It’s that time, innit — when 2024 is in its final countdown for 2025.

While we may feel mixed about what the Year of the Wood Snake augurs, it’s become tradition for me to mark the year’s final days with a review of the ten most-read posts on my blog. As always, the ten are largely grouped in chronological order, but also by theme, to the extent possible.

Three Main Themes:

For 2024, the themes are very clear. The first comprises posts centered on The Wall Of Night series, which in turn comprise two subcategories, Revision Updates (& related matters) and matters ‘surrounding’ the series, such as updates on Group Haarth’s Read-Along and the Wall Of Night wiki. To keep things simple, though, I’ve just ordered all the posts chronologically under “The Wall Of Night Series.”

The second clear theme are the posts centered on “What I’m Reading”, while the third category centres on Other Writers and their takes on writing. So now, without further ado:

The 10 Most-Read Posts of 2024

Theme One: Anything (At All) The Wall Of Night

1. April 8 — The Great “Wall Of Night” Series Read-Along: “The Heir of Night” Part 2

In which Rosie Wadman of Group Haarth posted an update on completing the read-along of Part 2 of The Heir of Night. 

Which, I have to say, you seemed to like. 😉 If you’d like to join in, just click on the Group Haarth link — I know Rosie welcomes company. 🙂

2. April 11 — The Great “The Wall Of Night” #4 Revision: It’s Update Time!

I am pretty sure this one is self-explanatory, but clearly eagerly awaited. (Yes, I do know why, too.)

3. April 22 — Updates & Upsides: A Sneak Preview Into The WALL #4 Tuckerization Character

Yep, April was a busy month on da blog, and this “sneak look” at the WALL #4 Tuckerization character (strictly no spoilers tho’) found considerable favour.

4. May 30 — The Compleat List of Daughter Of Blood Q&A Posts

Over the course of 2022-23, with the final wrap-up in 2024, I reposted a series of reader questions and my answers, on various aspects of Daughter of Blood (and indirectly The Wall Of Night series, in some cases.)

The individual posts were always well read, but my compilation of the complete (or compleat 😉 ) list consolidated that interest into a Most-Read placing for 2024.

5. July 11 — Announcing The Wall Of Night Wiki on Fandom.Org

I was very pleased to be able to announce, not only that the WALL series has a wiki on Fandom.org, but that it was in the process of being revived, chiefly through the good offices of Nicolas Fitzgerald. To find out more, click on the link, or just go straight to: The Wall Of Night wiki. I know that Nicolas, like Rosie & Group Haarth, welcomes company.

Theme Two: Reports on “What I’m Reading”

Or more correctly, have read.:) I’ve listed all three in chronological order but won’t comment otherwise — as with any review, ’tis best to just click on the link and read (if you haven’t done so already.) I will say, though, that I’m gratified you find my (‘terribly important’ – ha!) reflections on “wot I’ve read” valuable.

 

6. August 12 — To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis

7. August 28 — The Notebook: A History Of Thinking On Paper by Roland Allen

8. September 23 — Night Train To Lisbon by Pascal Mercier

Theme Three: Other Writers

9. July 8 — Myth & Magic, Fairytale & Folklore: Influences on The House At The End of the Sea (2) by Victoria M Adams

Victoria M Adams, aka “Mary”, is a good friend and fellow writer, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview her when The House At The End of the Sea was published earlier this year. I posted the interview in three instalments, and the third and final part, on myth and magic in the book, was so fascinating I begged for a more indepth dive. Mary was kind enough to oblige and the “most-read” statistics tell me that readers shared my fascination. It’s the stuff for which we fantasy readers and writers live! (Imho.:) )

10. September 9 — “On Writing A Novel” by Haruki Murakami

As those who visit regularly know, I’m a huge fan of Haruki Murakami and his observations on writing as process, art, and craft, always resonate. This particular quote, and/or my further reflections upon it, also appeared to find favour with “…on Anything, Really” readers and followers.

And there you have it — the most-read posts of 2024! I won’t say “roll on 2025” but it will come regardless of anything I may say or do. 😀

If I don’t post again before the Eve & Day — Happy New Year, one and all.