2020 is still not yet over but finally finally we can tell you who won the Star Burst Magazine’s Brave New Words award a little later tonight!

Constant Con cancellations (try saying that fast) have meant a delay; trying to read in a pandemic causes delays but the judges were finally able to get together a few weeks ago and after a titanic battle resembling Avengers Endgame meet Return of the King a decision was reached and…..that’s all I can tell you today (spoilers!). Instead the results be announced at Octocon as part of the online convention a little later Friday evening (circa 9pm) announced by none other than Mr John Robertson of The Dark Room fame!

Prior to the awards you’ll see some of my fellow judges discuss the books more – details are available here (due to unexpected events this week I couldn’t make the filming but just imagine a womble onscreen and it will all be fine)

What I can tell you is the nominees of this award that caused the judges so much debate are

The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes

New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Colour edited by Nisi Shawl

Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers by Sady Doyle

And that’s not all!!

This year will also be announced the first ever Starburst Hero Award for Literature and wait until you see the wonderful award for a worthy winner.

More later!!