You’ve seen me mention the Polestars short story collections from Newcon Press before now? Twelve volumes (so far), bringing together selected short fiction from acclaimed authors writing across the full gamut of speculative fiction.

Now there’s a taster collection of a dozen stories, one from each author, available in an ebook from Amazon for the bargain price of £2.25. Click here

In case you’re wondering, my story in this has only previously been published in my Polestars collection, Different Times and Other Places.

Where are you going to get a better offer today? Enjoy stories from writers whose work you already know and like, and try authors new to you. Start your 2026 Year of Reading in style!

In previous years I’ve reviewed the previous twelve months on Christmas Eve and considered what lies ahead on or around New Year’s Day in separate blogposts. This time, I find the two are inextricably entwined.

I didn’t get around to writing a blogpost on 24^th December as we were hosting a sizeable family gathering the following day – and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. Our house is conveniently placed for doing that geographically, and we have the space to set up two tables end to end. We’ve also accumulated sufficient plates, cutlery, glasses, and have enough spare chairs stashed in the attic to give everyone a seat. It is a bit startling to realise we’re taking on the role I remember as the previous generation’s responsibility, and before that, my grandparents… Assorted conversations with siblings and cousins over the midwinter break have included updates on our collective offspring reaching various stages on their own journeys to adulthood. How did this happen?!

Well, the two of us have been a couple for forty years this year, married for thirty six of those. I qualified for my senior railcard as I turned sixty last year. As a rule, I don’t pay much attention to ‘milestone’ birthdays, but this one, and a couple of other recent anniversaries, have prompted pause for thought. I’ve thought of myself as vaguely middle-aged for the last few decades, but that’s not really the case any more. Even if I make it to ninety (which an encouraging number of the previous generation have done), I’m two-thirds of the way through this game.

What achievements can I look back on? Professionally, twenty seven novels (so far), plus novellas and short stories, the various non-fiction pieces I have written, and the teaching I have done. In recent years, there’s been my work for the Society of Authors, and before that, the successful campaign to revise cross-border VAT on digital sales. Most recently in the rear-view mirror, The Green Man’s Holiday has been well received, along with my short fiction and non-fiction publications in 2025. (Incidentally, thank you to everyone who has caught up with Dan’s latest adventure over the holidays and posted a positive rating and/or online review. These do boost an author’s visibility!)

Personally, I can look back on our aforementioned forty year relationship, still ongoing, and many equally long-standing, and more recent valued friendships. Our two sons are responsible, politically aware, self-supporting adults, and very good company, I’m pleased to say. I’m satisfied I’ve used my time well there.

What does the future hold? Well, there’s the next Green Man book which I’ll start writing soon. The Riven Kingdom, my new fantasy novel, will be published by Angry Robot later in 2026. I will continue to work with the SoA to defend authors’ interests and copyrights. I will oppose the encroachment of generative so-called-AI. I I’ll uphold and defend equal rights and respect for all, defying the selfish and intolerant who want to erase the hard-won progress for women, people of colour and LGBTQ+ communities which I have witnessed since my teens. That’s one plus of getting older. You can spot bad faith rhetoric being recycled.

Beyond that, looking ahead becomes rather different. Assorted handwritten notes and newsletters in Christmas cards from aforementioned long-standing friends tell us they’re coming up to retirement, or have already retired, like my husband. Regular routines of past years are no more, and other responsibilities have changed significantly. New opportunities are apparent, for travel and other experiences, while we stay fit and healthy.

What does this mean, in practical terms? At the moment, I don’t know, but change is in the air, and that’s an intriguing prospect.

This time last month, I was getting back into the routine after getting home from World Fantasy Con in Brighton. That was very enjoyable on the personal level; seeing friends and catching up with their lives and careers in these uncertain times. Professionally, I was busy. I chaired one panel about writing fantasy for younger readers, from pre-school to teens, which was very informative. I spoke on a panel about ‘writing fighting’ which revealed a breadth of views and experiences among the authors, and that’s always good. I gave a reading – well, two short readings, to give a taste of The Green Man’s Holiday, launched at the convention, and of The Riven Kingdom, coming next year from Angry Robot.

Then there were any number of conversations about the business, and the craft, of writing. I had a very pleasant ‘meet the author’ chat with some lovely people, and over the course of the weekend, signed a highly satisfactory number of books & programmes. A particular delight was signing a much reread and cherished copy of The Thief’s Gamble, my debut novel, in its original edition. Seriously, never feel you shouldn’t ask an author to sign a less than pristine book, and there’s no need to apologise. Every writer I know loves to see them.

We launched The Green Man’s Holiday, alongside Wizard’s Tower Press’s other new titles. The third in the Wiz Duo novella series offers The Sheltering Flame by Ruthanna Emrys alongside Walking a Wounded Land by Andrew Knighton. I’ve read and enjoyed previous work by both these authors and hope to get to these new stories soon. The other title launched was Of The Emperor’s Kindness by Chaz Brenchley which is as intriguing as it is deceptively low-key. There was cake and wine and chatting with friends – and Garth Nix and Peter Hamilton both keen to buy copies of Dan’s latest adventure and get them signed, being fans of the series. How’s that for a great day?

Incidentally, thanks to everyone who has shared positive and enthusiastic ratings and reviews for The Green Man’s Holiday online. Personal and digital ‘word of mouth’ is absolutely vital for small press publications, ever more so as social media fractures and scatters communities.

Since then? November is the Society of Authors’ AGM month, so I had a fair bit to do relating to that. The AGM was very positive and constructive, looking forward to continuing current campaigns to defend copyright, and to promote author care by publishers, among much else. I also took part in an online round table discussion hosted by the Department of Arts and Humanities, European University Cyprus, exploring the uses creators might make of AI tools, or not, and why. If and when that’s offered in the public domain, I’ll share a link.

I’ve also tackled a considerable amount of domestic and work-related administrivia to clear the desk for background reading and plot wrangling for the next Green Man book. I’ve done some website tidying up, and we have now incorporated information about JM Alvey’s historical murder mysteries into this site, along with observations I made along the way about writing fiction set so far in the past in this world.

Last but by no means least, I’ve added a short story The End of the Road, previously published in the final edition of Albedo One magazine, to the Some Free Stories page. Think of it as a seasonal gift, however you may celebrate.

I will now split my time for the rest of this month between Christmas preparations, socialising with friends and family over the holiday break, and the aforementioned reading and plotting before I start writing Dan’s next adventure next year.

I’m taking the day off after a very busy weekend, which was most enjoyable and ticked all the professional requirements for such activity, especially publicising my work ahead of The Green Man’s Holiday being published on Thursday.

We had 100+ people attending our panel on Saturday at Comic Con at the Excel in London – which is vastly easier to get to these days, using the Elizabeth Line. It is the first time I’ve seen so many cosplayers in an audience, as keen and engaged with our discussion as everyone else. The signing session afterwards ran the gamut for me personally, from a reader of long standing getting their copies of earlier books signed and buying The Cleaving, to one who hadn’t came across my work before, buying The Cleaving after hearing me talk. So that’s a win all round.

Bristolcon was fun as always, both taking part in my panels and sitting in the audience for others. It was also a pleasure to spend time with established friends and to make/improve other acquaintance with like-minded folk. Being surrounded by people with shared interests and enthusiasms is one of the best things about SFF conventions. The reading I offered from The Green Man’s holiday was well received, so that’s sorted for World Fantasy.

And finally, I’d like to share this absolutely wonderful gift from Penny Hill, skilled needlewoman and expert on embroidery, fabrics and much more besides. If you’re at World Fantasy Convention 2025 more of her work will be in the art show, and I highly recommend you make time to see it – along with everything else.

Tomorrow I’ll be doing my World Fantasy panel prep and other such stuff.

I have two busy weekends ahead!

On Saturday 25th October,  I’m joining RJ Barker, Dan Coxon and Alex Pheby to discuss Dead Ink’s new non-fiction anthology of essays on Writing the Magic. Our panel is from 11am-11.45am at the Writers Block Stage, followed by a signing session from 11.45am-12.45am.

On Sunday 26th October, I’ll be at Bristolcon. After a reading at 12.50, I’ll join J A Mortimore, David Green, Jo M Thomas/Journeymouse, and Anna Smith Spark, to discuss Lost Cities and Legends at 1.00pm.

At 3.00pm, J E Hannaford, David Cartwright, Jonathan L. Howard, Carolyn Dougherty and I will consider possible solutions when Your planning application for a lair has been declined.

