Inkwells and Anvils
Inkwells & Anvils Anthologies
Every year, the Inkwells & Anvils hosts a short story contest for our Discord Community. Themes are announced in late spring or early summer, submissions usually open in August, with the winners announced and anthology released by November. So far we have released two anthologies, read about them and purchase them below.
There'll Be Scary Ghost Stories:
Inkwells & Anvils' First Anthology
Amidst the festive cheer of the Christmas Season, an oft forgotten tradition still exists in the vestiges of our joyous carols: ‘There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago’. Scary ghost stories? How does that fit with the caroling and mistletoeing? In the darkest time of the year, when we gather with friends and family to celebrate the Eternal Light entering into the darkness of our world, it's long been a tradition to tell stories of life beyond the grave and souls of long ago.
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Inside the covers of this book you’ll find nine tales to terrorize, spook, and chill your blood. But as with any good horror, there’s also a single pinprick of light. A hope you can reach your hand towards on the darkest day of the year. Nine tales to terrify, and nine tales to reflect. Nine tales to bring hope, and nine tales to turn your back on despair. From a spectral examination to a cowboy’s Christmas prank to terrible presents that just seem to be re-gifted over and over.
So fear not the dark, pull up a chair by the fire, and we’ll see our way through these shadowy days and bright nights. Because after all, There’ll Be Scary Ghost Stories!
A princess and priest shelter from a rainstorm as they flee from a vengeful king. A mother and daughter take a road trip to see the aurora. The pilot of a spacecraft is immolated by a solar storm. A thunderstorm shipwrecks a father and daughter on their flight from Poland. Sandstorms, wind storms, solar storms, rainstorms, and thunderstorms all threaten the pilgrimages of a myriad of characters in as many different places. And yet, despite the black clouds overhead, a single ray of light breaks through.
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These eleven tales tell of harrowing struggles and emotional journeys through storms, but each one has a kernel of hope for the reader to hold onto. As Emily Dickinson wrote, “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers…And sore must be the storm that could abash the little Bird.” Readers may feel tossed about in the wind and rain like a ship on the ocean. But at every end, in some way or another, there will be safe harbors of Hope. For Sore Must be the Storm.