Hugos There

It seems the ballots for this year’s Hugos, the SFF world’s most prestigious awards, are now reaching Worldcon members.

I don’t often have work eligible for a Hugo, but this year I do! So, if you have a ballot, please consider nominating my weirdpunk tale Outrider in the Short Story category. Outrider was published in the 2025 anthology Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers, published by Stars and Sabers:

Bloody Barnes

Earlier this month I was a guest at the first Bloody Barnes, a new crime writing festival in London. I appeared on a panel with Martin Edwards and Victoria Dowd, discussing the topic ‘Criminal minds’, and The Dog Sitter Detectives Plays Dead was shortlisted for the inaugural Cob & Pen award for best crime novel of the year.

Mark Ellis took the award home on the night, but it was an honour to be shortlisted, and the festival itself was thoroughly entertaining. Next year’s dates have been announced as February 6-7, and I’m set to return, this time to host a Can You Solve the Murder? Live event. I recommend checking it out next year, and hope to see you there.

Work in Progress

The Forest of Death, book 2 of Can You Solve the Murder?, is on schedule and well underway. In January I worked on copyedits, so it’s now heading to the galley proof stage, and publication is set for July 9.

Meanwhile, this month I’m scheduled to start writing The Dog Sitter Detective book 5, with a deadline in late summer. I believe that will be published in January next year as normal (this year’s November release was unusual because of the Christmas theme! No such theme in book 5, which will take place in springtime.)

Finally, the videogame I’ve been working on for the past couple of years, Altered Alma, is approaching release.

Co-writer Emma Beeby and I are putting the finishing touches to the game’s narrative and UI text, while everyone else at 2Awesome is working hard to get the game out in the next few months. You can wishlist Altered Alma, and play a demo, on Steam:

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/2190700/Altered_Alma/

Can You Solve the Murder? Live

The interactive and very popular Can You Solve the Murder? Live events continue, with several festivals and stores already booked for this year. A few weeks ago I ran the first of the year, with a brand new scenario, at Stockport Noir. Upcoming events include:

• York Literature Festival – March 16

• Waterstones Lincoln – March 18

• Agatha Christie Festival Spring Gathering – April 11

• Cheltenham Science Festival (!) - June 4

• Bloody Scotland – Sep 19

I’m also hoping to host another instalment at Bradford Literature Festival, as it was so popular there last year, but that’s not yet confirmed.

SILENCAEON on Ampwall

Finally, for those of you who prefer not to use Bandcamp, you can now find SILENCAEON, my solo musical project, on Ampwall.

Ampwall is a relatively new venture, made by musicians for musicians, with a creator-friendly focus – including lower fees, so when you buy a SILENCAEON album on Ampwall I keep more of the money than if you buy it through Bandcamp. Nice 🤘

Check out the SILENCAEON page at:

• https://silencaeon.ampwall.com/

Lay A Wreath Upon Me

In addition to this newsletter, you can follow me on most social media platforms – either search for my username @antonyjohnston, or check the Contact & Follow page of my site for links: https://antonyjohnston.com/contact/

Honestly, these end-of-year “wrapped” summaries are getting out of control. I had one the other day from Miro, an online flowcharting tool! I’m expecting my 2025 Microsoft Excel Wrapped any day now…

Don’t Stray off the Path

Recently, the second Can You Solve the Murder? book, The Forest of Death, was announced in Publishers Marketplace:

I finished line edit revisions on the manuscript just this week, and expect to receive copyedit notes back in January. The hope is to publish next summer, i.e. a year after the first book, and to undertake another tour of Can You Solve the Murder? Live interactive events to promote it. More on that as I have it.

In the meantime, of course, Can You Solve the Murder? itself is still on sale at all good bookstores…

• https://antonyjohnston.com/work/books/

Space is big. Really, really big.

Earlier this month I released Heliosphere, the tenth full-length release from SILENCAEON, my musical solo project:

Vast and sombre ambient electronica. Beauty in desolation. A tribute to the tireless explorers of our solar system… and beyond.

Heliosphere is my first full album release in 4 years, as I’ve been writing flat-out since 2021 and simply haven’t had the time or headspace to compose music. Making this album has reminded me why I love it, and lifted my spirits. I hope it does the same for you.

I actually had the concept for Heliosphere almost a decade ago, but wanted to do it justice and not rush. It was worth it, and I think this is some of my best music yet. I’m particularly fond of Part IV “Voyager 1” and Part VII “New Horizons”.

Heliosphere was released on December 3, the day in 1973 that Pioneer 10 made its closest approach to Jupiter; the first spacecraft, and thus the first ever human-made object, to come within less than 100,000 miles of our solar system’s largest planet.

