Dear Reader…
Welcome back to The Weekly, and Happy Winter at Talebones!
The days are getting colder and darker, the fireside is the only place I want to be, and after our hiatus in November we’re diving BACK into serialized fiction!
I’m sure you’re all wondering what’s coming up this season here on Talebones, so let’s not waste another minute chit-chatting!
Let’s get started!
Winter 2023 is Here!
Here’s what you can look forward to this season…
Winter Serial: Freelance and Fishmaids (episodic novella)
Synopsis: After getting fired from her job as a small-town journalist for moonlighting as a paranormal investigator, Caroline Phelan is urged to go freelance by her informant, a mysterious man she knows only as “the Captain”. Armed with her trusty camera called Scully, Caroline travels to Ferris Island’s paranormal hotspots and learns surprising lore along the way.
But in her search for the strangest stories on Ferris Island, she comes face to face with a few of the island’s deepest secrets, some of which still echo through time.
On Ferris Island, the past and present often go hand in hand.
This story is FREE TO READ during Winter 2023!
It will have 12 expected episodes and will post every Friday from December 15th to March 1st.
To catch up on some of Caroline’s previous one-off paranormal adventures, check out The Left Hand of Jim Barton and The Weeper At The Wake. Other stories featuring Caroline, either as a protagonist or cameo, can be found at our Ferris Island Index. (NOTE: Some stories in the Index are paywalled, but none of these previous stories are necessary to enjoy the upcoming serial.)
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Short Fiction:
This season, my goal is to post 3 pieces of short fiction (between 1,000 - 3,000 words each) per month.
At the end of the season, Archive Members will vote on one story per month to head into the Archive.
In Case You Missed It…
The second half of my short fantasy tale The Sleeper, The Singer posted last week! Start Here to read from the beginning of this two-parter.
On a rare nonfiction note: for those who observe the holiday season of Advent, my poetry-based devotional is available for purchase (or free KU download) over on Amazon! Regardless of whether you observe Advent or not, you can also “follow” me over there (or on Goodreads) to receive updates on any future book-based projects, including fiction.
ARCHIVE MEMBERS: The Fall 2023 Seasonal Summary is here, along with some behind-the-scenes info about last season’s stories AND a piece of concept art from the incredible cover artist working on turning Ivy & Ixos into a print book! (Didn’t receive this Archive email? Click Here to learn how to manage your Talebones emails and make sure your Archive setting is toggled ON!)
A handful of Fall Season stories are now living in our Archive, along with behind-the-scenes Seasonal Summaries and some exclusive resources like the Ferris Island Map.
Subscribe for $2.50/month or $30/year to join in!
As always, my friends, I am constantly amazed by your support of Talebones, and I am so excited to continue the journey with you this winter! I hope that the tales you find here give you a boost, a smile, a fright, or a bit of inspiration through the holidays and beyond.
Happy December to all, and see you next week!
Your grateful storyteller,
I sense a table being set for a delightful literary feast...some spicy chili and hot salsa, a warm and richly fragrant stew with a crusty bread, sweet and buttery pastries and yummy dried fruits, maybe pop corn or roasted chestnuts for lingering by the fire to savor your winter feast of story telling! So happy to be invited.
Forget the dog! I want a robot! Wonderful, fun, thought-provoking — the tip of a story-telling iceberg perhaps? More, please.