Stephen Kotowych Career Getting Underway

STEPHEN KOTOWYCH WINNER FOR VOLUME 23

SEES HIS START FOR A PROMISING CAREER

This past weekend I did a reading from and signed copies of the new SF&Fanthology 'Under Cover of Darkness' (DAW Books) which includes my firstpublished story, "Borrowed Time." You might be interested to know that this anthology also includes a new short story from WotF judge LarryNiven (you can imagine how I almost fell out of my chair when they told me I'd be in the same anthology as Larry Niven.)

The launch was held at the Toronto Public Library's Merril Collection ofScience Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy--Canada's major collection ofspeculative fiction.

I attach some photos from the launch (the rest are available athttp://kotowych.blogspot.com/). They are of me doing the reading from my story (another first for me!), and of the autograph session with myself and four of the other authors. My editor, Julie Czerneda, was nice enough to introduce me as a winner of Writers of the Future and people seemed really excited and impressed. The contest is definitely well-known and respected!




Also, this Saturday myself (WOTF 23), Tony Pi (WOTF 23), and Mike Rimar(WOTF 21) are participating in a panel at Toronto's Ad Astra conventionabout the Writers of the Future Contest. The panel also includes WotF judge Robert J. Sawyer, and WotF Grand Prize Winner James Alan Gardner(WOTF 6). I'll try to get some pictures and send them to you next week.

Best wishes,

Stephen Kotowych (http://kotowych.blogspot.com/)

Rave Reader Response for Volume 22

The following letter just came in from R.Powell from Raceland, LA.

WRITERS OF THE FUTURE XXII

BLEW ME AWAY!!

Assuredly every avid short story reader's nirvana! Each tale brings a fresh style and unexpected topics that make this collection a deliciously eclectic reading buffet.

Before I was halfway through the book, I called my stepson to thank him for sending it to me as a Christmas present. And when I finished the last story I had to have more so I called and ordered every back issue I could get my hands on. Thank you David M. for such an "uber' awesome gift, and that you sweet Sarah C. for your patience, caring and conversation.

R. Powell
Raceland LA

Not bad, eh? So how about telling your friends to get and read these books. They really do provide some great reading.

P.S. Stay tuned. I should have the 4th Q illustrator winners by tomorrow, or latest the next day!!!!!

Kim Zimring does her first radio show

Kim Zimring of Decatur, Georgia has already had a good start in media exposure as a winner in the soon to be published Writers of the Future Volume 23. She had two interviews last Friday. First she did an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution which will be coming out in the next day or so. Then she drove to a radio station where she did a 30 minute radio show - and did a great job at that! The link to the podcast for the radio interview can be gotten by clicking the following and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

2/23/07 - Dot Blum with Kim Zimring, First place winner of Writers of the Future .

Three Winners from Volume 22 Give an Update

Today, I have news on three of our winners from Writers of the Future volume 22. Eldar, our grand prize winner from Uzbekistan; Laura Jennings, our Texas Tech student who does incredible TV interviews; and Blake Hutchins, next in a long line of incredible writers from the Wordos Writing Group in Eugene, OR.


ELDAR ZAKIROV:

From my news: I met two editors and journalists of ones of the greatest of our newspapers and they wrote the reportages about us. One of this reportages is already published, other will be soon.

Now I am working as CG-designer and painter in an russian-uzbek cellular content provider. Many samples for our advertising I'm drawing by mouse. Now I create the animation for TV-advertising of our services too. The work is interesting! Besides I am painting the classic illustrations for Moscow greeting cards.

This springs one of Moscow publishers will issue the second album of CG and traditional painters of Russia and Post-Soviet Countries. There will be printed 5 of my works.

I has given all information about Contest to my friends-artists and writers. Maybe (I hope - soon) they will send their works soon. :)

-- Eldar

LAURA JENNINGS:

I'd had a really rough day at work. I was lying on the couch on my lunch break, depating whether I should get up and go back to work, or just lie here for a few more minutes and just be late. I was on my way out the door when the phone rang.

