May 2026 Writing Round-Up

This month, I’ve been paddling around keeping my head above water, with little time or, honestly, inclination, for writing. This happens sometimes, and I know better than to force it.

I have a neurodivergent coach through my work and the 3 sessions have been so helpful. I’ve been taking Turkish lessons ahead of a family wedding in June. I’ve also put together my slides for the WriteHive workshop in July, and recorded it in case I can’t deliver it live on the day.

I’ve had to pull out of my first in-person event in August due to a venue change, and it’s now a bit far out for me as I rely on public transport. So I’m going to go to another one instead, possibly in Bristol, next year.

You will find my work included in a Pride Bundle on Itch in June – Pride Book Fair Bundle #4 – A Good Day to Pride Hard, hosted by S. Morgan Burbank, with work by 38 creators. Get 38 books for $40. The bundle goes live 01st June 2026.

I’ve also got The Day We Ate Grandad in a SFFH Bundle starting in June as well! This one only runs to 14 June and is $10 for 23 books! Hosted by V. S. Holmes. Come and check out the LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Bundle.

Writing-wise, I’ve been fairly stagnant. I feel like I’m writing my way around the Gothic settings – old house (THE CROWS), castle (YELEN & YELENA), and I’ve yet to do a monastery, but I’ve had an idea for that. One day, I might even have a marketable idea. Until then, I shall continue writing the niche, weird, genre-less things I usually write, and hopefully people keep enjoying them.

I thought I’d try and simplify this update, so you can see all my current projects as an overview, whats on submission, and what articles I’ve published here and on other sites where I’m a contributor.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Current Writing Projects

My current ongoing projects are:

• FEED – Pagham-on-Sea novel
• THE BUTTERFLY BRIDE – Dark Fantasy novella
• THE RELUCTANT HUSBAND – audio drama version
• Ko-Fi monthly writing: May reward is a 5K chapter of experimental writing from the AU version of Carrie & Ricky – for all 2026 rewards, see the Ko-Fi Monthly Rewards Masterlist

Join me on Ko-Fi  if you want to see sneak peeks, get monthly fiction, download my back catalogue at no additional cost, and listen to ad-free audio versions of my work… or just support me!

Short fiction out on submission:

 4 stories out:
– There’s Something Wrong with Sylvia’s Mother (Quiet Horror, 3.5K words)
– A Dark Place of One’s Own (Quiet Horror, 2K words)
– Early Retirement (Off-World Sci-Fi, 7.8K words)
– The Punch & Judy Man, aka Sh! What’s That? from the Folklore of Pagham-on-Sea (REPRINT, Flash Fic, Folk Horror prose poem, 350 words)

Website Articles & Stats

May 2026:
3.2K Views
2.7K Visitors

2026 Stats:
57 posts (including this one)
87.2K words published (including the interviews)

#01: Rapunzel in Cinema 1897-2024
#02: Red Riding Hood in Films 1901-2024
#03: Werewolf Films 1910-1949
#04: Dragons & Dragon Folklore in Wales & the Welsh Borders
#05: Bad Omen Birds in British Folklore
#06: Classic 1980s British Folk Horror – West Country Tales Series
#07: Sleeping Beauty in Cinema 1903-2023
#08: Dragons and Dragon Folklore in the Midlands and East Anglia
#09: Welsh Gothic Tropes IV: The Cŵn Annwn
#10: Bluebeard in Cinema 1901-2023

#01: Author Spotlight: Queer Romance Author A.J. Barlowe
#02: Author Spotlight: Dark Fantasy Author Sam Weiss
#03: Author Spotlight: Horror Author N.R. Wolfman
#04: Author Spotlight: Welsh Husband and Wife Horror Fiction Duo, Writing as TM Ellis
#05: Author Spotlight: Black Sapphic Vampire Romance author Liza Wemakor
#05: Author Spotlight: Sci-Fi Author Tasha He
#06: Author Spotlight: Gothic SFF Author Morgan Dante
#07: Author Spotlight: SFFH Author Miranda Kate/MK Boers
#07: Author Spotlight: YA author of Superhero Fiction, Michael Colon
#08: Author Spotlight: Cosy Paranormal Mystery Author Terri Reid
#09: Author Spotlight: Gothic Weird Fiction author Nikoline Kaiser
#09: Author Spotlight: Gothic Horror author Julie Lew
#10: Author Spotlight: Queer SFF Author M.T. Envy

