Cecilia Dart-Thornton's Blog

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Sain thee, seelie wights.

I’ve been posting epigraphs from my books as “notes” on Substack/Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest, and I’m delighted - and surprised - by the warm reactions to them. (*Epigraph = a few lines of verse, a snippet of prose, or even a proverb, whose job is to set a mood before the chapter begins.)

So, here’s another one. It’s from the opening of Chapter 4 of “The Ill-Made Mute”, titled “THE FOREST: Tree and Trickery.”

Pale rings of smoke come floating through the trees,

Clear voices thread like silver on the breeze,

And as I look towards the west I grieve,

For in my heart, I’m crying out to leave.

~ Made by Llewell, songmaker of Auralonde

Many of the verses in the Bitterbynde Trilogy were inspired by the lyrics of popular songs. Do you recognise the classic song that inspired this epigraph?

Meanwhile, continuing with your latest byte-sized genre news and the November Freebie Avalanche . . . 😱😱😱 (Scroll down past the news for the freebies!)

Sci-fi / Fantasy / Romantasy NewsSci-fi / Fantasy / Romantasy News

Here’s your weekly roundup of fresh news in the sci‑fi / fantasy / romance space (including indie and smaller announcements).

Just a heads-up: I’m here to report the latest news, not to endorse every project. Some sound promising, while others . . . you be the judge!

Books & PublishingFantasy

A roundup list of new fantasy books for November 2025 was published last week by Reactor. (Reactor) While the list itself is not a new release announcement, it provides a useful guide for readers to keep tabs on upcoming titles from indie and small‑press fantasy.

Romance

A curated list of new romance releases for the week of 16 Nov–22 Nov appeared on Romance.io. (romance.io) Titles include “Brimstone” by Callie Hart, “Mountain Grump” by S.J. Tilly, “All Wrapped Up in You” by Rosie Danan, among others.

Audio & RadioSci‑Fi

A new indie audio drama: Terra Alpha announces Episode 0 “Countdown” will premiere Saturday 15 November, a prologue for their series set in a sci‑fi universe (ARC Project / Shadows Over Sol). (Reddit)

The premiere livestream of Terra Alpha offers a live‑chat community event and marks a fandom gathering moment for audio drama fans

Free eBooks for Readers Who Love Romantasy & Quirky, Funny Sci-fi.

As you know, I love helping other authors find new readers, so I often share eBook giveaways. These collections are meant to include only clean reads—no gore, violence, or smut. While I can’t personally check every title, most authors do play by the rules. I can’t 100% guarantee that all the books are literary masterpieces, but they are all free or almost free! So why not take a look? You might just stumble on your next favourite indie author!

Get a fresh delivery of free unlimited, gorgeous romantasy (and funny sci-fi) eBooks once a fortnight, without having to think about it.

Send my fortnightly free ebooks

. . . or click on each banner to see the collection!

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Sain thee, seelie wights.

I post “notes” almost daily on Substack. Never thought I would do anything like that, but I’m finding it surprisingly fun to ramble on about topics such as the influence of Tolkien on 1970s hard rock/folk rock, or the meaning of “hiraeth.”

Meanwhile, continuing with your latest genre news and the November Freebie Avalanche . . . 😱😱😱 (Scroll down past the news for the freebies!)

Sci-fi / Fantasy / Romantasy News

Here’s your weekly roundup of fresh news in the sci‑fi / fantasy / romance space (including indie & smaller announcements). As always, we’re treading in “just surfaced” territory, so some items are light on detail or speculative.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

Books & PublishingSci‑fi

A general release list reports 62 new sci‑fi, fantasy and horror titles arriving in November. Too many to list here, so here’s the link! (Gizmodo)

A database of upcoming fantasy book releases shows titles such as Snake‑Eater by T. Kingfisher and The Seventh Champion by Sylvia Mercedes listed for 11 November 2025. (Bookhype) [Just a heads-up - Bookhype seems to block you if you’re using a VPN. 😱]

Fantasy

The “upcoming / recent releases” lists show several indie and small‑press fantasy books being promoted. (Black Rose Writing)

Small‑press highlight: an editorial lists “15 Small Press Standouts of 2025” — showing indie publishers are making waves, even if this week’s specific new titles aren’t deeply covered. (Tertulia)

Romance

A recent roundup of “upcoming romance book releases” (pre‑orders) includes titles ready to hit shelves. (romance.io)

A “New Romance Book Releases” list updated just 5 days ago shows the shape of the week ahead for romance readers. (She Reads Romance Books)

Film & TVSci‑fi

No major new announcement in the past week exclusively flagged for sci‑fi film/TV (at least in publicly surfaced major outlets).

