Writing Review of 2024

The Year in Complete Darkness

Matt Adcock  (X @cleric20, Bluesky @cleric20.bsky.social)

2024 has been an incredibly productive year - it's sometimes only when you stop and take stock that you appreciate the outputs - so I thought I'd capture some highlights.

Overview:

One comic launched - COMPLETE DARKNESS ISSUE III

This was a fun project, Karl Brown who is my artist went to town on the battle sequence that sees the authorities of London 2 come up against otherworldly foes who can not be stopped. It cumulates in a tactical nuclear strike... This is set against the backdrop of the hero Cleric20's romantic tryst which I wanted to be a classic one-two punch of sex and violence :)

We successfully funded the issue on Kickstarter and went on to sell most of the initial print run of 500 copies throughout the year at various comic-cons and direct orders.

Two comic short stories published in anthologies

KILLTOPIA NANO JAMS

Had a great time seeing my story come to life in Dave Cook's incredible expansion of his Killtopia universe. I got to work with an excellent team of comic artist talent including Laura Helsby: (Hoops) illustrator and Comic book artist | Grantie award winner | 2000 AD etc! 

My story SMUFF is a 'what if' kind of black mirror look at what might happen if the government launched a new foodstuff. Cheap, addictive, and erm, packing homicidal side effects... 

WIP COMICS SHORT STORIES

I love the WIP London group I've been part of for several years now. WIP Comics (or Work in Progress Comics, to give it its full name) is a group made to help aspiring artists, writers and comic creators move their ideas and projects forward. With two monthly meetups and a podcast, led by the mighty Joe Stone, you will not find a nicer bunch to hang out with.

They produce an annual publication of comics in anthology form and this year I had a story in it. I got Jim Hobbs to draw fun short of COMPLETE DARKNESS character Captain Addams - getting his own video game spin off.

An Audiobook of COMPLETE DARKNESS

Since getting published I've been keen to get an audiobook version of my novel out into the world and this year I worked through ACX to achieve it. The process was smooth, 40 voice artists auditioned and I found the brilliant Nick Cracknell who stood out with his use of voice modulation to tackle the extense 'Hitchikers Guide To Galaxy' style footnotes.

I feard it might be cringe to hear your book read back to you but instead it made me grin, and the feedback has been great too. Making it's production cost back in just a few months and selling well. It's lovely to have this version of the darkness available on Audible.

Two new locally set short stories launched

THE HITCHIN HIGHWAY MURDERS

This was the second local scary legend tale following The Hertfordshire Drownings. 

Long shadows stalk the lanes and alleys of the quiet market town Hitchin. Grisly deaths begin to mount up along with sightings of a Highwayman. Could a vengeful spirit be claiming revenge for past wrongs?

- I wrote this based on the local historic hanging of a Highwayman in the town (there is a plaque over the gateway to the Kite at The Red Hart pub). My speculative tale sees a brutal murder spree grip the town - but is it the long dead Highwayman or some other psycho killer?

Had a great launch reading this at Hitchin Library in the summer where we sold 40 tickets and put on a wine and deli food to make an evening of it. The story featured cameos of some of the book group i go to (who get massacred)...

A CURIOUS CHRISTMAS ROMANCE

As a change, I wrote a less grim counterpoint to the James Herbert horror of The Highwayman, A Curious Christmas Romance does what it says on the cover but does pack a twist.

A Christmassy tale set again in Hitchin of how a chance meeting leads to a relationship neither side saw coming. Can love survive between two very different souls? 

Inspired by a book my elderly aunt Gloria gave me earlier in the year, this was a nice project and deals with some contemporary issues such as coercive controlling behaviours in relationships.

I got to launch it at Hitchin Library as part of the Winter Festival which was a memorable evening - despite the mulled cider!? Thanks to local artist Liz Noble for the illustrations!

Comic Cons and Literature Festivals...

in 2024 I tabled at:

Thought Bubble

Hitchin Comic Con

Hertfordshire Book Festival

Forward Festival

Hitchin Summer Festival

Medway River Literature Festival

Hitchin Creative Day

Coco Comic Con

Luton Comic Con

Norwich Comic Con

Hitchin Winter Festival

I absolutely love selling books and comics face to face, meeting other creatives and speaking on panels too. Getting to an event every month bar 2 as been a great way to make sales - the inaugral Hitchin Comic Con was the biggest ROI with one day sales of over £500 (and no fee to attend).

Overall this year have sold more 1,000 units across the range that I have written which feels like a nice amount for a part time author / creator.

WORK IN PROGRESS

I am currently working on two novels HARSH LANGUAGE - a '90s set heist thriller and INHERENT DARKNESS - the second Darkmatters Novel both of which I'd like to get out in 2025, as well as another local legend short story 'The Grey Lady's Curse'.

Let's see what happens!

>>> Imagine a world where the earth is becoming hell?

Click banner below to hear a FREE 5 mins sample of my audiobook which is becoming a graphic novel too)...