V. Astor Solomon

This post it just the prompt; there's a story in the replies from @howsweetthewords.bsky.social that I loved

You bring one of the cups downstairs, then make yourself a cup of store-bought chai. It makes your chest feel hollow, but you can't help but hope that maybe, if you have just a little bit in one of the cups, you can dance with ghosts just once too.

But she's gone now, and you're sitting here with a box full of teacups you didn’t know she kept, and your heart hurts so much. You want her to tell you a story, or take you out to thrift a new cup so you two can have tea. You want to smell her perfume, or hear her turning on the kettle.

When you grew older, she still tried telling you, but you stopped believing. Instead you assumed she bought the cups when she was out, or her sister gave them to her. You'd see them for a few days after she’d tell you another weird story, and then they’d vanish.

Places where she’d dance with ghosts, sit in the sky and have deserts with the birds. She told you amazing things, but when you asked why she never took you, she said she had never found one of the cups when you were close, and she only had a few minutes to decide if she wanted to see where she’d go

content note: this does deal with parental death.

When you were a kid and your mom told you about the teacups, you believed her. She would whisper stories about all the strange places she'd gone with them.

Their brittle bodies will be one and the same, and it makes everything in them embrace what's to come.

They feel it calling, reaching, pulling one, and one, and one closer until they’re brought into the depths.
Yet none of them is afraid. They know the kind of darkness that draws them in will bring them closer, crush them until they're the same nothingness.

They sing out to each other, not with sound, but with bodies revolving.
All of them dancing, spinning and glittering together, hoping to create something that is bigger than any of them, than all of them.
But there are already things bigger than stars, vast and hungry and reaching.

The stars tremble under the weight of blackness. They struggle to keep their light going, their bodies turning, their inhabitants thriving. They reach, reach, reach for each other amidst the infinite spaces. Every moment is a fight.
One of them hums, then another, and another still.

Cover design by Shi Briggs. www.etsy.com/shop/grossan...

Red hands with sharp black nails reach across a dark, smoky background. Text: Horror writing for beginners. October 19, 2-4. LED by Astoria-based author Nino Cipri.

Just in time to get into the Halloween spirit, I’m teaching a horror writing class with Queens Collaboratory. If you’re in NYC and want to dip your toes into writing horror, this the place to do it. Tickets are $20-$25, and spots are pretty limited. luma.com/9pzyg2tm

I'm so glad. <3 This is why I talk about stories, because I know how much it can brighten someone's day.

Come hang out with us!

"A beautiful read aided by Kurella’s skilled and poetical use of language. This is a story I strongly recommend."

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Some Queer Short SFF - July 2025 | Charles Payseur Get more from Charles Payseur on Patreon

TELL ME YOUR 🏳️‍🌈QUEER SHORT SFF🏳️‍🌈 OUT IN AUGUST 2025!!! Originals only pls, up to novella in length, indie okay. Just reply with the author, title, and a link to read and/or buy and I'll get them on the list. Here's July's list for context & more info: www.patreon.com/posts/some-q...

Two Fic Tuesday Welcome! Don't mind today's letter being a little late. I didn't set this to post at the right time. Oops! But it's still Tuesday, and I still have stories for you. This week I bring you a couple st...

It's Tuesday! And despite being still a little off my game from travel, I do have a post.

This week we've got @charliehughes77.bsky.social and Kristi DeMeester bringing us some good, good horror stories that made me very pleased

howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...

My theory about SeaTac is that it's trying to embrace that ship of Theseus vibe. Because otherwise there is no good reason for that much construction. So. Much. Construction.

I regretted so many life choices while I was in the Seattle airport. So. Many.

I'm much better now, but by the time we were running around trying to find my bag, all I wanted to do was lie on the floor.

I've made it back to Seattle and I'm tired down through my bones. It was a full flight, and six hours, and we had to track down my stuff because it wasn't in baggage. Also, I didn't do great with eating or sleeping beforehand.

I feel like I'm going to be flat for at least the weekend.

purple cover of Spellcasting On by Andi R. Christopher. It has a range of elements including a witch's hat, a heart shaped ball of yarn with a crochet hook, hammers, and violets.

Spellcasting On is out now!

Cosy sapphic romance with yarn 🧶 and magic ✨.

Available now on all the usual platforms:

buy.bookfunnel.com/psfdv1soqy

I've got a story, Unforgettable, in Volume 4 - LIMBO - of @clubchicxulub.bsky.social that I'm super excited to see published! clubchicxulub.com/club-chicxul...

Look at this good, good box that is MINE NOW! :D

I love boxes so much, people. I love *pretty* boxes even more.

Wow... 75% funded in less than a day!! Help us push our sapphic adventure anthology over the finish line!! 🏳️‍🌈😍🦄

Buy V. Astor Solomon a Coffee Become a supporter of V. Astor Solomon today!

On the off chance you'd like to leave me a tip for whatever reason, you can do so here. It's 100% not required to get your story through.

ko-fi.com/howsweetthew...

It is tiny story time! Because I need to be sure I'm really strong with my microfiction skills for #FlightsofFoundry later this month.

Leave me a prompt of some kind and get a story under 500 words!

Optional prompt: Urban legends

Look at this glorious thing. It's gonna be a good time watching it become even more haunted.

It was so goooood! More people need to do bee stories, and you gave me that realization.

I have now been jabbed with both my covid and flu shots! Woo!

Now let's see if I want to tip over for the next three days.

Oh, but look at that good, good face.