Grimdaniel isn't dead yet

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #1

2026-09-14T21:44:31.882004+00:00

April 10, 2026

Hey there,

I'm not dead yet. Unlike the unfortunate characters in my stories, I'm alive and writing. As you may know, I write fantasy in the grimdark genre.

Years ago I co-wrote a book where the protagonist died at the end. We resurrected him in the second book of the series. I have always wondered if that was a mistake. That the first book should have been the end of it. The protagonist was willing to pay the ultimate price to save his friends, but in the end did he actually pay it if he came back?

Thus came the idea for "Everyone Dies". The expectation from the beginning is death. The deaths of all the characters is set in stone. As much as I have gotten attached to some of the characters, by the end of the book they all have to die.

On May 20th, "Everyone Dies" will be published on Amazon. However, you can request a free advance review copy, if you are willing to write a review I'll send you a copy.

May 20th: "Everyone Dies"

They travel together, bound by circumstance, loyalty, and fragile hope. But their fates are already sealed. Because in the end... Everyone dies.

A grimdark fantasy for adult readers containing violence, betrayal, and despair.

Releasing May 20, 2026 on Amazon

If you want to read "Everyone Dies" for free, you can request an advance review copy now. In return, please write a review for the book when it launches on May 20th.

Request a free advanced review copy

If you've already read "Everyone Dies": thank you. If you haven't, now's the time. And if you know someone who likes dark fantasy stories that doesn't hesitate to murder characters, forward this mail. It helps more than you know.

June 19th: Sequel to "Everyone Dies"

While I've been shaping the final edges of "Everyone Dies" for its release on Amazon on May 20th, I've also I’ve also begun carving into its sequel. This is the story about the cost of survival, where the coin is betrayal and murder . If "Everyone Dies" was about, well, everyone dying, the sequel is how someone is willing to spend other people's lives so they can keep on living.

One I'm covering in the story is the potential for using necromancy to build rather than destroy. Specifically, how a necropolitan society might use the undead to perform hard labor, thus making the life of the living easier. Then the question arises of how over time would the labor ranks of undead be filled? This topic will be covered in the sequel to "Everyone Dies".

Other books you might like

I've been diving into other authors whose work inspire my own writing. These aren't necessarily grimdark but at least share themes with it.

Thanks for listening!

Daniel Roy Greenfeld

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Not Dead Yet Newsletter #2

2026-09-14T21:44:31.880917+00:00

Starting on April 24th, this newsletter will go out weekly every Friday.

I'm not dead yet.

I write grimdark fantasy stories where survival isn’t guaranteed and morality is negotiable.

And I want your honest feedback. Not polite. Not softened.

If something doesn’t work, tell me. If it does work, tell me why.

Either way, I’ll use it.

May 20th: "Everyone Dies"

Seven companions walk a path no one survives

On May 20th, my short novel "Everyone Dies" will be published on Amazon. If you want to read it early, you can request a free advance review copy.

A grimdark fantasy for readers who don’t expect mercy.
Violence. Betrayal. Consequences.

Releasing May 20, 2026 on Amazon

I’m giving away advance review copies.

Read it early for free.

In return, leave an honest review when it launches on May 20.

Request your advance copy

If you've already read "Everyone Dies": thank you. And if you know someone who likes dark fantasy stories that doesn't hesitate to murder characters, forward this mail. It helps more than you know.

The sequel: what does survival cost?

Everyone Dies is about inevitability. The sequel is about something worse: Who someone is willing to sacrifice so they don’t die.

I have the story. I don’t have the title.

I’m considering a few options—and I want your vote:

Here's a poll for the titles I'm considering.

📊 Vote on the Title

Or reply with something better. I’ll use it if it’s good enough.

Other books you might like

Grimdark and dark fantasy stories that inspire the darkness in my own writing.

Another grimdark biopunk novella set in the Ravenous Mother universe.
Read my 5-star review of an early book in the series.

Dark fantasy story about Katja, maidservant and secret user of forbidden magic.

What if the Evil Queen of faerie tales is actually the victim? I love this kind of story.

Until next time,

Daniel Roy Greenfeld

P.S. If you read one grimdark or dark fantasy story this month, make it the Everyone Dies ARC.

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #3

2026-09-14T21:44:31.879112+00:00

Hey there,

I'm not dead yet. Unlike the unfortunate characters in my stories, I'm alive and writing. As you may know, I write fantasy in the grimdark genre.

I've been diligently working on "Coin of Survival," the sequel to "Everyone Dies". I managed to write twelve chapters, totaling over twenty thousand words. Then I realized I had made a mistake that forced me to throw out eleven of the twelve chapters.

You see, "Everyone Dies" and its sequel, "Coin of Survival, " take place in a grimdark fantasy world of lethal consequences. Characters, even those I really like, die like fruit flies. The story and the tension focus on characters' struggle to survive.