#01: Caitlin Starling
#02: S.T. Gibson
#03: Suzan Palumbo
#04: Lucy Rose
#05: Alessandra Pino
#06: Jelena Dunato
#07: Johannes T. Evans
#08: Mason Hawthorne
#09: Jamison Shea
#10: Ally Wilkes

PUBLISHED POSTS

• April 2026 Media Round-Up
• Author Spotlight: Gothic Horror author Julie Lew
• Author Spotlight: YA author of Superhero Fiction, Michael Colon
• Limited Time Offer: £1.99 eBooks Available!
• Author Spotlight: Welsh Husband & Wife Horror-Writing Duo, Writing as TM Ellis
• Media Highlights: The Best of the Best
• Author Spotlight: Crime Fiction author Helen Taylor

Previous Writing Round-Ups

May 2026 Writing Round-Up

May Writing Round-up! I haven’t done a lot of this, but that’s ok. Here’s what I’ve been working on.

March 2026 Writing Round-Up

A round-up of all my words for March, plus what’s new, book awards, and other updates!

February Writing Round-Up

Read on for the stats, the updates, and the forthcoming news! I’ve got a few books in Itch bundles coming up, there’s the Smashwords eBook sale 01-07Mar to look out for, and I’ve set out a round-up of all my writing this month.

January 2026: Writing Round-Up

Read on for a round-up of my writing this month, the WIPs I’ve been working on, and my published works!

Creating a character’s backstory

But it did lead into something way more

What started just tiny idea while watching a documentary that would be environment which might be fitting for this one character of mine. When the character is a child and a teenager. And it would kinda explain why the character will end up becoming the way he is later in his life and in the story. I had not thought about this characters childhood and upbring that much yet. Had been focused on the version of the character is at the stories and what he is doing.

But when I got this idea it made so much sense. And felt like missing piece of this character was ready to lock into a right place. Immediately after that piece followed characters parents possible siblings and grandparents. So much about this character has set in place. And I have the entire backstory for this character now.

Another character’s backstory is figured out but…

It really did lead into something more. Something new and definitely something that I didn’t expected to have in this story universe of mine. But it is now. How can I describe it without giving away it yet? Because not only is it part of one character’s backstory. There is more than one story…

The inspiration just keeps going and flowing even more. It also keeps surprising me. This story universe is something else and creating it is a truly journey full of surprises. And not only for future readers but myself as well.

With love C.F. Grönroos

Creator of the Mysteries by Rose

But it did lead into something way more. What started just tiny idea while watching a documentary that would be environment which might be fitting for this one character of mine. When the character is a child and a teenager.
#writingupdate

https://mysteriesbyrose.wordpress.com/2026/05/25/creating-a-characters-backstory/

I'm super excited of this. 4 characters from my another unfinished murder mystery book series B.L.A.L. will be making several appearances in Falling Stars Universe. And I can't wait to add them into this story world as well.
#writingupdate

https://mysteriesbyrose.wordpress.com/2026/05/11/another-crossover-of-my-stories/

Inspiration just keeps bringing new ideas. I have been so busy trying to keep up with the new ideas. It seems like I can't even finish writing down one idea when I already have several new ones to write down also. I have so much new things to add for so many different parts.
#writingupdate

https://mysteriesbyrose.wordpress.com/2026/05/07/more-new-characters-and-new-plot-twists/

