I had the privilege of attending a reading at CONduit, the Salt Lake City science fiction convention, in which I heard a story by Eric James Stone that I felt deserves to be considered for awards. It is "The Ashes of His Fathers" and it was published in the May 2008 issue of ANALOG Science Fiction magazine, so it is eligible for next year's AML awards.

Because I am a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, I have recommended it for the Nebula award, but I'd like to see it considered for the AML Short Fiction award as well.

And I'd like to suggest that people who care about Mormon literature make suggestions about what they would like to see considered for the AML awards, too.

The way the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America do it, you have to be a full member to "recommend" works, and only works that receive 10 recommendations make it to the preliminary ballot where they can be voted on by all full members.

The AML awards are decided upon by the AML board, with the recommendations of award judges who have been asked to serve as judges by the AML board to judge in specific categories and present their recommendations in their categories.

The problem is that even if you are a judge of just one category, it's still hard to know what is out there, and to know what is worthy of consideration.

So I'd like to ask people to help the judges out by making suggestions of works that should be considered for the various AML awards.

If you would like your work (published in 2008 for this year's awards) to be considered, you are welcome to send a copy to
AML Award Judges
P O Box 970874
Orem UT 84097-0874

but if you are not the author of a work, you could still make suggestions, and post them here, or on the AML list (to subscribe to the AML list, send an email to <aml-list-subscribe@mormonletters.org> ).

As an AML board member, I would also like to know how people feel about the idea of having AML members "recommend" works for the AML awards with the idea in mind of creating a short list for the AML award judges.

Eric, I don't think this board is the place to publish work.

It would be better to email something that has been published online to awards@mormonletters.org, and suggestions could be emailed there as well.

Good idea. Thanks, Eric.

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Probably, although something more explicit might be good.

Another question is whether or not self-promotion is appropriate on these forums. From my observations, I think we've arrived collectively at yes for drama and eh for other media.

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You are absolutely right. I just hate to be the first person to a party I wasn't even invited to.

Maybe after the summer's over and I start getting paid again maybe I'll finally renew my membership. Then a lot of this guilt will go away.

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