2025 in Review
- Dan
- 58 minutes ago
- 2 min read
With 2025 in the rearview mirror, now seems like a nice time to reflect on what an awesome year for writing it was!
2025 in Review
Phantom Algebra Published
My biggest accomplishment was the release of Phantom Algebra back in September. Writing this novel was as much of a revelation as writing Dragons Walk Among Us. When I penned Dragons Walk Among Us, I discovered I had a knack for writing young adult stories and could fashion a female protagonist readers genuinely enjoyed. With Phantom Algebra, I learned that my authorial voice might be suited to young adult supernatural thrillers/horror.
You see, Phantom Algebra has some of my best reviews to date. None better than being named as one of the best Young Adult Horror Novels of 2025 by the Ginger Nuts of Horror website. Just goes to show that if you write a book of high enough quality, somebody's gonna love it!
Tropes to watch for in this Phantom Algebra:
🥊MMA
🏫Haunted School
👻Nasty Ghosts
🤐Family Secrets
➗Terrifying Algebra
The friendship and developing relationship between Zuri and Luis was so cute and she was a complex and compassionate character who eventually realised that passing maths was just as important as having a great kick or punch in MMA. I found Phantom Algebra to be totally charming, with clever side stories, great characters and a cool big finish. - Tony Jones for Ginger Nuts of Horror
Two Novels Edited for Release in 2026
I spent a good deal of time I took off around the holidays finishing up the edits on two novels coming in 2026. First, I did a marathon line edit of Solarflame, coming in March 2026 from Cloaked Press. When I saw their call for submissions, I submitted this epic fantasy on a whim. It's a novel I hadn't worked on in several years, which I was considering rewriting after finishing book four of The Allison Lee Chronicles. Well, the literary deities had other ideas!
Tropes to watch for:
🔥 Dragon-riders and aerial danger
⚔️ Political intrigue and assassination
💫 A reluctant heir facing an impossible destiny
📜 Ancient magic, sacred rituals, and a looming threat from rogue magicians
👑 A kingdom on the brink of collapse
If you want to sample the world Solarflame, check out the shorts The Overlord's Trials and Scars for free. Oh, and keep checking this space for the pre-order, which I am told is coming soon…!
After finishing up Solarflame, I turn my attention back to The Bane of Dragons, the fourth and final volume of The Allison Lee Chronicles.
If…
🐲Dragons
🧚Faeries
👾Alien Invasion
🪄Magic
👨👩👧Family Drama
…and a kick-ass heroine strike your fancy, this series is for you. Check out the prologue for a sample.
Short Story Published
On top of all that goodness, I published The Magician's Quest, another short story set in the world of Solarflame. It's available in an anthology from Cloaked Press.
