Some Great Updates
Hello,
I've been away for a while and have a lot of news to update you with.
From Lee Beavington:
VCON was a blast, and I was a panelist for the first time (after being an attendant for the past five years!) At the Surrey International Writers' Conference, I'll be introducing seven speakers (including Robert Sawyer), and I'm also doing a book signing. Should be fun!
Cheers,
Lee
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Nathan Taylor just had his first book signing and had this to say:
Well, got through my first book signing yesterday , and it was quite the experience. Turns out it was a busy day in Borders with three book signings and an Educators Discount Day going on all at once. I was set up at the biggest table available as soon as one of the other signers left, and immediately got to work. Since I'm terrible at grabbing passers-by with words, I let my hands do the talking as I got out my big sketch book and started some impromptu illustrating.
It didn't take long at all for me to get folks' attention and I soon had a respectable flow of onlookers. They would come and go, listen to me talk about the book and the contest, and I had about eight people around my table for ten minutes or so at one point. I handed out plenty of bookmarks and did lots of talking and drawing. The staff at Borders said I had done very well for a first time. They consider it a success when shoppers actually stop by the table of an unknown.
All in all, I stayed for just under 2 and a half hours and was probably only left alone for about 20 minutes at the beginning and 20 minutes at the end (which was why I called it a day). So, thumbs up for book signings, and looking forward to doing even better on my next one. Thanks, and I'll keep you posted!
Nate
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Writer winner Brian Rappatta did his first TV interview this past Friday in Denver which went well.
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Daniel Harris, an illustrator winner for volume 22, had a nice mention on him in the Springfield News-Ledger, "Illustrator Daniel Harris of Springfield, currently studying art in Sarasota, Fla., was honored last month at the San Diego Air & Space Museum as a winner of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contes, part of the 22nd Annual L. ROn Hubbard Achievement Awards."
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David Sakmyster had a great article in the Rochester, NY "Democrat & Chronicle." It had a photo of Dave as well as the book cover and promoted his upcoming book signing. This makes the second feature article that Dave has gotten so far.
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An Illustrator winner from years back, Shaun Tan, who has since gone on with a very successful career as an illustrator was featured in the Australian "Courier Mail." The article went on to say, "Not surprising, then, that it was science fiction that influenced his career, starting in his school years when he wrote stories and submitted art work to magazines. At age 17 he won an Illustrators of the Future contest and scored a trip to the US where he realised for the first time that a person could make a living as an artist."
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So send me your news and send this link to others so they know what is happening with the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest and its winners.
John Goodwin
Sunday, November 19, 2006