Storyfeather

A reporter and camera operator expect to uncover a hoax when they investigate sightings of flying pigs, but soon find themselves on the path of a much stranger story. Genre: Fantastic Mystery

Excerpt: "The boss wants us to relate it to the flying pigs story," Quentin said.

They were driving out to another farm, within the county this time. And this time, it was a commercial farm where the workers had reported that the chickens had begun growing teeth.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?"Draw: When pigs fly" (I didn't actually draw a flying pig…not for this story anyway.) Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc. Additional inspiration from the following source. https://omniglot.com/language/idioms/flyingpigs.php Idioms that mean something that is highly unlikely to happen

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Seven Signs of Impossible Times" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by LEE ROSEVERE "Awkward Silences (version a)" "Not My Problem" "Knowing the Truth" "Slow Lights" "Betrayal" "Awkward Silences (version b)"

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Hidden Fear" "Mystical House (Short Loop)" "Story at Night" "Scary Theme #5" "Scary Theme #3" "Scary Theme #4 (Version 2)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. At center, two figures seen from mid-thigh up standing in front of a massive gate that is halfway open. The man at left faces forward. He holds a microphone up to his mouth with his right hand and gestures to the gate with his left. The woman at right holds a professional camera over her right shoulder. The camera is pointed toward the man. On either side of the frame in foreground are towers of gladiolus flowers. Snow appears to be blowing down and out from the open gate. A plaque on the left side of the gate reads "Pandemonium."

When unexpectedly asked about their profession, a person accustomed to remaining unnoticed until needed debates about how to tell the truth—spectacularly, or mundanely.

Genre: Science Fantasy

Excerpt: I noticed him seeming to notice me, and I found that so unlikely that I almost frowned. I was extremely skilled at remaining unnoticed. The Queen of the Hollow Yellow Moon had once proclaimed that I had the power to turn invisible. Of course, there's no such thing. At least, I haven't come across any such thing in my work so far.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?"A stranger asks what you do. How do you reply?" Source: A Writer's Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there, for yourself, or as a gift.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Galactic Analyst" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "A Tale of Peace" "Thoughts" "Midnight Creeping" "A Tale of Water"

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Stars Talk" "Dark Side" "Last Moments of Peace" "Space Discoveries" "Another World" "A Long Way"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. Bottom left, black silhouettes of two people facing each other, seen from waist up. Behind them is a starry expanse. Above their heads are bright colored gases. At top right is a sphere, encircled by rings in symmetrical orbits. Watermark of "Storyfeather" at bottom right.

When the once-inseparable children of the Rain and the Sun quarrel and go their separate ways, they set in motion dire consequences for their parents and for the world.

Genre: Mythology

Excerpt: When they were young, the seven children of the Rain and the Sun were inseparable. They were magnificent, these children. When they were born, so too were colors born into the world. And the colors bore the names of the seven children. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

What each child touched became that color. The red petals of a rose, the orange cheeks of a young fairy, the green spires of a pine, the indigo eye of a peacock's feather. They

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?"Write down the colors of the rainbow, then list a character trait that suits each color." Source: A Writer's Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Children of the Rain and the Sun" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Humorous Exploration (loop)" "Exploration Mystery (loop)" "Exploration Cave (loop)" "Cue Nature 2" "Cue Nature" "Holy Hymn (loop)"

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Magic Within" "Lyric Voices #2" "Lyric Voices #5" "Peace in My World (final theme)"

Music by LEE ROSEVERE "How I Used to See the Stars" "Night Caves" "You're Enough (version a)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. Seven bands of vertical color form a rainbow with red at left and violet at right. The silhouettes of humanoid figures stand within each band of color and match that color. The figures are seen from the waist up and are joining hands. The borders contain all seven colors mixed together as if in a paint palette.

A spaceship built for short-range research is re-tasked with the mission of traversing a vast and mysterious anomaly.

Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction

Excerpt: The Shifting Night Anomaly was so called at first be-cause its margins seemed to change every so often, making it difficult, if not impossible, to map. We had sent probe after probe inside for three generations. Out of the near thousand probes that were deployed, only forty-seven were recovered. The more we learned about the anomaly, the more we realized how fitting the name was. There were no systems and no stars within, only remnants of dead worlds. Only strange and exotic gases. Only nebulas haunted by the ghosts of stars that flickered and faded before they could burst into life.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Don't know. My drafts and notes provide no clue. Maybe it's… Anomaly: a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form. (source: dictionary.com)

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there. It's on sale until 11/30/2023.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

As mentioned in the episode: Angry Gingerbread Man Mug

CREDITSStory: "The Shifting Night Anomaly" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Dark web" "Haunted spaceship" "Compass" "Genetic marker" "Dark wonders" "Ghost of Phobos" "Wide place"

Music by TAO AND SOUND* "U Never Had To Exist" "Hacker Duels – INTRO" "I Never Gave Up – INTRO" "I Never Gave Up – (B) MELODY LOOP" "I Never Gave Up – (A) MELODY LOOP" "80s Synth Ambient 02 E" "80s Synth Ambient 01 C" "U Never Had To Exist - INTRO"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Tao And Sound licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Tao And Sound at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At left, front of a ship with a forward cabin, two thrusters protruding from the sides, and a central portion with glowing oval that may be part of an engine or a domed window. The ship is in a typical part of outer space and is facing to the right of frame. Right half of image is a shapeless mass of alternating glowing and shadowy folds.

A woman entreats a student of medicine for help with an extraordinary and destructive condition, she can conduct massive amounts of electricity.

Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction

Excerpt: I am only a student. That's why she came to me, trusting that I would have a sufficient balance of knowledge and naiveté to serve her desperate need.

And I am woman. That's why she came to me, trusting that I would not mark her concerns as mere hysterics.

What was this strange and destructive condition she bore? She spoke of hurting her husband and fleeing from her children so that she would never hurt them. She spoke of being pursued by authorities in dark garb.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Galvanic: pertaining to or produced by galvanism; producing or caused by an electric current. Galvanism: Electricity, especially as produced by chemical action. In Medicine. The therapeutic application of electricity to the body. Diaphoresis: perspiration, especially when artificially induced. (source: dictionary.com)

FREE FICTION WRITING WORKSHOPI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023.

The replay is available here: NILA'S WRITING WORKSHOP

(And there's information for how you can learn even more from me.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

As mentioned in the episode: Angry Gingerbread Man Mug

CREDITSStory: "The Galvanic Ghost" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Inspector" "Unsolved" "At night" "Blood and bones" "Witches" "Whispers" "Evidence" "Eternal life" "Creatures of the night"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A woman in a Victorian era dress sits on a bench, facing and looking forward, her legs bent slightly to the right. Her arms are outstretched and her hands rest on the metallic ends of the bench. A bronze panel is bolted to the bottom front of the bench at left. The panel bears four visible dials: a row of three dials at bottom, and one at top right corner of the panel. To the left of the single dial is written, "Electrical," and below that "40 Amperes" and below that "No. 87." Electric bolts spray out from a central point, the woman's head and neck.

High jinks ensue when two caterpillar fairies who are close to death attend a grand fairy ball as a last hurrah.

Genre: Fable, Fairy Tale, Fantasy

Excerpt: "Alas! We are doomed to die as caterpillars, never having become butterflies." Lickspittle shook hishead. He gazed up and shook several fists at the sky.

Sobersides sighed gravely. "Perhaps tomorrow morning."

The two caterpillar fairies had woken that morning, and that meant that they were still caterpillars. And that would have been fine, save that they had both reached the age where most caterpillars had already formed cocoons and transformed into butterfly fairies.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?There are two: Lickspittle & Sobersides Lickspittle: a contemptible, fawning person; a servile flatterer or toady. Sobersides: a humorless or habitually serious person. (source: dictionary.com)

FICTION WRITING WORKSHOPI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023.

