The Horror Writers Association has just announced its 2008 Preliminary Stoker Ballot. I’ll skip listing the entire ballot, so that LJ doesn’t get clogged with dozens of us posting the same thing. Instead, I’ll just point out a category near and dear to my heart.

Look closely, and you’ll see why:

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SHORT FICTION

“The Last Word” by Maria Alexander (Sins of the Sirens)

“Mama Strangelove’s Remedies for Afterlife Disorders, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Mother Death” by C. Dean Andersson (Brutarian)

“Consumed” by Michael Louis Calvillo (Horror Library Volume 3)

“Petrified” by Scott Edelman (Desolate Souls)

“Mechanix” by Christopher Fulbright (Bound for Evil)

“The Lost” by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance Publications)

“The Dude Who Collected Lovecraft” by Nick Mamatas and Tim Pratt (Chizine)

“The Haven” by John Palisano (Horror Library Vol. 3)

“Turtle” by Lee Thomas (Doorways)

“The Blog at the End of the World” by Paul Tremblay (Chizine)

“Those Eyes” by Mark W. Worthen (Thinner Than Mist)

Good luck to all the nominees—and may the best stories make it to the final ballot!

If there are any HWA members out there who haven’t yet had a chance to read “Petrified,” please drop me a line and I’ll get one into your hands before the mailing of the ballots.