Official Anthology Cover Art
If you remember from this previous post, I have a story coming out later this year in an anthology from Apex Book Company / Violet Lichen.
It’s so great to see the final cover, art by Marcela Bolívar, design by Mikio Murakami.
What a wonderful second home for “Love, Scotland”. Originally in the magnificent Nova Scotia vol 2, from Luna Press, I was so pleased to see it get a second go at getting to readers.
And you’ll be able to get your hands on it soon!
Release Date: 18th November 2025
Pre-orders are now open, and details below for where you can get a discount as a reward for putting your money down!
But before that, here’s a tiny excerpt of the main character from “Love, Scotland” in a terrifying situation from this short story to intrigue you:
The sack of mushrooms was much heavier than it looked as Meera dragged it, clambering at times on all fours through the crevice in the spoil heap. Elements the fungi had “sooked up like a sponge,” as Mingis had explained, made the little fruiting bodies disconcertingly hefty. Trickles of rainwater and ponds of tunnel sweat made the plastic and metal surfaces treacherous, tons of debris held up above her head by pit props and prayer. It would come down on her. It would crush her, trap her. No avalanche, no avalanche.
She could see the cleft opening now, dark skies and howling winds swallowing the beam of her torch. She hesitated by the mouth of the tunnel. Mingis would want her to leave the mushrooms there so she could retrieve another bag. A day like today, all the other scavengers had gone home. Only Mingis was crazy enough to stay out in this weather. She could tell him she wanted to leave, that they should abandon the harvest for better weather. That he was insane.
– excerpt from “Love, Scotland” by E.M. Faulds
The story is built on human emotions and society within the backdrop of climate change, but I have to confess it was a lot of fun dreaming up the eWaste-eating mushrooms that form the basis of a community’s economy.
Discount on the anthology
Mine’s just one of many stories from a range of brilliant writers
We all know pre-orders = love, so take advantage of the 30% discount for pre-order with this link direct from the Apex Book Company.
https://www.apexbookcompany.com/products/eco24-the-years-best-speculative-ecofiction
While you’re here, you can follow the publishers, editors, and artists on their various social media, if you like:
Violet Lichen Instagram: @violetlichenbooks
Apex Publications Instagram: @apexbookcompany
Apex Publications Bluesky: @apexmag.bsky.social
Cover artist Marcela Bolívar Bluesky: @tropicalgloom.bsky.social
Anthology editor Marissa Van Uden Bluesky: @marissavu.bsky.social
