Best of the Net Nominations

The Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology (created by Sundress Publications) designed to grant a platform to a diverse and growing collection of writers and publishers who are building an online literary landscape that seeks to break free of traditional publishing. This space has been created to bring greater respect to the continually expanding world of exceptional digital publishing. The work nominated must have been first published between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. We’ve nominated:

For Poetry:

• “unfixing” by Saheed Sunday, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 4, pg 5
• “Marginalia on Relationships and Bees” by Bobbie Orona Burgos, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 1, pgs. 12-16
• “Black” by Ayòdéjì Israel, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 1, pgs. 18-19
• “how my parents will react when i come out to them as transgender” by Salem Paige, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 2, pgs. 6-7
• “things are constantly happening: A prose poem for cis people” by nat raum, All My Relations, Volume 6, pgs. 10-11

For Fiction:

• “Hormones (the Right Ones)” by Amy Cadence, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 3, pgs. 16-18
• “Boomgates on the Wheelchair Ramp” by Ella T. Holmes, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 1, pgs. 30-34

For Nonfiction:

• “I am afraid for my lover and me every minute” by Leo Rodriguez, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 4, pg. 15
• “Trans Pietà” by Magdalena Poost, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 2, pgs. 8-12

For Art:

• “Out of Time” by S. Kavi, The B’K Volume 15, Issue 1, cover
• “Resistance” by Chris Talbot-Heindl, All My Relations, Volume 6, cover

The Pushcart Prize Nominations

The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses series, is “The Most Honored Literary Series in America,” publishing poetry and prose from indie publishers throughout the year. We’ve nominated:

• “The Sunflower In My Father’s Garden As a Metaphor for the Return of Our Ancestors,” by John Chinaka Onyeche, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pg. 34
• “Revelation,” by Karis Ryu, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 2, pgs. 12-13
• “Frijoles in Suitcases,” by A.P. Thayer, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 3, pgs. 12-14
• “unfixing,” by Saheed Sunday, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4, pg. 5
• “Sapphic Poem in Which Our Queer Joy Becomes Indiscernible From Other Vital Natural Resources” by Angel Leyba, All My Relations, Volume 5, pg. 6
• “In the Valley” by Rayne Affonso, All My Relations, Volume 5, pgs. 20-24

The Best American Short Stories Nominations

The Best American Short Stories is the longest-running and best-selling series of short fiction in the country. Each year, Heidi Pitlor works with a different guest editor to select the best twenty short stories that were published in print and online magazines. We’ve nominated:

• “Your Fitness Pal,” by Jubilee Finnegan, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 2, pgs. 5-7
• “Hormones (the Right Ones),” by Amy Cadence, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 3, pgs. 16-18

The PEN America Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers Nominations

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. We’ve nominated:

• “My Daughter’s Room” by Elizabeth Feng, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pgs. 24-27
• “A Little While Longer,” by Marjan Mahmoudian, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pgs. 20-22
• “The Magic Matchbox,” by You Lin, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 2, pgs. 8-9

Best of the Net Nominations

The Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology (created by Sundress Publications) designed to grant a platform to a diverse and growing collection of writers and publishers who are building an online literary landscape that seeks to break free of traditional publishing. This space has been created to bring greater respect to the continually expanding world of exceptional digital publishing. The work nominated must have been first published between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. We’ve nominated:

For Poetry:

• “We Have Always Been Here” by M.R. “Chibbi” Orduña, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 3, pg. 13
• “Red, Orange, Yellow, & 4 More” by Chisom Charles Nnanna, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 3, pg. 32
• “pangnagdaan” by Bernice Caña, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4, pg. 5
• “a list of symptoms (not exhaustive)” by Brishti Chakraborty, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4, pg. 10
• “In the Aftermath, I Run From Myself” by Pam R. Johnson Davis, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pg. 11
• “Today I Have Been Grieving the Death of a Stranger for a Whole Week” by Maya Chang Matunis, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pg. 32

For Fiction:

• “The Ascension” Booi Carlyn, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pgs. 5-10
• “My Daughter’s Room” by Elizabeth Feng, The B’K Volume 14, Issue 1, pgs. 24-27

For Non-Fiction:

• “RICE IS LOVE” by cassie joy, All My Relations Volume 3, pgs. 6-8

For Artwork:

• “The Weary Moon” by Larissa Monique, The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4, cover
• “Plasmalyte 1000mL” by Frances Bukovsky, All My Relations Volume 4, cover