I was late for work, because that was when I won the Illustrators of the Future. I had done my three entries at my bill collecting job, pen and ink on bristol. It was just this transcendent sense of accomplishment. Somebody liked my work! I had to wait more than a year before the ceremony, but Illustrators became this shining star. No matter how bad my day was or what was going on, I still had Illustrators. In the back of my head it was like "You're still good. You're ... an Illustrator!"

Even now, after San Diego, Illustrators is still that same kind of reassurance. Probably even more so.

Since I won, I moved up to Lubbock, Texas to attend Texas Tech University. I met a lot of resistance from fine artists, who sneered at illustration. That was until they saw whatI could do. I suppose they thought illustration is a cop out for people who can't draw, or something, but my skills have blown away the large majority of my professors. I've also kept in good contact with my fellow Illustrators. I have a network that extends further than I ever thought it would. But after growing up in a place where people basically can't answer your art questions because there's no market for it, it's very reassuring to know that I can pop on line and ask what I need to know.

I'm getting ready to head down to Austin, and become a video game developer. I want to be an art director, concept artist, or character/environment designer. And Illustrators won't just tell me I'm a good artist, it'll tell other people. It's going at the top of my resume.

- Laura Jennings

BLAKE HUTCHINS:

After I heard I'd won the L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest in 2005, I started planning my way to building a sustaining career as a writer. The Writers of the Future win came at a great time for me and provided an incredible shot in the arm, the kind that really helps you drive for anything really ambitious and long-term. It gave me that extra jolt of confidence--plus all the benefits of the workshop's sage advice and perspective. I've noticed that other writers and publishers have given me some automatic respect just from my contest winner status, and that's an uplifting feeling.

With the workshop and professional connections under my belt, I now approach my writing with a more seasoned eye, as well as consider carefully how to present myself when it comes time to market my work. The entire experience brought the business side into focus in a concrete way I'd never gotten from writing books or general writing advice, and I found it immensely helpful.

Right now the immediate focus is on craft. I'm working on a pair of novels and putting a ton of short stories in the mail, pushing some boundaries and experimenting with various styles and genres. I'm confident the Writers of the Future pedigree will open doors for me going forward; the contest commands a lot of respect in the F&SF field. My strategy is to build a solid body of work first, so I have something to market. So far I haven't hit any jackpots (I'm a very recent winner), but the plan is more of a long-term one, and I'm pleased with my progress and thankful for the fantastic experience of the contest.

Best,
Blake

WRITERS OF THE FUTURE SITE

And, if you haven't done so yet or even for a while, check out the Writers of the Future dot com site. You can see photos from each of the 22 years awards ceremonies and photos with descriptions of all our judges.

The Art of Peter Town & News from Eric James Stone

I just received some great news from Eric James Stone (WOTF 21 winner and WOTF 20 finalist) whose story "Tabloid Reporter To the Stars" was the lead story in the most recent issue of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show mag. (By the way, if you haven't read Eric's story in volume 21, you really should -- its a great fantasy called "Betrayer of Trees."

My big news is that the cover story for the brand new issue of Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show is by me. "Tabloid Reporter to the Stars" is a story I actually wrote specifically to submit to WOTF back in 2004. A few days after submitting it, though, I found out that I was a winner for the previous quarter. After a little reworking, it found a home at IGMS.

Since going to my first WOTF workshop as a published finalist, I have sold two stories to Analog and three to IGMS (including my 24-hour story from the workshop, "Salt of Judas").

--Eric James Stone

THE ART OF PETER TOWN

Following are illustratrations submitted by Peter Town, of Sacramento, CA, illustrator winner for volume 23. The first illustration is titled "In Her Majesty's Secret Service."

The next illustration is titled "Prince of Elves."

NOTICE TO WRITER AND ILLUSTRATOR WINNERS

I have been sending out quite a few press releases on past and just-named winners and have found that there may be quite a bit of media pick ups that I won't ever find out about unless you send it to me or alert me to it if its TV or radio. Clipping services and web searches don't get all the papers. So email me when you find them and I'll give you the address to send them to.