So the problem with eleven chapters of the sequel is that I put the protagonists in a safe place. If there weren't a combination of stupidity and incompetence by the protagonists, everyone would live. While safety is nice for us readers and the ones we love, safety doesn't make for a good grimdark story. And I didn't want to write about idiots who throw away their own lives in idiotic fashion. Especially in a book where I'm portraying generally competent people taking sometimes morally questionable actions to avoid dying.

On the one hand, this means I'm a bit behind in my writing schedule. On the other hand, it will mean the finished effort will be a darker, grimmer story. A grimdark story.

May 20th: "Everyone Dies"

Seven companions walk a path no one survives

On May 20th, my short novel "Everyone Dies" will be published on Amazon. I really liked some of the characters, it pained me to kill them. Nevertheless, to meet the obligation of the title, everyone has to die. If you want to read it early, you can request a free advance review copy.

A grimdark fantasy where all the characters die.
Violence. Betrayal. Consequences.

Releasing May 20, 2026 on Amazon

June 20th: "Coin of Survival"

How many must die for one person to stay alive?

The sequel to "Everyone Dies" is due to be released on Amazon in late June.

Other books you might like

Grimdark and dark fantasy stories that inspire the darkness in my own writing.

Five days, Two gatherers with nothing to lose. A perfect plan that won't stop falling apart.
Grimdaniel's opinion: I really liked this book. Read my review!
Clicking on this book will take you to the book's Amazon Kindle Unlimited page.

Fourteen-year-old Kael knows the rules: stay in line, stay silent, and survive.
Survival in the Grove is a grounded grimdark novella about power, pressure, and the quiet horror of becoming who the world demands.
Perfect for fans of slow-burn tension, harsh coming-of-age arcs, and morally gray survival stories.
Grimdaniel's opinion: An interesting short read by an author with lots of promise. Read my review!

GENTLEMAN. LADYKILLER. ASSASSIN. SPY.
"The Circle" is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for fans of action, magic, and a hero who is both assassin and charmer.
If you like epic fantasy and James Bond, then you’ll love "The Circle."

Stubbs is sharp, wary, and built to survive.
Godfried is half-drunk, badly behaved, and far more dangerous than anyone realizes.
Together, they are about to discover that prison in Fainsworth is not merely a cage.
It is an audition.

Jo, a young boy left to fend for himself, struggles to survive.
Forced to beg and steal in the city streets, he hopes for better days.
But fears for worse.

Before Michael.
Before the Broken.
There was a war.
Prequel to "Zahanara: A Cursed Realm"

What if the fate of two worlds depended on a demon sworn never to intervene again?
Ancient powers stir, and old wounds threaten to tear the peace of the universe apart.
Everything hinges on Ryuji, and the wrong choice on his part could plunge both realms back into war.

Indie book collections

Free Grimdark Reads
FREE Science Fiction & Fantasy
Read & Review
Not-so-peaceful May Reads (All Genre Dark Fiction Giveaway)
Dark Fantasy
Summer Sci-fi & Fantasy Giveaway
Epic Sci fi & Fantasy Giveaway
Fantasy & Sci-Fi May Freebies
Free Fantasy & Science Ficton
Free Science Fiction & Paranormal
Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads
All Fantasy Reads
More Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads
More Free Grimdark Reads

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #4

2026-09-14T21:44:31.877630+00:00

Hey there,

I'm not dead yet. Unlike the unfortunate characters in my stories, I'm alive and writing. As you may know, I write fantasy in the grimdark genre.

News

I am at the quarter mark for first draft to the sequel to "Everyone Dies". To ensure enough time for editing, I will be moving the publication date to July 20th.

Personal Notes

As someone who tries to have a positive outlook on life, sometimes I wonder why my fiction writings tend to be dark. It could be an outlet for negative emotions. Perhaps by writing about negative worlds and events I am able to extract those bad feelings from my person in a constructive way. However, that doesn't explain why I like to read about dark settings, characters, and situations. If I ever figure that out, I'll share it here.

For those of you curious about what tools I use to write my books, here's a quick list:

Writernaut, an alpha-stage Mac markdown writing tool for authors by my wife, Audrey. Not yet available for sale, but it will be soon!
Quarto for processing markdown into epub and pdf and word (docx) formats
Kindle Create for processing docx into kdf for uploading to Amazon KDP

I've tried writing books in Google Docs to make it easier on editors. The problems were that once something gets into the tens of thousands of words Google Docs slows down on anything but the fastest connection. Also writing offline didn't work so well. Eventually I had to break up books into many chapters to make it work, requiring me to painfully stitch them together for export to word format.

Awesome book deals

The beginning of the author Paul J Bennet's epic 15 book best selling fantasy series.
While not claiming to be grimdark or even dark fantasy, it absolutely fits in the genre.

The end of the author Paul J Bennet's epic 15 book best selling fantasy series.
As a fan of both abstract art and the Dutch masters, I love the cover.
Impressively, the author made good on finishing his series. Wow!

