Are you an author? Put your work up against the best!!! Writers of the Future Contest!

The future is here…the future is now!  Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson and Larry Niven have seen the future. Now, you can, too.

A constellation of the brightest lights in the Science Fiction and Fantasy firmament have judged these authors to be the best, the brightest, the truest emerging stars in the field.

From Alien Invasion to Alternate History, from Cyberpunk to Comic Fantasy to Post-Apocalyptic Worlds, these are the winning writers who have mastered every version and vision of sci-fi and fantasy.

Don’t be left behind. Get a read on what’s next.

“The Writers of the Future contest looks for people with the best imaginations who can see through the possibilities of the strangest and best ideas and tell stories that intrigue us and involve us.” —ORSON SCOTT CARD

Celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Writers of the Future contest and the 26th anniversary of the Illustrators of the Future contest.

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Contest Rules

Videos's to check out!

Who Will Win? https://youtu.be/UrgN61Qe8zA

What the Judges Have to Say . . .https://youtu.be/5eFHe7PXmEQ

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I was contacted by someone representing the Writers of the Future Contest about an advertising package.  After looking over their contest and website - I felt that I wanted to help.  Because they don't charge for their contest - I am not charging for the ad package.

This group certainly seems to have writers best interest at heart.  They are one of the "good guys" that I have come across - not looking to fleece new authors - just trying to give a little "boost" to those whose work stands out among the rest.

You will notice some well known names associated with this contest - and after celebrating 31 years of this - they have to be doing something right.

If you are an author - Give it a shot!

If you are a reader - Buy the book!!!  Where else are you going to get a ton of great stories for under $12???

May Jabberwocks, JubJub Birds, and Bandersnatches dominate your dreams.......

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"Jabberwocky: A Novella"  by Theodore Singer

Inspired by the Lewis Carroll poem, this is the story of a quest by young Astreus to find and slay the monster known as the Jabberwock.  It is the simple tale of a journey undertaken by a lone hero through strange places: an island inhabited by immortal aristocrats who play games with love; a city ruled by chess-playing cats; a land where evil has triumphed; a mysterious bridge across the ocean that saps your will to live with strange dreams; the edge of the world; and finally, the house of the Jabberwock itself, where Astreus must discover the true nature of his quest.

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(This book blurb and cover are part of a paid advertising package) 

Hard Luck Hank will break your streak of rolling craps on book selections

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Hank is self-employed - and business is good.  He is a hired gun living on a space station where there are more organized crime bosses than all of the Godfather series put together.  As hired muscle, Hank is a little different - he is a mutant that has an uncanny ability to stop bullets with his bare skin and heal rapidly for everything else.  This talent, well-known to all of the bosses, also allows Hank to solve many of the issues with a "discussion" since everyone knows it is pointless to try and kill him.  
And being over 300 years old, Hank has learned most of the tricks of the trade.

Lately though, Hank is having his paying jobs being interfered with by a series of crappy luck.  Killer robots have made a visit after not being seen for thousands of years, a couple of travelling mutants are knocking out all but a few on the space station by unleashing a pulse wave, blocks of a rare element which can blow up a planet is sitting on Hanks dining room table with no way of unloading it, and now the police are starting to crack down because the space station has caught the attention of the military. 

 

Guess who everyone is coming to looking for help in solving these problems?  You got it – Hank.  Everyone’s favorite “muscle” is no faced with solving all of this and saving everyone in his galaxy when an even worse threat shows up that casts an ominous shadow over all the other issues. 

I LOVED this book!  The characters, the setting, and the story – this author has it all.  If you think of action / humor like “Guardians of the Galaxy” – you will have some idea of the world that Steven Campbell is bringing you.  With a lovable lug like Hank (who, despite his mutation of being to withstand bullets always seems to be getting sent to the hospital) it is easy to get fully immersed into this book.  I would love to see this series made into a movie – I think it would appeal to almost everyone.

