On October 1, 2024, I released my first novel, Tales & Treasure. It's been an incredible journey, and I'm happy that I have been able to share that story with you.
Rob Mortell 📚 🖋️
@robmortellwrites.bsky.social
Fantasy author (Tales & Treasure, Bards & Bargains) Dad of 3 👨👧👦 | marathon‑trainee 🏃♂️ | early‑mornings jogs & writing sprints ✍️ Substack ⬇️ https://robmortell.substack.com/
Happy Read an Ebook Week! You can find my book, Tales & Treasure, available now at @Smashwords for FREE to help you celebrate.
Check out The Lantern Bearer Part 4
The Lantern Bearer Part 4
Kira and the Boy search for answers.
open.substack.com
Tales & Treasure will be FREE as part of a special sale on @Smashwords to celebrate Read an Ebook Week from March 1 - March 7. Be sure to follow me for more updates and links to the promotion for my books and many more! #ebookweek26 #Smashwords
I just wanted to tell you - you got this and I'm excited to read your book!
Man, I want to find a group to play DnD with. I've never played before and really want to try.
Hey, I'm looking for some new indie fantasy stories to read and review in 2026. I like all things fantasy: quirky side characters, found families, dragons, dark lords, whatever you got. I'm even warming up to some romantasy. What do you have for me? Sincerely, A future fan
I'm trying to connect with some more indie fantasy authors. Anyone out here?
I just posted a long overdue update on my substack. The link is in my bio. Any other writers on here have a Substack?
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle I joined the upcoming Tempest Owl Battle with writers from around the world. Get Ready to Battle on Jan 13, 2026! @writingbattle.bsky.social #flashfiction #writingprompts #writerslife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky Join the Battle and Learn More
Writing Battle — Write. Read. Win.
Write. Read. Win. A competitive writing platform for storytellers around the world. Receive oodles of feedback. Join the most supportive writing community on the web. You up for the chal...
writingbattle.com
Me: Just trying to enjoy some left overChinese food. Viva: Don't forget about me. 😆
Finished my first book of 2026 – Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett. 5 Stars for sure. Pratchett is so funny and clever. I highlighted so many well-crafted lines. I loved it. On to book two. I think I'm going to dive into an indie novel next before I return to Discworld. Any recommendations?
It took a while to format, but the hardcover of Tales & Treasure with beautiful new artwork by @matisse_luisa_designs is finally out! The paperbacks have also been updated with the new artwork too!
My novel Tales & Treasure is part of the Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale! www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #EOYsale25 #ebook #sale #books2read #indiebooks
Indie Sci-Fi Recommendation: The Europan Deception: A Science Fiction Thriller (Dark Galaxy Book 1) by @ryanpatrickauthor.bsky.social It was fast-paced and fun with great characters and a mystery that leaves you wanting more. Check it out if your looking to support another indie author!
New short story just dropped. A father makes a deal with a demon to save his daughter’s life. A Deal Beneath the Moon Now live on Substack.
This writing stuff doesn’t get any easier, but finally consistency is beating motivation. I've written for 15 days in a row now. Four sprints yesterday. Only one felt “good.” Still got the work done. Still showed up. I'll take it. #amwriting #indieauthor #WriterDiscipline
Just dropped a new Substack post! A long overdue “Mid-Year Update” featuring marathon training, life updates, writing progress, and a sneak peek at Bards & Bargains Chapter 3. 👇 open.substack.com/pub/robmorte... #AmWriting #IndieAuthor #WritingLife #SubstackWriters #FantasyFiction
Mid-Year Update
It's long overdue
open.substack.com
I've been really trying to get up a write first time in the morning. I was a little groggy today but hey, I did it! Woke up at 4:51. Wrote 282 words. Did yoga. Packed lunch. Audiobook in the car instead of screen time. We'll see how long I can keep this up. #WritersLife #Booksky #indieauthor
Been awhile so here's a quick writing update: Finished Chapters 27 & 28 of Bards & Bargains. Draft 1 at 85,000 words Started the next interlude. The POVs are starting to converge. It’s tense. It’s messy. It’s fun. #FantasyWriter #WritingCommunity #Booksky
Now is your best chance to find my book, Tales & Treasure, available for FREE at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my book and many more at www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... all month! #SWSale2025 #Smashwords
This wonderful solarpunk anthology launched at Eastercon! It's edited by the brilliant @wishusdonna.bsky.social and has lots of great stories, including my first ever solarpunk short! I may have got a bit weird with it. If you want solarpunk short stories then please check it out!
Wrote over 2,000 words yesterday for the first time ever. Feels really good. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going today. #writing #writingcommunity
I'm really trying to figure out how to balance growing an audience and actually writing. Anyone have any tips? It's hard. Anyway, better get back to actually writing something. I can worry about this marketing stuff later. #writing #writingcommunity
Another 100 word flash fiction story and a closer look at a character coming in Bard's & Bargains. #flashfictionfriday #writingcommunity #writing #fantasy
"Birds sang. The melodious chirping seemed different this morning, slightly softer, less enthusiastic. There was no echo, no annoyingly accurate echo. Vidmar watched Vatis. The bard sat in the dirt, hugging his knees to his chest." Excerpt from Tales & Treasure #writing #fantasy #indieauthors
The best writing tip I've ever gotten is: "Embrace a bad first draft." I would edit extensively as I wrote my first draft, while the draft was fairly clean, the process took 10 times longer than just getting all of your ideas out and worrying about the editing later. #writing #writingcommunity