Writers of the Future Podcast
Providing writing tips and art advice from Contest Judges and Winners for writers and artists wanting to take their next step, along with needed inspiration to keep on going! Based on the world-famous Writers of the Future Contest created in 1983 by L. Ron Hubbard.
Episodes
September 23, 2023 • 61 mins
Brian Lee Duree was an Illustrators of the Future winner in volume 9. Due to vision complications, he had to transfer from painting to writing and has since become a bestselling writer of science fiction. In this podcast, we discuss how Brian never lost his desire for creativity despite anything thrown at him. His is a story of persistence that can inspire anyone!
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September 16, 2023 • 61 mins
Bea Jackson is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Parker Looks Up. Bea attended the College for Creative Studies and is the grand prize winner and returned alumni of L. Ron Hubbard's Illustrator of the Future Award of 2007 and now a Contest Judge.
In this podcast we discuss her very humble beginnings as an artist to her very successful career and the importance of humility.
See her work at www.beagifted.com/
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September 9, 2023 • 61 mins
Martin Shoemaker is an author and programmer and winner of Writers of the Future (Volume 31). In this episode, Martin discusses his opinion on the unwritten rules of Writers of the Future, which you can also find at WritersoftheFuture.com/blog.
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September 2, 2023 • 61 mins
Bruce Brenneise was an illustrator winner published in Writers of the Future Volume 34 and also illustrated “The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard in Volume 39. He has gone on to a very successful art career which we discuss in this interview.
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August 26, 2023 • 60 mins
Roger Christian won an Academy Award for creating the look of the STAR WARS universe - including the iconic lightsaber - and established a long collaboration with GEORGE LUCAS. He directed 2nd Unit on RETURN OF THE JEDI, and STAR WARS; EPISODE I; THE PHANTOM MENACE. Lucas commissioned BLACK ANGEL, Roger’s debut as a Writer/Director to release with STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in cinemas.
In this interview, we discuss Josep...
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August 19, 2023 • 62 mins
David Hankins, "Death and the Taxman," TJ Knight "The Fall of Crodendra M," Spencer Sekulin "Children of Desolation," and Samuel Parr "The Last History" are all winners published in "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39."
They have all written very different stories with very different and are all winners.
David Hankins - davidhankins.com
Spencer Sekulin - spencersekulin.net
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August 14, 2023 • 62 mins
David Hankins (WOTF) and Sarah Morrison (IOTF) are winners published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39. David's story, “Death and the Taxman" with Sarah's illustration, made for a fantastic package. It was so popular that David expanded it to a novel and Sarah expanded on her art to create the cover and additional inside art. And they have launched a Kickstarter to fund the project.
Sign up for the Kicksta...
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August 6, 2023 • 58 mins
Meet four winners and listen to them give their personal journeys to win the Contest and published in "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39":
Elaine Midcoh, author of "A Trickle in History" (www.baen.com/pr-jbmmssa-2022-winner)
J.R. Johnson, author of "Piracy for Beginners" (https://jrjohnson.me)
Sarah Morrison, illustrator of "Death and the Taxman" (http://sarahmorrisonillustration.com)
April Solomon, illustrato...
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July 29, 2023 • 60 mins
Robert J. Sawyer, the Dean of Canadian Science Fiction, which the Ottawa Citizen dubbed him. He’s won all three of the science fiction field’s top honors for his best novel of the year—the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. As well as 11 Canadian science fiction and fantasy awards, the Auroras.
If any of you remember seeing the ABC series Flash Forward, it was based on his novel of the same name.
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July 23, 2023 • 59 mins
Today’s guest is Echo Chernik, Illustrators of the Future Coordinating Judge.
I’m not even putting down her bio because she’s got so much experience in every form and aspect of art. What I’m covering in this interview is what does she look for? What makes for winning art? What makes for somebody to actually come into consideration and move up the ranks as an Honorable Mention and as a Finalist, and ultimately a winner of the Contes...
