This is definitely not what you signed up for.
When I fired up Last Week in Formula 1 midway through last season, ‘twas part of my attempt to bring writing back into my life. I picked a few ideas from a pile of many, and gave ‘em a go to see what would stick, and what would lead me elsewhere.
As the 2025 season drew near, I realized I didn’t want to comb through all the news. I just wanted to enjoy the races. So I discontinued LWIF1 without fanfare.
But I kept on writing, feeling out different ideas that excited me, testing many and choosing few, the chosen ones. While you’re here, if you’d do me the honour of listening, I’d like to share one such chosen idea with you.
Once I’ve said my piece, you’re welcome to open your DRS flap and zip away. After all, what I’m about to share is very different from a Formula 1 newsletter. Or you can drift away into the velvet fog with me.
So at last, we’ve arrived.
Won’t you come in? I have—uhm, yuzu soda? That’s a happy accident. I never usually have yuzu soda (one of my favourites but hard to find) around.
Now let me show you what’s in the fog:
I’m Alexander, Flamebearer of Emberbrook, a realm for rogues and dreamers, founders and creators. Emberbrook’s streets are lined with lavender, the air smells of rose gold, and you must always be wary of the Sprites. More on them later.
Think of Emberbrook like a town you’re wandering through, browsing, having a look around, seeing if anything catches your fancy. You have a glass of lemonade, pick up a new book, nibble a pretzel and nurse a beer. You wander from shop to cafe to park and maybe back again, just because you had a good time. You have the freedom to move about as you please, and your choices are your own.
So if you’d like to explore Emberbrook, here’s what you’ll find:
Wiz’s Whimsies: Stories about everything, and poetic portals into other worlds. I don’t even know what to expect with these dispatches from the in-between. Written to enchant, disturb, and delight.
Poems of Chaos and Moonlight: Short spells whispered into the dark. Not for soothing, but stirring. Perfect if you crave beauty with teeth.
The Velvet Telegram (you are here): Your irregular transmission from the depths of Emberbrook, an insightful letter delivered in smoke and silk. Usually part confessional, part creative wisdom.
The Magic of Wordcraft: Comes highly recommended if you’d like to write creatively, viscerally, vividly. The kind of writing that moves people.
Revelation Studio: Brand alchemy for the curious, creative, and colourful. Expect questions like “what kind of car would your business be?” and “would you rather be a forest or a beach?”
Hanuman: Helping gyms and yoga studios bring their inactive students back home with strategic storytelling. More members. More flow. Less stress.
Or, as I said, you can drive your SF-25 elsewhere. No hard feelings.
However, if the velvet fog feels nice on your skin, welcome.
With love through the shimmer,
~ Alexander, Flamebearer of Emberbrook
P.S. I only send telegrams when I’ve got something worth whispering, when something true has stirred. If you’d like to be stirred too, hit that button below.