The Horror Writers Association has revealed the final ballot for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards—and guess what? I’m on it!

That’s right—my novelette “Faking it Until Forever Comes” is one of the five nominees in the category of Superior Achievement in Long Fiction. Here’s the full slate in my category—

Edelman, Scott – Faking it Until Forever Comes (Liars, Fakers, and the Dead Who Eat Them) (Written Backwards)
Jones, Stephen Graham – Mapping the Interior (Tor.com)
Kiernan, Caitlín R. – Agents of Dreamland (Tor.com)
Taylor, Lucy – Sweetlings (Tor.com)
Waggoner, Tim – A Kiss of Thorns (DarkFuse)

As you may already know, this isn’t my first Stoker nomination. In fact, I’m currently the Susan Lucci of the HWA, garnering more nominations without having won than anyone else.

Will I break that losing streak? Or will I extend my 0-7 record to 0-8?

Whatever happens that weekend in Providence, it’s going to be a fun time!

Last night, the Horror Writers Association revealed those works which made its 2017 Bram Stoker Awards preliminary ballot—and if you examine that list closely, you’ll find a familiar name in the category of Superior Achievement in Long Fiction—

Alan Baxter: The Book Club (PS Publishing)

Tom Deady: Weekend Getaway (Grinning Skull Press)

Scott Edelman: Faking it Until Forever Comes (Liars, Fakers, and the Dead Who Eat Them) (Written Backwards)

Stephen Graham Jones: Mapping the Interior (Tor.com)

Todd Keisling: The Final Reconciliation (Crystal Lake Publishing)

Caitlín R. Kiernan: Agents of Dreamland (Tor.com)

Seanan McGuire: Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Tor.com)

Lucy Taylor: Sweetlings (Tor.com)

Jeff Vandermeer: The Strange Bird: A Borne Story (MCD x FSG Originals)

Tim Waggoner: A Kiss of Thorns (DarkFuse)

That’s right—me!

Check out the complete preliminary ballot here.

It’s important to note this does not make me or my story a Bram Stoker Award nominee or finalist—that still must be decided by members of the HWA voting between now and January 30, with the final ballot being announced on February 5. But I’m thrilled “Faking it Until Forever Comes” has gotten this far!

One reason I’m so pleased is that I’m currently the Susan Lucci of the HWA—that is, I hold the record for the most nominations without ever having won, as you can see below.

So if my story does happen to make the final ballot, I’ll have the unique opportunity to change my record from 0-7—

—to 0-8!

I can become even Susan Lucci-ier!

And as my photo from last year’s Stoker Awards banquet shows, I have a special way of celebrating.

If you’re a voting member of the HWA, and would like a copy of my story so you can consider it before casting your vote, please contact me and I’ll send one off right away.

And whatever happens next, I hope to see you at Stokercon in Providence this March!

Since the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America recently announced the start of its nominations period for the Nebula Awards—and the recommendations period for the Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association is ongoing—plus all of my 2017 short stories have now been published—well, it’s that time of year again.

Since all the cool kids seem to be doing it, I’ve assembled info about this year’s publications in one place so eligible voting members of both organizations can take them into consideration.

And so …

First up, three science fiction tales—

“After the Harvest, Before the Fall”

This was the story that broke my 44-year dry spell with Analog. It’s an 11,600-word novelette described by the magazine as “people born to die struggling to live.” It takes place in a future in which the rich and powerful get to order new bodies whenever they wish, and the religion those who are harvested have created to deal with their oppression. (more…)

As I told you earlier, going into Saturday’s Bram Stoker Awards ceremony I was tied at 6-0 with three other writers for the most nominations without ever having won. I even wore a button throughout the weekend to ensure the other StokerCon attendees knew of my exalted state, as this Thursday night selfie with Becky Stratford, the Librarian Guest of Honor, proves.

What waited for me on the other side of that ceremony was either an award for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction … or something far more historic. How historic? So much so that emcee Jeff Strand felt moved to take notice of my potential achievement during his opening monologue.

Give a listen to what he had to say … (more…)

A few days ago, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America announced that the nominations period for the Nebula Awards had begun, and since all my 2016 short stories have now been published—and the recommendations period for the Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association is ongoing as well—it’s time to gather info about my publications in one place so eligible voting members of those two organizations can take them into consideration.

First up, two science fiction tales—

“101 Things to Do Before You’re Downloaded”

This 5,850-word far future science fiction story appears in the anthology You, Human, edited by Michael Bailey for Dark Regions Press. With the Earth about to end for our descendants, there are still a few more things that need to get done before it’s all over …

[UPDATED November 27 to add video from Chessiecon, so you may now see and hear me read all four stories I published in 2016. Enjoy!]

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