I regret to announce that I’m canceling the monthly book box subscription. There are several reasons, but the bookstore is the main one. And then there are my other community responsibilities. If I could do this full-time, I would in a heartbeat. Alas….

The book box will soon be available on the Enchanted Books website for those who want one without subscribing here on Substack. Once it’s ready, it will function as a blind date with a book, but feature books by independent authors and publishers. On the product page, you’ll be able to select the binding type, reading level, and genre for additional preferences, and I’ll ship a title from the store that suits your request.

For those disappointed, I really tried to get this idea off the ground, and I’m unhappy that I couldn’t follow through. If you subscribed specifically for this service, I’ll provide a refund upon request. If you remain a paid subscriber, you’ll continue to support my publishing vision and receive upcoming SXP digital and physical releases (four of which are in the works).

As for the future of this Substack, there are still many supporters here, and I want to provide some sort of value to your inbox. It will revert to the name Storyletter XPress Publishing. You’ll receive periodic publishing updates, author interviews, and indie-related articles. I’m still here, and I value that you’ve stuck around this long! Thank you so much for your support.

I promise to share good news soon! ~ Winston

I opened an indie bookshop, Enchanted Books, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, dedicated to promoting local and independent voices. I even have exclusive books published in-house and sourced through direct partnerships. Now, combined with the book box, I’m making it possible to receive these exceptional titles anywhere in the U.S.

All current paid subscribers will be grandfathered into the physical box at the quarterly shipment frequency (i.e., four boxes per year). Those of you outside the continental U.S. will continue to enjoy the digital perks as they’re released. If you’d like to cancel your subscription due to these changes, let me know, and I’ll issue a prorated refund.

You may opt out of the book box and keep your subscription going if you wish to support my mission without receiving products at your doorstep. Current subscribers can upgrade to a new tier to get even more from their subscription.

Substack currently offers three tiers—Monthly, Annual, and XPress Founder—so I’m working within these parameters to keep things accessible. I’ve set prices as low as possible to cover materials, printing, add-ons, and shipping. For even more flexibility and book box options, a dedicated Patreon with expanded tiers is in the works. Since I cannot yet provide “skip” or “genre preference” options, I’ll select only the highest-quality titles until those features are available.

The physical rewards for this subscription are available only to U.S. residents.

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The Take a Breath: A Collection of Claustrophobic Horror hardcover has officially launched in a limited release and is already in many subscribers’ hands. If your hardcover hasn’t arrived, please email me at storyletter@protonmail.com so we can make sure you receive your copy.

The next five subscribers to upgrade to a paid subscription will receive a complimentary signed copy of Take a Breath in their next box. A monthly subscription ensures you get the boxes as they go out, while an annual subscription gets you one month’s box for free!

Addressing the elephant in the room, I’ve changed the name to XPress Book Box, and the official domain is now www.xpressbookbox.com. The newsletter portion will remain The Storyletter for now.

I divested many aspects of what was once Storyletter XPress Publishing into other newsletters and websites. The contests and prompts we hosted are now the Lunar Awards (created by ), I share my personal short stories, poetry, and blog posts on Creative Wellness, I support indie books via The Library (co-managed with ), and the online store has become a physical location in New Mexico called Enchanted Books!

That left me wondering what my company site, SXP, had to offer that differed from the rest. Sure, it’s home to my small press, and I like sharing information about the publishing industry when I can, but I never wanted to monetize that. I wanted to provide a product that would be worth subscribers’ time and money.

So, I centered paid membership tiers around a book box subscription service. Unfortunately, I felt that the articles/stories clashed with the intended product/service. This comes down to branding, and I’m working to improve my marketing skills. But with this new change, it should be coming together. It only took me four years to get on the right track.

What is the subscription?

It all started in 2024 when I decided to ship courtesy copies of Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel to the 23 featured authors. I wanted to make it as special as I could manage on my limited budget. The resulting packaging became the XPress Book Box.

Earlier this year, I announced that the book box would be an indie service, dedicated to promoting independent authors and small presses. Due to recently moving from Utah to New Mexico, managing the Lunar Awards, opening a bookstore, and editing an anthology, I haven’t been able to truly “launch” it.

Another roadblock in its development has been Substack’s rigid subscription options. Sending out periodic book boxes doesn’t fit a monthly subscription model, while the yearly option is a hard sell for sporadic fiction. Last year, I wrote an article expressing my desire for Substack to offer more payment options, with many writers agreeing that the current model should be tweaked. Maybe that’s coming, maybe not.

Regardless, I’ll be launching a monthly book box soon. With the bookstore, I can source, market, and distribute the number and variety of books needed to maintain the service throughout the year. Each monthly box will contain at least one paperback (likely two) and a bookmark. Premium add-ons will be included for annual and founding members (more details to come).

I’m still adjusting, so keep an eye out for updates. Hopefully, this rebranding makes sense and will become clearer once the boxes start going out with the launch of our upcoming anthology, Take a Breath: A Collection of Claustrophobic Horror.

Thanks for sticking around to support other writers and me in trying to make indie work. It’s a tough road, but well-traveled. And I’m thankful to those who paved the way! ~ WM

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Ripples in Space is scheduled to release on September 2, 2025. Find links to preorder the eBook below. Thanks for supporting independent writing and publishing! I’ve posted an excellent summary of the book below, courtesy of Samak Press.

Humanity has sought evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth since we first peered through a telescope. Space holds the answers to an enduring mystery of whether we are alone in the universe. We want to make first contact with extraterrestrial life.

What if making first contact takes a dangerous or deadly turn?

Samak Press presents a new original science fiction anthology, Ripples in Space, that features compelling first contact tales from fourteen talented science fiction authors. From sinister aliens to rogue artificial intelligence, these first contact stories will take readers to unexpected destinations where they will meet truly strange creatures who fit the definition of alien perfectly.

Here’s a quick glimpse at each story featured within the pages of Ripples in Space:

• Salvaging an orb from a derelict space vessel puts a couple at the mercy of a mysterious alien entity in Out of Silence by Jean Marie Bauhaus.

• Searching for her missing dog leads a woman on a trek into an isolated section of her sprawling ranch where time and reality are a disorienting mess in Tract 16 by Christopher W. McGuiness.

• Two alien merchants dealing in exotic animals find an uncharted solar system that offers access to countless new species in Jah’s Sanctuary by John Coon.

• An astronaut and her AI companion encounter a mysterious explorer on a distant world thought to be lifeless in Once We Peppered the Stars by Darren Todd.

