"You want someone who will be genuinely interested in your insignificant, clichรฉ thoughts and uneventful dayโฆ People donโt have the attention spans for meaningful connection and itโs causing the greatest epidemic of our time."
- They Tried Their Best






๐ Big Magical News! ๐
Magical readers โจ Iโm beyond thrilled to share that They Tried Their Best is officially eligible for the 2026 Hugo Awards ๐๐ One of the most prestigious honors in science fiction and fantasy!
If this story made you laugh, cry, think a little differently, or feel a little more human ๐ซ Iโd be honored if youโd consider nominating it ๐โจ
๐ Extra Sparkly News:
๐ซ Weโve already received a four-star glowing review from the Reedsy team ๐
๐ซ We won our Discovery Week on Reedsy ๐๐ซ
๐ซ As a result, They Tried Their Best has been placed as a feature on the Reedsy site ๐
To celebrate this feature and help spread the magic, the e-book will be on promotion for just $0.99 on Amazon.comand Amazon.uk from August 15โ22 โจ๐
๐ซ And thereโs more magic comingโฆ
The audiobook is finished ๐งโจ Narrated by Tristan Laraway and Kimlyn Stanyon, it will be available on all platforms at the end of this month ๐
Letโs sprinkle the stardust, share the love, and make sure this story shines bright enough for the Hugo Awards ๐๐
๐ณ๏ธ How to Nominate They Tried Their Best:
Become a WSFS Member:
To nominate, you need to be a member of the 2025 Worldcon (Seattle) or the upcoming 2026 Worldcon (Los Angeles).You can purchase a Supporting Membership, which allows you to nominate and vote without attending in person.
Membership info here: https://www.worldcon.org
Know the Category:
They Tried Their Best qualifies for Best Novella (word count between 17,500โ40,000).Nomination Window:
Nominations usually open in January and close in March of the award year.
Voting for the finalists typically opens around MayโJuly.
Submit Your Nomination:
Once nominations open, WSFS members will receive a unique link to vote online. Youโll just need:Title: They Tried Their Best
Author: Kimlyn Stanyon
Category: Best Novella
Publication Year: 2025
Publisher/Self-published: Self-published
๐ Why Nominate?
By nominating this book, you're not just celebrating a story. You're voting for more weird, tender, genre-blending tales that refuse to fit into boxes. You're saying thereโs room on the shelf for emotion and magic and satire and soul. Youโre lifting up indie voices, quirky joy, mental health truths, and messy hope. Youโre saying stories like this belong in the conversation. Thank you for believing in the strange and the sincere. Thank you for helping this book find its wings.
๐ They Tried Their Best is Eligible for the 2026 Hugo Awards! ๐


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I am a certified Reiki Master with expertise in energy reading and mediumship. I offer both in-person and online sessions for clients seeking a range of services, including but not limited to life path analysis, numerology, meditation, mediumship, and Reiki healing. Bookings can be made through the contact me section of this site to receive personalized guidance and support on your spiritual journey.
About Kimlyn Stanyon
Kimlyn Stanyon is an award winning author specialising in fantasy with a philosophical twist. She has a passion for creating enchanting worlds and forming chaotic, relatable characters. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, singing and actively avoiding her problems.