[2025 in Review] A look back at a monumental writing year, and what's ahead

Happy New Year

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and have many exciting things in store for the year ahead.

I always find some energy and rejuvenation when I take a moment to look back and set goals and intentions for a new year. I really should do it more intentionally more often, because it really does help me celebrate what's come, and find clarity for what I have before me.

That was certainly the case this year.

I finished out the year feeling a little stuck creatively, and a little tired, and the first few days of the New Year have already been leagues better than most last year, just in terms of energy.

So yeah, end of year check-ins are a little cliche, but perhaps for good reason.

As always, I composed a much more exhaustive rundown over on my website. If you're interested in learning more.

Full 2025 Year in Review Post

Okay, let's dive in to some exciting news.

2026 will be my first official year as a full-time writer

This has been a slowly developing thing for the past couple years. In 2023, I left my job as a high school teacher, and began writing part time and freelancing part time.

I've been publishing books since 2018. It took three years to officially be in the black. And since then has slowly grown and grown. And well, here we are.

Publishing is a fickle industry, and I've certainly learned that there are many factors outside my control. But to this point, it has been steady and consistent enough to go all in.

It still feels a little unreal. It's been a dream pursuit of mine since college... so... for a while now.

But I am very excited for what's in store in 2026, and I just want to extend a huge thank you to all of you readers who have brought these books into your lives, shared them with others, and made this all possible.

And now, a quick look back, and a glimpse at what's coming in 2026...

A look back at 2025

On a personal level, this year saw my family finally starting to feel settled after moving into our house at the end of 2024. After a stressful school year, we had a pretty calm and relaxing summer. Then, my wife started a new art teaching job this fall, and our kids started junior kindergarten and pre-school.

Shipping to backers next week!!!

For me, this year was dominated by Children of the Gods. With edits and the Kickstarter in the first half of the year. Preparing the hardcover over the summer. Launching the book digitally on September 30, all the way to now, with the hardcovers expected to ship out from the Merrick Books warehouse starting next week, following some holiday season delays.

I had never released a new book this way. It was both monumental, and made it feel like I was kind of in Book Launch mode all year long.

We also had the Darkling Queen Kickstarter mixed in there, along with a full pass of light edits on the book. I wrote a new Shadow Watch prequel novelette, and the first 25k words (100 pages) of the sequel to Children (title reveal below).

2025 Milestones

The Children of the Gods Kickstarter raised over $50k
It became my longest book to date at 144k words
We sent out the final deluxe editions for Rage of Saints (Shadow Watch #2)
The Darkling Queen Kickstarter raised $40k
Wrote Hunter in the Red City, the final and longest Shadow Watch prequel story, complete at 12k words
Kirkus Reviews (and several other reviewers I admire) had very positive things to say about Children of the Gods. CotG digitally launched on Sept. 30, and thus far, is my best critically received book
Passed 100k total book sales between all my books in all formats, woo!

A glimpse at 2026

2026 will once again be dominated by the Age of Fire series, specifically Book 2, which is officially titled:

Children of Ash & Stone

Joe Requeza is gearing up for the cover illustration next month, and we should have a cover reveal coming some time this Spring. I expect it to wind up around 150k words, similar or slightly longer than Book 1. And that is my main focus the next few months.

2026 Writing Goals

Finish Children of Ash & Stone
Work on and hopefully finish Swordslinger (working title for new Pantheon book)
New Epilogue for Shadow Watch Saga (this will go with the final deluxe edition for Well of Shadows)
Finish Age of Fire prequel short story / novelette

2026 will also bring the final Shadow Watch Deluxe Kickstarter, the Children of Ash & Stone Kickstarter, an audio omnibus release for the Pantheon trilogy, a complete set of brand new Shadow Watch audiobooks recorded by Tim Campbell (who narrated Children), a digital release of the Shadow Watch prequel tales, and hopefully the digital release of Children of Ash & Stone by the end of the year.

Coming early 2026

2026 Tentative Release / Fulfillment Schedule

Children of the Gods Hardcovers (shipping out mid January)
Watcher Origins digital release (April)
Darkling Queen Deluxe (likely shipping end of April or early May)
Well of Shadows Deluxe Kickstarter (May or June)
New Shadow Watch Audiobooks Release (Summer)
Children of Ash & Stone Kickstarter (August or September)
Children of Ash & Stone digital release (December)

My Top 5s of 2025

Books - Blood Over Bright Haven, The Anthropocene Reviewed, Malice, The Poppy War, and This is How You Lose the Time War

TV - Severance S1+2, Stranger Things S5, Arcane S2, Shrinking S2, Stick S1

Movies / Docs - Sinners, House of Dynamite, Receiver, Superman, K-Pop Demon Hunters

Conclusion

It has been a busy surreal year. I am really excited for what's ahead, and very thankful for everyone of you who has joined me on this journey.

The writing itself is a solitary act. But every final product is a massive collaboration. With readers and backers and reviewers and supportive fellow authors and distributors and printers and editors and artists. I am deeply grateful for you all.

Wishing you and yours a new year filled with friends and family, dreams and good memories.

As always, burn bright,

Stephen