A Dream Unto Death

When a young woman's nightmares seem to be drawing her into the realm of death, her last hope may be someone who can do no more than observe and record her journey. Genre: Horror, Fantasy   Excerpts: "I have been waiting for you." They had first summoned doctors to her bedside, then clerics, supernaturalists, and finally even charlatans selling potions.  Only after all of that did they turn to me.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: A Dream Unto Death This episode landed on CREATURES. Find more stories and episodes inspired by various creatures here: Year of Creatures.   SCARYFEATHER IS HERE!Write. Draft. Craft. Create!Or do you care to deviate?31 prompts over 31 days of October.Each prompt is inspired by one of my stories in the horror genre.(Hmm, per the story art, I seem to have some sort of eyeball fixation.) Visit the Challenge page for funsies. It won't bite. (Much.) storyfeather.com/fictioneer/october   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.   MERCHInterested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "A Dream Unto Death" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Dedale" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro and Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Broken keys""Experiment 7""At night""Dark echoes""Blood and bones""Dedale""Lullaby""Obscura""Well of souls""Hunters moon""Creatures of the night" All tracks are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Sketch of a structure roughly shaped like a tree, made up of disproportionately sized animal bones. The trunk is an elephant leg. Curled horns sprout from the foot bones, labeled at right "horns of a markhor?" Human hand bones rise from trunk, fingers splayed out like tree branches. Extending from various branches are bones of cat tails and bat wings, one at right labeled "bat wings,"and skull bones penguins, one labeled at left "penguin skull." To left of the sketch is written in a calligraphic style: "25 October. Her dreams grow ever more frantic, ever more heinous. I have attempted a sketch based on the details gleaned from her latest nightmare." Watermark of "Storyfeather" at bottom right.

A huge pterosaur appears out of nowhere, sparking wild speculation about the creature's origin, and the meaning of its existence. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy   Excerpt:When I first saw footage of it, I was scared of it. Scared of how small and fragile it made me feel in so many ways both conscious and subconscious. But I've gotten used to it now. I've watched close-ups of its eyes. I've watched it stretch its wings, shift around on its perch until it settled in position, glance over at other birds, and at people. I care about it now. It's part of this world, my world. I can't study it, or follow it, or speak to it. What can I do?   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Monstrous and the Curious This episode landed on CREATURES. Find more stories and episodes inspired by various creatures here: Year of Creatures.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. Something is coming in October… I've also started posting some tips on Pinterest: pinterest.com/storyfeather/   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Monstrous and the Curious" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Connecting dots" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Genetic marker" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"As it happenned""Genetic marker""Connecting dots""Cold case""Haunted""Between two worlds""Under the mask""Experiment 6" All tracks are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A creature that appears in the shape of a pterosaur but with the coloring and long tail feathers of a blue-and-gold macaw. The creature is perched on a bare branch at left, facing right, in three-quarters view, wings extended forward. The wings are feathered. Vague outlines suggesting tree trunks and branches are visible behind the creature. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along branch at right.

Rising star of stage and screen, Victoria Lockhart, traded kindness for cruelty out of necessity, giving rise to strange manifestations of her psyche. Genre: Mystery, Horror Note of CAUTION: This episode contains depictions and descriptions of workplace abuse, specifically on a movie set. Please listen with care. Excerpt:...there was one bulb that had somehow managed not to break. It lay a corner. And Victoria used its light to see what she had done. Shadows and glass, everywhere. Victoria came to a conclusion. Anger was her road to strength and power.    The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Shadow of Victoria Lockhart This episode landed on one of the mystery spokes, DRAW. Here are other episodes inspired by DRAW: The Golden Ratio Theater Garden of the Peculiar   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. I've also started posting some tips on Pinterest: pinterest.com/storyfeather/   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Shadow of Victoria Lockhart" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Whispers" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Inspector" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Inspector""Killer escape""Unsolved""Evidence""In the shadows""The mirror""Whispers""Before the shadows"   Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Potion Studio)"Mistery""Visiting Her Forest""Painful Memories"   All tracks are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.  Music by Albert Fernandez, Nicholas Jeudy, and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy, Albert Fernandez, and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Silhouette of a figure in a dress with bell sleeves and a hoop skirt, holding up a parasol in the right hand, with a gauzy veil flowing to the right. Bright light shines from above and behind the figure. Extending below the figure is her shadow. Leafy, bushy foliage frames the top half of the image, extending down either side of the frame into dark shadowy patches in the foreground and hazy patches in the background. The image appears to be right side up, but would still be so if it were flipped vertically.

