Tag: short stories

I am Morgan le Fay

Posted on by staceyjaine in faerie, Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, The Eldritch Series, Writing

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I’ve been busy working on expanding a short story that I’m hoping to offer up to the public in the coming weeks…

I’m thinking of releasing it as a series of three short stories – 6,000 words each – totalling 18,000 words… for 0.99c each.

The stories are my take on the Arthurian Myths, complete with new twists and all feed into my forthcoming Eldritch novels.

I’m looking forward to sharing them with you all and it’s because of that very reason, I’m gifting you a sneak peak…

Here it is!

Enjoy!

I am Morgan le Fay – revenge was the very last thing bequeathed to me.
My name was such that it would be written on the wind for centuries to come. A litany that would beat madly in the hearts of all those who’d wronged me.
Morgan le Fay… Morgan le Fay… Morgan le Fay.
Death would not come soon enough.
Once, I’d had a father who loved me as much as I loved him.
And they killed him.
The fair folk.
All for the want of a woman. A woman whose name was Igraine. The Queen of Camelot.
My mother was beautiful. Her fair hair shone like spun gold, and when she let it fall loose it fell almost down to the floor. Plaited, the long braid came to her waist.
I envied those long golden locks as a child, even when they turned snow white with age, I envied them. Anything would have been better than to be cursed with dark unruly curls as I was.
Nobody ever told me I was pretty, only common. How I wished I’d get to receive the type of looks of adoration my mother received. First from my father and then from Uther. I’d spent many a sleepless night as a child dreaming of the day I’d have a love as great as my mother had, had. It wasn’t until he showed up in my life, that I knew I was adored, simply for being me. Little did I know that his adoration would come at a price.

 

Winners of the Birthday Giveaway

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh

winners

So, in case you missed it, I’ve been running a little giveaway, which is now closed.

There were fifteen entries and according to random.org, the winners are as follows:

Kristin and Liv Miles

Kristin has won an electronic copy of Twisted and Liv, a copy of Twisted II. I hope you enjoy reading.

Thank You to everyone that participated and I’ll be reaching out to the winners shortly.

 

 

Birthday Giveaway

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh

9ADA5A6E-B733-487C-96C8-7E44C9DC4B23As it’s my birthday in 2 days, I thought I’d celebrate by hosting a giveaway.

Up for grabs is the following:

1 x ebook copy of Twisted, featuring two of my short stories, Red and The Summer Girl.

1 x ebook copy of Twisted II, featuring my short story The Wild Hunt.

To Enter:

Like this post and leave a comment below to be placed in the draw.

Entries  close at midnight (Perth, WA Time) 2nd August 2018.

Winners will be announced at random courtesy of random.org. by midnight 3rd August 2018.

 

 

Drawing Inspiration from Dreams

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

D76EB3F1-B447-4E18-A927-398319F2A838Inspiration can strike at the most inconvenient of times. Often, I find myself drifting off to sleep and then an idea pops into my head, for a story or novel and I just have to write it down before I forget.

Other times, I’ll wake up in the morning or the middle of the night after the most interesting dream, and again I just have to write it down.

Why the hell wouldn’t you?

I know, I know. Drawing inspiration from a dream… It’s cliche, right? But what if it’s not? What if you have a really kick arse dream that is just the right fit for a story? With all it’s untapped potential, you should totally use it. It would be a shame not to.

Now, I’m not talking about making a full blown novel out of one teeny tiny dream , that might not be feasible but maybe you can get some mileage out of it to create a really cool short story.

You won’t know until you try.

I’ve done just that in the past, actually. Other times my dreams have been weaved into a single scene.

That’s the thing about inspiration. It can be found in the most unlikeliest of places. So, don’t go discounting or discrediting your dreams just yet. You might just be lucky enough to find that rare gem.

I have, a few times. So, I’ve written them down, stored for later use. Ready for when, I finally get around to expanding upon them.

Just last night I had a dream where some of my extended family all gathered together on my front lawn awaiting my return. I thought it was weird (and slightly annoying) that they’d come to my house without any prior warning. Upon waking, I still find it weird. But also curious. I can’t quite shake the feeling that there’s a message in this dream, as it was all just a little too real. But I’ll dwell on that aspect of it all tomorrow when I have a clearer head.

