Indie Bites

@indiebites.bsky.social

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A quarterly magazine featuring short fantasy fiction from indie authors. Edited by @adiehartauthor.bsky.social and @josiejaffrey.bsky.social No AI. SORCERY & SECRETS deadline: 31 Aug 26 ASSASSINS & ALCHEMY deadline: 31 Nov 26 www.silversunbooks.com

A photo of a campfire burning in darkness. Text reads: “‘The shadows will shun you.’ I plant my hands on my hips. ‘You don’t know that.’ ‘If chosen, you’ll die.’ ‘You don’t know that.’” ~ Dark and Swollen and Hungry by Kane Williams FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites”
A photo of a flower in the forest. Text reads: ‘“‘How long has it been since you’ve been one of us? Since the forest’s heart took root in place of your own?’ This reply was no easier to form. ‘Perhaps… not as long as it looks.’” ~ The Dove and the Wren by Allie Leigh FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites’
A photo of ripples across the surface of a body of water. Text reads: ‘“The ritual’s words sit strangely on my tongue. Doubt creeps in like the evening tide. Will the spirit of the water even entertain the request of a daughter burying her father?” River Ashes by Lixin Foo FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites’
A photo of an open dictionary on a table. Text reads: ‘“I am a good man. Let not this account suggest otherwise. If it had not been for the ill fortune which has dogged me from my very cradle, I would never have been compelled to do as I did. Never would I have turned to the Unnatural.” The Dictionary Maker by Isabel Engleheart FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites’
A photo of a banyan tree in warm light. Text reads: ‘“It was only because he was holding his breath as he listened to the forest’s chorus that he heard the creak and groan of stone from the tomb within the tree.” ~ The God Under the Banyan Tree by Arden Powell FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites
A photo of a door, close up on the handle and latch. Text reads: ‘“Maybe that’s why she’s seeing the brain gremlins now, manifested in real life, because she’s properly cracked. Either way, she’s in too deep to pull back.” Check Again by Josie Jaffrey FREE in the Ruins & Rituals issue of Indie Bites’
A photo of old fountain pen resting on a stack of old notebooks Text reads: ‘“Khulan had never heard of books leaking their words, but she couldn’t deny what was in front of her: a hundred streams spilling out from a thousand works across the storyscape.” The Lands-Between-the-Lines by Jared Stonefield FREE in the Rituals & Ruins issue of Indie Bites
A black and white photo of Ash smiling at the camera
Video follows Josie’s hands as she presents the hardback special edition, showing the fantasy designs gold foiled onto the front cover, then the inner illustrated endpapers, followed by the foiling on the inner wibalin cover, the back of the dust jacket, and finally the inner back cover with attached golden ribbon bookmark
A photo showing the print proof of the hardback special edition sitting on top of back issues of Indie Bites in paperback. The special edition cover says ‘The Quintessential Indie Bites five years of fantasy’ and is covered with a gorgeous line art design by Arden Powell featuring fantasy creatures and elements of all kinds. The whole design and all the text is gold-foiled onto the dust jacket.
An ink drawing of a bunch of daffodils. Text reads: “Those that can find mercenary work are lucky, but the only difference between a mercenary and a bandit is a steady paycheck.” Daffodils and Daves by Ceril N. Domace FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites
A watercolour of pink dahlias with pink and green dragons hiding in the picture. Text reads: Helen Byrne-Bickerstaff was not going to take home first prize for her dahlias at the Upper Brimley Flower Show, not if Dorothy Harrow had anything to do with it. A Fistful of Dahlias by Adie Hart FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites
A photo of twisting tree roots, picked out with spots of red. Text reads: ““We remember warmth. We remember the centuries-ago Earth; before the curse drifted down like a quiet, poisonous snowfall. Before the sky soured. Before the light thinned to a ghost of itself.” ~ Where the Roots Remember by Crystal St. Clair FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites”
A photo of dark tree roots burrowing into masonry Text reads: ““My fans are great. Even the weird ones. I mean, I’m weird, right? What thirteen-year-old girl is obsessed with plants? I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. I owe everything to them, really. My fans are the best.” ~ Threads and Vines by Josie Jaffrey FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites”
A close up photo of a pink and peach rose with magical twinkles surrounding it. Text reads: “‘What strange magic you have on this side of the sea.’ ‘What makes it strange? The memory is still yours; it will simply keep in the flower forever, as fresh as when it left. The rose will never wilt, and the memory will never decay.’ ~ What Lives Within a Rose by Allie Leigh FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites”
An illustration of a sorcerer in a robe with the hood up and tentacles of hair streaming from under it, in a marshy area with light surrounding them, with bits of dark magic spilling from under their hood. Text reads: Submissions open for our November issue on the themes of Sorcery & Secrets deadline 31 August 2026
An illustration of a bandit holding a bow on a wide tree branch covered with magical flowers. Text reads: ““The sacred flowers carpeted the ground before her feet. Glossy-leaved and bulbous, their distinctive flowers, growing in groups of nine along a dark green stem, ranged in color from pale blue to a deep midnight purple.” The Ranger and the Thief by Emmylou Kotzé FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites”
