Simon Drayton | Updates

The Dangerous Shipment Literary Titan Award

Simon Drayton — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am proud to announce that the Dangerous Shipment was awarded the Silver Book Award from Literary Titan. Please read the review on Literary Titan.

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Coming in 2027: The Mysteries of Just Another Young Couple

Simon Drayton — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce my plans for next year. This isn’t a promise, but I hope to write a new series in the same universe of the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith and release the ebook versions starting in January 2027. This will be a cozy mystery novella series entitled: The Mysteries of Just Another Young Couple, following a newlywed dynamic duo, a twenty three year old southern gentleman by the name of Liam Faulkner and an East Indian twenty two year old woman, Sushma Prasad-Faulkner. The series takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Southern Office of the Noble Detective Agency (NDA). It will feature the couple solving puzzling mysteries while learning how to survive their first year of marriage. Please subscribe to keep up to date to see how this new series develops. As always, my stories are clean, wholesome, and free of any mature content whatsoever.

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Simon Drayton’s Writing: Behind the Scenes

Simon Drayton — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

My name is Simon Drayton and I am the author of the From East to West series, the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith, and the Voyages of Simeon Carter and Peter Truman, and the Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos. I am an indie author and a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. July 23rd 2026 is my one year anniversary of self publishing. If you have read my stories, it is my hope that you’ve enjoyed them. You may wonder about the process of how I write or how I am able to release so much material in a small timeframe. I would like to show all interested the strings behind the scenes.

Timeline of My Books

It is true that I just started publishing my books last July, but I started writing way before that. In fact, of the 31 titles I currently have available to read or preorder, 16 of them were written years before 2025. Here is a breakdown of when my published works have actually been written.

The Voyages of Simeon Carter and Peter Truman (2019-2020)
From the Tropics of Britain (2020)
From East to West Books 1-5 (2020-2021)
The Mysteries of Just Another John Smith shorts and novels (2025-2026)
The Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos (2026)

Although I’ve been releasing books quite rapidly, as you can see, my writings actually represent years of work. The majority of the stories I’ve written in the past year are short stories and novellas, which can be incredibly faster to write than novels. Since I am a self-employed small business owner, I have more control over my schedule which enable me to write as much as I do. Also, four of the 31 titles I have are collections of already written and published works.

Methods of Writing and Sources of Inspiration

I usually write my stories at home, but I have written in other places, such as in the car while going to and fro places, a cabin at Lake Fort Smith State Park, or a hotel room in Atlanta. Some of the places in the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith are either places I visited or places around Arkansas. I get ideas for my stories in various places. For example, Gone with the Sun, was inspired by the total eclipse of 2024, which crossed Little Rock. While mowing a client’s yard, I talked with a lady across the fence. She mentioned that her dog was an Australian Shepherd, which contributed in a little way to the Australian Shepherd Scheme. A picture I took years ago of a female cardinal in the snow became the inspiration for The Cardinal Crime.

For my earlier writings, classic authors served as an inspiration. I felt a surge of desire to write a story after reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. This eventually led me to write Under the Crags, which started the Voyages of Simeon Carter and Peter Truman series. The beginning of A Story Below came from an actual experience I had of demolishing a shed for someone. I learned how to make recurring characters that pop up at different times from Charles Dickens and his writings served as an inspiration and somewhat as a guide for From the Tropics of Britain and From East to West. My Caribbean and European heritage also served as an inspiration for From the Tropics of Britain. Learning about the Chinese Exclusion Act while in school served as a basis for Jiang in the From East to West series. Her relationship with Toulouse Blanc was inspired by Silas Marner by George Eliot.

Watching Star Trek served as an inspiration for the Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos. Learning about Steampunk also helped.

My Commitment

As you can see, I get inspiration for my writing from many places and that I have been writing for years. I have a broad writing range; from Historical Fiction to Sci Fi, from novels to short stories, from YA Mystery to MG Action, Time Travel to Space Opera. One thing, though, will always remain the same. My stories will always be clean and wholesome, free of any mature content. It is my hope that you will enjoy my stories. Thank you!

