(Columbus, OH) — National Leather Association: International (NLA-I), a leading organization for activists in the pansexual SM/leather/fetish community, announced today the finalists for its annual writing awards. Named after activists and writers Geoff Mains, John Preston, Pauline Réage, Cynthia Slater, and the groundbreaking organization Samois, they are awarded annually to recognize excellence in writing and publishing about Leather, SM, bondage and fetishes.

The finalists for the Cynthia Slater Non-Fiction Article Award are:

• My tantric “awakening” turned me off sex by Janet Hardy, appeared in Salon on March 15 (www.salon.com)
• “Feminist” Backlash Against BDSM by I.G. Frederick, appeared in FEMALE FIRST on October 15 (www.femalefirst.co.uk)
• What Some Women Tops and Bottoms Have in Common 🏆 by I.G. Fredrick, appeared in BDSM Book Reviews on October 12 (www.bdsmbookreviews.com)

The finalists for the Geoff Mains Non-Fiction Book Award are:

• The Artisan’s Book of Fetishcraft: Patterns and Instructions for Creating Professional Fetishwear, Restraints and Sensory Equipment 🏆 by John Huxley (Greenery Press)
• The Kinky Feminist 🏆 by F.R.R. Mallory (self‑published)
• Biker Bar: Bikes, Beer, and Boys – a playful look at the roots of the leather bar by Thom Magister (Perfectbound Press)

The finalists for the Pauline Réage Novel Award are:

• The Killer Wore Leather 🏆 by Laura Antoniou (Cleis Press)
• The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Chris Bellows (Pink Flamingo Publications)
• Tales from the Arena Playing for Keeps by Elizabeth Schechter (Smashwords)
• House of Sable Locks by Elizabeth Schechter (Circlet Press)
• Dangerous Affairs: DANGEROUS SUBMISSION by Lori Toland (Loose Id)

The finalists for the Samois Anthology Award are:

• Hell On Wheels: Disabled Dominants, ed. Raven Kaldera (Alfred Press)
• Kneeling In Spirit: Disabled Submissives, ed. Raven Kaldera (Alfred Press)
• Leather Ever After: An Anthology of Kinky Fairy Tales, ed. Sassafras Lowrey (Ravenous Publications)
• No Safewords 🏆, ed. Laura Antoniou (Circlet Press)

The finalists for the John Preston Short Story Award are:

• Mr. Smith, Ms. Jones Will See You Now by D.L. King, from the anthology Ageless Erotica, ed. Joan Price
• Imperfect Journeys 🏆 by Peter Masters (self‑published)

The winners will be announced at the National Leather Association’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held this fall, date to be announced.