Featured Stories

"The Cold Burns" published in Clarkesworld issue 231, December 2025 & audio edition & podcast

Winner for the "Outstanding Achievement for a Short Story" in the Te Pae Tawhiti Distant Horizon Awards,

Nominated for "Best Short Story" for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards

Judges’ notes: We were impressed with the strength of prose, characterisation and passion in all of our finalists, but it was the emotional weight and the groundwork done in foreshadowing its twist that ultimately put The Cold Burns at the top of our list."
https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2026/08/winners-of-the-inaugural-te-pae-tawhiti-speculative-fiction-awards-announced/

https://tepaetawhitiawards.nz/1487-2/  

"A Life Measured in Seconds" published in Clarkesworld, issue 237, June 2026, and audio edition, and podcast

“A Life Measured in Seconds” by Anne Wilkins (4,160 words in Clarkesworld) — A normal person and one perceived as a god both wish they had the life of the other. Starts with a somewhat absurd premise but makes an amazing story of identity, control, and despotism."

Review from  "My Reading Life" for "A Life Measured in Seconds". Chosen as one of three five-star rated stories. 

"Wilkins’ story fascinated me. Outstanding."
Alejandro online Goodreads review

"Intertwined" by Anne Wilkins published in Apex Magazine, issue 145, July 2024 and on Patreon  
May Flash Fiction winner

Interview 

Nominated for Reader's Choice Award (Flash fiction) Apex

Nominated for "Best Short Story" for 2025 the Sir Julius Vogel (SJV) Award, first stage

"Wilkins presents a heartbreaking story of love in a very skewed future. The narrative is visceral and disturbing, highlighting the humanity of the main characters." Recommended in Flash Roundup August 2024 by Myna Chang

"Surprisingly deep and moving for only 900 words"
Locus review, Paula Guran

"Tethered to You" published with Abyss & Apex, January 2026

"Gravitational Tug" published in Utopia Magazine, June 2025

Special Double Review of this issue here

"Set in a NASA craft designed to mitigate the space trash that in the real world has been documented in high-use orbits, Anne Wilkins’ “Gravitational Tug” presents a paraplegic widower’s first-person account from a tour of duty collecting space trash. The world-building is solid; the protagonist employs relevant technologies to gather space debris comprised of different materials in an 18,000-mile-per-hour Earth orbit to keep a valuable orbit available for use. But this isn’t a story about glassy-eyed wonder at space: it’s a long job with a cramped workplace … and the protagonist has a personal reason to be in space, unknown to his employers. “Gravitational Tug” weighs in under 1300 words, much of which is spent building credibility in the SF setting and explaining what the protagonist is doing in space. Wilkins successfully builds sympathy so that when the protagonist reveals his personal goal, and clandestinely performs his own mission, it feels like a victory for his humanity."

"A Touch of the Wild" published in Flash Fiction Online - Wilderness Horror Issue - October 2025

"This story had a real “classic horror” feel to it."

Sara L. Uckleman
SFF Reviews

"I had goosebumps from start to finish. I really liked the choice of words, the repetition of certain images, and the ending that gives us both answers and questions. Great story."
Frances (online reviewer)

That was just so darn shockingly creepy. I will never be able to look at mashed potatoes the same way again.
Ann Wellborn (online reviewer)

Brilliant! well written, creative, deliciously horrific. Nice one
Ruth Rosenhek (online reviewer)

"The Taint" published in The Dark on 1 August 2025

"Finding Love Within the Waves" published in The Dark on 2 April 2025

"Ant-icipation" published in Midnight Echo, Issue 20, Magazine of the Australasian Horror Writers Association, October 2025 [can only be read on purchase]

"Harvesting" published in The No Sleep Podcast, 8 August 2026  

"Family Christmas" published in Cast of Wonders 670: Little Wonders 47 - We Wish You a Creepy Christmas and on podcast, 23 December 2025

"A Place to Grow" winner of the 2026 Verdant Owl Writing Battle, urban fantasy genre, published on their website with interview

"INDUSTRY JUDGE FEEDBACK ~ Bobbi Beatty ~ A Place to Grow is one of those unique fantasy stories that will stick in my memory for some time to come. This story is layered with themes and societal reflections tempered by the fantasy aspect of it. The plot develops well, and the character development is solid. The genius is in describing Frank using the others from the same seed. I also love the voice and tone and the consistent use of “good children don’t cry.” George is a fantastic character and used well to teach Frank about himself and the him he could be with the right care without being preachy."

More industry feedback here

2025 “Red is the Ribbon" winner Fear Writing Battle, Horror genre, published on website with interview. 

"INDUSTRY JUDGE FEEDBACK ~ Dustin Bilyk ~ Bravo! This was a beautifully written story that gave me the heebee jeebees. I couldn't have asked for more."

More industry feedback here

2023 “Bent out of Shape”, winner Autumn Writing Battle, Halloween Frights genre, published on website with my interview:
"Bent Out of Shape" (reprint) in Gavagai Magazine on 19 November 2025

INDUSTRY JUDGE FEEDBACK - KEN LIU - The metaphor of "bent out of shape," at once horrifying and lucid, is masterfully woven into every scene of the story. The characters are well drawn and sympathetic (except for the villain, deservedly hated). I love the creativity in the image of the abuser being drowned by the emotional pain of his victims. It's justice.

INDUSTRY JUDGE FEEDBACK - LAURA FROST - This is an absolutely brilliant piece. The screams. Oh my goodness, the screams. They were set up beautifully as a heart-wrenching way for Jenny and Mama to deal with their abuse, and I never saw it coming that it would be the screams that would save them. Brilliant. The analogy of bending shapes was used in so many ways, layering upon each other, and the way you tied it all together in the end was perfect. They way Papa's mouth froze in his favorite shape. *chef's kiss* And the POV and voice could not have been better. Even the way the narrator says, "cos" grounds me in the setting and characters. You paint such a beautiful picture with your words. "Purple don't go so well with white." "Papa never did like to see his handiwork." etc etc etc Beautifully written. You are an extremely talented writer and it was an honor to read this story.

More industry feedback here

"Aphrodite T-100" published in Flame Tree Anthology: Robots past & Future, and in  16 September 2025 podcast Steam to Steel Youtube version here [can only be read on purchase]

"Washing Instructions for Delicate Fabric" shortlisted for the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize, published in an anthology [can only be read on purchase].

"Needs Must be Met" 

Third Place for the Hammond House 2024 International Literary Prize, published in an anthology, TIME: Award Winning Short Stories [can only be read on purchase]

"Aroha" finalist for LISP (London Independent Story Prize) Competition and published in the London Independent Story Prize: Short Story Anthology 2024
My interview with LISP (London Independent Story Awards)  [can only be read on purchase]