If you look at the menu on your left, you will see we now have two book reviewers on the site. Lorina Stephens promises honest and frank reviews of SFF works by Canadian authors.
As stated, all opinions are hers, alone, and On Spec does not gain any recompense from readers buying the books discussed in these reviews.
We have been receiving queries about when we expect to open to submissions of new work. The announcement will be posted here on the blog, and at this time, we expect that we can open to submissions near the end of the year. A link will be available on our Submissions page at that time.
Please do not try to send your work to us by email now! We appreciate your enthusiasm, but will send a polite response. We won’t save the story or poem. The work won’t be read unless it arrives through the proper channels.
The Editors
The apocalypse started in the middle of Robin’s balayage appointment. She was left with the awkward decision of waiting the extra hour for the toner to work its magic on her long, soon to be ombre locks, or leaving the salon at once to sort out her affairs at home.
Read more in Brittany Amos’ delightful satire, “Hairstyles For the Apocalypse” in our latest isssue.
We’re happy to share a new review of our current issue by R. Graeme Cameron on the Amazing Stories website.
The Editors
School is starting soon, or has already begun in some locations. This is a reminder of our convenient Teacher Toolkit, complete with an On Spec story titled “Space Monkeys”, that’s suitable for middle grade learners. Easy to download the work (author permission has been granted for copying), along with lesson plans created by educators on our staff. Great to have on hand when you need a substitute and want to leave them with a complete lesson to teach.
The 2023 Aurora Awards ceremony took place online last night (kudos to the hosts and organizers for a job well done), and we want to congratulate all the finalists and winners, especially Melissa Yuan-Innes, whose poem “Rapunzel in the Desert” (Issue#122) , won for Best Poem or Song, and Peter G. Reynolds, whose “Broken Vow: The Adventures of Flick Gibson, Intergalactic Videographer” (Issue #120) won for best Short Story.
We are very proud of their accomplishments, and those Aurora trophies will look great on their bookshelves.
Our newest issue is being mailed to subscribers today. There are fabulous stories by Rob Gordon, Douglas Smith, Brian D. Hinson, Brittany Amos, Quinn J. Graham, Marie Brennan, Peter G. Reynolds, Christopher Scott and Colleen Anderson. Poetry by Colleen Anderson, Pamela Yuen, Swati Chavda, and Maria Zoccola. A new Bot and cartoon from Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk, plus our author and artist interviews by Roberta Laurie and Cat McDonald.
The cover is an original work from Winnipeg’s Scott B. Henderson.
We will be at Pemmi-Con next week!
We’re pleased to show you a review of our newest issue! We’re proud of our writers and editorial staff.
It’s June already and the Winnipeg NASFIC, Pemmi-Con, takes place in July. The organizers have asked us to share some information with interested artists and writers.
