Diane Riggins | Updates

#IWSG: Updates....

Diane Riggins — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the new site. I hope you like it. Not many updates for today's post. The writing is going well. I love the layout of the new site. I am thinking about moving the blog part of the site to my Substack. If you haven't signed up for the free side of it yet here is your chance. Here is the link: Substack.

I am focusing on the Thornwick Chronicles series for now. As you might have noticed Cruel Spells is no longer for sale as it is the first book of the series and is going through a complete rewrite (adding more chapters, etc). I have even changed some of the characters names in it.

I will keep everyone posted.

That's it for now.

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#IWSG: February Update: The Thornwick Chronicles Revisions

Diane Riggins — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

Welcome to February. My series The Thornwick Chronicles is going in a little bit of a new direction. I had a meeting with someone who helped me figure some things out about it and gave me some great feedback on the first story. I am going to begin revisions on it this week. Can't wait to share the journey of it with you. So, look for posts to pick up starting this month.

Also, my other stories are going well. Some are in the outline stage, others have at least the first chapter written. I have halted them and set up a list from high priority to low priority. I also color coded them and added those colors to the list. The highest priority is The Thornwick Chronicles of course. There are at least three to four other series that are going to be set in the Thornwick world. I have figured out how the main characters from those are going to be introduced to readers.

I might even change the series title from The Thornwick Chronicles to something that fits the series and the ideas I have for it. Some of the names are going to change as well in the series. That also means I will need to eventually change the cover of Cruel Spells so it fits with the other cover ideas I have in mind.

That’s it for now. I look forward to your comments. :)

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#IWSG: Exploring New Directions in The Thornwick Chronicles

Diane Riggins — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

Welcome to 2026. Hope you all had a great holiday with family and friends. I took time off from writing during the holiday and it helped. I have some new ideas for stories to write in the future. The series I am working on right now The Thornwick Chronicles is going in a bit of a new direction that I think will fit the overall idea I had for it when I began writing it.

Something I am thinking about is connecting several other series that I am writing to the Thornwick world. I'm thinking the academy that I'm writing about in the series will be the way I connect the other series to the Thornwick Chronicles. I'm also thinking about some spin-off stories that will take place in a university with characters from the different series. Right now, all of this other than the Thornwick Chronicles is in the idea or planning stage.

That’s it for now. I look forward to your comments. :)

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#IWSG: December Updates: Writing Goals, New Tech, and Plans Ahead

Diane Riggins — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

December is here and 2026 is only a few weeks away. I am working on my Tolkien paper and some new stories that I will share more about soon. I have an old series I am working on and have started a new series as well.

I can also say I am just about done with my Christmas shopping. Usually, I am not done until around the week before but this year I started a little early. I also bought myself a new macbook air to use for my writing. I still have my windows devices but have wanted a macbook for a long time. I plan to buy some programs like vellum (for formatting my books) and will need to get the scrivener version for mac but that is okay. I do plan to buy a mac desktop after the first of the year.

I am not going to make a list of goals for the site either this year. I find that when I do make a list I tend not to stick to them. I do have an outline/agenda of what I want to accomplish like starting the store(s) and some other things like upping my substack posting on both the free and paid tiers and also possibly add something like that to the site and doing some updates to the site once again. All of this is being worked on and launch dates for the store(s) will be happening after the first of the year once I get some things behind the scenes figured out.

That’s it for now. I look forward to your comments. :)

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#IWSG: November Updates: Writing, Thanksgiving, and New Chapters

Diane Riggins — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

November has begun. It's not long until Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Where did the year go? I am writing again after dealing with changes at my day job and some personal stuff that happened.

I have also posted the first chapter of Raven's Fate to my Substack under the paid side of it. So, if you want to read it and help me out by giving feedback that would be great no pressure though. I plan to post chapters to the Substack several times a month if not more and that depends on reactions from readers and how quickly they might want to read the next chapters. It will most likely be two or three chapters at a time. We will see.

I am working on the store and hope to have it ready to launch by the beginning of the new year. Also, there will be more posting happening here keeping everyone updated on my stories and about the Old Norse paper is going as well.

Also, you might have noticed the October IWSG post disappeared. I accidently wrote over it doing this post. I'm sorry about that.

That’s it for now. I look forward to your comments. :)

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#IWSG: September Update: New Stories and Upcoming Writing Plans

Diane Riggins — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

I can’t believe it’s September already. Where did the year go?

August was pretty good. I had a new story released. Not sure if it will be a one-shot deal or turn into a series. I will make that determination in a few months after I have gotten other stories out of the way and can look at it again and decide.

