I am ecstatic to announce that I am a BSFA Awards Finalist, being shortlisted for The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel for Best Fiction for Younger Readers!
What are the BSFA Awards?
Per the BSFA website:
The BSFA awards are presented annually by the British Science Fiction Association, based on a vote of BSFA members and—in recent years—members of the British national science fiction convention Eastercon. They are fan awards that not only seek to honour the most worthy examples in each category, but also to promote the genre of science fiction, and get people reading, talking about, and enjoying all that contemporary science fiction has to offer.
The awards will take place at Eastercon, which is the weekend of April 3-6, 2026 in Birmingham, England.
I am in wonderful company as a finalist, alongside Una Mcormack (Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution), Rick Danforth (The Ghost Merchant (in the Colored Lens)), James Goss (Doctor Who: Lux), T.L. Huchu (Secrets of the First School), and Suzanne Collins (Sunrise on the Reaping)! Wow!
What is The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel?
The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel by Jendia Gammon, writing as J. Dianne Dotson, is the sequel to the Nebula and BSFA Award finalist and Lodestar longlisted The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. This is the second book of a trilogy, published via Android Press.
In the twilight world of Glimmerbight, fourteen-year-old Gen Lightworth dreams of restoring the Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. But an ancient evil’s lingering scars awaken new threats from unexpected corners.
Summoned by the mysterious Gallant Twilight Society—a network of heroic animals—Gen journeys beneath the waves into hidden lairs pulsing with bioluminescent secrets. With her loyal team, the Fireflies, she confronts lost legacies, mutated monsters, and shadowy figures from the past.
When a vibrant yet unsettling new apothecary arrives, secrets multiply and trust frays. And as danger closes in, Gen learns the true weight of leadership and the strength of friendship.
Filled with wonder, bravery, and the luminous bonds of community, The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel continues the saga begun at The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. Join this unforgettable adventure where light battles darkness and friends must navigate mysteries beneath the stars.
The Amethyst Lantern Series
In addition to the first two books in the Amethyst Lantern Series, there is a final book in the series publishing in October 2026. The Dawn of Dusk and Twilight is a prequel to the first two books, and begins in our era! While the first two books are young adult, this prequel centers on the adults who will become the ancient characters in the future Lunarpunk utopia of Glimmerbight. It’s a found family facing the end of the world as we know it, and what they must go through before they can rebuild a better future.
I am honored to be nominated for a BSFA Award. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to do so. I greatly appreciate shortlist votes from BSFA members for The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel.
Here is the official shortlist for the BSFA Awards! https://www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-shortlist
And here is the official BSFA Awards ballot for voting members: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGLySDmKxq7lydcBpgOYaON3aoPAsTHZFge9oYeHCeAzaz1g/viewform
Thank you, BSFA members, for your votes!
See all six of my BSFA longlisted works this year, for which I’m very honored as well.
Find all my current and forthcoming books on my books page.