HIRAETH PUBLISHING’S
MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER
LIKE TEARS IN RAIN
Toward the end of the movie Blade Runner, the replicant named Roy (portrayed by Rutger Hauer) is sitting on a roof, coming to the end of his life, in the rain. He describes a couple of experiences he had in space, and concludes it with, “All these things will be lost, like tears in rain.” He then dies.
We are reminded here that life is not a few major events—wars, pestilence, famine, traffic accidents, crime—but in fact is a series of small things. Small events that add up to a life. Sooner or later, everything we do will be lost like tears in rain. Ninety-nine percent of us will be forgotten within twenty years of our passing. John D. MacDonald once wrote, perhaps in his Travis McGee novel Cinnamon Skin, that nobody truly dies until the last living memory of that person also dies. So perhaps we may stick around for a while after death.
But during our lives, what has happened to us? Small things? What are we talking about here?
You dyed your hair blue streaked with purple, and a passing stranger said, “Nice hair,” and smiled approvingly. You walked into the grocery store, smiling yourself, your day having been made.
You’re an old man struggling to load groceries into the trunk of your car. A stranger comes along and lifts the heaviest bag out for you and deposits it in the trunk. And then offers to take the cart back inside for you.
Your first effort at baking rye bread results in loaves shaped roughly like whale’s testicles. But it tastes soooo good with butter. You don’t care what it looks like; you did it.
You’re an old woman waiting in line for the register. A new register opens up, and a man prepares to dash to it. But a stranger blocks his path with a cart, and motions the woman ahead of him to the new line.
You type THE END at the bottom of your first short story. It probably will not find a home somewhere, but the important thing is the accomplishment. You did it. The chances are that no one else will know or care. But you did it.
A friend says a prayer for your recovery from pneumonia.
You rescue a dog from a shelter, before he can be euthanized.
Two older women fumble for enough coins to buy just one cookie at McDonald’s. You watch for a moment or two, then buy them each a cookie. You are white, they are black, but maybe they’ll remember.
You write a poem that few will read.
All these things will be lost, like tears in rain…
Which brings us to Laura Givens. I met her at MileHiCon in Denver in 2007, I think it was. At the time, we were doing saddle-stapled publications. Laura was an artist, already working with Hadrosaur Publishing and David Lee Summers. She and author/editor J Alan Erwine were standing there in the lobby when a strange woman approaches me and asks me to tie up her corset. Which I did, learning by her instructions as I went. Afterwards, Laura and I discussed cover art, and with one thing or another we got into perfect bound paperback books. Which changed our entire publishing outlook.
Laura and I worked together until toward the end of April 2025. I don’t know how many covers she designed for us, many from her own artwork. Several hundred, surely. She caught glitches, made adjustments, and was indispensable to us. Along the way, we became friends, and sometimes talked about matters unrelated to covers and designs. Along the way, I met her partner, Nicole Spencer, an excellent poet whom we published now and then…
It's funny, but whenever someone passes, a light goes off around those who knew that person. The world gets just a little darker, and it’s a world that is already far too dark. So those of us who knew her, grieve. She’s gone. She’s not coming back. And everything she did will be lost, like tears in rain.
That is the way of it. That is how we live our lives. A series of small things adds up to a life, until we reach the moment of The One Big Event. She’s gone, but not forgotten, not just yet. I’ll take my memories of her to the grave, as will all those who knew her. Perhaps some of her art and covers will live on for a while. Then they too will be gone. Only then will Laura be lost, like tears in rain…
And yet…maybe we’ll meet up again, one day, wherever artists and writers go, and we’ll roast wieners and marshmallows, sing bawdy songs, and tell outrageous lies…
Meanwhile: R. I. P., you wascally artist, you…
THIS IS A NEWSLETTER, SO NOW WE MUST RETURN TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING…BUT WITH A HEART ALREADY WEARY…
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
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
Note that we are a little late with the first issue of Jupiter’s Eye. We expect to have it listed in our shop around 12 April if not sooner. Watch for it.
ELDER THINGS EXPEDITIONS
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. Pay rate for stories is at least semi-pro. Guidelines, which must be read, are posted here: Elder Things Expeditions | Hiraeth Publishing
DRABBLE CONTEST:
Drabble Harvest #14: The Witch’s Broom is now open for submissions. Be sure to read the guidelines at Drabble Contest | Hiraeth Publishing
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?
