Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

1113 Followers 987 Following

Speculative writer, reader, marketing coach, tea drinker | SFWA | VP '23 | Stories in Strange Horizons, Haven Spec, Trollbreath, Ghastling | Digging: hibiscus tea, space opera, summer peaches | she/her #specfic #sff linktr.ee/allisonpottern | pottern.com

Three cards from "Negocios Infernales" on a blonde woodgrain table. The first reads "Pain is the opposite of thought" and depicts a vascular boarder with bloody hearts, and in the center two bodies (one shadowy, one Christ-like) pierced by swords? long pins? The second card reads "Thrones make children of us all" and features a crackling orange border; in the center sits a corpulent baby in a crown before shadowy bowing supplicants. There is a manifest-destiny style ship in the lower left. The third card reads "A seed spends most of its life asleep" amd features a galactic purple border. In the center are a series of ovals, the two center ones attached to the border via ubilical cord, containing a curled up fetus.
A dark teal business card with the word Marketing in orange script down the left side. At the top of the card is a dense, tiny paragraph full of the different kind of marketing strategies we could discuss if you decided to work with me! Things like publicity, promotions, author events, social media, etc. Below that are the words "You've spend years crafting your book ot get it out into the world— and I've spent years helping authors market and sell theirs. Now let me help you..." and a bright yellow QR code that links to my website.
A stack of light blue business cards fanned out, each featuring a different publication by yours truly plus a QR code to get you straight to it. In the middle is a small stack of cards fanned forward that show the front of the business card, which has a spooky-looking forest tinted black and sepia with hints of cyan, along with two forlorn, flying birds. At the bottom of the card is my deets: Allison Pottern, speculative fiction writer & marketing coach, with my email, website, and bluesky handle. Yes, it looks like I spent way too much time on these. But does it make me inordinately happy? Absolutely.
A woodland path dappled in sunlight with large trees on either side and arching over the path. At the end is emerald green foliage.
"I remember two things a psychic once told me - one of the few psychics we couldn't completely discredit. She said the dead are naturally drawn to things they loved in life. Second, once the other side gets a whiff of anyone who's had a paranormal experience they home in. You're like a door that's open a crack and they all want to get a peek. I didn't need that kind of aggravation. But sometimes aggravation just follows you home." CRADLE TO GRAVE by K.E. Redmond "But once at the gate to the cemetery, I could go no further. While I heard nothing from the road, I was sure the moment I passed through that gate the ghosts voices would be upon me. It would not just be my siblings, but my family and strangers as well. What cacophony of rage or grief would I have to endure while we made our supplication? I did not know how I could ask the dead for anything, when I was alive and they were not." SOUL CANDLE, LIVING LIGHT by Allison Pottern
A promotional image celebrating my debut speculative poetry publication! Against a watery background, sunlight streaming in through the top of the water, are the words "Coming this fall in Trollbreath magazine." Below, on what looks like a torn piece of paper, reads: Why I Divorced The Chosen One by Allison Pottern Because I chose him first, (yes, even before the prophecy) when he was no one, part-time at a dive shop, smoking weed, writing perfectly average love songs.
"There is so much to love about this novelette, including the way in which the horrors of the First World War have infiltrated and altered Neverland ...but to me, it’s the strong, yet fraught relationship between Wendy and Jane that is the heart and soul of the story. Combined with Pottern’s gorgeous prose, it makes for a gripping tale that imbues the story of Peter and Wendy with a sense of real-world peril, tragedy, and triumph." —Maria Haskins, reviewer for Locus Magazine
Cover of The Ghastling magazine, Book 23 "Tales of Ghosts, The Macabre, and the Oh-So Strange". Against a mottled gray background, is a black and white drawing (or possibly block print) of a gargoyle sitting pensively, a red sun in the distance behind one wing. At the bottom of the cover, the stories authors are listed, including yours truly, Allison Pottern at the from of the list!