Thanks.

THESE ARE REALLY GOOD STORIES

I gotta say, as I read the new stories coming in for volume 23, these stories are really incredible stories. I also go back to the earlier books when I get news from past winners and these are also really great stories. Why else would they have been chosen, come on!

So as a word to the wise, I have been hearing more and more from winners how they have all the earlier copies of Writers of the Future and have read the stories. I highly recommend that you do the same. And if you are a winner already, then sit back and enjoy some great storytelling.

OK. I'm done for tonight.

Success for Steven Saville from WOTF 19

Steven Saville ( WOTF 19) has had incredible success since winning the contest and he has sent a write up to the blog to share the success that all began with winning the Writers of the Future Contest.

STEVEN SAVILLE

The last few years since winning Writers of the Future XIX have been something of a whirlwind for me.

Immediately after the workshop with Powers and K.D. I came home to Sweden and sold an adaptation of my story Bury My Heart at the Garrick (Houdini's Last Illusion) and a collection of my older short stories, Angel Road, in the UK.

Six months later my debut novel Skrattande Pojkens Skugga came out in my native Sweden. It was an addictive experience actually, I was even 'recognised' in the hairdressers (ironic considering I have none) and a few other places thanks to appearances on morning tv and the headline 'Sweden's Scariest Teacher' in the premier broadsheet.

Things really started getting interested two years ago when I turned full time as a writer, selling three dark fantasy novels, Inheritance, Dominion and Retribution to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint in the UK, as well as two more novels, this time Celtic fantasy, Slaine the Exile and Slaine the Defiler to their sister imprint Black Flame.

I wrote three quarters of a million words in a fifteen month period. This from a man who managed about the same amount in fifteen years before that.

In between writing the books I co-edited Elemental, with Alethea Kontis, for Tor books in the US. All proceeds raised from the sales of the anthology go to Save the Children to raise money to provide schooling and essential counselling services for victims of the South East Asian Tsunami.

More recently I have edited two more anthologies, one on behalf of the Dr Who franchise for Big Finish/BBC, Destination Prague, which is due next month I believe, and one for a small press in the US, Empire of London, which is an alternate history anthology by some of the brightest talents in the UK right now.

2006 saw me trying something different, a quarterly serial, Temple, in the news stand magazine Apex Digest, which wrapped up last month to pleasing reviews.

I've been hired to write a band promo, sold a series of YA horror novels, joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency, written for Dr Who, have just sold a non-fiction book about the influence of Cult Television and am currently collaborating on a novel with New York Times Bestselling Novelist Stel Pavlou.

Next month, my first ever limited edition hardcover, the English Language edition of Skrattande Pojkens Skugga (Laughing Boy's Shadow) is released, for oodles of cash but it does look very pretty, and there will only be 100 of the hardcovers and 200 paperbacks making it something of a collectors piece.

I write, on average, 4,000 words a day, be these fiction or proposals for new tv related projects, books, anthologies or what have you.

Sometimes I even try to lead a normal kind of life...

-- Steven Saville

COME AND SEE KD WENTWORTH THIS SATURDAY

I will have a Writers of the Future panel this Saturday, 11:00 A.M., at ConDFW in Richardson (Dallas), Texas. It's at the Radisson Hotel Dallas North. We'll show the documentary, explain how the Contest works, and give tips on how to avoid problems that can get you rejected on the first page. Could you post my news for me? Thanks!Best, KDW

AN INVITATION FROM ARTEM MILOVICH

Artem Mirolevich "Global Elements"
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 24, 2007

Artem Mirolevich at McCaig-Welles Gallery
MCCAIG-WELLES @FOUNTAIN ARMORY WEEKEND
Fountain Website

DIRECTIONS
We are located at 129 Roebling Street. Take the L train to the first stop in Brooklyn, "Bedford Avenue". Walk two blocks South to N. 5th Street. Make a left on N. 5th and walk one block to Roebling. Make a right on Roebling, we are located between N. 4th and N. 5th Streets. 718 384 8729 .
Click for map
WILLIAMSBURG AFTER HOURS: ARMORY WEEKEND
More info on Brooklyn After Hours
McCaig-Welles Gallery
We are pleased to present "Global Elements", an exhibition by Artem Mirolevich. The exhibition runs February 16,- March 3, 2007. An artist's reception will be held at the gallery on Saturday, February 24, 2007 from 7-11pm.