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Read my interview of the Dangerous Shipment on Literary Titan

Simon Drayton — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Dangerous Shipment follows a seventeen-year-old Assistant Gearsman aboard the fastest ship in the Nebula on a mission to deliver medicine to New Diamond before Blue Death spreads too far. Where did the idea behind this novel come from?

The idea for writing this novella came, in part, from watching Star Trek for years, especially the Next Generation. I always liked the fact that the episodes of that series tended to go beyond a simple space adventure and went into deeper themes of characters, morals, and what it means to be human in space. I used those themes in creating the characters and the plot of The Dangerous Shipment. Also, I heard about Steampunk and fell in love with the idea of it, so that served as the inspiration for the style and technology behind the story.

What part of the world was the most enjoyable to create?

Creating the medieval space setting was one of the most enjoyable aspects of creating this world. Explaining how medieval people got to the Nebula in the first place and creating a timeline parallel to ours was exciting to me. Also, creating new ethnicities of people and their characteristics was also very enjoyable.

Godwin begins as someone who prefers not to be noticed. What interested you about telling the story through such a quiet protagonist?

For a while, I thought about a deaf protagonist in a space opera setting. When I finally began writing the cogs and gears of the cosmos, I wanted to make a deaf protagonist who was both as accurate as possible and respectful to the deaf community. Admittedly, this took research and effort. It was an interesting experience writing from a deaf protagonist’s point of view and not making it obvious until the second half of the book. He started out as a low-ranking crew member who hid his deafness because of prejudice from his homeworld and ended up as a senior officer who now refuses to hide it. My hope is that both the hearing and the deaf will view this story as respectful and unique.

Can you give us a glimpse inside the next book in The Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos series?

This series is currently four novellas. The next story is titled: The Secret Saboteur. The novella surrounds Godwin trying to identify an undercover saboteur intent on stealing confidential information from the Game Changer and selling it on the black market. At the same time, he struggles with being respected by the other senior officers. This is a cozy space mystery with high stakes and heart.

https://wp.me/p3cyvH-Tql

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Five Short Stories You Should Read This Summer

Simon Drayton — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Like many of you, I like to read. However, due to a number of factors, I like to read stories that I can finish in one sitting. Perhaps you feel the same way. If so, please consider reading one of the short stories I read this summer.

“The Wish” by Diane Burke

This was definitely a thought provoking, emotional story. Mike Stone was facing one trial after another, some of it being his own fault. He desperately wishes that some how he can go in the past and make better decisions. However, even a do-over has consequences. This is a nice sci fi short reminding us of the need to be careful what we wish for. Sometimes what we want can cost us what we already have.

2. “Stitches in Time” by Ronda E. Ross

The crew of the Labyrinth decides to discover something that seems to be a tear in space itself and ends up entering into the anomaly. What they discover there makes them question all they know about science and space. This is good for a quick sci fi read. This does remind me of Star Trek and I like the fact that it reminds us that our knowledge of the universe is very limited. Very original and I hope Ronda E. Ross publishes more work like this on Amazon.

3. “Added Time” by David Witte

Rick Harlan is the protagonist of this story. In a Kansas City setting, he attends a FIFA Fan Festival and loses his wallet. Being the obsessive guy he is, he starts building spreadsheets and compiling whatever information he can on who stole his wallet and made unauthorized purchases. This is a nice psychological mystery. A good reminder of the reality of what happens on the inside of some of us when we face a puzzling challenge. The ending is very satisfying to me. It shows the importance of having supportive friends and to be understanding.

