Author Archives: editor

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. And watch out for Wyldblood #15 – out very soon Reading Lies Gabby Gilliam I have one green eye and one brown eye. The green eye sees truth, but the brown eye sees much, much more. I was three the first time I knew for certain that not everyoneContinue reading “Free fiction #179 – Gabby Gilliam”

Apologies for the repost – the last one went out with the wrong title. Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Tiny Shark Anna Koltes You never liked water until you grew fins. One morning there they were, protruding from your body; gray, slimy, and kind of disgusting. You hid in your room and told MomContinue reading “Free fiction #178 – Anna Koltes”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Tiny Shark Anna Koltes You never liked water until you grew fins. One morning there they were, protruding from your body; gray, slimy, and kind of disgusting. You hid in your room and told Mom and Dad you were sick and super contagious. You put the DO NOT DISTURBContinue reading “Free fiction #178 – Anna Koltes”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. The Sphynx’s Blind Date Katherine Quevedo My date plunked down into the café chair across from me. Humanoid master of the Labyrinth. Half man, half beast. Sounded like he should be kinda hot, but he just—wasn’t, to me. Maybe because I’d never been into nose rings. Or maybe becauseContinue reading “Free fiction #177 – Katherine Quevedo”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. A Girl’s Heart is a Wretched Thing A.D. Sui CW: some body horror Only eleven years of age and terribly lonely, I came upon a shadowy figure emerging from the fog. She looked down at me with eyes ready to burst with autumn rain and smiled with crooked, sharpContinue reading “Free fiction #176 – A.D. Sui”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Man from Mars Liam Hogan I don’t have getting shot by a man from Mars on my FML bingo card, but that’s what happens as I close up the cafe-diner gone nine. It’s already been a long day. The cook lit out an hour back, leaving the clean-up toContinue reading “Free fiction #175 – Liam Hogan”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. My Flesh, Your Blood David Contara Without oxygen, there were no flames. Just a dull thud and an exploding globe of debris and dust fizzling into icicles scattering over an area tens of miles wide. That is what I witnessed through the porthole of my freight module as itContinue reading “Free fiction #174”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Showtime on Sandstone Lane Tiffany Michelle Brown My siblings and I lounge in the dank basement of the house on Sandstone Lane, awaiting our cue. Malice sits on the rickety staircase. She laces up her tatty combat boots—the third time tonight, ever tighter—then applies a fresh coat of blackContinue reading “Free fiction #173”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. So She Danced Wayne Faust My dreams are sweet. They’re the only sweetness that remains to me in this claustrophobic world of cold metal and plastic, of soft hums and beeps, of stale odors. Outside the small window it’s blacker than black, pierced by waves and waves of brilliant,Continue reading “Free fiction #172”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. The Planet’s Gone to the Dogs Anna Vinogradov Neidle “Just kill me,” Mirin said. “I don’t need a trial.” The Chief Justice smiled, and to Mirin’s dismay she couldn’t help thinking he looked cute, of all things. It was difficult, how much the Anukai resembled dogs. Giant mechanical dogs,Continue reading “Free fiction #171”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Don’t Leave the Grim Reaper on Read Julia Leef Claire sprinted down the sidewalk, a stitch stabbing at her side, sweat running down the back of her neck. Her white knuckles gripped her phone as she checked again for a new message, but the screen only flashed the time—3:49Continue reading “Free fiction #170”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Greetings, Distant Travellers D. K. Latta The crash occurred at 6:45 AM, EST, rattling windows ten kilometres away. At 7:01 AM a police constable sent to investigate was stammering hysterically into his radio. By 7:45 city officials and a delegation from the local university were on the scene. “TheyContinue reading “Free fiction #169”

The latest Wyldblood Magazine is now out – issue 14 is packed with science fiction and fantasy from imagined worlds to gritty reality a clutch of adventurous, thought provoking and sometimes slightly unsettling tales which should give you plenty to read though the long winter nights. We kick off with Liam Hogan’s Vanishing Village; a weird andContinue reading “Wyldblood 14 – out now”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Vendetta Diego LamaTranslated by Rose Facchini Uncle Lele watched the red sunset while smoking his mezzo toscano cigar. His partner from beyond the wooden porch appeared motionless in the afternoon sun. Cooled by a gentle breeze, she stirred and resumed her steady breathing. Uncle Lele rocked in his oldContinue reading “Free fiction #168”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Keepers Sean MacKendrick People like me, Keepers, Cleaners, Librarians, whatever label you want to use, we like to debate which of the Words is the most important. Is it any surprise we all think whichever word we maintain is the best? Thing is, a lot of people around hereContinue reading “Free Wyldblood flash fiction #167”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Ruby Throat and Gold Karl Dandenell Seated atop the highest tower, the mage Thij contemplated auguries of smoke blowing into his valley. Nyal the Younger’s army was preparing to move. He’d soon put a stop to that. A figure emerged from the smoke, falling gently like a milkweed seed.Continue reading “New Free Flash Fiction from Wyldblood #166”

Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. In My Forest of Inky Night Laura Blackwell In life, I had a ritual with the letters I received. Once I’d absorbed their meanings, I took the letters out into my forest and shredded them with my hands, tearing across their secrets so that no one else could everContinue reading “New Free Flash Fiction from Wyldblood #165”

New free fiction from Wyldblood Fortnightly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Entertain, Embrace, Eat Dana Vickerson Two hazy orange moons hang fat in the sky as Ryan spins in a wide circle and lets out a laugh. “This is a good one.” Dax looks pleased. As he takes her hand, the rocky ground beneath theirContinue reading “Entertain, Embrace, Eat – Dana Vickerson”

This week’s free fiction from Wyldblood Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Appealing Skin Model Emmie Christie My skin crawled off me onto the washing room’s tile floor, then skittered up the wall. “Get back here!” I hissed out from my face of mere muscle and bone. The other models for Appealing Skin watched fromContinue reading “Appealing Skin Model – Emmie Christie”

This week’s free fiction from Wyldblood Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. The Hanging Vine Leila Murton Poole You didn’t believe me about the fairies, Papa. The ones that hummed over the water, catching sunlight in their wings. Dragonflies, you called them. You didn’t believe me about the sea serpents—swirling shadows whose humped backs rockedContinue reading “The Hanging Vine – Leila Murton Poole”

This week’s free fiction from Wyldblood Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Under Fire, Under Steel Kai Delmas My sensors boot up as my pod is en route to my next target. Explosive shells bang and thud all around me. If I were human I’d be scared for my life. Luckily, I’m not burdened withContinue reading “Under Fire, Under Steel – Kai Delmas”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Content warning We’re publishing a story with a content warning this week – Austin Shirey’s Feels Like the End of the World. We don’t normally do this, so it’s worth explaining. It’s a story about grief, loss and its aftermath – beautifully written, but some might find it disturbing.Continue reading “Feels Like the End of the World – Austin Shirey”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Wyldblood 13 out now! – available in print and digital formats from us and from Amazon Weeper Rosalind Goldsmith Damn. Couldn’t do it. Tried, but the tears wouldn’t come. I stood there in front of the microphone like a damn idiot. Couldn’t squeeze out one drop. Thing is, ifContinue reading “Weeper, by Rosalind Goldsmith”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Wyldblood 13 out now! – available in print and digital formats from us and from Amazon Declawed J P Relph Bedburg, Germany – 1579 I run. Lanterns chase me through skeletal trees, like the darting eyes of many beasts. Moonlight quivers on needles, ebbs away. I run. Clouds thickContinue reading “Declawed, by J P Relph”

Just published – nine great new short stories and two drabbles in a fine new collection from Wyldblood. These stories cover death (and its aftermath), identity (and its pitfalls) choices (and their consequences) and much more. We have aliens with time travel machines and buildings that want you to stay just a little bit longerContinue reading “Wyldblood 13 is out now!”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Ice in the Furnace Anna Clark They promised quick oblivion. You know time warps and wavers, attenuating when you least desire it, but this is fast by no one’s standard. You wait for the moment of no sensation, no awareness, and then for a signal preceding that moment, forContinue reading “Ice in the Furnace, by Anna Clark”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. This week’s free flash fiction – July 21st 2023 Master Craftsman’s Apology Madalena Daleziou Listen; it was never my plan to slit his throat. This is my apprentice we’re talking about. I’d handpicked him; a rose among weeds. Is it my fault that he grew and sharpened his thornsContinue reading “Master Craftsman’s Apology, by Madalena Daleziou”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. This week’s free flash fiction – July 14th 2023 Lyndsey Croal July 14th 2023 The sea is so salty on this planet that as I float on my back it feels like I’m swimming in the stars. Below, a dark abyss, above an indigo night, dual-moons grinning across theContinue reading “Space for One, by Lyndsey Croal”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. This week’s free flash fiction – July 7th 2023 The Orchard of Dreams Holley Cornetto Crystaline spheres glimmer against beams of the late-evening sun. Tree branches bend low beneath the weight of this fruit; the weight of dreams. This is my third time in the orchard. I walk slowlyContinue reading “The Orchard of Dreams, by Holley Cornetto”

