Had a blast up in Baltimore at #AWP representing the University of Maryland’s MFA in Creative Writing program and running into @shereereneethomas.bsky.social, @clarkesworldmagazine.com, @michaeljdeluca.bsky.social and so many wonderful people!!!!✨

With Nebula nominations closing in a few days, I’d be honored if you’d consider my Locus-recommended novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com. It's a story of friendship, love, and fireflies✨🪲

With Nebula nominations closing in a few days, I’d be honored if you’d consider my Locus-recommended novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com. It's a story of friendship, love, and fireflies✨🪲

This is so lovely. All the elements, the ease of good writing, the creation of beauty. Fireflies, nature, science, imagination, possibilities, youth, love. 🪄

AND word is that our short film, “On Our Skin,” an adaptation of “Our Skin Will Now Bear The Testimonies” by Ilo Innocent Chizaram published in @castofwonders.org and produced in collaboration with @press-android.bsky.social, is eligible for the Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form!

With the caveat that there are much more important things in need of financial support in our fucked up times, the support page for the Ignytes is back up for the 2026 cycle. ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/support/

Dear diary, today I googled, what is a synonym for Talking.

With Hugo nominations open, I’d be honored if you’d read and consider my locus-recommended story, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com for Best Novelette. It's a story of friendship, love, and fireflies, and is also eligible for the Nebulas, Locus, and BSFA✨🪲

The novelette "We Begin Where Infinity Ends" by @somtoihezue.bsky.social:

This Story Hour started with the terrifying true story of guest host @becca.gomezfarrell.com's allergies...and continued with fiction! @gordonbwhite.bsky.social read juicy wedding horror, and @somtoihezue.bsky.social read heartbreaking fantasy/horror. You can still watch! youtu.be/qdgH7yOj1Zs

Honored! Many thanks to @wtalabi.com for reviewing and recommending my novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” alongside other brilliant stories and authors 🪲✨ This story is out in @clarkesworldmagazine.com👇🏽

I’m always thrilled whenever stories from Issue V get love! Congratulations to @shingai-be-like.bsky.social & @formerlykevin.bsky.social! Read their stories & the rest of this stellar anthology for free on willthisbeaproblem.co.ke #AfricanSFF #KenyaMentioned

Thank you so much Leanna -- my Ko-fi is here: ko-fi.com/evaroslinwri...; I would appreciate any re-boosts and shares. Maybe I can also add the 3k as a specific goal.

A celebration in two parts! Excited to see Will This Be A Problem? The Anthology edited by Olivia Kidula and myself, on the 2025 Locus Recommended Reading List. Also excited to see my novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” from @clarkesworldmagazine.com on this list.

Ooh! The list is fantastic as always. I'm honored that "The Millay Illusion" is on there in the novelette category! Also delighted to see my students @somtoihezue.bsky.social and @champwongs.bsky.social make the list! Also also delighted to see a new category for translated novels. Congrats to all!

We're grateful to see WTBAP longlisted alongside so much SFF work we admire this award season. The recognition belongs to the writers and artists who trusted us with their vision. If their works stayed with you and you’re nominating, we’d appreciate your consideration. #AfricanSFF 🪐📚💙

✨

Since people are asking if they can do something for me, here is a short thread. I'm clearly going to be laid up for a lot longer. Here are a few simple links. Patreon: www.patreon.com/Wiswell Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/johnwiswell Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

Honored to see Will This Be A Problem? The Anthology on The 2025 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot for!!! Grateful to all the talented African writers who trusted us with their stories and made this anthology a reality. And a huge congratulations to other recognized works👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

This is such a gorgeous story. Especially in times like these, it's a balm to read such a deft work touching on friendship, care, love, creation, injury, separation, and healing.

Honoured to see my novelette “We Begin Where Infinity Ends” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com on the BSFA Longlist for Best Shorter Fiction✨🌿

Thank you so much!!!!✨🙏🏽

In its review, NOAF notes that the anthology is less of an escape, and more of a truly unique exploration. Many thanks to @annmichelleharris.bsky.social and the team at @nerdsofafeather.bsky.social for the kind words Review: 🔗 www.nerds-feather.com/2026/01/book... #AfricanSFF 🪐📚💙🧵

Thank you so much for this awesome & thoughtful review✨ @annmichelleharris.bsky.social

Book Review: Will This Be a Problem? The Anthology: Issue V (edited by Somto Ihezue and Olivia Kidula) A unique collection of hauntingly engaging and imaginative stories @annmichelleharris.bsky.social has our review at the NOAF blog: www.nerds-feather.com/2026/01/book...

