Writers of the Future Podcast

Jack Nash won the Golden Pen Award for his story, "Son, Spirit, Snake." Tyler Vail won the Golden Brush Award for his illustration of the story, "Squiddy." In this interview, we discuss their personal journey's to finally winning the top award for aspiring writers and artists. Jack Nash: www.JackNashStories.com Tyler Vail: www.Tylervail.com

Echo Chernik and I discuss the history of the Illustrators of the Future Contest, where it has gotten to, and where it is going and how it is that we are able to select the best new talent in illustration around the world. https://www.echo-x.com/

Davina Powell is the Consumer Marketing Services Manager for Ingram Content Group. She is a creative sales and marketing expert known for connecting publishers and authors to key audiences using Ingram iD. Learn more at IngramiD.com She has spent more than 10 years in the digital marketing space developing new resources that ensure publishers', booksellers', and authors' marketing budgets are used in a productive way.

This episode features Jody Lynn Nye, and we discuss 40 years of Writers of the Future, its impact on the genre, and what she is looking for as the Coordinating Judge.

John Brown was a winner published in Writers of the Future Volume 13 with his story “The Scent of Desire” under his penname Bo Griffin. I met up with him again last year at LTUE and when I saw he would be back, I asked that he send me a book to read so I could have him on as a guest. His bio says he writes action-packed thrillers and epic fantasies with characters you want to cheer for. After interviewing him, I discovered it is Magic Realism that he writes. He currently lives with his wife and four daughters in the hinterlands of Utah where one encounters much fresh air, many good-hearted ranchers, and the occasional wolf.

I’m here at Superstars Writing Conference in Colorado Springs. This is a podcast panel, meaning I am recording this podcast as I interview SoundBooth Theater founder Jeff Hays and international bestselling author Craig Martelle in front of a live audience. Jeff Hays is a prolific narrator and producer, and CEO of Soundbooth Theater, a full-service audio production company that specializes in multicast audiobooks and Cinematic Audio. Craig Martelle is the author of around 190 books. I am familiar with his Ian Bragg Thriller Series, covered in a separate podcast interview. He is also one of the geniuses behind the 20 Books to 50K Conference created by Michael Anderle.

Stephen Kotowych was a writer winner for Writers of the Future Volume 23 in 2007. He recently edited and published “The Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction Volume 1” anthology. It comprises 37 stories and poems and is 100% Canadian. He has a Kickstarter for Volume Two that will run from March 19 through April 16. The link for the prelaunch is: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kotowych/years-best-canadian-fantasy-and-science-fiction-volume-two?ref=en3uxl

Storm Humbert and fellow Writers of the Future winners created a publishing company called Calendar of Fools. They compiled a book containing only of rejects, not because they weren't good, but because they weren't right for where they were submitted. So, this project is to give these great stories a second chance! They created a Kickstarter for the project, which you can find here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/innerworkings/intergalactic-rejects-a-calendar-of-fools-anthology In this interview, I am with Storm Humbert and fellow winner John Campbell, along with contributor Hillbilly, as we discuss how stories can live on.

Liza Trombi is the Editor-in-Chief of Locus Magazine. In this interview, we discuss the history of Locus and its importance to the SF&F field. We also announce a fundraiser that Locus is running and that I encourage you to check out at www.LocusMag.com or go directly to https://igg.me/at/locusmag2024

Mark Leslie wrote a 10,000-word short that began his Canadian Werewolf series. In this interview, we discuss going from a story, to a novel, to a series, to collaborating with spin-offs. Yogi Berra famously stated, "When you come to a fork, take it." We discuss how accurate this is as advice as you become more knowledgeable as a storyteller. We discuss how this can be accomplished.