🛜 Sunday Castle Festival (2025 - 22): fantasy, science fiction and horror
The “Steelhearts Heroic Fantasy Anthology”, by The Brothers Krynn and M. B. Heywood, continues on Kirkstarter, so you can still get one of the offers they have included or just contribute to the project… They are publishing one of my stories:
Story 5: "Knight of the Golden Armour" by Mercedes de Santiago
Fairytale fantasy playing to historical and traditional sensibilities. Also, there's a wizard, because we couldn't not have a wizard somewhere.
A professional proofreader is also finishing correcting the Spanish version of “The Legend of Sinardia I: The Attack on Sinningen”. I prefer to release it a bit later but that it is well corrected, than publishing it but with errors.
As I told you in No. 21, the Festival will NOT be published from July 13th (last Sunday when I will publish it for now) to September, 21st when it will be published again. I don’t know what new things it will bring, but, well, I have not thought about those, so why bother…
If you don’t get the entire mail, click here to read it. Believe me, this mail is really long…
Well, it’s Sunday somewhere so… let’s begin:
A) Fiction:
I) Fantasy: (in alphabetical order, from A to Z):
is writing The Story of Eiry. In this fortnight, I was able to read chapters #3: The book I kid behind the tincture shelf, #4 I think a Plant is talking to me, #5 How I am supposed to do this forever, #6 A Rude Guest at the Shop and #7 Blood, Birth and the Midwife in Green. From # 6:““Charm isn't going to reduce the price,” she snapped. “There's a drought in East, those pesky bandits haven't been caught in Rivenwald and traders don't want to travel all the way here to do business, Sylven. Be grateful.”
From
I have been able to read, from his Pearldiver’s Adventures, #3 The Zigurat of Shodo Khal, #4 In the Gloaming Jungle Depths and #5 The Tower of Green Briars. From #4:have written several great pieces such as The Red Sonja dilemma that’s about to hit the Theatres, The Need for Fiction's Greatest Genre - Fantasy: Tolkien's Definition of Faërie-Stories Faerie Stories Part 8 and “The Importance of Building up the World around your Heroes and Making them Tracendent Figures - Fiction Guide How to Always Suceed at Writing”. But I am linking Scotland's Great King Arthur Sword in the Stone Epic The Sword of the Western Seas Chapter IV: Seaside Days:Yet that, too, would be folly. Molo was no expert in magic by any means. He did not practice such arts, nor did he have the capacity to, at least so far as he was aware. Inability was not the same as ignorance, however, and Molo had experienced enough in his time to be certain of two things when it came to magic. Firstly, it was not a force with which to trifle, as it had the capacity to shape the very world around it. Secondly, that no amount of distance would free him from a magical bond, and what were these visions if not that?
has written more chapters of his interesting story The Mage Hunter, #3 and #4. From #4:Hòmair opened his mouth to speak up once more, and repeat how he could not follow the youth’s line of thought when he was suddenly interrupted by Ràild. “Oy the two of ye best not be wasting time there doing little more than chattering about fairies again! I will have ye know that there are more important things than they at present, especially as we have fish to catch!”
is doing a crowdfunding for his new book:Athena was on her knees, the bubble of water undulating over her head. She searched her greatcloak in a frenzy. Cassida struggled for breath and felt his eyes bulge from the pressure. Athena found a sink and as soon as the odd hollow crystal touched the water it lost all semblance of shape and splashed to the floor. She gasped for air, padding around for her sword. Finding it she slashed at the mage’s wrist in a wild swing. Blood spurted across the room and up Cassida’s face, he fell forward down onto his hands and knees, gulping down air.
has written This is just a dream, The Cristalline Dunes of Zeltar and is also writing a serial, The Dust Whisperer, #1 and #2. From the latter, titled The Heart Frunce:The plaintive hoot of an owl made her run faster. But when its blurred outline swept past her overhead , she slowed, half expecting it to morph into a ghost like the animals in the hollow. But it soared toward the road and disappeared with a long, lonely wail that returned to her on the north wind.
She made her way between the buildings, guided by the dust that swirled ahead of her. A living compass. The heart furnace building loomed before her. Its walls radiated heat that made the air shimmer even in the cool desert morning. The windows glowed orange-red. Within was the echos of an enormous creature breathing.
