Congrats to my good friend, Jody Lynn Nye on her latest accomplishment

Jody Lynn Nye Announced as Writers of the Future Coordinating Judge

January 26, 2022 by John Goodwin

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jody Lynn Nye is warmly welcomed as the Coordinating Judge for the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Contest following the recent and untimely passing of David Farland. Jody has been a Contest judge since 2016 and has a long history of helping aspiring writers.

Since 1987 Jody has published over 50 novels and more than 170 short stories, specializing in science fiction or fantasy action novels and humor. She has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated in hundreds of panels at science-fiction conventions covering the subjects of writing and being published. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at Dragon Con.

Jody stated, “I am honored to become the Coordinating Judge for the Writers of the Future Contest.” She went on to say, “I consider this to be the best short fiction contest anywhere. Hubbard’s vision of promoting and nurturing young writers has given thousands of talented people a forum in which their work can be seen and appreciated. I will continue in the tradition of the previous Coordinating Judge, David Farland. He was a mentor with a genuine interest in helping budding writers to flourish. I look forward to honoring his memory and the Contest that he loved.”

Among the novels Nye has written are her epic fantasy series The Dreamland, beginning with Waking In Dreamland, five contemporary humorous fantasies, Mythology 101, Mythology Abroad, Higher Mythology (the three collected by Meisha Merlin Publishing as Applied Mythology), Advanced Mythology, The Magic Touch, and three medical science fiction novels, Taylor’s Ark, Medicine Show, and The Lady and the Tiger. Strong Arm Tactics is a humorous military science fiction novel, the first of The Wolfe Pack series. Nye wrote The Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern, a non-fiction-style guide to the world of internationally bestselling author Anne McCaffrey’s popular world. She also collaborated with Anne McCaffrey on four science fiction novels, The Death of Sleep, Crisis On Doona, Treaty At Doona, and The Ship Who Won, and wrote a solo sequel to The Ship Who Won entitled The Ship Errant. Nye co-authored the Visual Guide to Xanth with bestselling fantasy author Piers Anthony and edited an anthology of humorous stories about mothers in science fiction, fantasy, myth, and legend, entitled Don’t Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! She wrote eight books with the late Robert Lynn Asprin. After Asprin’s passing, she published Myth-Quoted and Dragons Deal (Ace Books), third in Asprin’s Dragons series.

Her newest books are Moon Tracks (Baen), a young adult hard science fiction novel, the second in collaboration with Dr. Travis S. Taylor. Rhythm of the Imperium (Baen), third in her Lord Thomas Kinago series; Pros and Cons (WordFire Press), a nonfiction book about conventions in collaboration with Bill Fawcett; and the 20th novel in the Myth-Adventures series, Myth-Fits.

The Writers of the Future writing contest was initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983 to provide “a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.” Based on its success, its sister contest, Illustrators of the Future, was created five years later to provide that same opportunity for aspiring artists.

The Contest has awarded over 500 writers throughout its 38-year history. Winners have published nearly 1,200 novels and over 6,000 short stories and have produced 33 New York Times bestsellers, with their works selling over 60 million copies.

For more information about Jody Lynn Nye, visit www.jodynye.com and www.mythadventures.net.

For more information on the Contests, visit www.writersofthefuture.com.

 

New Stephen King on the way

 

Heaven Can't Wait, RIP Meatloaf

 Meatloaf has left the building

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Iay1J87x4

Obsidian by Sarah J. Daley Out on the 25th January 2022 from Angry Robot

 

Obsidian Sarah J. Daley

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­ ­ ­ ­ Click Here for More! ­ ­ "Electric character relationships and masterful worldbuilding—encompassing a spectacular magic system, mystical urban legend, and profound mystery—are sure to impress. Those looking for fantasy with a dystopian flair should snap this up." - Publisher's Weekly ­ ­

Shade Nox is the only witch in a land of wizards – a fiend, a rogue, a wanted criminal.   Defying those who think her an abomination, Shade wears her tattoos openly and carries obsidian blades at her hips. For years, she has protected the outcast clans who wander the blighted Wastes, but the land is growing more unstable and her blades are no longer enough.   To save her people, Shade vows to raise a Veil of protection – a feat not accomplished in over a hundred years. But the magical Veils are said to belong to the Brotherhood church; if she succeeds in raising one, it will expose their lies. They swear to see her obliterated first.   Treading a dangerous path where allies can be as deceitful as enemies, and where demons lurk in the shadows, Shade chases a vision which could lead to her people’s salvation… or her own destruction.

 

Dave Wolverton (1952-2022)

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Mike Glyer

Dave Wolverton. Photo (c) and taken by Andrew Porter.

By Dave Doering: What a challenge! How do I capture almost 40 years of working with Dave Wolverton here? He was the rarest of gems–a titan in tale-telling, an articulate teacher, a riveting writer, a major mentor–and the kindest man you could meet in Science Fiction and Fantasy. For everyone, he was ready to encourage you with “You can do it!”  (Even age didn’t matter to him. He listened when my daughter Serena, at 11 years old, asked if he’d visit her school to tell them about writing and he accepted. They were thrilled.)

