Achievement Unlocked: Bram Stoker Award Eligibility
My story, “Here in the Cellar,” published in Mother: Tales of Love and Terror (Weird Little Worlds, 2022) is up for consideration. What’s that mean? Glad you asked.
For the first time ever, I have a story eligible for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction.
And in my world, the Bram Stoker Awards are a big deal:
As part of our [the Horror Writers Association] core mission, we sponsor the annual Bram Stoker Awards® for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Bram Stoker Awards® are presented for superior writing in thirteen categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, young adult, and non-fiction. In addition, HWA presents an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to a living person who has made significant contributions to the writing of Horror and Dark Fantasy over the course of a lifetime.
StokerCon 2023 is being held in Pittsburgh, PA, from June 15 through June 18.
“Here in the Cellar” published in Mother: Tales of Love and Terror (Weird Little Worlds, 2022)
At 3,280 words in length, "Here in the Cellar" follows young Marin as he contends with poverty, child abuse, and trauma—but through it all, the newly-found glimmer of something that can be loved.
Am I excited for this? Yep!
Am I hopeful for nomination? Probably not. The story has some themes which are awfully hard for people to digest.
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This story deals with themes of child and animal abuse
To be honest I’m surprised it was published in the first place, given the intensity of the aforementioned themes in the story. If you decide to read it, be warned:
Reading my story, “Here in the Cellar,” is going to hurt you.
(And if you’re even further inclined to nominate it, please accept my deepest gratitude.)
Interested readers may download a copy of the anthology from the following links:
For other authors that have works that are eligible, please let me know, as I’m actively reading and making nominations.