Promo graphic centering the cover of NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A SPECULATIVE ANTHOLOGY OF REINVENTION featuring Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory and edited by Chris Campbell. Text: Give the gift of short speculative fiction For the friend with a fish tank who wishes they could be aquatic (and/or in love) For the reader looking to rewrite their own fairytale For that friend who may or may not be dating a ChatBot For fans of “timey-wimey” stories (you know when you are) For folks who are obsessed with the moon rn (same girl, same) Now available from your favorite book retailer!
A tablet displaying the cover for NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A SPECULATIVE ANTHOLOGY OF REINVENTION against a gray background Text: Request a review copy! speculative fiction stories by: Elizabeth Bear Daryl Gregory F.E. Choe Shen Tao Brigitte Winter Chris Campbell and more! it's never too late to review a book you love!
Quote: "I read the whole thing twice! From the unsettling tension of the first story to the bittersweet triumph of the final piece, each of these stories is meticulously crafted. Readers will find wonder, fury, and excitement in these pages, but most welcome to me is the underlying theme of hope." —Myna Chang, MicroVerse
Quote from SUE BURKE author of Semiosis and Dual Memory: Now hear this: New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention is a great way to start your 2025 reading. It offers two dozen science fiction and fantasy short stories united by the idea of personal change. Themes include time travel, Greek myth, fairy tales, foreseen death, odd dystopias, programmed memory loss, and manufactured life. Many are quite short, and the tone varies from playful to horrific. I enjoyed them all, like eating a box of chocolates or bento box, and was sometimes left a little breathless.
Blurbs for NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A SPECULATIVE ANTHOLOGY OF REINVENTION: "What exactly does "reinvention" mean? The authors in New Year, New You share twenty-four unique takes, whether by dimension portals in the desert or death and rebirth or time traveling therapy or technologies allowing us to be our best—and worst—selves. A delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted examination of the intentional, unintentional, drastic, and subtle changes we make for ourselves and others." —Naseem Jamnia, author of The Bruising of Qilwa "This anthology features twenty-four tales both intense and beguiling, from names I believe are fast on their way to the stars." – Sherwood Smith, author of Crown Duel
The title "NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" across the top, with the cover in the middle of the title. Below are several endorsement quotes, as well as an image of an astronaut and octopus tentacles entering from either side against a backdrop of stars. “I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafted.” –Myna Chang, Microverse “Delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted...” –Naseem Jamnia “Intense and beguiling...” –Sherwood Smith “Nuanced...” –Locus Magazine “Complex and experimental...” –SF Book Reviews
FICTION Quote From the window of the nursery, Wendy saw Jane wobbling her way down Kensington Park Road on a borrowed bicycle, hair unbraided and wild like she’d been flying. Wendy’s throat seized with fear. Was that gold glittering in the girl’s hair? Had the neighbors seen? Was that his laughter that rang out from Kensington Park across the way? end Quote Mother, Darling by Allison Pottern 2 February 2026 Strange Horizons
A collage of spooky things on the left, including a pair of jeans with a bloody skull, sunglasses in front of flames, a lit match, a basket of breadsticks, and some goodwill tags, with the words "Bootcut" by Allison Pottern, Haven Spec, Jan 2026 across the middle. On the right are the opening words of the story (you get bonus sentences I couldn't fit on the graphic): Running your hand along the clothing rack, your finger catches on a Goodwill miracle: a pair of jeans that actually fits. They have no tag—no name brand—just a questionable stain below the left front pocket, no big deal. It’s like maybe these jeans have lived a more exciting life than you have. Maybe if you put them on, a bit of that excitement could rub off on you. The flared, dark-washed jeans look like once upon a time they were very expensive. Now that they’re in your broke hands, they’re merely “vintage.” But in the claustrophobic changing room mirror, they make your ass look like a million bucks. And (can you believe it?) they only cost you $6.66 plus tax. The cashier even offers you a band-aid for your finger, which is welling with ruby droplets of blood. You hadn’t noticed. You hope you didn’t get any stains on the denim. (Don’t worry, with a little ice water, blood washes right out.)