From
, I have read the continuation of her “Obsidian and Flame” serial, #6 (that ends Act 1) and #1 and #2, belonging to Act 2. From the latter, titled Ember:has continued his great story of Doctor Pedro Sangre, #29, “Bait and Blood Portents, and #30, A quiet place between Heaven and Earth. From the latter:Indeg shrieked, leaping up. Others in the crowd cried out in disappointment. Four of the duels continued, but in the last, the other grey-robed guard flung off his attacker, retreating several steps to check on Cynwal, his many braids swinging about his masked face.
has continued his excellent story An Inheritance, #5, #6 and #7. From the later:Across the waves, the Rising Eel’s crew came alive, stung from the hit. Sails dropped, catching the strong wind. Beside her, the smaller black-sailed sloop lurched forward, still in the fight. Past them both, a mottled, battered wooden cargo barge floated next to Port Royal’s natural Arcane Gate.
After recovering from the fit, Isocrates stood; being worried that he might fall asleep in the chair again. Initially, his mind was set on more idle pacing, as he felt safe on his feet, then he had a better idea. He exited the andron, and made his way through the house – out the front door, and into the pouring rain. Stripe came out with him, keeping a watchful eye on his every move, on account of how he was acting inside.
From
, I have read #22, Feathers, Letters and Wedding Dresses, and #23 Of Wedding Nights and Dragons:has also continued his original serial Valley of Old Gods, #2 and #3. From the latter:She endured the long hours of her hair being made into a majestic work of art, and her body dressed into layers of silk; a petticoat dress, and skirts, pantaloons, and stockings, and the finest pearl-embroidered shoes. The elderly brothel ladies cried happy tears at the sight of Gema fully dressed, ready for her big day. Lord Trouser was summoned to her chamber.
has continued his Law and Order with #8, #9, #10, #11, #12 and #13. From the latter, titled To the Veil, With Reverence:The warrior priests had suffered the greatest losses out of all the gathered factions: It cost eight Medjai lives to take down the three behemoths that were the old gods. Ardysseos counted himself lucky that he lost only a trio of men, though he grieved their deaths nonetheless. There were no wounded among their casualties. They were dealing with ruthless adversaries.
“As the wagon turned out of the warehouse cul-de-sac, the procession passed through a street already changed. Wagons had pulled over, teamsters stood beside them, hats off, heads bowed. One woman stepped forward and dropped a single sprig of winter mint into the wagon’s wake, a simple ward of peace for the dead”.
From
, I have read #1 and #2 from his new serial Conquest and Glory, a Roman inspired story:has continued his serial Bellageist: Chains from a Demigod, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8. From the latter, titled Synergy:He knew from personal experience that they would have to ford a river come evening if they made good progress. While they marched, Justinius’s mind kept wandering back to his dream the night before and his conversation with Aquila. His suspicions that Aquila was plotting something were growing, but he was not sure what. It kept bugging him, so much so that he didn’t pay any attention to anything else. Thoughts about what he might be up to and what his dream might mean kept swirling around and around, with the occasional thought that the dream might portend to something.
has published Chapters #31, #32 and #33, the latter titled “Final Day”:Nyl shook her head at the hazel-eyed woman, looked to Arcade for help, then Garuna. Nyl’s consciousness – never strictly restrained to her skull – flicked casually through an abstract, external library of knowledge; a vast horde of information a single mind could never contain all at once. A constellation of datapoints flared bright, pulling her curious spirit in, something called ASL - collection of hand signals more comprehensive than the rote military ones she already knew.
has continued his exceptional story The Haunting of Guaritori Dolco, Chapters #41 and #42. From the latter:“We fled before the Black Legion—though we knew our spearmen were their betters head-to-head, this fight was not our plan. Seeing us routed, they charged forward, and the masses of light infantry beside them charged as well. On each side screamed a howling mob of Imperial soldiers armed with short spears, light shields, long daggers, and powerful bows, wearing turbans or caps. These we engaged toe-to-toe among the hills, away from the press of the Black Legion”.