I remember Dave joining our rollicking band of renegades at the university to do our SF journal Leading Edge and then our annual event Life, the Universe, & Everything.  I believe Dave and his welcoming attitude to new writers and creators was the secret sauce for LTUE to grow to be a major resource for professional development. No one knew the business side of writing better than Dave. From some muse, he immediately grasped what it took to succeed in publishing. I remember how he won as a quarter finalist in Writers of the Future. Lesser aspiring other authors might have luxuriated in being a quarterly finalist at the contest’s gala. Not Dave. Dave came to the event prepared with completed novels and outlines for a series or two. He left with his first book contract.

Dave continued to give us a incredible role model–canny editor at Scholastic (uncovering Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling–which changed young adult reading forever), being a New York Times bestseller, Coordinating Judge for Writers of the Future, co-founder of Superstars Writing Seminar, and then the Apex Writing Group. 

I never sat down with Dave without taking notes. He always had a fabulous personal story to tell. (Which reminds me, Dave. How could you leave us without finishing your Asian gangster story?? I was spellbound as you told me how you got an actual phone call from a couple of them who said they were at LAX with $1 million in a suitcase if you’d make your Runelords movie with them?? What happens next?? Arrggh!) 

Yes, I cry now because Dave had to leave and it is over , But I am very grateful that I can cry with a smile because it happened at all. Maybe Dave said it best in his work Runelords:

“Many men dream of doing well. But few give form to their dreams. {G]reatness is…the achievement of those who prove their greatness by their deeds.”

Dave has certainly earned his greatness with his deeds. Godspeed John David Wolverton in your journey now to the AfterCon. May your teaching and counsel continue to inspire many, many more writers and creators to come.

• 

  Dave Wolverton at a Writers of the Future event at the 1994 ABA Convention in LA. Photo (c) and taken by Andrew Porter.

• Reprinted from file 770 Copyright 2022 by Mike Glyer
  

 

Ron Goulart (1933-2022)

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Mike Glyer

Ron Goulart. Photo (c) and taken by Andrew Porter.

Ron Goulart died January 14, the day after his 89th birthday. A science fiction and mystery author, he published more than 180 books under his own and other different names, including the house names Kenneth Robeson and Con Steffanson, and personal pseudonyms such as Chad Calhoun, R T Edwards, Ian R Jamieson, Josephine Kains, Jillian Kearny, Howard Lee, Zeke Masters, Frank S Shawn, Joseph Silva – even William Shatner.  (His interview about working on the Shatner-bylined Tek War comic series can be read in a 1992 issue of Starlog Magazine available at the Internet Archive.)

Goulart’s first professional publication was a 1952 reprint of the SF story “Letters to the Editor” in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, a parody of a pulp magazine letters column originally written for UC Berkeley’s Pelican.

His short story “Calling Dr. Clockwork ” (Amazing Stories Mar 1965) was a 1966 Nebula nominee. Translated into Japanese, “My Pal Clunky ” was a 2005 finalist for the Seiun Awards. He received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America Award for his science fiction novel, After Things Fell Apart (1971). That same year he won the Pat Terry Award for Humor in Science Fiction, which used to be presented at the Worldcon.

Jon D. Swartz wrote in a 2018 issue of Tightbeam:

Goulart can satirize almost anything, and many of his stories are hilarious. He has also written some serious stories, of course, but he’s best known for his satirical fiction. Much of his funniest writing occurs in the several series he has written around his characters of Jack Summer (Death Cell, Plunder, A Whiff of Madness, Galaxy Jane), Jake Conger (the invisible government agent), and especially The Chameleon Corps stories about the shape-changing government agent Ben Jolson.

Mark Evanier’s News From ME appreciation adds, “He was a great lover of comic books and a fine historian of the form.” 

Goulart put his genre knowledge to work on nonfiction books such as The Dime Detectives: A Comprehensive History of the Detective Fiction Pulps. a 1989 Edgar Award nominee for Best Critical/Biographical Work. Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of the Pulp Magazines, and Comic Book Culture: An Illustrated History.

In the 1970s, Goulart wrote several scripts for Marvel Comics, mostly adaptations of classic science fiction stories. Later in the decade he collaborated with artist Gil Kane on a newspaper strip called Star Hawks.  His comics work was recognized with an Inkpot Award from San Diego Comic-Con (1989).

For television, he scripted episodes of the series Monsters (1988), Welcome to Paradox (1998) and Thundercats (1985).

He is survived by his wife, author Frances Sheridan Goulart, and two sons.

Reprinted from file 770 Copyright 2022 by Mike Glyer

Another Couple of Jokes

  Skip this if you are easily offended; of course, if you are you wouldn't be reading this blog.