However, adaptation lists continue to grow: there’s an article on “8 Most Exciting Upcoming Sci‑Fi Movies Based On Books”. (Screen Rant)

Audio & RadioSci‑fi

A directory update shows new audio drama / fiction podcast submissions in the past 7 days: the site TheEnd.fyi reports a 7‑day look‑back at newly added audio‑fiction shows. (The End Audio Fiction Directory)

The category of “Science Fiction Podcasts” was refreshed recently; GoodPods lists a ranking of Sci‑Fi audio‑drama podcasts (with new entries) 6 days ago. (Goodpods)

Industry NewsSci‑fi

Industry write‑ups continue to talk about how to track sci‑fi news and releases (for example, weekly lists of “8 things happening in sci‑fi this week”). (SciFix Fantasy)

Fantasy

Small press / indie publishing in fantasy is getting more attention: the “15 Small Press Standouts of 2025” piece cited above signals the indie side of fantasy publishing is being spotlighted.

Free eBooks for Readers Who Love Romantasy & Quirky, Funny Sci-fi.

As you know, I love helping other authors find new readers, so I often share eBook giveaways. These collections are meant to include only clean reads—no gore, violence, or smut. While I can’t personally check every title, most authors do play by the rules. I can’t 100% guarantee that all the books are literary masterpieces, but they are all free or almost free! So why not take a look? You might just stumble on your next favourite indie author!

Click on each banner to see the collection.

Or click the button to get free unlimited, gorgeous romantasy (and funny sci-fi) delivered to you in a fortnightly newsletter bundle.

Send my fortnightly free ebooks

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for free. It costs not a penny.

Sain thee, seelie wights.

We might have accidentally become overloaded with freebies in November . . .

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I love helping other authors find new readers, so I often share eBook giveaways. These collections are meant to include only clean reads—no gore, violence, or smut. While I can’t personally check every title, most authors do play by the rules.

Now, I can’t 100% guarantee that all the books are literary masterpieces, but they are all free or almost free! So why not take a look? You might just stumble on your next favourite indie author!

Anyway, put up an umbrella and prepare to be showered with eBooks. Here they are, all eight promo bundles (eek):

Free eBooks for Readers Who Love Romantasy & Quirky, Funny Sci-fi.

Click on each banner to see the collection. (Or scroll down to get the freshest news.)

Or click the button to get free unlimited, gorgeous romantasy (and funny sci-fi) delivered to you in a fortnightly newsletter bundle.

Send my fortnightly free ebooks

News

Meanwhile. . . here’s a roundup of what’s new in science fiction, fantasy, and romance over roughly the past 7 days — fresh announcements, trailers, books, film/TV.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

Books & Publishing (Mainstream)Fantasy

* A notable deal: In the “Book Deals: Week of November 3, 2025”, the acquisition list includes fantasy/horror titles. This signals that publishers are continuing to invest in fantasy IP, though the specific titles weren’t all publicly detailed.

Romance

* While romance‑specific huge announcements were scarce this week, the charts show strong movement in fantasy/paranormal romance: according to PopVortex, the “Best Selling Fantasy, Romantasy & Paranormal Romance Books” list was updated as of November 3. This indicates ongoing consumer interest and market momentum in the romantasy space.

Books & Publishing (Indie / Small Press)Romance & Romantasy

* A new listing of “Top new romance books in November 2025” shows several titles dropping imminently — for example: Brimstone by Callie Hart (fantasy/romantasy) on Nov 18; and The Poison Pastry Bakery by Brynne Weaver (reverse‑harem/paranormal romance) on Nov 15.

