Tag: spec fic

Neurodiversiverse, Paranatellonta, Queens in Wonderland

Minerva Cerridwen’s 2024 Awards Eligibility Post

Minerva Cerridwen

1: Short story “The Space Between Stitches”, science fiction, about 3900 words.

Published in anthology The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters, Thinking Ink Press, August 2024, USA. Edited by Liza Olmsted and Anthony Francis.

Available formats: paperback and ebook.

The transportation device of a tiny flame-shaped alien called Ibb breaks down on planet Earth. Ibb meets a human and discovers the species’ problem-solving talents. Both main characters of this story are non-binary and the book focuses on neurodivergence, including but not limited to ADHD, anxiety, and autism.

2: Short story “Good-Natured Anxiety for the Queer Creature”, fantasy, about 4200 words.

Published in anthology Queens in Wonderland, No Bad Books Press, February 2024, USA. Edited by Theresa Halvorsen and Chris Bannor.

Available formats: paperback and ebook.

This re-imagining of classical elements from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass into a brand-new, queer story about self-acceptance is a wild ride. It doesn’t require knowledge of the Wonderland universe, but knowing your Lewis Carroll may spark some extra smiles.

3: Short stories in Paranatellonta Issues 369-392

Self-published on paranatellonta.tumblr.com, each photo-and-story combination is available to read for free.

Available formats: digital, only on paranatellonta.tumblr.com.

Paranatellonta is a photography and flash fiction project running since August 2013, posted on the 1st and 15th day of each month. Fie takes a photo which inspires a ten-sentence story written by me, Minerva Cerridwen. The project itself was inspired by Erin Morgenstern and Carey Farrell’s Flax-golden Tales (2009-2014).

Personal favourites of this year include:

Issues 370, 380, and 390 were special editions where we swapped roles, meaning that for those issues, I took the photo and Fie wrote the short story.

4: Work as a Fan Artist

As a friend of author Clara Ward and a fan of their novel Be the Sea (Atthis Arts, 2024), I got to work on the successful Be the Sea: Audiobook and Hardcover Editions Kickstarter campaign last summer and made a piece of fan art for the book for every day of the campaign. Check out the 26 Sea Creatures of the Day, 8 of which have been made into postcards as backer rewards. There’s crochet, drawing, painting, and origami creatures, and even a Double Chocolate Cookie Fish.

Bonus: Friends’ eligibility posts

Indie publisher Atthis Arts

Author Clara Ward

Conventions and Events, Neurodiversiverse

Release: The Neurodiversiverse!

Minerva Cerridwen

The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters is out today!

The Neurodiversiverse banner: buy the book!

Thinking Ink Press presents an empowering anthology of neurodiverse stories, poetry, and art for sci-fi lovers.

Would neurodiversity be an advantage when encountering aliens? Let’s find out.

Heartbroken starships.

Human-sized hamster balls.

Superpowers unleashed by anxiety.

A planet covered in mathematical fidgets.

And we finally learn why aliens abduct cows.

Featuring stories, poems and art from Tobias S. Buckell, M.D. Cooper, Ada Hoffmann, Jody Lynn Nye, Cat Rambo, and almost forty other contributors, The Neurodiversiverse is edited by Anthony Francis and Liza Olmsted, and explores themes of autism, anxiety, synesthesia, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, avoidant attachment disorder, dissociative identity disorder, and more.

My short story “The Space Between Stitches”, featuring alien teleportation and human crochet, is part of this anthology. Atthis Arts friends Clara Ward and Stewart C. Baker also each have a story in this book.

The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters is available as ebook and paperback:

Publisher’s Website – Buy links via Books2Read – Amazon US – Amazon Deutschland – Goodreads

Meanwhile, it’s time for me to pack the last things for Worldcon! I’ll be travelling to Glasgow by train tomorrow—as Bilbo would say, I’m going on an adventure! For those who want to hear me talk on panels, my schedule can be found here.