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July 15, 2023 • 66 mins
Lezli Robyn is the editor of Galaxy’s Edge Magazine and assistant publisher at ARC Manor.
She was brought into the field by Mike Resnick and introduced to the major names in science fiction and fantasy. She has picked up Mike's mantle in helping writers.
We discuss how to deal with an editor providing do's and don'ts on how to present yourself and your work to an editor.
LezliRobyn.com
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July 8, 2023 • 59 mins
I’m here with Nnedi Okorafor, one of our previously published finalists in volume 19 and now a judge.
We talk about many of the things she has done in her life leading up to her amazing career. Her books included Binti, Akata Witch, Who Fears Death, Akata Warrior, and Lagoon. She has also written in the Shuri universe for Marvel.
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July 1, 2023 • 61 mins
CEO of Dan Farr Productions and owner of FanX Salt Lake, Tampa Comic Con, Atlanta Comic Con, and Indianapolis Comic Con, was this year's keynote speaker for the Writers & Illustrators of the Future Volume 39 Gala.
His topic was pop culture, and in this interview, we discussed the importance of writers and illustrators in creating the characters and stories that your favorite actors perform.
We also cover the value of pop culture ...
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June 24, 2023 • 60 mins
Bob Bly is referred to as THE direct response copywriter for the digital age. We have used him for several years at Galaxy Press. In addition to helping us at Galaxy Press, he has also worked with other “start-ups” such as IBM, AT&T, Intuit, Forbes, Medical Economics, and ITT.
McGraw-Hill calls him “America’s top copywriter.”
The Direct Marketing Association awarded him the Gold Echo, and the American Writers and Artists Institu...
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June 17, 2023 • 41 mins
While I consider each of my episodes special, this one is especially near and dear to my heart. Lydia van Vogt has been a friend for many years and is one of the loveliest ladies I know. The photo is me with Lydia at the Writers of the Future Gala. She was a German translator for General Eisenhower in Germany in WW II, then granted her US citizenship once he became President. She then became a Chanel model.
She is the widow of Gold...
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June 10, 2023 • 60 mins
How about this as our topic for this episode:
A hideous idol.
An ancient slumbering evil.
A murderous cult.
Today’s guest is John Haas. This is his third appearance on this podcast.
Three years ago, in episode 20, when he had just won:
John is from Ontario, Canada, and entered the Writers of the Future Contest 10 times over a 10-year period. He won the Contest with his Lovecraft-influenced horror story, "The Damned Voyage." His g...
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June 3, 2023 • 61 mins
This interview was recorded the morning following the Awards Gala for "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39."
Dave Henrickson was the Golden Pen Award-winning author with his story "White Elephant," and Dao Vi was the Golden Brush Award-winner illustrator for his illustration of the story "The Last History." We discuss their trajectories to becoming the grand prize winners.
View Dao Vi art at https://daovi1215...
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May 27, 2023 • 60 mins
I originally met Steve Pantazis in 2015 when he was published in Writers of the Future Volume 31 with his very clever story, “Switch.”
I have been nagging him for about eight years now, asking for his novel. Well, he has not only provided that novel, he has done so in spades with a nine-book epic fantasy series entitled The Light of Darkness of which I read the first volume.
We discuss his journey, starting 40 years ago, in creat...
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May 20, 2023 • 59 mins
Jim, Tamra, and Taylor Meskimen have recorded nearly 500 audiobooks, including "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39." They discuss what makes this audiobook such a great listen for all age groups - Boomers to Gen Z - and how it has stories that appeal to everyone.
We discuss the importance of imagination and the value of audiobooks in contributing to developing imagination.
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May 15, 2023 • 61 mins
This week's guest is a longtime friend, Mark Leslie (Lefevbre) who I have had on as a guest a few times already discussing his Canadian Werewolf series, which I really enjoy!
I've never discussed book ratings and what makes something children vs YA vs Christian vs all the other categories. How sex and violence are handled in the different categories.
And what is the equivalent of a Motion Picture Rating System for books to let a...
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