Jun 08

Master of the World longlisted for Sunburst Award for YA Fiction

I’m pleased to announce that Master of the World, Book 2 in my Worldshapers series from DAW Books, has been named to the longlist of the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic.

Master of the World is on the list in the Young Adult Fiction category, the same category Worldshaper was longlisted in last year. This puzzles me somewhat, since both books were published as adult novels and neither has a teenaged character, but I’m still honoured.

The Sunburst is an annual award celebrating the best in Canadian “fantastika” published during the previous calendar year. Winners receive a medallion that incorporates the Sunburst logo. Winners of both the Adult and Young Adult Sunburst Award also receive a cash prize of $1,000, while winners of the Short Story Award receive a cash prize of $500. 

The Sunburst Award takes its name from the debut novel of the late Phyllis Gotlieb, one of the first published authors of contemporary Canadian Speculative Fiction.

The Sunburst official shortlist will be announced in July. Sunburst winners will be announced in September. 

Jurors for the 2020 Award are: Peter Darbyshire , Kristyn Dunnion, Omar El Akkad, Michelle Butler Hallett,  John Jantunen, Michael Johnstone, Ursula Pflug,  and Sarah Tolmie. 

Here’s the complete longist, with links to publishers, books, and stories (where possible): 

ADULT FICTION:

YOUNG ADULT FICTION: 

SHORT STORY:

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2020/06/08/master-of-the-world-longlisted-for-sunburst-award-for-ya-fiction/

Mar 01

FUNDED: A Kickstarter campaign to fund an anthology of bestselling science fiction and fantasy authors

The Kickstarter campaign to fund Shapers of Worlds, an anthology of short stories from some of the authors who were guests my podcast, The Worldshapers, in its first year, was rousing success–which means this book will become a reality this summer.

I’ve always loved talking to other writers about their creative process, so for my podcast, basically, I just decided to record those conversations. I reached out to some of the many amazing writers I’ve met in my years in the field, and lo and behold, they agreed to be my guests.

As a result, the first year of The Worldshapers features some of the best writers in the genre, starting with John Scalzi, Robert J. Sawyer, and Tanya Huff in my first weekend. Since then, I’ve talked to many, many more. And in October, The Worldshapers won an Aurora Award (Canada’s top fan-nominated-and-voted-on science fiction award) for Best Fan Related Work.

The publisher

Not long before I started the podcast, I also started my own publishing company, Shadowpaw Press (named after our black Siberian cat), and it occurred to me that I had a golden opportunity, thanks to my conversations with all these great writers, to bring some of them together under one anthological roof. That was the inspiration for Shapers of Worlds: to showcase the work of some of the amazing authors I’ve been honored to interview.

Shapers of Worlds will feature:

New fiction from…

TANYA HUFF, whose diverse array of novels ranges from the highly popular Blood books, which mix vampires, fantasy, and romance and were the basis of the TV series Blood Ties, to the Torin Kerr military SF novels, and the humorous fantasies of The Keeper Chronicles. Her publisher is DAW Books, and in the US alone, according to her agent, more than 1.2 million copies of her work are in print.

SEANAN MCGUIRE, Campbell, Hugo, and Nebula Award-winning author of more than twenty books in various series, including the bestselling October Daye and InCryptid series. Seanan also writes biomedical science fiction thrillers as Mira Grant.

DAVID WEBER, bestselling author of the Honor Harrington science-fiction series and many others, including fantasy (Oath of Swords, The War God’s Own) other space opera (Path of the Fury, The Armageddon Inheritance) and alternate history (the 1632 series with Eric Flint).

L. E. MODESITT, JR., bestselling author of more than seventy novels of fantasy and science fiction, including the Recluce Saga, the Spellsong Cycle, the Imager Portfolio, and more.

DAVID JOHN BUTLER, author (as D. J. Butler) of the Witchy Eye epic fantasy trilogy for Baen Books, set in an alternate version of early 19th-century America, and as Dave Butler of the middle-grade adventure series The Extraordinary Adventures of Clockwork Charlie, published by Knopf.

