banner
LightNews
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition
@spsfc.bsky.social
480 followers 330 following 76 posts
An annual contest to pick a winner from hundreds of self-published novels in SF. Currently reading and reviewing for our fourth contest. Web site: https://spsfc.space
spsfc.space
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 2d
The fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (#SPSFC) has begun taking entries from authors. Details and the entry link here:

spsfc.space/2025/10/13/h...

If you're not entering a book join us as a judge!

spsfc.space/2025/09/19/j...
How to Enter SPSFC 5
The fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) has begun taking entries. The authors who’ve been asking us when SPSFC 5 will begin as they get their manuscripts ready can be giv…
spsfc.space
4 8
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 26d
With the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) taking book entries next month, we're looking for a few good volunteers to join us as judges:

spsfc.space/2025/09/19/j...

More than a few, actually. #SPSFC
A photo of the retro raygun awarded to the winner of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition alongside a plague that notes the winner of SPSFC 4 as Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. Next to the trophy is Welker's book, which has a cover of a hovering ovoid spacecraft above San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. The sky is orange and full of portent.
16 17
Reposted by The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition
flameinc.bsky.social
Cory | Flameinc @flameinc.bsky.social · Aug 13
Congratulations to the top recognized and all who submitted works for consideration!

I’ll link my personal favorites below. There were several excellent books that I’d read previously which didn’t advance in other groups.

I enjoyed being a judge, thank you again!

spsfc.space/2025/08/07/a...
And the SPSFC 4 Winner is
After four rounds of reading over the past 10 months, the judges of the fourth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) have advanced books through the scout phase, team quarterfinals, se…
spsfc.space
3 3 12
Reposted by The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition
marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social
Mark Lawrence @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social · Aug 8
Big congratulations to @wickwelker.bsky.social, well done!
1 2 2
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 7
Here's more on the #SPSFC 4 winner Saint Elspeth by @wickwelker.bsky.social and the top 6 books.

spsfc.space/2025/08/07/a...

Carve out some quality time for yourself this evening and read a self-published novel.
The cover of the novel Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. In a sky lit an apocalyptic shade of orange, an ovoid ship hovers over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
2 8
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 7
And the SPSFC 4 Winner is

After four rounds of reading over the past 10 months, the judges of the fourth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) have advanced books through the scout phase, team quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. What was once a to-be read pile of 175 books has…
And the SPSFC 4 Winner is
After four rounds of reading over the past 10 months, the judges of the fourth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) have advanced books through the scout phase, team quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. What was once a to-be read pile of 175 books has become one winner and five runners-up claiming the top six places. Five teams participated in judging from start to finish:
spsfc.space
1 7
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 7
Bluesky omitted the cover from our announcement, so here it is again for the first time.
The cover of Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill. In space over a planet, four women including humans and one of catlike appearance stand in the foreground looking confident as a spacecraft takes off in the background.
3
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
The winner of the fourth #SPSFC is Saint Elspeth by @wickwelker.bsky.social, a tightly crafted tale of a doctor who survived first contact and nuclear apocalypse.

"They just arrived, inadvertently triggered humanity to tear itself to pieces, landed, and vanished."

www.amazon.com/Saint-Elspet...
The cover of the novel Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. In a sky lit an apocalyptic shade of orange, an ovoid ship hovers over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
8 17 36
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
With four places announced out of six, the fourth #SPSFC is faced with the dilemma of what to announce next.

By a margin of just 0.392, second place goes to "action packed" On Impulse by Heather Texle, led by migraine-afflicted ex-space cop Reliance Sinclair.

www.amazon.com/Impulse-Reli...
The cover of the science fiction novel On Impulse by Heather Texle. A woman in a leather jacket holds a large gun in a place with dropping wires and sky beyond. She has a blue computer readout over her head and a pensive expression.
5 15
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
Third place in the fourth #SPSFC goes to the second chances resurrection romp Yours, Celestially by @al-distortion.bsky.social. Judge: "I needed this in my life right now at a time where I had more than a few negative thoughts in my head about being who I am."

www.amazon.com/Yours-Celest...
The cover of Yours Celestially by Al Hess. A well dressed figure in a purple sportscoat, black shirt and hat has a cloud-filled sky instead of a face. Windows dialogs read "Resurrection: Loading", "Metatron.jpg" and "Call your guardian angel?"
7 20
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
Fourth place in the fourth #SPSFC is claimed by the "rollicking space opera" Whiskey and Warfare by @emhamill.bsky.social. A found family of golden-years space mercs reunite to stop a genocide.

www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Warf...
1 5 13
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
Fifth place in the fourth #SPSFC goes to the richly constructed noir cyberpunk thriller Accidental Intelligence by @geektells.bsky.social. A judge loved that the dark reign of AI began when a videogame "learned so well and so fast that it gained sentience."

www.amazon.com/Accidental-I...
The cover of Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin. A man looking out a tall building sees an enormous idealized feminine head with green eyes radiating light.
4 14
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Aug 6
After 306 days and 175 novels, the fourth #SPSFC has chosen its winner along with five finalists as runners-up.