The replay is available here: NILA'S WRITING WORKSHOP

(And there's information for how you can learn even more from me.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Lickspittle and Sobersides" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by TRG BANKS "Insideoutworld" "The silver bus" "Great Aunt Henrietta"

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Wake up" "La voie divine"

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "Checking Inventory" "In Tranquil Spring" "Spinning Tavern" "Sinning Tavern" "Thoughts" "A Tale of Peace" "Lingering Evil" "Encounter of Misdeeds" "Midnight Creeping"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Jonathan Shaw licensed from GameDev Market Music by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal LicenseSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Jonathan Shaw at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more music by TRG Banks at bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Two caterpillars, their raised top sections and heads facing forward next to each other at center. The rest of their bodies extend and curve down and out to either side of the frame. The caterpillar at left wears a vest and is smiling. The caterpillar at right wears a scarf that blows out to the right, has many arms crossed and is frowning. Discs of glowing spirals float above and lie below them.

The crew of a prospecting freighter on the edge of known space makes an unexpected discovery about their outdated and recently replaced engine.

Genre: Science Fiction

Excerpt: Cruising along at the edges of known space, the Vesta was among the last ships to receive the engine upgrade. But it wasn't just distance that caused the delay. The t-drives were expensive. And unlike large organizations who could absorb the cost, individual contractors like Ryan and his crew had to weigh their options, even when their safety was concerned.

The nosebleeds, the headaches, the nausea, and even that one paralysis scare had not been enough to convince Ryan to take the risk. Not alone. But he couldn't bear to wait until something worse hap-pened, until someone lost a limb, or worse, their life.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Bombinate: to make a humming or buzzing noise (source: dicitionary.com)

FREE FICTION WRITING WORKSHOPI'm holding my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version). Date & Time: November 8, 2023 at 11am PT If you're interested, but can't make it, you can sign up anyway. I'll send out a replay link to those who are registered. Register here: NILA'S WRITING WORKSHOP

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Bombinating Engine" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by TRG BANKS "Through the gravitational field" "Keith in 1987" "Insideoutworld" "Non-stop to Insideoutworld" "Smooth jacket" "Cigar"

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Learning punch" "Neon city" "Particle voyager"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev Market Music by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal LicenseSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by TRG Banks at bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View from the inside of a rectangular spaceship engine compartment to the opening at which four crew members stand looking into the compartment. Two of them have mouths open and brows raised. Three are wearing the same uniform. The fourth wears clothing of a different color and a cap. The wall at right is hung with a plaque labeled "Junction 43" at top. At bottom right corner is printed "Primary: 329.029" and below that, "Secondary:" At right lying on the bottom surface is some capsule with a tapered end that points toward the compartment's opening. At left is a cylindrical component held in place by a clawed arm at bottom left. The component is hollow and the back is open showing smaller cylindrical tubes set inside and two large cylinders glowing with energy. Along the visible side is a panel. At bottom center is another opening. Sparks of light are rising out of that bottom opening and are scattered through the compartment.

Six people get stuck on an elevator, but when the elevator starts moving again, their true ordeal begins.

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Excerpt: It wasn't where any of us wanted to go, but we all stepped off the elevator as if by some instinct to escape the place where we'd been trapped, even if it had just been less than an hour.

At a glance, we could see that the sixth floor was empty. No one was there. Nothing was there. Aside from the support pillars, it was an open empty space.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?I don't know. I really don't know.

Here's a list of some more spooky episodes from seasons past: Season 5, Episode 256 THE MONSTROUS MEN OF THE MOORS ​I love this one. I invented a whole holiday for this one. Happy Night of Monsters! Happy Angfilnott! Season 4 (lots of horrific stories in this season) Episode 201 THE HUNTER AND THE CRYPT ​"This was no time for doubt, with my hand gripping the wooden stake that I was soon to drive into her husband's heart."

Episode 203 APRIL MAJUS ​Some of the first rumors were of alien abduction. The latest rumors had turned the abductor into some kind of urban legend. And the latest victim was not what she seemed.