* A recent blog post from Barnes & Noble Press spotlighting “The Most Anticipated Indie Book Releases of November 2025” includes a mix of romance, fantasy and mystery titles from self‑publishing authors and small presses.

* According to a recent article from BookRiot, independent booksellers have picked their top new books of November 2025 — a useful signal of what smaller press titles might gain traction.

Fantasy & Sci‑Fi

* A publication listing “10 Must‑Read Sci‑Fi and Fantasy Books Coming Out … November 2025” is freshly posted, signalling what’s upcoming in the speculative space. ([thatlovepodcast.com])

* A list of “Our 33 Most Anticipated Sci‑Fi, Fantasy & Horror Books for the Rest of 2025” includes deep cuts and smaller press titles, and is recent. ([Literary Hub])

Audio & Radio (Indie)

* A live prequel episode for the audio drama Camlann (post‑apocalyptic urban fantasy tied to Arthurian/British‑folklore) has been announced or featured; this kind of indie audio drama may be of interest. ([kingsplace.co.uk])

* A curated list titled “Indie and lesser‑known Audio Dramas for 2025” was updated recently in a podcast directory, pointing to emerging audio fiction gems. ([Podchaser])

Why These Matter / Useful Tips

* These indie and small‑press picks often fly under the radar of major media coverage, so keeping an eye on lists like “anticipated indie releases” gives early insight.

* For audio drama fans: emerging shows like Camlann represent how creators are blending myth/folklore + speculative genres into fresh formats.

* If you’re a reader looking for new authors or less‑publicised works, checking indie‑press lists and independent bookseller picks can yield hidden gems before they become mainstream.

* From a fandom perspective: these indie titles may offer more creative freedom, atypical tropes or more diversity than major‑label releases.

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

Get the latest Sci-fi / fantasy news here

Sight-impaired? Click to listen to the audio version.

2-second Survey

Your opinion requested!

If you could only choose one of the following reading genres to be your favorite, which one would it be?

Freebie #1

Here’s your first freebie for today - it’s a promo e-book for a funny, quirky sci-fi series. Click the image to get the download.

If you’d rather skip the Sci-fi /Romantasy News and just get your newest FREEBIES, just scroll right down.

News

Meanwhile. . . here’s a roundup of what’s new in science fiction, fantasy, and romance over roughly the past 7 days — fresh announcements, trailers, books, film/TV.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

Books & Publishing

Sci‑Fi & Fantasy

Romance

A new physical bookstore and crafting hub, Swoon City, is opening in Ballard (Seattle). It will combine romance novels, crafting classes/events and a café‑style collaboration.

Film & TV

Sci‑Fi

George Lucas stated that he has “moved past” the Star Wars franchise after seeing Disney’s vision for it. He mentioned he built the The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and does not want it known as a Star Wars‑museum.

Fantasy

A clip from The Witcher Season 4 shows Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt of Rivia meeting Laurence Fishburne’s Emiel Regis for the first time. The season premieres October 30 on Netflix.

The new trailer/clip release for The Witcher Season 4 has stirred fan conversation (and controversy!) around casting and character direction. What’s your opinion?

Industry News

Sci‑Fi

Other franchise‑news: reports mention the large box‑office under‑performance of Tron: Ares and shifting strategies for big franchises. (SFFGazette.com)

More Freebies

“Death and the Human” by J.K. Venter - A talking ghost cat and fatal shootouts are no big deal when you’re working as an angel of death’s newest reaper and have nine lives to live...

A comedic urban fantasy!

“Kal’s Fall - Teristaque Part I” by Aaron Frale - An innocent girl with a mysterious father finds herself a fugitive on the galaxy’s most wanted list.

A epic space opera about space pirates caught in a battle for the galaxy.

A great range of titles by inspirational indie authors - this promo runs from October 31 to Dec 1, 2025!

Click this button to get free unlimited, gorgeous romantasy (and funny sci-fi) delivered to you in a fortnightly bundle.

Unlimited Gorgeous Romantasy

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts. It costs absolutely nothing!

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

* * * * * * * * * SUBSCRIBE IS BEST! * * * * * * * * *

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Sain thee, seelie wights. Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts. Yes, for free!

Scroll right down if you want to get straight to your newest treasure trove of PHABULOUS PHREEBIES .

