Talestack News - ISSUE 35
[October 21st - November 4th]
✒ Editor’s Note
Welcome back, Talestack Readers!
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Happy November, my friends!
Here at Talestack HQ the temps are dropping and the autumn rain is pouring, but no inclement weather gets in the way of Substack Fiction! This issue is full of creative goodness, from projects new and completed to published books and so much more!
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
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📣 Announcements!
Finished Projects:
- has wrapped up her debut serial, Destination Europa. From SDG: “It's not too late to catch this psychological sci-fi thriller, set aboard a ship carrying a group of colonists to Jupiter's ice moon. All chapters will remain free until such time as the story is published in book form, likely in 2025.” Jump into Chapter One here!
- ’s cyberpunk horror serial (extra emphasis on the horror, says Andy), No Dogs in Philly, is now finished on Substack. Blurb: “In a future Philadelphia, tough-as-nails PI Saru Solan hunts down the minions of an alien death god murdering the blue-eyed hosts of its rival.”
- has finished his military sci-fi and romance serial Love Your Enemy: A UEC Story. From the synopsis: “Once again, the Cisalpine Legion - the UEC’s 13th Independent Military Group - found themselves in a fight on Altair Prime. Their enemy: the Alliance Task Force under Prince Alexios Spektre of Lakamodis. This clash of civilization would take on a whole new meaning when Sergeant Major Marco Icardi of the Cisalpine Legion completed a successful counter-offensive. The result: a prisoner of war. And not just any prisoner, as the UEC had captured an Alliance medic named Arlena, the sister to Prince Alexios.”
- has concluded another character story in his ongoing project Battles Beneath the Stars, “bringing Metrophanes's story to a close.” William says that voting for the next character to take the spotlight will begin November 7th, so check it out!
New Projects:
- has just launched his second serialized story called Of Elvia and the Steam. This fairytale-style story has a bit of a twist: it’s told in verse! Each part includes audio narration (which is particularly helpful for the two parts that include songs), as well as some illustrations. Synopsis: “Of Elvia and the Steam is about a young sprite whose playfully curious nature leads her into the dark story of enigmatic creatures when she encounters a strange faun traveling up the river where she relaxes with her friends. The encounter is unlike anything Elvia has ever experienced and ends terribly. Stricken with tragedy, her grief becomes a thirst for revenge which changes her forever.” Jump into Part One here!
- of The Warthog Report will be publishing a short story this month on November 21st, called A Marriage of Body and Soul. Blurb: “The outcast demon summoner Simon has finally achieved his dream of summoning Beleth, the demon he has obsessed over since childhood. But summoning a demon is one challenge, building a relationship with a demon is another, a challenge Simon may have neglected to prepare for in his single minded pursuit. And Beleth has his own dreams.”
- is revamping his main post for The UEC Stories. In addition to stories, there is also a story-related image gallery. Take a look!
- has recently posted a new short story that she would like to highlight, called Don’t Push The Button. Petra calls it, “A slightly cozy, somewhat dystopian speculative fiction short story.”
- has just rebranded his Substack, called Legendarium, and has launched into serializing his fantasy novel, The Herald of Som. Blurb: “This epic fantasy follows Tyruc as he is transformed from a selfish coward into a servant of the mysterious entity Som. His adventures will be guided by mythical creatures, blessed with elemental magic, and embroiled in combat against ferocious monsters.”
Awards:
Congratulations to , the winner of the Season Nine Lunar Awards for short stories, along with Honorable Mentions and ! Check out the short story win page to read more about their stories, the prizes, the special “Pumpkin Patch” winners, and the other entrants, too!
Milestones & Wins:
- has a big personal writing milestone she would like to share. From Mairi: “I've been researching a novel set in the period of the Henrician Reformation, and I've started writing my first draft. I have two full-length novels under my belt, but since I got married (3 years ago) it's been *really* hard to get into a novel. I've had a few false starts & nothing has come from it. But this one is going to stick. I have about 40 pages so far & am super thrilled. This is my news.” A very relatable milestone! Congratulations, Mairi, and good luck!
📚 The Bookshelf
(Titles listed in order of release date.)
- ’s dark fantasy novella, The Last Daughter of Wolves, is now available for purchase in various formats on Amazon! Release Date: 10/24/24
- ’s queer horror romance (originally serialized on Substack), What Manner of Man, is now available as a special collected edition on Amazon or itch.io! Release Date: 10/31/24
- ’s new mystery novel, The Spider, is now available for preorder as an ebook on Amazon with a paperback release on the way! Release Date: 1/10/25
📝 Submissions Bulletin
- has an opportunity for visual artists! From Andy: “All visual artists can feel free to tag me on Notes and I’ll add their name to an announcement about a contest I will be hosting sometime in 2025, which will also be horror related.”
❤ Shout-Outs
- would like to extend a shout out to the most loyal readers of Destination Europa! From SDG: “Huge thanks to everyone who followed Quill's journey in Destination Europa! And especially HUGE shout-outs to , , and . The way you guys kept liking, commenting and sharing the story, all the way through, kept me going when it was tough. Thank you!”
Got something you want us to publish? Have any questions, comments, or feedback? Send it all to:
talestack.editor@gmail.com
Thanks for the shout-out, Sally!
Thank you for the shout out!