A heading that says "Strange Horizons" and an illustration of a woman in victorian garb gazing at a London skyline with the silhouettes of two children flying off towards a distant star. A Zepplin is flying in from the left. A bag is at her feet. Below the heading reads: Mother, Darling By: Allison Pottern She gripped the windowsill, goose bumps on her bare arms, a mixture of relief and bitterness warring within her. She had guarded against this moment, but still it had come. She resisted the fantasy of doing nothing, of letting Jane fly off into her own mistakes. Or doing something rash, like burning the whole house to the ground. Instead, Wendy gave herself one, no, two long moments, to hate Peter Pan. Then she got to work.
The Strange Horizons logo at the top, then below the words: Fiction "Mother, Darling" by: Allison Pottern Issue: 2 February 2026 12570 words "Wendy knew it wouldn't be long now before her daughter was taken."
The stunning cover of Annie Cardi's new YA novel WINTER WHILE. The title looks like someone has written it with their finger on a foggy window. Beyond the text is the blurred image of a person walking away into the snowy distance and in the corner, the silhouette of a bear.
A black and white image consisting of the title of my latest newsletter: "Pushing Past Procrastination + publication, submissions sources & new year, new cover" set against the background of a brick wall, graffiti'd with the words "The magic you're looking for is in the work you're avoiding."
Two copies of NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A SPECULATIVE ANTHOLOGY OF REINVENTION, one with a pink cover and one with the title splayed across a starfield (that's the new cover!) stacked against each other. Same amazing stories, perfect reading for your holiday season, go grab one!
The shiny new cover of New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, edited by Chris Campbell with stories from Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory, and more! The title is depicted as a cut-out through a navy-blue starfield, with faded images in pink and purple showing through. Images include: a clock, clouds, pomegranate cross-section, mushrooms, an astronaut, a manta ray, a circuit board, smoke, a woman's face lifting away from a robotic skull, and octopus tentacles emerging from the letter "u". There is also an award badge in the upper right corner.
"Celebrating sucess with a $4.99 book sale, this weekend only!" across the top in a blue banner. Below is an image of the new cover of New Year, New You on a black tablet: the letter of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other tory elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "us". Next to the book is a large, shiny badge that reads "Runner-up in the 2025 Annual Indie Author Project Contest" with "2025 Runner-up Science Fiction" below. Finally, in a rainbow banner across the bottom reads "Plus a swanky new cover!"
"Writing and Marketing consults with Allison Pottern Hoch. You've spent years crafting your book to get it out into the world — and I've spent 20+ years helping authors develop and market theirs. Now let me help you! Does publishing or marketing overwhelm you? Are you a debut author with book launch jitters? Does it feel like your publisher isn't giving you the marketing guidance you need? Do you need help getting your speculative fiction novel over the finish line? Are you struggling to figure out what publishing path is right for you? Book a consult today: pottern.com/book-a-session"
The opening paragraphs of Allison Pottern's short story "Cryptid Car Rental" in a browser window-type box, next to some descriptors: Grumpy+ Sunshine All the kinds of comments you love to hate Demons, werewolves, vampires, oh my! Road trip! May induce spit-takes, cackling, & tears
The words $2.99 Worldcon Ebook Sale" above the image of the top half of a tablet displaying the cover for "New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" all against a purple background. So wish I could be there but say hi to my friends for me.
A pink and purple paperback copy of New Year, New You: A speculative Anthology of Reinvention displayed against a backdrop of pink, purple, and silver mardi gras beads, with a $5 sticking out like a bookmark because this awesome anthology is currently on sale for less that $5 on Amazon. WHAT? Go buy it now!