The Art of Marcus Collins

The following illustrations were submitted by Marcus Collins, winner for volume 23. The first illustration is titled "Lost World."


His second illustration is titled "Leviathon."

The third illustration is titled "Fantasy Abandoned Ship Yard.

NATHAN TAYLOR BOOKSTORE EVENTS

I found that I had some photos from Nathan Taylor (ILOF 22). He did a great job illustrating the fantasy sea story by Blake Hutchins. If you haven't read the story and seen the illo -- then you should!

WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE PODCASTS

Well, in the not-too-distant future, you will be able to listen to some really incredible interviews that have been done over the past 22 years with some of the greatest names in science fiction and fantasy. I'm teaching myself how to make podcasts - edit the files, record intros, clean up background noises, etc. Quite a wealth of material exists. Maybe by promising these to you, I'll overcome all obstacles and get the first one published - it is a great interview with Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Tim Powers, Sean Williams and KD Wentworth on various aspects of finding an agent, knowing when a novel is "saleable" and lots of other great things. They recorded this a few years ago during the writers workshop.

Sean Williams wins Australia's Aurealis Award

Writers of the Future winner Sean Williams (WOTF 9) and now contest judge, sent in the following news regarding how he has been doing lately down Australia-way. You can see more on Sean at his website at http://www.seanwilliams.com/

My recent news is that my short story "The Seventh Letter" (published in
Australia's oldest and most prestigious short fiction market, The Bulletin)
won the Aurealis Award for Best SF Short Story of 2006. I was particularly
pleased because I've been concentrating on novels in recent years, and this
was the first short story I'd written since 2000. It was wonderful to
return to the form after such a long absence, and to be reminded of why I
loved it so much. It really took me back to the early 1990s, when I was
submitting to the Contest every quarter and hoping against hope that
something would get over the line.

At the time I wrote "The Seventh Letter", I also wrote another short story
for (fellow WOTF winner) Steve Savile's Dr Who anthology, due out later this
year. Fingers crossed it has the same kind of success. :-)

Apart from that, my news is all about books, book and more books. Good
stuff, but entirely too much to think about when I'm facing a tight
deadline. I'll report more soon, I promise.

Sean

MORE WOTF-NEWS

I sent news of this blog to Ken Scholes (WOTF 21) who then wrote back after seeing it.

Thanks for sending this along. Please say "Howdy" to everyone down there for me. I will send up some news for the blog soon -- things have really taken off for me since winning the contest.

Ken

AND YET MORE WOTF-NEWS

Luc Reid (WotF XIX and XX) here; I just found out about the new blog, and have been catching up on WotF-related news there. Great stuff! Andrea Kail mentioned it on our online writers' group, Codex ; Aliette de Bodard is also a member, as is Quarter IV finalist Laurel Amberdine, Diana Rowland from Writers of the Future XXII, and probably a couple of dozen other former WotFers, so Writers of the Future is something of a holy grail for many of our members who haven't already participated.

In case it's of interest, I thought I'd mention that my first book--a non-fiction book, actually--came out this past September from Writers Digest Books: Talk the Talk: The Slang of 65 American Subcultures . It's a dictionary of specialized slang (circus slang, SCUBA diving slang, parapsychology slang, pro wrestler slang, etc.) with brief introductions to each of the cultures it covers. It's been doing well in book stores, apparently, and has been the subject of an article in a Vermont newspaper and an entry on the widely-read blog BoingBoing.net .

I'm enjoying the blog and am looking forward to volume XXIII.

