Newsletter #7 (Patreon)

Hi my loves,

Phew...

We've finally wrapped up two of the biggest stories on the page.

My Best Friend's Brother: Dylan Season 3 and My Russian Billionaire Boss have officially come to an end.

I just wanted to start this newsletter by saying thank you.

Thank you for reading every episode, commenting after each cliffhanger, sharing your theories, and giving these characters so much love. Seeing your reactions to both finales has genuinely made me happy because endings are always the hardest part to write. You spend months building towards a final few chapters, hoping they land the way you imagined.

From everything I've read over the past few days, it seems like they did.

So... thank you ❤️

Quick note for those who aren’t subscribed:

You can purchase the full Season 3 of My Best Friend's Brother directly from the Patreon Shop if you’d like to read it.

Just a heads up — the shop version does not include the images. If you want to read it with all the episode images, you’ll need to grab the collection instead.

Now...Let's do a little story analysis, shall we? 👀

Lakeside Bro Code

My Personal Trainers have been having way too much fun with this story 😂

And yes... yes...

I really do have the chaotic imagination that many of you have accused me of having over the past year.

I think this story has proved that.

It's playful, ridiculous, full of tension, and honestly just one of those stories where I let myself have fun writing every single chapter.

There are only two episodes left this month before the story reaches its finale, and I genuinely think they wrap everything up in the best possible way.

And yes...

Beautifully.

And just a little mischievously too 😏

I hope you've all been enjoying this little summer detour as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Men In My Barracks

Whew...

There is tension in the barracks once again.

Somehow I've managed to throw all of you into another complicated, messy, frustrating, and apparently very entertaining love triangle.

I kind of have a habit of doing this, don't I?

First it was Troy, Dylan, and Elliot... then Lucien entered the picture...

And now it's Callum, Ryder, and Ashford.

I absolutely love opening Patreon after an episode drops and seeing everyone passionately arguing in the comments over who Callum should choose.

Most of you are Team Ryder.

A few of you are Team Ashford.

And some of you have simply decided to yell at me for making you choose.

I won't lie...

Part of me smiles every time I read those comments.

A slightly evil smile.😈

Because that means the story is working exactly the way I hoped it would.

The response has honestly been so much stronger than I ever expected that I've decided something.

Originally, I imagined this story finishing somewhere around my usual 20 to 25 episode mark.

But...

I don't think we're stopping there anymore.

This story still has so much left to explore, and I don't want to rush it simply because I reached an arbitrary episode count.

In fact, this might end up becoming the longest story I've ever written. (I said 'might' before you guys get excited)

Also, like I mentioned at the end of the latest episode, the next Men In My Barracks post won't actually be a regular chapter.

Instead, it'll be an Author's Note where I'll be dissecting Callum's character, talking about the choices he makes, the psychology behind him, and why he reacts to certain situations the way he does.

I think it'll be a fun little behind-the-scenes look before we jump back into the chaos.

Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 💋

YES.

It's finally happening.

I don't think there's been a single week over the past few months where someone hasn't asked me about Season 2.

Well...

The wait is over.

I've quietly been working on it behind the scenes for the last couple of months, and I'm finally ready to bring Adrian and Matteo back.

Season 2 picks up just a few days after Jessica's birthday night.

Their fake relationship isn't really fake anymore.

The line between pretending and reality has completely disappeared.

Now comes the difficult part.

How do two best friends navigate becoming something more?

Boyfriends?Lovers?Soulmates?

We'll see 😉

I've also gone ahead and updated the character images for all three main characters.

Matteo.Adrian.And Jessica... (I'm sure no one cares about her 😂)

Let's just say...

Matteo's new character image turned out... very, very well. ;)

If you're new here or haven't had the chance to read it yet, this is the perfect time to catch up on Season 1 before the new season begins.

You can find the full collection on Patreon.

And for my Personal Trainers...

A few weeks ago I asked which story you'd like to receive a bonus episode for.

