You absolutely do not need to have started reading or have read Rotting Trees to enjoy this. You don't have to have read any Bezzina's stories at all. It is quite short, because I wrote it for a zine submission but decided not to edit it after the zine said no. Enjoy! On a … Continue reading A Measure of Time | A Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities Short Story by Francesca Astraea
‘Growing Pains,’ a Bezzina’s Emporium Short Story by Francesca Astraea
Ernest Bezzina really just wants a cup of tea. Two short stories in one quarter? It is indeed. There's invented Latin. Well, the Latin is real, I just smushed two words together. That's how language works, right. I'm not saying that if you enjoy this, you should all keep an eye on my Patreon, but … Continue reading ‘Growing Pains,’ a Bezzina’s Emporium Short Story by Francesca Astraea
‘A Devil of a Time’ by Francesca Astraea, Illustrated by Tatchiana Michaela
A new story? In this year of our lord 2023? Well, I actually wrote this last summer to pitch to magazines. BUT STILL. Here you go. No blurb because you have this wonderful illustration by my friend Tatchiana Michaela, a Bristol-based illustrator (who is open for commissions if you're interested!). As per, it was available … Continue reading ‘A Devil of a Time’ by Francesca Astraea, Illustrated by Tatchiana Michaela
Quiet Night Out, a Bezzina’s Story by Francesca Astraea
Welcome to the latest Bezzina's story! It is a standalone; you don’t have to read them in order of publication, but you can find them all here. Sophey and Ariel have an idea to boost the fortunes of Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities, but they're going to have their work cut out... Ernest … Continue reading Quiet Night Out, a Bezzina’s Story by Francesca Astraea
Winter Sun, a Bezzina’s Story, by Francesca Astraea
I always name characters after members of the No. 1 Readers' Club over on Patreon - this was Jackie's turn! As is usually the case, this Bezzina's story is a standalone. You don't have to read them in order, but you can find them all here. One winter evening, a couple enter Bezzina's Emporium of … Continue reading Winter Sun, a Bezzina’s Story, by Francesca Astraea
The King of Banana Town by Francesca Astraea
Had a slightly... bananas... prompt. Wrote about racketeering. Enjoy! It wasn’t known as Banana Town when Gus moved there. The town, that is. It wasn’t known as much – just a crossroads with some houses, a petrol station and one of those everything-and-anything grocery shops. If it had a name, Gus scrubbed it out … Continue reading The King of Banana Town by Francesca Astraea
Connection Error by Francesca Astraea
Ines' magic specialises in helping people communicate. Getting them to listen, on the other hand... A few of weeks ago you guys voted for 'poison' to be my next topic, so here it is! (An aside which none of you give a shit about: I nicked [character spoiler] from the Philosophy Tube YouTube channel, and … Continue reading Connection Error by Francesca Astraea
Reset. by Francesca Astraea
Take a deep breath and swap a truth for a truth. Rumour had it, the woman lived in a tree. Rumour had it, she used to be a tree. Wait, no, she was still a tree. Rumour had it, if you visited her on the right day, she would exchange a truth … Continue reading Reset. by Francesca Astraea
Making Connections (The Magician, the Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
When booking a session at an exclusive life coach’s ‘wellness centre,’ Natalie anticipated a white sofa, ambient music and mineral water in glass bottles. She thought the life coach would wear loose fitting, neutral clothes and use phrases such as ‘staying present’ and ‘checking in with the soul.’ She did not expect the lifestyle … Continue reading Making Connections (The Magician, the Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
It’s Always the Apocalypse Somewhere (The Sun, the Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea
It’s always the apocalypse somewhere. Today, it was at fifty-three Milton Place. Catalyst? An unanswered text. No, not an unanswered text. The jolt of realisation, upon looking for an answer, that most likely none would come. If one did, the realisation continued reasonably, could it possibly improve the situation that culminated in the … Continue reading It’s Always the Apocalypse Somewhere (The Sun, the Major Arcana Series) by Francesca Astraea