Warning: My Real Voice Inside!

Here’s the transcript of the audio file at the top of this post:

Substacker @JulieMain recently wrote,

”Hey Substackers, I have a visually impaired husband, and I would like him to enjoy some of the content here, but even with accessibility tools, reading on a screen is a strain.

“If you care to take a moment and record an audio of what you’ve written, it would sure mean a lot to people like him. Just thought I’d share a little perspective. Lots of love!”

Thanks Julie, I think that’s a great idea, and I will try to remember to record my posts in the future on Substack. I’m just recording this on my iPhone at the moment and the quality is pretty appalling, but better than nothing.

Bye for now.

Cecilia

Footnote: Woke up again without an Irish accent. Tragic.

Second footnote: Have discovered you can only upload one audio file per post. Sorry Julie’s husband, the rest of this post will have to be text-only :(

Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance & Romantasy News

Now that I’ve traumatised myself by hearing my own voice, here’s a roundup of what’s new in science fiction, fantasy, and romance over roughly the past 7 days — fresh announcements, trailers, books, film/TV.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

Science Fiction

Film / TV / Media

The final trailer for Predator: Badlands dropped, revealing Elle Fanning in dual roles (as an android / synth twin) and hinting that the film’s setting might be one of “the most dangerous planets in the universe.”

Tron: Ares held its Los Angeles premiere, with a glam red carpet and high expectations for the next chapter in the Tron saga. Critics like the vibes and soundtrack, but not so much the plot. If the movie doesn’t pick up major steam internationally or get strong word-of-mouth, it could veer into flop territory.

Publishing / Adaptation

Disney acquired the rights to Katherine Rundell’s fantasy series Impossible Creatures for film adaptation, with plans to adapt the first two books and secure first rights for future works from the author.

Fantasy / Romantasy / Romance

Book News & Trends

Alchemised (by SenLinYu), originally a fanfic-turned-dark-fantasy-romance, landed a high-profile film deal reportedly in the seven-figure range.

A new dark romantasy, The Arcane Arts (by S.D. Coverly, the pseudonym for Dana Schwartz + Dan Frey), will launch May 19, 2026. It’s being billed as a mix of “romance, fantasy, and dark academia.”

In a quirky marketing twist, a special edition of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s romantasy The Primal of Blood and Bone is being released in “garlic‑/mayo‑scented ink,” aimed at grabbing viral attention on TikTok.

Industry / Market Trends

The publishing industry continues to ride the wave of “pull‑to‑pub”, where strongly performing fanfiction (especially those resonating on BookTok) are adapted, reworked, and published to broader audiences. Alchemised is a prime example.

Romantasy and fantasy overall are being credited with a significant bump in sales in recent years, in part thanks to BookTok and viral social momentum. Hooray for romantasy!

Phabulous Phreebies Young Adult Romantasy (and funny Sci-fi)

Get these books fast. This one ends November 2nd

Cyberchicks in Love: A Satire for the Star-struck

by Barb Dwyer

The madcap adventures of a horde of beautiful young women all intent on pursuing the same movie star are woven into a spoof of fanfic, chick lit, bodice-rippers, virtual reality and travel guides.

“Cyberchicks in Love” satirizes the adoration of ordinary fans for their idols of the silver screen. “A rollicking read with all the ingredients of a cult classic!”

Your free copy awaits

Brainiacs Unite - an all-genre giveaway for stories with intelligent characters

This promo ends October 20!

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe for absolutely no cost whatsoever. Not a penny.

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy. And let’s face it, you KNOW you’re going to enjoy my posts.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Have pity on them! Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Your guess is as good as mine how these romantasy characters both fit on this horse at such weird angles. Intro

Scroll down if you want to get straight to your newest treasure trove of UNLIMITED PHREEBIES.

Meanwhile. . . here’s a roundup of what’s new in science fiction, fantasy, and romance over roughly the past 7 days — fresh announcements, trailers, books, film/TV.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

FantasyNew releases & upcoming works

* Philip Pullman’s final Lyra book: The Rose Field, the third volume in The Book of Dust (continuing Lyra Silvertongue’s story), will be published on 23 October 2025.

