Well, 2025 is nearly a done deal, but it’s not done until the done deal is done. It has been an exciting year, with some lovely vacations and lots and lots of cycling. I am pleased with what I have achieved this year with my writing, and I think that over the last couple of years, my writing has improved and is resonating with readers.
I have thought about my writing, and I think two books I read in 2024 have had the biggest impact on it: Burmese Days by George Orwell and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick.
For Burmese Days, I was inspired by the lushness of Orwell’s writing. This flowery side of Orwell (which I had never experienced before) gave me, I feel, permission to be more evocative and less minimalist in my writing.
For Android Sheep and Dick, I love the way he builds scenes through small gestures, movements, and mannerisms. He was a master at building scenes through suggestion and broad brushstrokes.
I am pleased with the work I am writing, and feel the quality has improved; these two stories have helped me become a better writer and have helped sharpen my storytelling voice. My narrative voice has, largely, stayed the same at its core, but it has become richer, and with it, I think my stories have become richer as well.
By the numbers, in 2025…
I published two stories, Above the Clouds and Age of Magic
I wrote 150,000 words
My stories were downloaded over 3,600 times.
New Work
This sci-fi/horror/post-apocalyptic story was published in February and immediately received positive feedback from readers, who have described it as haunting, immersive, gripping, unforgettable, cinematic, bleak, and thought-provoking.
This is one of my favourite stories I have written, and one that asks some of the deepest questions, primarily ‘what does it mean to be human?’.
My first fantasy story was published in October, and I am very pleased with this one. I had a lot of fun writing this story, which is filled with magic, beasts, knights, warlocks, witches, intrigue, deception, etcetera, etcetera.
I enjoyed writing this story so much that almost as soon as I finished it, I wrote the sequel (The Sphinx’s Tear) and then the prequel (Scorpius).
My most popular stories in 2025 by number of downloads were…
For the second year in a row, The Secret Service is my most downloaded story. This story is the follow-up to The Secret Policemen and continues the saga for Karla, a transgender sex worker who has become embroiled in a world of espionage, subterfuge, assassinations, and romance.
This is a funny story as well, with some strong characters and some very black comedy.
2. Golden Blood
Vampire fiction connoisseurs LOVE this story, describing it variously as fresh, vivid, grotesque, horrifying, engrossing, gripping, gothic, dark, tragic, and unforgettable.
The story starts in the jungles of South America in 1540 as a gothic nightmare, then fast-forwards to the Battle of Waterloo and Paris in 1815, and then to the modern day, becoming a stark Neo-noir thriller set in the underbelly of Los Angeles.
If you like dark vampire stories (sans-sparkles / sans-romance), you will love Golden Blood.
The story that started it all! I had never written a story before I wrote this one, and I surprised myself twice during the process.
The first surprise was that I could write and finish a 70k-word story (admittedly, the writing isn’t my finest, but I think it is a decent story).
The second surprise was that I enjoyed writing!
For this, The Secret Policemen, which brings characters such as The Smoking Man, The Man With No Name, and Karla to life, will always have a special place in my heart.
Straight into the top 5 downloads is Above the Clouds, released in February 2025. This post-apocalyptic story is set in a ruined future world, where the remnants of humanity cling to the fringes of existence.
I came up with the idea for this story while cycling, looking at a meadow of dandelions, pondering whether they would survive an apocalypse and flourish without municipal authorities waging war on their existence.
5. Angel
Still in the top 5 after some stiff competition, we have Angel, my trans-reality story about quantum mechanics, murder, the mafia, the Copenhagen interpretation, assassins, Hollywood, love, and coffee.
I had a dream so vivid that, as I sat drinking my morning coffee, I questioned whether it was real. This got me thinking about the nature of reality itself, and as I did, I came up with this story, which is equal parts funny, dark, thrilling, and mind-bending.
So what’s next…?
In 2026, I plan to publish two stories: The Mistress (sci-fi / dystopian / thriller) in February and The Sphinx’s Tear (dark fantasy) in October. I have a few other stories finished, and will publish them at a later date.
I am also planning on creating an audiobook version of Age of Magic, which will be my main focus for the winter (as it will be too cold / icy / frigid for cycling).
So that is that from me in 2025. If you read something of mine and liked it, feel free to add a review on my Goodreads page.
Thanks for reading – and wishing you a very Merry Saturnalia and a Happy New Year!
Tim.