Talestack News - ISSUE 28
[July 1st - July 15th]
✒ Editor’s Note
Welcome back, Talestack Readers!
[New around here? Check out our FAQ page!]
It’s always a vacation destination here at Talestack News!
I hope you’ve got room in your suitcase for more reading material, because this issue has got all kinds of great stuff to add to your To-Be-Read list! Plenty of serials, published work, and even some community initiatives and calls for submissions. You never know what you might find!
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:
- has finished her first science fiction/dystopian tale called Maya. It was also recently featured as a piece of guest fiction at the Lunar Awards! Excerpt: “Raman’s first episode of the ‘angsts’ arrived exactly three months following his third wedding anniversary. That’s what Krish called it. Raman woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air, his heart racing. Nightmare? He couldn’t remember. He reached for a drink of water; sensing his approach the cold glass lit up and self-filled halfway. As he picked it up, he felt a tremor in his hand. Gripping tighter, he whispered, ‘Time please?’ A softer whisper from his robo assistant came back, ‘2:30AM, Raman.’ Calming music started playing in his ear. Raman exhaled and looked over his left at Maya.” You can also check out the notes/commentary from the story that Reena recently published, here!
- has just concluded the first book of her romantasy series, The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, called A Grail for Eidothea. Look out for Book Two, A River Trembles, which will start posting mid-to-late August. From Leanne: “The Môrdreigiau Chronicles is an alternate history romantasy featuring Arthurian quests to prevent the world’s ecological collapse. And there are sea dragons.”
New Projects:
- is currently serializing his first published story, a science fiction/disaster scenario tale called Afterglow, here on Substack. Synopsis: “Molly Ramirez sent her daughter to Mars to avoid the apocalypse. Now, she must escape a doomed Earth herself and join her. There’s just one problem: Aliens.”
- just launched his new dystopian serial, NORMIE. All nine chapters of the novel are free to read. Paid subscribers unlock exclusive additional content (an official soundtrack, prequel comic book, and weekly behind-the-scenes). New chapters are released every Wednesday morning. Synopsis: “NORMIE is the story of Jack Campbell, an office worker who discovers a secret that makes him question everything about the past. Determined to share the truth, Jack must fight against those in power who seek to silence him.” You can catch up with the first chapter here!
- and are currently serializing their epic fantasy adventure tale, Mark of the Shadow. Synopsis: “Mark of the Shadow is an epic fantasy novel that invites you to step into a world where betrayal and friendship intertwine, and the threads of destiny are woven with perilous adventures, terrifying creatures, and mysterious magics. Our story follows four unforgettable characters, each on a quest that will shape their fate and the fate of the world around them.” Start the adventure with the Prologue, here!
- has just started serializing her new speculative fiction story, The Forgotten Archives. Synopsis: “Ariyah follows a compelling urge into a hidden underground chamber that leads to mysteries of her past. In a journey fueled by curiosity and courage, Ariyah learns that her truth is intricately woven into the fabric of existence itself. She begins her journey into the magical depths of the Akashic Records. In which guides her towards acceptance, enlightenment, and a deeper understanding of her place in the universe.” Jump in with Part One!
- is currently serializing her fantasy novel, A World in Violet. Synopsis: “Sixteen-year-old Violet Bennett flees her boarding school in the middle of the night and wakes up in a colourless world of faeries, elves, and talking wolves that would like to devour her—what she doesn’t know is that she’s not only one of them but also the saviour their world has been waiting on.” Start with the Prologue here!
- is expanding one of her historical romance short stories into a novel—called An Observer of Nature—and would love to invite you along for the ride! From Minna’s opening notes: “It was an assignment I gave myself. The assignment was to see how many insults I could fit into this story. I took inspiration from classic movies and novels. I love snappy dialogue and witty insults — so I attempted to mimic that vibe. The characters ended up smoking and drinking quite a lot! And — you’ll see how it ends when you read it.”
Milestones & Wins:
- recently had a piece of short fiction accepted for publication by Corvus Review! The story is called Coda, a flash fiction tale about a middle-aged man who finds out his childhood bully just died. Congratulations, Andrei!!
📚 The Bookshelf
(Titles listed in order of release date.)
- has published two books this month:
His short story collection, Dust, dancing, is available for purchase through various booksellers. Release Date: 7/6/24
His collection of poetic monologues, Bound, is also available for purchase through various booksellers. Release Date: 7/6/24
Ian performed the poetic monologue Crash on the same day as his book releases, and it can be purchased in print form here.
📝 Submissions Bulletin
- has opened submissions at the Asian Writers’ Collective until August 15th, 2024. The current theme is IDENTITY, and pieces of creative nonfiction, fiction, and media reviews are all being considered. Check out the Submissions page for more details!
- is looking for submissions for a new zine called THE PLAZA! She is accepting poetry, flash fiction, or art, and you can learn more details about the zine’s background and submission guidelines here.
🫱🏻🫲🏾 Connection Corner
- has two projects she would like to highlight:
First, her new initiative: Top In Fiction! From Erica: “It's a curated list of recommendations around Substack that is 1,000% fiction only! No non-fiction on our Top in Fiction weekly lists!” The first post should already be available for perusal, and on Fridays, readers and participants gather to share the best fiction they’ve written/read during the week. Check it out!
Second, MicroZine—Substack’s new home for microfiction—has just published their first community interview with
!
Got something you want us to publish? Have any questions, comments, or feedback? Send it all to:
talestack.editor@gmail.com
Thank you for the inclusion of Top in Fiction. Community makes us stronger!
Thank you so much for including me!