✒ Editor’s Note
Welcome back, Talestack Readers!
We’re halfway through May, and the stories never stop!
Fiction on Substack is always growing in quantity, quality, and depth, and this issue of the News is here to bring you a beautiful cross-section of everything: new and finished projects, serials and novels, short story collections and published books, community directories to jump into and even a place to submit your best work for boosting - it’s all here!
As always, please hype each other up in the comments. Go visit, explore, give virtual high-fives, and let your colleagues know that you’re with them.
Have a fantastic week, and happy writing!
S.E. Reid Editor of Talestack News
TALESTACK NEWS is a FREE-TO-READ publication!
Please support us by liking, commenting, sharing, and restacking. Any monetary support is appreciated, but not necessary.
📣 Announcements!
Finished Projects:
- of Glass Half Full has just finished up his post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel, Ada's Children, with a bonus deleted chapter for subscribers dropping May 12th. Synopsis: “This novel is an exploration of what happens when an AI tries to save humanity, even if humanity doesn't want to be saved. It's told in alternating timelines, one set in the near future when the polycrisis has reached its height, and the other in a far-future world in which humans are once again hunter-gatherers. The climate crisis is over, wars are a thing of the past, and no one goes hungry. But like any garden, there are a few thorns, which Sila and Jun set out to correct. Readers are calling it ‘a chillingly accurate picture of what could happen in a not so distant future,’ with storytelling that ‘draws you in from the very first paragraph.’” The first four chapters are free to read. Jump into the Prologue here!
- of The Fictional Aether has just concluded an eight-part satirical science fiction serial. Synopsis: “‘Where do you see yourself in ten years?’ An 8-part serial following the machinations of a power-hungry professor in a miserable war-torn UK ten years in the future.” The final episode appeared on Saturday May 11th, and you can jump into the story here!
- has just concluded an as-yet-untitled three-part limited serial set in the Ferris Island universe. Synopsis: “Jake Masoe wants nothing more than to be invisible in his new school, to put the events of the previous year behind him. But when you move to a small town on a haunted island, someone…or something…is always bound to take notice of you.” You can start with Part One here!
New Projects:
From the beginning of June,
will be sharing one chapter a week from his as-yet-unfinished fourth novel, Imposter Syndrome, here on Substack! From David: “I’ll write the remainder of it simultaneously so subscribers can eventually read the entire story for free on David McIlroy Fiction. If you’re partial to creepy YA sci-fi mysteries set in spooky smalltown America, Imposter Syndrome could be just for you.” Subscribe now to catch the story from the start!- of Notes from the Town Hermit will be publishing a short story anthology in June that she wrote with her son, who died in 2021. From Tiffany: “15 thought-provoking and character-driven stories that are in the literary fantasy and slipstream genre, and will appeal to readers who enjoy poetic, lyrical writing. These stories explore the human experience and delve deep into themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning.” The first story will drop on June 3rd!
- is launching a new serial, Ship of Fools, a sci-fi satire on conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and false beliefs. From Larry: “In the famous words of
Bette Davisthe shrunken head on that bus in Harry Potter, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! One minute you’ll be on a cruise ship off Baja, the next in Antarctica or the canyonlands of Utah, and the next in an alternate universe. You’ll meet flat-earthers, moon-landing deniers, an anti-vax child of Gaia, Young Earth Creationists, a billionaire space tycoon, a couple of philosophizing cowboys, mysterious beings possibly from another dimension, and Liz Dare, the science journalist who’s trying to make sense of it all. Buckle up!” The entire novel will be free to read for the next eight months or so. Get on board Ship of Fools here. - has two new projects to announce…
First, a new story project for summer: Beach Reads for Goth Kids. From EJ: “These will be short, pulpy, summer horror and thriller stories every Sunday until Labor Day. Get ready for summer camp slashers, creatures of the week, and things that go bump in the cul-de-sac.” Stay tuned for the first tale dropping May 26th!
Second, now is the time to sign up for a paid subscription to Age of Aquarius because this summer, paid subscribers will be getting handmade zines in their snail mail!
📚 The Bookshelf
(Titles listed in order of release date.)
- ’s literary fiction novel, 17 Alma Road, is now available for purchase through multiple sellers! Release Date: 2/17/24
- ’s collections of 100-word stories are available for both purchase and preorder!
The First 100: available now; Release Date 4/2/24
The Second 100: available for preorder; Release Date 6/25/24
The Third 100: available for preorder; Release Date 8/6/24
📝 Submissions Bulletin
- ’s new project, Suspension of This Belief, is doing its part to boost the visibility of fiction here on Substack by collecting and sharing story submissions every month! Check out the May Fiction Blast here, and explore the submission page for June to see how you can get your stories out there to more fiction-loving readers!
🫱🏻🫲🏾 Connection Corner
- has just launched a new library to boost the discoverability of smaller newsletters on the platform - SmallStack! You can learn more—including how to support and join in—at the Welcome Page!
- is collecting information to create a list for marginalised voices here on Substack. She would appreciate anyone who identifies as part of the following groups to fill out this form:
Asian
Former foster child
Adopted
Survivor of human trafficking
LGBTQ+
Got something you want us to publish? Have any questions, comments, or feedback? Send it all to:
talestack.editor@gmail.com
I think you were the first drumming up support for fiction writers here on Substack. Amazing job!
Thanks so much for the mention! 😊