* Reprint & tour: Rebecca Thorne is celebrating a physical re‑release of her science fantasy novel This Gilded Abyss and will appear in Jacksonville, USA, on November 12.

* Amazon MGM Studios has optioned the screen rights to Katabasis, R. F. Kuang’s 2025 fantasy novel, with Angela Kang attached as showrunner.

Cross‑genre & trend notes

* Autumn (i.e. Fall) in the Northern Hemisphere 2025 speculative preview: Goodreads and BookBub have refreshed their lists of upcoming sci-fi and fantasy titles for fall, showing a strong crop of multi-genre and borderline titles.

* Fantasy + romance = everywhere The “romantasy” subgenre continues to dominate buzz and sales (see more in the romance section below).

I don’t want to imply I was ahead of my time, but WAS I AHEAD OF MY TIME when I wrote the Bitterbynde Trilogy romantasy in the 1990s? Back then, when people asked my what kind of books I wrote, I would reply “fantasy” and hastily add, “you know, like ‘The Lord of the Rings’”, because back then, most people thought “fantasy” meant something altogether different . . . :)

RomanceNew series & author news

* Kresley Cole launches a spin‑off: Author of Immortals After Dark, Cole is launching a new series, *Immortals Untold*. The first book, *Ravenous*, is set for release on May 19, 2026, and explores a realm called the Skein with demons, Valkyries, and intertwined fates.

* Ali Hazelwood’s bound for more: Hazelwood, already prolific in 2025 with five books, is releasing Bound, a dark academia paranormal romance, exclusively as a Spotify audiobook on November 11. She also hints at further adaptation work on her earlier titles.

* Fan‑fiction to bestseller success: Alchemised by SenLinYu—originally based on a Harry Potter fan fiction (“Manacled”)—has topped bestseller charts and been optioned for film. The rewritten version removes certain controversial elements and reframes its universe more distinctively.

Market & genre trends

* Romantasy dominating 2025: The blend of romance + fantasy is more than a niche—it’s driving major sales increases, especially on social media platforms like TikTok.

* Release momentum: Several lists (Paste, Goodreads, Screenrant) are already spotlighting highly anticipated romantasy and fantasy romance titles for the rest of 2025, indicating that publishers are doubling down on this hybrid.

* Spotify is leaning into the rise of romantasy (fantasy + romance) by pushing its audiobook division, including immersive events like “The Forbid‑Inn” to engage fans in the genre.

Science FictionKey announcements & media

* Chien 51 premiered in Venice: The French dystopian sci‑fi thriller Chien 51, based on Laurent Gaudé’s novel, debuted at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. It’s set in a near-future Paris where society is stratified by class and governed by AI‑led policing.

* The Astronaut is now out (or about to release): Jess Varley’s sci-fi horror film starring Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne, about an astronaut who may have brought an alien back to Earth, is drawing attention.

* October looks strong for sci-fi cinema: Films like TRON: Ares, Frankenstein, and Bugonia are slated for release this month.

* , known for his prolific non‑fiction output in self‑publishing and fitness, is now venturing into sci‑fi horror, revealing in a recent podcast that he plans to launch his first fiction project via Kickstarter later this month.

* Alien: Earth, the new sci‑fi horror series created by Noah Hawley, has launched on FX / Hulu (internationally via Disney+). It’s set as a prequel to the original Alien mythos, focusing on hybrid, AI, and human identity themes.

* Midst, the space‑western audio drama podcast acquired by Critical Role’s Metapigeon, continues to expand with its sequel Unend. The new season (season 2) of Unend premiered on June 4, 2025.

* The Nebula Awards Showcase 60 anthology was recently published, collecting top short works (novellas, novelettes, short stories) recognized by the SFWA in 2025.

News & industry

* Concatenation’s Autumn SF news: The UK site concatenation.org is tracking new releases, reviews, and conventions for Autumn 2025 in science fiction.

* McEwan’s genre turn: Ian McEwan’s upcoming novel What We Can Know is being framed as “science fiction without the science,” set partially in a post‑apocalyptic 22nd century and exploring memory, history, and human limits.