From Epicurious's original post of Ruth Reichl's recipe (which is is behind a paywall so I linked to her newsletter instead): A plate with a dark brown rim, full of eggy, broken-up matzo brei, topped with fresh dill and an eager fork.
An ad for a $0.99 flash sale for NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A SPECULATIVE ANTHOLOGY OF REINVENTION. Ad reads: "A New Anthology from Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory, and more!" above a copy of the book cover, a cyan button that says "Flash Sale! Only $0.99, and the quote "I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafted. — Myna Chang, Microverse". On the right hand side is a dark skinned, cyborg woman in profile with natural hair, all in shades of purple. The background is gradient of cyan to pink.
A promotional graphic for the SFF anthology "New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" which is on sale this week for $0.99 (ebook). The graphic also includes endorsements from readers and reviewers with such glowing comments as "Nuanced" "Intense and beguiling" and "Complex and experimental."
A purple flyer that reads: "Bird in Hand" (with a coffee mug graphic next to it) presents... Charm City Spec: Brigitte Winter | Catherine Castellani | Allison Pottern | Ben Pick| Carolyn Ives Gilman" Below are three book covers, for DARK ORBIT, NEW YEAR NEW YOU, and FALLING THROUGH, followed by the date, time, and location: 3.22.25 | 6:30 PM | 11 E. 33RD St.
Give me books, fruit, French Wine, fine weather, and a little music. - John Keats (the words sit above an interpretive design of a guitar, neck angled down, with an apple at it's center, book pages shaping the lower half of the instruments body and tree branches the upper half. The top of the body and the neck look like a tilted wine glass.
A purple flyer that reads: "Bird in Hand" (with a coffee mug graphic next to it) presents... Charm City Spec: Brigitte Winter | Catherine Castellani | Allison Pottern | Ben Pick| Carolyn Ives Gilman" Below are three book covers, for DARK ORBIT, NEW YEAR NEW YOU, and FALLING THROUGH, followed by the date, time, and location: 3.22.25 | 6:30 PM | 11 E. 33RD St.
A golden tray of coconut butter mochi, a soft chewy bar with toasted coconut on top and crispy brown edges. One piece is being removed from the tray, revealing the translucent, smooth, bouncy, buttery interior. You can't tell, but there is also the perfect amount of flaky salt scattered over the top to balance the light sweetness of the cake. NOM NOM NOM. Photo from The Kitchn.
Eligibility post for Allison Pottern's stories "Cryptid Car Rental" in Trollbreath Magazine and "All the Time in the World and None at All" in the New Year, New You, a Speculative Anthology of Reinvention.
A cake. An obscenely large cake. A cake that is basically four cakes and a bucket of frosting in a Saran Wrap trench coat. Four alternating layers of chocolate and vanilla cake with pale pink strawberry buttercream smeared kind of between and all around. A decided lack of sprinkles. About a third of it is cut away revealing those beautiful layers and our poor attempt to finish this sugary triumph. Eat something sweet then call/email your reps. Xo
A fortune cookie fortune that reads “be a first rate version of yourself not a second rate version of someone else” against a blue and white batik background
A fortune cookie fortune that reads “living with a commitment to excellence shall take you far” against a blue wood background with grey river stones in the corner
A fortune cookie fortune that reads: "You simplify your life in many ways and find great rewards" against a grey background
A fortune cookie fortune that reads "Something on 4 wheels will soon be a fun investment for you!" against a red and black fabric background
A fortune cookie fortune that reads "There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead for you" against a rainbow-corded fabric background
A silver car with the rear license plate reading "SHLEPR"
A fortune cookie fortune that reads: "It's not the years in your life, but the life in your years that count." against a textured green-gray background
A fortune cookie fortune that reads: "Know and believe in yourself, and what others think won't disturb you." against a blue, fabric background
A fortune cookie fortune that reads: "It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait."
A fortune cookie fortune that reads: "Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair."