on writing - kij johnson

But stories should not be cheap; they should cost the writer
something, and the reader something else.

- Kij Johnson 

illustration - corinne reid

Corinne Reid's illustrations are truly amazing.  And a wonderful
thing is that she is inspired by writers' projects as writers can be
inspired by her projects; her illustration Ponies is inspired by Kij
Johnson's short story of the same name.   Have a look and begin
to dream up why buffalo chase wolves, dragons makes sly deals
with frogs, and an empress travels the jungle at night to collect
glow flies.

 I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies,
the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to
say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?
- John Lennon

resources - free short stories

Mallow yearned to know everything.  Curiosity was part of her, like her short
blond hair and bitten fingernails.  The best thing in the world was not her
luckfigs or her whiskey lake, not her weeping-orchid garden or the cast-iron
ducks that thudded heavily on her windowsills every morning, hoping for a
bit of onion oil to moisten their bills, not even her friends or her little country
house, but having curiosity satisfied, feeling the warm, sure spread of
knowledge through her body.

- Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - For a Little While (Tor.com)

Many authors post their short stories on their websites, or at least the links.
Two such authors are Catherynne M. Valente and Kij Johnson.
Click to see the lists of available reads.

By Ana Juan

awards - hugo winners

Here are some of the Hugo Award winners, and the great thing is, we can read
many of them online.  Click to enjoy!

Best Novel:  Among Others by Jo Walton

Best Novella: “The Man Who Bridged the Mist” by Kij Johnson

Best Novelette: “Six Months, Three Days” by Charlie Jane Anders

Best Short Story: “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu

Other short story nominees:
“The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees” by E. Lily Yu
“The Homecoming” by Mike Resnick
“Movement” by Nancy Fulda
“Shadow War of the Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue” by John Scalz

UK cover