Letting Alastair Rest

I want to take a moment to talk honestly about Alastair and the Withering Moon.

I wrote that book for my son.

Not for the market. Not for trends. Not even with a long-term plan in mind. I wrote it because I wanted to leave him something tangible, a story that carried pieces of us, our bond, and the quiet magic of being a father watching his child grow.

When I first published it, it was intentionally small and temporary. About thirty days. Friends, family, and a handful of early supporters. I even gave it away for free on Amazon for several days, because this was never about sales or visibility. It was about sharing something personal with people I trusted.

As time passed, though, I realized something important. The book was not ready. Not in the way I want, and not in the way I would want it to exist publicly long term. That realization was uncomfortable, but it was honest. So I made the decision to pull it.

There were a couple of behind-the-scenes details around the cover and release that did not sit quite right with me in hindsight. Nothing dramatic, just enough to confirm what I was already feeling. This was a story that deserved to stay personal for now.

None of this was easy. Pulling a book always feels like admitting something out loud. But it was the right call.

My heart lives in thrillers and crime fiction. That is where my voice is clearest, where my instincts are sharpest, and where I feel most at home as a writer. Alastair came from a different place entirely. It was softer, quieter, and deeply personal. A story about a father and a son, and the bond between them. That was always the point.

Now the book exists where it belongs. With me. For my son. One day, I will read it to him. One day, he will understand why it was written. That matters more than a listing, a ranking, or a release schedule.

Could this world come back someday? Possibly. I am not closing that door. But I am also not making promises to it, or to anyone else.

This was a reluctant decision, but a confident one. And I am at peace with it.

Thank you to everyone who read it, supported it, or held it gently while it was out in the world.