Readers and Fans

I had the pleasure of being chosen as the winner of the Readers of the Future contest this year, and it was a fantastic experience. I met some of the significant authors of my life. I learned from them and discovered the fundamental importance of this contest and the anthology. It was a fantastic experience that has changed me as a writer and given me a focus on my work that has been amazing.

Writers of the Future has quickly become a goal for me as a writer, but while I was there, I had the opportunity to see it through another lens as well. I’m a fan of good Science Fiction and Fantasy, and it was amazing to be surrounded by both legends of those genres and the new names that will be making their mark. I was also able to read the stories early. It was amazing that I couldn’t easily tell which stories were written by the judges and by the award winners.

Most people talk about the effect that this contest has on the writers and illustrators that enter, but there’s more to it than just that. After my trip to Hollywood and the connections I made, I’ve discovered that this contest should be a big deal for every fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Hopefully, below I’ll be able to explain this a little bit.

Readers and fans I know all have that one author they found before anyone else, and they love reminding their friends about it. In my friend group, it’s become part of our Christmas Party to gift books we think our friends will like. For a long time, I’ve tried to find a way to get ahead of the general readers’ groups on social media to find authors before they blow up. The best answer I’ve found is Writers and Illustrators of the Future.

The anthology should be a must-read book each year for any fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Author Services, Inc. and Galaxy Press do a fantastic job talking about the successes of the authors and illustrators that win this contest, so I’ll let you look into this on your own. For now, it should suffice to say that these winners quickly begin making their mark on the genres they write in almost immediately after the anthology comes out each year.