The result for the 2006 Preditors & Editors poll are in, and the Double-Edged Publishing (DEP) fantasy and science fiction magazines did very well.

Each year, the writing and publishing watchdog group, Preditors & Editors, runs a readers' choice poll. Readers may nominate publications in a number of categories and vote for their favorites. While 2005 was a good year for DEP, 2006 was better! The nominees include all genres, so there was a lot of competition, but the supporters of the DEP publications came through!

To lead off the listings, in the category of Fiction Publication, The Sword Review finished first overall. Ray Gun Revival finished ninth and Dragons, Knights, & Angels placed 13th. In the category of Poetry Publication, , The Sword Review finished fourth. Dragons, Knights, & Angels was right behind in sixth.

For the category of Publication Editor, The Sword Review Editorial Team was voted second overall (nominally represented by Bill Snodgrass). Ray Gun Revival's Editorial Team, who managed an appropriate mass nomination, finished 19th and the Dragons, Knights, & Angels Team, represented by Selena Thomason, placed 20th.

In the fiction category of Science Fiction, the DEP magazines and contributors did very well. Although some of our contributors were ranked for publications in other magazines, this report will include the winners appearing in the DEP magazines only. "Tethered in Purgatory", by Terry W. Ervin II (appearing in The Sword Review), was ranked third. Right behind it in fourth was Jane Lebak's "Damage" that appeared in Dragons, Knights, & Angels. In fifth was Michael Ehart's "Servant of the Manthycore" from The Sword Review. Then, in ninth place, there was "The Smoking Man" by S.T. Forstner, which appeared in Dragons, Knights, & Angels. That put DEP contributors in four of the top ten positions, but that was not all.

The DEP contributors continued to rank in the Science Fiction category including:

"Voices from the Void"—Mirta Ana Schultz, The Sword Review—14th
"Justice"—L. S. King, The Sword Review—17th
"Shan 'tir 'ri"—Scott M. Sandridge, Ray Gun Revival—21st
". . .in the waste howling wilderness..."—John M. Whalen, Ray Gun Revival—23rd
"Chariots"—Matt Mikalatos, The Sword Review—24th
"The Short Bus"—Marsheila Rockwell, The Sword Review—24th
"A Song of the Aelves"—David R. Downing, The Sword Review—26th

In the fiction category of Romance, Lawrence R. Dagstine's story that appeared in The Sword Review, "The Romance of Vegada" was voted 19th.

In the Poems category, DEP was represented several times as well. In seventh place was Karen L. Newman's "The Sands of Kentucky" which appeared in The Sword Review. Mirta Ana Schultz's "Into the Heart" (also The Sword Review) ranked ninth. Tenth place went to Marsheila Rockwell's "The Wishing Star" (The Sword Review). "Monument" from Dragons, Knights, & Angels by Mirta Ana Schultz ranked 11th. Rocheta Loenen-Ruiz clained 12th with Dragons, Knights, & Angels' publication of "Angels Without Wings." Many other contributors to DEP appeared in the rankings for submissions to other publications, as well.

DEP's art was also selected for a number of awards. For the Artwork category, E. J. Mickels, II's "'Repairman!'—A man wailed in panic and pain." that appeared in The Sword Review as an illustration to "Repairman" took third place. In the category of Publication Cover Art, Rachel Marks put The Sword Review in the first place position with "Surrender."

Now, we come to the awards for Authors, Poets, and Artists. The following lists are long! Many of the DEP contributors were recognized for their works in both DEP publications and in others. This list includes only their DEP achievements, and relies on the reporter's memory. As such, some names might be left out unintentionally.

In the Author category, Jane Lebak took sixth place. Thirty-first place went to SC Bryce and Emily Veinglory (among others). Marsheila Rockwell and Karen L. Newman placed 32nd. Samanth Henderson and David R. Downing were ranked 33rd. In the Poet category, Karen L. Newman was voted into ninth place. In 11th place was Marsheila Rockwell and Bruce Boston. Deborah P Kolodji and David C. Kopaska-Merkel ranked 13th. In the Artist category, eighth place went to Rachel Marks. Thirteenth place went to E. J. Mickels, II, and Teresa Tunaley took 24th place.

For a complete list of winners, visit the Pred/Ed site. Congratulations to all the DEP family who were nominated!

To all of the DEP contributors, please accept this round of congratulations! The quality of your work is what makes the DEP magazines what they are. Thank you for your continued interest and support!