A professor at a small college has gone missing. His typically cluttered desk is found completely bare, drawers empty, except for a letter addressed to someone he's never met before. Genre: Mystery, Mythology   Excerpt:I gazed down at the blank page. Maybe the detective was right and further tests would reveal something, a message only visible by a specific wavelength of light or some chemical. That still didn't make sense to me. It had to be simpler than that. A goofy thought occurred to me. Maybe it was the old lemon juice trick. I plucked out the first of the three pages, and held it up to the overhead lights.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Desk of Professor West This episode landed on PROMPTS. Find more stories and episodes inspired by definitions here: Year of Prompts.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE     NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. I've also started posting some tips on Pinterest: pinterest.com/storyfeather/   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Desk of Professor West" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"It's A Mystery" by LEE ROSEVERE (Intro)"Smoke" by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL"Smoke""Forgotten""Thinking""Rising Danger""Deep Dive""So Cold"   Music by LEE ROSEVERE"It's A Mystery""Not Alone""Heat Haze""Awkward Silences (version b)""All the Answers"   Tracks by Andrew Sitkov are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Rafael Archangel is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Rafael Archangel at https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rafael_Archangel/ Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. From above, a weathered antique desk, a tabletop and a hutch with a central cabinet, various slots, a dome top, and drawers, one of which, at left, is open and empty. The whole desk and hutch appear empty except for a wax-sealed envelope lying on the tabletop. Just above the open drawer, a glowing pink butterfly in midflight seen, trailing afterimages. A hand emerges from right of frame, holding the blade of what appears to be a dagger with a cross guard whose ends curl down and a handle resembling a spiral horn. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along tabletop at bottom left.

A new secretary is assigned to observe a surgeon who believes he has discovered a method of proving the existence of the soul. Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery   Excerpt:"Here, you see?" the surgeon said, as he pointed with his scalpel. "At the nexus of the heart and the brain? Between the eyes and the throat, right at the back of the mouth, where the voice is on the verge of emerging?" That was where the soul resided.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Surgeon's Secretary This episode landed on S.T.E.A.M. Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. Mathematics. This episode…surgery (kind of). Find more stories and episodes inspired by definitions here: Year of S.T.E.A.M.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. I've also started posting some tips on Pinterest: pinterest.com/storyfeather/     MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Surgeon's Secretary" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Monochromatic stain" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Unsolved" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Inspector""Unsolved""Whispers""Evidence""Don't move""Cold case""The 4th world""Genetic marker""Monochromatic stain" All tracks are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrew Sitkov and Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital Drawing. A woman seen from waist up, facing forward, tilted to the right, holding an open book before herself. Her right hand is poised over the book loosely holding a fountain pen. She's wearing a shirt, tie, aviator's coat, and glasses with round lenses that completely obscure her eyes, and reflect the silhouette of a woman in profile with her face and arms thrown back, her hair and clothing streaming backwards. A rainbow overlay of that same silhouette lies over the image. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along jacket opening at right.

An imaginative girl narrates in her captain's log as she, her father, and her dog pass through a car wash…and emerge on the other side of the galaxy. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt:"Let me see where there's a good place to land in that jungle," I said, easing off the brake again.  "Not a good idea."  I smiled a little. "Oh no?" Meena explained. "Don't you know what they say about the jungles of Zarqlok? Pretty from above, deadly from below." "What does that mean?"  "Predators. Venomous predators. Lots of them."   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Car Wash to the Cosmos This episode landed on a mystery spoke that was revealed to be TRAVELER. Ever pretend you're going at warp speed when you're sitting in your car during the drying phase of the car wash?   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. I've also started posting some tips on Pinterest: pinterest.com/storyfeather/   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Car Wash to the Cosmos" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Space Discoveries" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro)"Through the gravitational field" by TRG BANKS (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by TRG BANKS"Through the gravitational field""Insideoutworld""Instellar breakfast""After midnight""Above the Earth""Cigar""Keith in 1987"   Music by LEE ROSEVERE"Cosmic Drifting"   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Space Discoveries""A Long Way""First Contact"   Tracks by Andrew Sitkov are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 UniversalMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by TRG Banks at freemusicarchive.org/music/TRG_BanksFind more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. View inside the cabin of a car through the front passenger window. Foreground, a girl and a terrier sit in the front passenger seat, both facing forward and seen in three-quarters view. The girl, seen from shoulders up holds her left hand up to her lips. Her eyes are raised in a thoughtful expression. A braid falls over her right shoulder and seatbelt. She has a star sticker on her right cheek. She wears a headband with two antennae ending in balls with rings around them, like ringed planets. Her right hand, just visible is held against the chest of the terrier who has front paws propped against the window edge, and mouth open with tongue lolling out. A man, face in profile, sits in the driver's seat, both hands resting on the steering wheel. He looks at the girl and dog with a worried expression. Moon roof is open to a starry view of outer space. The driver's side window shows darkness with streaks of light. The middle panel between the seats shows glowing lights where the gear shift would be. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along side of the driver's seat.

Two astronauts investigate a faint but suspicious signal on the dark side of the moon, and encounter the being who sent the signal. Genre: Science Fiction, Mythology   Excerpt:"I know why you're here," the lunarian said. "I know the history of your explorations into your system. I know how curious you are, how desperately you strive."  "If you have found your way to me...then you are ready to go even farther and further. Beyond your system."   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Lunarian This episode landed on DEFINITIONS. Find more stories and episodes inspired by definitions here: Year of Definitions   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Lunarian" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"Complexe mind" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Genetic marker" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Cold case""Once""Genetic marker""Connecting dots""Complexe mind""Prisma""Room 13""Black light""Negociation""Master""Unclassified" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov and Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarketVocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.  Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Center, a woman seen from back, stands with hands clasped behind her back. Her face is turned so her right profile is visible. She has long hair, curled at the ends, and she wears a hooded dress coat. Her entire form appears silvery. Before her is a neon pink cloud. A glittering streak of light shoots directly up from the cloud, appearing from the top of the woman's head. Dark hazy clouds rise from the background, and above, the hints of a starry sky. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along left side of coat.

