This week is Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week, an entire week dedicated to appreciating self-published authors! This special week is taking place between July 21st to July 27th and was started by Jodie over at the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog. You can find out more about SPAAW on Jodie’s blog, as well as ways to take part.
Naturally, at Read Indie Fantasy, we’re big fans of self-published authors and so we couldn’t help but get involved! Every day this week, Nils and Trudie will be making a spotlight post (like this one!) to highlight a classic self-published author’s book as well as a new author or book we think needs the spotlight across SFF genres and book types.
Want to take part? You can support self-published authors by leaving a book review or shouting about your favourite self-published books on social media. Don’t forget these hashtags: SPAAW #SelfPublishedAuthorsAppreciationWeek
Here are Tru’s picks for today’s themed spotlight on short stories:
A Classic Book Spotlight for… Elior
Legends speak of great swords; weapons surrounded by prophecies and promised destinies. But swords are not born to greatness, and few are forged with the will to carve out their own legend.
Elior by Rowena Andrews is a beautifully written short story from the POV of a sword. You can download it for free via Rowena’s Kofi page. And if you enjoyed that, do take a look at the recently released The Last Selkie.
About the Author
Rowena Andrews spent her childhood searching for Dragons and talking to animals and started turning that into words when she was bored in class. She wrote her first book at fourteen and while it lives forever in the bottom of the sock drawer, the encouragement from her English Teacher meant the writing bug took hold and never went away.
Rowena has a BSc in Geography and a PG Diploma in Coastal and Maritime Societies and Cultures. She moved to Scotland for University, fell in love with the place and never left, and now lives and works on the east Fife coast.
When she’s not writing or reading, she’s hoarding dice and playing Dungeons & Dragons, and submitting to the whims of a demanding cat and a pair of mini dachshunds.
- Goodreads: Rowena_Andrews
- Kofi: beneathathousandskies
A New Book Spotlight for… Forever Night
A person can find love in the most unlikely places, at the most unfortunate times.
When a grieving woman meets a man desperate to escape expectations, she starts believing in love again. Suddenly, her impending divorce doesn’t seem so bleak.
He never wanted to return—to war, to society, to a life that no longer fit. But his fiancée craves it all: the glittering balls, the bustling crowds, the brimming energy. A chance encounter in an empty gallery opens his eyes—perhaps they were never meant to be.
Two unfortunate souls seeking solace in each other. An enchantress willing to grant their deepest desires. One chance to escape their gilded cages—if they dare to take it.
Forever Night is a tragic fairy tale of love, grief, and hope.
Forever Night by Tessa Hastjarjanto is a short story in the style of a tragic fairy tale, written by the author of Undine’s Blessing, a SPFBO semi-finalist. If you like a modern take on new fairy tales, then check out Tales of Lunis Aquaria for a collection of more short stories.
About the Author
Tessa Hastjarjanto is a Dutch/Indonesian writer from the Netherlands. She writes speculative fiction, and blogs at narratess.com about books, fountain pens, and writing.
From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a master’s degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht. However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follow her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.
With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.
- Website: www.TessaHastjarjanto.com
- Twitter: @Endalia
- Instagram: @tessa.hastjarjanto
- Bookbub
- Amazon Profile
- Goodreads Profile