CHRISTOPHER RUOCCHIO, author of the The Sun Eater, a space-opera fantasy series from DAW books (published by Gollancz in the UK), which began with Empire of Silence in 2018, and assistant editor at Baen Books, where he has co-edited several anthologies.

JOHN C. WRIGHT, Nebula, Hugo, and Hugo Award-nominated author of some twenty-two novels, including the critically acclaimed The Golden Age and Count to a Trillion. His novel Somewhither won the Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel of 2016. He’s also published numerous short stories and anthologies, as well as non-fiction.

SHELLEY ADINA, author of twenty-four novels published by Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette, and more than a dozen more published by Moonshell Books, Inc., her own independent press, including the Magnificent Devices steampunk series. As Charlotte Henry she writes the Rogues of St. Just series of classic Regency romance, and as Adina Senft, writes the Whinburg Township Amish series.

EDWARD WILLETT, Aurora Award-winning author of more than sixty books of science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction for readers of all ages, including the Worldshapers series, the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy, written as E.C. Blake, and the stand-alone science fiction novel The Cityborn (all from DAW Books) and the five-book Shards of Excalibur YA fantasy series for Coteau Books. 

Plus stories from…

JOE HALDEMAN, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of The Forever War, The Hemingway Hoax, Forever Peace and many others (more than two dozen), a SFWA Grand Master and a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.  Joe has also won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the Locus Award, the Rhysling Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the James Tiptree, Jr. Award.

JOHN SCALZI, New York Times best seller in fiction, winner of the Hugo, the Locus, the Audie, the Seiun and the Kurd Lasswitz awards, and recipient of the 2016 Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio, with works translated into twenty-plus languages; also Creative Consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series, writer for the video game Midnight Star, by Industrial Toys, executive Producer for Old Man’s War and The Collapsing Empire, both currently in development for film/TV, and writer of three short stories adapted into episodes of the Netflix series Love, Death + Robots.

DAVID BRIN, world-renowned, bestselling author of The Postman, Kiln People, and Foundation’s Triumph and many others (and scientist, speaker, and technical consultant) winner of multiple Hugos, Nebulas, and other awards.

JULIE CZERNEDA, author of many novels for DAW Books, including the popular nine-book The Clan Chronicles series. She’s also written many short stories, edited anthologies, and taught writing. Her books have received international acclaim, multiple awards, and bestselling status.

FONDA LEE, author of the Green Bones Saga (Jade City, winner of the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, Jade War, and Jade Legacy, all from Orbit Books), as well as of the acclaimed young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire.

DR. CHARLES E. GANNON, whose Caine Riordan/Terran Republic hard science fiction novels, published by Baen Books, have all been national best-sellers, and include four finalists for the Nebula, two for the Dragon Award, and a Compton Crook winner. He has also collaborated with Eric Flint in the New York Times– and Wall Street Journal–bestselling Ring of Fire series, worked in the Starfire, Black Tide Rising, Honor Harrington, and Man-Kzin universes, and written many works of short fiction.

GARETH L. POWELL, the two-time British Science Fiction Association Award-winning author of the Embers of War trilogy, the Ack-Ack Macaque series, two short story collections, the crime novella Ragged Alice, and the nonfiction guideAbout Writing. He has been a finalist for both the Locus Award in the US and the Seiun Award in Japan, and is the first person to have had individual work shortlisted in the Best Novel, Best Short Fiction, and Best Nonfiction categories of the BSFA Award in the same year.

DEREK KÜNSKEN, author of The Quantum Magician (Solaris) and The Quantum Garden, as well as the webcomic (with artist Wendy Muldon)  Briarworld, and numerous short stories, which have appeared in places like Asimov’s, Analog, Clarkesworld, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, a number of year’s-best anthologies, and podcasts.

THORAIYA DYER, four-time Aurealis Award-winning, three-time Ditmar Award-winning, Australian science fiction writer and veterinarian, whose work has appeared in Clarkesworld, Apex, Cosmos, Analog, and various US and Australian anthologies. She’s also the author of the Titan’s Forest fantasy trilogy, published by Tor Books: Crossroads of Canopy, Echoes of Understorey, and Tides of the Titans.

Can’t wait to bring this book to life!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2020/03/01/now-live-a-kickstarter-campaign-to-fund-an-anthology-of-bestselling-science-fiction-and-fantasy-authors/

Mar 01

Master of the World shortlisted for Saskatchewan Book Award

Master of the World, Book 2 in my Worldshapers series from DAW Books, has been shortlisted for the Fiction Award, sponsored by Muslims for Peace and Justice, in this year’s Saskatchewan Book Awards.

This is the second year I’ve been shortlisted in this category: my short-story collection Paths to the Stars was, too.

Master of the World is my ninth book to be shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Award. I won the Regina Book Award in 2002 for my young-adult fantasy Spirit Singer, which I re-released last year from Shadowpaw Press.

My first novel, Soulworm, was shortlisted in the First Book category, The Dark Unicorn was shortlisted in the Children’s Literature category, J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Imaginary Worlds was also shortlisted for Children’s Literature, Masks was shortlisted for the Regina Book Award and the Young Adult Fiction award, Magebane was shortlisted for the Regina Book Award, The Citybornwas shortlisted for the Regina Book Award, and Paths to the Stars was shortlisted for the Regina Book Award and the Fiction Award.

The awards will be presented on April 25 at the Conexus Arts Centre here in Regina. Winners receive $2,000 in most categories and $3,000 in the Book of the Year category.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2020/03/01/master-of-the-world-shortlisted-for-saskatchewan-book-award/

Jun 17

Worldshaper long-listed for Sunburst Award for best young-adult fantasy or science-fiction novel

My novel Worldshaper (DAW Books) has been long-listed for this years Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, in the Young Adult Fiction category. (A bit of a surprise since it wasn’t published as YA, but it’s YA-friendly.) I’m very pleased! The full press release listing all the long-listed works is below–congratulations to everyone!

Toronto, Ontario (June 10, 2019): The Sunburst Award Committee is pleased to announce the 2019 longlist for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. This year’s lists are comprised of a mixture of established authors, talented newcomers, and past nominees.  Below are the longlisted works, with links where available:

Adult Fiction

Young Adult Fiction

Short Story Fiction   

The Sunburst Award official shortlist will be announced in late June. Sunburst Award winners will be announced in Fall 2019.

The Jurors for the 2019 Sunburst awards are:

Novel Jury: Greg Bechtel, Janie Chang, Susan Forest, Kari Maaren, and Susan Reynolds.

Short Story Jury: S.M. Beiko, David Demchuk, and Gemma Files.

The Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic is an annual award celebrating the best in Canadian fantastika published during the previous calendar year. Winners receive a medallion that incorporates the Sunburst logo. Winners of both the Adult and Young Adult Sunburst Award also receive a cash prize of $1,000, while winners of the Short Story Sunburst Award receive a cash prize of $500.

The Sunburst Award takes its name from the debut novel of the late Phyllis Gotlieb, one of the first published authors of contemporary Canadian speculative fiction. Past winners of the Sunburst Award include Ruth Ozeki, Guy Gavriel Kay, Cory Doctorow, Nalo Hopkinson, Charles de Lint, Thomas King, and last year’s winners David Demchuk and Cherie Dimaline.

For additional information about the Sunburst Award, the nominees, juries, as well as previous awards, eligibility, and the selection process, please visit the official website at www.sunburstaward.org. 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/06/17/worldshaper-long-listed-for-sunburst-award-for-best-young-adult-fantasy-or-science-fiction-novel/

Jun 17

I’m the 2019-2020 writer-in-residence for the Saskatoon Public Library

I’ve known about this for a while, obviously, but it just became official today with the sending out of a press release by the library. Which I humbly (or, possibly not-so-humbly) copy below. (I would have liked to have mentioned the Masks of Aygrima trilogy in it, but you can’t list everything, and the E.C. Blake/Edward Willett thing is hard to explain in a press release, never mind the Lee Arthur Chane connection…)

SPL announces Edward Willett as 2019/20 Writer in Residence

One of Saskatchewan’s most prolific authors, Edward Willett, is looking forward to sharing his expertise and passion for prose with the Saskatoon-and-area writing community through Saskatoon Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence program.  