4. “Ten Minutes Ago, Everything Was Fine: A Sci-fi Comedy about time travel, bad decisions, and a refrigerator with entirely too much authority” by Georgia H Townsend

Martin Bickle discovers that his refrigerator could send things back in time, but for only ten minutes. He can’t resist using it to fix small mistakes. Little does he know that the refrigerator itself is taking note of how he is using it and the fridge isn’t happy. This could very well be the most unusual, unique time travel story I have ever read. Clearly, there was a moral lesson intertwined in the story. It reminds us of the need to accept, admit, and learn from our mistakes instead of just going back in time to reverse them.

5. “Why Am I” by Prabhdeep Singh

This could very well be the best short story I read this summer so far. Alex is a young man who wakes up in a world where everyone else disappeared. Everything still works, but he is all alone. At first, he wants to die, but then he decides to focus on survival. He leaves his city so as to avoid eventual death from an eventual dam or nuclear disaster, but as he tries to enter another city, something is there to prevent him, which ends up changing his view of the silent, empty world he’s trapped in. The ending is both unexpected and very satisfying. In the back matter, the author confesses that out of fear, he didn’t publish his stories for a long time. I am glad that Singh chose to break away from that fear. I hope he continues to write and publish clean and interesting stories.

Keep Searching!

Finding clean and interesting short stories can be a challenge at times. I hope this list of what I read helps you a bit. With the exception of The Wish, all of these stories were just published within the last four months. If you decide to read these stories, please leave a review. It helps indie authors! Thank you and happy reading!

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Read my Four Star Review from Literary Titan

Simon Drayton — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Dangerous Shipment, by Simon Drayton, is a sci-fi adventure with a very specific flavor: medieval-descended space societies, gear-powered ships, analog technology, and a rescue mission that keeps the story moving. The book follows Godwin Dirteon, a seventeen-year-old aboard the Game Changer, the fastest ship in the Nebula. Its first mission sounds simple enough: deliver medicine to New Diamond before Blue Death spreads too far. But the trip quickly turns into a test of the ship, the crew, and Godwin himself.

A lot of the fun comes from the worldbuilding. This universe has its own measurements, histories, cultures, ship systems, and social customs, and the book spends real time making those details part of the story. The Game Changer feels less like a backdrop and more like a living machine, full of cogs, boilers, magnetic shields, bush rooms, sails, and crew members who all have a part to play. The story has a steady sense of curiosity, and it’s easy to see the author’s interest in classic adventure fiction coming through in the way space travel feels physical, risky, and hands-on.

Godwin is the heart of the book. At first, he’s cautious, anxious, and determined to stay unnoticed, but his talent with machines keeps putting him in situations where he can’t hide. His deafness and the way he’s been treated because of it give the story its emotional center. One of the most memorable lines comes from the poem he keeps close: “The cogs will turn in my favor one day.” That line captures Godwin’s quiet hope, and it pays off as the story shows him moving from fear and secrecy toward confidence and purpose.

The supporting cast gives the book warmth. Edmond brings humor, loyalty, and directness, while Citlali offers kindness without pushing too hard. Captain Joanne is controlled and practical, but she also grows in how she sees Godwin and his place on the ship. The action scenes build well, especially when the Game Changer faces storms, damaged systems, marauders, and impossible navigation problems. Godwin’s big moment works because the book has already shown how closely he understands the ship. When he finally tells the First Mate, “Don’t judge me by your limitations,” it feels earned.

The Dangerous Shipment is an imaginative, earnest space adventure about ability, prejudice, courage, and finding the place where you’re meant to serve. It’s very much a first book in a series, with a world that feels built for more voyages, more planets, and more danger. Readers who enjoy detailed fictional settings, unusual technology, and underdog heroes will find a lot to enjoy here. The book’s strongest quality is that it treats Godwin’s journey as both an adventure in space and a personal fight to be seen clearly.

https://literarytitan.com/2026/07/16/the-dangerous-shipment/

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Glossary and Timeline for the Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos

Simon Drayton — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In order to help you understand the history and the logic of this series, please take note of the charts below:

