We are proud of all the fine folks who have contributed their stories, poems, artwork, and other works to On Spec over the years. Please stroll through and peruse our growing gallery of contributors, and check out what they’re up to now. Click on a picture to get more information.
If you are a past On Spec contributor we want to add your smiling face to our gallery! Please send us a picture of you holding the issue(s) in which you appeared, along with a short note to tell us what you’re up to. Please include a link to your website if you have one.
Hayden Trenholm & Liz Westbrook-Trenholm
Allan Weiss
Leslie Brown, Leah McLean-Evans and Lynne McLean
Mark Shainblum, Daniel Beaudoin and Kate Heartfeld
Frances Rowat
John Park
Randy Barnhart
Tanya Huff
Jean-Louis Trudel
Mike Rimar
Matt Moore
Timothy Reynolds
Dan Keohane – Going to be releasing a YA supernatural book with friend David Hilman. Meanwhile am working on a novel (the sequel to upcoming Plague of Locusts) and an original short story collection based on the biblical book of Psalms. Also, wearing my editor hat, doing final edits for the upcoming New England Horror Writers (NEHW) newest anthology, Wicked Creatures. My website’s at http://www.dankeohane.com
I write books. My latest are: a YA graphic novel called In Real Life (with Jen Wang); a nonfiction book about the arts and the Internet called Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free: Laws for the Internet Age (with introductions by Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer) and a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it’s the sequel to Little Brother). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.
Al Onia is very proud of the 3 (and counting) stories which appeared in On Spec. In the last year, he’s transitioned to a half-time geophyiscal career to write every day. His debut SF novel, Javenny, lalunched from Bundoran Press in August, 2014. Additional short story publications trickle out and three novels are in various stages, from ‘under consideration’ to skeletal first drafts. You can visit Al at:http://ajonia.com
I’m busy, as usual. Working full-time for Timberland Regional Library keeps me busy, but I also make time to write, paint and publish my work. With my publishing hat on, we’re working on the release of my Goblin Alley trilogy of books right now. I’m in the middle of writing a stand-alone science fiction novel and when I have time I’m working on my paintings. I like to get outside too, and recently completed my first Spartan Race, an obstacle race with mud, barbed-wire and spears! Get info at http://www.RyanMWilliams.com and say hi on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ryanmwilliams).
I’m proud to say that my first story sale was to On Spec (“The Wind Man” Issue #83 Vol 22 no 4 Winter 2010-2011). The magazine also included my “A Taste Of Time” (originally published in Issue #88 vol 24 no 1 Spring 2012) in the 25th Anniversary retrospective Casserole Diplomacy and Other Stories. Amazing company to be in. These days I’m taking a shot at writing full-time (crazy, yes), hunting for an agent, polishing the second of my four SF manuscripts and outlining a fifth. When ideas strike, I still write short stories. I’m planning to self-publish some of the stories and possibly one of the novels in e-format soon. My website is http://www.scottoverton.ca.
This summer I’ve been juggling a few projects—Third Person Press’s new anthology, *Flashpoint*; the release of my new urban fantasy/mystery novel, *The Murder Prophet*; and a sequel to *One’s Aspect to the Sun* for Tyche Books. As fall approaches, I expect to cross some of these off the list…and add new ones, of course! The latest news is always at http://www.sherrydramsey.com. Happy to be part of the gallery!
The nomadic Montrealer Claude Lalumière (claudepages.info) is the editor of more than a dozen anthologies, including, most recently, Super Stories of Heroes & Villains. He’s currently working on The Exile Book of New Canadian Noir (with David Nickle) and Superhero Universe: Tesseracts Nineteen (with Mark Shainblum). Claude is the author of Objects of Worship, The Door to Lost Pages, and Nocturnes and Other Nocturnes.
Lately, I’m writing poems and finishing up a short story set in the Victorian era; have two-thirds of a draft of a speculative fiction novella on the go and am stalled on the third draft (that’s been going since 2011) of a speculative fiction novel. I’m also trying to figure out how to get Superman to reverse the rotation of the earth for a few hours each day, to buy me more writing time.
My story “Traveller, Take Me” appeared in Summer 2014. My stories have appeared recently in places such as Crossed Genres, Daily Science Fiction and Lackington’s, and I’m working on a historical fantasy novel. By day, I’m a newspaper editor in Ottawa. My website is http://heartfieldfiction.wordpress.com/.
Hope I’m not too late to contribute. My story “The Corrections” appeared in Winter 2008 (Issue #75). What I’m up to lately? Well, the novel I so eagerly teased in my interview in issue #75 is finally complete. Also, I’ve taken some slack for listing *The Prestige* as one of my Top 5 favorite movies. But I want to make it clear that I stand by that choice. Today, I’m the co-founder and managing editor of the film review website *Dear Cast and Crew* (www.dearcastandcrew.com), and this past month saw the launch of an exciting new literary and culture magazine devoted entirely to my thrilling body of work, *The Jared Young Review* (www.jaredyoungreview.com).