Thank you so much Sam✨

"Into Duty, Into Longing, Into Sparrows" by Somto Ihezue @somtoihezue.bsky.social, in Beneath Ceaseless Skies @bcsmagazine.bsky.social. I have yet to be disappointed by a Somto Ihezue story... www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/into...

With the Nebula and BSFA nominations open, I’d be honored if you’d consider my novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com. It's a story of friendship, love, and fireflies✨🪲 clarkesworldmagazine.com/ihezue_02_25/

If I for some reason ever pass And they try to make my wife a roommate Or a shadow in my life Let it be known she was my heart. She was my everything. Not a shadow But the whole sun.

Please reply with books you know by African & Black authors coming out in 2026?

Just in case anyone out there feels like they shouldn’t post art - please do. The constant bullshit from the news is difficult but we can’t allow all of that to stop us from making art and sharing it. That’s all I have to say rn - am planning to enjoy the rest of my weekend working on sketches.

Happy New Year's Eve, y'all!! This just in: THE SPLINTER IN THE SKY is 1.99 on Bookshop and Rakuten Kobo too! ✨ Bookshop: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... ✨ Kobo: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...

Honored to see my novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” (published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com) on afrocritik's list of 50 Remarkable African Short Stories of 2025, alongside other brilliant African authors.

“So Spake the Mirrorwitch” @premeemohamed.com “Annunciation” @legroff.bsky.social “The Black Mill” @michaelchabon.bsky.social “VFW Post 1492” Allegra Hyde “We Begin Where Infinity Ends” @somtoihezue.bsky.social "Honey Bear" Sofia Samatar

Just beautiful to see Will This Be A Problem: The Anthology, on AfroCritik's Notable African Books of 2025 list!!! Ever grateful to the talented writers who trusted us with their stories and made this anthology a reality. I'm glad people are finding and loving these stories✨

I'm sorry but I can't give up em dashes. I can't do it. I won't do it.

This story by @angelaliu.bsky.social just cuts right through!!!

there's so much hate in this country. folks who benefit the most from that hate truly love it when marginalized people target, marginalize, and hate each other. 48 million and 32 million are much stronger as 80 million 💪🏽 support each other as much as you can. listen; learn. be kind to yourself.

Great news! B&N Rewards Members get 25% off pre-orders from Dec. 30 – Jan. 1. (Use code PREORDER25) That means that if you were planning on getting SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL, now’s the time! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shoeshine-...

I loved this story! Nominate away, folks with nominating privileges!

Be kind. Be radically kind. That's my woke opinion for 2026.

I put together a post about some of my favorite novels of 2025. It was truly a fantastic year for speculative fiction! acwise.net/favorite-nov...

Happy to say that my novelette "The Winter of the Icebergirl" was sold to @giganotosaurus.bsky.social, out in February! The Icebergirl was the greatest. Now she spends her final years in a nursing home for the empowered. Her peace is broken when she realizes that supervillains grow old too…

My new story in @khoreo.bsky.social is now out for non-subscribers! It’s inspired by a real wedding I attended! Plus aliens…

"The room went dark, but only for a moment. Across the ceiling, across the walls, tiny pinpricks of light came, gradually intensifying until a sea of stars burned alive. The constellations followed, in shimmers, tracing stories in the bright dark." ✍🏻 @somtoihezue.bsky.social

I finally got around to putting together my own eligibility post for 2025. Here's what I published this year and where you can find it! acwise.net/award-eligib...

BCS of 2025! "Into Duty, Into Longing, Into Sparrows" @somtoihezue.bsky.social BCS #425: "They put you in a room with the other girls—soon to be brides like yourself. Your aunties say it is tradition. They too were sealed in the room." www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/into... #BCSof2025

Will This Be A Problem? The Anthology IV edited by @dontcallmeliv.blacksky.app and myself is eligibe for Best Collection. If you’re a BSFA member and any of our works resonated with you this year, please consider nominating them. Thank you. Posting links in the thread.

really loved this one--there's such a kindness to it, while still exploring complicated relationships and emotions. the concept of kids banding together to save the fireflies is just so lovely

With the Nebula and BSFA nominations open, I’d be honored if you’d consider my novelette, “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” published in @clarkesworldmagazine.com. It's a story of friendship, love, and fireflies✨🪲 clarkesworldmagazine.com/ihezue_02_25/