A Space League is equal to 3x the speed of light
1 Armman Degree is the equivalent of 13 degrees Fahrenheit
A Square Cubit is equal to 1.6 Square Feet
Medical Knowledge in the Nebula varies. Many planets' degree of medical knowledge is equal to that of Earth, but they rely on different tools and procedures.
Optic-Resonance Syndrome is an extremely rare medical condition that enables a deaf person to use sound waves to create mental images of the exterior and the inside of an object. It also causes excellent low-light vision and extreme light sensitivity, resulting in headaches, vertigo, and nausea when exposed to regular and high light.
Nebuless is the Nebula’s version of Chess. The rules are almost the same as Chess on Earth with small variants. The King is replaced by the Captain. The Queen is replaced by the First Mate. The Rooks are replaced by Master Gearsman. The Pawns are replaced by crewmen. The Knights remain the same. Nebuless is played on an octagon-shaped board. The phrase Holmganga means check while Forloren means checkmate.
Magnetic Systems are used for gravity and shielding on a space-ship
The Game Changer is a space vessel capable of traveling comfortably at 6 Space Leagues and at a maximum of 9 Space Leagues in severe emergencies. About 8 million square cubits (13 million square feet).
The Game Changer is fueled by Magma and harvested by specialized nets from the seas of Ammonia
A Bush Room on a spacecraft contains dwarf trees and shrubs bred specifically for air supply. Also serves as a park for passengers and crew, complete with benches, fountains, and other features
It takes the average ship six months to travel from one end of the Nebula to the other. The Game Changer can cross it in four months at a safe speed
North and South in space is in relation to how close a planet is to its sun
Godwin is from the Northern Dirt Planet, part of the Twin Dirt Planets
Some planets are part of empires while others are individually governed
The Game Changer is a transport ship from the Voyager Company, which is located on a privately owned dwarf planet. They transport people and cargo throughout the Nebula

Timeline

Year 0 (955 C.E. on Earth): Jacob the Savant and thousands of other people are accidentally transported to the Misery Planet. Conditions are hard and the population plummets

Year 5 (960 C.E.) Armman the Weather-recorder became the first to record weather patterns to make weather predictions. Considered the Father of weather predicting.

Year 36 (991 C.E.): The first spaceship is finished and travels to another planet

Year 39 (994 C.E.): The crew arrives and names the planet Abundance. They grow crops and build villages. More spaceships are built and start shipping supplies to Misery.

Year 43 (998 C.E.) The Jacobian Calendar is adopted with Year 0 starting on the Savant’s arrival on planet Misery

Year 44 (999 C.E.): Jacob the Savant dies at the age of eighty one.

Year 123 (1078 C.E.): The first ship capable of traveling a third of a space league was invented by Henry the Shipmaker.

Years 174 to 225 (1129 to 1180 C.E.): Inter-Nebula War breaks out between Misery, Abundance, Green, Diamond, and Stone planets. Results in a technological dark age and diaspora

Year 188 (1143 C.E.): People who are tired of the war flee from those planets and go to new ones. Budwig the Explorer discovers the Twin Dirt Planets and teaches the Non-Violent Doctrine. People from the Dirteon Twin Planets become naturally repelled from any kind of violence.

Year 226 (1181 C.E.): After the war, a group of people guided by Berserker the Strong inhabit a previously unsettled planet. The planet has a higher gravitational pull and is more mountainous than other planets, causing the people there to have stronger lungs, more muscle mass, and higher bone density. The average height on that planet is six foot 6 for a woman and seven foot one for a man. The planet becomes known as Eotunia and the people, Eotunians.

Year 789 (1744 C.E.): A new metal, Elastroper, is engineered by Metzli the Metalswoman of the Mexica Planet. It is 10x lighter than bronze, but 60x stronger and flexible. Becomes the standard metal of spacecraft.

Year 794 (1749 C.E.): Metzli discovers a way to harvest liquid magma from space to serve as fuel, more efficient than lumber. Becomes the standard fuel.

Year 813 (1768 C.E.): Giavan the Gearsman of the planet Abundance invents the Giavan Gears system, the most advanced at the time. The first ships capable of one space league were built.

