SSBA 2026 Semi-Finalists

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For the second year in a row, I am an official influencer for the Small Spec Book Awards. What are the Small Spec Book Awards? You can check out my post from 2025, or visit the website for information.

On July 1, the semi-finalists were announced!

Like last year, between now and when the finalists are announced, I will be conducting a series of mini-interviews with the semi-finalists. As of writing this, 9 authors have already completed my mini-interview questions. Posts will be going up on Sundays with authors in groups of 2 or 3.

Again, all of the semi-finalists should be proud, and I encourage anyone reading this to check out all of them and their work! So without further delay, here are the top 30 books of the Small Spec Book Awards!

 Horror

Fantasy

Science Fiction

JK-LOL by Patrick Barb (Mad Axe Media)

THE WITCH'S JOURNEY by Keith Miller (Elsewhen Press)

AS A KANG SHOULD BE by Dale Smith (Obverse Books)

MY LIPS, HER VOICE by L.L. Madrid (Creature Publishing)

BALLAD OF RIVER BONES by Alexandra Beaumont (Brigids Gate Press)

BONNIE AND GUY by Nox Spacey (The Whumpy Printing Press)

PUPPET'S BANQUET by Valkyrie Loughcrewe (Tenebrous Press)

BEYOND THE BORDER FOREST by Molly Haniszewski (Quills and Cosmos Press)

CASUAL by Koji A. Dae (Tenebrous Press)

REEF MIND by Hazel Zorn (Tenebrous Press)

CASTOFF by Brandon Crilly (Atthis Arts)

CERULEAN SKY by David Corse (Polymath Press)

RUNNING DRY by M.Christian (Queen of Swords Press)

DEEPEST CANYON by Kras Nebula (The Whumpy Printing Press)

CHIPPED by Lux Thorn (The Whumpy Printing Press)

SATANIC STATIC by Bryan Holmbry (Anuci Press)

ECHOES OF THE ETHERSTONE by Lucy A. McLaren (Owl Talyn Press)

DEAR STUPID PENPAL by Rascal Hartley (Tenebrous Press)



SONG DOGS by Brennan LaFaro (Brigids Gate Press)

FALLEN DESTINY by Yolanda Sfetsos (Brigids Gate Press)

IT'S YOU, ISN'T IT by Antony Paschos (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)

THE RESTLESS FEW by James M. Watjen (Anuci Press)

HUNTING STATIC by Jayde Layne (The Whumpy Printing Press)

ROSE-COLOURED CROSSHAIRS by Blair Bidmead (Obverse Books)

WE LIKE IT CHERRY by Jacy Morris (Tenebrous Press)

SMALL MAGICS FOR THE TRAVELING WIZARD by S.A. McKenzie (Cloaked Press)

STATION IN THE SKY by Caye Marsh (Space Wizard Science Fantasy)

THE BIG ONE by Patrick Barb (Anuci Press)

THE ICE MOVES FOR NO ONE by Arlo Z. Graves (Quills and Cosmos Press)

TOMORROW WAS BEAUTIFUL ONCE by Amy Orrell (Elsewhen Press)

 

 

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