A technician monitoring the trajectory of a long-lost spaceship with an experimental engine finds a troubling piece of data. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt:"Did you find something? Something not typical?" "It seems to be an audio file…it's almost as if it were hidden?" I waited, saying nothing. "Then you didn't hear anything significant?" "Like what?" "Like…noises that sound like words." "You hear a voice? What do you hear it saying?"   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer here: The Distant Proximity This episode landed on…wait a minute, I wrote this story before I devised the theme for the year. (Shhh, don't tell the wheel.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Distant Proximity" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"Unknown Terrain" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro)"It's A Mystery" by LEE ROSEVERE (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by LEE ROSEVERE "It's A Mystery""Universe Calling""Decompress""Cosmic Drifting""Betrayal""All the Answers""Thoughtful"   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Unknown Terrain""Among the Stars"  Track by Andrew Sitkov are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Two figures in silhouette stand in front of a car seen in three-quarters view from back. The car's headlights are on. The figure at left holds up a device. They're in an open field at night. The sky is full of stars. Before them appears a large glowing shape that extends out of frame. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the car's rear bumper.

A crew assigned to repossess a precious and undefined item end up in the midst of a suspicious bar fight in a far-off sector of space. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt:Yeah, the vastness of space is scary, but the vastness of death…is scarier. I thought I'd have far more profound thoughts at the moment of my death. Something the crew could quote to each other after I was gone. Something I could have Tackle record before I no longer had the strength to speak. Maybe I would have, if I were dying of something more peaceful than an accidental-on-purpose laser blast to the gut. Maybe I would have, if it was only my life I was afraid for.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Showdown at the Cinna-bar This episode landed on WILD CARD. I found inspiration from a tabletop card game I have but have never actually played, called "Gloom in Space."  Here's another episode inspired by Wild Card: The Ace of Pumpkins Wild Cards is the theme for the stories I'm currently writing. These stories won't become podcast episodes from another few years, but if you're curious, check them out here: Year of Wild Cards   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Showdown at the Cinna-bar" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Under the mask" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Neon city" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)  Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Master""Under the mask""Boys on bike""Reloaded""DNA""Doubts""Men in black""The deal""Trojan horse""Neon city""Secret agent" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov and Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarketVocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Façade of a one-story building that is hovering in outer space. The main building has a single central door, covered by a domed awning, and is flanked by two windows, above which is a large sign that reads "Cinna-bar." Attached on the right are two smaller rooms or extensions. Attached to the left is an awning open to space. On the roof at right is a satellite dish or receiver, and at left are three columns. A walkway flanked with lights leads to the main entrance. The whole structure is stabilized by six visible thrusters. At upper right is a hovering sign that reads "Cinna-bar" with a lighted arrow beneath pointing to the building. Beams of translucent light in various colors shoot out of the windows at various angles. Clusters of stars are visible at bottom right and upper left corners. Watermark of "Storyfeather" above the sign above the main entrance.

A recent college graduate dreams of operating a local theater that has a special and secret importance to planet Earth...and beyond. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt:"Jules, you're fired," he said. "What!" He held up his hand. "It's for your own good. Those… men, for lack of a better word, are not aliens really. They're, they're called 'intimidators.' Look, they won't hurt you, okay? Or your family. As long as you forget about the theater."   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Golden Ratio Theater This episode landed on a mystery spoke, DRAW. I drew the image first, then used it to inspire a story.  Find more stories and episodes inspired by the artwork first here: Year of Creatures Find more science fiction stories here: Science Fiction at Storyfeather   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Golden Ratio Theater" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Abstract Vision #1" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro)"Fugue for One Synthetic Heart" by ANDREA BARONI (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)"Fugue for One Synthetic Heart""Fast Lanes Light Rain""Dancing Operators""Cozy Afternoons""Ground Control""Slightly Across""The Tech Show"   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Abstract Vision #2""Abstract Vision #9""Abstract Vision #1" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrew Sitkov and Andrea Baroni is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. View of four rows of seats in a theater with some aliens and some humans seated. At bottom is the top portion of the front two seats with people sitting in them. Only the hair of the person at left is visible, in a top bun. At right, only the top of the head with one eye and one ear is visible. The person is looking back and to their right. In the middle two people sit in two seats. A human at left, with a straw in her mouth from a large drink cup. A humanoid alien at right, holding a handful of popcorn up to his face from a large bucket of popcorn. Both are looking down at the handful of popcorn. In the row behind, at far left is an alien with the face of a triceratops-like dinosaur, who is looking up, and who has one hand gripping the top of the seat in front of them. An empty seat separates them from a human at right, holding a hand to their face and looking up. Watermark of "Storyfeather" middle row middle seat.