Year 917 (1872 C.E.): Radio-waves were first discovered on Quartz and became the means of communication once they discovered how to transmit them 250 times the speed of light. Courier ships become obsolete.

Year 1039 (1994 C.E.) Horatio the Gearsman of the Green Planet perfects the Giavan system. Ships run smoother than ever. The average ship can comfortably travel at 4 space leagues and at 6 in extreme emergencies.

Year 1071 (2026 C.E.): Analog television waves are discovered, allowing ships to make Face Calls to other ships at 90 times the speed of light and become a form of specialized communication. Radio-waves are still more commonplace.

Year 1072 (2027 C.E.): The Game Changer is finished and commissioned. The first and only ship capable of traveling comfortably at 6 space leagues and a maximum of 9 space leagues. It uses a new kind of Gears system completely confidential to anyone outside of Voyager Company. It is also the first to be able to travel in the vacuum of space and sail on Ammonia seas. Joanne the Captain commands the ship.

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Read my Readers’ Favorite Review for the Dangerous Shipment

Simon Drayton — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

The Dangerous Shipment is the first book of The Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos series by Simon Drayton. In the near future, humanity has reached the far trenches of the Nebula. Godwin Dirteon is a seventeen-year-old prodigy among the Gearsmen of the Nebula-Class Ship, The Game Changer. On the first maiden voyage of The Game Changer, the crew under the command of Captain Joanne must deliver a shipment of medicine to the planet of New Diamond. The Blue Death plague has caused utter devastation among the people of New Diamond. However, Godwin unwittingly puts the crew and The Game Changer in mortal danger with his dark secret. But now, he has a chance to make amends. With the Bawariji marauders on their trail, Godwin must find a way to escape from their clutches.

Whether you're a fan of sci-fi or steampunk, The Dangerous Shipment is a book you're bound to love. This is a fast-paced, action-packed novella that, to me, feels like a [clean] young adult version of James S.A. Corey's The Expanse series. Simon Drayton's worldbuilding made an impression on me from the very first chapter. The author has created a magnificent sci-fi setting with unique worldbuilding tools. That, along with the premise and the characters, really immerse you in the narrative. Godwin is a fascinating protagonist to follow. Godwin, Captain Joanne, Citlali, and Edmond were some of my favorites in the book. I loved all of their interactions. All in all, it's a fantastic start to a young adult space opera series. I intend to read the rest of the books. Highly recommended.

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-dangerous-shipment

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A New Release for June 2026: The Dangerous Shipment

Simon Drayton — Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce the release of this milestone book, The Dangerous Shipment. This book is not only the first book of my new sci fi series, the Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos, but it is the first of a whole new subgenre named Concurrent Medieval Space GearPunk.

According to the rules I've created, Concurrent Medieval Space GearPunk is science fiction where descendants of medieval civilizations, separated from Earth in the Early Middle Ages, form new societies in space within the same timeline as Modern Earth, using gear-powered technology free of digital tools. In this subgenre, there is no non-human intelligent life. Rather, humanity adapted within its kind in deep space, separated from humanity on Earth for centuries. Storylines in this subgenre take place in modern times, in the 21st century, with no alternate timelines and within the same universe as Earth.

Here is a synopsis of the story:

In the vast reaches of the Nebula, the 21st century looks nothing like Earth. There are no computers, no digital screens, and no artificial intelligence. Instead, humanity has conquered the stars with the hiss of steam, the roar of magma boilers, and the intricate perfection of clockwork gears.

The Mission of a Lifetime

The Game Changer is a marvel of engineering—the first ship capable of crossing the cosmos at speeds that defy history. Its maiden voyage is a race against death: the "Blue Death" plague is devouring the population of New Diamond, and the medicine will spoil unless the Game Changer can prove its legendary speed.

