World Fantasy Award Win

I am thrilled and honoured to announce that at the 2025 World Fantasy Convention in Brighton I won the World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction for my story ‘Raptor’, which appeared in Heartwood: A Mythago Wood Anthology, edited by Dan Coxon and released by PS Publishing. Dan also won the award for Best Anthology, so it was a double joy.

My thanks to the jurors, who read at least 500 titles to narrow it down to their initial shortlist and then deliberated to select the final group of winners. I was humbled to be in the company of such terrific nominees.

I’m also thinking so much of Rob Holdstock, whose mythic work inspired the anthology, and whose Mythago Wood novel won the World Fantasy Award. One day, in another realm, we will all celebrate together. My special thanks to Sarah Biggs, Rob’s partner, who was his daily inspiration and has worked continually since his passing to maintain his legacy.

Rob’s work helped prove that fantasy is a multivalent tradition with many expressions, and much of its best work can compete with the best ‘literary’ titles. Mythago Wood, and his masterpiece, Lavondyss, helped shift the attitude towards the field, which was being pushed along by other extraordinary fabulists such as Ursula K. Le Guin, etc.

Thanks to all my friends and colleagues who have buried me in messages of love and support. It’s been such a wonderful and heart-gladdening experience.