The following text is taken from the introduction to Tales of Beast Hunting: Short Stories from the World of Keltin Moore
Whenever I write a story, I usually have more ideas than what ends up on the page. Whether it’s a novel, a short story, or even a flash fiction piece, I almost always have more in mind than what ends up getting published. Much of what’s left on the ‘cutting room floor’ are scenes, character ideas, and other elements that either didn’t meet my standards or didn’t quite fit into the final edit. But there are also times when I intentionally leave portions of my stories underdeveloped for potential expansion down the road. When I do this, I always have the private, hopeful thought that if a character or concept really takes off, I’ll have something concrete to expand on later.
Long-time fans of Keltin Moore will know that his adventures started out very modestly. The series began as a single short story posted on my author website more than fifteen years ago. Since then, you could say that the entirety of Keltin’s world has been the fulfillment of those small, hidden seeds in its earliest incarnations. Now an award-winning series with four installments and more on the way, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to indulge in a little creative experimentation. And it hasn’t just been me anticipating this.
For years, readers have been asking for more stories focusing on the characters supporting Keltin on his adventures. I’ve always tried to focus my stories on people first with the goal of crafting empathetic, believable personalities that are ripe with opportunity for further development. While this anthology isn’t every short story concept I’ve ever had for this universe, it includes all the ones that I could finish and fit into this collection in time for publication.
Of course, if you are anything like me, you may have already skipped past this guide and dived straight into The Solstice Feast Hunt, which is perfectly fine! Still, if you happened to have returned here because you wanted to learn a little about the stories you just read, welcome. And for those of you who are the sort of completionists who must read every published word in a book from beginning to end, let me say “thank you!” and don’t worry, I’ll keep these notes as spoiler-free as possible.
The first and longest story in this collection, The Solstice Feast Hunt, is also the one that features our favorite monster hunter most prominently. This story came from a long-held desire of mine to write the equivalent of a Christmas Special in Keltin’s world. I love holidays, and I’ve always thought that the stories in this series lend themselves so naturally to the warmth and family atmosphere you find at certain times of the year. After dedicating nearly a whole chapter in Dangerous Territory to observing a harvest celebration, I couldn’t resist trying my hand at a standalone Keltin story centered entirely on a holiday. The end result was so fun to write that it nearly became a novella all on its own, particularly when I realized this would also be the ideal setting to indulge in some well-earned tenderness between Keltin and Elaine. Of course, a holiday story is rarely nothing but warm moments. The most adapted Christmas story by far is Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with evocative images of death, greed, and horror. My hope is that the dark legend of the Vorith and the subsequent hunt for the specter will hearken to this grand tradition of storytelling while harmonizing with this anthology’s cozy centerpiece.
By contrast, the next story, Hunter on the Ice, is the shortest entry in the collection. It features Tuclok, a stoic Gellow hunter first introduced in Into the North. While Tuclok may not be the sort of character fans have clamored to see more of, he’s still deeply compelling to me. Both this story and the novel he was introduced in draw heavily on my memories and daydreams from the time my family lived in Alaska. While comparatively visceral and straightforward, I hope that fans will embrace this simple tale as it hearken back to the style of the very first Keltin Moore story posted on my website all those years ago.
Hunting for Purpose is the closest I’ve ever come to writing a story strictly by popular request. Jaylocke is easily one of my most requested characters in the series. His signature good humor and believable challenges seem to resonate with my readers in a way that goes beyond his initial role as a foil to Keltin’s more subdued persona. After focusing so heavily on his growth in The Hunter’s Apprentice, it seemed the appropriate time to explore what a story would look like told entirely from Jaylocke’s perspective. I chose a relatively standard monster-hunting scenario for his first outing because I wanted to focus on the contrasts between Keltin and his apprentice. Though they share many similarities, Jaylocke has lived a different life than Keltin has, and my hope is to reflect this distinction in Jaylocke’s inner thoughts as well as the nature of the conflicts he faces, even in similar circumstances. Who knows? This may very well mark the start of something even more ambitious for the Weycliff Wayfarer.
The next entry, Treasure Hunt, represents perhaps the biggest structural experiment in the collection. It’s been a long time since I last attempted a co-authored piece. While I enjoy collaborating and talking shop with other writers, it’s rare to find someone who is willing and able to fully immerse themselves into the setting and style of my stories. Aaron Volner is one of those rare exceptions. Audiobook listeners may recognize Aaron as the voice of The Beast Hunter as well as being an established fantasy author in his own right. Aaron brought incredible enthusiasm, dedication, and passion to this project. Except for a few brief cameo references, all the
characters in this story are originals, giving readers a rare glimpse into events that occurred elsewhere in the world while connecting directly to brief, tantalizing details first shared in Dangerous Territory. The result of this collaboration is both very different and very at home in the world of Keltin Moore, and I’m eager to see how fans receive it.
The final story written specifically for this anthology, In the Shadow of Hunters, was written with a unique, perhaps even atypical tone compared to the rest of this collection. While it still contains strong themes of courage and hope, it is a story that also explores trauma, depression, and a more cynical worldview. Marius Harper is another character from the series than fans may not have demanded more of, but his development from an idealistic reporter to a scarred veteran of life. Writing his perspective not only gave me an opportunity to explore a darker side to this series, but also gave me the chance to lay some of the groundwork for larger events I have planned for the next installment of the main series.
In addition to the five stories written specifically for this collection, I’ve included a bonus story that first appeared in print in my short story collection The Dragon Within. Loss of a Legend is another more traditional monster hunting story, featuring both Keltin and Jaylocke as the master supervises his apprentice on his first hunt. As it was written years before the rest of this collection, its tone and style perhaps reflects an earlier approach in the series’ development. I’ve chosen to include it both to offer a complete archive of Keltin’s short fiction up to now and to give readers a classic, straightforward monster hunt, bringing the anthology full circle and returning to the core origins of the series. Whether you end up enjoying all of these stories equally or pick out one or two as your personal favorites, I hope you receive them in the spirit they were intended. My primary goal with The Adventures of Keltin Moore has always been to share a world of adventure, warmth, heart, and hope. May you find these in abundance within these pages, and know that you are deeply welcome here. Thank you, and happy reading.
