"You want someone who will be genuinely interested in your insignificant, clichรฉ thoughts and uneventful dayโ€ฆ People donโ€™t have the attention spans for meaningful connection and itโ€™s causing the greatest epidemic of our time."

- They Tried Their Best

๐ŸŒŸ Big Magical News! ๐ŸŒŸ

Magical readers โœจ Iโ€™m beyond thrilled to share that They Tried Their Best is officially eligible for the 2026 Hugo Awards ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ’– 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 ๐Ÿ’ซ Iโ€™d be honored if youโ€™d consider nominating it ๐Ÿ’Œโœจ

๐Ÿ’– Extra Sparkly News:
๐Ÿ’ซ Weโ€™ve already received a four-star glowing review from the Reedsy team ๐ŸŒŸ
๐Ÿ’ซ We won our Discovery Week on Reedsy ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’ซ
๐Ÿ’ซ As a result, They Tried Their Best has been placed as a feature on the Reedsy site ๐ŸŒŒ

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 15โ€“22 โœจ๐Ÿ“š

๐Ÿ’ซ And thereโ€™s more magic comingโ€ฆ
The audiobook is finished ๐ŸŽงโœจ Narrated by Tristan Laraway and Kimlyn Stanyon, it will be available on all platforms at the end of this month ๐Ÿ’–

Letโ€™s sprinkle the stardust, share the love, and make sure this story shines bright enough for the Hugo Awards ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’Œ

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ How to Nominate They Tried Their Best:

  1. 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

  2. Know the Category:
    They Tried Their Best qualifies for Best Novella (word count between 17,500โ€“40,000).

  3. Nomination Window:

    • Nominations usually open in January and close in March of the award year.

    • Voting for the finalists typically opens around Mayโ€“July.

  4. Submit Your Nomination:
    Once nominations open, WSFS members will receive a unique link to vote online. Youโ€™ll just need:

    • Title: They Tried Their Best

    • Author: Kimlyn Stanyon

    • Category: Best Novella

    • Publication Year: 2025

    • Publisher/Self-published: Self-published

๐Ÿ’– 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 thereโ€™s room on the shelf for emotion and magic and satire and soul. Youโ€™re lifting up indie voices, quirky joy, mental health truths, and messy hope. Youโ€™re 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.

๐ŸŒŸ They Tried Their Best is Eligible for the 2026 Hugo Awards! ๐ŸŒŸ

Please make sure to check all mail and then save the newsletter to your contacts list

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black and silver camera lens on white paper

First of all

Tune in to Between Lines and Lands to unleash your own miracles. If you are interested in philosophy, books, weird universal snacks or just keen to geek out with me and my partner Tristan... this is the place for you!

PODCAST

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gray rocks on ground near green trees

Not to mention

Short Stories

Explore a world of enchantment through my short stories. From mystical creatures to everyday miracles, each tale is a journey into the unknown. Let your imagination take flight and discover the magic within.

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gray cloth torch

And let's not forget

Services

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.

Where Magic Meets Reality

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