CW: Before we begin, I want to make readers aware that today’s story is a historical fiction piece that has elements of violence and racism.
Welcome to Realms of Roush, a monthly newsletter that takes you to new worlds. Enjoy sci-fi and fantasy short stories, and the occasional personal essay - and soon reviews! - both as text and audio, every month!
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Something I’m trying to do is connect with more writers on Substack and beyond. Today, I want to shout out a writer and project I’m really enjoying: is writing a new serialized series called Marredbury.
Here’s a summary!
In a near-future city haunted by its own dark history, evil lurks beneath the surface. Enter Marredbury, a chilling serial anthology that weaves together a tapestry of haunting tales from the past and a contemporary digital nightmare.
Carla Bird, an unsuspecting IT professional, is thrust into a strange project involving the decryption of files from the abandoned Colby Corp site in Old Town Marredbury. Little does she know that these files hold the eerie stories of the town's namesake. From Gigi Talcon's peculiar gardenias to the unforeseen consequences of a night of recreational drug use, Carla can't dismiss these narratives as mere fiction, especially as she witnesses unsettling occurrences in her new surroundings…
I loved part I of Marredbury so much. It’s so atmospheric and jumps right in to the weirdness. If this piques your interest, read part I here:
https://reinacruzwrites.substack.com/p/marredbury?r=y7t5u