An award-winning author based in Regina, Willett has published more than 60 books of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for children, teens and adults.  Willett also hosts The Worldshapers podcast, which focuses on the creative processes of other fantasy and science fiction writers. 

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity serve as writer-in-residence at SPL,” said Willett. “Over the years I’ve taught creative writing, mentored writers, and worked as an editor, and I look forward to helping Saskatoon-area writers in any way I can, from discussing ideas to offering advice based on my experience as a published writer to helping edit and improve manuscripts. It’s going to be a great few months and I can’t wait to get started.”

Willett’s novel Marseguro(published by DAW Books in New York) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his young-adult fantasy novel Spirit Singer, which was just re-released through Willett’s own recently established publishing company, Shadowpaw Press. He has won or been shortlisted for numerous other awards and his next novel, Master of the World (book number two in his Worldshapers fantasy series), will be released in Sept. 2019. He served as the Writer in Residence at Regina Public Library in 2011/12.

“The Writer-in-Residence program has deep roots in Saskatoon and is always an extremely popular service at SPL,” said Carol Cooley, SPL’s Director of Libraries and CEO. “As one of Saskatchewan’s most productive authors who has published such a wide array of work for all demographics, we very excited to be welcoming Edward Willett to this position. I am confident he will be a valuable resource for our writing community over the coming months.”

Willett’s term as SPL’s Writer in Residence begins in September 2019 and will run until April 2020. He will be SPL’s 39thWriter in Residence since the program was established in 1981. For more information, visit: www.saskatoonlibrary.ca/wir. 

***

A bit more detail from the website:

About the Program

The Writer in Residence acts as a mentor to writers in the community, reviewing manuscripts and providing criticism and advice about publishing. The Writer offers individual consultations, group workshops and programs, author readings and participates in other special events during their residency.

Working With the Writer in Residence 

Edward Willett is available to meet with adults and teens who want feedback and advice about a writing project. His residency at SPL will begin in September 2019.

First, contact Edward by phone or by email to arrange a meeting at his office in the main library:

306 975-7598 / writer@saskatoonlibrary.ca

Edward will offer you a one-hour appointment. His office hours are:

Tuesdays / 11 am – 9 pm
Wednesdays / 10 am – 4 pm

Additional meeting times can be arranged.

Next, send Edward a maximum of 10 typewritten pages (or 2,500 words, double spaced) at least five days prior to your meeting. You can email the work to him or you can deliver a hard copy to the library by leaving your work (in an envelope) at the front desk.

Finally, give some thought to ways in which you’d like your writing to grow or change, and come prepared to talk about these aspirations in the context of your writing sample. 

Please note that all meetings with the Writer in Residence are treated as confidential.

Previous Writers in Residence

  • Anne Szumigalski, 1981 – 82 
  • Patrick Lane, 1982 – 83
  • Guy Vanderhaeghe, 1983 – 84
  • Geoffrey Ursell, 1984 – 85
  • Joe Rosenblatt, 1985 – 86
  • Gertrude Story, 1986 – 87
  • Lois Simmie, 1987 – 88
  • Glen Sorestad, 1988 – 89
  • Samuel Selvon, 1989 – 90 
  • Candace Savage, 1990 – 91
  • Sean Virgo, 1991 – 92
  • Armin Wiebe, 1992 – 93
  • Betsy Warland, 1993 – 94
  • Robert Minhinnick, 1994 – 95
  • Sandra Birdsell, 1995 – 96
  • Steven Ross Smith, 1996 – 97
  • Harry Rintoul, 1997 – 98
  • Elisabeth Harvor, 1998 – 99
  • John Livingstone Clark, 1999 – 2000
  • Edna Alford, 2000 – 2001
  • Dave Margoshes, 2001 – 2002
  • Myrna Kostash, 2002 – 2003
  • Yann Martel, 2003 – 2004
  • J. Jill Robinson, 2004 – 2005
  • Jeanette Lynes, 2005 – 2006
  • Curtis Peeteetuce, 2006 – 2007
  • Terry Jordan, 2007 – 2008
  • John Barton, 2008 – 2009
  • Anne Simpson, 2009 – 2010
  • Alice Kuipers, 2010 – 2011
  • Yvette Nolan, 2011 – 2012
  • David Poulsen, 2012 – 2013
  • Rosemary Nixon, 2013 – 2014
  • John Donlan, 2014 – 2015
  • Dee Hobsbawn-Smith, 2015 – 2016
  • Arthur Slade, 2016 – 2017
  • Katherine Lawrence, 2017 – 18
  • Elizabeth Philips, 2018 – 19 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/06/17/im-the-2019-2020-writer-in-residence-for-the-saskatoon-public-library/

