December Musings

The latest newsletter from writer Stephanie Ellis

Ah, we’ve reached that time of year to look back, look forward, stress over Christmas, and generally be prevented from just living in the present. I’ve removed some of that stress by finishing shopping the other day. Anything else, the rest of the family can sort out - a division of labour! But yes, I am the cook on the day. I’m looking forward to having all my children with me and also visiting my parents. It is a family time. And I know I am lucky. So much can change in an instant and there are also many for whom Christmas is difficult, especially so for the homeless. This brings me to one profound regret when I look back at 2025.

For several months, since late 2024, I was working with a street poet, Cornelius Roses. His dream was to publish his collection of poetry. Having stopped and talked with him on the street, we met regularly at The Wallich, the Welsh charity for the homeless and those affected by issues relating to it. During our time together, I compiled and formatted his poems, created a cover, and we were just waiting for some documents to go through so he could upload his book. His dream was in reach. Sadly he passed away suddenly (though he had been ill) and his book will now only ever sit on my computer. I still wish, with every fibre of my being, that we had not run out of time. He wanted this so much. But I have continued volunteering with The Wallich, joining in with weekly writing sessions and helping format and compile another book (cover created by one of the clients), this for the organisation as a whole, sharing the words, poems, and illustrations of the wonderful clients and Wallich staff. Wednesdays for me are very much ‘Wallich Wednesdays.’

What will be - and what could have been

My own publications 2025 feel small in number, but it includes three books (2 novels and one found poetry collection)! These were written and published whilst I wait on other works, so I don’t think I’ve done to badly.

Genres: historical horror, folk horror, norse myth, found poetry, alt history cosy crime.

So … 2026

Contracted works include

A Fragile Thing (gothic horror novel), Watertower Hill, March 2026

Mother’s Night (Rise of the Hare Witch), Brigids Gate Press, Autumn 2026

Enough Rope (gothic horror novella), Brigids Gate Press, 2026/2027.

There are also short stories:

A Nordic Horror - slated for March/April.

A story for joint project between Demagogue Press and Moanaria’s Fright Club. Date TBC

And a couple of other stories are bubbling around further in the background.

Not yet placed

Rat-She - a post-apocalyptic novella. It’s been subbed to a couple of places and rejected, albeit positively. I’m going to look for one more home and then I’ll put it out myself. Getting more impatient as I get older and people saying ‘no’ is not going to stop me!

And Work in Progress

Sermon of the Wolf - my 1016 historical horror/Norse myth retelling/werewolf mashup. 25000 words in but currently I’m lurking in 1014 having brought in Elfgifu, Cnut’s first wife to be a central figure. A strong woman, she has now taken over the story I had originally planned as going in a slightly different direction. Yes, I do have an outline as it was an idea I pitched somewhere. Unsuccessfully, due to the time period I’d chosen, but the idea was liked and I was urged to write it anyway. This book has been just the excuse I needed to indulge in new history and myth books for research purposes.

Slightly related to this is a collection of short stories I’m mulling. I’ve half a dozen Norse myth retellings that were published over the past couple of years and a couple of others lurking. When I get a moment, I’ll be writing a couple of others and adding this to the collection. This will probably be self-published whilst I submit the novel.

There is so much more I need to get back to too. Historical fiction set during the Commonwealth period (after the English Civil War), focussing very much on some strong female characters and the prejudices they faced. I’ve written the first, now I need to get on with the others. A couple of short stories - scifi/horror - I’d like to turn into novellas (this was how both Bottled and Paused came to be). A novel about Genesis Caul, the shadowy figure featuring in Asylum of Shadows, A Fragile Thing and Enough Rope.

That’s my year(s) ahead, and that doesn’t include a few other projects going on in the background, the reading I want to do, the reviewing I’m trying to do a bit more of for Horror Tree, the formatting, proofing or editing I might be involved with. Busy, but happily so. And it all comes right in the end.

Currently Reading

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang - loving the humour in this trip to Hell.

Just Finished

Scratch Moss by David Barnett - excellent folk horror. Review will be up on Horror Tree soon.

Highlights of 2025

The Devil by Name and Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson

King Sorrow by Joe Hill

Would also recommend

All’s Well That Ends Well - Vivian Kasley

Pyres - Kev Harrison

Where the Soul Goes by Katharine Silva

The Eliza Test - Caleb Jones

And Before I Finish - World FantasyCon Brighton

Trekking down to Brighton was the best thing I did this year. Saw so many people, met some online friends for the first time, met others from before, bought a whole heap of books - it was so worth it.

Now I need to think about Glasgow next year …

Left to right below: Ellen Datlow, Lee (yes, Lee!) Murray, David Watkins & CC Adams, me in print (courtesy Lauren McMenemy), Kayleigh Dobbs, Carol Gyzander, panel with a few known faces, Lauren McMenemy (of BFS and Horror Tree fame), Lee Murray and Dave Jeffery.

It feels a little early to finish with season’s greetings, so instead I’ll wish you all a Happy Bookmas and hope your TBR continues to bring you joy.

And remember, whatever the book, from whatever author (unless they are really big names in which case their need is less!), a review is the best gift you could give.

Steph