May has begun, and so it’s time for my second newsletter! Read on for some exciting awards news, a review of my recent reading, a deep dive into my recent poem “The Woman in the Snow”, and a shoutout of one of my favorite short fiction authors, Catherine Tavares.
“To Be the Change” is a Rhysling finalist!
My poem “To Be the Change”, a finalist for the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Poem, is also a Rhysling finalist in the Short Poem category!
I’m thrilled to have it selected alongside so many other poets and poems I admire.
Keep an eye out for it in the 2026 Rhysling Anthology (coming this July)!
What I’m Reading
My reading has been primarily occupied by reading all the Nebula finalists before June. I’m currently in the midst of the novella and graphic novel categories (and just beginning the novel category) and having a blast - I’ve recommended my favorites below!
Novellas
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar: I read this one a few months ago and utterly fell in love with El-Mohtar’s gorgeous writing. I adore nuanced sibling relationships and creative worldbuilding and this book excels at both.
The Death of Mountains by Jordan Kurella: I also read this one a few months ago, but I need to shout it out again. Kurella is one of my favorite writers and this is a fantastically weird, deep, thoughtfully rendered take on time and existence. I loved everything about this book!
But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo: The novella category is truly stacked this year, and this one is no exception. Sapphic monsters…atmospheric sense of place…dark mystery…I honestly don’t know what else I could possibly want in a novella.
Up next: Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Comics & Graphic Novels
Helen of Wyndhorn by Tom King: I’ve never read much sword & sorcery, and this feels like one of the most beautiful, nuanced introductions I could have to the subgenre.
Fishflies by Jeff Lemire: My favorite of the graphic novels so far! This is such an uncanny, bizarre narrative that blends small-town mystery horror into a compelling and beautifully executed piece.
Up Next Carmilla Volume 3: The Eternal by Amy Chu: I decided to read the first two books in this series before this one; I’m currently reading Volume 1 and enjoying it immensely.
Novels
Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell - I love a good myth reimagining, and John Wiswell is an absolute master at weird, creative, character-driven fiction. I absolutely adored this one.
Up Next The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
Story Behind the Poem: “The Woman in the Snow”
When I saw the submission call for Common Bonds 2 last spring, the second volume of an anthology series focused on aromantic speculative fiction, I immediately knew I wanted to write something for it. At the same time, I started writing form poetry.
I got my start in SFF poetry with free verse, so this was already branching out from my comfort zone. I’m really interested in how poetry can use form to convey the deeper meaning.
Sapphic verse is a poetic form structured around romance, so I started wondering how I could use it to express the kind of deep emotional connection that comes with friendship. At the same time, I was considering the fairytale ‘The Snow Queen’, and how losing the ability to love is inherently amatonormative. These ideas collided to create “The Woman in the Snow”, which reimagines ‘The Snow Queen’ as a sapphic verse poem through an aroace lens.
I’m so thrilled that this piece found a place in Common Bonds 2 - I highly recommend checking out this incredible anthology!
News & Updates
Out now!
“The Woman in the Snow” in Common Bonds 2 (March 26) - sapphic verse poem, retelling of “The Snow Queen”
“Only Birds & Dreams” in Space & Time Magazine Issue 149 (April 7) - chained haiku poem
Coming Soon
“The Mermaid Speaks of Social Justice from the Bathtub” in Strange Horizons (May 11) - free verse with a side of social commentary
“The First Three Deaths of Briar Thrush” in Women of the Weird West (Brigids Gate Press, June 16) - drabble, weird west microfiction
“To Be the Change” (originally published by Strange Horizons) will be reprinted in the Nebula Awards Showcase (June) and the 2026 Rhysling Award Anthology (July)
Shoutout: Catherine Tavares
If you aren’t familiar with Catherine’s short fiction, you’re in for a treat. She is an absolute master of writing with strange forms (paper fortune tellers, online forum posts, bank statements…) and crafting compelling, weird narratives.
Check out all Catherine’s short fiction here, or read one of my favorites:
“Ghosts of Summer” in Apex Magazine (read here) - Summertime is for summoning ghosts.
“The (Mis)Fortunes of Saint Ilia’s School for Gifted Girls, In No Particular Order” in The Dark (read here) - On June 17, 2004, six students and two faculty members from Saint Ilia’s School for Gifted Girls were found dead. It’s up to you to figure out who killed them. Ready to play?
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you next month!
Best,
Nico