Weekly free Wyldblood fiction: subscribe here. Coming Home Kit Campbell June 30th 2023 Maybe it was the noise that woke it. Certainly it was loud, louder than it had ever been before, except perhaps that one time when fire had fallen through the sky and the fast ones had died, leaving it all alone. ThereContinue reading “Coming Home, by Kit Campbell”

We’re changing the way we send you stories and this post is going to get a whole lot more packed. We’re now going to publish the whole of every Friday’s Wyld Flash short stories in these posts, so no more fiddly double clicking, and we’re streamlining our signup so that anything we might have putContinue reading “Magic is Like a Box of Chocolates, by Y.M. Resnik”

This week’s free fiction is Robert Bagnall’s I Was Just Doing What You Asked, a salutary tale about being all wiffly waffly when there are robots around. Live on the website now. Also look out for: Megan Baffoe’s Away with the Mermaids,Hilary Ayshford’s Tears and Smoke B.A. Booher’s High StakesMatt Bliss’ Penny Rutherford’s Super AwesomeContinue reading “New Free Fiction – I Was Just Doing What You Asked”

Today’s free fiction is Megan Baffoe’s Away with the Mermaids, another wistful, reflective gentle fantasy tale for everyone who’s ever gazed longingly out into the ocean. Also look out for: Hilary Ayshford’s Tears and Smoke B.A. Booher’s High StakesMatt Bliss’ Penny Rutherford’s Super Awesome Adventure JournalDevan Barlow’s Shaping Jessica Andrewartha’s Without a Step Or overContinue reading “New Free Fiction – Away with the Mermaids”

Hilary Ayshford’s Tears and Smoke is our latest free flash fiction, up on our website now. This one’s a wistful, witchy tale about the thanks you get for doing good – and the best way to react. Also look out for: B.A. Booher’s High StakesMatt Bliss’ Penny Rutherford’s Super Awesome Adventure JournalDevan Barlow’s Shaping JessicaContinue reading “New Free Fiction – Hilary Ayshford’s Tears and Smoke”

B.A. Booher’s High Stakes is our latest free flash fiction, up on our website now. Have you ever felt the urge to cheat in a test? Especially if the stakes were really, really high? Just don’t get caught… Also look out for: Matt Bliss’ Penny Rutherford’s Super Awesome Adventure JournalDevan Barlow’s Shaping Jessica Andrewartha’s WithoutContinue reading “New Free Fiction – B. A. Booher’s High Stakes”

Penny Rutherford’s Super Awesome Adventure Journal, by Matt Bliss, is our latest free story, free on our website now – wyldblood.com. Basements, never ending corridors, dead but not so dead Grannies. Just be careful down there… Also look out for: Devan Barlow’s Shaping Jessica Andrewartha’s Without a StepShelly Jones’ Like Footprints in the SnowMike Adamson’sContinue reading “New Free Fiction – Penny Rutherford’s Super Awesome Adventure Journal, by Matt Bliss”

Isn’t it great when you buy some new clothes and instantly you start to feel better, like they’re subtly sculpting your body into the perfect you? And then reality creeps in… Shaping, by Devan Barlow, is our latest free story, on our website now – wyldblood.com Also look out for: Jessica Andrewartha’s Without a StepShellyContinue reading “New Free Fiction – Shaping, by Devan Barlow”

Today’s free fiction is Today’s free flash fiction is Jessica Andrewartha’s Without a Step – science fiction with a bittersweet twist. Progress isn’t always smooth and sometimes tehre are personal costs – are they worth it? Also look out for: Shelly Jones’ Like Footprints in the SnowMike Adamson’s Rain Girl Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s Shifters M.Continue reading “New Free Fiction – Without a Step by Jessica Andrewartha”

Today’s free fiction is Today’s free flash fiction is Jessica Andrewartha’s Without a Step – science fiction with a bittersweet twist. Progress isn’t always smooth and sometimes tehre are personal costs – are they worth it? Also look out for: Shelly Jones’ Like Footprints in the SnowMike Adamson’s Rain Girl Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s Shifters M.Continue reading “New Free Fiction – Without a Step by Jessica Andrewartha”

Today’s free fiction is Shelly Jones’ Like Footprints in the Snow – a tale of growing up and moving on, but not too soon. Also look out for: Mike Adamson’s Rain Girl Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s Shifters M. Shedrick Simpson’s Gods OnceAnna Madden’s Broken Wing SyndromeAndré Geleynse’s Last-Minute Shopping List for your First Space Road TripContinue reading “New Free Fiction – Like Footprints in the Snow by Shelly Jones”