A video showing the pastel-style end papers of the Indie Bites special edition, featuring an elf showing a delighted girl a flower; a fiery demon shaking a mortal hand; a mermaid with a skeleton; a masquerade ball; a young man reading a book with a cat sitting on it, while he holds a magical quill; a dragon sitting on top of a large glass structure
Paper ripped away from the centre of the image reveals a pastels-style illustration snippet showing an arm holding a quill wreathed in magic, and a stack of old books and scrolls
Paper ripped away from the centre of the image reveals a pastels-style illustration snippet showing a couple at a masquerade ball will other swirling images creeping in from the edges
Paper ripped away from the centre of the image reveals a pastels-style illustration snippet showing a mermaid tail, seaweed, and a skeleton on the sea floor
The cover image of the Indie Bites special edition Kickstarter, featuring an illustration of a dragon and a 3D image of the book, with a banner over the top reading ‘Just Funded’
Paper ripped away from the centre of the image reveals a pastels-style illustration snippet showing one hand reaching down towards another, with stars and clouds and a wing off to one side
A video of Josie and Adie recording the into for the Kickstarter, in which Josie says ‘wibalin’ approximately 300 times
A series of texts between Josie (white bubbles) and Adie (green bubbles) from after they filmed their video for Kickstarter. Adie sends a screenshot of the script with the word “wibalin” zoomed in close. Josie: “HUSH YOU 😂” Adie: “It’s my favourite word” Josie: “Gremlin 😂” Adie: “Release the wibalin supercut!!” Josie: “Absolutely not 😂”
The cover for the Indie Bites special edition on a twinkly background. The book cover is a jewel-toned background with gold line art showing a dragon, a kraken, coils, animals and stars. Text at the top of the image reads: COVER REVEAL! The cover of the book reads: The Quintessential Indie Bites: Five Years of Fantasy
A snippet from the upcoming Indie Bites special edition cover, with brown paper ripped away from the centre of the image, revealing a jewel-toned background with gold line art showing gems, a skull, and smoke pouring from a perfume bottle
A snippet from the upcoming Indie Bites special edition cover, with brown paper ripped away from the centre of the image, revealing a jewel-toned background with gold line art showing stars, coils of some kind of creature, and a mouse
A snippet from the upcoming Indie Bites special edition cover, with brown paper ripped away from the centre of the image, revealing a jewel-toned background with gold line art showing gems, coils of some kind of creature, and a cat raising one paw
A snippet from the upcoming Indie Bites special edition cover, with brown paper ripped away from the centre of the image, revealing a jewel-toned background with gold line art showing stars, coils of some kind of creature, the edge of a wing and the letters “qu”
A photo of a bunch of wormwood next to a wooden pestle and mortar. Text reads: ““Her neighbours had already damned her for the magic in her blood; whether or not she knew how to access it, whether or not she practised the craft had no bearing on the fact that she’d been exiled.” ~ Four Gifts for the Witch of the Wood and One for the Wolf by Arden Powell FREE in the Bandits & Botany issue of Indie Bites”
A photo of Jaime smiling at the camera in the sunshine
The Kickstarter “project we love” logo with a heart in the middle
A video of Josie Jaffrey and Adie Hart talking about the Kickstarter for the Quintessential Indie Bites
An illustration of a magic user standing in a circle of floating stones, facing off against a second figure who has tentacles emerging from their body. Text reads: Submissions open for our August issue on the themes of Quests & Quarrels. Deadline 31 May 2026
A cluster of old apothecary bottles. Text reads: Evander Hale, Second Star Enchanter, was never going to get a date to the Starfall Ball. The Propotioning of Lucas Hendry by Adie Hart FREE in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites
A picture of a busy work bench and a cauldron sending up green smoke. Text reads: I hate working with lovers, true love’s curses, and “star- crossed, meant to be together” types. They get so emotional while I’m trying to work. The Rot at the Root by Ceril N. Domace is FREE to download in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites
A picture of two whisky glasses in front of an open fire, one empty and one full. Text reads: “Didn’t you give me poison?”
Eloran chuckled. “I wouldn't dare, Your Highness. If you died during one of my parties when your father had set you on my trail, that’d be too obvious. No: I gave you a potion.” - For the Love of Silver Diamonds by Linked Soul FREE in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites
A green cocktail with multicoloured smoke rising from it. Text reads: A light grey cat vaulted onto one of the upper shelves, which was filled with expensive spirits. By all rights, the frisky feline should have sent them tumbling to the ground. But that was the thing with ghost cats; they could go wherever they pleased without a care. - Time in a Bottle by Allie Leigh Free to download in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites
A picture of a man in armour holding a sword, with only his glove and the sword hilt showing. Text reads: “‘Here lies Leon Teryn. His Husband Told Him So.’ - The Last Adventure of Leon Teryn by EG Letine Free in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites”
A picture of a reedling sitting on a reed during a snowstorm. Text reads: ‘“On the day you care about someone or something more than yourself, you can have your wings back. Until then, welcome to earth!” - The Reedling by Reyzl Grace Free in the Potions & Paramours issue of Indie Bites’
A picture of a woman in a green ballgown. The gown is billowing out behind her as she walks and the picture is cropped to show just her skirts and arm. Text reads: “Fate was not so kind as to hand my vengeance to me,” she said, “so I had to take it for myself.” ~ Exeunt Omnes by Josie Jaffrey Free in the potions and paramours issue of Indie Bites.
