We may not have a lot of old stock of paper copies on hand these days, but our friends at Weightless Books have a catalogue containing previously published digital issues of On Spec that goes back a number of years. And the best part is that the prices for each of those issues  has been reduced to a mere .99 cents U.S. (Weightless is an American company, but they have promoted On Spec for a long time).

On Spec receives a fair royalty payment for copies and subscriptions sold by Weightless. If you are a reader of short fiction and a supporter of Canadian Creative organizations, now is a good time to buy some On Spec back issues and discover the work of our writers, poets and artists.

This fine cover by Tim Hammell marks the newest issue of On Spec, and our first digital-only issue.  If you have been following On Spec for a while, you may know that the rising costs of production combined with falling revenues have made it impossible for us to print and mail copies. But it didn’t stop us from putting together a fine issue, loaded with excellent stories, poems and interviews.

If you are already a subscriber, you will soon receive an email with links for you to get your copy of the issue in your preferred digital format. If you are new to On Spec, check our BUY page to learn how you can easily get a copy of this and other issues at a reasonable cost.  Your support means a lot to us.

This issue contains new fiction from Rick Danforth, Chadwick Ginther, Robert E. Harpold, Ainsley Hawthorn, Brian D. Hinson, Kelsey Hutton, Tehnuka, Danica Klewchuk, Timothy Quinn, and Hugh A.D. Spencer. Poetry by Tehnuka, Colleen Anderson and Crystal Sidell, There’s a great interview with Chadwick Ginther by Roberta Laurie.  A new cartoon and ‘bot from Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk, and the aforementioned cover image from Tim Hammell.

Recently, we were informed by one of On Spec‘s writers (we won’t mention who until later) that a story of theirs that we published a couple of years ago, has been selected by none other than Wil Wheaton, to be read by the actor on his new podcast series, It’s Story Time with Wil Wheaton.   

In the video Wil has made to promote the new podcast venture, he even mentions On Spec, which , as they say, warms the cockles of our hearts.

While we normally don’t endorse ventures like this, we are completely chuffed that a story we’ve published has achieved this recognition.  If you are a regular podcast aficionado, you can certainly check it out. And we will post a link when the story appears on the podcast.

Our friends in Ottawa have a fabulous lineup for April’s Virtual Can*Con, a one-day event that you can attend in your pyjamas! What’s not to like?

If you’ve been following us on social media, you may be aware of our financial situation. Revenues have not been matching the increasing  costs of production and distribution  This year, and possibly going forward, On Spec will be published in digital format only. Our regular subscribers will be provided with a link to download their copies of each issue, and we plan to adjust the subscription expiry dates so they get value for the cost of paper subscription they bought in good faith.

If there is any change to the situation, we will let everyone know immediately.  Meanwhile, single paper copies of the issues published during 2024 can be purchased from us while supplies last. And digital copies of many of our issues are available through Weightless Books, along with our Ko-fi donation page. We appreciate your support.

Submissions end tonight at midnight. If you are a new submitter to On Spec and haven’t read the actual guidelines, we will not be taking your stories by email!  You need an account on our website and for this, you need to ask us to register you.

Keep in mind that our hard-working and intrepid Managing Editor is NOT going to stay up past her bedtime tonight in order to check the email requests for you to get registered to submit your work.

Tick….

Tock….

Today we celebrate The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 80 years since the discovery and liberation of Auschwitz. It brought to my mind a satirical story that we at On Spec took a chance on publishing  in 1993.

Erik Jon Spigel’s “Kissing Hitler” gave us a far-flung future where the history of the 20th Century had been either widely forgotten, or worse–completely mixed up and misunderstood. A spoiled young woman sees old newsreels online that presented the century as a bizarre blend of Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the late 60s Summer of Love.

A charismatic little man waving his arm at cheering crowds, alongside of peaceful scenes of parks filled with hippies with flowered necklaces and music. She tells a friend that with all the hippies and love, it seems like a great time and place to visit (time travel being possible), especially when her friend informs her that she, herself, is of Jewish heritage. So she makes a trip to Hitler’s Germany with the aim of planting a kiss on this charismatic leader who is holding millions in his thrall. First thing she sees is a truck loaded with people on their way to the camps, and she wants to join in the fun.

It’s a dark and rather twisted story, and something we trusted could never happen.

How can actual history be forgotten, you might ask?

Look around.

Our editor, Lareina Abbott, has a review of a new book. Visit her Review Page to see her comments on The Moon the Sun Forgot by B.J. Wagner, to be released March 4, 2025.

If you are a Canadian writer and you are considering submitting your work to On Spec,  the time is soon running out for this submission period. There’s one week remaining before we close to submissions  of fiction and poetry.

Please don’t wait until midnight January 31st!

If you are a first time submitter and haven’t already got an account on our site, you will first need to send us an email requesting to be added.