Phantastic Phreebies & Great Deals on Unlimited Romantasy (and funny sci-fi)

Brainiacs, Unite!: An All-Genre Giveaway for Stories with Intelligent Characters

Almost 70 titles to choose from. Promo ends Oct 20, 2025!

Young Adult Sweet Romantasy

Eight curated titles. This promo ends Oct 31, 2025!

Thanks for reading STRANGE LIGHTS - stories that begin where reality ends! Subscribe AT NO COST WHATSOEVER to receive new posts.

Follow vs SUBSCRIBE — What’s the Difference?

FOLLOW: If you follow me on Substack, my posts will appear in your Substack feed or app, ready for you to dip in when you want to read something high-class. ‘Follow’ is a second-rate option, though. Subscribing is much better. :)

SUBSCRIBE (for free): If you SUBSCRIBE, my posts come straight to your inbox. And you can choose how often — instantly, weekly digest, or not at all by email. Subscribing means you won’t miss something you’d enjoy. And let’s face it, you KNOW you’re going to enjoy my posts.

BEST OF BOTH: If your inbox is SACRED SPACE, you can subscribe and then turn off email delivery in your Substack settings. That way, you’re reading only when you choose. WIN!

HELP OTHERS: Substack counts subscribers when recommending writers to new readers. So WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE, it also helps my work reach the deserving few who’ve not yet read my stuff. Have pity on them! Help them join us in our realm of Sci-fi, Fantasy & Romance delights.

End of message.

This is Charlie Delta Tango, switching to silent running.

Scroll down if you want to get straight to your newest crop of PHREEBIES.

Meanwhile. . . here’s a roundup of what’s new in science fiction, fantasy, and romance over roughly the past 7 days — fresh announcements, trailers, books, film/TV.

Heads up: I’m just sharing the latest news, not vouching for every project. Some of it sounds enticing, while some... I’ll let you decide!

RomanceBooks:

Historical Romantasy Novel: The Cloven Ring: A Celtic Romantasy is a sweeping tale of lost love, longing, and second chances. When Rose Delacey’s true love vanishes at sea, she’s forced into a marriage of convenience—but her heart never lets go. Across the ocean, Keane endures the horrors of war and the lure of magic, driven only by his love for the woman he left behind. With lush historical detail and a dash of Celtic myth, Sydney Acorn weaves a romantasy that will break your heart and put it back together again. Perfect for readers who believe true love is worth the fight.

Film:

All of You — Upcoming Apple TV+ film. Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots play best friends whose relationship evolves into something more complex over the years. Central to the story is a “soulmate test” that surprisingly points Laura (Poots) to someone else, complicating things with her longtime friend Simon (Goldstein).

Kiss (Tamil fantasy romance) — Released September 19, 2025, in Tamil Nadu. The directorial debut of choreographer Sathish. It’s a fantasy rom‑com that audiences are responding well to, especially praising its freshness in the genre.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey — Starring Margot Robbie & Colin Farrell, with magical realism / romantic fantasy elements. The premise involves strangers using a magical GPS to revisit emotional wounds and rediscover love.

Critics so far are saying it has promise but lack of emotional depth; many feel it doesn’t quite spark in the way a romance film hopes to.

FantasyFilm:

The Bride — Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s a punk‑rock, dark fantasy reimagining of Frankenstein, set in 1930s Chicago. Christian Bale plays Frankenstein; Jessie Buckley is “the Bride.”

Themes include love, violence, identity, and uprising; looks quite stylised. Release date: March 6, 2026.

Books:

Novel: The Children by Melissa Albert — Publishing June 2, 2026. Albert’s adult debut. It blends fantasy/haunting legacy elements: a famed children’s author who based her books on her kids, an estranged daughter, a mysterious fire, and art that stirs up ghosts of the past.

Sci‑FiFilm:

Slime — An animated sci‑fi film has confirmed its cast: Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Willow Smith, John Boyega, Anna Sawai, John Cho, among others.

The plot involves a pre‑apocalyptic world, a clinical trial gone wrong (injection with mysterious slime giving destructive powers), and a quest for safety and a cure, after the protagonist kidnaps the lab worker.

Books:

The End of the World As We Know It anthology & King Sorrow novel – Two new works tied to Stephen King’s legacy.