The cover of ‘Spellcasting On’ by Andi R Christopher
An image of a fantasy crown on a black background. Text reads: “Elysia tries to adjust the crown so that it will sit right, but she can’t even articulate what “right” means. All she knows is that it feels wrong, and if the crown feels wrong, how is she ever going to fulfill her role as queen? ~ Queen of Nerves by Claire Olivia Golden FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An image of an angel headstone in a graveyard. Text reads: “In every room they visited, Jenny counted the faces of a dozen peculiar children. They were often hard to spot, but Jenny knew the signs well. She knew when their teeth were too sharp, when they had too many fingers, or the tell-tale signs of a tail tucked into a pair of breeches. ~ An Angel of the Lord by Ash Parker FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An illustration of a person with a sword and a lantern approaching the head of an enormous dragon in the dark. Text reads: “The worst part of dealing with dragons is that they’re immortal, capricious, and persnickety. ~ A Beloved Once Bound by Ceril N. Domace Free in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
A picture of a spooky forest. Text reads: She grabbed the door handle. The other girls screamed. They begged her not to open the door, not to go out into the dark, and to definitely not do all of that on Halloween after midnight. ~ Girl in Darkness by Riley E. Smith FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites
An image of a man on a beach looking at a giant ruined statue with glowing eyes. Text reads: “submissions open for our May issue on the themes of Ruins & Rituals, deadline 28 February 2026”
An illustration of a man with a spear in the foreground, with a castle and a dragon flying in the sunset in the background. Text reads: “The new man wasn’t even a bit dead, which was really very surprising to me. ~ A Really Very True Story by Molly Daw FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites
In image of soldiers in chainmail with swords and axes rushing toward the viewer. Text reads: ““Simple job, lads. An inconsequential conglomeration of goblins. We go in there, kill the gobbos, get some evidence – a head or two – and get out. Any questions?” ~ Job Interview or An Inconsequential Conglomeration of Goblins by Luke Tarassenko FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An illustration of an angel reflected in water with clouds behind it on a red background. Text reads: “Sir Percivale couldn’t be sure how long he spent inside the dragon’s belly before his angel came to find him. ~ Sir Percivale Is Swallowed by a Dragon and Learns the Truth of God by Arden Powell” “Free in the Dragons & Darkness issue of indie bites”
An image of a woman in a long gown walking down a corridor with creepy branches growing from all sides. Text reads: “Kaiden thought he was marrying a princess, but the creature walking down the aisle towards him is a dragon. ~ Dragon Ageless by Josie Jaffrey” “Free in the dragons & darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An image of old brick steps leading up to a bright spot of sky. Text reads: “The Sun God loves all his children equally. That’s why he never answers when they call. There can’t be favoritism, after all. ~ For the Love of Blood and Gold by Linked Soul Free in the dragons & darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An image of a girl walking with a lantern through a dark forest. Text reads: “I’ll tell you, then, the thing that goes unsaid: every year, in October, one girl from our town vanishes without a trace. October Girls by Jillian Maria” And: “free in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
An illustration of a magical knight fighting a dragon. Superimposed text reads: “Ten minutes ago I was standing in front of the king getting knighted for my services to entertainment – and let me say that was weird enough – and now you’re telling me I’ve inadvertently caused a dragon to wake up and rampage across the country? The Order of the Wyrm by Adie Hart” And “FREE in the Dragons & Darkness issue of Indie Bites”
A photo of Heather K Carson sitting on a deck and smiling in the sunshine
The cover of Indie Bites 19: Dragons & Darkness, illustrated by Arden Powell, featuring a medieval-style dragon etched on a dark green background, with the following authors listed as contributors: Adie Hart, Jillian Maria, Linked Soul, Josie Jaffrey, Arden Powell, Luke Tarassenko, Molly Daw, Riley E Smith, Ceril N Domace, Ash Parker and Claire Olivia Golden
An illustration of a thieves’ den in a bosky forest, with the text in the post superimposed. Art by Khius, DepositPhotos
A painted illustration of a red-headed flute player becoming part of a wave. Overlaid is the quote: “Don't mistake me for some half-rate swindler with a stolen lute, now. I can play. I got a voice that could make a duchess sigh and a dockhand weep. The kind that rolls over a crowd like honeyed whiskey, settling in slowly, warming them up from the inside.”
A painted illustration of a woman playing a flute with a swan flying behind her. Overlaid is the quote : “Have you ever sung a song so utterly magnificent that it kills you a little, inside? There's something awful about staring art right in the face and knowing that nothing you ever make will be quite so perfect.”