I have started an outline for the Dark Academia series I want to write. It will be released sometime next year. I have other stories in front of me right now that have deadlines coming up soon. Next up is a YA series that I’m working on. The first book will be out next April. It involves a teenage shifter. There will be other supernatural beings, but they will be minor characters.

The creative writing classes I took over the summer helped me a lot with figuring out what was missing from my stories. I also realized I didn’t have enough descriptions of the settings for them. This will be added to the to-do list for rewrites and revisions.

I hope to have the store(s) ready to launch soon. One is going to be a direct sales store where you can buy my e-books straight from my site, and the other is going to be one where you can buy bookish-related things. This is taking time because of how much goes into setting them behind the scenes.

I haven’t forgotten about the subscription area either, but that is on hold for now. I want to get the stores set up and build up my Substack subscription pages (free and paid). Another change I made in the last several months was to change newsletter companies and need to build that up as well.

That’s it for now. I look forward to your comments. :)

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#IWSG: Exciting Updates on Upcoming Dark Fantasy and Academia Stories

Diane Riggins — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

I can't believe it is already August. The dark fantasy story is finished and sent out to the runner of the set it is going to be in. Once I have a release date and purchase link I will post it here. I can tell you right now this one may or may not be turned into a series. The frustration I had writing it makes me think it won't but we will see.

The dark academia series I have in mind is in the outlining stages right now. I am looking forward to writing it. I have several other stories that are going to be released before this one so it probably won't be until later next year before I get started on it. I will keep you posted on it.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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Exciting Updates for August: New Stories and More Posts

Diane Riggins — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Hi everyone,

Sorry my themed posts for July didn't happen. I had more to do then I thought when it came to the classes I am participating in this summer. Also, personal life threw a wrench into things as well. The dark fantasy story I wrote needed to be finished and edited. It's finished and now in the editing stages.

I won't make promises about August but I do have a plan to post more here and on my Substack page. The posts for both are being outlined. I need to write them and decide what days they will go out and in what order. I do have stories to work on but I want to post here and on my Substack page more often.

Looking forward to August and getting started on new stories and sharing the progress with you.

That's it for now. As always I look forward to your comments. :)

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Explore the Unique Space Program at Signum University

Diane Riggins — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Hi everyone,

Just dropping in to let you know about something that Signum University where I received my Tolkien Studies certificate/diploma from has a program called the Space program and I have a referral link to share with you.

You can check it out here. The program allows you to take classes without having to worry about writing papers and just enjoy discussing the topic with others. It has some great topics you can choose from.

That's it for now. Talk to you again soon. :)

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#IWSG: Exploring Dark Fantasy and Future Writing Plans in 2025 and 2026

Diane Riggins — Wed, 2 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

The Dark Fantasy story is moving along. I’m almost finished with it and plan to move on to editing/revising this week or the first of next week. Also, I have launched my subscription (paid) part of my Substack. I still plan to at some point add something here as well.

I will post more about the Substack paid page and what I plan to post on there soon. Some posts are going to be seasonal (themed). I post the schedule here once I decide when I will post to both the free and paid versions. To join either the free or paid version click on the link on the home page or check out the posts about them. I look forward to having you join over there as well if you wish to do so. :)

Themed posts will start appearing here in July. That schedule will be posted as well when I get it set up and the first few posts ready to go.

July 2 question - Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

I think I would like to write a Dark Academia series. Several Dark Academia series I’ve read have proven interesting. Next year is probably when I plan to try it. I have an idea that I’ve been thinking about for a while that I think I can turn into a Dark Academia series. I plan to outline it later this year after I get some stories written that have a deadline coming up soon.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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Join The Moonlit Grimoire: Subscribe for Exclusive Stories

Diane Riggins — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to drop in and let you know that I have made my first posts over on Substack. Please go check it out and subscribe. Also, the subscription page on Substack has been set up. Right now, the Welcome page and the About Page are up as posts.

I am adding here what it will be like over there and what the name of the Subscriptions Page is called.

Welcome to The Moonlit Grimoire

Spells, stories, and the shadowy paths of an author’s journey.

Whether you're drawn to haunted forests, forgotten gods, or a heroine with secrets stitched beneath her skin, you're in the right place.

I'm a writer of fantasy and paranormal novels and short stories, and this is where I share the behind-the-scenes alchemy: the plot twists that never made it into the book, the late-night bursts of inspiration, and the craft and chaos of world-building.

Expect exclusive stories, serialized chapters, and musings from the writing desk—plus the occasional spell (or coffee-fueled ramble). This isn’t just a newsletter. It’s a gateway.