The End of the World As We Know It is a 779‑page anthology with 34 new stories, some expanding on characters from The Stand. King Sorrow, by Joe Hill (King’s son) involves a Faustian bargain with a dragon that demands yearly human sacrifices, exploring the long‑term psychological impacts.

Phantastique Phreebies

Young Adult Sweet Romantasy - This promotion ends October 31st

Brainiacs Unite: An All-Genre Giveaway for Stories with Intelligent Characters - This promotion ends October 20th

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fey horse in forest pool, its mane tangled with green waterweeds

The Each Uisge, the Prince of Waterhorses

He’s not a Dark Lord in the usual sense of Dark Lords, but he’s male, powerful and evil, so he comes close. And he’s AUTHENTIC, since he plays an important role in ancient Celtic folklore.

The Each Uisge on Wikipedia

“The each-uisge, a supernatural water horse found in the Scottish Highlands, has been described as "perhaps the fiercest and most dangerous of all the water-horses" by the folklorist Katharine Briggs.[1] Often mistaken for the kelpie (which inhabits streams and rivers), the each-uisge lives in the sea, sea lochs, and fresh water lochs.[1] The each-uisge is a shape-shifter, disguising itself as a fine horse, pony, a handsome man . . .

“If, while in horse form, a man mounts it, he is only safe as long as the each-uisge is ridden in the interior of land. However, the merest glimpse or smell of water means the beginning of the end for the rider, for the each-uisge's skin becomes adhesive and the creature immediately goes to the deepest part of the loch with its victim. After the victim has drowned, the each-uisge tears them apart and devours the entire body except for the liver, which floats to the surface.[1]

“In its human form it is said to appear as a handsome man, and can be recognised as a mythological creature only by the water weeds[2] or profuse sand and mud in its hair.[3] Because of this, people in the Highlands were often wary of lone animals and strangers by the water's edge, near where the each-uisge was reputed to live.”

The Each Uisge in the Bitterbynde Trilogy

“Present also was the malignant Each Uisge in mail like the delicate silver scales of fish, and a mantle the colour of seaweed. A fillet of pearls adorned the sleek horse-hair mane which framed the frigid and charming face, as pale as death, as cold as the under­belly of a lamprey.
”Flanking the Prince of Waterhorses, two dour and doughty men in ragged plaid and thick calf-hide each held a pike twined with dripping red filaments of spirogyra. Water streamed from their gar­ments. Their eyes were blank as stones. Ashalind recognised them as two of the Each Uisge’s mortal slaves, sons of tragedy. . . “

The WHAT?

And before you start saying, “That’s all very well, Cecilia, but how do you pronounce ‘Each Uisge?’” Let me assure you that I had a lot of trouble with it too, and so did my poor tormented audiobook narrator. It’s a Scottish Gaelic term, literally meaning “horse water'“, and before you jump to conclusions, that really means ‘horse OF THE water’. “Each” is pronounced roughly like “yach” with a throaty ‘ch’ sound, and “uisge” sounds a bit like like “OOSH-guh”.

If you don’t know anything about waterhorses yet, you’re in for a treat. Google them.

Notes for Fellow Word-Nerds

There’s a relationship between waterhorses and whisky. In Scottish Gaelic, “whisky/whiskey” is uisge-beatha (pronounced roughly oosh-guh beh-ha), which literally means “water (of) life.”
The modern English word whisky actually comes from an anglicised shortening of this term. Early English speakers wrote it as usquebaugh, which eventually became whisky.

I ❤️ etymology!

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Sain thee, Seelie Wights!

Here’s a Rare Post from me. I’m keeping them rare, so that your inbox doesn’t get over-cluttered. This one starts with a rant about punctuation. Don’t worry, you can always scroll to the NEWS ROUNDUP at the bottom of the page.

Here goes . . .

There is a pain — so utter —
It swallows substance up —
Then covers the Abyss with Trance —
So Memory can step
Around — across — opon [sic] it —
As One within a Swoon —
Goes safely — where an open eye —
Would drop Him — Bone by Bone —

Emily Dickinson, “There is a pain — so utter —”

If Emily Dickinson used twelve em dashes in a single verse of poetry in 2025, she might be accused of using AI to write it. Em dashes are punctuation marks whose reputation has recently been ruined.

