Statera of the River

preview of the intro

…Welcome to the world of the Unseen, a hidden reality where the rules of Statera balance a fragile universe right before our eyes. Here, the Neuse River is more than brackish water flowing past New Bern. To the Magic Blind, it is a scenic backdrop. To us, it is a living ledger of human hope and dark magic, archiving centuries of secrets in its deep, humid currents.

I am Ashley Crookham, and this short story offers a glimpse into my upcoming romantasy series, the Statera Duet. It follows characters who must navigate the fine line between the hunger of the soul and the quiet pull of domestic peace…

I wrote a new short story for the upcoming debut anthology from the Neuse River Writers group. The collection is scheduled to release by the end of this year.

The name of our group itself inspired this piece. Taking inspiration from the local waters, I am crafting a tale that fits our collection guidelines: strictly free of foul language and adult relations. I love the creative challenge of building deep emotion, tension, and atmosphere while keeping the narrative completely clean.

Working alongside such an enthusiastic group of local writers brings out the absolute best in my work. Writing this piece feels like a true celebration of our community and the river that connects us.

I cannot wait to share more details with you as we get closer to the launch date at the end of the year. Thank you all for following along on my writing journey and for your ongoing support!