Jun 17

My podcast, The Worldshapers, is an Aurora Award finalist for Best Fan Related Work!

My podcast, The Worldshapers (“Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process”) is a finalist for this year’s Aurora Awards (honouring the best in Canadian science fiction and fantasy), in the Best Fan Related Work category (a first for me!).

Lots of great work nominated in all the categories–check out the complete ballot below, and visit the Aurora Awards website to buy your (very inexpensive) membership allowing you to vote (and to receive a remarkable voters’ package of nominated work).

The Aurora Awards will be presented this year at Can*Con in Ottawa, October 18-20 at the Sheraton Hotel. I’ll be there in person (I was already planning to go), so it’ll be exciting.

Best Novel

  • Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield, ChiZine Publications
  • Graveyard Mind by Chadwick Ginther, ChiZine Publications
  • One of Us by Craig DiLouie, Orbit
  • The Quantum Magician by Derek Künsken, Solaris Books and Analog Science Fiction and Fact
  • They Promised Me The Gun Wasn’t Loaded by James Alan Gardner, Tor
  • Witchmark by C. L. Polk, Tor.com Publications

Best Young Adult Novel

  • Children of the Bloodlands: The Realms of Ancient, Book 2 by S.M. Beiko, ECW Press
  • Cross Fire: An Exo Novel by Fonda Lee, Scholastic Press
  • Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by ‘Nathan Burgoine, Bold Strokes Books
  • Finding Atlantis by J.M. Dover, Evil Alter Ego Press
  • Legacy of Light by Sarah Raughley, Simon Pulse
  • The Emerald Cloth by Clare C Marshall, Faery Ink Press
  • The Sign of Faust by Éric Desmarais, Renaissance Press
  • Timefall by Alison Lohans, Five Rivers Publishing

Best Short Fiction

  • “A Hold Full of Truffles” by Julie E. Czerneda, Tales from Plexis, DAW Books
  • “Alice Payne Arrives” by Kate Heartfield, Tor.com Publications
  • “Critical Mass” by Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Shades Within Us: Tales of Migrations and Fractured Borders, Laksa Media
  • “For A Rich Man to Enter” by Susan Forest, InterGalactic Medicine Show, Issue 62
  • “Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach” by Kelly Robson, Tor.com Publications

Best Graphic Novel

  • Crash and Burn by Finn Lucullan and Kate Larking, Astres Press
  • FUTILITY: Orange Planet Horror by Rick Overwater and Cam Hayden, Coffin Hop Press
  • It Never Rains by Kari Maaren, Webcomic
  • Krampus Is My Boyfriend! by S.M. Beiko, Webcomic
  • Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal, Drawn and Quarterly

Best Poem/Song

  • “Echos” by Shannon Allen, By the Light of Camelot, EDGE
  • “How My Life Will End” by Vanessa Cardui, Shades Within Us: Tales of Migrations and Fractured Borders, Laksa Media
  • “Osiris” by Leah Bobet, Uncanny Magazine
  • “Trips to Impossible Cities” by Sandra Kasturi, Amazing Stories Magazine, issue #2, Winter 2018
  • “Ursula Le Guin in the Underworld” by Sarah Tolmie, On Spec issue 107 vol 28.4