• Faced with a virus that is degenerating their bodies, aliens seek assistance from a human cargo vessel in Bellwether from Sarah Connell.

• Five-sided aliens allow two human explorers to join their migration, an action that creates an unforeseen ripple effect for their entire species in Fear the Human by Mike Morgan.

• Her brother’s abduction by an unseen alien entity upends a young girl’s life in Not James by K.L. Mill.

• An aging exobiologist on a return voyage from Neptune is gifted a crystal infused space rock that is no ordinary rock in Space Amoebas by David Castlewitz.

• A letter recounts the discovery of a planet-wide AI program with addictive properties in Adaptive Algorithm by Charles Chin.

• When a man’s teenage son undergoes a dramatic personality shift, it signals the presence of another being from beyond the stars in Foreign Exchange by Brian Reindel.

• Animals start randomly dropping from the sky, foreshadowing a mysterious apocalyptic event in Raining Cats and Dogs by Katherine Kerestman.

• An aspiring rodeo star retreats into training for a rodeo to help her cope when attacking spaceships appear in the sky in The Silver Buckle by Angelique Fawns.

• Two sisters explore mysterious and dangerous tunnels underneath a future London destroyed by a worldwide apocalyptic event in Gamma Day by Phillip Carter.

• A spaceship is drawn to investigate the cause behind an unusual distortion emanating from a mysterious planet in Ascentia’s Downfall by Winston Malone.

Ripples in Space will be released worldwide on September 2, 2025. Preorder your eBook edition now from major booksellers, including:

• Amazon

• Apple

• Kobo

• Barnes and Noble

• Google Play

Preorders for the paperback and hardcover print editions will be available in the near future (August).

If you’re a podcaster, blogger, or reviewer who’s interested in receiving an advanced reader copy in order to do a review, I’d love to hear from you. Samak Press welcomes reviews of this new anthology posted to bookseller websites, podcasts, and blogs. If you want to be an ARC reader, send an email to samakpress@gmail.com and include “Ripples in Space ARC request” in your email subject line.

I’ve decided to make the hardcover edition of Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel and my experimental paperback of The Weight of the World: A Collection of Short Fiction and Poetry exclusive to Enchanted Books and the XPress Book Box. That goes for all future hardcover books that we publish. US-based authors will be able to order author copies directly from us, while the paperbacks will be released on all platforms at a later date.

I won’t remove these two books until July 12, so if you’d like to pick them up before they are no longer available online, you can do so. I don’t know the exact number, but I believe only a little over 100 copies of the TMT hardcover were printed, in case collectors out there are interested. And probably even less for The Weight of the World since I only printed 50 author copies in 2023.

Take a Breath: A Collection of Claustrophobic Horror is still on the way, but it may be delayed until the bookstore opens near the end of July to host a proper launch. I’ll be using a different printer this time, so I expect the quality of the book to be higher (thinking embossed cover and sprayed edges!). XPress members will receive a signed and numbered edition delivered to them in a book box after its release.

As we grow, I’m heavily considering crowdfunding our future projects to serve those who are most excited about our books and want to support us. Would you back our future novels and anthologies if given the chance? Please let us know by answering the poll or saying so in the comments below.

If you’d like to be first in line for our upcoming 2025 releases, consider becoming an XPress member. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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I’m opening a bookstore!

It’s a small retail space at The Block, an outdoor/indoor community event and shopping center. I’ll primarily sell books by local and independent authors and presses. I’ve chosen the name Enchanted Books because New Mexico is known as the “Land of Enchantment,” and The Block is located in Enchanted Hills. It also gives off a fun, fantasy vibe.

If you aren’t already, consider subscribing to follow our journey as we set up and open the bookshop. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the community in this way. It’s been a dream of mine for over a decade, and it’s finally happening.

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The Block is going to be the perfect location for the store because it features a shared outdoor event space with a stage, a large screen, and ample covered seating. We’ll be able to host author appearances, book signings, live readings, write-ins, and more. The sky is the limit on how we can benefit from this space, and the food and drinks are excellent.

Current neighbor stores and restaurants:

• Alitas y Papitas

• The Bobal Lounge

• KuKri Hot Chicken Tenders

• Stackers Burger Co.

• Birria Estilo Zacatecs

• El Chamo Arabe

• Bubble Bliss Bath Treats

• Tavern on the Green

• Tuxberry & Whit

• Gravelle's Scoops

• Link Link

• WOW WOW Hawaiian Lemonade

• THICC Pizza Co.

• The Crepe Corner

• Mini Bar

• Top of The Block

• Enchanted Books (coming soon!)

Without the confidence from working with all the incredible writers and readers I’ve met over the last four years, I wouldn’t have taken this step. Thanks for your continued support and motivation. You’ve made this dream possible!

I’m building a list of books and authors to stock. If you have recommendations, please leave a comment or send an email to storyletter@protonmail.com with the ISBN, title, and author's name.

I’m prioritizing science fiction, fantasy, horror, YA, middle grade, and children’s books by indie authors. I can’t guarantee that every book recommendation will be available in the store, but I will provide online recognition as I expand the inventory.

Indies supporting indies is the future of publishing! Stay tuned for updates.

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I'll be selling copies of "Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel" in paperback and hardcover, as well as 10 copies of "Along Harrowed Trails" in paperback, and my first book, "The Weight of the World: A Collection of Short Fiction and Poetry."

I hope to see you there! ~ WM

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Summary

Dive into the deep end with eighteen tales of claustrophobic horror, where each page turn is an attempt to surface for air. From sinking ships, underwater creatures, and cave exploration gone wrong to the isolation of space travel, these stories explore confinement in all its restricting dread. Discover where the boundaries of reality begin to collapse, trapping protagonists in nightmares both physical and psychological. With contributions from independent authors around the world, this collection promises to make every narrowing inch feel like a mile in the darkest corners of speculative fiction.

Featuring stories by:

Edward Ahern, Warren Benedetto, Rose Biggin, Clark Boyd, Matthew Christian, Sam Crain, Elana Gomel, Rachel Henderson, Juliette Jarabek, Ilan Jones, Hamish Kavanagh, C.R. Langille, Winston Malone, Angus McIntyre, Tom Paul, Leigh Parrish, Pip Pinkerton, Nidheesh Samant.

To receive a signed/numbered hardcover of Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel and Take a Breath: A Collection of Claustrophobic Horror delivered in an XPress Book Box, upgrade to an annual subscription. You’ll also get all of our eBooks and future releases. Thanks for supporting independent writing and publishing!

