Small Spec Book Awards
@specawards.bsky.social
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
Founded by @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social
Cofounded by @millieabecassis.com
🌐 https://linktr.ee/smallspecbookawards
Pinned
Congratulations to the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards winners!
✨BETTER LIVING THROUGH ALCHEMY by @evanjpeterson.bsky.social (@slgable.bsky.social)
✨YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD by @rabusby.bsky.social (@stelliform.press)
✨EMPRESS OF DUST by @alexyquest.bsky.social (@wctracy.bsky.social)
#SSBA #SSBA2025
✨BETTER LIVING THROUGH ALCHEMY by @evanjpeterson.bsky.social (@slgable.bsky.social)
✨YOU WILL SPEAK FOR THE DEAD by @rabusby.bsky.social (@stelliform.press)
✨EMPRESS OF DUST by @alexyquest.bsky.social (@wctracy.bsky.social)
#SSBA #SSBA2025
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Small Spec Book Awards!
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Small Spec Book Awards!
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Do you love to shout about books? 📚 How about small & independent press fantasy, science fiction &/or horror books?
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
January 2, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Do you love to shout about books? 📚 How about small & independent press fantasy, science fiction &/or horror books?
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
What an amazing opportunity! Supporting indie authors is vital for fresh ideas in sci-fi. Remember, "The future is already here—it's just not very evenly distributed." 🌌🪐📚 #IndieBooks #SciFi
Do you love to shout about books? 📚 How about small & independent press fantasy, science fiction &/or horror books?
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
January 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
What an amazing opportunity! Supporting indie authors is vital for fresh ideas in sci-fi. Remember, "The future is already here—it's just not very evenly distributed." 🌌🪐📚 #IndieBooks #SciFi
Do you love to shout about books? 📚 How about small & independent press fantasy, science fiction &/or horror books?
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
January 2, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Do you love to shout about books? 📚 How about small & independent press fantasy, science fiction &/or horror books?
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Yes? We want you on our team! 📣
You choose what you do. ✅ Be as creative as you want! 👩🎨 You even get an influencer badge.✨
Volunteer for the SSBA today! 💙
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Interview with @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social about the @specawards.bsky.social !
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/29/a...
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/29/a...
A Chat with Alex Kingsley, the 2025 SSBA Winner in Science Fiction
L. N. Holmes: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Alex. Empress of Dust is a fascinating novel, and we’re excited to learn more about it, but first we need to address the crabs. What on Earth po…
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Interview with @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social about the @specawards.bsky.social !
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/29/a...
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/29/a...
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Small Spec Book Awards!
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Small Spec Book Awards!
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Submit nominations here:
t.co/f8OP3txZar
Before we open the Small Spec Book Awards Nominations Form tonight at midnight, we’d like to discuss all the changes we are making to the awards in 2026. You can find all of these changes reflected in updates on our webpage. You can also find them here. 🧵👇
#SSBA #SSBA2026
#SSBA #SSBA2026
a happy new year greeting card with gold numbers 2026
Alt: a happy new year gif with gold numbers 2026 and sparkly confetti
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
January 1, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Congratulations to the winners! It's an honor to have my little autumnal weird horror novel considered as a finalist for the Small Spec Book Awards!
Horror Finalists:
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
December 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Congratulations to the winners! It's an honor to have my little autumnal weird horror novel considered as a finalist for the Small Spec Book Awards!
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
It's a Fantasy Romcom & it recently placed as a finalist in the Small Spec Book Awards' Fantasy category. I wrote here about why, as a comedy writer, I am also drawn to write fantasy, and why - in my opinion - fantasy & comedy work so well together. armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
It's a Fantasy Romcom & it recently placed as a finalist in the Small Spec Book Awards' Fantasy category. I wrote here about why, as a comedy writer, I am also drawn to write fantasy, and why - in my opinion - fantasy & comedy work so well together. armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Bookish Collaborations interviews the SSBA finalists, including @evanjpeterson.bsky.social for Better Living Through Alchemy. (Which won, in case you missed the news!)
