I was absolutely floored this morning to see my latest novel, Sallow Bend, on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards®. This is the longlist, so it’s not a finalist yet, but it’s a huge step all the same. I’ve got all my fingers crossed that it makes it through to the next round, when it will officially become a finalist. This will be my third shot at such a prestigious achievement. Previously, Crow Shine and The Gulp both made the preliminary ballot for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection, but neither made it through to the shortlist. Third time lucky? Here’s hoping. Then again, look at the rarified company this book is currently keeping (including Stephen King, holy shit…). If any HWA voting members haven’t read Sallow Bend yet and would like a copy, please hit me up and I’ll get one to you right away. Here’s the full preliminary ballot for Novel:
The 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot
Superior Achievement in a Novel
Baxter, Alan – Sallow Bend (Cemetery Dance Publications)
Iglesias, Gabino – The Devil Takes You Home (Mullholland Press)
Ihli, Noelle W. – Ask for Andrea (Dynamite Books)
Katsu, Alma – The Fervor (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
King, Stephen – Fairy Tale (Scribner)
Kiste, Gwendolyn – Reluctant Immortals (Saga Press)
Kraus, Daniel – The Ghost That Ate Us: The Tragic True Story of the Burger City Poltergeist (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
Malerman, Josh – Daphne (Del Rey)
Nix, Gwendolyn – I Have Asked to Be Where No Storms Came (Crystal Lake Publishing)
Roberts, Nick – The Exorcist’s House(Crystal Lake Publishing)
Ward, Catriona – Sundial (Tor Nightfire)
And here’s the full ballot with all categories.
Huge congratulations to everyone across the board – what an amazing display of dark fiction talent. I’m honoured to be a one small part of it.