In Today’s Journal
* This Never Stops Being Funny
* Stanbrough Writes Is Going Away
* Valentine Sale
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
This Never Stops Being Funny
I recently received an email that read
“Hello Hervey,
“My name is Jennh Hannah. I moderate reader centered activity within Goodreads communities, including the 2026 Reading Challenge group.
“I am reaching out because The Bad Country stood out during my review of titles being considered for our reader driven reward and recognition competition. There is something particularly unsettling about the way the novel places David and Mary in an isolated mountain town and gradually closes every exit around them. The tension between wilderness and hostility, outsiders and secrecy, creates the kind of psychological pressure that does not pass quietly through a reader space. It invites reaction, speculation, and debate.
“One of the challenges authors often face after publication is not visibility, but understanding. ….”
The email goes on like that for nine more paragraphs and ends with “Warm regards.”
I chuckled at the misspelling of my first name, and I broke into a wide grin after the first half of the first sentence. Here’s my response:
“Thanks Jennh, but among all my novels and short stories, I’ve never written anything titled ‘The Bad Country’.”
These folks never cease to amaze me or keep me entertained. Be careful out there.
Stanbrough Writes Is Going Away
Some of you are familiar with Stanbrough Writes, the Substack where I offer a free short story every week. I’ve been doing that since November 1, 2022.
I’ve decided I’m going to pull the plug on it. I’ve already paused subscription billing.
I have 417 subscribers (7 or 8 paid), but I typically get only around 120 ‘opens’ each week. Plus continuing to post something there every week has become something of a burden.
My most recent paid subscriber at Stanbrough Writes paid for a year on April 25, 2025. There are only three stories currently in the queue, so to be fair to paid subscribers I’ll upload 8 more stories to carry the posts through Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Other than my flagship TNDJ, Stanbrough Writes is my longest-running publication. As I wrote above, I posted the first story (“Coralín”) on November 1, 2022. Because I like it, “Coralín” will actually repeat on February 21. (grin)
The other ten stories that will post between now and April 25, 2026 have never posted on Substack before.
Those of you who came along for the ride, my sincere thanks. Those of you who’ve never visited can see all of those stories at Stanbrough Writes for the foreseeable future.
Valentine Sale (You Want to Read This)
In case you missed it, as I announced a couple of times toward the end of January, I’m offering the 7-volume Blackwell Ops Soleada Garcia Subseries (omnibus) for 40% off from now through the end of February.
In addition to being a great story, if you’re a fiction writer this saga will show you craft skills you can use in any genre, including
- one way to write effective, believable time travel,
- one way to ‘time-stamp’ different chapters and scenes of your novel so the reader doesn’t become confused,
- how characters can transition from a hunter vs. hunted situation into a full-blown romance, and
- how to mesh that romance into a psychological suspense, action adventure, thriller situation (again, in any genre),
- plus a great deal more re writing setting, scenes, indicating personality through dialogue, and so on.
That’s a lot of learning for under $15. Not a bad deal for a writer who’s still young in the craft (grin).
To get the 7-volume saga for only $14.40 (regular discount price $24, regular non-discount price $29.99),
- click Blackwell Ops Soleada Garcia Subseries; then
- click Add to Cart.
- During checkout, enter coupon code DH3T8CSNHZ.
To get this deal, you must use the link above. This sale is not extended through Amazon or any other vendor.
Of Interest
Novel Beginnings This is a contest. From what I can tell there’s no entry fee, so you have nothing to lose.
The Get Published Summit Free access February 16 – 20, 2026.
The Indie Advantage This is D2D’s monthly magazine. If you sign up for a D2D account you’ll get this free in your inbox.
The Numbers
The Journal………………….. 680
Mentorship Words…………….. 0
Total Nonfiction…………………. 680
Writing of
Day 1…… XXXX words. To date………… XXXXX
Fiction for February………………………. XXXX
Fiction for 2026…………………………… XXXX
Nonfiction for February.…………………. 12480
Nonfiction for 2026………………..……… 32070
2026 consumable words………………… 32070
2026 Novels to Date……………………… 0
2026 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2026 Short Stories to Date……………… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 123
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 310
Short story collections……………………. 29