Kim Goldberg is still one step ahead of the law somewhere on Vancouver Island. Her speculative tales have been busting out in Zahir, Here Be Monsters, Dark Mountain, Rattle, Tesseracts Eleven, Urban Green Man Anthology , West Coast Line and elsewhere. In 2008 she won the Rannu Fund Poetry Prize for Speculative Literature. She is currently writing her seventh book, a nonfiction work ( Refugium ) about people living with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. She curates an International Online Gallery of Electro-Aware Art here: http://electroplague.com/electro-aware-artists/ . Her primary website is http://www.PigSquashPress.com .
Lynn Dana Wilton, here. I was honoured to be a recent contributor with my story, “Meet” in issue #93 (Summer 2013). I’m currently focused on animation: an experimental short in September’s Ottawa International Animation Festival; an earlier piece in the Western Michigan University’s “17 Days” art installation project then off to a Mauritius festival; and submitting a new short to festivals. I continue to labour on a first novel and try not to compare it to beating my head with a brick. You can find “Celestial Red & Blue” (animated under a macro lens) at: http://vimeo.com/73987641 and “Robot Monster Us” (silhoette puppets & sand) at: http://vimeo.com/95484619
I’ve sold over a hundred short stories and am working on more, plus a middle grade novel about an eleven-year-old wendigo hunter. http://www.marissalingen.com/
Mark Shainblum is an Ottawa science fiction, fantasy and comic book writer who has contributed both fiction and a highly opinionated guest editorial to On Spec. Mark and Claude Lalumiere are currently co-editing Superhero Universe: Tesseracts Nineteen, an anthology of prose superhero stories, to be published in 2016 by EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing. Mark is also currently working on a number of short comic serials for The Charlton Arrow and Epic Canadiana, a possible revival of his 1980’s superhero series Northguard, and a couple of kids books about Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier, to be published by 5 Rivers. Mark’s website: http://www.shainblum.com
Back in 2011 On Spec published my first short story, Artificial Stupidity. Since then Five Rivers Publishing released my SF novel, 88, and more recently I sold my dark fantasy novel, Beyond Redemption, to HARPER Voyager in the US. It’s been a crazy few years! http://www.michaelrfletcher.com
Barb Galler-Smith loves short stories with an emotional punch. She’s a long-time member of Edmonton’s largest speculative fiction writers group, The Cult of Pain, and with Ann Marston co-founded a critique group for emerging speculative fiction writers loving called “The Scruffies”. She has written historical fantasy, science fiction, contemporary romantic comedy, and horror. She has also committed Costuming at various WorldCon Masquerades and won ribbons.
Since OnSpec published my story “Hexenhaus” in the Fall 2011 volume, I’ve had my strange tales included in Tesseracts 17 and Wrestling With Gods: Tesseracts 18 (EDGE Publishing), the Corvidae and Scarecrow anthologies (upcoming in 2015 through World Weaver Press), and won a short horror story contest through Retreat By Random House. Thank you for a solid start, OnSpec! At any given time I have a couple of pieces waiting patiently in assorted slush piles while I do tireless battle with my in-progress urban fantasy novel. Find me on Facebook or drop me a line on Twitter (@FennellFiction).
Matt Moore’ first short story sale and first non-fiction sale were both to On Spec. While a fiercely proud New England native, he’s also proud to call himself a Canadian writer. When not writing fiction that doesn’t fall neatly into genre categories, he’s doing communications work for ChiZine Publications or organizing the Ottawa branch of the Chiaroscuro Reading Series. Find more at MattMooreWrites.com
I was very fortunate to have my first story published with On Spec (#86) and also have Robin Carson as editor. I had a great time exchanging e-mails with him as I kept fiddling with the story (which probably drove him crazy. However he was the complete gentleman and never mentioned it.). I’ve been slowly working on a sequel to that story which, if I get off my posterior, I might have done this year. Meanwhile, I’ve managed to get a few stories published elsewhere, the latest one (‘Do You Have a Weapon Sir?’) coming out in May 2015 in the anthology ‘Torn Pages: Stories of Social Upheaval’ (www.goodreads.com/book/show/25021824-torn-pages). The story begins with a man boarding an airplane where everyone, except him, is fully armed. Comedy ensues. Feel free to visit my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PeeringIntoTheFuture
JOANNA M. WESTON. Married; has two cats, multiple spiders, a herd of deer, and two derelict hen-houses. Her middle-reader, ‘Those Blue Shoes’, published by Clarity House Press; and poetry, ‘A Summer Father’, published by Frontenac House of Calgary. Has a middle reader, ‘Frame and The McGuire’ coming out this fall with Tradewind Books. Her eBooks found at her blog:http://www.1960willowtree.wordpress.com/
Dan J. O’Driscoll – I produce cover illustrations for science fiction books and magazines, and have published three covers with OnSpec (#61, #85, & #97). I was honored to receive the 2012 Aurora Award for the cover of OnSpec’s 85th issue. All my published pieces can be viewed on my website at: http://www.djostudio.com/
Hi, this is Mike Rimar. So, I’ve recently finished co-editing an anthology, _Second Contacts_ which should come out Fall 2015 with Bundoran Press. Graduated college…again. Looking for a job in my field…again. Will have a story coming out in On Spec’s Punk-themed issue. Will have another story in a future On Spec. Shopping my YA Urban Fantasy novel around to agents. Writing. Writing. Writing. ‘Squatter’s Rights’, out now in On Spec for quality Science Fiction visit http://www.bundoranpress.com/
Hello, this is Tony Pi. I have my hands full with short stories appearing in many places, from _Clarkesworld Magazine _to _Ricepaper_ to _InterGalactic Medicine Show. _My short story “No Sweeter Art” in _Beneath Ceaseless Skies_ was just nominated in the Best English Short Fiction category in the Aurora Awards, and my poem “A Hex, With Bees” in _Wrestling With Gods – Tesseracts Eighteen_ in the “Best English Poem/Song” category. Find me through my website (www.tonypi.com) or on Twitter (@wistling).
