Francesca’s Words
-
The Copse Part One (The Wheel of Fortune, Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
Year One They met in a café in Convent Garden. Neither of them could afford it, but it was busy enough that they wouldn’t be overheard, with a high enough staff turnover that they were unlikely to be remembered next year, and it was well established enough that it wasn’t likely to close any time… Continue reading
-
Unexpected Treasures (The Star, Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
Note: contains themes of depression and suicidal feelings. It wasn’t hope he was looking for when he stepped into Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities, it was oblivion. He could have taken a more conventional route, but convention was one of the reasons he felt so low, so if he was doing this, he… Continue reading
-
Fraternising with the Enemy by Francesca Astraea
This is a commission for my patron Sarah, who sent me this prompt: ‘So you’re saying that you want me, a villain, to help you catch another villain? That makes no sense.’ Two colleagues met in the second-worst greasy spoon in the downtown area. The other customers were an alcoholic ex-radio DJ and a family… Continue reading
-
Just Desserts (Justice, Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
If asked, tourists leaving the Sweet Memories Family Run Pâtisserie and Ice Cream Parlour in Carnaby Street would usually describe their experience as magical. Sometimes they would use compound phrases like absolutely fabulous. Occasionally they would enumerate on past experiences or make comparisons: it reminded me of my grandmother’s kitchen. Or I rather feel this place… Continue reading
-
Inheritance Tax (The Hanged Man, Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
Stephen Defoe was not usually one for introspection, but it struck him that he was acutely aware of every ache in his body. Squashed between his backpack and a fellow tourist, Stephen sat on a bus currently between Siam Reap and Phnom Penh. Until he came to Cambodia, he thought Phnom Penh was a… Continue reading
-
Nail Varnish (2012) by Francesca Astraea
This was originally written in 2012, for The Story Shack, where it was illustrated by Sherri Oliver. I never normally look back at work that’s more than a couple of years old because it makes me cringe hugely, but friends and family recently told me it’s one of their favourite things I’ve ever written so… Continue reading
-
The Sea Witch’s Revenge Part III

Part I / Part II ‘So you will ask your grandfather tonight?’ ‘Yeah. We always have him round for dinner. I’ll… I’ll see you at school tomorrow?’ Roger nodded. ‘Good luck.’ The next day Roger didn’t cross paths with Jimmy once. Given the size of their school, this was a cause of mild concern. Perhaps… Continue reading
author life, flash fiction, folklore story, Francesca Astraea, Francesca’s Words, independent writers, Irish folklore, kelpie short story, mermaid story, mythology story, Scottish folklore, sea hag mythology, sea witch folklore, sea witch mythology, short stories, short stories online, stories about friendship, story about sea witches, story about witches, story set in Scotland, The Sea Witch’s Revenge, writers on Patreon, writing -
The Sea Witch’s Revenge Part II

Part I ‘Are you here to steal the coral?’ ‘Maybe,’ Roger replied. Jimmy stuffed his hands in his pockets. ‘That coral carries a curse. If you touch it, you’ll never be able to go near the sea again.’ Roger found he was not surprised. In fact, if he examined his feelings, he would discover that… Continue reading
-
The Sea Witch’s Revenge Part I

Once upon a time, there was a boy who wanted to be a merman. He knew it was supposed to be the other way around — a mermaid wanting to become human — but the heart what it wants, and he wanted to own a tail, breathe underwater, and talk to fish. After years of… Continue reading
curse stories, five minute story, flash fiction, flash fiction on Patreon, folklore stories about witches, folklore story, Francesca Astraea, Francesca’s Words, independent writers, Maggie Stiefvater critique partner match up, mermaid story, mythology story, Patreon short story, sea hag mythology, sea witch folklore, sea witch mythology, short story about witches, short story UK, UK writer on Patreon, writers on Patreon -
Everyday Acts of Murder: Gardening

Finding a corpse in his compost heap was not what Graham Peters expected to do when he embarked on an afternoon of gardening one spring Sunday, but he had to admit it was more intriguing than deadheading. Which was a funny choice of words, given that the corpse was dismembered. A limb here, a digit… Continue reading
