J.W. Ellenhall

A stylized cover art for the book titled "Beyond the Mark: Ashes of the Hero," featuring a silhouette of a cloaked figure in a dark, magical forest. The figure, shrouded in shadow, is holding a glowing sword with a vibrant red hue. Intricate patterns adorn the figure's cloak, evoking a sense of mystery and fantasy. The background showcases an eerie forest with bare, twisted trees and ethereal lights, creating a mystical and foreboding atmosphere. In the distance, a castle with spires looms against a pale, glowing sky, adding a sense of adventure and danger to the scene. The title is prominently displayed at the top in bold, stylized lettering, with a vivid gradient effect that contrasts with the darker tones of the artwork. The overall composition conveys themes of heroism, darkness, and a journey into the unknown.

It still feels surreal that people connected with the first book, and I'd love to give something back.

If this post hits 500 shares, I'll make the Beyond The Mark eBook free for all of December.

No catch, just a thank you for the support and a push to keep me writing.

#Booksky #Author

Nov. 2025 Substack Fiction Picks Collective My latest story serial picks on Substack + What I'm watching through flu season

What are you lovely people reading and watching this month?
#amreading
#booksky💙📚

Here are my Nov. picks:
open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

These little moments make my heart so full 💗

#writer friends & #writingcommunity: Query season is coming back!
🎉🥳🎊

The Boy Who Steals Houses was such an amazing book! I also couldn’t put it down, and it made me cry many times. What a masterpiece! You have great taste 😁

Fiction Picks Collective: July 2025 edition My favorite story serials on Substack for Summer reading

Fun summer reads for #booksky 💙📚
open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

Dear #writingcommunity:

If I can’t see character goals in the first 3 pages, I’m 99% likely to put the book down.

I can forgive nearly anything else…here’s why:

I try to stop my male characters from always “running their fingers through their hair” 😂

If you’re neurodivergent & struggling with #revisions, this post is for you:
open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

This guy is honestly one of the best things on instagram 🏳️‍🌈 @dnlfoxx

Step 1: Revise Your Novel with Me! ➡️ Monthly Guide to Developmental Edits for Neurodivergents Even if you've never fully revised a book before, or if you just hate the way you've been doing it so far, you are welcome here 😁Find options that work for you.

I know l'm not the only one asking "how can I make a book revision system that works with my brain that thinks in spirals instead of straight lines?" So I studied a ton of craft until I finally made a new flexible system that I can easily tweak for any book. open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

Cat that agreed to model but would not be petted

Yes, timeline tracking was a game changer for me when revising

I have seen a book that became highly successful take off when it had NO book comps at all. Only a couple of movie comps instead.

Review of Life, The Universe, & Everything by Douglas Adams HHGTTG Book 3: All the best bits 😂

Pretty sure I found the secret to Douglas Adams’ writing technique buried inside this book 😂

open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

Happy International Towel Day!
We miss you, Douglas Adams
#hhgttg
open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

Queens of Infamy: Josephine Bonaparte, from Malmaison to More-Than-Monarch - Longreads In fraught games of power politics, sometimes the best revenge is not being exiled to die alone on an island in the South Atlantic.

Seriously, this was the funniest & most intriguing history lesson on the “real Josephine” that I have ever read 😂

Queens of Infamy: Josephine Bonaparte, from Malmaison to More-Than-Monarch longreads.com/2019/04/04/q...

Go to the link jwellenhallnovelist.substack.com

It’s free laughs. For you. Right now.
My quirky Sci-Fi can be read online right now with no downloads required.

Bastard aliens hiding in plain sight…as CATS?
Oh yeah 👀
#read

It’s coming tomorrow! The grand finale of my comedy season 2 will be up on my substack and available to read for free 🥳👽 link in the bio or get ready to hit up jwellenhallnovelist.substack.com #aliencat #scificomics

OMG that’s too adorable

You may think you picked the cat…but what if it picked you?
Meet my alien cats in the Comedy “The Intergalacticizen’s Guide to Taming Earthlings” - free to read this Friday! at jwellenhallnovelist.substack.com check it out @rhi.bsky.social @erinmorgenstern.bsky.social @inkandmagic.bsky.social 😁

If you love #DouglasAdams, or #terrypratchett, or any silly witted story that explores the utter ridiculousness of the human race, then join me for a special launch of my series conclusion this Friday! You can read the whole thing for free on SubStack on that day. Link in bio
💙📚BookSky

To celebrate the release of my season 2 finale of this Sci-Fi Comedy, I’m dropping the paywall for 24 hours on Friday!

Everyone can read up to 21 episodes of the whole story for free. If you love #hhgttg or #residentaliensyfy then please come and check it out at jwellenhallnovelist.substack.com

Self-Care for Writers Through Creating Space Prep work that helped me build new habits to slow down the burnout cycle

Hi #writers struggling with burnout:

This post is for you:

open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

I want to see more writers embracing the series format again, & SubStack is actually a fantastic place to publish them & read them! Check out all these great #reads:

open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

I can’t move, can’t scream.
He says, “Told you I’d get free.”
The white stones appear before me, tokens left on his grave.
His spirit surges up from them, a fury that swirls into a writhing mass of endless arms and gaping teeth ready to drag me down to the deepest pit of hell.
#writeCBC

New episode of my Sci-Fi Comedy is now live — the big fight!

💙📚bookSky

open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

Now’s a great time to read my last Sci-Fi Comedy episode because a new one comes out this weekend!

open.substack.com/pub/jwellenh...

a cartoon of a unicorn with a heart and the words sending virtual hug loading hug sent . ALT: a cartoon of a unicorn with a heart and the words sending virtual hug loading hug sent .

TW buddy here to back you up 😁 💙