writers on Patreon
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Forced Reflection (The Devil, Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
‘I want a refund.’ Angel Fitzgerald stood at the counter of Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities, clutching a large object partially wrapped in pink tissue. The assistant behind the counter, the short girl with miles of hair, eyed the offending product. ‘I’ll need to see a receipt and the label, please, ma’am.’ Angel… Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Everyday Acts of Murder: Dog Walking

On good days, Marlborough Park field was just the right side of pretty. Sun glinted off fences and goalposts while bright, bushy grass hid litter and dog excrement from immediate view. Although Marlborough Park was just off a main road, the traffic was strangely muffled, and walking one’s dog around the park’s perimeter was often… Continue reading
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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
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Everyday Acts of Murder: Housework

‘Reg, dear, would you mind doing the washing up?’ Clarissa asked her husband as he slouched on the sofa. The TV was showing something sport-related, and the volume was one notch higher than Clarissa found comfortable. ‘Hm?’ ‘The washing up,’ Clarissa repeated. ‘It’s just that Robbie and Hannah will be here soon.’ In fact, they… Continue reading
