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HIRAETH PUBLISHING’S

AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTER

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Musings on the Post-Apocalypse

 

The Post-Apocalypse has long been a topic of interest to writers and storytellers. Maybe it begins with the Revelations of St. John. From there it progresses to the year 1000 A.D., which many took to be the end of days. Let us not forget, in this same context, the year 2K. The Maya had a calendar that foresaw major changes every 52 years, the last of which involved the invasion of the Aztec Empire by Hernan Cortez. Movies of the end of days include “The World, the Flesh, and the Devil” in 1959. Let us not forget “Walking Dead,” a hugely popular television series, and the made-for-tv movie “The Day After,” and the “Fallout” games. And “World War Z” and the “Resident Evil” series.

 

Many storytellers have employed the post-apocalypse in their tales. Robert A. Heinlein’s “Farnham’s Freehold” comes to mind, as does Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles”. My own “A Zinc in Time” was just released (see ICYMI below). It’s a fascinating and yet dark topic that cannot be exhausted because it’s the future, which has yet to be written. We only think we know what will happen.

 

Yet there are three poets (yeah, poetry! Deal!) who back in the 19th century had something to say about the end of days. Coming across ancient ruins, Percy Bysshe Shelley had this to relate.

 

“On the pedestal, these words appear:

‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!’

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

 

Desolation, as a theme, also appears in the work of John Keats, in his poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn.”

 

“And, little town, thy streets for everymore

Will silent be; and not a soul to tell

Why thou art desolate, can e’er return”

 

Even Edgar Allan Poe chimed in, not once but twice, and in the same poem, “The Haunted Palace.”

 

“But evil things, in robes of sorrow,

Assailed the monarch’s high estate.

(Ah, let us mourn for never morrow

Shall dawn upon him desolate!)

And round about his home, the glory

That blushed and bloomed

Is but a dim-remembered story

Of the old time entombed.”

 

That passage refers to the past. But it seems to me that his next and last verse in this poem anticipates the rise of the zombies. Thus:

 

“And travelers now, within that valley

Through the red-litten windows see

Vast forms, that move fantastically

To a discordant melody,

While, like a ghastly rapid river,

Through the pale door

A hideous throng rush out forever

And laugh—but smile no more.”

 

Last, but absolutely not least, is a poem by the great T.S. Eliot, titled “The Hollow Men.” I will not reproduce it here (I heard that sigh of relief!) but for the last four lines, which are familiar to us all. Sadly.

 

“This is the way the world ends.

This is the way the world ends.

This is the way the world ends.

Not with a bang but a whimper.”

 

And still the topic remains unexhausted…

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THIS IS A NEWSLETTER, SO NOW WE MUST RETURN TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING…

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New guidelines for Shelter of Daylight are posted at: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/shelter-of-daylight

The new submissions address is shelterdaylight@yahoo.com

 

New guidelines for Cosmic Crime Stories are posted at: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/cosmic-crime-stories-guidelines

The new submissions address is cosmiccrimestories@yahoo.com

 

JUPITER’S EYE

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Jupiter’s Eye is a digest of science fiction and fantasy and (very few) darker short stories, poems, and art. It is published in April, August, and December. In general, there will be three stories, three poems, three illustrations, and one article in each issue, so competition will be intense. Editors are the Hiraeth Staff. We look forward to seeing your work. Guidelines are posted here: www.hiraethsffh.com/jupiter-s-eye-guidelines

 

ELDER THINGS EXPEDITIONS

Submissions are now closed. Scheduled publication is in October. Elder Things Expeditions is the seventh in our series of Lovecraftian anthologies. In it, we explore three sections of time in exploration of Antarctica leading to revelations about the nature of the denizens, normal and paranormal, residing there. Reference can be made to funding by Miskatonic University, but be careful how you deal with the names and events that may be protected by copyright. 

 

DRABBLE CONTEST:

Drabble Harvest #14: The Witch’s Broom is now closed to submissions. Winners and updates to be announced next month.

 

ICYMI: ANNOUNCING A NEW IMPRINT FROM HIRAETH PUBLISHING

Now Hiraeth Books has an imprint called Into The Light. Books under this imprint will focus on Christianity. Currently, we are open to submissions to a digest called MEDITATIONS. See below. The first novel under Into The Light, “Miracle at the Foundry,” was released in September. It is to be noted that this imprint in no way affects our genre publications under Hiraeth Publishing.

 

We have opened an e-mail address for Into The Light. It is into the light books @ gmail dot com. You will have to combine it. The editors who work at that address are: Teri Santitoro, Francis W. Alexander, and Tyree Campbell. Just below is the submissions blurb for Meditations.

 

ICYMI: ANNOUNCING A NEW ANTHOLOGY OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS…

The title of the anthology is MEDITATIONS: a Minimalist Poetry Anthology for Christians. We are looking for haiku and tanka written in the spirit of Christian love and peace. It is imperative that contributors read the guidelines.

Guidelines are posted and may be read here: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/meditations

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DIGITAL STORE REMINDER

We have two digital stores, one for PDFs, the other for ePubs. This is the link to our digital store: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/digital-store Come check out our titles! We add more each month!

