Award Eligibility Post 2020

Let’s face it, nobody was expecting much out of 2020. So I was more surprised than anyone when I discovered that, publication-wise, 2020 was my top year so far. (Before you throw things at me, I swear to you, I am not one of those horrible people who became productive in lockdown. I wrote all these stories in 2019.)

Without further ado, please enjoy this list of eligible things which you can nominate if you so choose:

Short Stories

Portrait of Three Women with an Owl

A darkly fantastical story of three female artists who disappear during World War II, told in the format of a review of an art show. My personal favorite. Published in The Future Fire #53: LIIIES in April.

All the Daughters of my Father’s House

A magical genderfluid retelling of Twelfth Night. Extremely bisexual, lightly polyamorous. Published in Glittership Spring 2020 in July.

Seven Cups of Tea

A steampunk retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans.” The secondary theme is the value of democracy. The primary theme is tea. Published in Curiosities #7 in July.

The Song of the Machines

A dieselpunk retelling of “The Bremen Town Musicians.” Four decommissioned automaton animals decide to pursue a new life. The most wholesome thing I published all year by a long shot. Published in Truancy 8 in July.

Blacktooth 500

DRAGON IDITAROD! DRAGON IDITAROD! DRAGON IDITAROD! And there’s a mother-daughter story too. Published in Hear Me Roar in September.

The Empress and the Marauder

I attempt to write a gown girls and sword girls story and it goes horribly wrong, or depending on who you ask, horribly right. Sapphic, but mainly tentacular. My first proper work of horror. Published in Cosmic Horror Monthly November 2020 in November.

Art

Cover of The Future Fire #53: LIIIES

To illustrate a story about a painting, naturally you need to make a painting. I now regret saying that the artwork was done with egg tempera and natural pigments on a wooden panel. (It now lives in my garage.)

Interior Illustrations for “The Good Hawks”

This story appeared in The Future Fire #55. I loved the conservation themes and I tried to capture the instability of the fragile ecosystem with wide-angle shots and loose coloring.