I have some INCREDIBLE, MIND-BLOWING news!

On the train down to FantasyCon, I discovered that Composite Creatures has been shortlisted for a Kitschie award!

In their own words:

The Kitschies, sponsored by Blackwells, reward the year’s most progressive, intelligent and entertaining speculative fiction that contain elements of the speculative or fantastic.

I’m not sure how I contained what little cool I have while squished on that train, but believe me, my tentacles were itching to flail wildly in my glee.

Composite Creatures is up for the Golden Tentacle, ‘awarded annually to the debut novel that best fits the criteria of progressive, intelligent and entertaining. The book must be the author’s first published work of novel-length fiction in any genre’.

Beside the fact that this is the singularly most brilliant trophy that anyone could win (it’s actually a golden tentacle!), I can barely express what it means to even be shortlisted. It’s literally a dream. I usually look to lists of unusual, experimental fiction to add to my own reading lists. They inspire me beyond belief. And to be shortlisted for an award that seeks out progressive literature across genres… I could just BURST!

Who knows what will happen at the awards (on 12^th October), but it truly is an honour to get this far. And I for one will be buying the other books on the shortlist to inspire me over the next month or so. I encourage you all to do it too!

From reading about them, all seem to be incredible feats of imagination with a huge readership. What company to be in! It’s an honour.

Find out more about the awards and how to order the books here.

Whatever happens on 12^th October, I’m thrilled to bits already!