A Prodigy with a Secret

Seventeen-year-old Godwin Dirteon is a brilliant recruit among the Gearsmen. His knowledge of spacecraft is unparalleled and his skill at the consoles is unmatched. But as the ship plunges into volatile nebula storms and the pressure of the mission mounts, Godwin carries a burden heavier than the ship’s massive engines.

He is hiding a personal secret that he believes would get him rejected by the crew and exiled back to the life he fought so hard to escape. To save ten million lives, Godwin must navigate the high-stakes world of deep-space service while keeping his true identity hidden from the most powerful Captain in the Nebula.

Step onto the Deck

Experience a universe where the ancient past and the far future collide in a spectacular display of grit, gears, and galactic wonder.

Perfect for fans of: Hard and Soft Sci-Fi, Jules Verne, YA Coming-of-Age, and Clean Adventure.
The Bottom Line: You have never read a book quite like this one!

This book is available for preorder for June 6th 2026 and will be available in Kindle Unlimited.

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A New Short Story Series, The Voyages of Simeon Carter and Peter Truman

Simon Drayton — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that I will be releasing a new series starting in April. This book collection is an MG/YA short story series Although I am just publishing these stories, I actually wrote this stories years ago. In fact, they predate From the tropics of Britain, the From East to West Books, and the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith. The new series is entitled the Voyages of Simeon Carter and Peter Truman. The protagonists are fifteen years old and the adventures they take are legendary. From fantasy worlds, to countries all around the world, to time travels to the Past, those teenagers and their friends do it all. The first five stories will be released on April 2026. After that, they will be released monthly from June to October of 2026. Like all my stories, they are clean and free of any mature content whatsoever. Although the protagonists are in their teens, the style of these books should appeal to the Middle Grade audience as well. The names of the first three short stories are Under the Crags, The Queen Fisher’s Quest for the Sun, and My Voyage on the Floating Leaf. They are currently available for preorder on Amazon and the whole series will be enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Here is a list of the stories and when they will be released in ebook format.

Under the Crags (April 2026)
The Queen Fisher’s Quest for the Sun (April 2026)
My Voyages on the Floating Leaf (April 2026)
Time and Time Again Part One (April 2026)
Time and Time Again Part Two (April 2026)
The Rubber-Band Man (June 2026)
A Story Below (July 2026)
The Vanish of Villa Loka Part One (August 2026)
The Vanish of Villa Loka Part Two (September 2026)
The Vanish of Villa Loka Part Three (October 2026)

In addition to these individual releases, there will also be collections. Books 1 to 5 will be released in a box set in mid to late April. Books 6 to 10 will be released in November 2026. A Mega Collection will be released in December 2026.

It is my hope that many people will enjoy this new series!

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Gone with the Sun and The Cardinal Crime is now enrolled in Kindle Unlimited!

Simon Drayton — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

For the last few months, Gone with the Sun and The Cardinal Crime have been available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books. However, my experience has indicated that the vast majority of my readers are on Amazon and a good portion of them use Kindle Unlimited. In fact, over 22 percent of my sales on Amazon are from Kindle Unlimited. On the other hand, the activity from my books on other retailers have been minimal. So as to attract the highest amount of readers most likely to interact with my books, I have decided to remove Gone with the Sun and The Cardinal Crime from Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and Apple Books. As of Sunday March 8th, both books are now enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. This makes the novel series and the short story series of the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith more compatible and attract the highest number of readers possible. I would like to apologize for any inconvenience, but it is my hope and belief that more people will interact with my writings than ever before.

