Yesterday, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America announced the opening of the nominations period for the Nebula Awards, which meant all the cool kids immediately started posting lists of their eligible stories. Well, since my 2018 short stories have now all been published—and the recommendations period for the Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association is also open—I figured it’s time to collect info about my publications in one place so voting members of those organizations can take them into consideration.

First up, two science fiction tales—

“ The Final Charge of Mr. Electrico”

This 5,800-word, written to honor Ray Bradbury — which some of you might have already guessed based on the title — was published over at Giganotosaurus in January and can still be read there. Or if you’d rather hear me read it, click on the embed below and travel back to this year’s Balticon.

“Opossums and Angels”

This 5,350-word post-apocalyptic story was one of two original tales to appear in my new collection Tell Me Like You Done Before, which was launched earlier this month at the World Fantasy Convention. “Opossums and Angels” is a sequel to both “The Screwfly Solution” and “The Women Men Don’t See,” my two favorite Alice Sheldon stories. But don’t worry — I think it will work for readers with no prior knowledge of her or of either story.

Here’s the horror story —

“It’s Only a Story”

My 5,275-word short tale “It’s Only a Story” was published this month in the anthology Birthing Monsters: Frankenstein’s Cabinet of Curiosities and Cruelties, edited by Alex and Bobbi Scully from Firbolg Publishing. It’s a celebration of Mary Shelley, her Creature, and storytelling itself.

And the fourth of my stories to be published this year is a fantasy —

“The Man Who Wouldn’t Work Miracles”

This 5,325-word tale is the second of two original stories to see print in my new collection Tell Me Like You Done Before. It’s a sequel to the H. G. Wells story “The Man Who Could Work Miracles,” so if you ever wondered what happened next, I may have an answer for you.

If you’re a voting member of either of these organizations and would like to receive copies of any of the four stories above, send me an mail and I’ll shoot whichever you request back at you.

Thanks!

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 minutes ago, the Horror Writers Association revealed the final ballot for the 2016 Bram Stoker Awards. And while I’m happy for all the nominees, I’m especially happy about one particular nominee—me!

That’s right—my story “That Perilous Stuff” is one of the final five in the category of Superior Achievement in Long Fiction.

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction

Cushing, Nicole – The Sadist’s Bible (01Publishing)
Edelman, Scott – That Perilous Stuff (Chiral Mad 3) (Written Backwards)
LaValle, Victor – The Ballad of Black Tom (Tor.com)
Malerman, Josh – The Jupiter Drop (You, Human) (Dark Regions Press)
Waggoner, Tim – The Winter Box (DarkFuse)

If you’d like to hear me read some of the opening to that story, check out this video recorded at the 2015 World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga Springs.

One reason I’m so thrilled about this nomination is that I’m currently tied—per this screen grab from Locus—with three other writers for the most Stoker nominations without a win. And since none of those three have made the final ballot this year, even if I lose, I’ll still be a winner—for I’d stand alone as the only writer to achieve a record of 7-0.

I’d be the Susan Lucci of the HWA!

We’ll all find out what happens this April at StokerCon. I hope to see you there!

I woke this morning to a press release from the Horror Writers Association announcing the 2016 Bram Stoker Awards Preliminary Ballot—and look who appears in the category of Superior Achievement in Long Fiction—

Me!

Anderson, Paul Michael – Bones Are Made to be Broken (Bones Are Made to be Broken) (Written Backwards)

Boden, John – Jedi Summer with the Magnetic Kid (Post Mortem Press)

Cushing, Aric – Vampire Boy (Grand & Archer)

Cushing, Nicole – The Sadist’s Bible (01Publishing)

Drinkwater, Karl – Harvest Festival (Organic Apocalypse)

Edelman, Scott – That Perilous Stuff (Chiral Mad 3) (Written Backwards)

LaValle, Victor – The Ballad of Black Tom (Tor.com)

Malerman, Josh – The Jupiter Drop (You, Human) (Written Backwards)

Matthews, Mark – All Smoke Rises: Milk-Blood Redux (Wicked Run Press)

Shane, Simmons – Raw (Silent Screams: An Anthology of Socially Conscious Dark Fiction) (Serpent & Dove Speculative Fiction)

Waggoner, Tim – The Winter Box (Darkfuse)

You can find the full preliminary ballot here.

Please note that this does not make me a Bram Stoker Award nominee or finalist—those will be determined by members of the HWA voting from February 1 through 15, and the lucky few who make the final ballot will be announced on February 23. But hey, I’m thrilled to have gotten this far!

If you’re a voting member of the HWA, and would like to receive a copy of my story to consider as you make your final decisions, please let me know and I’ll send one off right away.

And whatever happens next, I hope to see you at Stokercon!

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!]

(more…)

I’ll be attending three conventions over the next two months—Escape Velocity, Readercon, and Worldcon—but before those roll around, I have a couple of things to share with you about the two most recent conventions in the rear view mirror.

First—I already shared pics of the remarkable suit I wore when the Horror Writers Association handed out its Bram Stoker Awards in Las Vegas last month. But would’t you like to see that suit in action?

Here I am with Weston Ochse, handing out the award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel … and immediately becoming a punchline for one of Jeff Strand’s jokes. Wait for it!

In another video recorded last month, I was captured wearing clothes of a decidedly darker hue. Check me out as I read the opening to my story in the latest issue of PostScripts, “The Man Without the Blue Balloon and the Woman Who Had Smiles Only for Him.”

And if you happen to be at Readercon next month, you might hear me read the entire thing!

From the moment I arrived at the recent StokerCon in Las Vegas, I proudly wore a 5-Time Stoker Award Loser button which I’d made up proclaiming my 5-0 finalist status, as can be seen in this photo with Jennifer Brozek.

But everything changed the night of the awards banquet … (more…)