A dark biopunk tragedy where every choice cuts like a scalpel and compassion is the most dangerous medicine.
Grimdaniel's opinion: If you like grimdark and dystopian horror, this is a great read. Read my review!

An epic fantasy about the weight of history, the cost of power and the fragile loyalties that bind kingdoms.

A dark dungeon and kingdom-building fantasy about power, survival, and carving a future from the depths.

Blood magick. Demons. Rent due Tuesday.

Indie book collections

Free Grimdark Reads
FREE Science Fiction & Fantasy
Read & Review
Not-so-peaceful May Reads
Dark Fantasy
Summer Sci-fi & Fantasy Giveaway
Epic Sci fi & Fantasy Giveaway
Fantasy & Sci-Fi May Freebies
Free Fantasy & Science Ficton
Free Science Fiction & Paranormal
Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads
All Fantasy Reads
More Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads
More Free Grimdark Reads

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #5

2026-09-14T21:44:31.875765+00:00

Hey there,

I'm not dead yet. Unlike the unfortunate characters in my stories, I'm alive and writing.

Extra email next week

I try to keep emails to you, my readers, to a minimum. I do signup confirmation emails because the law requires it in some places. And then you get my newsletters.

Nothing else.

Like many of my readers I don't like getting email floods. In fact, I just unfollowed an author I like because I got tired of their daily emails.

Well, please forgive me as next week I'm sending out an extra email.

The reason for it is that on May 20th, my new grimdark book, "Everyone Dies", goes live on Amazon Kindle. To celebrate the occasion I'll be sending out an extra email. Hopefully you open the email and follow it to the book. And read it and leave a review.

Single or double quotes?

Should I use single or double quotes for dialogue? I was raised in the USA so I default to double quotes, but I've spent years in the UK so I often default to British spellings and grammar. Recently someone suggested I move my works to single quote to be more "British" as I already lean into various Britishisms.

I'm apprehensive about a switch. Double quotes means contractions and plural words are easier to handle. It also means I don't make massive change less than a week before publication. OTOH, it could be argued that single quotes gives the text a more archaic feeling. Also, for future writing single quotes helps because on my UK keyboard the single quote is one keystroke and double quotes requires a shift.

Historically British authors like Tolkien and the entire Victorian crew used single quotes. However, popular modern British grimdark authors like Mark Lawrence and Michael Fletcher and Jon Cronshaw use double quotes, probably because it makes handling grammar a bit easier.

Here's the poll. I look forward to your vote and especially your commentary.

Vote on Single or Double Quotes

Awesome book deals

Unnatural things are afoot in Lapachka village. A monster lurks the streets, killing at random. Father Gavriil is spooked. The villagers terrified. Through it all Olya grieves for a friend murdered before the madness began. A friend who will not go quietly.

In a realm where priests hunt magic, Princess Ella hides her heresy beneath a crown. When her brother binds the kingdom to a fanatical priesthood, and her forbidden power awakens, she becomes the spark that could ignite a holy war. But love is its own kind of curse, and the fire she starts may consume them all. Ella's Dominion is Book 1 of The Lost Warriors, a dark, medieval fantasy series about love, power, and betrayal.

After more than seven brutal years on the frontlines, Sergeant Harlow Rushin is finally heading home. But the Witch War has left her scars—not just on his body, but on his soul. The man returning is not the same as the one who left.

Harlow’s journey takes a dark turn when he is confronted by a cursed, sentient blade at a corrupted shrine. Faced with the temptation to seek glory or restore peace, Harlow’s decision will shape more than just his own fate.

A Fading Memory is a poignant standalone story in the world of Warden of Harrow, offering a glimpse into a world where magic and war collide, and where the greatest battles are often fought within.

A plague has swept through the village of Dasen, taking all the magic from the place and the druids. Master Rody longs for the day that it returns. Back when conversing with nature is normal and casting spells is natural to them.

The desire grows urgent as deadly forces arise from years of captivity. Years of magical absence has left the village defenseless. But just when everything seems bleak, an ordinary boy rises up to the challenge. Will he be able to prove himself among his cruel peers? Will he even reach the Cave of Time before it’s too late?

Collections of book deals

Free Grimdark Reads
Read & Review
Not-so-peaceful May Reads
Dark Fantasy
More Free Grimdark Reads

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #6

2026-09-14T21:44:31.874205+00:00

Hey there,

Remember how I said I was going to send out an extra email newsletter this week for the launch of "Everyone Dies"? Well, this is that newsletter!

About Everyone Dies

Years ago, I co-wrote a book in which the protagonist died at the end. I liked the protagonist, as did my co-author and the readers. So, at the beginning of the sequel, we brought the character back to life.

While it was fun to write that resurrection, it meant his sacrifice was diminished. He had paid the ultimate price, but then got a refund.

Since then, I kept thinking about writing a new book (or series) where protagonists die with regularity. Sacrifice would have meaning. Characters would struggle with the death of those around them. I would promise that death is permanent.

