As you may have noticed, I really, really meant the “endless stories” part of my tagline. I worldbuild and develop my characters through short stories, and I try to share all of them with my subscribers (once they’re to a point that I’m willing to make them public).
That said, most of these stories are too beautiful or too broken to disappear into old newsletters, not to be seen again. (Or until I manage to sneak them into a full-length story.)
So I’ve collected them here, a place where my subscribers can explore the stories, myths and secrets I’ve used to shape the Sundered Realms.
Read bravely.
“Magic & Mischief” – Cousins Eryka and Selah have a knack for mischief. Magic is an unfortunate side wrinkle in their plans. This fun short story occurs before the Reckoning was ever on the horizon.
“Making Stitches” – Mona of Syrrel is a quiet girl with a strong heart whose choices resonate far beyond the quiet life she thought she’d lead. In this poignant short story, she makes a choice that helps shape the woman she’ll become.
“Blackbird” – An ominous short story where Selah gets the first hint of the darkness in her future.
“In the Quiet Between” – Some problems just can’t be solved with fists, much to Aedh’s dismay. This short scene, set during the events of “In the Shadow of Secrets,” is from Aedh’s perspective. (Note: This scene is a little spoilery, so if you haven’t already read “In the Shadow of Secrets,” you might want to start there.)
“The Ruin of Ehslyng” – Woof. This is a dark novella that doesn’t feature any of the characters from the Reckoning. These events happen during “By the Weight of Blood.” You might cry. (I do, and I wrote the dang thing!)
“Mercy of the Sands” – This is a short story set in Shad, a country that has not yet featured in a Sundered Realms story. This one is dark. A story of devotion, identity and sacrifice. I love this one, even though it is very, very dark.
“Salt Dreams” – This is a weird one. It’s nominally set in Rhew (another country we haven’t yet visited), but it’s more myth than story. Not fun, not dark, just … contemplative.
Again, feel free to explore the Realms through these stories! And if you have thoughts or opinions about any of them, please let me know. (Yes, “Mercy of the Sands” will be a book some day. Just not quite yet!) I love hearing from my readers, and I really (really really!) love hearing what moves you (irritates you, makes you gasp, makes you laugh … all the things!).
You can reach me at sarahzcreates @ gmail.com. I read everything (although not always immediately!).