has written a very interesting piece titled First Chapters Should Force Questions:“I will release Hermes from his pledge and reevaluate the situation,” said Thanatos. That wasn’t exactly a yes—but from someone as inflexible as Death, it was probably as much as we could get.
has an interesting piece, The Dog who Saw the Sea:It is motivating, yes, to have a question in our minds, but also draining. The term for it in psychology is an open loop, and the science says that your brain constantly considers open loops in the background, trying to resolve them.
has written a new grimdark story A gritty, struggle for self-preservation:Sprig, they had called him, smiles all over their faces, all the way into their eyes. Like a young, soft little branch that would one day grow into a tall, towering tree. Able to protect. A resting place—something they’d like to sit with. Cuddle in the sun. Share snacks.
Richard gasped and cowered, edging backward into a crevice at the back of the crumbling room. It might have once been a stairwell, but now it was a caved-in tangle of concrete and shredded steel.
II) Sci-fi and horror:
has continued his serial Dread Paws, with chapters #3, #4, #5 and #6. So, from the latter:The sniper unwrapped his ration and chomped a hefty bite of cold meat and noodle combo, slow cooked on some distant, terraformed asteroid. For some reason Terran soldiers called this ration pack Rk04, rockcandy and every newbie almost lost his or her mind rummaging inside the packaging looking for sweets. Sacky knew exactly why, because he had served on that very same nameless asteroid, but not a single word escaped the bugger’s furry snout.
I have also read from the serial from
, Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice, Chapter #8:has written a new serial Lost in the Cornfields, chapters #1 and #2:“Andromache!” Scyros discovered she was standing. “Or should I now say Andromache Prima? Why do you have her? Why are you away from your lyrik?—Briseis,” she gasped, thunderstruck.
“Then, as he raised the weapon, two figures emerged from the corn. They moved with eerie grace. Their bodies were almost translucent. Their eyes glowed and shimmered, tinted with the same red dust that covered the road. They weren’t quite solid, but they weren’t air either. Each step they took made a faint hiss”.
From
’s If I Ruled the World, I have read Chapters #3, #4, #5 and #6. From the latter:The officer smoothed his damp blue hands down his tailored purple uniform. “The most powerful factions are the Traddeshe and the Moddeshe.” He fondled the brass buttons at his waist. “I am Traddeshe. We believe crime is increasing because immorality is also increasing. The Moddeshe,” he said, sneering, “with no data to support their claims, believe criminals are being brought in to weaken our kingdom.” He gripped Klado’s arm. “They are blaming the Travelers. They want to put an end to immigration and they are—violently.”
‘s The Lightbreakers of Orpheus has actually grown too, with Chapters #22 and #23. From the latter:
has written two pieces of horror microfiction titled Blood Reign and Mad House Blues. From the latter:“Mark extended his left arm. A robot plugged the feeding tube into the mechanical part of his arm, where real, live blood vessels pulsed only a month ago. Liquid rage flowed into his system. Chemicals making Lightbreakers fit to be ruthless battle machines. Mark held back a gasp, he had forgotten what it meant to be high on anger, and thirst for destruction”.
has written an post-apocaliptic sci-fi short story, The Shades of Brighthide:“I wonder if I’ll dream the same dream again tonight. The one where I smash the mirror and slash that nurse’s throat, the gash in her neck, like a beautiful crimson grin.”
“Hardy, of course, was more focused on enjoying his first expedition out as leader, and barely noticed the blonde hair. He had eyes only for the outside world, for the dark towers and the darker streets, and the strange lights that sometimes looped by far overhead in the black sky that Crane did not want to look at”.
III) Other links:
My contribution this week is a piece about the genre of The Legend of Sinardia:
The literary genre of "The Legend of Sinardia"
(Si hablas español o prefieres leerlo en este idioma, el original en español lo puedes encontrar aquí).
Some Videos to finish… I’m leaving you for the Summer with this Youtube list from Assassin’s Creed (erm, I don’t think the historical realism of this stories is very accurate but the music is good and the knifes inside the sleeves).
Have a great Summer you all… whatever you do! 🏖️⛵️🏕️🚄🛳️✈️
Buy me a coffee. ☕️
Omgosh THANK YOU so much!!!
Thanks for including my works in your post_ thanks