Penfold’s Menu of Magic and Malice is my debut collection of short fiction. I had great fun putting the collection together, and early readers have enjoyed it.
I’ve structured the collection as a menu with eight courses, each containing a pair of like stories. Bartley Penfold is a character in one of the included stories, and acts as the maitre’d for the collection. Here’s the menu:
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APPETIZER – Myths & Legends
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SOUP COURSE – Cursed Objects
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SALAD COURSE – Plants & Fungi
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PALATE CLEANSER – Evil Children
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FISH COURSE – Mermaids & Pirates
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MEAT COURSE – Creatures Great & Small
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CHEESE COURSE – Wee Folk
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DESSERT – The After Times
The collection was released on October 17, 2025. It’s available in e-book (including KU) and paperback. You can find it HERE.
After Yvette is involved in a serious car accident, her twin Anna is indispensable to her recovery. To Anna’s relief, the accident has also silenced Celine, a voice in Yvette’s head only she can hear. When Celine returns months later, Anna tries to convince her sister that Celine has become dangerous. Celine then warns Yvette against Anna. But who is telling the truth—the corporeal Anna or the ethereal Celine?
Praise for The Vanishing Twin:
“Tense, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling, this debut horror novel introduces a new voice that promises to leave a lasting mark on the genre.”— Tim Waggoner, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Lord of the Feast
“Valerie B. Williams and her work have been on my radar for years; nobody can write quite the way she can. The Vanishing Twin is an outstanding debut novel and one that’s sure to make the cut for many year’s best lists. Be sure to check out this book as soon as you can.”— Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Reluctant Immortals and The Haunting of Velkwood
Published October 2024 and available for order HERE.