Best wishes,
Luc
luc@lucreid.com
www.lucreid.com
www.subculturetalk.com

Winners Announced for 4th Qtr Writers of the Future plus the Art of Bryan Beus in Color

4TH QTR WINNERS FOR WRITERS OF THE FUTURE ANNOUNCED

First things first -- the fourth quarter winners for the Writers of the Future Contest are:

1. Andrea Kail from New York, NY
2. Edward Sevcik from Austin, TX
3. John Burridge from Eugene, OR


Congratulations to you three and this completes all writers winners for Writers of the Future Volume 23. The Illustrators of the Future winners should be ready to be announced within the next few days.

If you know any of these three feel free to contact them with your congratulations and also be sure to let everyone else know that the results are out.

ART OF BRYAN BEUS

The following two illustrations had been earlier posted in black and white. Bryan emailed me with the color versions of these illos adn I am posting them here.

The first illustration is the color version of "Clowns."


The next illustration is the color version of "Pinata."



Monday, I'll be posting the art of Marcus Collins, another illustrator winner who will be published in volume 23.

ANOTHER BOOKSTORE EVENT WITH PAST WINNERS
A NOTE FROM SIDRA VITALE (WOTF 21)

Myself (v.21), Aimee Amodio (v.18), and Lon Prater (v.21) will be coming together at Booklovers Gourmet in Webster, MA, on March 10th for a booksigning and reading. This is the second time I've visited Booklovers, and a first for Aimee and Lon, and its our mini-reunion from the '05 workshop, since that's where we all first met.

(I will also be a member of the team representing New England School of Law at the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition at Pace Law School, Feb 22-24. Don't know if that's blogworthy for WOTF or not, but it's my news and it's next week!)


Sidra Vitale

HOW ELSE CAN WE GET THIS NEWS OUT?

If you can think of ways that this site can be better promoted or material disseminated, I really would appreciate your suggestions.

The Art of Randall Ensley and a Great Article on Patrick Rothfus (WOTF 18) in Publishers Weekly

Before we get into more cool art, I was just reviewing my latest issue of Publishers Weekly and found this article on Patrick Rothfus, winner from WOTF 18 for his story "The Road to Levenshir." His novel, "The Name of the Wind" is the first of a three-part series. Anne McCaffrey read it and raved - I'm including her comments below the PW article. (Click here Publishers Weekly to see the story in PW.)

A COMMENT FROM ANNE McCAFFREY

Thank God it says clearly on the front BOOK ONE because I want more of Rothfus' adventure as he clearly hasn't told us yet if Kote gets thru University and why Bast on another planet has the name of an Egyptian god. And lots of other little bits that need wrapping and which I am eagerly awaiting.

I wonder, for instance, if the Chandrian happen to use the draccus blue fire to their own end.

This is a MAGNIFICENT book, a really fine story, highly readable and very engrossing. I compliment young Pat ( not being condescending but I am older but rather envious that his first novel is a GREAT one.) His ideas are dependent on no other author for inspiration. I know he must be going on with this fabulous story and wish to encourage him.

Please thank Elizabeth Wolheim for sending me the ARC (advance reading copy) which I am plotting to send to someone else deserving enough to have this pre-publication.

Wow! He really deserved to win a WOTF Contest. Ciao now, A bemazed Annie.

Now, here is the art from winner Randall Ensley of Gales Ferry, CT. The first illustration is titled "Key of Pain."

The second piece is titled "Final Frontier."

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NEXT POST!

Watch for tomorrow's post for the next illustrator winner along with some more incredible accomplishments from our contest's winners.

Aliette de Bodard gets a magazine cover and Scott Nicholson comments on life after Writers of the Future

Well there is quite some good news on today's post.

First off, Aliette de Bodard (WOTF 23 to be published) sold a story to Andromeda Spaceways and the cover art is to her story. So well done to her. Its a beautiful cover and I'm anxious to read the story. Kudos to Andromeda Spaceways!!


I received a great write up from Scott Nicholson (WOTF XV) who has done incredibly well since winning the contest back in 1999. You can find out all about Scott at www.HauntedComputer.com. Below is what Scott looks like and below his photo is an overview of what has happened since winning the Writers of the Future Contest.

