✒ Editor’s Note
Welcome back, Talestack Readers!
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Have you noticed? Fiction is blooming all over the place!
There must be something in the air around the Substack Fiction neighborhood, because all kinds of new projects and published works are popping up here there and everywhere! It’s definitely a good time to be a fiction reader, and Talestack News has some fabulous stuff to add to your TBR list: in this issue alone we’ve got serials across genres, a packed bookshelf, and even a new season of awards!
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 lovely week, and happy writing!
S.E. Reid Editor of Talestack News
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📣 Announcements!
Finished Projects:
Bridget Riley recently finished up a three-part magical realism short story called The Brewer. Blurb: “Following her father’s death, Penelope reluctantly steps into the role of Brewer at her family’s beer garden. But the quiet, mysterious magic that flows through their brews and unites their quaint little town may be in danger, and it’s Penelope’s responsibility to save it.”
Bri Heron just wrapped up a serialized four-part short story called Grief In Parts. Excerpt: “I found out about the cancer when my mother was bedridden in the hospital. By the look on her face, I gathered she didn’t even want to tell me but she had to, seeing that she had an oxygen mask and an IV hanging beside her. I knew I’d lose my mom early; she was 45 when she had me. But I just didn’t expect it to be a few months after starting my freshman year of college at NYU.”
New Projects:
Ivy Bard has recently launched their queer cozy fantasy romance novella, Let Me Be Your Villain. Blurb: “When Draven—the deleted villain of a fantasy book—finds himself in a library of forgotten stories, he teams up with the reluctant ghost librarian to find his author and rewrite his story before he fades out of existence.” Jump into Chapter One here!
Hanna Delaney’s second novel in her gothic Muldoon Mysteries series, The Ring, is currently underway as a serial here on Substack. Synopsis: “Eager to prove himself detective material, Constable Lacey investigates the disappearance of a local thief. Enquiries soon lead him to the new circus in town, where he meets the mysterious ringmaster Ezra Fontini and his devoted performers. Dazzled by the magical world of the circus, Lacey becomes infatuated with one of Fontini’s charming young aerialists, Ellen French. The show is welcomed by the locals until Fontini’s headline performer is found dead. Overwhelmed with witness accounts that can’t be explained by logic, the police call on Inspector Daniel Muldoon to find out what’s keeping people from leaving their homes after dark. This is the second novel in the Muldoon Mysteries series of Gothic Horrors set in 19th century Liverpool.” Jump into the Prologue here!
Gabriel O. Maestas just launched his new horror serial, Darkness Falling. Excerpt: “The sentry’s hand began shaking, his knees weak as he fell on his backside. He looked ahead through the dense fog, seeing the body in its entirety. He knew of one creature that could do such a thing. ‘Va…Vaaa…’ his voice shook, ‘Vampyre….’”
Aveline Lark has been sharing chapters of her supernatural fantasy story, The Ghost Who Loved Me. Excerpt: “Mila felt it before she saw it. The slow unraveling. The way the world resisted her, like she was something not quite real, not quite there. She sat on the edge of the well, her fingers tracing the smooth, time-worn stones. It had been a week since she last saw her reflection clearly—now, when she glanced into the water, the image rippled, blurred, like even the earth itself was trying to forget her. The whispers had started young. Navna, they called her. A girl who belonged to the dead.”
John Ward has recently posted a new visual storytelling project called Lessons Learned. From John: “Ever wish your newsletter looked better? Imagine what it would be like if we could have the elegant, flowing design of a magazine. In this week's issue of Written Ward, I'm investigating some formatting features that could transform our newsletters from digital letters into true digital publications. The centerpiece? Text wrapping around images. It’s a seemingly simple feature that really makes a difference. To demonstrate this potential, I've created an illustrated 8-page fantasy tale, Lessons Learned. Come explore both the practical possibilities for Substack's future and lose yourself in a story about purpose, connection, and learning that continues beyond what we think are our limitations. See how our newsletters could look tomorrow, illustrated through a story that might just stay with you long after reading.”
Awards:
The 2025 Lunar Awards continue on with Round Two of Season 10, featuring Horror tales in all their terrifying glory and variety. Submissions are open until March 31st, so there’s still time to polish up your best eerie tales and send them in! Round-specific rules are in the post linked above, while general awards guidelines can be found HERE.
📚 The Bookshelf
(Titles listed in order of release date.)
Lyndsey Resnick’s collection of short stories, Well Water and Other Odd Tales, is now available for purchase as an ebook and paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any retailer who can order through Ingram! Release Date: 1/15/25
Connor McGwire’s gothic science fiction noir novel, METANOIA, is now available for purchase through Amazon and The Great British Book Shop! (More info about the book and its release here.) Release Date: 3/1/25
Daniel Sherrier’s latest collection of superhero short stories in his Terrific series, The Faceless Man, is now available for purchase on Amazon! Release Date: 3/10/25
The Midnight Vault—a collection of eerie tales from a group of 20+ Substack authors and gathered into an anthology by J. Curtis and Shane Bzdok—is now available for purchase through Amazon! You can also learn more about Shane’s design process for the book here. Release Date: 3/15/25
Shawn Brooks’ Japanese folk-horror novel—and third in his Black Sun series—called Iomante, is now available for preorder on Amazon! You can also learn more about the release, cover, and Kickstarter plans here. Release Date: 4/25/25
Got something you want us to publish? Have any questions, comments, or feedback? Send it all to:
talestack.editor@gmail.com
Thank you for having my back, and for the MV mention. After a tiring weekend, this was lovely to see.
Thanks for the Midnight Vault mention, and for including the link to my article. Appreciate the support, Sally!