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Meet the SFINCS4 Judging Teams

Team Readers of the Lost ARC


Lead
Steven Hugh Westenra

Bluesky | Itchio

Steve Hugh Westenra is the author of the queer horror comedy, The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle; the epic fantasy, The Wings of Ashtaroth; and the Sword and Sorcery novella The Barbarian at Dream's End (Brackenbury Books). He has a PhD in monsters and grew up on the eldritch shores of Newfoundland, Canada.


Team Members


Helyna L. Clove
Website | Bluesky | Goodreads

Helyna L. Clove (she/they) is an astrophysicist, science-fiction/fantasy novelist, and a lover of all types of storytelling, hot comfort drinks, and a universe full of stars. She was born in Hungary and raised in a small village a few miles off the shores of Lake Balaton, and spent the first fifteen years of her life consuming books from her parents’ home library, watching some great 90’s sci-fi shows, and working on her eclectic music taste. After several arduous years of obtaining her degree, then postdoc positions in France and the UK, she currently lives in Germany with her small family of a wonderful boyfriend and Puddle, the tortoiseshell cat. When not writing her stories, she can be found reading voraciously, cooking and baking cautiously, playing video games, or occasionally commandeering radio telescopes.


Cat Treadwell

Substack | Website
Cat Treadwell is an author, reviewer and pagan priest from Derbyshire. Her latest book is an anthology arriving in Dec/Jan (exciting!), but meantime she's usually to be found curled up with a pile of ARCs longer than her life expectancy.

 

Karen Lucia

Website | Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky

Karen is a science fiction and fantasy author from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been an avid writer, reader, gamer, and all-around nerd core enthusiast her whole life. Having a passion for writing, she has published four full-length novels and four novellas, with more always on the way. Her taste in books spans genres, but there is a special place in her heart for indie books. When she’s not creating worlds or reading, she can be found chasing her children around the zoo, playground, or any other open space they happen across (and probably taking pictures of all the mushrooms they find).

Team Bookish Dimensions


Lead


 Noel Cober

BlueSky

I'm Noel (they/him), and I read and write fantasy, science fiction, horror and erotica, sometimes and preferably all at the same time because it's cooler that way, and I like weird stories that I can talk to myself about at two in the morning. I lowkey hate social media but I am trying to use it more.


Team Members

Chanchito Massoni

Bluesky | Instagram

I am Chanchito Massoni, and you can either call me Chancho or Chanchito. I am a cat. I am he/him, but the human who types for me is she/her, so whatever pronouns you wanna use is fine for us 

Renee
Instagram


Hi, I'm Renee (she/her) and I'm from Ipswich, Australia I read a wide range of books, but mainly fantasy (epic, cosy, urban), science fiction, and horror. I only started my Bookstagram page last year, so only have a small following that I'm growing organically (I do it for the fun, not the numbers). My new passion in reading is discovering those hidden gems of the indie world. I've had the privilege of becoming a Beta Reader and an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) reader for many indie authors and am a judge for the 2026 Indie Ink Awards. I'm excited about reading a heap of novellas with you all.

Julieta

TikTok | Instagram

My name is Julieta (she/her) and I am a full time night bartender soooo mostly active at night when everyone is asleep. I used to be active on social media but took a major break this year. I might get back into it for booktok but have really enjoyed being a more background participator instead! I am excited to read the novellas this year!!!!​

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Brent

Instagram

I like books and have opinions so I'm looking forward to this!

Team TBR Strikes Back


Lead
Nils Ödlund
Blog

 

Fav Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Fav book(s) in the last year: The Queen of Dreams and Dust by Grace Carlisle

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Fav bookish quote: Stories are about characters.


Team Members


Tabitha Tomala
Bluesky | Blog | Instagram

 

Fav Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction

 

Fav book(s) in the last year: Cinders of Yesterday by Jen Karner and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Fav bookish quote: "And then there are the rare ones who know love, who understand it. Who freely give of themselves, demanding only a return of that love, that trust." Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison.


Sue Bavey
Website | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads

Fav Genre: Mythology Folklore

 

Fav book(s) in the last year: The Chosen One Con by Trudie Skies

 

Fav bookish quote: “There is a glory in the shatter, in allowing the cracks to surface and the ground to become unsettled. We are, none of us, whole, riddled with wounds and trying to plaster them over as best we can.”– The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn


Sophia (Soph) Turner

BlueSky

Fav Genre: Sci-fi/horror

Fav book(s) in the last year: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Fav bookish quote: "Make people touch, and taste, and KNOW" -- Octavia Butler

 

Jen Du Randt

Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

Fav Genre: Fantasy

Fav book(s) in the last year: The Enchanted Alehouse series by Gemma Perfect

Fav bookish quote: "Empty stomachs are the root of most arguments. Eat first and you'll find your moods improve." "If you love with your eyes, death is forever. If you love with your heart, there is no such thing as parting". Ascendent by Michael R Miller. 

"Spit it out now you silly sod! You can't eat Bob!" After the Midnight Hour by I M Jones.

Team KRACKenS


Lead
Kate Kelly

 

Kate Kelly is a UK based SF writer with a passion for the sea and all things weird and strange.


Team Members


Candace Cameron-Mitchell

BlueSky

She's Candace/DFR. A published author, professional ghostwriter, and freelance editor. She's a Pg70Pit winner, P2P15 judge, and RevPit co-founder. This is her second year with SFINCS. She primarily reads and writes fantasy, romance, science fiction, horror, and blends thereof. Her favorite flavor of ice cream is legitimately vanilla.

Perin

Adawie

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