I’m starting to think there might be something to this winter hibernation after all. “Ronan, it’s fucking May.” Yeah, it sure is. And it’s been a long five years.

Writers in the audience will likely understand what I mean when I say that the environment in which you work with your craft is so important — whether it’s the music you have playing, the candle you burn on your desk, the weather outside, the taste of the tea in your mug. If you feel settled into your space, you feel safe to let the words happen the way they need to.

Recently I moved into the city and it has been an adjustment (to say quite the least) to really settle into this space that is mine. Don’t get me wrong — I’m happy here, but it’s been tricky to figure out what hours of the morning will bring in the best sunlight to my workspace, what hours bring the most quiet, and assembling my workspace little by little. Yesterday I hung up some prints above my desk and it’s amazing how such a small thing carries so much impact.

Words are like that, too. You can’t tell a story on an empty page and you can’t hone a story that isn’t there. So I’ve been a little kinder to myself than I was even a week ago. We’re creatures of habit and I’m rebuilding all of mine and that’s okay. Small progress is still progress.

I hope you’re being kind to yourself in a world that seems determined to profit on cruelty. If you needed permission to take a step back and do something that will refill your cup, I’ll give it to you now. I’m glad you’re here.

Status Report

TALES FROM THE REAPERVERSE: VOLUME I

TALES FROM THE REAPERVERSE: VOLUME I will be released as an Itch.io exclusive in August 2025 as a PWYW. While it will include shorts already available on my site, there will be new stories. I’m really excited about this one.

THE FAMILY BORN IN BLOOD: REAPERVERSE BOOK II

I don’t wanna talk about it

TWIN PEAKS WIP

I’m working out a couple foundational kinks right now that I’m honestly thankful I caught early. But I think I’m most excited about visiting a couple locations to do some “research” (read: sit on a paddleboard and get sunburned) as this is, after all, a PNW Gothic.

A title has been chosen, but I’m biting that one down HARD as my intent is to query this work. This is gonna be so fun.

TECHDIGGER WIP

I’m actually doing a lot of consumption of sci-fi works of media to get myself primed to write my first. Recently, I finished the Murderbot Diaries and thought it to be a delight. So I’m very much in the Vibes Stage still — Ranger and Mickey are turning out to be quite the fantastic duo so far.

Other Things

THINGS I’M LIKING

• Book: Right now I’m reading Tyler Battaglia’s Pray For Him and hot damn— it’s so good.

• Movie: I’ve recently started working on my physical media collection and was super excited with some finds at a thrift store: Kill Bill, Chuck: Season 1, The Sixth Sense, Pretty in Pink, and Knives Out.

• Show:  Twin Peaks because ~research~

• Music: I’ve been slowly working on my vinyl collection and I’m ecstatic that I was able to pick up a copy of Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter from my favorite indie record store (shout out to Hi-Voltage Records in Tacoma, WA). I also re-installed Bandcamp with the intent of divesting from Spotify and I found the band Slung (and their album IN WAYS) and I was reeled in right away by the description “Mazzy Starr meets Mastodon”. You can listen here!

• Etc. : I was gifted a Ninja blender from my grandmother because she could no longer use it, and I have made so many silly little beverages that this is my entire personality now. Mango-peach smoothies are my new favorite.

I guess that’s all for now— thanks for reading!

LOVE & SWORDS,

Ronan Graves