Aurora Awards 2026

NASA#2007934

Dear Readers,

The Aurora Awards, which are for Canadian science fiction and fantasy writers and artists, are open for nominations for the 2025 works! (Nominations are open until April 5) This means the LONG lists of eligible works are being narrowed down to 5-6 per category.

Once they have a list of nominated works, every single person who signed up and paid the $10 membership fee gets ALL the nominated works as downloads. That’s all the adult novels, YA novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels, and related works (usually anthologies), so about 36 works, for just $10 CAD, which is a great deal.

Getting nominated for an Aurora Award is a BIG DEAL in the speculative fiction writing community. You get a nomination pin (only once, so I’m terrified I’ll lose mine!), and you’re part of an elite group of people.

Nomination forms are not ranked.

How do you nominate?

  1. Go to this website: https://www.csffa.ca/members-home/
  2. Join, pay membership fee
  3. Nominate up to 5 works per category https://www.csffa.ca/members-home/nomination/

It would mean a lot to all of us if you’re willing to nominate us! (Categories are in alphabetical order by work)

  • Eligibility Category 2 – Best Young Adult Novel
    • The Copper Tarnish by Éric Desmarais
    • Winging It by Jen Desmarais
  • Eligibility Category 3 – Best Novelette/Novella
    • The Scarlet Thread Irregulars by Éric Desmarais
  • Eligibility Category 4 – Best Short Story
    • Harvest Special by Jen Desmarais
    • I am Snowman by Éric Desmarais
    • Plants, Fungus, and Zombies! by Éric Desmarais
    • Snow Day by Jen Desmarais
    • The Puzzles of Everdome by Éric Desmarais
    • The Summer of ’99 and How I Died by Éric Desmarais
  • Eligibility Category 6 – Best Poem/Song
    • The Ballad of the Phantom and the Wraith by Jen Desmarais, found in Winging It by Jen Desmarais
  • Eligibility Category 7 – Best Related Work
    • Connections! The Unexpected First Collection by Jen and Éric Desmarais
  • Eligibility Category 9 – Best Fan Writing/Publication
    • JenEric Movie Reviews by Éric Desmarais
    • The Travelling TARDIS by Jen Desmarais

In case you’re wondering why Winging It is not included in the best cover art category, it’s because our cover artist is Vietnamese! Only Canadian creators are eligible, unfortunately. We forgot to include The Copper Tarnish in this category because we’re not used to having art made by us! Éric did the cover for it.
Thank you so much for your time, attention, and support. If any of the above does make it through the nomination round, which ends April 5, we’ll write another post for the voting round, which will be taking place starting in June 2026.

Read safe!

Éric

Faymous is now available

Hello Readers!

Faymous started as a wild dream that Jen had and then took ten years for us to turn into an actual novel.

If you like an adventure with music, love, and giant woman-eating shoes; Faymous is for you!

Faymous by Jen and Éric Desmarais
Cover art by Pinkpiggy93
eBook
Paperback

Book Fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses

Hello Book Lovers,

Come see us this Sunday from 9am-4pm at Robert Plante Greenhouses (4228 Navan Rd, Navan, ON K4B 1H9, Canada).

Book Fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses

Join us for the 2nd Annual Book Fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses this winter. Celebrate the world of books, authors, and storytelling in a warm, greenhouse setting filled with tropical greenery and creative energy.

This one-day literary event will feature local authors, illustrators, and book-related businesses offering products such as journals, stationery, pens, bookmarks, and more. 📚✍️

Whether you are an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply looking for a cozy winter outing, the Book Fair offers something for everyone. Discover new reads, meet local authors, explore literary accessories, and support the local creative community — all in a lush and inviting space. 🌿✨

We look forward to welcoming you for a day devoted to books, creativity, and inspiration.

https://www.robertplantegreenhouses.com/event-details/book-fair-at-robert-plante-greenhouses-1

Hope to see you there,

Jen and Éric

Release Day for Connections! The Unexpected First Collection

Tomorrow, there will be a new book in the world – Connections! The Unexpected First Collection!

We say that it’s unexpected because we honestly didn’t realize how much we were writing until we did a word count and poof! there’s enough to fill a book!

This is set in between Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers and Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests, but you don’t have to have read those first. Our publisher River City Siren Press didn’t, on purpose, so that she could ensure that this stood on its own. I’m proud to say that it does. It also gives a lot of background to the main books, and there’s a lot of Easter Eggs hidden within – some a lot more obvious than others.

Whether this is your introduction to the Aetherverse, or if you’ve read everything else we’ve written, there’s something in here for you.

It’s all connected.

Cover art by @pinkpiggy93

Buy it here! (One more day to pre-order)

Connections! The Unexpected First Collection. Cover art by @pinkpiggy93
eBook
Paperback