Community of Magic Pens, Innovation anthology, Neon Horror Zine, Paranatellonta, Space Opera Libretti, the dragon of ynys

Minerva Cerridwen’s Awards Eligibility Post 2020

’tis the season…

I haven’t made an awards eligibility post before, but as I see them going around on social media, I thought it couldn’t harm to list my publications of 2020.

Novella (fantasy)

The Dragon of Ynys

My novella The Dragon of Ynys came out in September 2020 with Atthis Arts. Mind that it is a re-publication after revising the story I published in May 2018 with Less Than Three Press, so it may not be eligible for some awards, as it’s not a first edition. (Both editions were published in the US.) However, aside from many smaller revisions, the 2020 edition has a brand new epilogue and afterword, and the 2018 edition had only appeared as an ebook, not in print. The new edition is available both as ebook and in print, and the new cover was designed by Ulla Thynell.

The Dragon of Ynys (24,000 words) is a fairy tale with an aromantic asexual main character, trans and lesbian supporting characters—and, of course, a dragon. The genre is fantasy, and it is suitable for all ages. You can read all about it here.

Also, if you’re looking for an editor to nominate: E.D.E. Bell is the amazing editor of The Dragon of Ynys as well as the anthology Community of Magic Pens (see below).


Short stories (science fiction)

I had 4 short stories published in 2020. There are no reprints among these.

1: Stars from the Stars in the anthology Space Opera Libretti, edited by Jennifer Lee Rossman and Brian McNett. (Published in the US, 4600 words.)

Simon is a siren who lives alone on a rock in space, until he’s picked up by the Stars from the Stars ship to compete in the universally beloved talent show. Even though he’s completely confident in his abilities, he might learn a thing or two on the way…

This story is inspired by shows like America’s Got Talent… in space!


2: Memory Malfunction in the anthology Community of Magic Pens, published by Atthis Arts and edited by E.D.E. Bell. (Published in the US, 2100 words.)

“Memory Malfuction” is about an android applying for a job as an intergalactic antiques salesman. The company bosses, however, have their doubts…


3: The Lost, co-written with L.S. Reinholt, in the anthology Neon Horror, published by The Haunted Bouncy Castle. (Published in the UK, 3000 words.)

The Lost is a science fiction horror story about two travellers in space whose logs and maps have been erased. When they encounter another ship, they hope they’ve found a solution, but instead lose even more.


4: The Emperor’s New Helmet, in the anthology Innovation, published by Other Worlds Ink. This flash piece of 300 words received an honourable mention in the 2020 Queer Sci Fi Contest. (Published in the US.)


Paranatellonta

Ever since August 2013, I write ten-sentence stories based on photos made by my friend Fie. This project is called Paranatellonta. Every edition (294 at the moment of writing this post!) is published online on Tumblr and available for free, so even though I’m not sure this would fit into any awards, feel free to take a look at the newest stories or find yourself a random story from sometime in the past 7+ years. The stories from 2020 are editions 273 to 296.

Paranatellonta updates on the 1st and 15th of every month. Fie and I celebrate every tenth edition by switching roles: in those editions I take a picture and Fie writes a story.

We first discovered this concept when we enjoyed Erin Morgenstern and Carey Farrell’s Flax-golden Tales and became inspired.


Edit 20/11/20: Atthis Arts also has an awards eligibility post up now, which you can find here.

Community of Magic Pens

Release of Community of Magic Pens

On this May the 4th (may the force be with you), we are officially welcoming Community of Magic Pens into the world!

Community of Magic Pens: cover

The anthology, edited by E.D.E. Bell, contains 40 short stories (including flash fiction and poetry) in a wide range of different genres. All of them about Magic Pens, in many imaginative shapes and forms.

My story in this book, Memory Malfuction, is about an android applying for a job as an intergalactic antiques salesman. The company bosses, however, have their doubts…

You can add the book on Goodreads and buy it on:

Atthis Arts websiteAmazon USAmazon.nliBooksNookKobo

If you scroll down on Atthis Arts’ website, you can also find a Magic Pens poster which you can download for free! It was designed by Ava Kelly and features the title in the languages spoken by the book’s authors.

