since the publication of Lonely Ship. May will also be the month for the tenth short story release, and I might take a break after that. I’ll work on baby stuff, or maybe have a pop at another trio of covers. I’ll also need a full re-read of Intimate Ships before submitting to the publishers. And THEN I can think about finishing the Lonely Ship saga with one final book. I’m considering the title ‘Marcus the Invicible’, but am by no means wedded to it.
So yes, ten short stories in twelve months. It’s not twelve stories because November was for the Path of Lyssa writing challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m also not writing any stories for the month of March 2025. This is because of an annual tradition (one that started this whole writing debacle, actually) that I write a short, horny story for my wife in March. One that stars her, and no you don’t get to read it. She bakes me a cake on Valentine’s Day, I write porn for her for White Day. It’s very romantic, actually.
Last thing, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who’s written in to share feedback on stories they’ve read this year. The Subject built an unfathomable amount of engagement, though I usually get messages about a sequel to Winter’s Path, or whether that’s really how I wanted to end Path of Lyssa!
My plan with the short stories has always been to write one-off, stand-alone narratives. I haven’t gone into any of these writing projects expecting to follow up on them. Having said that, I did mention a possible second Lyssa venture in the debrief, which might be fun. I’ve also had a thought about a serial Winter’s Path story set one generation down the line. It would be about a lad called Elliot who does immigration paperwork for Laymen-on-Water’s demi-human neighbours, and he gets a lot of action doing it. Instead of ten one-offs, maybe 2025/26 could be ten chapters of Laymen, coming soon! Maybe.
It’s always a thrill getting feedback. I’ve really taken to heart the criticisms of some of my work, which has been a challenge because I don’t take critique well as a rule. It’s been incredibly useful to build myself in that regard, and to see reactions to how I write, and I’ve made changes to my style based on what works and doesn’t work for readers. You wouldn’t know it from this post, but I’ve gotten better at cutting to the chase! It’s why the Intimate Ships books keep getting shorter!
Please do keep the messages coming. I am endeavouring to answer them all, and they do mean a great deal.
Next short story is called Inheritors, and it’s due out this weekend. Until then, take care!
Ewan Stone 
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