The result is this story.

The release of this book is bittersweet. I admit that I don't want to let some of the characters go. And that's what makes this story so interesting for me, that I'll miss them in kind of the same way I miss friends and family who have passed away.

Read "Everyone Dies" on Amazon

Please write a review!

Here's where I ask for reviews. Even the negative ones.

Positive reviews inspire me to write more. I run to the keyboard, and the words and story rush out. They energize me, and I love each and every one I get.

Negative reviews fuel the negative emotions that are useful for portraying the darkness in the stories I write. Also, they help me identify what I can improve.

Even neutral reviews are good. I feel neutral about them, but having them is better than no review!

Finally, if you feel like just putting in a star rating on Amazon (or Goodreads), with an absolute minimal review, that works too. No matter how many stars you choose, you help me by rating it.

Read "Everyone Dies" on Amazon

Until my next newsletter on the 22nd,

Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #7

2026-09-14T21:44:31.871885+00:00

Hey there,

I come bearing good news.

Everyone Dies free until midnight May 26th

As you can see from the banner image, Everyone Dies is free on Amazon until midnight on May 26th. If you aren't on Kindle Unlimited and want it for free, here's your chance!

Reviews are coming in and they are positive!

The feedback from readers has been positive, resulting in a 4.17-star average on Goodreads. Goodreads reviewers are often much more critical than Amazon readers, so I'm really pleased by this rating.

As for Amazon reviews, those haven't appeared yet. A few of you have told me that you submitted there, but as of this email, they aren't yet approved. Usually, it takes Amazon anywhere from 4-24 hours to approve reviews, but I've heard sometimes it takes four or five days.

Grimdark Popcorn!

This weekend, my seven-year-old daughter, Uma, is running a booth in a kid's entrepreneurial event in Manila called "Tiny Tycoons". She's selling "popcorn with prizes". She came up with the product, brand, and logo. She even has a parent-curated Instagram account and website for it.

While Uma is too young to read Everyone Dies, she's excited about it in the way seven-year-olds get excited about things. So for her popcorn booth, she's created a limited edition "grimdark" flavor to celebrate my book launch, a mix of black pepper, edible charcoal dust, and sesame seeds cooked in sesame oil.

Uma working on the label.

The bagged result.

If you are in Manila this weekend, and want to meet us, the event is happening in SM Podium Mall. Here's how to get into the event:

Install the SM app (Android/Apple)
Find the event 'Tiny Tycoons' inside the app
Procure free tickets

Awesome books by other authors

Five days. Two gatherers with nothing to lose. A perfect plan that won't stop falling apart.
Grimdaniel's opinion: If you like grimdark and dystopian horror done as an homage to Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress, this is a great read.
Read my review!

Who better to spy for royals than a Prince?
The first low-fantasy installment in the all-new Crown & Cloak Chronicles!

The Witcher meets Terry Pratchett in this dark fantasy series with gallows humour
A misfit crew. A failed drake hunt. A leader with something to prove.

Honey for the Queen is a prequel, short story based around The Incarn Saga Series. This story begins before the humans arrive and conquer the Theriomorphs, the native shapeshifting race. A child shifter has recently been seated on the throne, yet not everyone rejoices in that fact. After being mysteriously paid, Pira begins her plans to assassinate the naive ruler.

Book Swap Promo

This is a cross-promotion I'm organizing. There's other grimdark and dark fantasy authors who have joined. Take a look!

Until my next newsletter on the 29th,

Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #8

2026-09-14T21:44:31.870282+00:00

Writing for myself, again

When I started on Everyone Dies, I decided to write for myself. I would focus on the story I wanted to tell, rather than the expectations of my family, friends, and potential readers. The result was that Everyone Dies just flowed out. It was a joy to write and edit.

Then, when I commenced work on the sequel, I wrote to address feedback from my editors and readers. I wrote tens of thousands of words, but each time it was a struggle. I pushed through because I'm stubborn, but it was hard. The pride of accomplishment was there, but the joy wasn't. I restarted several times, tossing out most of my work each time, but I just couldn't find that flow again.

Recently, I decided to just write for myself again. I appreciate all the feedback, but I've decided to consciously ignore it and focus on writing for myself once again.

Result: My writing mojo is back!

The words just come out, the feeling of a story telling itself, descriptions that just seem to appear, and the driving energy are there once more. Writing is a joy once more.

As for feedback given... Interestingly enough, while I am consciously ignoring feedback, it is subconsciously being factored into my writing. Meaningful observations by astute readers are affecting my output, which is a delightful surprise.

Books to explore

Here are a few books by fellow authors in dark genres.

He touched something in a collapsed tunnel. It touched back.
Now Kael has two heartbeats. One is his.
A Dark Dungeon Core Progression Fantasy.