My career has been thriving since I was a Writers of
the Future winner in 1999, having been a published
finalist the year before. Those early sales were not
only important to my confidence as a writer, but I
also made some personal contacts that I still
maintain, and I've watched some of my "classmates"
also publish books.
Two years after winning the contest, I had my first
supernatural novel accepted. My sixth novel, They
Hunger, will be published in April. I've also sold
about 50 professional stories in science fiction,
fantasy, and horror since winning the contest, and
recently had a story accepted for The Year's Best
Fantasy & Horror.
The benefits of the contest were also intangible and
continue to be rewarding. At the moment, I am working
on an anthology for the Horror Writers Association
with best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson, whom I
first met at the Writers of the Future workshop and
who has been very helpful over the years. I consider
myself not only a fortunate to have been selected from
among the many talented new writers in the field, but
I also feel like I'm part of a great fellowship that
extends back into the contest's past and on into the
future.
The contest is not just about great fiction; it's
about great people who share a belief that it's okay
to dream. -- Scott Nicholson

In doing some media research I happened upon a magazine I wasn't familiar with - but figured I should have been. So I checked it out. The publisher's name is Jason Sizemore. He is a great guy. And even greater is that he had already published some of the works of Steven Saville, a WOTF winner of a few years ago. With what he had to say about the contests, I even like him better now! You can also check out his site at www.apexdigest.com and check out his mag as you will be seeing more Writers of the Future winners there. And based on his comment once he saw the art work featured on this blog, very possibly some Illustrator of the Future winners as well!!

You guys do great work at WotF.

Ah yes, Savile is a great guy. We're publishing another one of your winners starting next issue, Geoffrey Girard.

The best services is to help the genre reading and writing community become more aware of Apex. Subscribers are great, so are folks who buy Apex from the chains. Hmm, advertisers are great too! :)

Jason

STILL COMING UP

I will still be posting more artwork and Randall Ensley will be featured next. It's just that with all this great news coming in, I didn't want to short either posting.

AND DON'T FORGET

There are lots of copies of Writers of the Future books in stores throughout the US and if you haven't read the book yet, all I can say is that you are missing out on some great reading!!!

Alex Torres had a great booksigning

Alex Torres (Illustrators of the Future winner volume 22) recently did media and a bookstore signing at Castle Books in his home of Puerto Rico.


As you can see, it was very well attended. Alex spoke about art and illustration...


About the contest...


And the best part --- the book sales!!!!

CHECK OUT TOMORROW'S BLOG

Tomorrow I will be posting the art of Randall Ensley, Illustrators of the Future winner for volume 23.

The Art of Amelia Mammoliti

Following is the winning artwork of Amelia Mammoliti from El Dorado Hills, CA. The first illustration is titled, "Like a Demon Should."
The second illustration is titled, "Rooftop Serenade."


The third illustration is titled, "Big Horn."

NEWS FROM PAST WINNERS

I just received the following email from Eric James Stone (WOTF XX & XXI). I'll have more news on this soon which I will be sure to keep you briefed on:

Three WOTF winners will be participating guests at Life, the Universe &
Everything, which is BYU's science fiction & fantasy symposium. Kathleen
Dalton Woodbury (WOTF IX), Robert J. Defendi (WOTF XIX) and Eric James Stone
(WOTF XX & XXI) will be on panels such as "The Viability of Artificial
Intelligence", "Believable Warfare in a Fantasy Setting", and "The Origins of
Fantasy."

The symposium runs February 15-17 on the Brigham Young University campus in
Provo, Utah. Admission is free. For more details, go to:
http://ltue.byu.edu/


If you are near Provo, UT, tells others you know to go to the symposium and cheer our winners along.

The Art of Corey Loving

Following are the wining illustrations submitted by Illustrators of the Future contest winner Corey Loving. The first illustration is titled, "Samurai Waterfalls."

This second illustration is titled, "Enslaved to Sin."

The third illustration is titled, "After War."