I’ll be arriving at the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton on Thursday 30th October. My schedule is as follows:

Friday, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm : Reading, with Ai Jiang and Christopher Caldwell

Friday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm : Meet the Author: Juliet Mckenna. Sign up at the Registration Desk

Friday, 8:00 pm-10:00 pm : Mass Autograph Session. Feel free to say hello if you’re passing on your way to get something signed by another author

Saturday, 11:00 am-12:00 pm : Writing Fighting With Anna Smith Spark, Steve McHugh, Miles/Christian Cameron

Saturday, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm : Launch: Wizard’s Tower Press. Wizard’s Tower Press are launching my new novel, The Green Man’s Holiday, alongside Of the Emperor’s Kindness by Chaz Brenchley and Wiz Duo Book 3 by Ruthana Emrys & Andrew Knighton.

Saturday, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm : Launch: Dead Ink Books launch two new anthologies: Writing the Magic and Unquiet Guests.

I will also be attending the British Fantasy Awards and the Aldiss Award presentations, from 7.30pm on Saturday. The Green Man’s War is a finalist for the Best Fantasy Novel, and I have a story in Fight Like A Girl Volume 2, a finalist for Best Anthology.

I’ve mentioned the epic fantasy I’ve been working on for a while now, and promised more information in the fullness of time. That time is now!

The Riven Kingdom will be published by Angry Robot next year. The press release says:

Angry Robot Books has acquired Juliet E. McKenna’s The Riven Kingdom, described as a “fresh and gripping fantasy” that “blends politics, religion, and a battle for a dead king’s throne, perfect for fans of the Realm of the Elderlings series.”

Commissioned by editor Simon Spanton Walker, the one-book deal covers physical, ebook and audio.
“After devising a world with eerie, hidden magic and winding lethal intrigues around characters as new to me as they will be to readers, I’m thrilled to be working with Angry Robot to bring this story to fantasy fans,” says Juliet.

Simon Spanton Walker, commissioning editor, says: “Juliet writes involved and involving fantasy of the very highest order. The Riven Kingdom is no exception: a nuanced and gripping tale that uses fantasy to give vivid life to both the rulers and the ruled of a fantasy world in crisis. We’re incredibly proud to be her publisher.”

And Juliet’s agent, Max Edwards, adds: “Juliet E. McKenna is a legend among fantasy writers, and for good reason. The worlds she builds, the characters who populate them, and the challenges they face, are truly epic in their scope. After several years away from her heartland, it’s thrilling to see The Riven Kingdom re-inventing the epic fantasy for today’s world.”

So what’s the book about?

When King Venais is killed before he can marry and father an heir, the kingdom of Arafaze is thrown into uncertainty. His sister Princess Idelina, too grief-stricken to assert her claim to the throne, finds herself circled by those with ambitions of their own: Princess Alriad, the dead King’s aunt, seeks endorsement from the Sun Goddess’ high temple to rule as regent; Earl Padran and Earl Debin are determined to see the rightful succession secured; King Tadiri of neighbouring Mervante, whose daughter was set to marry the King, senses an opportunity.

As the kingdom splits into opposing factions, Jadewin, an experienced Moon Priestess, and Alory, a young Sun Priest, discover cliques within the temples and shrines betraying their vows to stay out of royal rivalries. Priests and priestesses defend this world against terrifying incursions from the intangible realm. Amid the upheavals of a war of succession, who knows what malevolent creatures might gain entry into their reality…

The Riven Kingdom is a high fantasy that explores the harsh realities of hereditary power in a world where knowledge of magic and the supernatural are secrets too dangerous to share.

We have a stupendous cover and I will share that as soon as I get the nod.

This is also a Fela Kuti story, so here’s a quick review, because I wouldn’t want anyone interested in either of those two persons to miss this treat. I had the pleasure and privilege of reading an advance copy.

The story opens with the diligently secretarial Miss Smith on her way to her increasingly unsettling, not to say exasperating job. Her employer is eccentric to say the least, and while her duties are hardly demanding, she’s too intelligent not to feel that something, somewhere, is amiss. Soon after she goes to a Fela Kuti studio session with her friend Doreen, the mists begin to clear…

One of the best things for me about reading Doctor Who fiction is finding an author who understands how words on a page can do different and interesting things with a story which a performance on the screen cannot. Tade Thompson definitely gets this, and has the skills to use these differences to full creative effect. Readers will swiftly realise who Miss Smith’s strange employer is at the same time as seeing him through Miss Smith’s eyes, and feeling the immediacy of her confusion and irritation.