There’s no time left. The Trial of Mettle is finally here.
For one day, the cadets are given a chance to prove their valor in combat.
The Law of Might novella trilogy concludes with the final installment, Trial of Mettle.

A terrifying short horror story inspired by true haunted house stories.
Perfect for readers of atmospheric, psychological horror and supernatural dread, this one-scene nightmare will claw under your skin—and stay there.

Kindle Unlimited Grimdark Reads

This is a small cross-promotion I'm organizing for Kindle Unlimited books. Jon Cronshaw, a notable British author of dark fantasy, asked for his works to be listed!

Until June 5th,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #9

2026-09-14T21:44:31.867834+00:00

Everyone Dies post-launch report

On May 20th I released my first new fiction book in over six years, "Everyone Dies", on Amazon. Here's how it has done in terms of sales:

11 Preorders
21 Paid Orders
128 Kindle Unlimited Pages Read (I subtracted all three times I re-read the book)
198 Free Orders

In terms of reception, Everyone Dies is doing quite well (although it could use a lot more reviews and ratings):

The darkness and parenting

Our daughter Uma has gotten deep into reading chapter books this year. She is very curious about Everyone Dies, but the book isn't appropriate for a seven-year-old.

If you've read a bit of my fiction writing, you know that it can be quite dark and heavy in places. You get to know the people in my head, and sometimes brutal battles with fantastical creatures kill characters right after you've developed a deep attachment to them.

So Uma has been asking for a kid's version of the story, with suggested renames like "Everyone Cries" and "Everyone Fries." Parents out there, have you ever rewritten a book or created an alternative version for your children?

New Book Review

I wrote a review of Michael R. Fletcher's Obsidian Path series. Generally I prefer reviewing other indie works, but sometimes it's good to examine what the big kids with thousands of reviews (and probably hundreds of thousands of reads) are doing.

Read my review of The Obsidian Path

Starting without memory

Waking up without memory in fantasy and science fiction is a trope I find fascinating. I'm in the midst of rewriting a grimdark science fiction story which had a similar beginning, and Michael Fletcher's Obsidian Path (reviewed here) also has this start. It is interesting reading how Rachel Hetrick handles it in her story, Curse of Infiniti, listed below. This is a very interesting dark fantasy story, with lurid descriptions of the physical world and the mind of the protagonist.

As she wakes up in a bedroom she doesn’t recognize, Ellayne becomes increasingly aware of one thing: she has no memories—no identity—no name. Dark figures not only haunt her nightmares, but also stalk her in reality. Ellayne finds herself on the run, chased by a hooded archer with deadly aim.

Bring on the books!

I am constantly reading indie sci-fi and fantasy books. Here are the awesome book lists I've been exploring lately:

FREE Sci-fi & Fantasy May-June 2026 (Ending soon)
Where Magic Meets Your Bookshelf
Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction

My personally curated list

Finally, I curate this list of grimdark reads. If you know of any free grimdark books worthy of inclusion, message me with details and I'll consider adding it.

Until next time, which is June 12th,

Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #10

2026-09-14T21:44:31.866069+00:00

New title for my next book

I've tentatively decided to name my next book "Soldier of the Death Gods". It's the story about a righteous man, his family, and the immortal necromancers, liches if you will, that he serves.

Thanks for the reviews!

Everyone Dies now has 26 reviews on Amazon, maintaining its 4.5-star average. I'm so grateful to each and every one of you who has written a review, especially those who have included constructive feedback on what I can do better.

"Even the doom feels… cozy?"
-- Danni

"I never thought a book with so much death would have such a happy ending."
-- Violet Rose

"This is one of those rare fantasy novels that feels both epic and personal even in its short length."
--Fina

Brutalist Architecture in Manila

I'm a fan of brutalist architecture. Elements of brutalism will feature in the city-based setting of my next book, "Soldier of the Dead Gods".

For reference, I currently live in an area of Manila, called Makati, with a good number of classic structures built in this style. Many of them are absolutely fascinating in design.

In theory, brutalism is a perfect design for this environment, as the concrete provides a good insulating medium against the heat that dominates the region. However, the humidity and smog means that concrete shows stains more quickly from water and pollution than modernist constructions of glass and steel.

Here's an example of brutalism: the Country Space 1 building on Senator Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City. The building narrows as it goes up. A lot of effort is spent keeping it clear of water stains. It's a pleasant change from the normal blocky design of steel and glass towers that dominate the architecture landscape here.

So many books to read!

Don't you wish you had enough time to read all the stories out there?

Grimdaniel's opinion: I'm sold on just the cover illustration!

The Law is not justice. Loyalty is not innocence.

Monsters wake. Glass shatters. And Thrazo is the poor bastard left paying for it.

Deadly Shekkar Demons prowl the countryside, and after nearly a year of travel,
Dane is running out of time to complete the desperate quest to save his nation.

My personally curated list

Finally, I curate this list of grimdark reads. If you know of any Kindle Unlimited grimdark books worthy of inclusion, message me with details and I'll consider adding it.