Writing Update 4/29/26

• Back. I’m not just some mindless story promoting, blog posting bot from the depths of some tungsten hades. I’m still here, lurking in the shadows like some sort of specter in a two-story window of a Victorian mansion. I’ve got a bunch of new stuff to report in terms of what I’ve had published, working on, and other various tidbits. Here. We. Go.
• I’ve got a new book coming out this summer. It is called The Unnamed: A Collection of Stories from the Greenland Diaries. There will be a ton of stories about my monsters. Over 30 stories from the Greenland Diaries universe. They will take place before the Drum, during it, immediately after its destruction, and decades after it appeared. The stories do cover the Unnamed, but also human survivors, and the Reanimated. I’m not sure when I’ll have it fully available on my bookstore, but it should be no later than July. I will be selling it at CONvergence, and also having a book release party for it August. More details coming soon.
• I had a trio of poems published over at Horrific Scribblings. There was the Lucky and Broken, which is about Medusa’s lair and her stone victims. The Sounds, which includes a troll who hates the sounds of happiness. Then the Bloody Blade, which follows a cavernous sword and its samurai master. You find all three right here to read. It is a great publication. Super honored.
• I will have a table for Art a Whirl coming up here in the Twin Cities. Not sure the exact details yet, but it is coming up soon in May on the 15th, 16th, and 17th. I’ll be selling books in this cool studio place. I’m excited.
• My poem the Breadcrumbs was published by Carmina Magazine. It is about a dragon musing over the constant string of knights willing to die at his doorstep looking for glory. You can read it right here, but also should check out the awesome lit magazine overall.
• October is looking like a busy month for me. I know that is a long way off, but I’ll have quite a few events going. Three different events it looks like. A couple different readings. Might add one more event. October is a big month for a literary horror writer like myself.
• Another poem of mine was published by a literary magazine. This time it is Mouthwatering and it is available at Star*Line. This is a paid magazine, so you need a subscription. Still an amazing place, and I highly suggest supporting them. Carnivorous fish torment a seaside town. As one does.
• The amount of media I’ve been digesting has been all over the place. Finally beat Expedition 33. One of my favorite games of all time. Easily in my top five. Incredible story. Awesome gameplay. Unforgettable music. I’ll be replaying it for the rest of my life.
• Been watching a lot of anime since I converted my wife to it the last year or so. I can’t even remember all the ones I’ve watch recently. One of them was My Hero Academia Vigilantes. I was a big fan of the original series, and this one is a bit more subtle and humorous. Fun to be back in that universe again. I appreciate that Knuckle Buster doesn’t have a quirk. He just beats the crap out of people.
• Listened to some Stephen King recently via audiobook. Really good storyteller. I had not read much by him in my life, but really appreciated a lot of his short stories. Had to stop listening because one of them was simply too dark to continue. Maybe I’ll get back to it. I’m listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl right now with my wife. It is fantastic. I’m really enjoying it, especially since we’re playing through Minecraft Dungeons together for the second time.
• Still making my way through ALL of Anne Sexton’s poem. Still marvelous, sad, dark, depressing, and all of that. Started reading a collection of Wallace Steven’s poems as well. Quite a contrast between the two. Stevens continues to be one of my favorites. So does Sexton.
• Alrighty, well, that’s all I got for now. I hope you all are staying healthy and safe. Thank you for reading my work and continuing to support me. Plenty of more announcements on the way. Take care!

Big update about my recent publications, new book out in the summer, and other various ramblings. Thank you for continuing to support my voice and work. Details in the post:

#amwriting #amwritingliteraryhorror #literaryhorror #horror #writing #poetry #blogging #writingupdate #reading #amreading

https://patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com/2026/04/29/writing-update-4-29-26/

This new rock star I started to create didn't only bring in his bandmates. He has already bring so many new characters into the story universe. Including a new villain. I'm not sure how many villains there is in the story universe right now. Maybe I should create a list of villains.
#writingupdate

https://mysteriesbyrose.wordpress.com/2026/04/28/more-new-characters-plus-new-villain/