Spoilers if you haven't read both stories from me this year.
I really wanted to write a sequel to Chalice of Sorrow and Mask of Grief but I couldn't figure out how to get from conflict to resolution in a one shot. Maybe next year?
Then I had the idea for Death's Dogsbody and started that. And then I stalled on DD in the conversation between Emma and George. Does he scold her for leaving her father in limbo? Does she have to debate him to get him through the door? Does he think of her as a monster for what she's doing or just try to convince her that it's time to let go?
And then I was watching Agatha All Along and got the idea for Down the Road so I set aside DD to work on this. And after the whole "is Jane leading all of them to their deaths" ending, I went back to DD, scrapped the back half and leaned into the forgetfulness and aging. George doesn't realize, and Emma kinda already knows.
So this is sort of an excuse if it all reads a little less than you'd like. Because my brain was all over the place. But happy Halloween etc to one and all! May your day be enchanted!