In the tradition of periodicals whose names indicate their frequency of publication (Publishers Weekly, The Atlantic Monthly, Lapham’s Quarterly…), I bring you The Seldom. This is the inaugural post.
My name is Dale Stromberg, and you’re getting this newsletter because you signed up for it, or else because, having meddled in forces too powerful for you to control, you were cursed to receive it.
What makes the act of writing feel meaningful?
Perhaps it is in the creative exercise of freedom.
Putting freedom to use, and doing so creatively.
Mæj
In case I haven’t told you, my contemplative high fantasy novel Mæj is to be published in 2024 by tRaum Books, an impossibly cool micropress based in Berlin.
The book cover and map (yes, a map: indispensable for high fantasy) are nearly ready. Both are stunning. In the fullness of time, I’ll share sneak previews with you in this newsletter.
The book’s interior is laid out. Soon to arrive at my house: a proof copy. This is a kind of test printing, allowing me to check for problems or typos. I will have it in my hands.
News
Instant Classic (That No One Will Read)
This is an anthology which I have a piece included in. It’s coming out later this month.
Instant Classic offers nine sardonic tales holding a carnival mirror to writers and stories. From a deal with the Devil to the ultimate AI-versus-human showdown, witness the terrifying spectacle of artists who will do anything to clamber out of the creative trenches alive.
All proceeds will go to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). I’m very glad we can do our bit to support this admirable organisation. Their bravery and labour save lives and uplift the downtrodden every day.
Want a free advance review copy? Want to read an instant classic (that no one will read) before any others (who will not read it) read it?
Or go and grab a book box while they are still available:
Indie Recommends Indie
In October, Armed With A Book gave me the opportunity to shout out five of the best indie books I’ve read. There were plenty of others I could have chosen; I selected these five because I deeply feel that more readers would be rewarded by exploring these authors’ work.
In the piece, I am pleased to recommend books by Tucker Lieberman, Kirsten Kaschock, Stella Lei, Palaces (Pascale Potvin), and Zilla Novikov.
Three Fine Books
As part of their roundup of the 100 best books of 2023, Shepherd allowed me to share three of the finest books I read over the past year.
It’s a bit weird to choose favourites, as I read plenty of great stuff this year, but these three stand out because, even long after the last page, my mind keeps returning to them.
One of my picks overlaps with the Indie Recommends Indie post above. The other two are by Dael Akkerman and Rachel A. Rosen.
Something old
In case you’re interested, two flash pieces of mine appeared in New World Writing back in June 2020.
“Ngantukisme” is a micro story in which the rest of the world falls asleep on you. In “Mouthful of Molybdomancy”, we see what we’ve seen before. Both are included in my 2022 collection Melancholic Parables.