 

Submissions & Works in Progress

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, The Eldritch Series, Writing, Zooey

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I just submitted a flash fiction piece to a flash fiction anthology moments ago. I have another longer piece that I’m writing and two other short stories on the back burner that I plan to write and submit to other anthologies if I get the time.

I might be juggling just a little too much currently.

Between several novel projects and short story projects, coordinating book reviews, writing up author interview questions (and trying to mix it up a little each time with each new author – not so easy) as well as keeping on top of three social media platforms and a blog. All while trying to keep up with a house, hubby, for kids… not to mention fulfilling job networking requirements when looking for suitable employment for part time work.

That’s the really sad part about this. Having spent the past eleven years raising kids, I’m kind of unemployable. And freelance work… as I’ve said before is kind of hit and miss. The jobs I have gotten, while promising to be ongoing have dried up after a month or two.

That said, I am hard at work making improvements to my novel The Winter Princess. It’s coming along slowly because there’s one PC for six people… and my children have found a few PC games that they like to play on weekends… so stealing time at night is very much my routine of late… unless the hubby beats me to it and steals it for himself.

And because I’m feeling generous, I’ve decided to share a small portion with you.

Here it is, the opening of The Winter Princess

The Winter Queen lounged on an icy crystalline throne as her gown of dark grey silk and taffeta billowed out around her. The hair piled atop her head held a darkness that paled the silk; the tiara of silver and sapphires shone in contrast. Having counted silently on my fingers, one hand held the sum of occasions that I had entered the drafty throne room before now. Setting foot here was unusual for me which led me to be painfully aware of every detail as I approached.

I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, let me know in the comments and maybe I’ll share more.

 

Twisted II Anthology is LIVE

Posted on by staceyjaine in Anthologies, Indie Author, paranormal, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

IT’S RELEASE DAY!!!

Title: Twisted II Anthology
Compiled By: Gina A. Watson
Genre: Speculative Fiction

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Where the twisted lurk and the horrors hide, will you find what lies within?

From horrifying demons and witches to ghosts haunting people and places. Strange creatures to strange places. If it’s twisted this anthology has it.

18 equally twisted stories by 19 amazing horror and paranormal authors.

Will you take the plunge into this twisted world?

Featuring authors…

Michael Young * Kelly Matsuura * Kerry E.B Black * Jack W. Finley * Jordanne Fuller * Jakki Hatchet * Liz Butcher * Duncan Swallow * Michael S. Walker * Aziza Sphinx * Shebat Legion * Beth W. Patterson * E.M. Valentine * Stacey Jaine McIntosh * Daniel J. Volpe * Scott Carruba * Carole Weave-Lane * Kerry Lee Holder * Gina A. Watson

Purchase Links…

Amazon AU | Amazon US

Amazon UK

There’s also a Release Party happening on Facebook here. Come along and say Hi!

 

The Wild Hunt

Posted on by staceyjaine in Anthologies, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

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With 24 hours until the Twisted II Release Party, I thought I’d share with you the opening to my short story, The Wild Hunt. It appears in the anthology and ties into the world of my novels in the Eldritch Series.

If you like Celtic Mythology then I hope you’ll enjoy my tale as it’s steeped quite heavily in myth.

Here it is…

The wildwood swelled before my eyes. Fey and beast mingled together so much that it was hard to tell one from the other. The smell of death mixed with blood, dirt and fear, hung heavy in the air. Although the fear that I sensed around me was my own.
Ahead of me, sitting astride a huge black stallion, was my father, Herne. Instead of his usual leather kilt, he wore brown leather pants, while an antlered crown sat atop his head.
My older brother, Kit, sat next to me. The lure of the Wild Hunt bored him. I knew he had participated at least once. He had regaled me with stories that were scary enough I’d had nightmares for weeks afterwards. What was even more frightening to me, was the knowledge that fey couldn’t dream. Or have nightmares, because nightmares were the stuff of dreams. Dreams were mundane things. Human things, or so Kit had told me one night when I’d awoken him with the sound of my screams. I was not human.
Everything about me said faerie, so my ability to dream was strange.

I hope you enjoyed it and please do purchase a copy. My full story clocks in at almost 3,000 words. It will be available on Amazon on Friday, 13th July 2018.