N. K. Jemisin is one of my favorite short-story writers. You owe it to yourself to read a copy of “L’Alchemista”; I think it’s still archived on Escape Pod, so you can listen to it, too. She’s also got a story up for the Nebula this year:“Non-Zero Probabilities,” which was in Clarkesworld in November ’09.
And, joy of joys, she’s releasing her first novel today!
Find this book. Read it. I haven’t yet, but I’m sure gonna!
How To Kill Your Imaginary Friends 