Sarah Jane’s situation turns out to be tied to a seriously ominous threat which UNIT are struggling to understand during the UK’s memorably hot summer of 1976. Thompson recreates those days with telling details which will ring true for those of us who recall it, as well as creating a resonant atmosphere for those who were not there. Similarly, his portrayal of the Doctor rings true to the show of that era and simultaneously chimes with the programme’s current perspectives.

Bringing Fela Kuti back to the story, Thompson offers a strikingly alternative response to the Doctor and his interference in various times and places from those who have no reason to trust a white Englishman. Indeed, they have good reasons not to. Understanding these different reactions, as well as seeing some British colonial history from the other side, becomes crucial, if the current menace is to be contained. As the drama unfolds, Thompson extends one of the classic Who themes, specifically the importance of keeping an open mind, into today’s broader perspectives on decades and empires past. Thus the story is underpinned by both contemporary relevance and Doctor Who’s enduring strengths.

This is a story for both established and recent fans to thoroughly enjoy. That’s no mean feat.

Taking a quick break from revising my new epic fantasy novel* to be published by Angry Robot next year, here’s some news to please keen readers.

The Green Man’s Holiday will be published by Wizard’s Tower Press on 30th October 2025, and ebook preorders are now open. Paper editions will be available for preorder soon. Check with your preferred retailer and/or find the full roster of purchase links at the Wizard’s Tower Press website.

Incidentally, if you would like to read some early excerpts, do check out Book Quote Wednesday #BookQW on social media. For me, that’s Bluesky, Mastodon, and Facebook. We get a word each week to look for in our books and share what we find. All authors are welcome to join in, so if you browse the hashtag, you’ll find a wide range of genres and writers.

*details about the new fantasy novel will be forthcoming in due course. I can say we now have a title we like very much, and an excellent cover concept. I am very pleased with the new facets added to the original story by the shifts in focus discussed and agreed after editorial input.

Once this rewrite is done, I’ll hopefully blog a bit more frequently…

I’m often asked, since I’m on the board of the Society of Authors, why legal action isn’t underway in the UK to hold the big tech companies to account for their wholesale and blatant breaches of copyright in using authors’ work scraped from pirate websites?

Well, for a start, class action lawsuits are much more difficult and complicated under English law than in the US. Even relatively straightforward cases can, and most likely will, take years to reach a conclusion and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Especially when the other side has more money to spend than many countries’ annual budgets, and every interest in finding procedural ways to drag things out, in order to exhaust the plaintiff’s financial and other resources.

What can make a significant difference to a defendant’s attitude to the threat of UK litigation, and indeed to the prospects for certifying a class action in the UK courts, are judgements elsewhere which have gone against them on the same grounds. This is why recent developments in the US are important, and not only for American authors.

Firstly –

“On Wednesday, July 16, bestselling author David Baldacci delivered powerful testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, laying bare the devastating impact of AI companies’ systematic theft of copyrighted works. “I truly felt like someone had backed up a truck to my imagination and stolen everything I’d ever created,” Baldacci told the subcommittee, describing his discovery that AI companies had pirated his entire body of work to train their systems.
The moment of recognition came when Baldacci’s son asked ChatGPT to write a plot that read like a Baldacci novel. “In about five seconds, three pages came up that had elements of pretty much every book I’d ever written, including plot lines, character names, narrative, the works.”

You can read the full article here, and I recommend you do so.

Secondly –

“A California federal judge ruled Thursday that three authors suing Anthropic over copyright infringement can bring a class action lawsuit representing all U.S. writers whose work was allegedly downloaded from libraries of pirated works.
The filing alleges that Anthropic, the Amazon-backed OpenAI competitor behind the chatbot Claude, “violated the Copyright Act by doing Napster-style downloading of millions of works.” It alleges that the company downloaded as many as seven million copies of books from libraries of pirated works.”

Article here

We have to keep in mind this is a marathon, not a sprint. Frustrating as that is.

I’m looking forward to these autumn events, and discussing the fiction and non-fiction I’ve been working on with readers and fellow writers. And perhaps I’ll have more to share about future plans?

20th September – Edge Lit, Derby.

25th October – MCM Comic Con, London – I’ll be here on Saturday morning…

before hopping on a train to get to …

26th October – Bristolcon, Bristol

followed by …

30th October – 2nd November – World Fantasy Convention, Brighton UK

If our paths cross somewhere, feel free to say hello!