The Best American Short Stories

The Best American Short Stories is the longest-running and best-selling series of short fiction in the country. Each year, Heidi Pitlor works with a different guest editor to select the best twenty short stories that were published in print and online magazines. We’ve nominated:

• Krista Bergren-Walsh, “Non-profit was the Vampire that Drained Me,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4 (Autumn 2022), pgs 32-33
• Mary Liza Hartong, “Of a Feather,” All My Relations, Volume 3 (Belonging), pgs 10-21
• Tarunika Kapoor, “the home that we built,” All My Relations, Volume 3 (Belonging), pgs 28-40
• Waverly Woldemichal, “Black Mermaids,” All My Relations, Volume 2 (Colonization & Decolonization), pgs 22-24
• Zary Fekete, “Children’s Clinic,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4 (Autumn 2022), pgs 38-39

The Pushcart Prize Nominations

The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses series, is “The Most Honored Literary Series in America,” publishing poetry and prose from indie publishers throughout the year. We’ve nominated:

• A. Coghlan, “Meeting the Wounded Boy from the Canal Zone,” All My Relations Volume 2 (Colonization & Decolonization), pgs 15-21
• Cheryl Aguirre, “Elegía para papá,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 3 (Summer 2022), pg 5
• Rex Ybañez, “Transitory Static,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 1 (Winter 2022), pg 7
• Tangela Williams-Spann, “Catharsis,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 2 (Spring 2022), pgs 6-7
• Zoha Sh., “Our Grandmothers Know Grief,” All My Relations, Volume 3 (Belonging), pgs 24-25

The PEN America Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers Nominations

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. We’ve nominated:

• Chloe Feffer, “The Convergence,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 3 (Summer 2022), pgs 36-37
• Krista Bergren-Walsh, “Non-profit was the Vampire that Drained Me,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 4 (Autumn 2022), pgs 32-33
• Tarunika Kapoor, “the home that we built,” All My Relations, Volume 3 (Belonging), pgs 28-40

Best of the Net Nominations

The Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology (created by Sundress Publications) designed to grant a platform to a diverse and growing collection of writers and publishers who are building an online literary landscape that seeks to break free of traditional publishing. This space has been created to bring greater respect to the continually expanding world of exceptional digital publishing. The work nominated must have been first published between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. We’ve nominated:

For Poetry:

• Palaces P., “You Said That You’d Take a Bullet for Me, But You Wouldn’t Even Take a Look at My Fucking Novel,” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2021), pg 29
• Kendra Nuttall, “Love Stories (Or, an Accidental Ad for the Five Love Languages®),” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 4 (Autumn 2021), pg 22
• Katharine Blair, “Ter·ra·form·ing,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 1 (Winter 2022), pg 5
• 婕 Venus Cohen, “THE FUTURE.” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 1 (Winter 2022), pg 6
• Noa Saunders, “Bob Ross and Chill,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 1 (Winter 2022), pgs 16-17
• sloane angelou, “this madness is mine to keep,” The B’K Volume 13, Issue 2 (Spring 2022), pg 15

For Fiction:

• Avra Margariti, “Unbirthday,” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2021), pgs 10-11
• Ra’Niqua Lee, “Of Pork and Pedagogy,” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2021), pgs 12-13

For Non-fiction:

• Fefe, “river tides,” All My Relations, Volume 1, pgs 12-13
• Charlie D’Aniello Trigueros, “On being caught by ICE and caged,” All My Relations, Volume 2, pgs. 6-9

For Artwork:

• Emily Schanowski, “Uncanny Deer,” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2021), cover
• Aaron Hahn, “Unbearable Weight of Dreams,” The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2021), cover

2021 Best of the Net Nominations

The Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology (created by Sundress Publications) designed to grant a platform to a diverse and growing collection of writers and publishers who are building an online literary landscape that seeks to break free of traditional publishing. This space has been created to bring greater respect to the continually expanding world of exceptional digital publishing. The work nominated must have been first published between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. We’ve nominated:

For Poetry:

• Mara Panich, “Daily I Read Something More Disturbing than the Last,” Volume 11, Issue 3 (Summer 2020), pg. 5
• AnnMarie McQueen, “Dragon’s blood,” Volume 11, Issue 4 (Autumn 2020), pg. 26
• Tamara Al-Qaisi-Coleman, “For Afaa,” Volume 12, Issue 1 (Winter 2021), pg. 4
• Pam R. Johnson Davis, “Annulment,” Volume 12, Issue 1 (Winter 2021), pg. 11
• Maia Joy, “To the White Boy at the Subway Station Wearing a ‘Virginity Rocks’ T-Shirt that Will Not Stop Staring At Me No Matter How Much Distance I Force Between Us,” Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2021), pg. 4
• Sanah Singh, “They buried me in the soil like I was someone else’s problem,” Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2021), pg. 15

For Fiction:

• Mordecai Martin, “Mother Tongue,” Volume 12, Issue 1 (Winter 2021), pgs. 8-9
• Yvonne Nezianya, “Another is Coming,” Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2021), pgs. 12-14

For Nonfiction:

• Tai Farnsworth, “Seven Times I Came Out,” Volume 11, Issue 4 (Autumn 2020), pgs. 4-5
• Robert Fromberg, “Deathbed Entertainment,” Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2021), pg. 32

For Artwork:

• Emily Rose Schanowski, “Geometric Bee,” Volume 11, Issue 4 (Autumn 2020), pg. 50
• Karin Hedetniemi, “Tracks,” Volume 12, Issue 1 (Winter 2021), cover art
• Dana Talbot-Heindl, “Watch Your Step,” Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2021), cover art

2021 Pushcart Prize Nominations

The Pushcart Prize is an American literary magazine published by Pushcart Press that honors the best poetry, short fiction, essays, or “literary whatnot” published in the small presses over the course of the year. We’ve nominated:

• “birth & the undoing” by Jasmine Kapadia, The B’K Volume 12, Issue 3, pg. 5
• “the colonial ghosts of shimla” by Soumya, The B’K Volume 12, Issue 4, pg. 5
• “The Tragedy of Imelda Yeon” by Thea Chun, The B’K Volume 12, Issue 4, pg. 10-12
• “Death is a Way to Come Home: Rituals for the Estranged” by H.E. Casson, All My Relations, Volume 1, pgs. 6-9
• “Nukasāna” by Kayleigh Jayshree, All My Relations, Volume 1, pg. 11
• “Seeing the Real Her” by Pam R. Johnson Davis, All My Relations, Volume 1, pgs. 20-21

2021 Best Microfiction Nominations

Best Microfiction 2022 is published by Pelekinesis and considers stories of only 400 words or fewer that were first published in 2020. We’ve nominated:

• Zach Murphy, “Blue Earth County,” The B’K, Volume 12, Issue 1, page 37
• Cree Nichelle Pettaway, “Fragility,” The B’K, Volume 12, Issue 3, page 17
• Alicia J. Cartwright, “Ghost number 13,” The B’K, Volume 12, Issue 4, page 13
• Iona Murphy, “A Room in Ditchley Court,” All My Relations, Volume 1, pages 52-53

2021 Best Small Fictions Nominations

The Best Small Fictions (published by Sonder Press) features the best micro fiction, flash fiction, haibun stories, and prose poetry from around the world under 1,000 words, published in 2021. We’ve nominated:

• Mordecai Martin, “Mother Tongue,” The B’K Vol 12, Issue 1, pages 8-9
• Shaurya Arya-Kanojia, “The Bubble,” The B’K Vol 12, Issue 2, pages 18-19
• Nick Olson, “Residue of You,” The B’K Vol 12, Issue 2, pages 22-23
• Ra’Niqua Lee, “Of Pork and Pedagogy,” The B’K Vol 12, Issue 3, pages 12-13
• Mike Hickman, “Mr Binky Knibbles Unravels,” The B’K Vol 12, Issue 3, pages 34-35

2020 Pushcart Prize Nominations

The Pushcart Prize is an American literary magazine published by Pushcart Press that honors the best poetry, short fiction, essays, or “literary whatnot” published in the small presses over the course of the year. We’ve nominated:

• “Today’s Special” by Caitlin A. Leggett from Issue 1, pg. 6
• “Like Sheep to the Slaughter” by Nadia Wells from Issue 3, pg. 4
• “Check the Box” by H.E. Grahame from Issue 3, pgs. 8-10
• “Seven Times I Came Out” by Tai Farnsworth from Issue 4 , pgs. 4-5
• “What We Mean When We Say [Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You]” by Olaitan Humble from Issue 4, pg. 15
• “Day 121” by E.G. Rambo from Issue 4, pg. 19