High Praise from Library Journal for Writers of the Future, Vol. 42

So happy to share that L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Vol. 42 just received a lovely review from Library Journal! This delightful news means all the more — not just because of the dragons (though… the dragons! 😉) — but because of the generosity, kindness and talent of everyone who came together to make Volume 42 so special.

Here’s what they had to say:

“A cast of nine narrators vividly brings this collection of 15 short stories to life, offering an auditory treat for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. Joseph Sidari’s ‘A Girl and Her Dragon,’ narrated by Susan Hanfield, is divided into four parts, while the remaining stories are designed to be heard in one sitting, including Orson Scott Card’s ‘Skinny-Shins,’ read by a baritone-voiced Stefan Rudnicki, which interrogates the tropes of fantasy art. S. J. Stevenson’s intriguing take on time-travel, ‘The Triceratops Effect,’ narrated with gravitas by the decorated John Lee, is told from a supervisor’s point of view on the night before the Cretaceous Period’s end. ‘Thickly’ by Dorothy de Kok, expressively narrated by Janina Edwards, makes a compelling case against idealized portraits of femininity, while Mike Strickland’s ‘As Long As You Both Shall Live,’ read by the ever-engaging Kirby Heyborne, plays up love in the virtual realm. Listeners will find everything from a most unusual noir mystery to a story of AI gone wrong to a tale about neighborhood-watch participants.”

VERDICT: “An impressive sci-fi/fantasy collection that offers aspiring writers and enthusiastic fans of these genres a meaningful journey through the works of the Writers of the Future contest winners, with accompanying illustrations available via PDF.”
— Reviewed by Sharon Sherman, Library Journal, Sept 2026

Thank you, Library Journal, for this lovely review! Congratulations to Galaxy Press, Skyboat Media, our talented writers, and our incredible cast — thrilled to be among you!

Available now wherever you get your audiobooks. 🎧📚

 

Slide 2 Alt Text: A graphic styled like a vintage library card showing headshots of the full narrator cast and the Library Journal verdict review quote.

A Night of Magic at the 42nd Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards Gala

My heart is still so full from attending the 42nd Annual Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards Gala last Thursday evening. To be in a room surrounded by so much love, joy and kindness, celebrating this year’s award-winning writers and illustrators from all over the world, was truly special.

As one of the audiobook narrators for Writers of the Future, Volume 42, published by Galaxy Press (releases April 28, 2026), I was so honored to be included in this magical night. A highlight of the evening was meeting the writers whose stories I had the joy of bringing to life: Canary by Brenda Posey and illustrated by Roddy Taylor; and A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts by Joseph Sidari and illustrated by Josie Moore, which I co-narrated with Stefan Rudniki. Reconnecting with dear audiobook colleagues and celebrating with friends both old and new made the evening even more meaningful.

Here’s a glimpse into this unforgettable night!

Thank you to the amazing team at Author Services, Inc. and to L. Ron Hubbard for founding these life-changing contests. Here’s to dragons, distant worlds, and the power of imagination! ✨