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The Cookie Kingdom Crumbles is now on Kindle Unlimited and no longer available on other retailers

Simon Drayton — Sat, 7 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ever since I began releasing each of my stories in the series, The Mysteries of Just Another John Smith Shorts, each one of them have been on KDP Select, with the exception of the Cookie Kingdom Crumbles. Since it seems that the overwhelming majority of my readers are on Amazon and so that my series could be seamless to my readers on KU, I have enrolled the Cookie Kingdom Crumbles on KDP Select. Before doing so, I removed this book from Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books. That means that the Cookie Kingdom Crumbles is only available on Amazon for purchase and to read in KU. I would like to apologize for any inconvenience and I hope this change makes it easier for others to enjoy this series

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A New Release for May 2025: The Importance of Being Wright

Simon Drayton — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am proud to announce the milestone release of a new book in the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith Shorts entitled: The Importance of Being Wright. This will be the seventh book in this series and it involves a mystery that surrounds a modern play of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Here is a synopsis of this story:

“Jacklyn Wright, an assistant director of the Great Plays Tours, goes missing after angrily leaving a Little Rock Theater. John and his partner, Detective Evans, become increasingly disturbed by the “nonchalant” behavior of her husband and the lack of concern that the Director seems to have. What makes matters worse is that Mrs. Wright has type 1 diabetes and the detectives have no clue as to whether she has her insulin or not. The two private investigators race against time to find out what happened to her before things get too out of hand. This YA cozy mystery has a literary edge to it and it shows themes of professionalism, concern for others, and reminds us that when everything goes wrong, there is still a vital Importance of Being Wright.”

This story has already been rated Top New Release in Teen and Young Adult Detective Story ebooks on Amazon. It will be released on May 5th 2026 and is now available for preorder.

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Classic Books that everyone should read at least once

Simon Drayton — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

People have been writing books for thousands of years on countless topics. Many great literature have been written in the 19th century. Here are some that I have found interesting and a worthwhile read.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

This is a play written by Oscar Wilde and it is about the size of a novelette. The story is humorous, lighthearted, and witty. The two main characters, Alegernon and Jack, pretend to be the same person, Ernest Worthing. This confuses matters when they fall in love with two different women who end up thinking they are in love with the same man. The twist and turns in this story make this read worthwhile.

2. Silas Marner by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

This story has heartwarming characters and deep. Silas Marner is accused of a crime and is basically thrown out of his religious community. Feeling that God has abandoned him, he moves to another place and isolates himself. He ends up finding a bit of pleasure in the pile of money he gets from working and saving meticulously…and then it’s stolen. One day, a small girl ends up wandering into his house and he decides to adopt her. The ending is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. If you like stories with bigger than life characters that you should read this.

3. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

This is a classic by Charles Dickens and has some similarities to his own life. It has been a childhood favorite of mine and even an inspiration for some of my earlier writings. The story focuses on David Copperfield. He becomes an orphan and is basically abandoned by his stepfather. He ends of being raised by his aunt. The story continues through his adult life, his career, his relationships, his trials, and finally his success. I personally recommend reading the great illustrated classics version of this story.

4. The Chase of the Golden Meteorite by Jules Verne

This is a lesser known book by Jules Verne and personally my favorite. Two amateur astronomers in 19th century Virginia both spot a golden meteorite in the sky. That discovery soon sparks interests all around the world, especially when it starts to descend to the earth. The two astronomers, who at one time were good friends, become terrible rivals and the nations of the world begin to claim ownership of the golden meteorite. This is a humorous and interesting read for those who like clean novels, works of Jules Verne, and soft science fiction.

Classic Books are Still Contemporary!

Styles, clothing, technology, and other aspects of life have changed dramatically since these people published their writings. Human nature hasn’t. We basically still want and need the same things. These stories have entertained people for decades and can still entertain you. So give these books a try and you may be surprised at how these stories affect you!

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A new release for April 2026: Reserved for Trouble

Simon Drayton — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am proud to announce that in the first week of April, I plan on releasing the sixth story in the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith series. It is entitled Reserved for Trouble. Here is a synopsis:

“Detective John Smith is assigned to be a temporary Hotel Detective in a luxury hotel named The Fabulous Seasons Resorts. The resort expects quite a bit of guest for a local art convention in the adjacent convention center. John thinks that this assignment will be more like a vacation than work. After all, what could go wrong at an art convention?”