 

COLOR INTERIOR ART

Printing in color can be prohibitively expensive. However, the current issues of Drabble Harvest #11 and the Winter (January) Illumen both feature color interiors. You’re invited to check them out. We expect to continue this process with Drabble Harvest, Illumen, and a few other publications, such as Flash Digest.

 

SCIFAIKUEST MAY 2025 ONLINE EDITION

Edited by t.santitoro

This edition is available on our site. It is not the same as the print edition. Come read and enjoy! Here’s the link: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online

 

STORE SALES:

Next up, and at the risk of being somewhat repetitive, because we want our storytellers and poets to be read, and our artists to be seen:

 

THERE’S A SALE GOING ON!!!

IT’S STILL GOING ON!!!

BUY ALL THE BOOKS YOU WANT AND USE THIS 20% DISCOUNT CODE:

 

BOOKS2025

 

THIS DISCOUNT CAN BE USED AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WISH, SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!

GO TO OUR SHOP AT WWW.HIRAETHSFFH.COM

NO MASKS, NO WAITING, AND WE NEVER CLOSE!

LASTLY, BOOKS MAKE GOOD HOLIDAY AND BIRTHDAY PRESENTS…

 

NEW RELEASES: WHAT’S NEW?

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JUPITER’S EYE AUGUST 2025

Jupiter’s Eye features science fiction and fantasy stories, art, articles, and an occasional poem. This issue includes stories of forbidden fruit, a Huxleyesque society of false perfection, and two reviews, plus lots more.

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Features

The Protocol reviewed by Alan Ira Gordon

Dune Part 2 reviewed by Lee Clark Zumpe

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Short Stories

The Wrackful Siege by Maureen Bowden

Stitch in Time by Tom Howard

A New Brave World by Eric Choi

Mortal Longings by Laurel Hanson

 

Poems

Specimen by John Grey

Earth Man, Now Space Man by John Grey

Storm Gate by Denny Marshall

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Illustrations

In Search of a Signal by Denny Marshall

Tracers by Denny Marshall

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/jupiter-s-eye-august-2025

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/jupiter-s-eye-august-2025-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/jupiter-s-eye-august-2025-2

 

SCIFAIKUEST AUGUST 2025

Featured Poet: Joanne Merriam

 

PLUS:

The Marie Derley Page

The John H. Dromey Page

Articles by Lauren McBride

and Robert E. Porter

 

…and much more!!

 

PRINT: SCIFAIKUEST August 2025 | Hiraeth Publishing

PDF: SCIFAIKUEST August 2025 | Hiraeth Publishing

EPUB: SCIFAIKUEST August 2025 | Hiraeth Publishing

 

 

THE END OF INNOCENCE

A Yoelin Thibbony Rescue

Swept up in the interstellar slave trade, Yoelin Thibbony decides to go after the hierarchs involved as well as rescue as many children as she can who have been captured and put to forced labor. Along the way, she moves step by step closer to the hierarch at the top of the trafficking chain. Her suspicions grow after she opens a camp to put slavers themselves to work, for what she learns through interrogations sickens her. But now she has to know for sure who is at the top, even though the knowledge could well ruin her life forever.

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell-2

 

POSTSCRIPTS FROM SPACE by TERRIE LEIGH RELF

Terrie Leigh Relf loves sending and receiving postcards from the four corners of the universe—and beyond! Postcards tell a story. They are mementos from friends and family—and from total strangers—and provide a glimpse into life’s journeys, observations, and adventures.

 

Sometimes an additional message is needed. Thus: Postscripts From Space.

 

PS. Here are some added notes on postcards from space, found aboard a derelict craft that crashed on an arid, lifeless world. The OSPS (Outer Space Postal Service) has delivered these messages to Terrie, who now presents them to you. This is what it is like out there.

 

PRINT: POSTCARDS FROM SPACE by Terrie Leigh Relf | Hiraeth Publishing

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/postcards-from-space-by-terrie-leigh-relf-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/postcards-from-space-by-terrie-leigh-relf-2

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ICYMI

 

PARABNORMAL MAGAZINE June 2025

parABnormal Magazine features stories that focus on the paranormal, including ghosts, spectres, witchcraft, the afterlife, and the occasional bit of dark magic. This issue also include three articles related to paranormal activities. Read this magazine with all the lights on…
 

Stories
Who Put Bella Down the Wych Elm by Jasper Kent
Aswang by Michael Bitanga
O’Garretty’s Companion by Sam Hicks
The Hungry Man by David O’Mahony
Something Lost by Gregory Meece
The Priest of Hvalsey by K. T. Booker
The Astrakhan Coat by Piertommaso Spagnuolo
The Window-Room by Jen Mierisch
 

Poems
Haunted by You by C. Payne
The Gift by Renee Cronley
Charon by Christian Dickinson
Will o’ the Wisp by Sarah Cannavo
Walk On by Alan Hardy
Watching by DJ Tyrer
 

Articles
The Wonder of “The Thing on the Fourble Board” by Denise Noe
Dying Is Easy – Coming Back Is Hard by Anonymous as told to Alice Ward
 

Illustrations
Nature’s Chandelier by Sonali Roy
Skull Crow by Warren Muzak
Shoe Tree by Warren Muzak

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PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/parabnormal-magazine-june-2025

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/parabnormal-magazine-june-2025-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/parabnormal-magazine-june-2025-2

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SHELTER OF DAYLIGHT JULY 2025

Shelter of Daylight features uplifting stories and poems in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Although some may start out down, they all finish in the sunlight at the end.

