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Small Spec Book Awards

@specawards.bsky.social

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The mission of the SSBA is to recognize and promote independent and small press authors writing exceptional speculative fiction. Founded by @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social Cofounded by @millieabecassis.com 🌐 https://linktr.ee/smallspecbookawards

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · Sep 1

It is time to announce the semifinalists for the Small Spec Book Awards.

Thank you to our readers, who worked diligently to assign ratings to all books. The competition was close.

Authors, we hope you are proud of your stories because we are. Thank you for sharing them with us.

A graphic of the fantasy semifinalists:

1. BETTER LIVING THROUGH ALCHEMY by Evan J. Peterson (Broken Eye Books)
2. CURSED UNDER LONDON by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch (Farrago Books)
3. GHOST APPARENT by Jelena Dunato (Ghost Orchid Press)
4. TALIO'S CODEX by J. Alexander Cohen (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)
5. THE EXTRAVAGANZA ETERNIA by Kristin Osani (Ghost Orchid Press)
6. THE HARLEQUIN: THE DRAPER’S REEL by J.A. Mortimore and Penelope Hill (Elsewhen Press)
7. THE JAGUAR MASK by Michael J. DeLuca (Stelliform Press)
8. THE MYSTERY OF THE PALE KING by Sam Flynn (Timber Ghost Press)
9. THE WITCH AND THE OSTRICH (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)
10. TREE GODS by R. Lee Fryar (Midnight Meadow Publishing)

Horror semifinalists:

1. A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by Carson Winter (Tenebrous Press)
2. BEAR SEASON by Gemma Fairclough (Wild Hunt Books)
3. BENOTHINGED by Alvar Theo (Haunt Publishing)
4. CHURCH OF SKATAN by Damian Casey (Mad Axe Media)
5. FROM THE BELLY by Emmett Nahil (Tenebrous Press)
6. RESISTERS by Chris Campeau (Anuci Press)
7. SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA by M.M. Olivas (Lanternfish Press)
8. TERROR AT TIERRA DE COBRE by Michael Merriam (Queen of Swords Press)
9. THE SCIENTIST, THE SPACEMAN, AND THE STARS BETWEEN THEM by A.L. Davidson (Timber Ghost Press)
10. YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD by R.A. Busby (Stelliform Press)

Semifinalists for science fiction:

1. A TRUTH BEYOND FULL by Rosie Oliver (Elsewhen Press)
2. EMPRESS OF DUST by Alex Kingsley (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)
3. HER GILDED VOICE by K.C. Aegis (Elsewhen Press)
4. MOON DUST IN MY HAIRNET by JR Creaden (Mythic Roads Press)
5. MORE BUGS by Em Reed (Knight Errant Press)
6. THE MOSQUITO FLEET by Andrew Penn Romine (Broken Eye Books)
7. THE RIGEL REDEMPTION by Robin C. M. Duncan (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)
8. THE SEA OF CLOUDS by Sheila Jenné (Midnight Meadow Publishing)
9. THE YEARS SHALL RUN LIKE RABBITS by Ben Berman Ghan (Wolsak and Wynn Publishers)
10. WORLDS ALIGNED: WORLDS APART 2 by Terry Jackman (Elsewhen Press)

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Ben Berman Ghan @inkstainedwreck.ca · 2d

Whoa, that's me!

And remember kids, if you're online shopping, don't buy your books from the company currently photoshopping the guns out of classic James Bond posters. Not while Bookshop dot org still breaths!

bookshop.org/lists/woah-i...

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 2d

WORLDS ALIGNED: WORLDS APART 2 (@elsewhen.press) by Terry Jackman is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the WORLDS ALIGNED: WORLDS APART 2 by Terry Jackman book cover against a starry orange and black background, announcing it as a sci-fi semifinalist.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 3d

THE YEARS SHALL RUN LIKE RABBITS (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social) by @inkstainedwreck.ca is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of THE YEARS SHALL RUN LIKE RABBITS by Ben Berman Ghan book cover against a stars and galaxies background, announcing the book as a sci-fi semifinalist.

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Melody E. McIntyre @melodyemcintyre.bsky.social · 3d

The first of my posts featuring the semi-finalists of the Small Spec Book Awards is up! Featuring: @carsonwinter.bsky.social, @emnays.bsky.social, and Damien Casey.

@specawards.bsky.social

www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/10/smal...

Small Spec Book Awards - Semi-Finalist Feature #1

Welcome to the first of many posts featuring the semi-finalists of the Small Spec Book Awards! Every few days between now and when the fina...

www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com

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Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards

Susanne Allen @evensong.bsky.social · 3d

Whoo hoo!

Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 3d

THE SEA OF CLOUDS by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the sci-fi semifinalist THE SEA OF CLOUDS by Sheila Jenne book cover against a peach colored textured background.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 3d

✨Good luck in the final round! ✨

Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards

Sheila Jenné @jennelikejennay.bsky.social · 3d

So proud of my revolutionary book!

(not that I think the book is revolutionary.... it's ABOUT revolutionaries 🤣)

Thanks to the SSBA for their hard work!

Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 3d

THE SEA OF CLOUDS by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 3d

THE SEA OF CLOUDS by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

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Kim Novak - The Reading Rx @cfpharmd.bsky.social · 4d

Bear Season by Gemma Fairclough is The Book for those who prefer their stories a bit weird, surreal, and genre defying. Cleverly designed. #Horror #Mystery #SSBA2025 #BookSky 💙📚 @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social @specawards.bsky.social

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book cover of Bear Season by Gemma Fairclough. Sketch of a woman superimposed on a sketch of a bear against a candy pink background.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 4d

THE RIGEL REDEMPTION (Space Wizard Science Fantasy) by Robin C. M. Duncan is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Book cover of THE RIGEL REDEMPTION by Robin C. M. Duncan against a starry background announcing it as a sci-fi semifinalist

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 5d

Happy to do it!

Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 5d

THE MOSQUITO FLEET (Broken Eye Books) by @andrewpennromine.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of THE MOSQUITO FLEET book cover against a spotted background of red and yellow. Image reads: SCI-FI Semifinalist THE MOSQUITO FLEET by Andrew Penn Romine

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 6d

MORE BUGS (@knighterrantpress.bsky.social) by @dayofthemutants.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the MORE BUGS book cover against a dark green textured background. Image reads: SCI-FI Semifinalist MORE BUGS by Em Reed

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Kim Novak - The Reading Rx @cfpharmd.bsky.social · 8d

Resisters by Chris Campeau is a chilling novella set amidst a winter ice storm. What lies in wait within those cold winter winds? #Horror #SSBA2025 semifinals. #BookSky
💙📚 @chriscampeau.bsky.social @tonyanuci.bsky.social @specawards.bsky.social

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book cover of Resisters by Chris Campeau. A cabin in perched atop an icicle.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 8d

MOON DUST IN MY HAIRNET (@mythicroads.bsky.social) by @jesscreaden.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

The image is of the MOON DUST IN MY HAIRNET book cover against a purple spotted background. Image reads: Sci-Fi Semifinalist MOON DUST IN MY HAIRNET by JR Creaden.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 9d

HER GILDED VOICE (@elsewhen.press) by K.C. Aegis is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

The image is of the HER GILDED VOICE book cover against a blue and gray textured background. Image reads: Sci-fi Semifinalist HER GILDED VOICE by K. C. Aegis.

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Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards

Kim Novak - The Reading Rx @cfpharmd.bsky.social · 9d

You Will Speak for the Dead by R.A. Busby is a fabulous #Horror novella that makes you question how your collective accumulation leaves a mark on the world. #SSBA2025 semifinals. #BookSky 💙📚
@stelliform.press @rabusby.bsky.social @specawards.bsky.social

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book cover of You Will Speak for the Dead by R.A. Busby. A China teacup with a hedgehog design against a sporulating backdrop.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 10d

EMPRESS OF DUST (Space Wizard Science Fantasy) by @alexyquest.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the EMPRESS OF DUST book cover against an orange sunset colored background. Image reads: Sci-Fi Semifinalist EMPRESS OF DUST by Alex Kingsley.

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Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards

Melody E. McIntyre @melodyemcintyre.bsky.social · 11d

The SSBA semi-finalists have been announced. I'll be doing a series of blog posts featuring these awesome authors over the next several weeks. See below for more information and to follow along!

Follow the awards in general: @specawards.bsky.social

www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/09/smal...

Small Spec Book Awards - Semi-Finalists

In February, I announced that I was an official influencer for the Small Spec Book Awards. What are the Small Spec Book Awards? You can chec...

www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 11d

A TRUTH BEYOND FULL (@elsewhen.press) by Rosie Oliver is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the A TRUTH BEYOND FULL cover against a dark concrete-like background. Image reads: Sci-Fi Semifinalist A TRUTH BEYOND FULL by Rosie Oliver.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 12d

YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD (@stelliform.press) by @rabusby.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

The image is of the YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD book cover against a greenish gray faded background. Image reads: Horror Semifinalist YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD by R.A. Busby

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 13d

THE SCIENTIST, THE SPACEMAN, AND THE STARS BETWEEN THEM (@timberghostpress.bsky.social) by @maybemockingbird.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

The image is of THE SCIENTIST, THE SPACEMAN, AND THE STARS BETWEEN THEM book cover against a pink feather background. Image reads: Horror Semifinalist THE SCIENTIST, THE SPACEMAN, AND THE STARS BETWEEN THEM by A.L. Davidson.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 14d

TERROR AT TIERRA DE COBRE (@qospress.bsky.social) by @mmerriam.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the TERROR AT TIERRA DE COBRE book cover against a brown textured background. The image reads: Horror Semifinalist TERROR AT TIERRA DE COBRE by Michael Merriam

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 14d

SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA (@lfpbooks.bsky.social) by @olivasthewriter.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

The image is of the SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA book cover against a watercolor green and brown background. Image reads: Horror Semifinalist SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA by M.M. Olivas.

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Small Spec Book Awards @specawards.bsky.social · 16d

RESISTERS (@tonyanuci.bsky.social) by @chriscampeau.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations!

#SSBA #SSBA2025

Image is of the RESISTERS book cover against an icy background. Image reads: Horror Semifinalist RESISTERS by Chris Campeau.

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