Go check 'em out!
armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
Go check 'em out!
armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
2025 SSBA Fantasy Finalists & Winner - Armed with A Book
December 1 marked the announcement of the finalists and winners for the inaugural Small Spec Book Awards. Learn about the best in Fantasy.
armedwithabook.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Bookish Collaborations interviews the SSBA finalists, including @evanjpeterson.bsky.social for Better Living Through Alchemy. (Which won, in case you missed the news!)
Go check 'em out!
armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
Go check 'em out!
armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-fa...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
How cool! Got interviewed by L.N. Holmes about my weird mushroom book You Will Speak for the Dead (Stelliform Press).
We talk about hoarding, fungus, death, and lighter-stealing ferrets, so give it a look!
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
@stelliformpress
We talk about hoarding, fungus, death, and lighter-stealing ferrets, so give it a look!
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
@stelliformpress
A Chat with R.A. Busby, the 2025 SSBA Winner in Horror
L. N. Holmes: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, R. A. You Will Speak for the Dead is mushroom horror meets body horror. It’s also so much more than that. After reading the acknowledgements in …
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:19 AM
How cool! Got interviewed by L.N. Holmes about my weird mushroom book You Will Speak for the Dead (Stelliform Press).
We talk about hoarding, fungus, death, and lighter-stealing ferrets, so give it a look!
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
@stelliformpress
We talk about hoarding, fungus, death, and lighter-stealing ferrets, so give it a look!
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
@stelliformpress
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
I really enjoyed being a reader for 2025 and have already signed up for 2026. Free books to read. What's not to love! Sign up!
Do you like to read sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror? Do you want to volunteer to support authors published with small and indie presses? Apply to the SSBA today!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
December 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I really enjoyed being a reader for 2025 and have already signed up for 2026. Free books to read. What's not to love! Sign up!
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
I was a reader this year and have volunteered for next.
It's a wonderful experience for anyone who reads or wants to write.
It's a wonderful experience for anyone who reads or wants to write.
Do you like to read sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror? Do you want to volunteer to support authors published with small and indie presses? Apply to the SSBA today!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
December 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I was a reader this year and have volunteered for next.
It's a wonderful experience for anyone who reads or wants to write.
It's a wonderful experience for anyone who reads or wants to write.
Do you like to read sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror? Do you want to volunteer to support authors published with small and indie presses? Apply to the SSBA today!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Do you like to read sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror? Do you want to volunteer to support authors published with small and indie presses? Apply to the SSBA today!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
We need a lot more volunteers if we are going to make the 2026 awards season work, so please share this post!
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Hope everyone had a great holiday! The first in my series featuring the finalist of the Small Spec Book Awards is alive!!
First up: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch! @scriblit.bsky.social
@specawards.bsky.social
www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/12/gabb...
First up: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch! @scriblit.bsky.social
@specawards.bsky.social
www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/12/gabb...
Gabby Hutchinson Crouch - Cursed Under London - SSBA Fantasy Finalist
Hello and welcome to the first post in my SSBA Finalist Series. I will be highlighting a number of the finalists from the Small Spec Book Aw...
www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Hope everyone had a great holiday! The first in my series featuring the finalist of the Small Spec Book Awards is alive!!
First up: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch! @scriblit.bsky.social
@specawards.bsky.social
www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/12/gabb...
First up: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch! @scriblit.bsky.social
@specawards.bsky.social
www.blog.melodyemcintyre.com/2025/12/gabb...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
New interview in Mixed Media Magazine about @specawards.bsky.social ! mixedmediamagazine.news.blog/2025/12/27/i...