• Heliosphere is available to buy and stream on Bandcamp now

I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas

2025 has been a heck of a year for all of us. For me it’s been crazy busy and tiring, but also very positive.

Can You Solve the Murder? became my best-selling novel, while the love readers have for Gwinny and the Dog Sitter Detective series remains high as ever. I wrote for 2000AD for the first time, had my first short story in several years published (and then sold another), finally released a new album, and hosted several podcasts. I also continued work on the Altered Alma videogame, which is almost finished.

I made more author appearances than ever before, the interactive CYSTM Live events were extremely well-received, I was invited to be a panelist at the Harrogate crime writing festival for the first time, I delivered four different lectures (including my first appearance at the AdventureX games conference) and I already have many more events lined up for 2026.

Once again I helped out behind the scenes of the Crime Writers’ Association, including creating a brand new design for their prestigious Dagger award, unveiled at this year’s awards ceremony (which I also helped organise).

On a personal level it wasn’t always easy, with Life™ rearing its head on occasion throughout the year. I consider myself lucky to have the love of friends and family around me, not to mention wonderfully supportive colleagues in my professional life.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, I hope this holiday season is the best it can be for you. And for all of us, I wish a happy and peaceful 2026.

@antonyjohnston

Antony Johnston on Instagram: "Tree’s up, chat, with our totall…

From the Bottom of My Heart

In addition to this newsletter, you can follow me on most social media platforms – either search for my username @antonyjohnston, or check the Contact & Follow page of my site for links: https://antonyjohnston.com/contact/

The Dog Sitter Who Came in From the Cold

The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail is out now!

It’s almost Christmas, and Gwinny Tuffel’s thoughts are on what she’ll buy for DCI Birch (retired) and whether she can adopt another furry friend. But sorting through her late father’s papers leads her into his mysterious past, pointing to an enigmatic liaison now living in a Somerset commune. Gwinny and Birch find themselves unexpectedly snowed in with a group of retired spies, along with an energetic Cocker Spaniel, and embroiled in a murder case. Will they uncover the culprit and escape in time for Christmas?

The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail is available NOW in hardback* and ebook. The audiobook, narrated once again by the wonderful Nicolette McKenzie, is due in a couple of weeks’ time.

*UK and commonwealth, that is. North American readers can get the ebook and audio day-and-date, with the print edition following in the new year.

Show Us Your Dogs!

As always, if you’re a dog owner yourself, I’d love to see a pic of your copy of The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail with your very own pooch! Snap a photo and post it online – use the hashtag #DogSitterDetective and tag me as well, to make sure I see it. I’m @antonyjohnston pretty much everywhere.

I’ll compile the best pics into a video for everyone to see 😊🐶 Here’s the video from last time:

@antonyjohnston

Antony Johnston on Instagram: "One of my favourite things about…

Signed editions

If you’re one of those lovely people who likes to get signed first editions, we’ve got you covered. I visited Allison & Busby last month to sign a big stack of books…

@allisonandbusby

Allison and Busby on Instagram: "Is there someone you know who …

…and those editions are now available from Goldsboro Books – but be quick, I’m told they’re selling fast.

• https://goldsborobooks.com/products/the-dog-sitter-detectives-christmas-tail

Look To the Future, Now

In addition to this newsletter, you can follow me on most social media platforms – either search for my username @antonyjohnston, or check the Contact & Follow page of my site for links: https://antonyjohnston.com/contact/

Just a short one to remind you all that I’m hosting a brand new series of Can You Solve the Murder? Live events in November and December – with the first taking place in just a couple of days’ time!

CYSTM? Live is an interactive event where the audience competes in teams to solve a “mini-murder mystery”, specially written by me for bookstores and festivals. For these dates I’ve written a completely new Christmas-themed scenario, so even if you took part in one of the events I hosted this summer, you can enjoy this one too 😊

Do you have what it takes? Can YOU solve the murder?

• Nov 2 – Farsley Lit Fest, the finale event of Crime Day – Tickets

• Nov 13 – Thoughtful Spot Bookshop, Halifax – SOLD OUT (I’m not surprised tbh, this one includes a 3-course dinner! 😂)

• Nov 24 – Waterstones Piccadilly – Tickets

• Nov 25 – Waterstones Brighton – Tickets

• Dec 4 – The Bookshop, Mold – Tickets

• Dec 5 – Waterstones Worcester – Tickets

• Dec 6 – Waterstones Redditch – Tickets

• Dec 11 – Waterstones Nottingham – Tickets

If you’re a bookseller or festival organiser who would like me to host CYSTM? Live, contact Emma Fairey at Transworld.

