Anu Recommends #34
Paid subscriptions, big changes and additions to the Storyteller, and some bite-sized book recommendations
Hi and welcome to the Storyteller!
The content of today’s issue wasn’t planned. Well, if I want to be specific, which I do, I’ve been, for months now, planning and planning, followed by some (sometimes simultaneous) overthinking, and then planning some more, while not actually moving beyond the planning stage. Hence the current plunge, because, let’s face it, there is never going to be the “perfect” time for this, the only time is now.
All of this to say that I’ve finally opened paid subscriptions for The Storyteller and restructured the newsletter like I’d been wanting to do for a while. The continued love, support, and encouragement of this community made this an increasingly easier decision, so thank you to all of you! As all of you must know, it’s hard enough making a living at anything, much less if that something you love and do for the same is in the creative industries. Now, I’m more privileged than many, but even so, a lot of work, reading, research, thinking, writing, and time goes into these weekly issues, and I want to be able to continue doing that, consistently, for a long time to come. This helps, enables, me, in more ways than one, to do just that.
New-look Storyteller: what to expect
Okay, so what does restructure mean exactly. Well, for starters, The Storyteller (still running every Sunday) now has different sections—
Anu Recommends: Recommendations and reviews of books and authors (with the occasional TV show or movie), as well as general bookish, writing, publishing, and reading-related chat, including writing life updates and tips on process. The occasional deep dive. Frequent gushing. Lots of bookish photos and references to The Arsenal and Middle Earth.
Creative Chats: This is the author interview series soon to be expanded to include chats with all creatives—writers, authors, musicians, artists, and others.
Story Sunday: Original fiction (micro, flash, short stories, and longer), as well as literary and personal essays, creative non-fiction, longer reviews and articles, and more.
Free subscribers will receive two issues every month—one on the first and last Sunday—one each of Anu Recommends and Creator Chats (some months, it might even be just two of Anu Recommends). If you wish to upgrade to paid, you can do so here (there is a 7-day free trial option available).
I’ve enabled paid subscriptions but paid-only posts and other perks won’t kick into place until the first Sunday of October (aka October 1, 2023), but I wanted to get the word out there early, instead of surprise-dropping it on you one or two weeks in advance.
As a free subscriber, you will still have access to the full archive till the September 24 issue; as well as continued access to the two issues per month you’ll receive. All of this will also always be accessible via the Substack website.
Paid subscribers get access to everything above, as well as subscriber-only posts (longer reviews, essays, fiction, and more), and a subscribers-only chat and community. Perhaps even an online book club down the line, who knows? It’s exciting and nerve-wracking! I’ve tried my best to keep the payment options low without short-changing myself, and there are gift referrals as well as conditional longer free trials (just email me and we’ll figure out another option). So I hope this makes all of you feel like there’s something for you in this latest iteration of the newsletter 😊.
I’ve also switched on referrals, which is this handy and cool feature Substack rolled out a few months ago, but I’ll send a separate email about this in the week, as I don’t want to overload you all with new info. I’m leaving this button below, though.
Let’s get down to (book) business
Alright, now that the “announcement” is out of the way, back to books (if you got the sub-heading reference, you’re my kind of people).
First, two awesome updates that I wanted to share:
Storyteller author Kika Hatzapoulou (here and here) unveiled the cover of the second and final book of the Threads duology.
You can read an excerpt from the book (out on June 4, 2024) here thanks to Penguin Teen.
The second bit of news I want to share involves a very good book friend. Dr. Laura Varnam and I have known each other for a good few years now thanks to the book instagram (or bookstagram, if you will) community, with many a great chat during that time. She is, as her bio says, a “Tutor at Univ, Oxford. Medievalist. Poet. Academic.” Laura has a poem in the anthology below, illustrated by none other than Chris Riddell (a favourite) and with a foreword by the Natalie Haynes (another favourite). Click through the link below and swipe to see the illustrations for Laura’s Beowulf dragon poem. How amazing is that!
This issue’s book recommendations are inspired by my current reading mood: all the (different) fantasy, mythology, and magic realism. Have you read any of them?
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
Stories reimagining powerful mythical women and the love in their lives. It is, as the author's note says, “about being seen in all your iterations, in every dynamic, brightly and in colour”. As with most story collections, the offerings were varied, but the ones that stood out were absorbing and vibrant with a distinct storytelling voice.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
A complex and unexpectedly witty novella with rich worldbuilding and well-etched characters. I definitely want to read her novels now, and foresee myself rereading this!
Speak Easy Speak Love by McKelle George
A sparkling young adult retelling of Much Ado About Nothing set in 1920s New York. I went into this with no expectations and came out with a book I know I will reread. It manages to capture the essence of both its source story and its new historical setting.
The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho
A long short story that was my first by the author. Taut, eerie, and fabulously narrated. I'm glad to be introduced to a new diverse voice in fantasy.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
East-Asian-inspired fantasy starring a female protagonist who comes into her own and is relatable with her flaws and her insecurities but also her compassion and her determination. This is that rare hyped new release which deserves every bit of its acclaim and then some. It's original, imaginative, exciting, funny, and emotional.
The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf
This Malaysian-folklore-inspired story was darker than I expected with its middle-grade rating, but also funnier and sweeter, with an endearing protagonist in young Suraya and her sidekicks, the pelesit (a ghost spirit) whom she has named Pink, and her human best friend Jing who is just precious. (I’ve written about the author’s latest, a Malaysian Red-Riding-Hood adaptation, in a previous issue.)
As always, please feel free to send in recommendations—books, movie, TV shows, authors to interview, ideas of what you’d like me to write on, rants/ramblings/excited monologues, GIFs and memes (especially them) and more. Just drop me a line and turn this into a conversation, even if just to say hi and let me know what you thought of the latest issue 😊 Or share this with someone you think might enjoy it.
Take care and see you next week!
Anu
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You can find me on Twitter at @AnuNande (follow for all the football chatter) and on Instagram at @booksinboston.