Enjoy the Neurodiversiverse! And to those of you who are going to Worldcon: see you soon!

Minerva

Neurodiversiverse, Paranatellonta

10 days left for a flourising new universe!

Minerva Cerridwen

10 days left in the Neurodiversiverse Kickstarter!

Since my last blog post, the campaign has been labelled a Project We Love by Kickstarter and further Stretch Goals have been announced: bookmarks, goodie bags, an audiobook, and a sequel anthology!!!

But first, of course, we need to cross the minimum goal. Please keep sharing the Kickstarter link and consider preordering your own copy of the anthology!

Banner for The Neurodiversiverse with a Kickstarter Project We Love Logo

On a personal note, my grandmother passed away last week. I wrote the latest Paranatellonta edition in her memory.

Love,

Minerva

Neurodiversiverse

Introducing The Neurodiversiverse

Minerva Cerridwen

Hi!

I’ve got some big news!

See this cool new science fiction anthology with short fiction, poetry, and art that celebrates human neurodiversity? The one called The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters?

Well… It includes a short story written by me!

Banner for The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters Kickstarter

I’m so proud that my story is part of this new universe. The book celebrates human neurodiversity, with a focus on own voices stories told from the perspective of folks who are neurodivergent themselves, featuring autism, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, synesthesia, anxiety, and more. Representation is so important, as you’ve probably heard me say many times if you’re here to read this. Personally I cannot wait for this anthology to come out!

About 45 creators have worked on this book, including Cat Rambo, Tobias S. Buckell, M. D. Cooper, Ada Hoffmann, Jody Lynn Nye, and my Atthis Arts friends Clara Ward and Stewart C. Baker. It was edited by Anthony Francis and Liza Olmsted, with cover art by Barbara Candiotti.

You can preorder it now, and directly support all of these creators, on Kickstarter. The campaign will run until May 13. Please don’t miss it! Aside from the ebook and paperback edition (with a discounted early bird price!), you can add an original sticker, tote bag, or pin to your hoard, order bundles of books from Thinking Ink Press, and even acquire a special hardcover edition with slipcover that will be exclusive to this Kickstarter.

From the campaign:

“The Neurodiversiverse is for anyone who loves science fiction that stretches the mind!

In fact, when we first voyaged to your planet, we noticed that some members of your species coped better than others with the symphony of thought process found across the galaxy. These beings, whom many of you call neurodivergent, have diverse thinking styles enabling extraordinary responses to mind-bending situations. 

Since your species communicates with words and images for enjoyment, we thought collecting stories, poems and art describing neurodiverse encounters with aliens would not only provide entertainment and edification to lovers of science fiction all across your globe, but also would facilitate our attempts to infiltrate your society. 

The realized form of that collection is our science fiction anthology, The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters!”

Read more about the Neurodiversiverse here!

As if that news wasn’t big enough, there’s something else I’d really like you to know. Snap, my dragon of Ynys, is on a T-shirt! And on a tank top! In different colours! Including purple!

The pop-up shop with Atthis Arts merchandise will be open until April 30. Artist Matthew Spencer created a brand new design that combines elements from the Atthis Arts stories, and you’ll recognise Snap as one of the three featured dragons. (Want to recognise all of the elements? Get some Atthis Arts books!) Aside from those shirts, there is also the option of a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants with Graystick, from the E.D.E. Bell comics inspired by Gregory A. Wilson’s Gray Assassin Trilogy. Make sure to have a look at these handsome, soft cotton clothes before the shop disappears!

Illustration on the Atthis Arts shirts, created by Matthew Spencer

Projects by Friends

Dedication!

Minerva Cerridwen

Today I would like to talk about the newest book release by my friend and editor of The Dragon of Ynys, E.D.E. Bell. It is titled Just Chad and collects 25 adventures of a robot named Chad, whom we got to know in the first part of the Just Duology: Just Bart.

