Anthology – Kit Campbell Books

Loves Shines Through

The world was whole before the war.

But war is a terrible thing, and terrible things are done in the name of defense and protection. And this war tore the world apart, fractured it, separated families and lives and dreams. The reasons why no longer matter, but the effects still linger. They cause pain, though the war is over.

But despite the monsters and the poisons and the despair, there is a glimmer of light. And hope and love are not gone from the world.

These four stories, set in the Fractured World, explore how light can make it through the darkness. How hope can conquer fear. And most of all, how love can still flourish, even when the world is bleak.

A young woman braves monsters to see the sky.

A reluctant man chooses forgiveness over suffering.

Lovers reunite to save a child and their community.

Best friends risk everything for each other.

Come see the light for yourselves.

Of Metal and Magic, Compendium One

Forged from the abyss by the elder gods, the history of Soria spans over 10,000 years.

In this time, the people of the world have seen bloody wars, the rise and fall of divine empires, and pitched struggles between dragons and unicorns—the very children of the gods who created men. Though the seed of civilization was planted on the continent of Elitor, people crossed the wide oceans to other lands, and to divergent evolutions. Today the world revolves around two great powers: Telsemar in the east, and Drumnaught in the west. It is from the dusty volumes in the duty halls of these cities' grand depositories, that we look back on the tumultuous history of Soria and the tales of Metal and Magic.

This collection features exclusive short fiction from the Of Metal and Magic team and Kit Campbell, Jane Dougherty, Anna Civolani, EA Robins, Roque Lattaro Neto, and exclusive character art by Morri Koester.

Under Her Protection

Sometimes men are the ones trapped in a tower, or bound by a curse, or doomed to stay in the underworld. Damsels or not, they need rescuing too. And these are just the women to do it…

KD Sarge writes of a swordswoman and a scholar.

Erin Zarro tells of a grim reaper and a dead man.

Siri Paulson shares the tale of a maidservant and an inventor.

Kit Campbell writes of a new university grad and a prince.

Turtleduck Press proudly presents fantasy romance stories about strong women…and men who need their help.

To Rule the Stars

Meet the princesses.

A trained diplomat, kidnapped by an alien race desperate for justice, and its dashing leader...

A political pawn, on her way to meet her betrothed, who stops in the asteroid belt to answer a call for help, and finds a princess both beautiful and brave...

A captive raised to believe that the greatest evil is magic, when it--and the handsome ship's engineer who wields it--are the one thing that might save her...

Here are their stories.

The Best of Turtleduck Press, Vol. I

Turtleduck Press is proud to present our first “Best of” collection, as voted by our members. This anthology features:

The Dangers of Creation; or, a Machine to Rival Man by Siri Paulson – Gothic/steampunk, 19th century setting.

Fanged Bunny Slippers by KD Sarge – comedic Dream ‘verse character sketch, far-future off-planet setting

To the Waters and the Wild by Kit Campbell – contemporary (but not urban) fantasy with a fairytale feel, 21st century setting

Imprint, a poem by Erin Zarro regarding brokenhearted love

And a special sneak peek at Kit Campbell’s upcoming novel, Shards!

Seasons Eternal

Imagine a world where the seasons are frozen in place. How does a land change when the seasons stay the same?

Turtleduck Press releases our second anthology, featuring Kit Campbell, Siri Paulson, Erin Zarro, and KD Sarge. Proceeds benefit UNICEF.

The Wasteland: After an airship crash in a land charred by summer, two very different people must learn from each other to survive.

Stasis: In a world where it is eternally autumn, a lonely woman escapes to virtual reality where she can command the seasons. She finds her deceased husband there and refuses to leave.

The Hope of Spring: When danger comes over the glacier to threaten her tribe, Shishiri fights and wins. But she can’t fight the glacier itself.

A Chance of Change: Spring, a time of renewal and life. It’s something that should belong to everyone–isn’t it?

Winter’s Night

A Marine on leave.

A heartfelt rondeau.

An Inuit on the edge.

A dreamer on a quest.

What do they all have in common? They're in the Turtleduck Press anthology Winter's Night. Created as a sampling of our work, the anthology benefits UNICEF.

Spirit Legends: Of Ghosts and Gods

What world stand beyond the land of the living? In the wide open spaces beyond this existence, there is an infinite number of possible interpretations of ghosts, demigods and gods. It is within such impossible settings that the stories of “Spirit Legends” take place. Picture a Titans of ancient Greek mythology facing down a weary pantheon and try to stop man’s destruction at the hands of Zeus. Imagine Aztec gods battling for supremacy in the city streets of your hometown. A Celtic legend will come out of the moonlight and rescue a woman from her murderous husband, and the ghost of a young girl will exact her retribution against the man who murdered her father.

This anthology explores that which lies beyond this mortal coil, with a multitude of pantheons represented, including Greek, Incan, Celtic, Christian, Native American and Norse. There are tales of sadness and despair, of retribution and triumph. Mixed into every story is an expression of humanity that often touches or torments the soul. Each one of us must face our own mortality, and we frequently choose to make our way through life connecting with things greater than ourselves to help overcome the travails and challenges of existence. In many respects, that's what “Spirit Legends” is all about. Whether you believe in God, a god or gods, or none of the above, the stories herein will take you to new notions of "the great beyond" and perhaps help you understand your own existence just a little better.

Once Upon a Spork

ONCE UPON A TIME

It’s a term so many of us know like the back of our hands, a phrase that promises magic and adventure, strange lands and wondrous creatures. Fairy tales play on our imaginations – we picture elves, wolves, and evil queens and wonder what we would do if confronted with such trials ourselves. Would we be brave like Gretel? Would we fight through thorns and dragons to reach our true loves? Would we be able to see past bewitched exteriors to the people inside?

In this collection, the members of the Spork Room writing community have taken a look at what Once Upon a Time means to them. In this volume, we present both old favorites revisited and new tales of the magical. Step inside and let us take you on a journey of adventure, magic, and mystery.

Why is the Alligator in the Tree?

Beware the alligator that lurks in the tree.

Alligators and trees need not be mutually exclusive. They can occupy the same space, no matter how unlikely that may seem.

In this collection of story and verse, the Sporkers, an aspiring group of writers, explore just what the alligator is doing in the tree.

How did the alligator end up in the tree? Perhaps a fearsome beast pursued it, leaving the tree as its only recourse. Maybe an experiment went awry and the befuddled reptile found itself in a new habitat. The alligator might be a state of mind or the victim of a most unusual punishment. Maybe it's not an alligator at all, but a more ominous green object. You won't know until you explore the various theories held within.