Season 3, Episode 151 THE CURSE OF THE GRAY HUNGER As might be expected with beauty so bold, they were envied by many. They were coveted by many. She did not want to lock up her daughters for fear of the world. But one day, her fears came true.

Season 2, Episode 47 CHAINMAKER A wolf-like creature is savaging the residents of a quiet township, and no one knows how to catch or kill it. Could the answer lie in the town's past?

Want even more? Check out the September/October 2023 issue of the Storyfeather Gazette HERE.

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Elevator 6F" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by LEE ROSEVERE "Featherlight (remix – vocals by Heather Feather)"

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Learning punch" "The deal" "Prisma" "Experiment 6" "Hope is gone" "Ruined" "Orbs (seamless)" "Room 13" "Tool" "Dark wonders" "Horns" "Fright night" "Near death experience" "Hell awaits" "Genetic marker"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev Market Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Partial view of an elevator panel with six hands of various sizes and complexions all poised at the button labeled with the number"1," at the bottom left of the panel. The button's edge glows red. The buttons are arranged in four columns with four buttons per row. All buttons are labeled with a number and embossed with Braille. The edges of the other buttons are colored yellow. The other visible button numbers are five through fourteen. One hand bears a wedding ring. Cuffs are visible on a few hands, and a thin colored bracelet on one hand.

A new homeowner must decide how to deal with the uncanny and uninvited inhabitants discovered in the attic.

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Content Warning: Animals in supernatural danger.

Excerpt: One of my friends told me a terrifying story she'd read about. This guy was living in a house where a family lived, without their knowledge, for the longest time. He hid in some hidden closet they didn't know about. He'd come out at night when they were sleeping, to use their shower and eat their food. He'd only made himself aware to the youngest child, who just thought the man was an imaginary friend.

After learning that, I went home praying that the noises in my attic were just a friendly little opossum. Hey, if I ran into it and it bit me, no problem. I'd go get a rabies shot or whatever I needed.

Maybe that story was why I was in the state of mind I was in when I finally saw what it was that was living in my attic.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?There doesn't seem to be one. Did the lodgers in the attic…take it?

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Lodgers in the Attic" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Home" "Before the shadows" "Behind the door" "Deep lands part 2" "Creatures of the night" "Between two worlds" "Dark shadows and brilliant highlights" "Ashes" "Darkest quest" "The crypt" "Incantation" "As it happened" "Above (seamless)" "Hidden in the dark"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View of an attic showing an open trap door with the top of a ladder propped against one edge. In front of the angled attic wall, a glowing red portal appears at right, with the dark silhouette of a small humanoid figure stepping forward. At bottom right, a shadow falls on the floor, showing the vague shape of a head, torso, and right arm.

What happens when two treasure-seekers cross a forbidden threshold and trespass within an ancient temple?

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Mythology

Excerpt: "Greetings, travelers," the temple guardian said. "Give me your names."

The two treasure-seekers gave her their names freely.

She did not return their offer of names, nor did she return their smiles.

"Turn back, travelers," the temple guardian said, her voice calm and measured. "Go no further than the spot where I now stand."

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Onoma, a Greek word meaning "name."

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Hollow Temple" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Ancient gods" "A story of gold" "At night" "Dark winds" "Above" "Glass (seamless)" "One two thrill" "Eternal life" "Human fear"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Two men facing forward standing in a corridor that stretches back to a vanishing point behind them. Both hold up flashlights in their right hands. Both have bands stretching across their chests and hung over their left shoulders attached to pouches at their right hips. Recesses appear at intervals on both walls. The wall at left bears a torch, and at bottom left corner, a stick figure depiction of two figures, one with one raised hand, and the other with both hands raised. The wall at right has a mosaic depiction of a woman in left profile, in a green dress with a wide red belt, her bent right arm raised. In one recess is a rough-made statue of a sitting figure. At bottom right is a mosaic depiction of two figures with arms raised toward each other.