Welcome, wanderer. The ink is still wet. And the veil is thin.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Serialized stories with secrets and shadows

Exclusive short fiction, alternate scenes, and writing rituals

Notes from the writing desk—spells, scraps, and story-bones

Magical mishaps, reader Q&As, and deep dives into the worlds I build

Membership tiers unlock deeper layers of the tale:

🕯️ Free gets you public posts & peeks behind the curtain

🔮 Veilwalkers receive early access, exclusive stories & monthly Q&A

🌕 Grimoire Circle patrons shape the journey with lore access, dedications & bonus content

Here is the link to the welcome post: The Moonlit Grimoire

*Also, you will find the link to my Substack page on the home page. :)

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#IWSG: Overcoming Writer's Block in Dark Fantasy

Diane Riggins — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

Well May slipped by without the updates I mentioned in the last IWSG post. Real life had a lot to do with that happening. June will hopefully see the store and subscription pages going up and more posts going out.

I have been trying to finish up a story that is due in a few weeks. It has been frustrating to say the least. I have never written dark fantasy before and that is the problem for the story. I love the plot and the characters that I have worked with in this one but am beginning to realize dark fantasy is not something I may write again in the future. We will see. I think I will read more dark fantasy than I have in the past that might help me to consider writing more of it in the future.

The classes I am taking are going great. I start a month long creative workshop tonight hope it will help me deal with the frustrations I seem to be having right now with my writing.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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#IWSG: Exciting Updates: New Layout and Plans for May Writing

Diane Riggins — Wed, 7 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is liking the new layout and other changes I have made so far. My list for May is to add the subscription area and the store for direct sales. Schedule some posts for the blog to go out hopefully once a week. Do you prefer a particular day like with the IWSG posts? Or would you rather I pick a different day each week to post?

Also, I will be updating my substack with free and paid posts throughout May as well. If you haven't started subscribing over there yet please do the link is on the welcome page. I'm working on articles now for the substack page as well as ideas for the blog. You can also join my discord channel by clicking the discord button at the top of the screen.

My writing is going well. I'm in the midst of planning a serial for the first time that will hopefully go up on the subscription area along with one of the full length novel series I'm working on for feedback from everyone. I have finally gotten to the point that I know what I am going to do with the shared world series that I am working on.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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#IWSG: Where has the year gone?

Diane Riggins — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

It's April already. Where has the first few months of 2025 gone? I had planned to update more in March and didn't. That is because real life had other plans for me. I do have a list of things I want to get done and posts I want to make. I didn't update my social media pages either too much during that time.

April is a new month and I will be getting some things done on the to-do list this month no matter what. The writing is going well. I did update my book prices last month. I will be updating the buy links on here this month to reflect that as well as getting some other pages set up (hopefully). I will be busy at night taking a couple of classes. One is an Old Norse class and the other about Tolkien and themes in his works especially The Lord of the Rings.

IWSG Question of the month:

What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?This was a hard question to answer because I have so many favorite characters from different areas of fantasy to choose from. I would pick members of the fellowship from The Lord of the Rings to go on a quest with. They are some of my favorite characters in fantasy. There are other characters who I love as well but I couldn't see myself fighting them, going on a quest, or having a beer/glass of wine with. If I had to choose another character that I might have a beer/glass of wine with it would be someone like Lestat or Louis from Interview with a Vampire. I might even choose a shifter from one of my other favorite series to go on a quest with depending on what we were going after.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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#IWSG: An Apology and Updates

Diane Riggins — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

Sorry I did not post in February. I never received an email and forgot about doing the post. I can not believe it is March already. Things are going great with the writing. I am also working on new ideas for posts, plan to begin updating the book pages this month as well. Also, hope to have the subscription area ready by the end of the month.

So, please stick around for the posts and updates that I hope to have coming your way this month. Also, I got into the mentorship program that I believe I have mentioned before. I can not wait to tell everyone more about the classes I will be taking. One starts in April so I will post more about it then.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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#IWSG: New Year, New Adventures

Diane Riggins — Wed, 8 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Alex for hosting this each month. Here is the complete list of participants.

Hi everyone,

I took some time off toward the end of December to spend the holidays with family. Now, I am back at it so look for updates to the site and more to begin soon.

The writing is going well. I have a story I am working on that will be out later this year. Also, I have applied for a mentorship program that will help me to hone my skills as an academic writer. Wish me luck. I should know soon if I get it. Will update when I hear something about it.

That's it for now. Can't wait to hear from you. :)

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