Jon Cronshaw's Blog

This week marks eight years since I started this podcast—back in October 2017, I recorded the first episode, and here we are in 2025, still going strong!

I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned about author branding, especially as I launch my new pen-name, J. Cronshaw, focused entirely on domestic psychological thrillers. Narrowing the audience has made everything—from messaging to marketing—so much easier.

Branding has always been a challenge for me. I’ve wrestled with how to define what I do when my books range from dark fantasy to wacky steampunk to near-future sci-fi. Maybe I should have embraced pen-names earlier… but then again, setting up a new website, newsletter, and socials has been a lot of work.

If you’ve been following my work for a while, you probably know me for wyverns, assassins, and dark fantasy worlds.

I’ve been publishing fantasy and speculative fiction since 2016, and I’ve been a full-time author since 2018.

Most of my readers found me through The Ravenglass Chronicles—a long-running epic about magic, destiny, and rebellion that spanned half-a-million words. It was an intense creative journey, and by the time I finished it, I needed to catch my breath.

In 2022, I decided to write something completely different. No magic. No kingdoms. No wyverns. Just people. Ordinary lives under extraordinary pressure. It started as a palate cleanser, a little side project to clear my head before diving into my next fantasy series. That story became The Nanny’s Secret.

At the time, I didn’t think I’d ever publish it. It didn’t fit with my other books. I love reading psychological thrillers, but I saw them as something separate from what I wrote. I wasn’t keen on setting up a new pen name or building a whole second author brand. So I set the manuscript aside and got on with other things.

But the idea of writing thrillers stuck with me.

The stories kept coming—small-town secrets, lies, betrayals, and the dark undercurrents that run beneath everyday life. Before long, I’d written a second thriller, then a third. Now, I’ve written eight and I’m working on my ninth.

When I showed them to a friend who writes thrillers, he told me I was mad not to publish them. I told him I didn’t want to annoy my regular eaders, and I didn’t want the stress of juggling two identities. He gave me a simple solution: drop my first name.

So “Jon Cronshaw” became “J. Cronshaw.”

Same writer. Different shelf.

That small change made everything click.

I’ve since built a new website, newsletter, and social media presence for J. Cronshaw—the domestic thriller author.

I’ll admit, I was reluctant at first. Starting over from scratch after years of building my fantasy world felt strange. But once I began, I rediscovered something I hadn’t felt in a long time: the spark of building something brand new.

These domestic thrillers are grounded in real life. They draw on my years as a court reporter, on real places near where I live—Morecambe, Heysham, Lancaster.

The stories are intimate and claustrophobic, the kind of tension that doesn’t need magic to feel dangerous. And in a way, writing them has made me a better fantasy author too. They’ve sharpened my sense of pacing, dialogue, and emotional realism.

I’m still writing fantasy—always will.

The Ravenglass Legends series is continuing, and there are more stories from that world on the way. But writing thrillers under J. Cronshaw has reminded me how much I love storytelling in all its forms. It’s a different kind of worldbuilding—one built from truth, not myth.

So if you ever fancy reading something a little different from me—something without wyverns, but still full of secrets and twists—you can download your free copy of The Lodger HERE to give you a flavour of what I’ve been doing.

And if you’d like to hear more about what I’m working on—both fantasy and thriller—you can listen to my weekly Author Diary podcast. I’ve been recording every week since 2017 and haven’t missed an episode.

It’s been a strange journey from wyverns to whispers, but I’m glad I took it. Because sometimes, stepping outside your world is the best way to remember why you built it in the first place.

check out jcronshaw.com

Three sisters.
One fractured kingdom.
A crown that may not hold.

The princesses of Ostreich have never faced a greater trial.

War brews on every border. Whispered conspiracies erode the heart of their realm. Old loyalties are breaking faster than the throne they swore to protect.

Irmin, Adelinde, and Elana must each walk their own path—through betrayal, battle, and forbidden knowledge.

Each road promises power.
Each choice carries a cost.

But divided strength cannot hold back what’s coming.

The sisters must decide: will they stand together—or let their kingdom fall apart forever?

A Dark, Sweeping Epic Continues

Divided Crown is Part Seven of The Ravenglass Throne, my ongoing epic of wyvern-riders, royal intrigue, and ancient conspiracies.

Across seven instalments, readers have followed the princesses as their father’s assassination plunged the kingdom into chaos. Now, their separate struggles collide in a story of war, betrayal, and impossible choices.

If you’ve been waiting for the next chapter—this is it.

And if you’re new to the series, this is the perfect time to begin your journey through Ostreich.

Why Readers Love The Ravenglass Throne

“A masterpiece of fantasy politics and family drama.”“Every chapter leaves me desperate for the next.”“Wyverns, betrayal, and sisterhood—what more could you want?”

Get Your Copy Today

Divided Crown is out now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited..

Perfect for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Game of Thrones.

Read Divided Crown Now

Join the Flight

If you’d like early access to upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes notes, and exclusive Ravenglass short stories, you can join my Patreon.

