Spinetingler Issues and Awards

Next month, we'll announce the nominees for the second annual Spinetingler Awards. The eligibility period is publication between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.

First, staff of ezines that have published a minimum of 9 short stories during the eligibility period may submit three stories they've published for consideration. These stories must have been published for the first time during the eligibility period, and must be available to read online. Please identify yourself, your role with the ezine in question, list the stories you're submitting for consideration and include a link to the stories.

Only one set of submissions per publication will be considered. Please use Submissions: Best Short Story on the Web as your subject line and send the e-mail to sandraruttan . spinetinglermag @ gmail . com


This is an open call for input on some specific categories. Anyone may send an e-mail with a submission for the following categories:

Best Cover: Include a gif or jpeg, or a link to a visual image

Best Editor: include name of the editor, publishing house worked for and samples of titles published within the eligibility period

Best Reviewer: include name of reviewer, publishing venues they write for and samples of reviews published within the eligibility period

Best Publisher: include samples of titles published within the eligibility period

Special Services To The Industry: a small explanation and/or example of why the nominee stands out as one worthy of recognition


E-mails must be received by January 20 to be considered.
Please include Spinetingler Awards Submissions in the subject line.
E-mail sandra @ sandraruttan . com

Please note: submissions are not nominees. Submissions will be considered as the list of nominees is finalized.

Authors may submit their own book covers for consideration, and editors, reviewers, and publishers may submit their names for consideration in appropriate categories.

Works by Sandra Ruttan are not eligible in any category. Sandra Ruttan and Spinetingler Magazine are not eligible in the Special Services category.

Please also note that two new categories have been added. One is best reviewer. The book industry is becoming increasingly dependent on volunteer reviewing from varied internet sources. One of the problems is the potential value and credibility of the reviewers. We need only look as far as amazon to see the range of reviews possible, from personal attacks by those who don't even seem to have read the books to in-depth analysis of the works in questions. We want to recognize credible, talented reviewers in an effort to help readers separate the wheat from the chaff.

The other new category is Best Comic/Graphic Novel. We had some debate over whether or not graphic novels should be included in the novel categories, but felt the novel category criteria made it difficult to assess how graphic novel authors should be categorized, and have therefore added a separate category.

Spinetingler Issues:

The Fall 08 (originally scheduled for October) and Winter 09 (originally scheduled for January) will be combined into a double issue to be published next month. All contributors with stories selected for these issues have been contacted by e-mail. If you did not receive an e-mail and believe your story is scheduled for one of these issues please check your spam folder before e-mailing.