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #11

2026-09-14T21:44:31.863185+00:00

In this edition of the Not Dead Yet newsletter, I'm trying something new: posting a snippet of my writing. I'll also discuss why, in my next book, I'm writing in both 1st-person and 3rd-person point of view. Finally, I mention an article about Doctor Who's cancellation that I wrote on my non-fiction site.

Justice for Timo!

Sympathy for the companion named Timo is a relatively common thread in reviews of Everyone Dies. His passages were fun to write, and like all of his fellow seven companions it was painful to write his demise. I wish I could give him justice, unfortunately he lives in a grim, dark world and the best that I can do is feature him in this newsletter. This fourth chapter of the book is from Temo's point of view.

Timo the woodcutter marveled at the quality of the wood used to construct the table on which their food was served. Black walnut had been cut into wide planks and finished to bring out the rich, dark, chocolate hues. Even stains and knife cuts from years of being used to serve food couldn’t diminish the lovely craftsmanship of the table.

He took another bite of the meat pie on his plate. The crust was perfectly flaky, the meat fresh, and the sauce rich with the luxurious taste of wine. He washed it down with excellent beer served in a tin mug. He had never eaten so well.

He felt a light jab to his ribs. Bram the wrestler had just elbowed him. Timo ignored it, he had beaten the other big man at rock lifting. That was why Timo was here with the other fairground champions — the king had invited them to a meal in his great hall. He could afford to be forgiving of a man he had beaten today.

Bram elbowed Timo again. “You fool,” the wrestler whispered. “The king is making a toast. Raise your cup.”

As Timo raised his beer mug, he kept his eyes focused on the table. He made sure he didn’t meet the gaze of anyone else at the table. He was bonded to the land, and putting eyes on his betters was something his Mum had told him never to do.

The king said words. Timo understood a few of them, but not enough for them to make any sense. The king’s voice sounded trained, but it wasn’t as strong as a town crier’s. Timo tried not to wonder what this meant. Then everyone gave a shout and drained their cups. Timo followed along.

Another man spoke. His voice was stunning, like that of a great singer. Timo wondered if he would sing or give a sermon. Timo understood more of what he said. He said something about the Lich Queen, and Timo shivered at the mention of her foul majesty. Then he took comfort in that he was in the heart of the kingdom and sitting inside the king’s own castle.

The king spoke again for a minute. Then people started to say “aye” one at a time. One, two, three, and higher than Timo could count said it. The last one was Bram sitting next to Timo.

Bram elbowed Timo yet again. “Say ‘Aye,” the wrestler whispered. “Say it loudly, you can’t say no to the king.”

Timo cleared his throat and said, “Aye” louder.

“Well done, gentle woodcutter,” said the king. Everyone cheered. Timo had never felt prouder. The king had spoken to him!

“A gold piece for each of us and employment in the king’s service,” Bram said to Timo, clapping the woodcutter on his shoulder. “All we have to do is survive and live another day.”

Timo didn’t know what ‘survive’ meant, but he liked living. He was very good at it, having done it since the day he was born.

One of the seven companions, Timo's fate is revealed in Everyone Dies.

POV 1st person vs 3rd person

In the sequel to "Everyone Dies", titled "Soldier of the Death God", I originally intended for the book to be written in the 1st person point of view. The plan was that the 1st person writing style would allow me to better explore the mental state of the protagonist, a dark captain of the lich queen named 'Cryptus'.

However, the more the story develops, the more I realize that switching points of view is necessary to tell it. Cryptus has a very nasty blade that can steal souls. With those souls come emotion and memories that will further the story. That means, at times, the story will use the third person for the victims of Cryptus' monstrous weapon.

It is interesting to write a book this way. The theme and plot certainly fit well in the grimdark fantasy genre.

Farewell, Doctor Who

On my personal site I wrote my thoughts about the increasingly poor storytelling of Doctor Who, which has led to its cancellation. I don't think the series failed because it tried to address social issues, but rather that the quality of writing dropped too far to survive.

Read all the books!

Seven companions walk a path no one survives
My grimdark fantasy story, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!
Available on Kindle Unlimited

He survived genocide. Nazis. Stalin. Now he’s being hunted.
Grimdaniel's opinion: Excellent historical dark fiction. Read my review!

Three rules keep a memory thief alive.
She breaks all three in chapter one...

Every Assassin Has a First Bone to Claim
To become a Shadow Assassin, Sullivan must surrender the last pieces of his humanity.

Until my next newsletter on the 26th,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #12

2026-09-14T21:44:31.861822+00:00

In this edition of the Not Dead Yet newsletter, I lead with a link to the upcoming sequel to Everyone Dies plus a mention to the beta readers club. I also mention my review of Z.B. Steele's "Whispers of the Storm".

First Chapter of Soldier of the Death God

If you want to read the still rough first chapter of the sequel to "Everyone Dies", you can find it on the new Soldier of the Death God page on my website.

