Grimdaniel isn't dead yet

Not Dead Yet Newsletter #1

2026-05-21T03:23:10.453124+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

2026-05-21T03:23:10.451685+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

2026-05-21T03:23:10.449236+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

2026-05-21T03:23:10.446815+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

2026-05-21T03:23:10.443981+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

2026-05-21T03:23:10.441724+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