Update: New lit magazines I'm published in, SpringCon recap, CONvergence coming up, future projects, and all that stuffs. Details in the link below. Thanks for reading!
#writing #reading #horror #blogging #amwriting #literaryhorror #blog #books #writingupdate
https://patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com/2026/06/17/writing-update-6-17-26/
Mid-Year Writing Round-Up: Progress and Projects
It’s June, the sixth month of the year, and 2026 is half over already. Now we’re halfway, I thought I’d do a post that looks at my writing journey for the last six months! I’ll be doing a June Writing Round-up as well just for this month, as well as my usual Media Round-up.
Post Contents
Writing-Adjacent Mid-Year Achievements
These are the things I count as achievements, which aren’t publishing or writing related, but are definitely adjacent! I often find that I just don’t put my work out there, or I don’t put myself out there. I’m quite pleased with myself for doing some things this year so far.
Publishing Round-Up
Writing Round-Up: The Big Fiction
To get previews of these, and to get other monthly fiction, join my Ko-Fi.
Writing Round-Up: The Ko-Fi Fiction
January Giveaway Draw – Eldritch Family only
BIRDS OF A FEATHER signed paperback winner announced.
February Giveaway Draw – Eldritch Family only
BEST FRIENDS BURY BODIES signed paperback winner announced.
March Giveaway Draw – Eldritch Family only
THE SUSSEX FRETSAW MASSACRE & OTHER STORIES signed paperback winner announced.
Divination Hollow Reviews & Listicles Published
Website Articles
Here are the articles I’ve written in the last six months (excluding updates, ads for bundles and published works, interviews, round-ups, and Author Spotlights).
https://cmrosens.com/2026/01/01/2026-looking-forwards/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/01/04/happy-birthday-to-me-the-crows-1st-edn/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/01/12/5-books-i-will-think-about-until-i-die/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/09/west-country-tales/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/13/crime-doesnt-pay-when-the-hideout-mark-goes-bad-horror/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/17/happy-lunar-new-year/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/23/essay-darklands-1996-and-the-question-of-welsh-national-identity/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/03/16/classic-short-horror-stories-by-women/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/03/30/classic-short-horror-stories-by-women-part-2/
Website Stats
Views To Date: 20K
Visitors To Date: 15.6K
Word Count: 102.1K
https://cmrosens.com/2024/03/21/rapunzel-in-cinema-1897-2024/
https://cmrosens.com/2024/02/20/red-riding-hood-in-films-1901-2024/
https://cmrosens.com/2020/03/23/werewolf-films-1910-1950/
https://cmrosens.com/2024/02/08/sleeping-beauty-in-cinema-1903-2023/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/12/12/letterboxd-wrapped-2025/
https://cmrosens.com/2019/12/19/welsh-gothic-tropes-iv-the-cwn-annwn/
https://cmrosens.com/2019/12/23/welsh-gothic-tropes-v-the-sin-eater/
https://cmrosens.com/2024/01/19/bluebeard-in-cinema-1901-2023/
Top 10 Most Read Author Spotlightshttps://cmrosens.com/2025/06/20/author-spotlight-a-j-barlowe/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/04/11/author-spotlight-arden-powell/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/06/06/author-spotlight-miranda-kate-mk-boers/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/09/17/author-spotlight-morgan-dante/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/09/03/author-spotlight-ian-haramaki/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/08/06/author-spotlight-ruby-dare/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/11/author-spotlight-pd-alleva/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/01/21/author-spotlight-eskay/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/07/18/author-spotlight-sandra-bond/
https://cmrosens.com/2026/02/18/author-spotlight-tasha-he/
Top 10 Most Read Podcast Transcriptshttps://cmrosens.com/2025/03/31/caitlin-starling/
https://cmrosens.com/2021/10/11/author-interview-transcript-s-t-saint-gibson/
https://cmrosens.com/2023/04/24/interview-with-lucy-rose-gothic-filmmaking/
https://cmrosens.com/2022/02/07/author-interview-with-ally-wilkes/
https://cmrosens.com/2025/05/05/author-jamison-shea-on-monsters-monster-lovers-and-monstrous-media/
https://cmrosens.com/2023/05/08/interview-with-suzan-palumbo-skin-thief-coming-oct-2023/
Top 10 Most Read Women In Horror Featureshttps://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/sandra-bond/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/abby-vail/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/madeleine-swann/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/c-m-rosens/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/victoria-dalpe/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/emily-ruth-verona/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/leanna-renee-hieber/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/tabitha-potts/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/paula-cappa/
https://cmrosens.com/women-in-horror-month/lcw-allingham/
#writing #writingUpdate
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:
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
Previous Writing Round-Ups
May Writing Round-up! I haven’t done a lot of this, but that’s ok. Here’s what I’ve been working on.
by cmrosensJune 1, 2026June 1, 2026A round-up of all my words for March, plus what’s new, book awards, and other updates!
by cmrosensApril 1, 2026April 1, 2026Read 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.
by cmrosensFebruary 27, 2026February 27, 2026January 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!
by cmrosensJanuary 28, 2026February 1, 2026 #writingUpdate
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
#CFGrönroos #CreatingCharacters #creatingStoryWorld #FallingStarsUniverse #MysteriesByRose #writing #WritingUpdate
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/
Siren Bard
Patrick W. Marsh
cmrosens
Mysteries by Rose
C.F. Grönroos