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About the cover

When I commissioned Eoin Ryan for the cover of our second anthology, I had no idea what to expect. Even pitching the somewhat vague theme to authors, I wasn’t sure of the outcome:

This year, we’re delving into the deepest and darkest locations with a focus on stories that evoke a sense of confinement, lack of breath/oxygen, and the desperate need for escape. “Take a Breath” will have you turning the pages faster and faster, not only from the desire to discover how each story ends but because you’ll be holding your breath.

Many submissions contained water or the ocean, which were some of my favorites. But I hadn’t intended to publish an underwater anthology… yet. Therefore, I did the hard thing of turning away many great stories because I felt that variation was necessary to keep the book interesting.

Eoin’s early cover drafts also featured water, which evoked the breathless nature of the book, but not the confinement. Then, his illustration of a woman wrapped in plastic, with her mouth open and one eye peering out, terrified me to no end. It was so striking, hard to look away from, and hard to forget. It… took my breath away, and I knew it had to be the cover.

Working with Eoin has been such a great experience. His style has given these anthologies an identity of their own, and I hope to commission him again to close out the “Take” series.

About the production

This collection features 18 indie authors who have worked hard on their stories and dealt with my edits over the last 4–5 months. It’s not easy to have your work tampered with by some guy running a small, unknown press, but every author in this book has been a treat to work with, and I hope they will be proud of the final product.

Your support is crucial to our book’s funding. The estimated publication costs will likely exceed $5000. That includes the cover art, author payouts, printing, shipping, marketing, and book box supplies. Each new annual member brings us closer to covering these costs, and you’ll receive every new release in a premium book box.

As the editor and publisher, I aim to gain your patronage by bringing you entertaining fiction and the quality of our product. Traditional publishing may still have an edge, funding-wise, but I’ll continue to put everything I have into these books to satisfy both authors and readers.

If you want to read fast-paced horror stories about face-sucking monsters, deadly caves, haunting mazes, drug-induced paralysis, underwater terrors, medical experiments, hypnotic serial killers, endless staircases, faulty elevators, and more, all with a generous dose of claustrophobia mixed in, then Take a Breath is for you.

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Storyletter XPress Publishing is a community-funded small press breaking away from traditional publishing norms. I hope to effect change in the industry by creating a new way to crowdfund original works, all through non-traditional means. My mission is to produce high-quality books by independent and emerging writers, and deliver them to an interested audience.

I personally ship hardcovers and paperbacks directly to you. I commission human artists for our cover art and internal illustrations. Future deluxe editions won’t be available anywhere else and will be in limited quantities. Subscribers are the first to know, and members are the only ones with access.

My product

The XPress Book Box is a specially designed mailer box featuring the latest SXP release, which I send to the preferred shipping address that you provide once you get your Welcome email.

I aim to publish multiple books a year and produce exclusive, limited edition print runs of 150 or fewer. With your paid subscription, I can pay writers and artists, and ship our books directly to you (I say “our” because I consider anthologies a group effort).

• The monthly membership provides access to our ebooks, private Discord, and a 10% Gift Shop (beta) discount. Mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of our books.

• Annual members get all of our boxes for one subscription price.1 As well as the monthly perks.

• The XPress Founders tier offsets costs for international members, additional merchandise, and publishing limited edition print runs. Founding members also get an exclusive behind-the-scenes breakdown of how the books get made. As well as the annual and monthly perks.

• Free subscribers get updates when new anthology submission windows open and close, and receive periodic alpha and beta reader opportunities to assist with improving our publications.

With your support, this will become the standard for how publishers interact with their audience, customers, and, most importantly, readers. Let’s usher in the new age of publishing together!

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Release schedule for the next 12 months:

• (Out Now) The Weight of the World: A Collection of Short Fiction and Poetry by Winston Malone (2023) - Signed paperback included in boxes while supplies last.

• (Out Now) Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel (2024) - Currently shipping signed/numbered hardcovers. I’ll include the paperback edition once the Take a Breath book is released. The box includes an exclusive bookmark, pen, and postcard.

• Take a Breath: A Collection of Claustrophobic Horror (2025) - Projected Summer 2025 release, signed/numbered edition hardcovers.

• The Kefi by Thomas Bubb (2025) - Projected Summer/Fall 2025 release in a limited edition print run of 150, signed by the author.

• Lunar Award Winners Anthology (Title TBD) (2026) - Projected early 2026 release with more details to come.

• Unannounced 3rd Anthology (2026) - More information coming soon.

This schedule excludes unannounced partnerships, book deals, or surprise releases (who knows what’s in store!).2 Every paid subscription helps fund upcoming projects.

With one annual subscription, you get even more bang for your buck. If you want independent books shipped to your doorstep, I’d love to mail you a box. It’s only going to get bigger and better from here. Huge thanks to all my current subscribers!

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My dream

My dream is to change how we view, publish, and engage with indie books. Traditional publishing can seem daunting and unapproachable, but Storyletter XPress Publishing bridges the gap between readers, writers, and publishers with a community built for all.

With enough support, I can increase payouts to our writers, improve the quality of our books, and partner with even more authors and publishers to ship their books as well. Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to establish a bookstore that specializes in stocking independent literature and artwork. Thanks for your time and consideration. You make this possible. ~ WM

I’ve edited 15 of 19 stories in the upcoming anthology. The last four are longer, clocking in between 3600 and 8000 words. This year’s tax season was a doozy, causing me to lose a week’s worth of editing and writing (sigh). Other than that, we’re on schedule to finalize everything in June for a July publication date.

If you’re unfamiliar with the project, I held an open call for writers to submit their most claustrophobic short stories to a horror anthology last year. I selected 18 scary stories that best fit the theme, and will include one of mine as well.

Here is the official synopsis on the back cover:

Dive into the deep end with eighteen tales of claustrophobic horror, where each page turn is an attempt to surface for air. From sinking ships, underwater creatures, and cave exploration gone wrong to the isolation of space travel, these stories explore confinement in all its restricting dread. Discover where the boundaries of reality begin to collapse, trapping protagonists in nightmares both physical and psychological. With contributions from independent authors around the world, this collection promises to make every narrowing inch feel like a mile in the darkest corners of speculative fiction.