Best Related Work

  • By the Light of Camelot edited by J. R. Campbell and Shannon Allen, EDGE  
  • Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction edited by Dominik Parisien and Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, Uncanny Magazine
  • Gaslight Gothic: Strange Tales of Sherlock Holmes edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec, EDGE  
  • Shades Within Us: Tales of Migrations and Fractured Borders edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law, Laksa Media
  • We Shall Be Monsters: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein 200 years on edited by Derek Newman-Stille, Renaissance Press

Best Visual Presentation

  • Bao, written and directed by Domee Shi , Pixar Animation Studios
  • Deadpool 2, written and produced by Ryan Reynolds, Twentieth Century Fox
  • Murdoch Mysteries, 2018 episodes, Peter Mitchell and Christina Jennings, Shaftesbury Films
  • Travelers, Season 3, Brad Wright, Carrie Mudd, John G. Lenic, and Eric McCormack, Peacock Alley Entertainment
  • Wynonna Earp, Season 3, Emily Andras, Seven24 Films Calgary

Best Artist

  • Lily Author, cover art for Polar Borealis Magazine #8, Dragon Lab
  • Samantha M. Beiko, covers for Laksa Media
  • James F. Beveridge, cover art for Tyche books
  • Roger Czerneda, cover for Tales from Plexis, DAW Books
  • Dan O’Driscoll, covers for Bundoran Press
  • Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk, cartoons for Amazing Stories Magazine 

Best Fan Writing and Publications

  • Adios Cowboy, Adam Shaftoe
  • Books and Tea, Christina Vasilevski 
  • Constructing the Future, Derek Newman-Stille, Uncanny Magazine
  • Mars vs. Titan, Ron S. Friedman, Quora
  • She Wrote It But…Revisiting Joanna Russ’ “How to Suppress Women’s Writing” 35 Years Later, Krista D. Ball
  • Travelling TARDIS, Jen Desmarais, JenEric Designs

Best Fan Organizational

  • Sandra Kasturi, chair Chiaroscuro Reading Series: Toronto
  • Derek Künsken and Marie Bilodeau, co-chairs, Can*Con, Ottawa
  • Matt Moore, Marie Bilodeau, and Nicole Lavigne, co-chairs, Chiaroscuro Reading Series: Ottawa
  • Randy McCharles, chair, When Words Collide, Calgary
  • Sandra Wickham, chair, Creative Ink Festival, Burnaby, BC

Best Fan Related Work

  • S.M. Beiko and Clare C. Marshall, Business BFFs (Podcast)
  • Kari Maaren, ChiSeries Toronto, monthly musical performances
  • Joshua Pantalleresco, Just Joshing (Podcast)
  • Derek Newman-Stille, Speculating Canada
  • Edward Willett, The Worldshapers (Podcast)

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/06/17/my-podcast-the-worldshapers-is-an-aurora-award-finalist-for-best-fan-related-work/

Jun 09

Re-release of my earlier award-winning young-adult fantasy, Spirit Singer

Through Shadowpaw Press, I’ve released a new, revised edition of Spirit Singer, my young adult fantasy, first published in 2002, that won multiple awards: a Saskatchewan Book Award (the Regina Book Award for best book by a Regina author), an EPPIE Award for best electronically published young adult novel, and a Dream Realm Award (young adult category) for best electronically published science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Here are some places to buy it:

Shadowpaw Press | Amazon U.S. | Amazon Canada | Indigo
Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Powell’s | Edward Willett Shop

Spirit Singer was first published in 2002 by Awe-Struck E-Books, and brought out in a print edition by their offshoot, Earthling Press. In 2013, a new edition, published by Tyche Books, was released. I regained the rights to the book last year and decided to make it the third title released by Shadowpaw Press, in the hope that a new generation of readers will find and enjoy it.

I also took the opportunity to make some minor revisions, cleaning up the writing with the benefit of another twenty years’ of experience since it was first drafted. The result is a book I’m proud to re-release into the wild.

Spirit Singer is available in in all ebook formats now, either directly from Shadowpaw Press or your favorite online retailer, and the new 244-page paperback edition will be available April 30, again through all online bookstores or through your own local bookstore–or direct from Shadowpaw Press.