Doctor Boombata

A flat chested young lady read an article in a magazine that stated Dr. Boombata in Africa could enlarge breasts without surgery. So she decided to go see Dr. Boombata to see if he could help her.

Dr. Boombata advised her, “Every day after you shower, rub your chest and chant, “Scooby doobie doobies. I want a bigger chest”. 

She did this faithfully for several months and to her utter amazement she grew to a terrific D-cup rack.

One morning when she was running late, she got on a bus and in a panic realized she had forgotten her morning ritual. Frightened she might lose her progress if she didn’t recite the little rhyme, she stood right there in the middle aisle of the bus, closed her eyes and said, “Scooby doobie doobies. I want a bigger chest”.

A guy sitting nearby looked at her and said, “Are you a patient of Dr. Boombata?” 

She responded, “Yes I am ... how did you know?” 

He winked and whispered, “Hickory dickery dock ...”

Sheep

An Army ranger, Navy seal and Marine recon where walking in Iraq. They came across a sheep tangled in barb wire. 

The Army Ranger says, "I wish that was Halle Berry”. 

The Navy Seal say's “I wish that was Jennifer Lopez”.

The Marine looked around and said, “I just wish it was dark”

Army V Marines 

Three companies of army rangers were on training humping through the hills. They were marching along and see a lone Marine standing on a hill staring at them. They all stop and the Marine flips them off and walks behind the hill.

The first company of rangers charge the hill, explosions and gun fire erupts, and then there is silence. 

The Marine again stands on the hill and flips off the last two companies and walks back down other side.

The second company charges the hill, explosions and gunfire erupts, then there is silence. 

A lone army ranger comes tumbling done the hill. 

The last company commander says what the hell is going on?

Don't go sir its a trap. 

What do you mean it's a trap? 

There are two of them don’t go there's two Marines!!!!

Clear Skies
 

An Army NCO and Captain have been in the field all day playing war games in preparation for a big deployment. It's the end of the day, both men are completely dirty and exhausted and looking forward to hitting their cots.

As they lay on their cots looking up at the sky the NCO asks the Captain, "Sir, what do you think of when you look up?" 

There's a long pause before the Captain speaks. "Well, when I look
up and see all those stars, I can't help but feel pretty small in the grand scale of things. I mean, compared to this galaxy and who knows how many other galaxies, I feel pretty insignificant here on earth and it makes me ponder what my purpose on life is really all about".

Satisfied with his thought provoking response and picturing himself being patted on the back for his exceptional perception of things, he turns to the NCO and says "What do you think when you look up Sergeant?" 

Without hesitation the NCO replies "I think someone stole our tent Sir!"

Odds and Ends

Having passed the enlistment physical, Jon was asked by the doctor, "Why do you want to join the Navy, son?"
"My father said it'd be a good idea, sir."
"Oh? And what does your father do?"
"He's in the Army, sir."

• Why does the navy use powdered soap? Because it takes longer to pick up   

• A doctor told his patient, “You can't cure stupid"

• They say if you put a Marine in a round room with a steel ball they will either loose it, break it, or get it pregnant.

• Just because there are no complaints, doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect.

• When the bogey man goes to sleep he checks his closet for us Marines.

 • You know what ARMY stands for? Aren't Ready for Marines Yet.

 

 

A Couple of Jokes

 Skip this if you are easily offended; of course, if you are you wouldn't be reading this blog.

A vet goes into the U.S. Postal service to apply for a job. 

The interviewer asks him, “Are you allergic to anything?” 

He replies, “Caffeine. I can’t drink coffee.”   

Okay. Have you been in in the military service? 

He says. “Yes. I was in Afghanistan for one tour.” 

The interviewer says, “That will give you 5 extra points toward employment.” 

Then he asks, “Are you disabled in any way?” 

The vet says, “Yes. A bomb exploded near me and I lost both my testicles.” 

The interviewer grimaces and then says, “Disabled in your country’s service! Well that qualifies you more extra bonus points. Okay.” Looking at the regulations you have enough points for me to hire you tight now. Our normal working hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can start tomorrow at 10:00 AM. 

The vet is puzzled and asks, “If the work hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, why don’t you want me here till 10:00 AM?” 

 “This is a government job,” the interviewer says. “For the first two hours we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that.” 

 -o-o-O-o-o-

A pastor dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a fellow who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. 

Saint Peter addresses him, ‘Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?’ 

The fellow replies, ‘I’m Jack, retired pilot from Houston.’ 

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and say to the pilot, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom. The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff.

Next, it’s the pastors turn. He stands erect and booms out, ‘I am Bob, Pastor for the last 43 years.’ 

Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the Bob, ‘Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom.’ 

‘Just a minute,’ says the Bob. ‘That man was a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff and I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?’ 

‘Up here – we go by results,’ say Saint Peter. ‘When you preached – people slept. When he flew, people prayed.’