Featuring stories by:

Edward Ahern, Warren Benedetto, Rose Biggin, Clark Boyd, Matthew Christian, Sam Crain, Elana Gomel, Rachel Henderson, Juliette Jarabek, Ilan Jones, Hamish Kavanagh, C.R. Langille, Winston Malone, Angus McIntyre, Thomas North, Leigh Parrish, Pip Pinkerton, Nidheesh Samant

The artist, Eoin Ryan, finished and formatted the cover this week. It is striking! I’ve never seen a cover like this before. The overall design is similar to the first anthology, Take Me There, because I envisioned the “Take” series as a trilogy. Because I didn’t want to reveal the art immediately, all you get is this teaser.

All annual paid subscribers get this hardcover book shipped to them in an exclusive book box. Your subscription makes this possible. Thank you!

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“The Kefi” by Thomas Bubb

I coordinated with artist Stephen Stone in March to bring The Kefi to life. I’m impressed with Steve’s work, and the complete hardcover wrap and story map look fantastic. He’s working on five internal illustrations, a bookmark, and the chapter heading emblem.

Alpha readers are providing excellent feedback for the middle-grade fantasy novel by Thomas Bubb. As Tom’s editor, I’m assisting with the big picture stuff first and then coming in for the finer grammatical points. Tom’s a great writer, and I’m confident this next iteration of the manuscript will be even stronger than before.

The Kefi will launch as a limited edition hardcover for annual paid subscribers. There will only be 150 copies signed and numbered by the author. The collector’s edition will feature sprayed edges, a specially designed dust jacket, and embossed lettering. Upgrade today to secure your copy!

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“Storyletter Originals” Shuts Down

Shutting down the fiction section was difficult, but I can no longer take one-off submissions to publish stories here on the Storyletter XPress Publishing website. As much as I’d like to continue the service, my availability prevents me from giving you the time your work deserves. It’s possible that in the future, if funding and time permit, I’ll be able to reopen the doors to publishing short stories online. But with so much fantastic free fiction already available, it doesn’t seem likely. Thank you to the authors who submitted their work. It was an honor to publish it in this format.

Our anthology open calls will continue as normal. Stay tuned for the next project announcement. If you’d like to read more fiction, join us over at the Lunar Awards, where we host contests to highlight indie authors and offer prizes and publication opportunities.

“Take Me There” Author Event at Page 1 Books

Page 1 Books, an independent bookstore in Albuquerque, NM, informed me that they will stock copies of Take Me There. They added my name to their local author/publisher page and listed the book on their digital store. Inside the physical location, they situate the local authors’ books on the front shelf so customers see them first.

I’ve scheduled the author event/book signing at the store on June 7th from 12-5. If you’re local to ABQ and can make it, come on by to chat. I’d love to meet you. There’s no pressure to buy a book; I enjoy connecting with like-minded people. Plus, the rare and collectible section alone is worth the visit.

Summary of the Book

The Kefi follows the adventures of Grig, a young kefi from the village of Gicha, as he departs on a quest to prove his independence. He quickly discovers that the world is a harsh place full of mysteries and danger.

A human boy, Beau Stevens, has an overactive imagination and loves to craft fictional stories. Unfortunately, his obsession with the unseen becomes a distraction and gets him into trouble. One day, Beau rescues Grig from the clutches of an outcast group of kefi known as the Neslah. A magical bond is formed between them, and they share the truth about their worlds with each other.

Separately, Grig's older brother, Faslo, recruits a band of kefi to bring Grig home safely. Their hunting party goes on an exciting adventure through the dangerous wilds outside the village, developing new friendships to last a lifetime.

Thomas Bubb’s endearing characters and world-building leap off each page. This book is full of action, mystery, and adventure, featuring unique battles, weapons, creatures, and settings. Themes of friendship, forgiveness, trust, honor, and respect are expertly woven through the narrative. A mixture of “The Smurfs” and “The Indian in the Cupboard,” The Kefi is bound to be an instant classic among younger readers.

The target audience for this book will be middle-grade readers, likely ages 6-13.

Seeking Alpha/Beta Readers

Would you like to read The Kefi before anyone else and provide your initial thoughts? Your insights would be invaluable to the author and me as we prepare to publish the book and market it to an audience of young readers. Alpha and Beta readers will be credited and thanked in an Acknowledgements section.

If this sounds interesting, email me (storyletter@protonmail.com) or comment on this post, and we’ll add you to the list for reading the book. If you know someone who would love to be involved, please send them our way.

Preferred timeline: February-April

Thanks for being subscribers, and thanks for helping us publish great books. You make this possible!

I narrowed it down to 17 entries. The decision-making process was challenging, as the quality was high across the board. I’ve offered a feedback option in my rejection letters, and the authors requesting it will receive it soon.

Thank you for sharing your terrifying stories with me. I can’t wait to finalize this book and get it into readers’ hands this summer. Separately, I’m working with my local Barnes & Noble to set up a signing booth—more info to come on that front.

Please celebrate the following authors who will be featured in the Take a Breath (TaB) anthology. Congratulations on your upcoming publication!

Featured authors

• Edward Ahern

• Warren Benedetto

• Rose Biggin

• Clark Boyd

• Matthew Christian

• Sam Crain

• Elana Gomel

• Rachel Henderson

• Juliette Jarabek

• Ilan Jones

• Hamish Kavanagh

• C.R. Langille

• Angus McIntyre

• Thomas North

• Leigh Parrish

• Pip Pinkerton

• Nidheesh Samant

Authors: If your name is misspelled, or you wish to have it altered, please let me know in the comments or by email.

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Like last year, I’ll send the featured authors a complimentary copy of their published hardcover book in a special box. Whether you have or haven’t been published, holding a physical copy of your work is always an exciting experience, and I want to share that with as many authors as possible.

This book box will also be available to yearly and founding members. Those who sign up before TaB releases in the summer will get last year’s box featuring our first anthology, Take Me There (TMT), shipped to them as well. TMT was recently shortlisted as 1 of 16 indie books highlighted in the first Reedsy Editors’ Choice Awards.

I aim to eventually ship quarterly or monthly book boxes featuring a wide range of indie books (not just from my press). The shipping and material costs are high, so I will lose money until at least 50 XPress members have come aboard (we’re at 32). However, the physical products bring the most value to my writers and readers, which makes it worth it to me.

For current free and monthly paid subscribers, please let me know what I can do to earn your upgrade to yearly. Substack’s strict payment options make it awkward for me, so I’m trying to maintain the month-to-month value, even though publishing fiction doesn’t always work that way.