(THE FUTURE ADVENTURES OF) SIENNE VHARTAN
Sienne Vhartan, an alien from Valange, has been deliberately marooned on Earth after being sent there seven centuries ago to study Earth’s civilizations. Now that things have fallen apart, and civilizations no longer exists, she wants to go home. To do that, she needs someone who is skilled at fixing things—so she thumbs a ride with Kevan Duffy, an incredulous ne’er-do-well on his way back to his cave. Promised physical and mental enhancements in return for his assistance, he agrees to help her.
Once in space, they fight injustice, slave trafficking, toxic waste, and bureaucracy, with devastating but dangerous effect. The road is bumpy and log-jammed, and survival is never guaranteed. But when did that ever stop Sienne?
DRABBLE HARVEST #13: HUNTING WITH THE WOLVES
Welcome to a collection of 100-word tales of hunting with the wolves. Our writers’ imaginations worked overtime on this one. Find out what really happens in the wild during the full moon. Learn the arcane secrets of the recorders of lupine history. You’ll find humor and serious points in these stories. So take a load off and escape this world for a little while. With a kickin’ cover by Richard E. Schell.
JUPITER’S EYE APRIL 2025
Jupiter’s Eye features science fiction and fantasy stories, art, articles, and an occasional poem. This first issue includes stories of training for the post-apocalypse; a world gone haywire; and an essay on horror roles.
Features
“A Stop At Willoughby” Exposes the Horror Possible in the Male Role and in Foolish Nostalgia by Denise Noe
Novelettes
Uncle Ty’s Army
Breathing Real Air by Casey Richards-Bradt
Short Stories
Sponged by James Dick
Poems
Shepherds by Yuliia Vereta
COSMIC CRIME STORIES APRIL 2025
Crimes of some form will be with us as long as there are laws to break. Technology helps solve those crimes. But those solutions will always be found by the ones who get down and dirty—the detectives. Come see what the future holds for the dark side of law & order.
Novelette
Inverted Centers by Tyree Campbell
Short Stories
The Neighbor by Alice Baburek
The Supervisor by Christian Riley
Bolthole by Damir Salkovic
A Clean Kill by C. W. Stevenson
In the Shadows of Justice by Richard E. Schell
Illustrations
Night in the City by Brian Quinn
SCIFAIKUEST MAY 2025
Scifaikuest is a quarterly digest of minimalist poetry, such as haiku, scifaiku, tanka, cherita, fibonacci, haibun, senryu, gogyoka, saturne, and others. Also included are articles relevant to poetry and to minimalist poetry. In this issue:
Cover art by Richard E. Schell
The Richard E. Schell Page
The Rita Melissano Page
The John Dromey Page
…and much more!!
SHELTER OF DAYLIGHT MAY 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.
Features
The Protocol: A Book Review by Alan Ira Gordon
Short Stories
In These Hands by Lawrence Buentello
Close to the Wind by Gustavo Bondoni
Love After Death by Paul Lonardo
Flash Fiction
Trixie by K. S. Hardy
Tin Can by Debby Feo
ICYMI:
THE MARTIAN WAVE APRIL 2025
This is the final issue of The Martian Wave; it began publication in 1998 from Pro-Mart Publishing, headed by the late James B. Baker. After his passing, it went to Nomadic Delirium Press and then to Hiraeth Publishing. 27 years is a very good run for the small indie presses. In this issue:
Short Stories
Molybdenum Ice by Keith “Doc” Raymond
Greenie by J Alan Erwine
White Dwarf, White Dwarf, Burning Bright by Gustavo Bondoni
Poems
First Contact by Akua Lezli Hope
Scifaiku by Akua Lezli Hope
I’d Like to Go by Lisa Timpf
Spaceships Found by Denny E. Marshall
Babel by Akua Lezli Hope
An Astronaut’s Last Days by John Grey
THE BROONIE AND OTHER DARK POEMS
By Deborah Sheldon
Beasts, nightmares, blood, madness...
From award-winning Australian horror author Deborah Sheldon comes The Broonie and Other Dark Poems, a harrowing collection of verse. Using only traditional forms – strambotto, villanelle, flamenca, sonnet, englyn penfyr, ballad, triplet, décima espinela, and more – Sheldon spins lyrical and visceral poetry.
