Writers and Illustrators of the Future

🎙 Episode 384: Irvin Rodriguez — Building a Successful Career as an Artist 🎨✨

Irvin Rodriguez, recipient of the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award and now an Illustrators of the Future judge, joins the podcast to share his journey from art student to working with clients such as Lucasfilm, DC Comics, Magic: The Gathering, and Naughty Dog.

He offers practical insights on developing artistic skills, finding opportunities, and building a sustainable career in the arts.

🎧 Listen now → bit.ly/WOTFpod384

Writers of the Future Podcast Episode 384 Discover how artist Irvin Rodriguez blends fine art and illustration in games, film, and comics.

🎙 Episode 384: Irvin Rodriguez — Building a Successful Career as an Artist 🎨✨

Irvin Rodriguez, recipient of the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award and now an Illustrators of the Future judge, joins the podcast to share his journey from art student to working with clients such as Lucasfilm, DC Comics, Magic: The Gathering, and Naughty Dog.

He offers practical insights on developing artistic skills, finding opportunities, and building a sustainable career in the arts.

🎧 Listen now → bit.ly/WOTFpod384

📚 June 14 — Meet Writers of the Future Volume 42 author Mike Strickland in Golden, CO!

Join us at a special Sip & Shop Winery Book Fair featuring published contest winner Mike Strickland, author of “As Long as You Both Shall Live,” from L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42—the #1 bestselling sci-fi & fantasy anthology.

📍 Deep Roots Winery – 1375 Catamount Drive, Golden, CO
🗓️ Sunday, June 14 | 12 AM – 4 PM

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon—sip wine, and connect with one of the rising voices in science fiction and fantasy.

✨ Discover the stories. Meet the author. Be inspired.

🎉 Watch the Winners’ Gala & enter the contest → bit.ly/ContestGala

Topics:
• Colorado author events
• Winery book fair experience
• Sci-fi & fantasy book signing
• From contest win to published author
• Discovering new voices in speculative fiction

A Blog by Writers of the Future Volume 42 winner Mike Strickland

🤖 Exploring Digital Personhood and the Ethics of Cyberpunk Existence — New Blog

What happens when consciousness can be uploaded, copied, or trapped in a virtual world?

Writers of the Future Volume 42 winner Mike Strickland explores the cyberpunk roots of digital personhood, from Tron and Neuromancer to The Matrix, and the ethical questions we may face sooner than we think.

✨ Read the blog → bit.ly/DigitalPersonhoodCyberpunk

Exploring Digital Personhood and the Ethics of Cyberpunk Existence | Galaxy Press A long tradition of technological dystopia in science fiction gives us plenty of reasons to be wary as we enter a real-life era of cyberpunk existence.

🎙 Episode 383: Julie Frost — Fantasy, Morality, and the Power of Persistence ✨📚

Writers of the Future Volume 32 winner Julie Frost joins the podcast to discuss her journey from contest winner to published author and the persistence that helped her succeed.

We also explore her novella Joy Shall Be In Heaven and how fantasy can be used to examine morality, right and wrong, and the consequences of our choices.

🎧 Listen now → https://bit.ly/WOTFpod383

Submitted art by published contest winner Karah Richardson

🎨 Best New Sci-Fi & Fantasy Artists — 2026 Contest Article Featuring All Winning Art

👉 Read the article →bit.ly/BestNewSci-Fi_FantasyArtists

Meet the visionary artists of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42—the next generation of visual storytellers shaping the future of speculative art. From globally selected winners to internationally renowned judges, the Illustrators of the Future Contest continues its 37-year legacy of discovering and mentoring extraordinary talent.

✨ Explore the artists. Discover their journeys. See the future of sci-fi & fantasy illustration come to life.

🚨 This is your chance — June 30 deadline!

The next Writers & Illustrators of the Future deadline is June 30, 2026 at midnight — and your story or artwork could be the one that gets noticed.

📌 JUST DO IT:
✍️ Writers: bit.ly/ENTERwriters
🎨 Illustrators: bit.ly/ENTERillustrators

For over four decades, the contest has helped launch new writers and illustrators into professional careers. No entry fee. No age restriction. Just your imagination, your craft, and the courage to submit.

✅ Quarterly winners
✅ Cash prizes
✅ Publication opportunities
✅ Open internationally

📚 June 13 — Meet Writers of the Future Volume 42 author Brenda Posey in Hoover, AL!

Join us for a special in-store event at Barnes & Noble featuring published contest winner Brenda Posey, part of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42—the #1 bestselling sci-fi & fantasy anthology.

📍 Barnes & Noble – Patton Creek Shopping Center
171 Main St., Hoover, AL
🗓️ Saturday, June 13 | 12–2 PM CT

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon—meet the author, get your book signed, and connect with one of the rising voices in science fiction and fantasy.

✨ Discover the stories. Meet the author. Be inspired.

🎉 Watch the Winners’ Gala & enter the contest → bit.ly/ContestGala

Topics:
• Alabama author events
• Barnes & Noble book signing
• Sci-fi & fantasy readers
• From contest win to published author
• Discovering new voices in speculative fiction

📚 June 14 — Meet Writers of the Future Volume 42 author Mike Strickland in Golden, CO!

Join us at a special Sip & Shop Winery Book Fair featuring published contest winner Mike Strickland, author of “As Long as You Both Shall Live,” from L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42—the #1 bestselling sci-fi & fantasy anthology.

📍 Deep Roots Winery – 1375 Catamount Drive, Golden, CO
🗓️ Sunday, June 14 | 11 AM – 3 PM

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon—sip wine, and connect with one of the rising voices in science fiction and fantasy.

✨ Discover the stories. Meet the author. Be inspired.

🎉 Watch the Winners’ Gala & enter the contest → bit.ly/ContestGala

Topics:
• Colorado author events
• Winery book fair experience
• Sci-fi & fantasy book signing
• From contest win to published author
• Discovering new voices in speculative fiction

Submitted art by published contest winner Haotian Allen Zhan

🎨 Best New Sci-Fi & Fantasy Artists — 2026 Contest Article Featuring All Winning Art

👉 Read the article →bit.ly/BestNewSci-Fi_FantasyArtists

Meet the visionary artists of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42—the next generation of visual storytellers shaping the future of speculative art. From globally selected winners to internationally renowned judges, the Illustrators of the Future Contest continues its 37-year legacy of discovering and mentoring extraordinary talent.

✨ Explore the artists. Discover their journeys. See the future of sci-fi & fantasy illustration come to life.