I greatly appreciate all my subscribers' support. Without your comments, I wouldn’t be able to maintain this. Thank you to all who believe in me enough to keep this experimental project on track! ~ WM

Lunar Awards

Lunar Awards Season 10 | Round One Starts Now! | Fantasy

Welcome to the Lunar Awards…

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a year ago · 43 likes · 44 comments · Winston Malone and Daniel W. Davison

The Library

Buy Indie

Works are categorized by genre. Within each category, they are alphabetized by author. If applicable, sub-genres are listed beside works. For details about a specific work, refer to product information on a vendor's website. The Library is not responsible for the content contained in links. We earn nothing from your clicks or purchases…

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3 years ago · 33 likes · 5 comments

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

What a busy year it’s been. No matter how little time you have, stopping to reflect on your successes is always beneficial. Here are some of the things SXP accomplished in 2024:

• Published 15 original works of fiction

• Winston was interviewed by

• Signed two authors for publication

• Interviewed 14 authors

• Published an anthology in hardcover and paperback

• Shipped it to paid subscribers in a book box

• Collated and published an ebook of 2021-2022 posts for subscribers

• Received our first Founding member. Thanks, !

• Announced an open call for our next anthology

Headed to the moon

That’s not all! The Lunar Awards, founded by , joins the SXP family. I’m excited to see how this will impact us as we grow and bring more amazing opportunities for indies in the coming months. Remember to subscribe to the Lunar Awards to get updates on when the next seasons will open.

Lunar Awards

A New Starship Captain

I’m excited to share that a new leader is stepping up to the command module! I will be handing over ownership and responsibility of the Lunar Awards to my friend Winston Malone. This is not a decision I take lightly but is one that I feel is right for the community of fantasy and science fiction lovers that subscribe to this newsletter. I’m excited by the change, and…

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2 years ago · 57 likes · 31 comments · Brian Reindel 👾⚔️

Anthology submission deadline

The deadline for the Take a Breath anthology is fast approaching. Make sure to submit your claustrophobic horror stories for consideration before midnight on December 31st. I’m reading through submissions and now suffer from fears I never knew I had. This book is going to be terrifying!

Submit Here

Reedsy nomination

I was blown away to see this notification come into my inbox. A community manager from Reedsy informed me that the editors of their Discovery department had chosen Take Me There as one of their favorite books in 2024. Here is what they had to say:

I’m delighted to inform you that your book, Take Me There, has been shortlisted for the first ever Discovery Editors’ Choice Award. Congratulations!

Out of over 2,000 books submitted to Discovery this year, your book joins fifteen others on the shortlist. Our panel was deeply impressed by your work, specifically noting its compelling prose across a multitude of genres.

The winners of the award will be revealed on 30th December 2024.

Congratulations to the 23 authors featured in this book. You should be proud of the work you put into it. I know I am, and I’m grateful that others recognize it, too. Even if we don’t take home the award, I consider this a huge win. 🏆

2025 is going to be a big year

With several books in pre-production, the Lunar Awards on the horizon, and The Library expanding to over 275 books, SXP is poised to make the most of the new year. I’ve been secretly tinkering away on a new website and will launch it soon. I want it to be ready for the anticipated expansion to the indie mission and objectives that come with it, so I’m taking my time. It won’t just be a company website but the future of the SXP family as a whole.

Thanks for being a part of this journey. It’s because of you that we’re able to publish and promote these books. This community-driven small press appreciates your time and attention, and every little bit helps. I can’t wait to witness what the future has in store for us!

Word has been circulating that the retail bookstore is making quite a comeback, with plans to open between 30-60 new locations in 2024 alone. This is excellent news, not only for Barnes & Noble but for all lovers of books and brick-and-mortar stores.

But weren’t bookstores going out of business? What changed?

Making reading cool again

Many factors have affected physical shopping’s resurgence—a major one being the post-COVID nostalgia for enjoying public spaces again. That and commercial lease prices dropping in places to attract businesses back to malls and open-air shopping centers helped secure an economic growth spurt. But when it comes to book buying, something defies the norm. It’s a little thing called trends.

Social media’s recent boom has brought with it a new era of content creators and a “show-off” culture. People want to flaunt the latest and greatest, or at least give off the perception they can. It’s prevalent in many markets, particularly in trading card games, where retail shelves were emptied by fans and scalpers alike. I blame Logan Paul for that one.

Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok are examples of trendy content creation that hypes books to virality, smashing chart sales and flooding people’s feeds. Those heavily involved have started to reflect and question if they ever liked the books they were buying in the first place. I temporarily fell victim to this culture, purchasing exclusive editions of books I had no interest in reading to be among the first to post a picture or video of it in my collection. After reading some of these books, I regret fueling the fire.

The silver lining is that the power is no longer in the hands of the gatekeepers. Traditional publishing doesn’t have the only say in what tops the charts. Rabid fans or even clout-chasers can prop up their favorite (or best-looking) books online, and potential readers appear to respond. Whether BookTok is doing more harm than good remains to be seen.

The rise of indie

Over 2,000 independent bookselling companies are operating around 2,500 bookstores in the U.S. Despite signs that reading for pleasure is declining, book sales and places to buy them are on the rise. How can that be?!

Aside from overly optimistic folks buying books only to place them on their shelves and never touch them again, there are a few explanations:

• Why not open a bookstore? Fans of something tend to want to dedicate themselves to it. The super readers seeking to be surrounded by books all day will realize they can do that if they quit their desk jobs and commit. Running a bookstore isn’t easy, but the opportunity awaits those willing to pounce. The accessibility of these types of ventures has only become easier over the last decade.

• It’s more than a bookstore, man. It’s a vibe. Writers, readers, and normies love a cozy nook to lose themselves in for a few hours. Buying local is great for the community. The browsing traffic alone enables increased book sales and is a solid reason for a store to exist.

• A book cafe is the best of both worlds. Coffee and books? Now we’re grindin’ and bindin’ (oof, sorry). If there were candles that smelled like coffee and books, I’d buy them in a heartbeat. Anyway, I think you know why this one is a winner.

• On the flip side, finding the time is difficult. For most working adults, setting aside the time to read requires a strong will and desire. After scrolling for an hour on IG, the patience to stare at other imaginary possibilities becomes strained. Jokes aside, where does the time go?

So what happened with B&N?

In 2019, Barnes & Noble was acquired by investment firm Elliott Investment Management and turned into a privately held company. James Daunt came aboard as CEO and immediately steered the ship in what would become the financially correct direction. But who is James Daunt, and how did he reach the position of overseeing 900 bookstores worldwide?