I was the first art director for On Spec way long ago and did a few covers as well. My current artistic project is steampunk sculptures (airships, weapons, devices) made from recycled objects. Website is: http://www.tim-hammell.com though it is down at the moment while I revise it, soon.
I’ve been writing since the age of seven, when I made my first short story submission. Since then, I’ve become a published poet, won prizes for my short stories, and have had three professional sales of science fiction short stories. I’m currently working on the first two novels in an epic fantasy series, the first novel of a YA fantasy series, a fairy tale retelling, and the first novel of an MG fantasy series. I live in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, on the street that bears my family name and in the house where three generations of my family have lived.
Glad to be a part of the On Spec family 🙂
Janet Nicolson: My story “Chance Encounters” appeared in the Fall 2014 edition and was my first professional sale. I’ve also had a story in Tesseracts 18: Wrestling with Gods, and I’ve sold 2 more stories to On Spec that will be appearing in future issues! I’m still writing part-time in addition to working a full time tech writing job that I love, but I hope to sell more in the future. You can follow me @jknicolson on Twitter if you want to listen to my sporadic ramblings about writing and video games.
In the 4 years since my On Spec appearance, I’ve had stories published in half a dozen other publications, including _Crowded Magazine_ and _Kaleidotrope_, and have been working on a couple of fantasy novels. Along with my husband, Donald S. Crankshaw, I’m editing an anthology of speculative short stories that engage meaningfully with Christianity (www.mysterionanthology.com), which we plan to independently publish in 2016. I also spend far too much time gardening instead of writing; hence the photo. You can see more garden photos (and occasional writing news) at http://www.kristinjanz.com.
Cheryl Merkel is the author of “God Rest Ye Merry’ (Fall 1990), “Dreams in Darkness” (Fall 1991) and “Last Run” (Winter 1992).
Brandon Crilly – Since appearing in _On Spec_, Brandon’s work has been published in
_Tides of Possibility_, _Aphelion_, and _Nonlocal Science Fiction_, and
he was a Semi-Finalist in the 4th quarter of Writers of the Future 2015.
His first SF chapbook, _Science is for Real_, is now available at
brandoncrilly.wordpress.com [1]. You can also follow Brandon on Twitter:
@B_Crilly.
After his story “Shelter From The Storm” appeared in the Spring issue in
2001 Mark Anthony Brennan went on to become a famous underwear model,
but found time to win the Formula One Grand Prix a total of three times
and was also awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. His career came to a
crashing halt, however, when the secret police of North Bitoxiland
discovered encrypted anti-government propaganda embedded in his story
stories. Brennan was banished to a pacific island gulag that had
terrible wi-fi service but excellent weather. He was forcibly released in 2012 even though he really didn’t want to leave.
https://www.facebook.com/markanthony.brennan.9
My first appearance in On Spec was in 1992 in Issue #9. Since that time,
my short stories have been reprinted in sixteen countries around the
world in a dozen languages. After publishing four novels with ECW Press
in Toronto, I received funding from Canada Council for the Arts for a
fifth science fiction novel. Visit http://stevestanton.ca for more
details.
Ryan Benson resides outside of Atlanta, GA, USA with his wife and children. Ryan keeps himself busy writing short fiction stories and his first novel. On Spec Magazine, Night Terrors Vol. 1 (Scare Street), The Sirens Call Publications, Trembling With Fear (Horror Tree), and TERSE Journal have published his work.