 

Featuring:

Electric Buddha by Jon Clendaniel

Lifesong by F. P. Wilson

The Birthday Pearl by Tom Howard

Review: The Gifted

 

And much more!

 

ORDERING LINKS:

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-july-2025

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-july-2025-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-july-2025-2

 

 

SPACEPORTS & SPIDERSILK JULY 2025

Spaceports & Spidersilk features science fiction and fantasy for ages 9 to 99. It presents adventures on other planets and in imaginary worlds. Inside these pages you’ll find visitors from other worlds, dragons, magic, and strange friends.

 

Stories

A Bit O’ the Sun by Pamela Love

Ideas from the Dry Ocean by Joshua James Jordan

Wind Riders of the Perimosphere by CJ Erick

The Cursed Coin by Monica Goertzen Hertlein

Deep Breath by Aliza Keefer

The Best Ice Cream in the Universe by Russell Fee

 

Poetry

The Cackling Clown by Erica Chester

How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower by Lisa Timpf

Grilled Cheese for Sea Monsters by Michael Flowers

Eating in Zero Gravity by Eric Taylor

Intergalactic Grocery Shopping by Lauren McBride

Good Morning! by Jono Mischkot

 

Illustrations

Sea Serpent by Vonnie Winslow Crist

Dragonflies by Vonnie Winslow Crist

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-june-2025

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-june-2025-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-june-2025-2

 

 

ILLUMEN SUMMER 2025

Illumen is a quarterly digest of science fiction and fantasy poetry, including traditional as well as minimalist forms such as haiku, haibun, empat perkataan, cinquains, and others, as well as more traditional formats for poetry, such as rhyming and free verse and experimental.

 

Featured Poet: Maureen Bowden

 

Plus:

E. P. Fisher

Anna Dallara

Oladosu Michael Emerald

And much more!

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-summer-2025

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-summer-2025-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-summer-2025-2

 

FLASH DIGEST JULY 2025

Science fiction, fantasy, ghost, romance, and spooky stories, all served up in small and easily-read portions. Thrill, chill, and don’t spill your wine or beer as you go through this potpourri of adventures.

 

Features

The Gifted: A Review by David Lee Summers

 

Stories

Ning by t.santitoro

Last Stop at Winslow Junction by Stephen W. Chappell

Unreal Estate by Patrick Hurley

The Waiting Room by Rebecca Schier-Akamelu

Wallhangers by Randall Andrews

The House That Archie Built by Maureen Bowden

Exoplanet Recon by Jason Lairamore

The Birds by Alexis Child

 

Illustrations

From the Green Lagoon by Denny Marshall

The Muses of Summer by Sandy DeLuca

 

PRINTPDFEPUB

 

THE TELEMPATH BY T.SANTITORO

This is the first book in The Crojan Chronicles Series.

When a young newlywed with extraordinary mental powers is abducted and sold on the galaxy’s black market, the galactic government is suddenly made aware of a human slave trading operation and a secret army of androids bent on destroying humanity.

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/telempath-by-t-santitoro

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/telempath-by-t-santitoro-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/telempath-by-t-santitoro-2

 

 

A ZINC IN TIME

THE PRESENT, FUTURE, AND PAST ADVENTURES OF GRAZYNKA (ZINC) ANDRZEJEWSKA

Time travel like it’s never been done before! Humanity has collapsed! War, pestilence, famine!

 

As a result of nuclear war, the explosions have created ripples in time, and each ripple that catches Zinc (and others) sends them into another time—ahead a day, or a month, or several years, or even back to before her birth, where she arrives out of time.  She is alone in a post-apocalyptic situation.  Societies have utterly disintegrated. There are marauders and rape gangs to avoid.  There is shelter to find, and food and weapons and clothing.  Unfortunately, the area around the cave she has chosen to inhabit is in the middle of these time ripples, so she never knows where she might wake up when she goes to sleep. Even so, she has an ultimate destination; she just doesn’t know it yet.

 

So meet Zinc, a survivor. Her war has just begun, and like all of us, she wants to know where she’s going, and who is going with her.

 

PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/zinc-in-time-by-tyree-campbell

PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/zinc-in-time-by-tyree-campbell-1

EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/zinc-in-time-by-tyree-campbell-2

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Without further ado, then: browse, read, buy, enjoy. If you have any questions or comments, send them to us at hiraethsubs at yahoo dot com. See you in Se[tember!

 

Tyree Campbell

Storyteller and Managing Editor

August 2025

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