I woke this morning to discover that my novella The Hunger of Empty Vessels was one of 10 stories to have made the preliminary Stoker Awards ballot in the category of Superior Achievement in Long Fiction.

Those with long memories may recognize one of the other names on the ballot, Gene O’Neill, as that of a Clarion classmate of mine from 1979. Back then, did we dare dream we’d get this far? And even if we did, who ever dreamed we’d get this far together?

Whatever happens next, the one real winner today is Bad Moon Books, which published five of the 10 semi-finalists. In honor of that event, Bad Moon is having a sale on all of its nominated titles. If you don’t yet own a copy of The Hunger of Empty Vessels, here’s your chance to get one at a 20% discount.

So what happens now? HWA members will vote over the next two weeks, and on 2/15, the five titles (unless a tie adds a sixth) which make up the final ballot will be unveiled. After another round of voting, the winners will be announced at the Stoker Awards banquet to be held on 3/27 at the World Horror Convention in Brighton.

MAMA FISH by Rio Youers (Shroud Publishing)
THE HUNGER OF EMPTY VESSELS by Scott Edelman (Bad Moon Books)
DIANA AND THE GOONG-SI by Lisa Morton (MIDNIGHT WALK)
DOC GOOD’S TRAVELING SHOW by Gene O’Neill (Bad Moon Books)
THE GRAY ZONE by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
THE LUCID DREAMING by Lisa Morton (Bad Moon Books)
DREAMING ROBOT MONSTER by Mort Castle (MIGHTY UNCLEAN)
LITTLE GRAVEYARD ON THE PRAIRIE by Steven E. Wedel (Bad Moon Books)
ROT by Michelle Lee (Skullvines Press)
BLACK BUTTERFLIES by Kurt Newton (Sideshow Press)

Gene has also been nominated in the category of Superior Achievement in a Collection for A Taste of Tenderloin from Apex Books. Good luck to him and all my other nominated friends!