A summary for you on what to expect in this edition in case you want to scroll down to the interesting bits: author’s note on last week’s short story; Lit Fest prep; special 50% discount on subscriptions; this week on TikTok; and the progress report with an update on my week-on-week sales and writing progress.
Author’s Note - Still Waters
I had to skip another week of writing for the due chapter of Hydropower, but I didn’t want to leave you all with nothing. Instead, I found this short story - one of a few I have collected on my hard drive for times like this. Some were never published, some were accepted into publications that have since, sadly, disappeared from the internet.
Still Waters was an attempt at capturing a certain feeling. The feeling of being trapped, alone, claustrophobic, but nothing is quite yet wrong: a certain unease that says something very bad is about to happen, but you can’t tell what. A calm before the storm that is not calm, but rather tense. I struggle to describe the feeling in just a few words, so I tried to capture it in a short story instead.
I spent a lot of time working on this one back when I wrote it in 2015. I took it to a writer’s workshop I used to attend back then and also reworked it based on feedback. I spent so much time on getting it right where I wanted it… only to find out I’d made it too long for any of the short story magazines I was trying to get into. I couldn’t bear to cut any of the parts I’d spent so much time on. So it goes. It has seen the light of day at last, so the effort wasn’t wasted, just delayed.
I’m hoping I’ve got ahead of the curve enough to get chapter 15 finally written this week, but if not (or if there’s ever a reason I can’t publish a new chapter), I have a few more short stories up my sleeve that I think you’ll enjoy.
Too Many Cooks is out now in paperback at last! This happened without much fanfare because it was a little later than expected. It was supposed to come out on the 1st, and I got everything typeset and done and dusted… only for Amazon to reject the cover because the barcode covered some text. So! I had to redo it all at the last minute, missed the deadline to have it reviewed in time, and it instead came out on the 4th or 5th depending on your territory. Anyway - that’s done, and you can now get your own copy! (I should probably remember to buy my own copy).
This week, I’ve been preparing for the Tunbridge Wells Lit Fest on the 10th May. We’ll be open from 11am to 3pm, and I’ll be signing everything I sell. It’s free to enter, inside the Royal Victoria. In case you’ll be in the area, mine will be the table with the rainbow flags. I want it to scream QUEER STUFF HERE so that bigots avoid me and only cool people come to chat.
I’ve got paperback copies of Don’t Move Out, Boy Under Water, and Bloodless ready to sell. I’ve also got some bookmarks (I didn’t have time to print customs, but I picked out some rainbow-themed options for buyers to choose from) which will be free with each purchase, and I will also have leaflets and business cards for those who are interested in my ghostwriting services. The last thing I’ll do is print out some signs - I’ve not attended this one before, so I’m not sure what we’re permitted to display on the table or not, but I’ll have some just in case.
We’re told there’s no WiFi in the room, so a) I hope lots of people come by or I’m going to be VERY bored without full use of my phone, and b) it’s cash only.
There was the option to go and read something, but I don’t have anyone who can cover my stall while I read, and I also don’t know if my material is super appropriate for reading in a public place where children may be walking by, ha.
Any copies I don’t sell will be going on the TikTok shop, so if you’re in the UK, look out for a link to those later on. (Sadly, the TT Shop doesn’t translate across countries, so I can’t offer links for shoppers based elsewhere).
Don’t forget: you can now get 50% off your subscription to Crowhill Cove for the next year!
Act fast, as this offer will expire on the 13th May. This gives you access to absolutely everything on Crowhill Cove, including:
My past serialisation, Don’t Move Your Desk
Allllll the short stories I’ve posted here
All the writing advice and essays I’ve posted here
The whole of cycle 1 of Hydropower, as it will finish before the end of 2025, and (potentially) the start of my next serial (if plans remain as they are)
Anything else new I come up with between now and this time next year
And, if you subscribe as a founding member,
Everything I publish for a whole year in PDF or epub format so you can read it without having to pay again
That sounds like a pretty damn good deal to me.
Books
Okay, you've read the Substack posts (and maybe you're a little bit confused if that's where you started). Wondering who all of these characters are? Thinking you need a refresher on past books?
Each week, I share the one TikTok video that performed best out of the last seven days.
All of these videos are available on TikTok for free, but if you’re a) not a TikTok user or b) just want the best highlights, this is a convenient place to see it.
This week’s best is below, and it’s my three key takeaways from The Stitch-Up:
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I’m particularly pleased with the fact that Vintage Books, who sent me the proof copy in the first place, reposted this one. I have more videos to come on The Stitch-Up as it aligns with a research topic I’m planning to write on myself, and is also, I believe, vitally important reading for everyone.
Note: Changes are in bold, comments in italics.
TOTAL SALES:
Crowhill Cove series (Don’t Move Out, Don’t Go Outside, Don’t Fly Home, Don’t Leave Town, Don’t Check Out, the 1-5 boxset, and Don’t Move Your Desk): ebook - 1,149, paperback/hardback - 44, KU pages read - 804,389, free downloads - 6,304
Kiss The Cook - ebook - 20, paperback - 1, KU pages read - 6,096 (225 pages = 27 equivalent full-book reads)
Cook Up A Storm - ebook - 18, paperback - 1, KU pages read - 5,982 (212 pages = 28 equivalent full-book reads)
Kiss The Cook: ebook - 7, paperback - 0, KU pages read - 2,074 (200 pages = 10 equivalent full-book reads)
Serial Investigations full series (Pre-Substack releases: books 1-12, 2 bonus novellas, 2 boxsets): ebook - 501, paperback/hardback - 104, KU pages read - 397,478, free downloads - 1,819 - No movement for two weeks
WRITING:
Too Many Cooks: ebook published, paperback published!
What’s Cooking, Good Looking?: 41k words written
Cooking on Gas: preorder up, theme ready
Crowhill Club: all covers, themes, and titles done, characters created and romances/interpersonal relationships between books set up
Mystery project: cover design bought!!!, initial ideas on characters, plot, themes
Hydropower: Written to end of chapter 14
SUBSTACK:
Subscribers: free - 83, paid - 3 - Hello, new friends!
Followers: 398
By the way, please like this post if you enjoyed it and would like to see more! This helps me decide what to do for future content.
XO Rhiannon