Eric Woods, Author

February 13, 2026

“Go then, there are other worlds than these.”
― Stephen King, The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

If you are a Stephen King fanatic like me, you know he loves to connect his books within the same universe. Whether it’s The Dark Tower (which most are linked to) or the Holly Gibney character beginning with Mr. Mercedes, you can usually find a King book connects to at least one other in his massive library. 

When I started publishing, I didn’t initially feel like I would write scores of books to be connected within the same universe. But soon enough, the King inspiration hit, and I decided to investigate the idea of referencing past books or characters whenever I wrote something new. 

Now, with nine novels and a score of novellas, I have leaned heavily on the universe of “The Amalgam” and more recently, the “Stokebridge” universe. Below are all my titles and how they are connected to other books in my library of publications.

PUMMELED (2018)
My debut novel was written as a standalone without a sequel in mind. Then, the world known as “The Amalgam” was assembled with a whole slew of books to be centered around the same universe. Although her actual name was not said, Bree Aniston was obscurely mentioned in Dragon’s Blood as well as CLIPPINGS.

DRAGON’S BLOOD (2019)
The unofficial second novel in The Amalgam, Dragon’s Blood includes an epilogue that first introduces MC Amalga, a mysterious entity that oversees the events of the novel. This epilogue is the first mention of a possible connection to future stories. It even subtly talked about Bree Aniston (“the maiden we discovered” with the special powers) as to bring PUMMELED into the world of The Amalgam.

WELCOME TO OBLIVION (2020)
Although not a sequel, WTO brings the idea of “Cognitives” to the forefront for the first time, explaining how a tiny percent of people possesses a special mental ability. This connects to both Bree Aniston (PUMMELED) and Betty Dalinda (Dragon’s Blood), with a direct mention to the latter (“Of special note was the discovery that abilities can be passed on after death, as was noted in a case with a Cognitive up near New York who recently died and moved her abilities to another”).

CLIPPINGS (2021)
This epistolary novel tells its story through media communications (newspaper articles, blog posts, press releases, emails, etc.) and is directly linked to The Amalgam. This story introduced the first crossover character (Jessie Norris) who spoke of leaving New York after giving a ride to an elderly lady (referencing Betty Dalinda in Dragon’s Blood). One of the “articles” also directly mentions Bree Aniston from  PUMMELED (“…the unknown female MMA trained fighter who calls herself “Breeze” and has been known to target and assault domestic abusers”). Donna Delmonico, whose name is mentioned in an article, will go on to be a featured character in PUMMELED: Submission.

BECKONED: A CEDAR LAKE NOVELLA (2021)
No ties to The Amalgam or any other novel. The only connected story is “Derailed,” a short story that appears in HELL’S DINER: 13 Devilish Delectables. 

PUMMELED: SUBMISSION (2021)
In the sequel, the epilogue brings back mass murderer Jared Capitelli about to be broken out of prison by a man presumed to be MC Amalga from Welcome to Oblivion (although his name is different). It also features a crossover character (Donna Delmonico), who was briefly mentioned in CLIPPINGS, in a more prominent role.

THE MAN ON THE ROOF AT MIDNIGHT: A PARANORMAL TRILOGY (2022, 2025, 2026)
These novellas are not linked in any way to The Amalgam (yet?) but the two sequels are directly connected to the STOKEBRIDGE trilogy, with Mia Beatty appearing at the end of Book 2 and throughout Book 3 as a central character. The same “rules” relating to trapping and controlling ghosts apply in both trilogies.

THIS IS HOW HE COLLECTS THEM (2023)
Although technically not connected to any other novel or novella, it is highly inferred that the events of this novel happen in the universe of The Amalgam (especially since the unnerving high-rise has that exact name). But no crossover characters or mentions to any other previous novels or novellas happen. And the evil being/antagonist (Harrison Gaines) is a separate entity from MC Amalga. But much like in WTO, characters have special mental abilities seen by the antagonist. With a cryptic ending, though, a continuation could explain more about its connection to other novels in The Amalgam and/or Stokebridge.

STOKEBRIDGE/ STOKEBRIDGE 1975/ STOKEBRIDGE: EXTINCTION (2024, 2025)
The first novel can be read as a standalone, as it has no connection to any other previous books. The prequel works in the same way, as the town of Stokebridge is never even insinuated in other books, nor are any of the characters from the first two books. By the third book, however, one of the first chapters brings in Dr. Owen Drake from The Man on the Roof at Midnight, thus connecting the two worlds. Near the end of Extinction, Dr. Drake appears again to enlist a character’s help. The two sequels to TMOTRAM were released soon after.

HELL’S DINER: 13 DEVILISH DELECTABLES (2025)
Beyond “Derailed,” a prequel short story to Beckoned, these bite-sized tales are not connected to any other novels or novellas. Although it is possible to continue on with one or more characters from this collection, the probability is low. It’s more likely to see a sequel short to a previously published novel appear in a future collection. (Hells Diner II: The Second Helping has already been announced for a summer 2027 release.)

HOW TO SURVIVE A SERIAL KILLER AT SUMMER CAMP (Coming October, 2026)
This book can be read as a standalone; however, characters mention the fictional soap opera (Tomorrow’s Desires) that stars STOKEBRIDGE alum Landon Whitney. Another character name drops the ParaAbnormals, also from the STOKEBRIDGE series.  Thus, this novel exists in the same universe as the haunted trilogy.