Prepare for disquieting chills.
FLASH DIGEST APRIL 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.
Stories
The Witch Across the Street by Vincent Baverso
Pont Perilous by Maureen Bowden
Athan & Ariel by Tom Duke
Don’t Talk About the Birds by S.D. Bullard
Red River Pawn by Heather Santo
Achievable Goals by Jamie Lackey
Gate by Jason Eisenmenger
The Hungry Forest by Stephen W. Chappell
Color Illustrations
Forest Creature in Spiderweb Outfit by Sandy DeLuca
Crowded by April Lefleur
ILLUMEN SPRING 2025
Illumen is a quarterly digest of science fiction and fantasy poetry, including 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:
Meg Smith
Plus:
Claire Smith
Oliver Smith
Stephanie Smith
…and many more poets not named Smith…
SECRETS OF THE NETHER MOOR
By Allison Tebo
Charlotte Morrison is a shy squire’s daughter who is better suited to stitchery than spells. But when she discovers that her beloved brother is the author behind a series of revolutionary pamphlets decrying their oppressive government, her life changes overnight.
With the people’s hero under arrest, Charlotte cannot depend on the legendary Jack O’Lantern to save her brother—so she takes matters into her own hands by boarding the infamous night coach through the Nether Moor: a place haunted by aberrations and monsters.
But danger lurks within the carriage as well as without. Charlotte is following Major Pegg, the cruel official carrying the papers that will bring about her brother’s arrest. If she ever hopes to save her brother, Charlotte must steal the papers before they reach the Crossroads.
Armed with nothing but a spell bomb and desperation, Charlotte cannot rely on legends. It is up to her to save her brother and be her own kind of hero.
THE CURSE OF THE SCARLET SCARAB
By Angel Favazza
The Curse of the Scarlet Scarab follows the story of Ruby Blood, the great-great-granddaughter of Thomas Blood, the infamous thief of the Crowned Jewels. A skilled and daring jewelry thief in her own right, Ruby, along with her loyal accomplice Mollie, embarks on a high-stakes heist in London’s elite jewelry district. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when they become entangled in the dark secrets of an ancient curse and a shadowy organization that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets.
HORNED JACK: DIRE LEGACY
By M. R. Williamson
Munford is a town with a shapeshifting deputy sheriff named Jack. He’s a Nephilim—a Watcher—who uses his powers to protect the townsfolk. On the surface, he’s quite a nice-looking young man with a family. He has a pit bull named Banjo. But he also has Woo, a little bat-girl who can “see” things he can’t, and an adviser who’s a shaman. And when Jack’s eyes turn red, criminals beware.
Complicating Jack’s life and work this time, however, is a montage of supernatural creatures who show up at opportune times, saving Jack’s life. Although he has Nephilim powers, he needs help to capture the evildoers. There’s Woo, and Zee, and Chee…and there’s even a dragon. And then there’s Bree, who can show up anywhere, as anyone. Who is Bree? More like a what.
Now Jack and his fellow officers are fighting child trafficking, dealing with the Feds, and chasing down a UFO. All in a day’s work for the red-eyed Nephilim.
NEW FROM INTO THE LIGHT BOOKS:
AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH
Edited By Toby Campbell
This is an anthology of short stories inspired by the last line of the Hail, Mary prayer. In it, we examine various fictitious events at the moment of dying. Some of these stories are exemplary, in that they may inspire contemplation of real events, for all of us will pass on sooner or later. The subject matter includes deathbed conversions, regrets for the life just spent, and joy and anticipation at the very end, to cite three themes. The overarching religious aspect is that of Christianity, and specifically Catholicism. Nevertheless, this is not and was not intended to be a theological or philosophical collection; rather, its purpose is meditative, and perhaps the reader will find something about life and the end of it worth considering.
Into The Light Books is an imprint of Hiraeth Publishing
CRIMSON BLADE
By Mike Adamson
In a world of billions of humans, vampires keep a low profile. Lucinda Crane, changeling, is five centuries old, but her loyalties have always remained with we mortals. Unknown to police, ignored by science, she wages war against her own kind and all the countless occult threats to life in a world that has chosen to believe in nothing...