Cover of "Just Chad" by E.D.E. Bell

I’m so, so honoured that E.D.E. Bell dedicated a book to me, and not just a book, but this one. Everyone, grab your copy!

Love, beeps, and boops,

Minerva

Rise, the dragon of ynys

Rise has risen!

Minerva Cerridwen

The Rise anthology came out yesterday!

Cover of Rise: Queer Sci Fi's Tenth Annual Flash Fiction Contest

This anthology is packed with 120 stories under 300 words each, all with a speculative element and queer characters. One of these stories is my little piece “Ace-tral Projection”, and the book also includes L.S. Reinholt’s “Flood”.

You can buy the book in ebook, paperback, AND hardcover format. Find all the info and buy links via the publisher’s website, and add the book on Goodreads here.

The winners of this edition were Aidee Ladnier’s “Getting The Proper Rise” in third place, Sorren Briarwood’s “Dead Name” in second place, and Meghan Hyland’s “So High Up We’ll Never Hear Them Shouting” in first place. Congratulations!

The winner announcement can be found here, judge’s picks were announced here, honorable mentions were announced here, and the full list of stories in the book is on this page.

And we’ll continue celebrating today, because I have great news for everyone in Belgium who wants to buy The Dragon of Ynys at an independent bookshop: it is now available at Boekhandel Grim in Hasselt!

Happy autumn, and happy Ace Week!

P.S. My postcard sets are still available! Read about them here.

Paranatellonta, Rise

Flash Fiction: Rise!

Minerva Cerridwen

Hi!

It’s that time of the year when the stories are being announced that will be part of the Queer Sci Fi Flash Fiction Contest anthology. The theme this year was “Rise”, once again prompting authors to write a story of 300 words, and I’m proud to say I submitted a story called “Ace-tral Projection” and it was selected. This is the fifth year in a row I have a story in the contest anthology! Everyone who’s friends with me on Duolingo knows I do love a good long streak.

You can read the full list of anthology picks via this link – and you may notice that my friend and co-writer LS Reinholt’s story “Flood” made it in there too! *high fives*

In other news, Fie and I posted the 359th edition of Paranatellonta yesterday—remember there’s a new post on the 1st and 15th of every month. Our next edition, on August 15, will be very special, and not just because 360 is a nice round number—we will celebrate that Paranatellonta will have existed for 10 years!!! Keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, you can go read the latest editions via the main page (click on the “[time] ago and x notes” line under a post to enlarge both its photo and text, or click the “Random post” button at the top to be catapulted up to ten years back in time). As ever, everything Paranatellonta is free to read. Enjoy!

Love from rainy Germany, where I’ve been having a very cosy autumnish holiday in the middle of summer (but also some sunny hobbit adventures on mountains),

Minerva

Projects by Friends, Skulls & Spells

Treasures to Hoard!

Minerva Cerridwen

Hi!

I’ve just returned from Copenhagen, where I spent a marvellous week—LS and I got to see Hannah Gadsby live!!! The show was absolutely brilliant. Other than that we also had a lot of fun, finally meeting up after such a long time, and I got united with my author copy of Skulls & Spells!

Are you also intrigued by this gorgeous full-colour publication of queer horror stories, poetry, and art? Read all about it on the Skulls & Spells page of my website.

Now, in true dragon fashion, I actually wanted to talk to you about even more treasures. Literal ones, from the house of Atthis Arts (publisher of my novella The Dragon of Ynys as well as anthologies Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove and Community of Magic Pens). A True Travelling Treasure Trove!

What’s this all about? Well, Atthis Arts has set up a Kickstarter with the main goal of funding an audiobook for The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus by Alanna McFall. This book sounds like so much fun and has been on my to-read list literally since it came out in 2019—but since I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, I think this will be the moment I’ll finally get to it, whether on page or in audiobook form. Either way it sounds amazing, with a road trip, theatre, ghosts, and a really fun writing style from what I’ve heard. Add to that the fact that the audiobook will be performed by C.S.E. Cooney, who hosted the Atthis Arts Reading last September, and this will be reason enough to go have a look at the Kickstarter. But. BUT!