Interview with Award Winning Writer Alex Kingsley
Giant crabs, unlikely heroes, and writing empathy into a post-apocalyptic world “If I’ve done my job, then you come away from one of my novels feeling better about the world than when you first sta…
mixedmediamagazine.news.blog
December 28, 2025 at 7:31 PM
New interview in Mixed Media Magazine about @specawards.bsky.social ! mixedmediamagazine.news.blog/2025/12/27/i...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
Thanks @armedwithabook.bsky.social for featuring EMPRESS OF DUST in your @specawards.bsky.social post! armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-sc...
2025 SSBA SciFi Finalists & Winner - Armed with A Book
December 1 marked the announcement of the finalists and winners for the inaugural Small Spec Book Awards. Learn about the best in SciFi.
armedwithabook.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Thanks @armedwithabook.bsky.social for featuring EMPRESS OF DUST in your @specawards.bsky.social post! armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-sc...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
I enjoyed this strange little book.
SSBA influencer Ben G. Bronson had a fantastic conversation with @evanjpeterson.bsky.social, author of BETTER LIVING THROUGH ALCHEMY, over at Mixed Media Magazine. Read their conversation about Evan’s book here:
Exploring the Wonderfully Strange: A Conversation with Evan
Fresh off a Fantasy-category win at the Small Spec Book Awards, Evan shares insights into their worldbuilding, influences, and writing journey Evan J. Peterson is a boundary-pushing voice in contem…
mixedmediamagazine.news.blog
December 23, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I enjoyed this strange little book.
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
The Scientist, the Spaceman, and the Stars Between Them by A.L. Davidson is an emotional space horror mashup with a romance core. #Horror #SciFi #Romance
#BookSky 💙📚 #SSBA2025 @maybemockingbird.bsky.social @timberghostpress.bsky.social
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
#BookSky 💙📚 #SSBA2025 @maybemockingbird.bsky.social @timberghostpress.bsky.social
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
November 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Scientist, the Spaceman, and the Stars Between Them by A.L. Davidson is an emotional space horror mashup with a romance core. #Horror #SciFi #Romance
#BookSky 💙📚 #SSBA2025 @maybemockingbird.bsky.social @timberghostpress.bsky.social
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
#BookSky 💙📚 #SSBA2025 @maybemockingbird.bsky.social @timberghostpress.bsky.social
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
review of Kristin Osani's The Extravaganza Eternia, an #SSBA2025 fantasy finalist, which I really enjoyed! tightly-plotted and fast-paced but without sacrificing a depth of character and world: anduilleaggheal.neocities.org/leirmheasan/...
The Extravaganza Eternia / an duilleag gheal
anduilleaggheal.neocities.org
November 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
review of Kristin Osani's The Extravaganza Eternia, an #SSBA2025 fantasy finalist, which I really enjoyed! tightly-plotted and fast-paced but without sacrificing a depth of character and world: anduilleaggheal.neocities.org/leirmheasan/...
Reposted by Small Spec Book Awards
review of #SSBA2025 finalist Ghost Apparent, by Jelena Dunato, a loving and gleeful tearing-apart of fairy-tale romance by subjecting both the conventions of fairy tales and the conventions of romance to Renaissance/early modern Realpolitik: anduilleaggheal.neocities.org/leirmheasan/...
Ghost Apparent / an duilleag gheal
anduilleaggheal.neocities.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 AM
review of #SSBA2025 finalist Ghost Apparent, by Jelena Dunato, a loving and gleeful tearing-apart of fairy-tale romance by subjecting both the conventions of fairy tales and the conventions of romance to Renaissance/early modern Realpolitik: anduilleaggheal.neocities.org/leirmheasan/...
Another interview from SSBA Founder @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social, this time with SSBA 2025 Fantasy Winner @evanjpeterson.bsky.social. Read about gangster-scientists amassing occult knowledge, the smell of lies, and folklore versus fakelore.
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
December 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Another interview from SSBA Founder @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social, this time with SSBA 2025 Fantasy Winner @evanjpeterson.bsky.social. Read about gangster-scientists amassing occult knowledge, the smell of lies, and folklore versus fakelore.
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...
lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/a...