Also, the Soldier of the Death God page links to my beta readers club. Sign up to get new chapters as I finish writing them. Yup, I'm opening the door for readers to give me early constructive feedback on my next book.

Review of Whispers of the Storm

I wrote a review of Z.B. Steele's Whispers of the Storm. Read to discover why I gave it ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ stars.

An endless supply of books

The boy should be dead, but the rumours are too loud to ignore.
He’s alive, and Sin won’t rest until she finds him.
As she stalks the rooftops of Luskaine’s capital, her search uncovers more than a missing boy:
she finds betrayal, revenge, and bloody satisfaction.

As she wakes up in a bedroom she doesn’t recognize, Ellayne becomes increasingly aware of one thing:
she has no memories, no identity, no name.
Dark figures not only haunt her nightmares, but also stalk her in reality.
Ellayne finds herself on the run, chased by a hooded archer with deadly aim.

Seven companions walk a path no one survives
My grimdark fantasy story, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Until July 3rd,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #13

2026-09-14T21:44:31.860628+00:00

In this edition of the Not Dead Yet newsletter, I talk about the pace of this newsletter. I also mention the first chapter of my next book.

Slowing down the newsletter

While it's fun to write the "Not Dead Yet" Newsletter every week, it does take time away from my fiction writing. I want to truly focus on crafting new stories. Therefore, the next edition of this newsletter will come out on July 24th (my birthday).

As I get closer to releasing my next book, I'll return to a more frequent delivery schedule.

First Chapter of Soldier of the Death God

If you want to read the rough draft of the first chapter of the sequel to "Everyone Dies", you can find it on the new Soldier of the Death God page on my website. Based on feedback given last week, I've made updates.

Read all the things!

Seven companions walk a path no one survives.
My grimdark fantasy story, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!
Available on Kindle Unlimited

An empire’s betrayal sparks a daring alliance.

Until July 24th,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #14

2026-09-14T21:44:31.858685+00:00

In this edition of the Not Dead Yet newsletter, I talk about my birthday, summer, and the two stories I'm working on.

It's my birthday!

I've completed another orbit around the sun. Hooray! I'm going to use this happy occasion to ask those who have not done so to consider writing a review for my latest book, "Everyone Dies".

Seven companions walk a path no one survives.
My grimdark fantasy story, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Summer Daze

My daughter is out of school for the summer and finished camp a few weeks ago. Turns out that's a recipe for a life with many distractions. Nevertheless, I'm proud to say I have maintained a writing pace averaging over 500 per day. That's slower than normal, but understandable since I'm apprehensive about writing my dark fiction when my daughter is hanging over my shoulder.

Once her school starts up again, my writing should return to its normal pace.

Soldier of the Death God

Set in the same universe as "Everyone Dies", technically it's not a sequel. That's because everyone died in "Everyone Dies"! Nevertheless, the Lich Queen makes an appearance, and it occurs mostly after the events of its predecessor, so I'm calling it "Book 2" of an as-yet-named series.

In any case, I'm making progress on telling a story that mixes first and third person point of view. The premise is that the protagonist serves the Lich Queen as a Dark Captain, and wields a weapon capable of stealing souls from its victims. When a occurs, he receives some of their memories. Yes, this has shades of Michael Moorcock's Elric.

It has been interesting to write changing point-of-view styles. I tend to write third-person POV, often switching characters between chapters. Writing 1st person for fantasy is new to me, and I can see why some authors like to use it. Expressing thoughts and emotion without falling into the "show not tell" trap feels easier.

New story: Afterlife

Years ago I read a short story whose name and plot I can't remember, but it was set in a fantasy afterlife that existed for atheists. Having not been able ever to find the story again, I decided to write my own version. I'm about eight chapters in, when I've hit the halfway mark, I'll write out the book blurb and put it here.

Dark fantasy by other authors

In a kingdom that forgets its monsters, one man remembers.

In 1771 Constantinople, a Young Scientist’s Discovery Draws Him into a World that Defies Logic.
A Tale of Ancient Gods, Dangerous Knowledge, and a Scientist Caught Between Reason and Ruin.

Outcast after making friends with the wrong person, a disgraced soldier must decide whether forgiveness is enough to put his past behind him.
Book 1 of the Epic Fantasy Celestial Throne Series

Amazing summer fantasy promotions

See you next month,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #15

2026-09-14T21:44:31.856771+00:00

Read this newsletter on the web.

In this 15th edition of the Not Dead Yet Newsletter, I cover the state of "Everyone Dies", summer vacation, and stories I'm working on.

Everyone Dies passes 60 reviews

A few days after my last newsletter, I was excited to see that "Everyone Dies" had reached 60 reviews. Thank you!

While writing the book, I was concerned a story where I kill all the characters would go poorly, so I'm happy with the results. My hope is that writing more grimdark stories in the same vein will help me hone my craft and achieve better results.

