Dave Rudden
daveruddenwrites.bsky.social
Dave Rudden
@daveruddenwrites.bsky.social
Storysmith. DOCTOR WHO. KNIGHTS OF THE BORROWED DARK. And CONN OF THE DEAD - coming soon!
Just a few days left to get your vote in for the Irish Book Awards! Show your support for CONN OF THE DEAD and a whole host of gorgeous books at irishbookawards.ie...
November 12, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The CONN OF THE DEAD audiobook has been released!

This was such a blast to read so if you've got a horror-lover aged 9 - 11 (particularly one who's neurodivergent) this is the peril-packed few hours for them.

There's even a sample here to check out!

rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
September 4, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I've added another Publishing Information Session as the first one has been snapped up - your support is greatly appreciated and I'd love to help your book find a home!

Find out more at the link below.

www.ruthennis.com/irish-kidlit...

@rurooie.bsky.social @sineadohart.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The lovely folk at @hodderscape.bsky.social showing off the gorgeous proof for SISTER WAKE!

It's on Netgalley now and the pre-orders are open below if you, like me, have always been of the opinion that the Nine Years War needed more Kaiju...

lnk.to/SisterWake
August 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Sometimes I wonder why I stick around on r/writing, and then something like this comes along.
July 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Of course! The two Custodes are from Dominion (which I think was so overprinted you shouldn't have trouble finding heads online) and the SW in progress is from the Chaos Warriors!
July 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
My first novel for adults - SISTER WAKE - is coming in January!

The beginning of an epic fantasy trilogy published by the stellar @hodderscape.bsky.social, SISTER WAKE is about colonialism, vengeance and giant fuck-off monsters.

(1/3)
July 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
An absolutely gorgeous time at @ilfdublin.bsky.social - thank you so much for supporting Conn and I (and letting me play D & D with some very Chaotically Good writers!)
May 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
What being three chapters away from finishing a draft looks like...
May 14, 2025 at 8:55 AM
A lovely write-up for Conn from Ruth Concannon in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social, highlighting children's books about determination and imagination!

www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...
May 4, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It isn't easy to have a headful of horror movies and bones made of lightning - Conn is hyper-active, hyper-focused and hyper-aware that he tends to tire people out.

What are you supposed to do when everyone else is encouraged to be themselves, but you're just a bit too much?
April 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Just 10 days until CONN OF THE DEAD hits shelves, so here's a more of Ali's gorgeous art - meet Conn!

A very typical pose - Conn loves Irish myth, esp. the grim and gruesome parts. Telling these stories makes the world click into focus for him - it's just a pity it tends to gross everyone else out.
April 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
There's something nice about finishing the first draft of TALES OF DARKISLE II AND getting to announce the launch for Book I all in the same day!

(also I'm exhausted I wrote 8000 words today, send me coffee)

But I'll be recovered by the 24th (I hope) come celebrate, it'll be (horrible) magic!
April 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
With just a few weeks left until CONN OF THE DEAD hits shelves, I want to share some teasers of Ali Al Amine's gorgeous art!

Obviously you don't START with the horror (and believe me it gets horrible) so here is something lovely - our portraits!

If you can get drawn by Ali, do - it does wonders...
April 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I asked Graham to put together a simple D & D session for 50 kids, and instead he designed a brand new game from the ground up and it was chaotic delight from start to finish!
April 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I had seven of my books stolen by one of the richest men in the world, all to create something that doesn't work, that nobody wants, and that will fold in a few years, taking a lot of trees and oxygen with it.

It's a fruitless, embarrassing ego trip, and the sooner its stymied the better.
April 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Ozone in London Fields. VERY restorative.
March 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Delighted CONN OF THE DEAD was featured as an upcoming release by @dublinbookfest.bsky.social - its all starting to feel very real now!
February 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I dislike AI as much as the next writer, but 'she seemed disappointed to hear that there were sequels' is extremely funny.
January 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
And here it is!

CONN OF THE DEAD - the first in my new 9 - 11 horror series illustrated by Ali Al Amine, arriving April 24th, 2025.

If you'd like to pre-order (which is hugely helpful for a new series AND comes with a bunch of to-be-revealed treats) I've included links below!
January 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Just a LITTLE glimpse of the cover for CONN OF THE DEAD, my new MG horror, coming out in April!

Ali Al Amine did a phenomenal job, and you should check in tomorrow at lunch time to see the full reveal...
January 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Teaching a week-long dark fantasy course in Italy this week and what better place to spend the first night than this eerie, beautiful quasi-industrial little town straight out of Half-Life 2...
January 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I'm writing up a synopsis for the sequel to my adult fantasy series and boy couldn't you just sum up the whole thing in these three words...
January 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Some essential education going on here for Sam...
December 30, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Sam's uncle got him a working chainsaw for Christmas. Pray for us all...
December 26, 2024 at 8:50 AM