Here’s the synopsis:

AMARYNTH IS A SPIRIT SINGER, gifted – or cursed, as she  sometimes thinks – with the ability to lead the spirits of the dead from the Lower World through the Between World to the Gate of the Upper World and the Light that lies beyond it.

While she is still an apprentice. her grandfather and tutor is slain by a mysterious creature in the Between World, an evil Beast blocking access to the Upper World’s Gate. Without a Spirit Singer, her village cannot survive, so Amarynth embarks on a hazardous quest to find out what the Beast is, how it can be defeated, and how she can become a full-fledged Spirit Singer – a quest that takes her not only from her tiny seacoast home to the city of Havenheart and the haunted mountains of the south, but across the even more rugged terrain of her own soul.

It had some nice reviews when it first came out (and later):

Praise from Canadian Literature magazine…

“…deserved the Saskatchewan Book Award it won. Aimed for the early to mid-teen group, Spirit Singer is a strong, well-written book with great adventure and sympathetic characters. Willett’s book has fast-paced adventure, sword-play, ghostly help, kidnappings, automatons who serve pure evil, royalty and brave commoners…Spirit Singer holds more than just solid characters and an exciting plot. It is about deception, both external and internal, in the eternal search for love and acceptance. It is about the need to accept oneself to be able to move forward and achieve great things and the need to be wise and discerning about others.” – Lynn (J.R.) Wytenbroek

…and the 2002 Saskatchewan Book Awards jurors…

“This is a fast-paced, spiritual quest book, full of narrow escapes, evil masquerading as good, good appearing in nasty people (just like in real life!), adventure, dreams and bits of wisdom. The writing is spare and the words well-chosen, so that complex characters and interesting places emerge full-blown in the reader’s mind, and the plot moves apace. I felt always in the story, and not a mere spectator/reader. Written for teenagers, but this 50-something guy had a great time.” – David Waltner-Toews

“Clearly defined characters, setting & plot carry a reader eagerly from page to page through adventure-filled chapters that deftly conclude with cliff-hangers…The plot is fast-paced and clever, the writing never disappoints and the author clearly keeps his target audience in mind. A great read from start to finish.” – Shirlee Matheson

…and from SF Site..

“…a fun novel with engaging characters and having all the basic elements of a good fantasy…young readers would likely get much more out of this book in terms of good succinct plotting and writing than they’d ever be likely to from the droves of role-playing game tie-ins and fat fantasy trilogies.” – Georges T. Dodds

…and from MyShelf.com…

“This book takes the reader on a magical journey to a mystical land, and all within a hundred pages…It is a quick, but very satisfying read; I spent any free time I had reading over the two days it took me to read the story. I recommend this book for anyone that is in the mood for an adventure…Spirit Singer definitely does not disappoint.” – Amy Mehta

…and The Word on Romance…

“Spirit Singer is a magical, mystical journey…very satisfying. The talented Mr. Willett has given us a well-written fantasy that you won’t want to put down. I highly recommend Spirit Singer to young and old alike.” – Carol Durfee, Senior Editor

Buy a copy for yourself or get one for a young person in your life! 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/06/09/re-release-of-my-earlier-award-winning-young-adult-fantasy-spirit-singer/

Feb 23

Cover art for Master of the World, Book 2 in my new adult fantasy series, Worldshapers

I’ve turned in the manuscript for Book 2 in my new adult fantasy series Worldshapers to DAW Books (publishers of The Masks of Aygrima), and the cover art is already out and about on bookstore sites everywhere. Pretty cool, huh? Like the art for Worldshaper, Book 1 in the series, it’s by Julia Kolesova.

Here’s the description of Master of the World, which is already available for pre-order at the sites below:

Amazon U.S. | Amazon Canada | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Penguin Random House |Indiebound

From an Aurora Award-winning author comes the second book in a gripping portal fantasy series in which one woman’s powers open the way to a labyrinth of new dimensions.

Shawna Keys has fled the world she only recently discovered she Shaped, narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Adversary who seized control of it…and losing her only guide, Karl Yatsar, in the process.