Ordering Links:
Print: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/crimson-blade-by-mike-adamson
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/crimson-blade-by-mike-adamson-1
ePub: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/crimson-blade-by-mike-adamson-2
CATS AND DOGS IN SPACE
By Lisa Timpf
Cats in lab coats, running experiments on us. Robot dogs roaming Mars. Space-faring canines who mistake alien vessels for fetch toys. There are just some of the images you’ll find in here. With inspiration from myths, news stories, nursery rhymes, personal experience, and a lifelong interest in science fiction, the poems are written in a variety of styles for your reading enjoyment. Reaching from the distant past to the far future, and points in between, Cats and Dogs in Space invites you to have some fun re-imagining man’s best friend—and whatever it is that cats call themselves.
When we beamed the book to the future, here’s what readers had to say:
“Purrfectly delightful! Enjoyable for readers of any stripe. Some of these poems are enough to make a cat laugh!” Festus, ship’s cat aboard the Silver Starr Spaceliner Frederika.
“Meaty as a prime rib bone, and just as much fun to chew on! I’d give it two thumbs up—if I had opposable thumbs . . . ” Pepper, K-9 Operative, Galactic Space Services
So there you have it! Get your claws on a copy today!
Ordering Links:
Print: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/cats-and-dogs-in-space-by-lisa-timpf
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/cats-and-dogs-in-space-by-lisa-timpf-1
ePub: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/cats-and-dogs-in-space-by-lisa-timpf-2
THE DRAGON’S BITE and Other Flights of Fancy
By Matias F. Travieso-Diaz
Where can you find Pandora, Medusa, Mozart, Charles Mason, Little Red Riding Hood, Nithoggs, dragons, Billy Bob Morton, brownies, Oxlicker, Prometheus, the Dalai Lama, and Roger? Why, right here in this collection of fantasy and slipstream tales from long ago and tomorrow. There are tales to mystify, classify, spotify, and thrill to, with a cast of characters even George Lucas (who is not in these tales) would find difficult to match. Read them all at once, or one at a time. You’ll have a better grip on reality and even a handle on surreality…and you’ll never want to let go of either.
Ordering Links:
Print: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/dragons-bite-other-flights-of-fancy-by-matias-f-travieso-diaz
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/dragons-bite-other-flights-of-fancy-by-matias-f-travieso-diaz-1
ePub: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/dragons-bite-other-flights-of-fancy-by-matias-f-travieso-diaz-2
THE RED FOIL
By T.Santitoro
When Soefee Sparrow’s roommate and ex-lover, Tayla Block, goes missing aboard a space mining station, Sparrow—a rocket-horse jockey—suddenly finds herself under suspicion of murder. Despite the mining company's main source of income—megatons of industrial minerals and gemstones—no one but Soefee seems to be searching for their leading geologist. Were gemstones being stolen from the mining company? Did it have anything to do with Block’s disappearance? Why was everyone being so tight-lipped? What happened to Tayla Block, and why wasn't anything being done to find her?
Enter Jicob Elfrendini, an undercover agent for IBCP, a division of Law Enforcement employed to ensure against the theft of valuable gems. But Elfrendini has secrets of his own. And then a woman’s dead body is found at the bottom of a mine shaft and, together, Soefee and Jicob must work to find out who killed Tayla Block—and WHY?
Ordering Links
Print: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/red-foil-by-t-santitoro
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/red-foil-by-t-santitoro-1
ePub: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/red-foil-by-t-santitoro-2
THE FUTURE ADVENTURES OF BAILEY BELVEDERE
By Tyree Campbell
As the societies of Earth collapse into chaos and destruction, Bailey Belvedere, a U.S. Army Intelligence officer fighting for her very survival, steals aboard an alien spacecraft, and soon finds herself given the authority and power by a superior alien entity to intervene in various problems in the Galaxy. Along the way she frees a world from interstellar slave traffickers, deals with an AI who becomes pregnant, inadvertently destroys a waffle house, fights against the abductors of a special child, and generally finds herself in some sort of trouble one moment to the next.
Ordering Links:
Print Edition: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/further-adventures-of-bailey-belvedere-by-tyree-campbell
PDF Edition: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/further-adventures-of-bailey-belvedere-by-tyree-campbell-1
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 June!
Tyree Campbell
Storyteller and Managing Editor
May 2025
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