“However, such an illusion doesn’t last long. A piece of art worth millions is lost without a trace. With the NDA’s (and John’s reputation) on the line, he has to put all his deductive skills to the test to find the person responsible for the crime.”

This title has already been ranked top new release in teen and young adult art ebooks on Amazon. It is available for preorder.

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A New Release for March 2026: Bike For Your Life

Simon Drayton — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce the fifth story in the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith Shorts entitled "Bike for Your Life". It also marks a milestone, for it is the 10th book I've published. Here is a synopsis:

"Eighteen-year-old private investigator John Smith has never seen rivalry as fierce as this. When two elite mountain-bike teams in Bentonville clash over a controversial sabotage that could potentially cost one crew the championship, John is called in as a neutral party to untangle the spokes of deception, ambition, and hidden grudges. However, as John digs deeper, he begins to suspect that there is more than a bike competition. If he’s right, than he has to race against time to prove it before the cyclist loses more than just a competition and solving the case won’t be as easy as riding a bike."

It is already available on Amazon for preorder.

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A New Release for February 2026: Don’t Give a Dog a Bad Name

Simon Drayton — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In February 2026, I plan to release a new short story entitled: “Don’t Give a Dog a Bad Name.” Here is a synopsis of the story:

“When a senior living community’s beloved garden is vandalized overnight, Private Investigator John Smith is called in to restore order. A frustrated neighbor is convinced the culprit is a dachshund, and he’s dead set on blaming the pup’s distressed owner. As John follows a trail of overturned soil, muddy paw prints, and whispered rumors, he begins to suspect that someone far more cunning might be lurking behind the scenes. With determination and a knack for seeing what others overlook, John must peel back layers of suspicion to uncover the real saboteur—and save both the garden and an accused dog’s good name.”

The book is available for preorder on Amazon.

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A new release for February 2026: Diamonds are simply not forever

Simon Drayton — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In February 2026, I am going to release a new short stories in the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith series entitled: "Diamonds are simply not forever." The Arkansas Blue Diamond is missing from the Knox Museum of Fine Jewels. The museum is secured by three different security companies and yet the diamond goes missing and the thief disappears undetected. John Smith now has to figure out what happened and whose responsible. It has already been rated as Top New Release in One-Hour Teen & Young Adult Short Reads on Amazon and is now available for preorder for only 99 cents. Great for fans of cozy mysteries and clean YA mysteries.

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Read my interview on Awesomegang

Simon Drayton — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Please read my interview on Awesomegang to learn about my stories and what I plan to do in the future.

https://awesomegang.com/?p=1168226

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Readers’ Favorite Review for the Cardinal Crime

Simon Drayton — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

“The Cardinal Crime by Simon Drayton will appeal to young adult fans of mysteries, crime fiction, and detective novels. Eighteen-year-old John Smith is a detective for Noble Detective Agency, or NDA. John and his older colleague, Rebecca Young, start an investigation in the small town of Onyxville, Arkansas. Tourists love this town for a specific reason. One of its attractions is a five-star restaurant called The Cardinal. Its owner, Timothy Rossi, needs NDA's help in solving puzzling incidents that threaten to damage his business and reputation. Someone is stealing wallets, phones, and other personal items from Mr. Rossi's customers. Is the thief somehow connected to The Cardinal? When John narrows down the list of possible suspects, the case takes an unexpected turn.”

“Simon Drayton's The Cardinal Crime has a flavor that seasoned crime fiction readers like me will appreciate. Yet, the author also makes this story interesting for a younger audience, crafting an exceptional main character. John is bright, honest, and resourceful. He is a man of principle, setting a good example for young adult readers. The author describes John as "a firm believer that all necessary work is equal." John is a true professional despite his young age. I like Simon's concise and straight-to-the-point writing style. The intrigue around The Cardinal grows with every chapter, and the events unfold quickly. While the author gives us some clues, the outcome of the story remains unpredictable. I hope to read more about John's fascinating investigations.”

The Cardinal Crime is available on Amazon, Audible, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.

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