If you are a fan of light hearted, fun, and action filled sci-fi – you need to check out this series.  You won’t come up rolling craps with Hard Luck Hank!

(This was an unsolicited review)

Grab a spot in the shade of the hanging tree and learn something new about American history

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So you thought the Godfather movies showed how organized crime "really" was.  You believed that the "mob" came from families with Sicilian roots.  Well, say hello to my little friend, Philip Alston.  Never heard of Alston?  Then you might not know as much about organized crime as you think.

One thing that all criminals look for is opportunity.  The new world that was to be known as the United States of America would have been like a light to a moth.  Alston began counterfeiting before the American Revolution - laying down the groundwork for counterfeiters, horse thieves, prison escape artists, and those who hunting them for more than a century after him.

"Counterfeit Justice" by Eric Alli may have the distinction of being the definitive book when it comes to the origins of organized crime in America. Don't believe me - look at the appendix and you will find a lengthy list of characters who were involved in giving Al Capone a blueprint on how to operate. 

How did Alli become interested in such an eclectic topic?  Well - you could say he is "family".  As in a blood relative of one Gregor McDougall - whose execution at the hands of a mob of "Regulators" may have been the start of the downfall of the Blacklegs.  

What is a Blackleg, you ask?  That depends - he could be a horse thief, a counterfeiter, a person with a double life and multiple identities, a snitcher of fellow Blacklegs once a noose was placed around his neck, or just a cold blooded murderer.  One thing that they did all have in common was the shared fear that turned into hatred by everyone not associated with them.  Having to sleep in a barn with a shotgun just to make sure you still have horses in the morning will eventually do that to you.

Fortunately for you, instead of living through the terror of pioneer organized crime syndicates, you can choose to read about them instead. I am a fan of history, and I thought I had a pretty good handle of US History.  A book like "Counterfeit Justice" is an exciting reminder that there is always something interesting to learn.

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Those are lovely, glowing green eyes you have!

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Beth, a 17 year old teenager, is not having what you would call a good year.  Her parents died, her twin brother is in a coma, and now she is shooting energy everywhere like she is some kind of Van De Graff Generator (one of those ball lightning things...).

It would seem things are not normal, but then her best friends, her recovered twin brother, and a childhood friend who is easy on the eyes all discover they are developing powers as well.

This happens at a good time, as demons seem to be popping out of every crevice.  Mostly wimpy ones, which Beth and her Guardian Warriors, dispatch with ease.  It's those damn class two demons that are a pain in the rear.  And it's not like the townsfolk can even help to save their city since the demons only can be vanquished if hit in an exact location - and that location is different for each one.

Who is behind all of this mess and why would they want to unleash demons all over the city?  I would answer the question now, but I am too busy dispatching some pig nosed class three demons that are just plain annoying me right now.

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"Revelations:  Thera's Eyes Series" by Leia Kiuski is a book that would most likely be enjoyed by the young adult crowd.  There is action, magic, and mayhem tied around a romance that can't happen - all of which equals quite a lot going on.  

For a first book, it is certainly ambitious.  There were some things that I did notice.  Things happened, and no real explanation really occurred.  Some parts of the book felt "rushed" and things were glossed over.  Some of the dialogue seemed forced and a few of the characters repeated struggles over the same thing had me thinking "girl - get some medicine for that OCD!!"  

Anyways, it is a book that is certainly different and should appeal to the crowd that it is written for.  If you like Young Adult Action / Magic - then you won't be disappointed.

Amazon Link                                       Goodreads Link

Interview with "Cutting the Soul" author Theresa Larsen

Amazon

1. It seemed as if you had to learn much of what to do as far as the treatment for your son on your own. What resources did you turn to and which were the most helpful? 

I was surprised by the lack of information and resources about mental health for parents. The internet became my friend and I spent many hours a day trying to find what I needed. I can honestly say I “stumbled” across several great resources and have since compiled a list on my website. The ones that provided the best information for me were: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net, (Mental Health America) http://www.nami.org (National Alliance on Mental Illness), http://www.natsap.org (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs).