Now she finds herself alone in some other Shaper’s world, where, in her first two hours, she’s rescued from a disintegrating island by an improbable flying machine she recognizes from Jules Verne’s Robur the Conqueror, then seized from it by raiders flying tiny personal helicopters, and finally taken to a submarine that bears a strong resemblance to Captain Nemo’s Nautilus. Oh, and accused of being both a spy and a witch.

Shawna expects–hopes!–Karl Yatsar will eventually follow her into this new steampunky realm, but exactly where and when he’ll show up, she hasn’t a clue.

In the meantime, she has to navigate a world where two factions fanatically devoted to their respective leaders are locked in perpetual combat, figure out who the Shaper of the world is, find him or her, and obtain the secret knowledge of this world’s Shaping. Then she has to somehow reconnect with Karl Yatsar, and escape to the next Shaped world in the Labyrinth…through a Portal she has no idea how to open.

In the meantime, she has to navigate a world where two factions fanatically devoted to their respective leaders are locked in perpetual combat, figure out who the Shaper of the world is, find him or her, and obtain the secret knowledge of this world’s Shaping. Then she has to somehow reconnect with Karl Yatsar, and escape to the next Shaped world in the Labyrinth…through a Portal she has no idea how to open.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/02/23/cover-art-for-master-of-the-world-book-2-in-my-new-adult-fantasy-series-worldshapers/

Feb 23

My short-story collection Paths to the Stars shortlisted for Saskatchewan Book Award!

Thrilled to announce that Paths to the Stars, my collection of science fiction and fantasy short stories, the initial release from my own Shadowpaw Press, has been shortlisted in two categories for this year’s Saskatchewan Book Awards.

The book, which features twenty-two short stories, most previously published but a few published for the first time, was shortlisted for the City of Regina Book Award, for best book by a Regina author, and the Muslims for Peace and Justice Fiction Award, for best work of fiction.

Here’s the shortlist for both categories:

Muslims for Peace and Justice Fiction Award 

  • Hummingbird by Devin Krukoff (Freehand Books)
  • Paths to the Stars by Edward Willett (Shadowpaw Press)
  • Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers (illustrated by Diana Toledano) (Chronicle Books)
  • The Small Things That End the World by Jeanette Lynes (Coteau Books)
  • Thorn-Field by James Trettwer (Thistledown Press)

City of Regina Book Award 

  • In Another Air by gillian harding-russell (Radiant Press)
  • Paths to the Stars by Edward Willett (Shadowpaw Press)
  • Sedley by Chelsea Coupal (Coteau Books)
  • The Prairie Populist by J.F. Conway (University of Regina Press)
  • Thorn-Field by James Trettwer (Thistledown Press)

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Regina on April 27. Each award comes with a $2,000 cash prize.

The complete shortlist can be found here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2019/02/23/my-short-story-collection-paths-to-the-stars-shortlisted-for-saskatchewan-book-award/

Nov 17

All five Shards of Excalibur books now available as audiobooks!

With the release of Door into Faerie, all five of the Shards of Excalibur novels are now available in audiobook format through Audible!

All of the books are narrated by the fabulous Elizabeth Klett, who does a great job with voices and accents–I couldn’t be happier with the results.
If you’ve never read the books, the audiobooks are a great way to discover them. And if you have read the books, you’ll love hearing Elizabeth bring the characters to life, with all their warmth and humour.
And if you’ve never signed up for Audible, now’s your chance: any of these books is free with a 30-day trial.

Here are the individual links to Audible.com). If you’re in Canada, you can find the books on Audible.ca. Enjoy!

Song of the Sword
Twist of the Blade
Lake in the Clouds
Cave Beneath the Sea
Door into Faerie

And, of course, you can still buy the books in print at your favorite online bookstore, directly from Coteau Books, or (if you want an autographed copy) from my online bookstore.

I have a limited number of download codes available for all five books: if you’ll promise to write reviews, I’ll be happy to provide them. Just email me.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/11/17/all-five-shards-of-excalibur-books-now-available-as-audiobooks/

Load more