May 2025 Issue 1

In this issue: Stories and podcast episodes from the second half of April, and a recommendation for a book and podcast about medical mysteries and mishaps.

PREHISTORY AND MEDICAL MYSTERIES

Ever wonder if the dinosaurs would have left a message for us if they could? (Or if they actually did?) And does it seem weird or logical that we once believed our health depended on the state of our bodily humors? Just a couple of questions I explore in this issue's stories. Here's hoping they leave you in good humor.😀

✒️ 🪶 🎙

Greetings! I'm Nila. Every week, I release a new short story and a new podcast episode spanning the genres of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, mythology, fairy tale, fable, and horror.
​
Whether you're in the mood to read or listen, I've got stories to tell you.

Here we go...

Alchemical April

✒️ The theme I've chosen for the April stories this year is alchemy. I'm fascinated by this subject, and yet, I have a grand total of one book about it. (Though some other books in my personal library touch on the subject.) So of course I decided to write four different stories centered on alchemy. Below, I present the final two of those. 🌱🧪

🎙 The podcast episodes feature two scientific mysteries. Are you into dinosaurs and medieval medicine?
​

Titles and taglines below. Enjoy!

Short Stories

We're in Year 12, the Year of Praxis. The word essentially means "practice." Through the stories, I'm exploring elements of my writing practice.
​
Each link below leads directly to the story post.
​

​THE ILLUSIONS OF APRIL​
To pay for a costly cure for her partner's illness, an illusionist pretends to be an alchemist who can transmute rocks into gold for a rich moneylender. 🪙
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale

​THE SPECTACULAR STAFF OF DREFAN​
After destroying his friend's dearly bought and possibly poisonous potion, one man must contend with a broken friendship, and the surprising effect the potion has on one of his own possessions. 🪲
Genre: Fantasy

Podcast Episodes

We're in season 8, the Year of Revisitation. Each episode is a standalone story, but it's inspired by an earlier story.

The text links below go to the Explore page on Storyfeather, where you can listen to the episode, find the links to the episode(s) that inspired it, and more.

Pressing on the Spotify embed image leads to the episode's Spotify page.

​NOTE FROM A TRICERATOP​

We think we know their story. The asteroid. The extinction. But one person believes that the dinosaurs may have left more than their bones behind.
​Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery

Note From a Triceratops Apr 18 · Storyfeather 23:07   ​

​DIDYMEDICUS​

A charlatan pretending to be a healer wins the king’s favor, but seems mostly harmless, until the day the king collapses and cannot be roused.
​Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Mythology

Didymedicus Apr 25 · Storyfeather 34:18   ​

FUN MEDICAL PODCAST, ANYONE? 🩺

"Didymedicus" was inspired by a previous story I’d written about old-timey medical practices. That episode is called “The Remedy Men.” It was also inspired by a section I read in the “Sawbones” book about the four humors of the body. I bought the book after listening to the “Sawbones” podcast, in which the married hosts—one of whom is an actual medical doctor—explore medical theories, beliefs, and practices throughout the ages of human existence. The podcast's full title is "Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine." And listeners are regularly given the warning, "don't drill a hole in your head." Fair enough. But it's not a medical advice show! It's just for fun.

Parting words🪶

Next time, I'll bring you myths and mayhem from the May stories and podcast episodes.

If you're enjoying my stories, I'd love to hear about it. You can reply to this email to let me know. Likewise, if you've got any questions.
​
​
Until next time, happy reading and listening! 📚
—Nila

​​​​​

P.S. No one responded to the poll I sent out last time. 🤔 Perhaps it was too generic. Well, I'll try again someday.