Wendy Nikel

Speaking for Those With Obsidian Tongues - Small Wonders Time passes slowly for those made of stone. Each day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day. At least that's what they tell us.

Today's reprint is a story of history, discovery, and clearing way for something new. Read "Speaking for Those With Obsidian Tongues" by Wendy Nikel here:

The cover for Small Wonders issue 31. A person with long purple hair floats in space, their body curves to cup a solar system in their lap. The issue’s pieces are by Gwendolyn M. Hicks, Julia Rios, Wendy Nikel, Adrian Ward, Michelle Koubek, Guan Un, Eliza Dermendzhiyska, Eva Papasoulioto, and Katherine Quevedo. Art is by Anastasia Rzyhkova.

For Boxing Day, can we offer you a cover for Issue 31? Subscribe to get it on New Year’s Day! smallwonders.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy...

"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.

If your story was written by AI, you didn’t actually write it, and that’s why I don’t want it or think it should be eligible for awards.

If your story was assisted by AI, you used tools that are built on plagiarism, and that’s why I don’t want it or think it should be eligible for awards.

The singular proposition of trees Staying in sync.

This planet is strange. You can feel it. All the crew report it. Maybe it will be better once the airlock is open and we can step out onto the surface. But there’s definitely something here. Calling. Reaching out. Is it a welcome?

#scifi by @wendynikel.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The Forest Through the Teas Walking into the Ninety-Fifth Annual Ladies’ Mysticality Society Tea Party with her granddaughter at her side, Hyacinth Gartner had never felt prouder.Her granddaughter had never looked more misera…

Punny closer to September: In “The Forest Through the Teas,” author Wendy Nikel goes all in on the wordplay to give Grandma Hyacinth a distinct voices. Check it out now on FFO!

#flashfiction #writingcommunity #cozy #fantasy
@wendynikel.bsky.social

www.flashfictiononline.com/article/the-...

Digging foxholes in the dark A safe place.

It’s nearly time for the holidays, and this time it’s going to be different. This time, the issue will be resolved. I have it all planned out. He will be comfortable. He will be safe. All I need to do is keep digging this hole.

#scifi by @wendynikel.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I’ll burn this bridge when you get here Just passing time.

It worked for the rabbit.
It worked for the gerbil.
So there was no reason it wouldn’t work for you.
Just a short hop into the future and then meet up in time for tea.
Why would anything go wrong?

#scifi by @wendynikel.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...

First in SciFi is featuring the audiobook of my time travel novella today. Check it out! - www.spreaker.com/episode/the-...

It includes the amazing work of @keychild.bsky.social, @jenniferhudak.bsky.social, @kswalkerwrites.bsky.social, @wendynikel.bsky.social, and many more! 🪲

Don't listen to the whispers. That's how the ghosts get you. Join us today for "Whispers of Ascension" by @wendynikel.bsky.social:

"Nobody tells you about the ghosts. Not the travel agent, who books the flights and arranges the base camp accommodations."

smallwondersmag.com/piece/whispe...

NEW BOOK DAY! Wrapping up the year with another short story collection (and if you check out the other books in the series, you just may find a couple free ones today!)
mybook.to/legendaryves...

And here's links to a few of my recent short stories. Enjoy!
"Driftwood in the Sea of Time" (time travel)
escapepod.org/2023/10/19/e...
"Would You Still Love Me if I Was a Wormhole?" (SF flash)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"My Duty, My Inheritance" (fantasy flash)
factorfourmag.com/my-duty-my-i...

The 9th collection, LEGENDARY VESSELS: 12 SHORT SCI-FI & FANTASY ADVENTURES, will also be available Dec 31.

Moody book cover of SHATTERED CITIES: 12 POST-APOCALYPTIC SHORT STORIES. Cover design by Wendy Nikel

Hello, Bluesky! By way of introduction, here's some things I've been working on lately!

SHATTERED CITIES: 12 POST-APOCALYPTIC SHORT STORIES, the 8th book in my collection of short story collections, is now available to preorder for Oct 31!
mybook.to/shatteredcit...

Nebula Award for Flash Fiction Dear members of the SFWA Short Fiction Committee, SFWA Awards Rules Committee, SFWA Board, and Nebula Awards Commissioner, Flash fiction, short-short fiction, drabbles, dribbles, and other forms of v...

An open letter to SFWA has been penned to request the creation of a distinct Nebula Award for genre flash fiction (microfiction, drabbles, anything up to 1500 words).

The accompanying signature sheet is open to anyone who would like to see this happen.