The publisher also provides a cover description for the visually impaired on the same page.

Blurb:

Eclectic, imaginative, and unexpected, Community of Magic Pens features forty genre-spanning flash and short stories—including fantasy, humor, science fiction, romance, historical fiction, satire, and mystery—bringing together a rich group of diverse voices from a wide range of backgrounds and intersections.

Fountain pens, markers and ink, charcoals, spy pens, a braille writer, a printing press, virtual reality, and a supernatural pizza: whether revealing unspoken truths, fighting injustice, or finding friendship and love, our pens have power. Join us as a recent graduate of superhero school struggles to understand her gift, a disabled android interviews for a job, a queen’s conscripted artist must pull reality from illustrations on parchment, and a grandmother’s secret room is…better kept a secret. Tales of struggle and triumph, compassion and hope: Community of Magic Pens is a celebration of our shared story.

I hope you’re all well!

Lots of love,

Minerva

Community of Magic Pens, the dragon of ynys

Big Announcement!!!

Hello!

I am very proud to announce that my novella The Dragon of Ynys will be re-published by Atthis Arts!

After lots of hard work on revisions, we’ve arrived on a completely new edition with a brand new epilogue and afterword. But don’t fear, all the elements you loved are still there, like Sir Violet the aro ace knight, Snap the dragon, and their grand fairy tale adventure.

We’ll have fun updates as we move forward, including a beautiful cover by artist Ulla Thynell—I’m absolutely smitten with it.

For now, I’d like to invite you to the Atthis Arts AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit Fantasy this Thursday March 26, starting at 11:00 CT/17:00 CET. We’ll talk more about The Dragon of Ynys and of course about the upcoming Atthis Arts anthology Community of Magic Pens, which contains my short story “Memory Malfunction”.

Don’t worry if you can only pop in later: all the posts will still be there!

The AMA is part of r/Fantasy Virtual Con and there is a Facebook Event to remind you of it here.

Fantasy Virtual Con

Community of Magic Pens, Space Opera Libretti

An Interview in Space & News about Magic Pens

Hello!

I’ve got a lot to tell!

First of all, I gave an interview in space—more specifically, on the good ship Space Opera Libretti. You can read it on Jennifer Lee Rossman’s website here. Remember that you can find more info about Space Opera Libretti here—add it on Goodreads and buy it on Amazon. I really feel like it deserves more buzz than it’s currently getting, because who doesn’t want more funny, musical stories in space?

Secondly, some news about Community of Magic Pens! The cover has been announced!!!

Cover for "Community of Magic Pens"

This beautiful, happy piece of art was made by Artistic Journey.

There is also an official list now of the stories and authors that will be included in this anthology: check it out here! My story really is in great company! Release is expected in early May and you can still preorder.

To stay up to date with news from publisher Atthis Arts, you can subscribe to their newsletter on the bottom left of their website.

I’d like to conclude this update with news from my friend Ava Kelly! Their fantasy novel Havesskadi has been re-released this week by NineStar Press. I recommend it to everyone who likes epic fantasy, dragons, and/or ace characters! Read all about it on Ava’s website.

Community of Magic Pens

Part of the Community of Magic Pens

Hello!

I received my first story acceptance of 2020!

My short story Memory Malfunction will be part of Community of Magic Pens, an Atthis Arts anthology. (You might know that publishing house from last year’s Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove!)

I’m delighted to work with them again and to be included in what will be a collection of amazing, thoughtful stories from many different perspectives. And full of magic pens! You can already preorder the book here; release is expected in May.

The theme of magic pens is close to my heart. I remember scribbling somewhere in my school notes that “the secret of the writer is a good pen”. And it’s true: even in a time when most writing happens at a keyboard, a beautiful pen that’s fun to write with can inspire new stories or ease the brainstorming process. For many of us, pens are a tool that makes our storytelling magic possible.

And that power is definitely not limited to storytelling magic, as you’ll see in Community of Magic Pens!