Now the Frosticles Appear

In addition to this newsletter, you can follow me on most social media platforms – either search for my username @antonyjohnston, or check the Contact & Follow page of my site for links: https://antonyjohnston.com/contact/

Waterstones Paperbacks of the Year

I am absolutely thrilled and gobsmacked to announce that Can You Solve the Murder? has been selected as a Paperback of the Year by Waterstones.

This means the book will be featured as part of the PBOY promotion in all WS stores and online between now and Christmas – which is perfect timing, because CYSTM makes a great holiday gift! Many readers have already told me they’ve bought a copy for a loved one, and at several recent live events I’ve been asked to sign copies with a ‘Merry Christmas’ message.

I really can’t thank Waterstones enough for getting behind CYSTM and supporting it, even before it was released. Speaking of which, more on that in a moment…

Can You Solve it… Again?

Yesterday I turned in the manuscript for Can You Solve the Murder? book 2, which has the working subtitle ‘The Forest of Death’.

You may be wondering, what does ‘sequel’ mean for a book like CYSTM?

Quite simply, it’s a new case. You take on the role of the main character again, the same Detective Chief Inspector from book 1. Once more you’re accompanied and assisted by Sergeant McAdam, Constable Zwale, and Dr Wash.

But the murder, setting, and suspects are all completely new.

Once again it’s up to YOU to guide the investigation and solve the murder. But you’ll be doing so in a completely different setting to the first book, with new clues, puzzles, and red herrings along the way. Even the tone of the book and mystery is a little different, to keep you on your toes.

Think of it like a new season of your favourite crime drama… except you have to find the ending for yourself 😉

Publication is pencilled in for next summer, and I’ll confirm that once I have a final date.

Live dates and appearances

After the success of Can You Solve the Murder? Live earlier this year (and with the book 2 deadline now behind me!) I’m hosting more live interactive events, now with a brand new mystery for the audience to solve – so even if you took part in one of the previous events, you can come along to one of the new events and enjoy another evening of sleuthing with a brand new murder!

(Pic: A recent CYSTM Live event at Beverley library, as part of the East Riding Festival of Words)

Dates confirmed so far:

• Nov 2 – Farsley Lit Fest, as part of Crime Day – Tickets

• Nov 13 – Thoughtful Spot Bookshop, Halifax – Tickets direct from the store, details here (This one includes a 3-course dinner!)

• Nov 24 – Waterstones Piccadilly – Tickets

• Nov 25 – Waterstones Brighton – Tickets

• Dec 4 – The Bookshop, Mold – Tickets

• Dec 5 – Waterstones Worcester – Tickets

• Dec 6 – Waterstones Redditch – Tickets

And we’re working right now on booking a few more. I’ll update this post when I have new dates, so check back here – or of course you can simply follow me on social media where all such events are announced.

Other Murders are Available

While you’re buying Can You Solve the Murder? at your local bookshop, don’t forget to also pick up The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail, the latest adventure for Gwinny and her canine companions, which is on sale November 20!

It’s almost Christmas, and Gwinny Tuffel’s thoughts are on what she’ll buy for DCI Birch (retired) and whether she can adopt another furry friend. But sorting through her late father’s papers leads her into his mysterious past, pointing to an enigmatic liaison now living in a Somerset commune. Gwinny and Birch find themselves unexpectedly snowed in with a group of retired spies, along with an energetic Cocker Spaniel, and embroiled in a murder case. Will they uncover the culprit and escape in time for Christmas?

Regular readers know that each Dog Sitter Detective book features a different breed of dog (Cocker Spaniel, in this case), but you may also have noticed that each book is a different kind of mystery:

• The Dog Sitter Detective is a traditional ‘body in the library’

• The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead is a closed-circle case

• The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead is a locked-room mystery (albeit the ‘room’ is a trailer on a film set!)

The new book, The Dog Sitter Detective’s Christmas Tail, is my take on the old favourite “Help, we’re snowed-in with a killer!” scenario. And where there’s snow, there’s Christmas – at least, that’s the rule in book publishing 😉

Death (and Mortis) is at Hand

Don’t forget that the Judge Death Mega Special is also on sale later this month, featuring my first-ever story for 2000AD – a one-off featuring the Dark Judge known as Mortis, whose mere caress rots and decays all it touches, with amazing art from Lee Carter.

It would, as they say, be a crime to miss it 💀

Sparkle in my Mind

In addition to this newsletter, you can follow me on most social media platforms – either search for my username @antonyjohnston, or check the Contact & Follow page of my site for links: https://antonyjohnston.com/contact/