Before you think this is just another Kickstarter, I have to tell you about these treasures. Because Atthis Arts hasn’t gone with your average rewards, but set up an entire set of actual limited-edition (metaphorical) gems to go with each of their 2022 publications. The one I’m personally most excited about is the Alia Terra colouring book—I mean, wow!!! Have you seen the Alia Terra art? Can you imagine getting to colour it yourself with whatever media you prefer? And not only that, but the colouring book will contain the original text, so you can enjoy the stories while you unleash your own creativity! I really love that this is a thing that will exist.

But it’s not just that: Gigi Ganguly has provided the campaign with actual-treasure tassels from a market shop in Delhi to represent her book One Arm Shorter than the Other (very much recommended to sci fi fans!), there’s an enamel pin of the assassin’s dagger from Gregory A. Wilson’s Grayshade, an exclusive scarf for the 2022 Origins Game Fair anthology Rogue Artists, scented candles for E.D.E. Bell’s own Night Ivy, and huggable squid friends matching Brandon Crilly’s Catalyst. (I wasn’t going to buy more plushies for myself, but we all know that when they have tentacles, I’m going to have to break that promise.) And, of course, you can also add the books themselves to your rewards (there will be an add-on window after you’ve picked your pledge level). There are also some digital jewels for those who are now, understandably, gritting their teeth at international shipping and duty.

And for those of you who think “sure, that all sounds fun, but have you noticed it’s 2022 so where would I get the money for all that?”, mind that the audiobook & ebook combo starts at $1 (!). So, really, go have a look, and please consider supporting the publishing house where I would very much love to get some of my future projects published! (👀) Extra link to the Kickstarter so you don’t have to scroll up: CLICK!

Good luck picking your treasures, and have a nice Sunday!

Minerva

P.S. Those of you who have been following my Inktober attempt on Instagram may have noticed that I missed a week of drawings. Some of the ones I did make took a little longer than a quick Inktober sketch. Feel free to leave a reply if you can spot which ones! But I am planning to do a catch-up sketch this week to represent the missing days (19 and 26-31), so stay tuned for that. Thanks for following along on this journey!

Clarity

Clarity: Release Day!

Minerva Cerridwen

The Clarity anthology is out today!

Cover of "Clarity"

This anthology is packed with 120 stories under 300 words each, all with a speculative element and queer characters. One of these stories is my little piece “Secundum Artem”.

You can buy the book in ebook, paperback, AND hardcover format, via: Amazon – Apple – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – Smashwords – Scribd – Vivlio, or add it on The StoryGraph or Goodreads.

Congratulations to the winners, judges’ picks, and honorable mentions of Queer Sci Fi’s Annual Flash Fiction Contest!

The winner announcement can be found here, judge’s picks were announced here, honorable mentions here, and the full list of stories in the book is on this page.

Enjoy all the queer flash fiction!

Love,

Minerva

P.S. Inktober is going well! I managed to draw something every day so far, and am happy with my result today, so I’m throwing it in here as a little extra:

Clarity

Clarity Cover Reveal

Minerva Cerridwen

Hi!

Not long now before the Clarity anthology will come out – Wednesday, the 5th of October is the day! That means I’ll put up another post to celebrate that day – but for now, I want to show you all the cover.

Cover of "Clarity"

You can preorder your copy via the links on this page. The winners of the contest have also been announced: short summaries of the winning stories can be found here!

And if you want a little flash fiction appetiser, you are of course most welcome at Paranatellonta, where we’ve posted the 339th photo + story combination today.

Now it’s time for me to go draw something – happy Inktober to all of you who are joining the challenge! If all goes well, my first sketch of the month will appear on my Instagram by tonight.

Have a great weekend!

Minerva