Why are they so great?

The em dash is one of the most useful punctuation marks, because it gives writers freedom to shape a sentence’s rhythm and emphasis. It can stand in for commas, colons, or parentheses, but it carries a sharper edge and a bit more drama.

Where a comma creates only a light pause, an em dash marks a stronger break in thought, making the interruption more noticeable. Compare He brought his sister, his brother, and his cousin with He brought his sister—his only true friend—his brother, and his cousin. The dashes pull attention to the aside in a way commas would not.

Colons, by contrast, are formal tools for introducing something directly: She had one goal: win. Replace that colon with an em dash and the tone shifts to something less stiff, more dramatic: She had one goal—win.

Parentheses tuck information away quietly: He gave her the keys (though reluctantly). With em dashes the aside jumps forward instead of shrinking back: He gave her the keys—though reluctantly.

In short, commas keep a sentence flowing, colons organise, and parentheses whisper. The em dash interrupts, emphasises, and adds energy. It is useful because it allows a writer to adjust tone and pacing instantly, strengthening sentences that might otherwise feel flat or cluttered.

What ruined them?

Personally, I have always been a fan of the judicious use of em dashes in my writing. I have, however, seen people who declare they are an automatic signal of AI authorship.

There are several potential signals of AI authorship, and liberal use of em dashes is only one of many. Perhaps it is the most easily spotted, so people have come to rely on them as irrefutable evidence, accusing authors who dare to use them of “cheating with AI”!

Some authors, so I understand, are now scared to use em dashes at all!

It would be a pity to dump this punctuation mark—illogical too, (see what I did there), because it is so easy to instruct any LLM to avoid using em dashes. Which means em dashes are not reliable signs of AI authorship.

So, all you authors out there who love little emmies, I hope you keep using them. I certainly will. :)

News Roundup

Here’s your Weekly Sci-fi / Fantasy / Romance Roundup, covering the freshest stories from the last seven days (i.e., late August to early September 2025):

Film & TVScience Fiction

"Somnium" (feature debut by Racheal Cain)

This digital sci‑fi release (available from 8 September 2025) follows an actor‑turned‑“sleep‑sitter” overseeing dream‑injection therapy. Critics praise Chloë Levine’s performance but find the film overly derivative, recalling influences like Eternal Sunshine and Mulholland Drive. Released on digital platforms, the film receives mixed reviews for lacking originality.

Sci‑Fi / Romance

"All of You" (Apple TV+ & select theaters, 26 September 2025)

A sci‑fi romance starring Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots. The plot centers on college-best friends when a futuristic soulmate test tells Laura that her perfect match isn’t Simon, forcing both to reassess their bond. Co-written and directed by William Bridges, the film holds an 83% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fantasy / Sci‑Fi

Animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Barsoom novels

A fresh animated series based on A Princess of Mars is in development, returning to the beloved classic after Disney's failed 2012 live-action attempt. No release date yet.

Books & PublishingRomance / Sci‑Fi

"The Love Hypothesis" adaptation update

Ali Hazelwood’s viral romance (once fanfic) gains new traction with a film adaptation starring Lili Reinhart as Olive and Tom Bateman as Adam. Directed by Claire Scanlon, production details remain under wraps, though excitement is high.

Romantasy / Fantasy

"Dire Bound" by Sable Sorensen

This self‑published romantasy debut, blending direwolves, vampires, and fantasy warfare, exploded via BookTok/Instagram, earning a seven-figure deal with Hachette and interest from 17 foreign publishers within 90 days. The sequel, Fury Bound, has been delayed and is now slated for May (presumably 2026).

General Sci‑Fi & Fantasy

New novels spotlight

These Memories Do Not Belong to Us (set in future China with memory-storing tech), The Mad Sisters of Esi (surreal cosmic-fantasy with sisters in dreamlike realms), and The Midnight Shift (a horror-tinged fantasy featuring a vampire at a rehab center) are reviewed as inventive, emotionally complex, and thematically resonant picks.

Farewell for now,

x Cecilia

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