December Update

Recommendations, hasty housekeeping, and a roundup

December has descended upon us and it feels like it happened without warning! Thank you for joining me on this short and sweet monthly update.

Recommendations

I noticed there was a need for an improved “Top in Fiction” here on Substack. Unfortunately, the algorithm is not quite there yet. To help along fellow writers and to provide some reading recommendations to you, my lovely subscriber, I have opened a newsletter dedicated solely to Substack fiction recommendations. See the link below and subscribe if you’re looking for more to read:

Hasty Housekeeping

Below are things to come in the future! I shall keep this in bullet point format to save you time and for clarity.

• This December, I will be publishing A Town Called Evening, a pulpy Western-noir to be completed in 12-13 episodes. These will be uploaded on Mondays.

• Part IV and V for Jack and Sari’s Blackwater story will be released this month. This will be uploaded Wednesdays.

• Shades of Night: the Anthology is set to be released on Amazon in 2024 complete with new tales, poetry, and a sneak peek at Shades of Night: Feeder of Ravens

  • I did intend to close the SoN anthology this month. Unfortunately once I uploaded the piece, I didn’t like how long it was. I will break it into three more uploads to be seen this December, likely on Thursdays.

• Also, this newsletter has soft-launched paid subscriptions and a kofi for single-time donations.

• Some old content will be moving behind a paywall (Stoney Hollow namely) to “go on ice” until it’s ready to be revised and revisited.

  My newsletter and writing is made possible by readers like you ♥️ .

November Roundup

In case you missed it, this newsletter published the following last month:

• The Fall of Rodorhíep Part I - part of the Shades of Night Anthology

• The Suff: Part I and Part II - for more Suff content, check out

  Macabre Monday
  ’s timeline

• A romance short story as a part of a challenge by

  S.E. Reid
  , revealing how Lord Leander and Lady Adrienne (Shades of Night) came to be married.

• Contributed to

  Cole’s Chapters
  ’s Authors and Embers first podcast episode. (He’s a fantastic writer as well. Give his work a look!)

• Project Blackwater: JACK Part I and Part II ( parts III, IV, and V to be released in December)

  You can see all the Blackwater stories here

Thank You

I would like to take a quick moment to offer my sincere gratitude to some people here on Substack. I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again: storytelling is not done in isolation, especially when done in public spaces. It promotes empathy and understanding, it strengthens bonds, and is a way to pass on information from one generation to the next.

For much of my life, I wrote alone. When I began this newsletter, I shifted from writing to sharing. It was a vulnerable space to be, almost embarrassing. I didn’t want to give what was in my head and heart. Yet this journey, six months in, has been wonderful.

Recently, this newsletter and Substack profile has been hitting a good stride. That is thanks to a few very special people:

• Jeff Kinnard
  for bringing me into his circle at
  Macabre Monday
  . This was a foundational moment and it led to so many incredible interactions. He’s a wonderful writer too, I highly recommend you check out
  Choose Fiction
  .

• Scoot
  who is such a force of positive energy and represents his faith with grace and humility (also a great writer). His quote-restacks never fail to turn my day around. It’s like Christmas morning every time I see them.

• Author Michele Bardsley
  , who recommended my Substack early on in my journey. She is an incredibly talented woman who uses her platform to uplift and support.

• My dearest sister who has commented and read more than anyone. I know you’re reading this. Love ya ♥️

• My good friend

  The Casual Writer
  who is always so much fun to interact with here. Brings me back to conversations on the rooftop.

• Finally, I want to thank

  Sara Dietz
  who, by inviting me to her digital hangout, truly made me feel welcome.

I’m honored to have gotten to know you all in an online capacity. I pray that everyone gets the opportunity to receive the same welcoming spirit they offered me.

As usual, thank you so much for your time and attention. I hope that this December is full of warmth and happy memories made with loved ones.

Warm regards,

M.E. Beckley