James is certainly a book guy. In 1990, he opened an independent bookstore, Daunt Books, in London. He expanded to nine locations, with a unique theme of books categorized by country. After some time, he took over for Waterstones, the largest book chain in the UK. In just 5 years, James turned it profitable and became “the man who saved Waterstones.”

This was his strategy:

1. Decentralize book-buying decisions to individual store managers

2. Prioritize books over non-book products

3. Enhance the in-store experience

My takeaway is that these three steps scream “indie bookstore.” Curating bookshelves to meet your local customers sounds pretty straightforward, but for the chain, it was apparently a foreign idea before James came along.

But that’s not all. There’s another element not often discussed: the B&N membership. The store offers a free tier called Rewards and a Premium subscription with specific benefits for its members. It recently increased from the $25 to $40 in 2023.

James predicted that 75% of its 5.5 million paying members would upgrade to the new price. That’s roughly $165 million a year before book sales, coffee purchases, and merch have been factored in. One can see how that might help with those profitability metrics. Maybe Substack is on to something…

Still, nothing beats a good indie bookstore. Finding one in your local area is bound to give you the warm and fuzzies. I plan to visit more spots in New Mexico in the coming months since I just moved here.

Share your thoughts on the indie model and any reasons I didn’t cover for why it might be successful in the comments. If you enjoyed this, let me know by hitting the Like and Restack buttons to help support my independent press. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll have a physical location… I mean, why not, right?!

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Stay tuned for our next open call in the Fall of 2025.

We will purchase notable works capturing this theme from talented, independent authors and publish the collection as a book in hardcover, paperback, and digital eBook.

In our previous iteration, 24 authors (mostly from Substack) came together to contribute to “Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel.” The published hardcover book—along with other goodies—was shipped to annual paid subscribers and contributing authors in our XPress Book Box. The ebook is delivered in our Welcome email for both monthly and annual members.

The XPress Book Box will be available to a maximum of 100 annual subscribers due to supplies, time, and shipping reasons. Secure your spot today!

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This year, we’re delving into the deepest and darkest locations with a focus on stories that evoke a sense of confinement, lack of breath/oxygen, and the desperate need for escape. “Take a Breath” will have you turning the pages faster and faster, not only from the desire to discover how each story ends but because you’ll be holding your breath. We hope this theme will summon the terrific horror writing community on Substack and beyond.

We’re accepting submissions until the end of 2024 (December 31). Must be subscribed (free or paid) to be eligible. SXP is eager to work with writers of all levels, and we can’t wait to read your incredible stories!

Paid subscribers will help fund this book. Any costs not covered by subscriptions will be funded by Winston directly. He’d love to pay authors a higher rate than his current $.01 cents per word. If we reach 50 paid subs, he’ll be able to double payouts! With your support, indies can get the compensation they deserve.

Continue reading for more details, or submit below.

Submit Your Story

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Publishing Overview

We will accept short fiction heavily featuring the theme as presented above. Once accepted, your work will be published as long as it meets the guidelines. We pay .01 cents per word for short fiction up to 10,000 words (or $100) and a flat rate of $10 for works under 1000 words. No poetry at this time. Payment is received upon or near publication. No royalties will be paid.

Payment is conducted via PayPal, Venmo, Wise, or Zelle in USD.

At the time of submission, writers must sign the SXP Contract, allowing us to share your work online, market it, and use it in the upcoming anthology (digitally and physically). All rights to the story remain with the author, and we do not own the rights to your work (other than what is in the contract). However, we request a 6-month exclusivity period from the book’s publication date.

XPress memberships keep the payment model for indie writers possible. Upgraded readers gain access to paid-only posts, Original Fiction, private Discord, and digital copies of all of our books as they become available. Writers can access the year-round submission portal and receive interview priority status, among other benefits.

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What We’re Looking For

As a family-friendly publisher, we only consider submissions that follow our clean content guidelines. This includes no excessive profanity, overtly sexual content, or graphic violence for the sake of violence. Submissions containing such content will not be considered unless the writer agrees to a clean revision process. For references, please check out what we’ve previously published on Substack or read the FAQ section below for exact guidelines.

Submissions should be aimed at ages 13+. (Think PG-13 film rating)

Fiction must be completed before submission.

Volume Two - Theme and Specifics

The theme for the 2025 anthology is claustrophobic horror.

• Here are some examples of what we’re looking for:

  • Deep Ocean Mishaps- Stories of characters trapped at the bottom of the ocean, facing dwindling oxygen supplies or mechanical failures.

  • Buried Alive - Tales of individuals waking up to find themselves buried in coffins or trapped in underground caverns.

  • Space - Astronauts on missions gone wrong.

  • Elevators - Characters stuck in elevators or small spaces with psychological or supernatural elements.

  • Cave-ins - Explorers who get lost or stuck in deep cave systems.

  • Psychological Confinement - Stories where the confinement might not be physical but mental.

  • Medical Horror - Patients experiencing locked-in syndrome or under anesthesia awareness where they feel everything but can't move or breathe on their own.

  • Sleep Paralysis - People stuck in a waking nightmare where they cannot move.

  • Abandoned Facilities - Individuals exploring or trapped in abandoned places like asylums, bunkers, or mines, where the air is stale and escape routes are unclear or blocked.

  • Supernatural or Ghost Stories - Spirits or entities that trap people in time loops, haunted rooms, or force them to relive terrifying moments.

  • Escape Rooms Turned Deadly - What starts as a game becomes a real-life horror when participants realize they're actually trapped.

  • Sci-Fi Dystopias - Societies where air is a commodity and stories focus on those who cannot afford to "buy breath" or are confined to polluted zones.

  • Body Horror - Tales where the horror comes from within, perhaps a condition or creature affecting one's ability to breathe, like an alien organism or a psychological condition manifesting physically.

  • Other - The above list isn’t exhaustive. It’s meant to inspire ideas, so you’re free to create any scenario that fits the theme.

Once the stories have been selected, we will close the submission window and proceed with editing and revising. The book is expected to be published by June 2025.

This is the perfect opportunity if you’re seeking print publication and want to get paid for your work. We honor independent authors by producing high-quality books worthy of bookstores and bookshelves. Thank you for considering SXP as your potential publisher. We look forward to reading your stories!

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Guidelines and FAQs

How do I submit my story?

