Well, what a few months that’s been. We’re already a quarter of the way through 2026, and despite the world seeming determined to set itself on fire, we’re still here. And I’m still plodding away at my keyboard like a deranged monkey attempting to write Shakespeare. I only ever really liked Macbeth anyway. But there’s lots of updates to come this time around – so on with the show!
- New Website: A completely refreshed website to help you the reader – check it out here!
- New Novel for Pre-Order: Sinners & Saints, Book 4 of Heroes & Demons is available for pre-order (releasing 3rd July 2026) and looking for ARC readers – get in touch here if you’re interested
- New Covers: Refreshed covers for Heroes & Demons, Hope & Fury and Fire & Water, in preparation for Sinners & Saints released
- New Episode Drop: ‘til the End of the World Episode IV “All the Good Girls” beta episode dropping on Friday 27th March 2026
- New Collection for Pre-Order: The first collection of polished stories, ‘til the End of the World: New in Town (Year One · Volume I), collecting Episodes I to V available for pre-order, releasing 29th May 2026
- New Newsletter: Monthly subscriber-exclusive newsletter (sign up here) starting as of April – releasing on the last day of the month
A Whole New Website
This is perhaps the one which has taken the most time of anything – including planning and writing nine novels and four novellas – so far. With blood, sweat and Jaffa Cakes – the sounds of arguing LA real estate agents going ignored in the background – I have redone the entire website. I have learnt new techniques – like blocks. And have cultivated an experience that should be a far better user experience for you, dear reader.
So go and check it out here – or click that big button over on the left hand side which says “Go to Homepage”. It’s worth it, honestly.
You’ll be able to navigate towards individual series pages – each one given the look and depth it needed. Explore Heroes & Demons (dark fantasy speculative fiction), sit with New Knights (myth-making urban fantasy), survive ‘til the End of the World (YA supernatural apocalypse) or roll-on with the Rest of the Rainbow (everything else). On each you’ll find more info than ever before, but tastefully done – with behind the scenes snippets, stories and easier navigation to individual book pages – where there’s plenty of extras such as soundtrack embeds, short excerpts and behind the story info for that little bit of something special. And of course, links to major marketplaces for eBooks and Paperbacks.
From the main page you can also navigate to an about the author section, expanded and revised and maybe a little nonsensical. A contact page and a newsletter sign up page are also there (yes, a newsletter!), but more on that below. And if you want to know where to start reading? A little section entitled “Where to Start” may help!
Seriously, it’s been a labour of love – giving the books and stories the space they deserve. And hopefully, you’ll find it easier to navigate through, even if most of the time you may just want to pop onto the blog instead – which is still here in pride of place.
A Whole New Newsletter
So, the biggest change that’s coming and that I’ve been working on (besides the website) is my way of updating. So, big release announcements and things will still come through individual blog posts, along with the usual thematic essays, and other random things that if you’ve come here more than once you’re probably more than used to.
Beyond the blog (with posts roughly once a month, sometimes twice if a special occasion), subscribers will get a special monthly newsletter direct to their email. This will replace this kind of update post – but probably in a less randomly rambling way, and with subscriber exclusive snippets of backstory (wanna guess why dragons have tribal tattoos?), behind the scenes work, early access and other goodies (such as playlist snippets) that’ll change month on month.
It’ll all be very easily signposted, so even if you’re only wanting to follow along a particular series’ progress, you’ll be able to focus on the content you want – but can always nosey at the other bits if you fancy.
You can sign up here – or subscribe using the button on the left. No spam, no full inbox, just a couple of emails a month you can like, love or leave at your leisure. The newsletter will drop in your inbox on the last day of each month.
A Whole New Book
So, it looks like all I’ve been doing is website design. But of course, this is not so! I’ve been writing like a mad monk, full of crazy chaos. The first draft of Sinners & Saints (and also the first fourth book in an individual series I’ve ever written) and the penultimate of the Heroes & Demons series, is finally written in full. Rick, Avelin, Sandy and the rest are all back, and this time the Apocalypse has truly begun. The editing process has been ongoing, and somewhere underneath the feverish dreams of misplaced commas, it’s getting ready for release.
As such, I am looking for ARC readers – another thing I’m trying for the first time this year. So, if that’s your vibe, take a look at the series page here and maybe get in touch. Either through the contact form or get in touch on socials.
The eagle eyed amongst you may also have noticed that I’ve been subtly (ish) in the background been redesigning the first three book’s covers (Heroes & Demons, Hope & Fury and Fire & Water) in preparation for the Sinners & Saints cover reveal. Long story short, but with a previous cover designer no longer around, I am also adding graphic designing to my list of things to learn about at breakneck pace alongside website design, writing and editing. They’re all available now in their new form – and aside from having ‘nam style flashbacks to spine spacing and alignment – I gotta say I’m damn proud of them.
A Whole New Apocalypse
If the apocalypse comes, beep me – goes the iconic Sarah Michelle Gellar line. Well, my own YA series has kicked off the start of this year with Episodes I to III available in beta version to read from the ‘til the End of the World series page. I’m in it for the long haul with this one, a throwback to the early noughties YA series told through a series of short story/novellas in an episodic format. Somewhere between GCSEs, the birth of YouTube and fighting vampyrs, the series is for those who want to enjoy the apocalypse in a different way. For me as a writer, this is where it all began, tapping away as a teenager, finally brought to it’s own un-life.
Episode IV “All the Good Girls” is fully written and ready to be dropped this Friday (27th March 2026), while each episode after will be dropped on the last Friday of every month. Collections, entitled “Volumes” are being released twice a year, combining polished versions of the episodes with behind-the-scenes exclusive content just for you, the eBook or Paperback reader. The first of these, collecting Episodes I to V, is available to pre-order now, releasing on Friday 29th May 2026.
Dip in, dip out, binge a ‘box set’ – the choice is yours, but I’m really happy with how this is going on.
A Whole New What’s Next
That’s a lot, so I’m gonna leave it there very shortly. I appreciate you reading this far or skipping down to the end to check I don’t end with some random sappy nonsense. Or check I do. Whatever floats, y’know?
Well, the first quarter of this year has gone by in a flurry, and I don’t think the next few are going to be much less. Beta episodes once a month, a short-story collection on 29th May and a new novel on July 3rd. Beyond that, writing continues and worlds continue to expand. The second half of 2026 will see the second collected volume, several more beta episodes released, and a new New Knights novel – Echo – in Late 2026.
And then, eyes are turning towards 2027. The tenth year of independent publishing. Surprises, new releases. Some endings and some new beginnings. It’s going to be a biggie, and I’ll share it with you all in due course.
Of course, if you happen to subscribe to the newsletter…who knows…could find out a little earlier. See what I did there? I’m told that’s calling to action.
Never stop learning peeps. Peace & love y’all.
Rick Rawes
22nd March, 2026
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Rick Rawes 
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