Become a Patron and step deeper into the world of wyverns, ancient magic, and divided thrones.

This week, I’ve made the decision to close my paid Substack and focus fully on Patreon as the central hub for my writing, early releases, and community.

 It feels like the right move to streamline things and better serve my readers.

On the writing front, I’ve continued working on my psychological thrillers, while also reviewing the audiobook editions of The Ravenglass Throne and Undead Anarchy (Punks Versus Zombies, Book 2).

Lots going on behind the scenes as I keep building stories across genres!

This week, I’ve been juggling projects—working on my psychological thrillers while doing final checks on the first two Ravenglass Guardians novels.

 I’m also getting ready for the upcoming launch of Divided Crown (The Ravenglass Throne, Book 7), and exploring the idea of putting together Kindle boxed sets for other series.

On a less exciting note, I talk about my disappointment with the Punks Versus Zombies launch, which didn’t land as well as I’d hoped.

Outside of writing, I saw Spinal Tap 2 (yes, it goes to eleven), and reflect on the fact that my son’s about to turn 13—where does the time go?

This week’s been packed with releases and reader questions!

I launched The Ravenglass Throne: Parts 1–4 as a boxed set, available now in ebook and paperback formats.

The Punks Versus Zombies audiobook is now live, as is the Trial of Thieves audiobook (Dawn of Assassins, Book 2)—great news if you’re an audio listener!

I also took time to answer questions from readers about my writing process and worldbuilding techniques.

I’m thrilled to announce that The Ravenglass Throne: Parts 1–4 is officially out today.

For the first time, you can now experience the complete opening arc of my epic fantasy saga in one collection — available in both eBook and paperback.

What is The Ravenglass Throne about?

United by blood. Divided by duty. Bound by the fate of a kingdom.

When assassins strike down the King of Ostreich, his three daughters must confront a truth they’ve long denied.

The greatest threat to the throne isn’t the enemy at the gates.
It’s the rot within.

Commander Irmin takes to the skies on wyvern-back, wielding steel and fire to protect her people.Scholar Adelinde searches for answers in the ravenglass network that binds rider to mount, even if it costs her everything she loves.Diplomat Elana fights to hold the court together as treachery spreads through the noble houses.

Separated by years of rivalry and mistrust, the sisters must learn to fight as one. For only their united strength—mind to perceive, strength to act, will to bind—can stop the conspiracy that threatens to bring down their kingdom.

order now.Why you’ll love this boxed set

The Ravenglass Throne: Parts 1–4 combines political intrigue, wyvern-bond magic, and a sisterhood tested in the crucible of war.

If you enjoy character-driven epic fantasy like The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Goblin Emperor, or The Queen’s Thief, this collection is for you.

Readers have called the series:

“A dynamic, riveting saga, worthy of pride of place on your fantasy bookshelf…and a must for fans of A Game Of Thrones.”“Another immensely absorbing read… beautifully written prose and fast-paced, some of the best I’ve read.” Available now in eBook and paperback

You can pick up the eBook edition today, or grab the paperback if you’d like a physical copy on your shelf.

[Order The Ravenglass Throne: Parts 1–4 on Amazon]

Thank you to everyone who has supported this series so far. Your reviews, recommendations, and enthusiasm mean the world.

This is only the beginning of the journey for Irmin, Adelinde, and Elana.

Hope bleeds but never dies.

Jon

get your copy.

This week, I’m happy to share that I’ve finished the draft of The Sentinel’s Mercy, the latest standalone in my Ravenglass Guardians series.

With that wrapped up, I’ve shifted gears and started writing a psychological thriller under a new pen name—an exciting side project that’s been on my mind for a while.

I also talk about something more personal: I’ve received the official retirement date for my guide dog, Digit. It’s a big emotional moment, and one that marks the end of an important chapter.

This week, I took a research trip to Lytham to scout locations for a future psychological thriller.

I’ve got two domestic thrillers planned and will be writing them as side projects under a new pen-name to keep them separate from my fantasy work.

On the fantasy side, I made solid progress on The Sentinel’s Mercy (Ravenglass Guardians). I’ve now reached 75% of the draft and hope to finish it next week.

Also—though I forgot to mention it in the video—both the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy and Dark Gambit (Ravenglass Throne: Part Six) are now live on Amazon!

Would you fight through the apocalypse to get back to the people you love?

When the outbreak hits mid-gig, punk guitarist Tommy is stranded three thousand miles from home.

His band is falling apart. The highways are crawling with the dead. And his girlfriend and son are waiting in Philadelphia—if they’re still alive.

With nothing but a battered van, two bandmates on the edge, and a burning need to get back to his family, Tommy sets out across a collapsing America.

Because when the world ends, you don’t quit—you fight to get home.

The Punks Versus Zombies trilogy is now available in full. Three books of raw survival, emotional grit, and unrelenting tension.

Perfect for fans of The Walking Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Train to Busan.

If you’re ready for a zombie story that hits hard, bleeds punk energy, and never lets up, this is it.

Start reading today and feel every mile.

Grab the trilogy now on Amazon.

get your copy.