Please read the complete submission guidelines and the frequently asked questions before submitting your story. You can begin the process once you’ve read the guidelines and believe your story fits the anthology well. You must also be a free or paid subscriber to Storyletter XPress Publishing.

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Why do writers join as paying subscribers?

Joining as an XPress member is helpful for both Storyletter XPress Publishing and you as a reader/writer. It benefits us (the publisher) because it lets us know you’re serious about your work and want to support independent writers. It also pays for overhead costs such as editorial time, marketing, writer payouts, artwork commissions, website fees, etc.

Money from paying members is returned to the community one way or another.

What do you mean by family-friendly?

We have somewhat strict content guidelines. We understand that some stories require specific content to accomplish the story’s purposes, but Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not currently publish those stories.

For guidelines, see below:

• Swearing: Light swearing is acceptable. This applies to swearing in English and other natural languages, but not swear words in fantasy or alien tongues. 

• Violence: While we enjoy action, violence should not be glorified. Deaths may occur, but there should be minimal blood and gore. Physical torture is unacceptable. If descriptions of death are unavoidable, please consider taking an artistic approach.

• Sexual content: No sex scenes. Absolutely no rape. No descriptions of nudity. Innuendo and crude humor may be tolerated depending on the subject matter.

• Controversial topics: Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not publish stories that delve into controversial political or religious issues, such as gun control, abortion, or real-life political parties/candidates. This doesn’t mean you can’t use allegory or metaphor, but it should be nuanced and subtly implied.

Additional rules may apply to your story not listed here. 

If you are uncertain about your content, you can email storyletter@protonmail.com with a description or example of the content. Do not send pitches, as they will not be considered.

Can I submit previously published or self-published manuscripts?

Yes. All previous e-book publications must be discontinued from sale on any digital retailer. Previous print publications must be out of print and removed from on-demand printing. The author must have all the rights. Please include information about the previous publication and sales of the story/series in our submission form. Our submission guidelines still apply to previously published titles. Do not send print-ready PDFs. If accepted, we will edit, design, and publish previously published titles through our normal publishing process.

Should I submit my book to you? It’s about…

Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC ONLY reviews submissions sent through our form and the accompanying synopsis and manuscript delivery instructions. We do not review emailed queries, sample chapters, or partial manuscripts. We are happy to answer questions about our submission process or preferred genres over email. Still, we will not review author bios, outlines, queries, pitches, or other submission materials that have not been sent through our form.

Do you accept translations of books in other languages?

As long as the author or translator can work with our editors in English, we are happy to consider translated titles. To be considered, the manuscript must read naturally to native speakers or be able to read naturally with minor editing. The author’s and character’s voices must still be strong despite being translated. We will put all manuscripts through our normal editing processes, even if they are already published in another language. This includes any necessary plot edits. 

Do you accept submissions from authors outside the United States?

We accept submissions from anywhere worldwide but only publish stories in English.

Will you translate my book into English?

Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not currently translate stories. We only accept stories that have already been translated into English.

When should I submit?

Submissions are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC reserves the right to close submissions at any time.

Can I include artwork in my submission?

No, submissions should be text only. At this time, Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC is not accepting picture book submissions or color illustrations. Do not include cover art.

Do you make exceptions to your word count requirements?

Submissions below 50 or over 10,000 words will not be eligible.

Can I submit multiple titles for your consideration?

Yes, but try to limit your submissions to the stories that best fit the theme to give our editors time to review each submission.

Need Help?

Have questions not answered here? Email your question to storyletter@protonmail.com.

Submission queries sent through email will not be considered. Do not send outlines, summaries, or query letters. 

For more info, head on over to the About page.

Stay tuned for the official SXP anthology open call for short stories this month. In that announcement post, I’ll provide all the details regarding the theme of the book, the updated submission guidelines, and a timeline for publication. If you’re looking to get your work published in print and delivered to subscribers, this anthology will be one to get excited about!

Subscribe now

What I’ve been working on

Following the successful July launch of our first anthology, Take Me There, I packed and shipped the XPress Book Boxes to paid subscribers and the contributing authors. It was a lot of work, and yet so much fun. Now, I’m looking forward to 2025’s edition!

I haven’t posted much lately for several reasons. I found a new job and moved to a new state (New Mexico!) in September. Now, I’m traveling for work but making sure to tend to this newsletter, as well as The Library (big shout out to for her efforts maintaining a ton of submissions). Meanwhile, the two authors who signed with SXP are diligently working on edits and revisions for their novels, which are expected to be released in early 2025.

Since June, some new original stories have been published through SXP, a mix of my own and from several amazing authors on Substack. Paid subscribers get unfettered access to all of it, as well as other perks, depending on how you choose to support our work. Personally, I’ve been experimenting with poetry as a way to maintain my creativity with limited time.

Short Stories

Poetry

More surprises to come

I want to thank everyone reading this, the writers and readers who support and share this publication with others, and a big welcome to all the new subs rolling in. You make this small press possible.

There are big things in the pipeline that I can’t mention just yet, but know that I’m excited and cannot wait to share the news. It will directly impact free and paid subs alike, so everyone aboard the Storyletter XPress will benefit!

Oh, and if you’re looking to chat or meet someone new, come say hello in our latest meet and greet thread! Can’t wait to meet you. ~ WM

Simon bought Maggie a dog when he proposed. “In case it doesn’t work, you’ll always have Bobo.” He meant IVF, or perhaps Maggie, or perhaps Maggie’s womb. In the months since, she’d considered all three. They’d met at The National Gallery. 

Maggie sneezed in front of The Annunciation. A stranger in a duffel coat said, “Bless you,” and she laughed because that’s what she wanted. He took her to lunch, then to bed, where her inability to conceive was momentarily ideal, and under straightened sheets she told him of an ectopic pregnancy, an exploded fallopian tube and the loss of the other because the surgeon hadn’t known his left from his right. Simon held her tight. He was separated from his wife; they shared a house, but only just. Different bedrooms for a year, not a hint of sex for almost ten; it was dead in the water, a seventeen-year blight; he was dying until he met Maggie. 

Maggie taught sculpture at an art school in Cheam and made pottery in her sitting room, newspaper on the floor, animals massaged from clay kept damp in old paint tubs, fired at school, and given away as presents she never saw displayed. It was fine until her flatmate moved out; she couldn’t pay the rent, and Simon said he couldn’t live without her. Within a week of proposing, he’d moved into her ground-floor flat where Bobo already fouled the high-walled yard.

