Yes, it is that time of year again, where we science fiction and fantasy writers list the award-qualifying stories we published this year. 

I published (in a rather extraordinary period of production) five science fiction stories, one science fiction novella, and one horror story in professional markets in 2020. They are: 

"Albedo Season" in Clarkesworld  May 2020 (SF: Climate Change / Biosemiotics / Lost Colony)
"Eyes of the Forest" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction May/June 2020 (SF: Survival / Biosemiotics / Thriller) 
  • Mike Wyant, Jr. says: "Nayler’s descriptions throughout are absolutely breathtaking. The way every scene pops with color and raw, unfiltered life drives home both the strangeness and beauty of this new world. Combined with the tight plot and dark humor layered within it was an absolute pleasure to read."

"Return to the Red Castle" in Asimov's March/April 2020 (SF: Consciousness / PTSD / memory loss / social justice)
  • Rich Horton recommended it in his Locus review here
 
"The Swallows of the Storm" in Lightspeed July 2020 (SF: Climate Change / Biosemiotics)
  • Charles Payseur called it a story with "a perspective already sort of passive and doomed, hopeful without hope. It’s a great choice, and a sharp ending, and it makes for a wonderful read!"

"Father" in Asimov's July/August 2020 (Alternate history / PTSD)
  • Review in Locus
  • Victoria Silverwolf said: "The alternate history background of the story builds in a subtle and gradual manner, allowing the reader to accept this parallel world as real. The plot has strong emotional appeal, without becoming overly sentimental. The many meanings of fatherhood come across in a powerful way."
 
"Outside of Omaha" in Nightmare  September 2020 (Horror: Supernatural / Immigration)
  • Paula Guran, reviewing for Locus, said: "It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time."

"A Rocket for Dimitrios" in the January/February 2021 Asimov's (Published December 2020)
  • Michelle Ristuccia said, in Tangent Online: "Seeing through Sylvia’s eyes, readers get a taste of alien technology far beyond our current abilities, contrasted against humanity’s endemic struggles with war and discrimination. Nayler brings readers an adventure that’s as immersive as it is thought-provoking."

​It was quite a year, and I am very grateful to Sheila Williams, Neil Clarke, Wendy Wagner, John Joseph Adams, and C.C. Finlay for their continued faith in my work. I'm not particularly interested in being nominated for awards I have no chance of winning, but what I would love is for my community to read my work -- so, if you have not checked it out yet, please do! And here's to 2021 -- I also have four stories lined up for 2021 so far: two in Asimov's, one in Analog, one in Dark Matter. Onward!