Sixth place goes to the "awesome high-concept" Bisection by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social. You can share one brain and still not understand someone.

www.amazon.com/Bisection-Sh...
The cover of the novel Bisection by Sheila Jenné. Over stars and a blue planet, two women of contrasting colors are connected by roots and structures reminiscent of a brain.
1 4 15
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
The 6 novels that made the finals of #SPSFC 4 are Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin, Bisection by Sheila Jenné, On Impulse by Heather Texle, Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker, Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill and Yours Celestially by Al Hess. #readem

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...
The logo of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), a circle with a retro raygun over blue sky and stars firing energy radiating in a pattern that is red and white.
8 23
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker has been picked as an #SPSFC 4 finalist:

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "I'm really glad I read this book. ... I like Elspeth Darrow. I rooted for her."
The cover of the novel Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. In a sky lit an apocalyptic shade of orange, an ovoid ship hovers over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
2 10
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
On Impulse by Heather Texle has been selected as an #SPSFC 4 finalist.

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "Well-paced and written in a way that makes it easy to slip into the story."
The cover of the science fiction novel On Impulse by Heather Texle. A woman in a leather jacket holds a large gun in a place with dropping wires and sky beyond. She has a blue computer readout over her head and a pensive expression.
1 10
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
Accidental Intelligence by @geektells.bsky.social‬ has been chosen as an #SPSFC 4 finalist.

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "My favorite opening half of anything I've read in this competition this year."
The cover of Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin. A man looking out a tall building sees an enormous idealized feminine head with green eyes radiating light.
3 14
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill has been picked as an #SPSFC 4 finalist.

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "Equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking, full of real human depth, and a thoughtful exploration of aging."
The cover of Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill. In space over a planet, four women including humans and one of catlike appearance stand in the foreground looking confident as a spacecraft takes off in the background.
2 10
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
Yours Celestially by @al-distortion.bsky.social‬ has been selected as an #SPSFC 4 finalist.

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "I needed this in my life right now at a time where I had more than a few negative thoughts in my head about being who I am sometimes."
The cover of Yours Celestially by Al Hess. A well dressed figure in a purple sportscoat, black shirt and hat has a cloud-filled sky instead of a face. Windows dialogs read "Resurrection: Loading", "Metatron.jpg" and "Call your guardian angel?"
1 9
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
Bisection by Sheila Jenné has been chosen as an #SPSFC 4 finalist.

spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

Judge: "I just finished Bisection and OMG I absolutely loved it."
The cover of the novel Bisection by Jenné. Over stars and a blue planet, two women of contrasting colors are connected by roots and structures reminiscent of a brain.
1 12
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
SPSFC 4 Finalists Announced

Two hundred and forty four days ago, the volunteer judges of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition began reading 175 novels. These six have advanced through the scout round, the quarterfinals and the semifinals to emerge as our six SPSFC 4 finalists (announced…
SPSFC 4 Finalists Announced
Two hundred and forty four days ago, the volunteer judges of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition began reading 175 novels. These six have advanced through the scout round, the quarterfinals and the semifinals to emerge as our six SPSFC 4 finalists (announced in random order): Bisection by Sheila Jenné Yours Celestially by Al Hess Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill…
spsfc.space
1 4 10
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Jun 5
After 8 months of reading, the judges of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition have chosen the six finalists for SPSFC 4. We'll be announcing these books tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Eastern. Make some coffee. Take the dog out. Hold all calls. Stretch your Kindle thumb.
The logo of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition: A circle with a raygun in front of a blue sky with stars radiating red and white energy.
2 9
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Apr 2
The marathon of SPSFC semifinalist social media announcements is over after more than 25 hours. Let's get into good books. We yield the floor.
7
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Apr 1
The Space Girls have named their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Proliferation by @erikotto.bsky.social and On Impulse by Heather Texle.

tinyurl.com/proliferation2

tinyurl.com/onimpulse

www.lecari.co.uk
The cover of Proliferation by Erik A. Otto: A man made up of stars and constellations looks at an object with cities in the background. The cover of the science fiction novel On Impulse by Heather Texle: A woman in a leather jacket holds a large gun in a place with dropping wires and sky beyond. She has a blue computer readout over her head and a pensive expression.
5 10
spsfc.bsky.social
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · Apr 1
A team submerged in time's relentless tide picked these SPSFC 4 semifinalists: The Murder Algorithm by Wilson Kincaid and EAT by Jesse Brown.

tinyurl.com/murderalgori...

tinyurl.com/eatjessebrown
The cover of The Murder Algorithm by Wilson Kincaid: A man in a hoodie in a darkened apartment with a large computer screen looks out on the foreboding red-tinted skies of downtown Los Angeles at night. The cover of EAT by Jesse Brown: A gray snake with yellow eyes and dripping fangs dives through the bloody text "EAT" and "Welcome back to the food chain."
5 5