At the kitchen table, still cramped by the surprise of his presence, she said, “I haven’t any money.” Bobo rested his head on her lap.  She twined her fingers through the curls of his coat. 

Simon said, “I’ll pay for everything. The clinic says we have a good chance.” 

“I know what the clinic says.” The clinic had felt like their fifth date.  “Shouldn’t we wait a bit?” 

Simon stood up, taking his tea with him.  “IVF is a long business. We may as well start now.”

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Spooky season is upon us. Want another way to read this and other Western Horror tales? Purchase the anthology by Timber Ghost Press here:

Along Harrowed Trails

Anyone who’d ever meant anything to Elia Worthington had died in her arms. Even the son who had yet to become a man was lost to disease. Some said the Lord had called him to his new home for a better purpose, but she didn’t believe that. Her loved ones had been taken, not called. Death was in the business of stealing life, ripping it away indiscriminately to leave those who remain to live on and suffer.

Elia knelt down by the graves at the edge of the ranch to pay her respects. The sun had dipped low, half-concealed behind the flat-topped mountains on the other side of the river. Four wooden crosses marked the graves: her father, brother, son, and—

A horse whinnied and halted next to the small graveyard. A man unsaddled and stepped down. He wore a white hat and a black button-up shirt. There was a revolver at his hip. He was handsome, even with the crows' feet at the edges of his eyes. His beard was twice as long as it had been in his youth. It was her husband, and he was alive.

“How are you doing, hon?” 

She raised herself to stand before him. His eyes failed to meet hers.

“I’m okay, Cole. Still doing okay. How are you?”

Cole Worthington stepped forward and passed through Elia to kneel by the fourth grave. 

“Sorry I’m late. The cattle were unsettled. Not sure what had ‘em riled up, but they’re calm now.”

Tears streamed from her translucent eyes. Elia’s shoulders slumped, her weightless form gliding a few inches off the ground. She hated that she would never get a chance to embrace him again, that she could only see him, not be with him. Was this yet a curse, or perhaps a blessing to live on like this?

Cole kissed his fingers. Then he touched the cross that marked Elia’s grave. “I sure do miss you, El.” 

“I miss you, too.”

Cole rose, went to his horse, and climbed back into the saddle. He seized the reins and guided the horse back to the house. Elia knew she’d appear back at her grave in the morning but returned to the ranch with her husband every night. Even as the horse reached a high-speed gallop, she moved swiftly and effortlessly beside him. It was nearly dark.

Cole secured the horse in the stable and went into the ranch house. The house consisted of two stories. There was a porch that ran along the perimeter of the house covered by an overhang. Not much had changed since Elia’s death, except maybe the addition of a layer of dust. She didn’t blame him for his untidiness, though. Running a ranch and caring for such a large property would be difficult for anyone. Elia had hated cleaning but would have given anything to have a few more hours to interact with the real world.

After eating a can of cold beans, Cole retired upstairs to the bedroom and undressed. He’d grown skinny and had lost much of his muscular tone. Elia slipped into the large bed on the side once reserved for her. Her spectral head lay on the undisturbed pillow. Cole opened a window to let in the cool night air. He lay atop the sheets since he hadn’t bathed. He stared at the ceiling in silence and then turned to Elia. This was her favorite part of the evening, the moment that felt the most real. 

His steely eyes melted as he looked at her pillow. He blinked out tears and placed his hand where Elia’s cheek would’ve been. She closed her eyes. His fingers hovered over her, and she could almost feel his touch.

“I wish you were here, hon,” Cole said.

“I am here.”

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

“Good night, El.”

“Good night, Cole.”

Cole’s hand relaxed on the bed, passing through Elia’s phantom midriff. She laid her hand over his. She swore she could feel the heat emanating from him. Elia had tried to tap into that strange energy, but after a nightmarish shock that had startled Cole out of his sleep, she hadn’t tried it since. Elia couldn’t sleep as she had when she was alive. If she lost focus, she simply faded away and returned to her gravesite.

Nights on the ranch were quiet, serene. The Worthington Ranch was ten thousand acres, nestled between the river and mountains on the west side of the property and the vast desert wilderness bordering the east. They were two hours' ride from Cheyenne, and other than the Union Pacific railroad tracks that crossed over the northeastern side of their property, no other signs of humanity marred the pristine landscape.

Elia kept watch over Cole through the night. That’s when it felt most normal, like nothing had changed, like the incident at the bank had never happened. Time passed differently when one couldn’t find rest. The torment periodically took its toll over the past two years. It was a period of unending distress that caused her to wail and rage about the house some nights in an attempt to cross over.

As she felt that rage build inside her even then, Elia recognized the warmth spilling out from Cole’s chest like a light at the end of a mountain tunnel. She reached out and laid a hand on him. With her eyes closed, she could see his dream, the dream of a haunted man, alone and aimless. Cole stood nearly naked at the center of a parched, cracked wasteland. Buzzards circled overhead. The sky was red like blood and the sun unrelenting in its fury. Elia saw it as if she were there but had refrained from manifesting herself within the dream lest he be awakened.

The spectral landscape warped and blurred. The sun was eclipsed by the moon, and the world was cast into utter darkness save for the fires that floated around Cole’s head. The six fires illuminated six Kiowa men. They chanted as they circled him at a staggering pace, faster than he could turn about. Elia had heard stories of the Ghost Dance, a ceremony that reunited the living with the dead.

Cole stopped turning and focused intently on something in the distance. Elia followed his gaze. It was her, or a version of her. Her skin had rotted, and there were empty sockets where her eyes had been. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream, one arm outstretched toward him.

“El? Hon?” Cole whispered, then much louder, “Elia!”

The Kiowa men dissolved, and the fires fell to the ground and burst like lanterns. The flames engulfed Cole’s feet and rose over his body. He screamed.

“Elia!” he yelled again, jerking upright in his bed.

“I’m here, my love. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done it. I just can’t stand no longer being with you.”

Cole panted, wiping sweat from his brow. The sound of a train whistle pierced the night. Even though she knew he couldn’t hear her, she felt compelled to explain what had gone wrong.

“I had to feel you. I had to—” Elia cut off as a strange boom rattled the house. The mirror attached to her desk in the corner wobbled back and forth before settling into stillness. The rumble faded into a low quake, but somehow, she knew it wasn’t of the earth.

Cole scrambled to the window and leaned out to look north. Flashes of yellow flared against the black canvas of night, and the moonlight reflected off rising smoke. “It’s the Union Pacific,” he said. “It’s derailed—my God!”

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