REMINDER: You can opt-out of specific content without unsubscribing. Just uncheck the sections you want disabled when on the unsubscribe page.
The Great Substack Story Challenge
Once upon a time, 13 authors had a crazy idea. What if…
What if we wrote one story together, a chapter each? Not that it’s anything new. Round-robins (also known as “exquisite corpses”) have been around for a long time. I’d always wanted to participate in one, so I thought this could be a fun opportunity.
One difference here, though, is that everyone involved will be discovering the story as it unfolds, at the same time as the readers. No brainstorming, no outline, no sneak peak. Which means each author will have a week to write, edit, and publish their chapter after reading the previous one.
Can we pull it off?
I don’t know, but I hope so! LOL.
The first chapter, written by Arjun Agarwal, was published on May 26 and can be read here, while G.M. Baker’s Chapter 2 is due out tomorrow.
I’ll be handling Chapter 11 (due August 4). Before me will come Anthony Lora, Mark Starlin, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Jackie Dana, Thomas Bubb, Nick Mazmanian, Adrian Conway, and Winston Malone. Following me, the story will be brought to its conclusion by Meagan Voulo and our very own wizard Geoffrey Golden.
If you don’t want to miss this sprawling (and likely messy) saga, I highly recommend subscribing to all these fine folks.
Writing news
So I announced last month that I had two upcoming anthologies with stories in them. The first, “Beyond,” is out, but the second has been further delayed. Date of release is unknown at this time, but I’ll keep you posted.
On the other hand, my story “Within These Walls” has been reprinted on the TGVB blog, which is pretty cool.
In other news, I’ve been entirely focused on editing my novel “Everlife,” so I haven’t done much writing. I have to say, though, when I (finally) came up with that title, it gave me ideas for a trilogy of sequels! This book was initially written as a standalone, but there are so many threads that could be followed to write further stories…
Point is, I’m rather excited with these new ideas and am looking forward to writing those books, though there are a few other things I need to do first. I’ll be outlining those sequels in the meantime.
One thing I need to get cracking on (soon as I find the time) is writing a new Jean-Jack Laroch story!
Coming up this month
Free stuff: Chapters 4 and 5 of “Everlife” + the third and final installment of my fake Alice in Wonderland interviews.
For paid subscribers: All the remaining chapters (6 to 68) of “Everlife”… and, of course, the continued adventures of Val, Kaine, and Halden in the weekly space opera serial “Through the Stars, Darkly.”
Books to read
Here is a selection of books that might be of interest to you. All of these are free to download, though you’ll have to sign up to the authors’ newsletter to grab your copy.
The Dragon's Champion by Sam Ferguson
Erik Lokton's training at Kuldiga Academy is cut short when a prophecy comes to light that names him as The Dragon's Champion. He is forced to flee as secret covens emerge to destroy him before he can find a cure for Nagar's Blight, a curse that had left the Middle Kingdom bereft of dragons centuries earlier and would enslave any dragon foolish enough to come within its grasp.
With the help of a master swordsman and a sorceress said to have gotten her powers in a secret pact with demons, Erik will have to stay one step ahead of warlocks and assassins if he is to find the key to fulfilling his destiny.
The trouble is, Erik isn’t sure he [… read more …]
Blood of the Ràej by Hayley Rae Johnson
Terhese's dream of becoming an Official is within her grasp. Weeks before she is to leave for the Sandstone Academy, her powers show their true colors. Instead of accepting this new identity, she continues on her path and starts classes at the academy. She is warned to keep her magic hidden, but temptations pull from all sides as she spends time with new friends on the beach in the sun and around the bonfires at night, passing the bottles of green and amber liquor. Shadows of extinct creatures and [… read more …]
Craving something else than fiction? Check out The Sample for a large selection of newsletters on a wide range of topics.
—
Copyright (c) 2022 by Alex S. Garcia.