SALES NEWS

The following article just ran in the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday edition:

February 4, 2007

Chicago's Top Picks: What Chicagoans bought from amazon.com last week

3. L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Vol. 22

L. Ron Hubbard (Galaxy Press, 500 pages)

The Bookscan report just came in and showed Writers of the Future Vol 22 as #14 on the mass market science fiction front list.

Keep on telling your friends about the book. They need to check it out - it's got great stories to read.

The Art of Artem Mirolevich

The following two illustrations are by Illustration of the Future winner Artem Mirolevich, born in Minsk, Belarus and then moved to New York. The first illustration is entitled "Elephants."


The second illustration is titled "Mothership."

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR WINNERS

Sarah Totton (WOTF 22) just wrote in with the following good news:

I just found out this morning that I've sold another short story.
It's called "Ride" and it will be coming out in the Fantastical
Visions V anthology from Fantasist Enterprises.

Cheers,

Sarah

MORE GOOD NEWS FROM OUR WINNERS

And Stephen Kotowych (WOTF 23) just wrote in the following good news:

I just wanted to let you know that the new anthology Under Cover of Darkness (DAW Books, ISBN-10: 0756404045 or ISBN-13: 978-0756404048), which contains my first published story ‘Borrowed Time’, is available at better bookstores as of Tuesday, Feb. 6 , 2007. Here’s a bit of what Barnes & Noble has to say about the collection: "Science fiction and fantasy fans who enjoy their stories laden with secrecy and intrigue (underground societies, double agents, covert organizations, etc.) will undoubtedly enjoy the new DAW anthology Under Cover of Darkness, which features 14 original short stories from illustrious genre veterans like Larry Niven, Tanya Huff, and Janny Wurts, as well as numerous talented newcomers like Amanda Bloss Maloney and Stephen Kotowych."
Hey -- that’s me! :)
You can find the complete B&N review at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780756404048&itm=2

SEND ME YOUR NEWS

If you have news that should be on the blog be sure to send it to me at pr@galaxypress.com.

The Art of Lars Edwards

Lars Edwards lived in Arlington, Mass when he entered the contest but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. The first illustration is titled, "Flight."
His second illustration is entitled, "Epilogue."

His third winning illustration is titled, " Entente Cordiale."

I'll get our next illusrator winner posting done over the weekend. So be sure to watch for it.

I received a comment yesterday from from someone in India who says there is only one SF anthology in India -- and it isn't WOTF. This can be changed by simply increasing awareness of the contest and book and getting people to request it in whatever country they live in. The book can be ordered from Ingram Int'l minimally. They can also go to Amazon.com, which sells a huge number of these books.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Be sure to tell all your sf friends on your email lists to check out this blog. And be sure to send me you good news so I can post it on the blog so your friends read all about you when the check the blog out!

The Art of Bogdan Stetensko

Bogdan is from Kiev, Ukraine and was another first quarter winner to be published in WOTF 23. The title of the first illustration is : "The Fly".

The second illustration is called, "The Last Musician".

The third illustration is entitled, "Rysalochka".

I read in a blog yesterday posted by Damon Kaswell that he heard from a friend that he was on TV in Eugene. I called up to Eugene and spoke to the new director of KEZI-TV and sure enough, the ran the press release I had sent out announcing the new winners as a news item.

In addition to the piece that ran on Damon, Kim Jollow will be interviewed on a local radio station later this month as a winner of the Writers Contest and Amelia Mammoliti will have a feature article coming out on her in the next week or so in a local paper as a winner in the Illustrator Contest.

Roughly two press releases a week are going out on Writers of the Future volume 22 and the upcoming volume 23. So I expect to hear a lot more stories similar to Damon's story. So be sure to watch for articles, radio or TV airings about you as a winner in the writers and illustrators contest.

WHEN YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE HAD ANY MEDIA, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW. THE BEST WAY IS TO JUST EMAIL ME AT PR@GALAXYPRESS.COM

Also, Writers of the Future Volume 22 was #1 on Amazon.com for 2 days this week as a science fiction anthology! This has happened virtually every week the past 2 months.