2. There were many setbacks that you describe. What was it that was in you that kept you moving forward? 

The desire to keep my son alive was always at the forefront of all of my decisions involving his care. I didn’t always feel as if I had great choices offered to me, but I did my best to muddle through and find the help my son needed. I also have the most amazing and supportive husband. I could not have done this alone without him by my side. He was often the voice of reason when I felt hopeless.

3. This is a very personal account about your family that you wrote about. How and why did you make the decision that you would put your story “out there?” 

I started the memoir as a therapeutic goal for myself. It helped me to sort out my feelings and answer the question: Why do I react to certain things the way I do? I had made many notes and written in journals and calendar books for several years when my son was in and out of treatment, plus I had all of his treatment documents from professionals who cared for him. Putting the words on paper in a chronological way was the easy part. When it came to difficult sections of self-harm or psychosis I broke those up into small pieces and wrote a little at a time. The hardest part of the book was the editing. It took almost twice as long to edit as it did to write. I cut more than half of the original writing out of the memoir. Polishing and rereading were grueling, but in doing this I realized that I could help others. I would have loved to have a book like this to read and give me hope when I was caring for my son and to have resources that were easily accessible. I decided to publish the memoir and start my website, adding blogs to give information and a resources page with everything I found helpful. http://www.theresalarsen.com

4. I see that your son, Matthew, was the illustrator for the cover. Was he excited to see some of his artwork on a book? 

My son has been very supportive of my decision to write and publish Cutting the Soul. He is an excellent artist and I thought it was appropriate that the illustration on the cover was a self-portrait of him. He didn’t draw this specifically for my book, this was an art piece he had done several years prior to my writing, but it seemed to fit perfectly. It was pointed out to me by a friend in the psychology field about the fascinating example of the right side of the brain
controlling the left side of the body. The right side of the face in the illustration is in shadow, the left side of the brain, that controls the right side of the body, is responsible for understanding and use of language, memory, and detailed analysis of information. During my son’s darkest times, his ability to communicate and interpret information was poor or I could say shadowed. The artwork depicts this state of mind beautifully.

5. What is the nicest comment that you have received from someone who has read your book? 

The nicest comment I have received about my book is from my daughter, partly because I did not expect her to read it. She lived this with us and I didn’t think she would want to relive it by reading about it, but she did. She texted me after she was finished and said, “I have no words--absolutely incredible. I have extremely underestimated all you went through with Matthew. I have absolutely no idea how you coped with that, and still managed to be an amazing mother to me. I am so proud to call myself your daughter. Your strength inspires me. If I can become half the woman you are I would be thrilled. I’m so blessed to have you as my mom. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

6. What do you know now about writing a book that you wish you knew when you first started? 

I wish I knew how long it took to edit. It would have given me an idea of a time frame for completing the book. Editing is a very important process that can’t be left out or skimped on.

A must have survival guide when your parents are older!

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"Elderly Parents With All Their Marbles:  A Survival Guide for the Kids" by Pamela Carey is one of those books that you don't know you need until you need it.  When your parents become older, the children have to make difficult decisions.  These could include moving them out of a home that they have owned for decades, selecting nursing homes and in-home care, and when it is time to "let them go" if that is what they decide.

Instead of having to learn what to do at the time you need to make a decision, it might be better to read about someone else's trials, errors, and learning moments.  Carey has beautifully broken down her experiences into 49 "rules" for people to consider along with her experiences with her parents that caused her to develop the rules in the first place.

I found this book to be an easy read and full of insights.  My parents are getting to the age that some of these rules might come into play.   I plan on sharing this book with my brother so that we can put together a "game plan" and be on the same pages with our decisions.  Thank you, Pamela, for sharing your experiences in this great "survival guide!"

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