Seven companions walk a path no one survives.
My grimdark fantasy story, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Summer Vacation

Finally, a break from daily city life.

We're in Hoi An, Vietnam, near the beach. My daughter is in an English-speaking camp, giving me lots more time to write.

I'm incredibly productive here. The fresh sea air, sitting in pleasant cafes, drinking good coffee, and unwinding from city life really helps. While I miss beach life on the US East Coast, this is more relaxing and has helped me zone in on being creative.

Soldier of the Death God

Can grimdark be too cruel?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm being too mean to the protagonist. He's a very bad person. In the story, everything he believes in is being destroyed, and his face is rubbed into the detritus of his admittedly awful beliefs. Then I remember this is a story of comeuppance, where the truly bad guy gets what he deserves.

However, my empathy for him still remains. I felt the same thing writing "Everyone Dies".

Another Everyone Dies story

On the way to Vietnam, I came up with the plot for another "Everyone Dies" sequel. Where "Soldier of the Death God" focuses on one of the servants of the Lich Queen, this new story is about how yet more people who oppose her die. It takes place by the sea, in cold, stormy waters rather than the warm, gentle waves I can experience on my vacation.

It's a dark, violent fantasy story. Best of all, it's full of interesting people I'm going to kill off while regretting it.

I'm so excited to put fingers to keyboard for this one!

Dark fantasy by other authors

Witcher meets Games of Thrones in this thrilling dark fantasy adventure
A story of epic proportions

Years ago, something else walked these woods. It never left.
An epic tale of medieval horror

See you next month,
Daniel Roy Greenfeld

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #16

2026-09-14T21:44:31.853750+00:00

Read this newsletter on the web.

In this 16th edition of the Not Dead Yet Newsletter, I cover my new story, WriterStead, and Everyone Dies review score.

Iron Meridian: Solarpunk vs Dieselpunk

Help shape a dieselpunk-versus-solarpunk fantasy before it’s published. Become a beta reader!

During my vacation I stopped trying to write a sequel to "Everyone Dies" and started on a new book.

For years, I've had this vision of writing a gritty book about a conflict between two warring states who both conquer new dimensions. One is a dieselpunk empire with a strong religious foundation to control thought. The other is a solarpunk-style empire that uses cultural design to control thought. While one is absolutely better for the environment, both societies have their issues.

While the book isn't finished yet, I'm looking for beta readers. You'll read 20-30 chapters, answer some specific questions, and give me brutally honest feedback. I need people willing to tell me what I'm doing right and wrong.

I’m looking for feedback on how both empires claim to be the ethical choice. Read it and tell me which one you believed.

Click here to become a beta reader of Iron Meridian.

WriterStead launched!

A quick note from behind the scenes: we're (my wife and I) launching WriterStead, a website builder and help system made specifically for authors. It’s designed to make the audience-growing side of being a writer a little less tangled. It provides an author-focused website with the tools us writers already use to grow our readership, integrating with email lists, StoryOrigin, and BookFunnel.

My wife built it, she's fantastic with technology.

What's my role? I'm the person who onboards people to WriterStead. In discord (in chat and calls) I help fellow authors get WriterStead working the way they need with other tools like BookFunnel, StoryOriginApp, and the nigh infinite list of email list providers.

I'm in the process of bringing over my own grimdaniel.com site, you can see what I've done so far here: drg.writerstead.com

If you are an author and would like to try it out, (and have me help onboard you), you can learn more at writerstead.com/from/drg/newsletter-16. If you use that link, you'll get 50% off your first month.

Also, for every person you have sign up off your own referral link (which I can help you set up), you get a month free. There's no limit to this, our dream is that we have people who never pay except for their first month.

Click to try out WriterStead at 50% off

Everyone Dies drops to 4.6 😱

Yes, it's true. My book, "Everyone Dies", has dropped from 4.7 to a 4.6 rating on Amazon.

More seriously, I'm happy with all the reviews I'm getting. In fact, I'll take some more please. 😃 Please leave a quick review.

Featured stories I've reviewed

When survival is a lesson carved in blood, hesitation is a death sentence.
A grounded grimdark novella about a young miner caught between brutal systems, impossible choices, and the forest that punishes both.
Read my 5 star review

Duty, knowledge, and survival in a living world
A tale of a cold healer trapped inside a living titan, where mercy is the deadliest Protocol
Read my 5 star review

Stories by other authors

Bite-sized horror stories are brought to you by twenty-five authors.

The Arena Doesn't Know What It's Cheering For.

She stole once. They stole her life.
A dark fantasy of debt, power, and the brutal arithmetic of survival

A dead agent. A silent town. A conspiracy written in her own hand.

When a Stranger's Golden Eyes Held the Answer to a Question Yet Unspoken.
A dark epic fantasy with complex characters, dangerous magic, and a world that doesn't forgive.

A Space Opera with Dragons.

Mild; mistaken; mortified. And dark father of the Realm."