You voted.

Playing Boyfriends won.

So yes, you'll also be getting an exclusive Season 2 bonus chapter soon.

A Small Change to My Posting Schedule

I wanted to let you guys know about a change I've been making behind the scenes.

For the longest time, I've been juggling 3 main stories that released for all members, alongside 1 exclusive Personal Trainer story every month, plus bonus chapters, early releases from time to time, shorter standalone stories, and even the occasional personal experience.

It's been a lot.

So moving forward, I'm simplifying things.

From now on, I'll be focusing on 2 main stories at a time, alongside 1 Personal Trainer exclusive story.

The Personal Trainer schedule isn't changing.

You'll still receive your monthly exclusive story, bonus chapters, and everything that comes with the tier.

What changes is simply the number of storylines I'm actively writing at once.

That means, for the next little while, your regular lineup will be:

• Playing Boyfriends: Season 2• Men In My Barracks• One Personal Trainer story

Honestly, I think this is a win for everyone.

It allows me to focus more deeply on each story instead of constantly switching between four different worlds every day.

And I think it'll make things easier for you guys too.

Stories will be easier to follow, easier to remember, and the momentum should feel much stronger.

Now...

You might be wondering...

"If there are fewer stories, does that mean less waiting between episodes?"

Actually... no.

Episodes will still arrive roughly every 34 to 38 hours, just like they do now.

The difference is that the episodes themselves are getting bigger.

Last year, most chapters sat around 1,000 words.Earlier this year, they averaged around 1,500.

Now, most episodes will fall somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 words.

Most will probably land around the 2,200-word mark, but whenever a scene is flowing particularly well, I don't like forcing an artificial stopping point. I just let it breathe. I think this makes for a much better reading experience overall.

And because I'm only actively managing 2 main stories, it also gives me room to occasionally sneak in a standalone story, short series, a personal experience, or something completely unexpected without feeling overwhelmed about continuing it as a series.On this note, I’m doing a short fun series called “Rival Rugby Captains”.

Rival Rugby Captains This is a light, character-driven series about two rival college rugby captains whose long-standing competition and constant trash talk slowly turn into something much more personal. It’s playful, banter-heavy, and follows the push-and-pull between them as their rivalry evolves.

This series is a little different from my main ongoing stories. Episodes will be released with bigger gaps between them (sometimes even a couple of weeks). Each episode works completely on its own as an independent story, so you can jump in at any point and enjoy it without needing the previous parts. Of course, it hits even better if you’ve read the earlier episodes, because the characters and their dynamic keep building.

I’m not sure exactly how many parts I’ll do yet. I’ve currently written two, and I’m already planning parts three and four, but this is a fun side project I’m really enjoying. I hope you have fun with it too.

One last note...

I know I recently revealed Campus Arrangement (a new story) in the community chat and even showed you guys the cover image of it.

The trailer is ready.

First few episodes are already planned.

But...

I've decided to keep it in my drafts for a little longer.

As excited as I am to share this story, I really want to stick with this new 2 + 1 format moving forward.

So Campus Arrangement will release once Men In My Barracks reaches its conclusion, or at least gets much closer to the end.

I think it'll make for a much smoother reading experience for everyone.

Upcoming Posts

21st July – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 – Recap22nd July – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 – Trailer23rd July – Men In My Barracks – Author's Note24th July – Troy's Experiences25th July – Lakeside Bro Code (PT) – Part 925th July – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 Episode 1 27th July – Men In My Barracks – Episode 2029th July – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 Episode 230th July – Rival Rugby Captains 01 (Part 1 of the Short Story)31st July – Lakeside Bro Code (PT) – Part 10 (Finale)31st July – Men In My Barracks – Episode 211st August – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 – Personal Trainer Bonus2nd August – Playing Boyfriends: Season 2 Episode 3

That's everything for this one.

As always, thank you for being here, for reading, and for making this little community what it is.

I'll see you guys in the next episode.

Love,Troy