The Weekly

A Re-Introduction and a Welcome!

Photo by Alex Padurariu on Unsplash

Dear Reader…

Welcome (or welcome back) to The Weekly!

For those who are new around here, The Weekly is typically a quick little digest in which I make sure that everyone catches up on What’s New with Talebones, including round-ups of the previous week’s fiction projects and other relevant news.

But this Weekly is a little different…

I was already intending to do a quick re-introduction of myself and my work in this issue, in honor of the new year…but then Substack went and featured Talebones on their official homepage this week, and we got a whole heap of new folks, joining us!

So, first of all: WELCOME to the new folks!

In this issue of The Weekly, I’m going to take this opportunity to catch us ALL up to speed on All Things Talebones, including where you can get started reading, some resources that might interest you, and a little bit about me.

(And longtime readers, don’t go anywhere: there’s a little ice-breaker question at the end for everyone to participate in, so stick around!)

Without further ado, let’s get everyone caught up!

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Where To Start Reading

Here at Talebones, we publish on a seasonal schedule (in three-month chunks). I write character-driven, often intimate stories of various lengths, from flash up to serialized novellas, and my tales are a mix of flavors within the uncanny side of the speculative fiction genre, mainly suspense, gentle horror, and supernatural. 

Ferris Island

Most of my fiction takes place on Ferris Island, a landmass in western Washington state. Ferris isn’t a very big place, so you may find that the more you read, the more connections you discover between the people, locations, and history, there!

You can find all of the stories set there, organized by length, at the Ferris Island Index, but the following quick-read short stories make a good introduction to some of the strangeness around Ferris Island:

• Tilford Till and the Highway Haunting - one unusual passenger turns Tilford Till’s usual drive into an unforgettable night

• The Woodpile - a car thief has a nocturnal brush with fate

• The Orchard Hounds - a young woman attempts a most unusual rescue

I am also currently in the early chapters of a 12-part episodic serial called Freelance and Fishmaids, which is set on Ferris Island and posts every Friday. You can head to the serial’s navigation page here (for the synopsis and general info) or jump straight to the first chapter to get started. Episode Four drops this Friday, so there's plenty of time to catch up!

Non-Ferris Fiction

Sometimes we do wander off-island! All of the stories that take place away from Ferris Island can be found at the Off-Island Index, but here is one that readers enjoyed recently:

• The Sleeper, The Singer - in this two-part short fantasy tale, Pim travels to a remote island to perform what is supposed to be a routine—but vital—task, and finds that it will not be as easy as she was led to believe

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Resources for Substack Writers

While the main focus of my newsletter is sharing fiction stories with you all, I do occasionally dabble with nonfiction resources aimed at Substack writers specifically. You can find all of these linked at my Start Here! post on the main Talebones landing page, but here are some highlights:

• TALESTACK NEWS - all subscribers to Talebones get access to TALESTACK NEWS, a twice-monthly digest where I boost all of the news and announcements from around the Substack fiction neighborhood! If you’re ever looking for new work to read (or if you’re a writer here hoping to get your stuff boosted), you should definitely take a look!

• How To Write Good: Guidelines for Online Fiction Writers - in this article, I provide some of my personal tips and tricks for upping your storytelling online (NOTE: articles like this do not get emailed out, and can only be found at the Start Here! post.)

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And Finally, A Bit About Me

My name is S.E. Reid, but if you see me around the wider Substack neighborhood, feel free to call me Sally! I live on five wooded acres in the Pacific Northwest with my craftsman husband and our big black goofy dog, Finn. When I’m not writing strange little stories about nature, history, ghosts, and God, you can find me cooking, gardening, or hyperfixating on a shiny new hobby. :)

For more about me and my Substack fiction journey, check out this recent interview with Brian Reindel 👾⚔️ of the amazing Substack-basedLunar Awards .  

I am a freelance writer and editor for my “day job”, and every cent of income I receive from writing—including tips and paid subscriptions—goes straight into keeping our lights on and our doggo fed. If you’re interested in hiring me as a freelancer, please check out my Work With Me page for rates!

Lastly, before I started publishing my fiction here on Substack, I began with my spiritual writings and nature-based poetry over at The Wildroot Parables. That is still the best place to go if you’re curious about how my faith, seasonal living, and finding the miraculous in the mundane inform my work. 

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Your Turn!

If you made it this far, well done!! This was a much longer version of The Weekly than usual, so don’t worry…the hardest part is over! ;)

Go ahead and sign our Digital Guestbook, if you haven’t already. 

Icebreaker Question:

I would love to hear from ALL of you: what is ONE BOOK on your To-Read List that you are super excited to read this year?

If you don’t have a list, then share the title of one book with us that that you’ve heard good things about, and you’re curious to check out!

Thank you for joining me here at Talebones, my friends. My goal, always, is to set a gracious, inspiring, and creative table here by posting quality fiction. Your vote of confidence with your subscriptions, support, and sweet comments means more than I could ever say!

Happy New Year, and blessings on you all!

Your grateful storyteller, 

S.E. Reid