It’s here at last: my debut as a published author! As of today, the anthology Writers of the Future Vol. 42 is available electronically and in bookstores across the United States.

The anthology retails for $22, and here’s what you get for your money:

Writers of the Future, Vol. 42

First off, just look at that cover! Cover art was provided by Ciruelo Cabral, an established artist who’s done cover artwork for the bestselling Eragon series.

Open the book and you’ll find fifteen illustrated pieces of short speculative fiction, from science fiction to fantasy to horror, edited by bestselling author Jody Lynn Nye. Twelve of these were written by winners of the 2025 Writers of the Future contest: the premiere contest for speculative short fiction, started in 1983 by sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard as a way to discover emerging talent in genre fiction and usher them into the ranks of established authors. Hubbard’s own short story “Space Can” appears in the anthology, joined by original works by award-winning authors Nina Kiriki Hoffman (The Thread That Binds the Bones) and Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game). Also included in the anthology are essays by established sci-fi authors including Kevin J. Anderson and the legendary Larry Niven.

But the best reason to buy this anthology is your chance to discover your next favorite author. Twelve amazing tales of speculative intrigue and adventure by emerging voices in genre fiction. From “Saffron and Marigolds”, an innovative work of contemporary fantasy by Kathleen Powell; to “As Long As You Both Shall Live” by Mike Strickland and “Form 14B” by Thomas K. Slee, both of which question the nature of consciousness in the computer age; to “The Triceratops Effect” by S. J. Stevenson, a heartfelt time-traveling romp.

And, of course, the winner of the 2026 Golden Pen Award: “In Living Color” by yours truly: a pulse-pounding speculative thriller that imagines a world in which a growing number of humans are born with superhuman abilities…and the dangers those abilities pose in the wrong hands.

Each of the winners’ stories is accompanied by a full-color illustration by one of the winning illustrators of the 2025 contest. That includes the work of Art Ikuta (“Form 14B” and “The Triceratops Effect”), and Tracy Eire (“Thickly” and “Shell Game”), as well as Nathan Deiwert, who did a phenomenal job bringing August Stefanik to life for “In Living Color”. And, of course, Slovakian cartoonist Bafu, who won the 2026 Golden Brush with his illustration for Kathleen Powell’s “Saffron and Marigolds”.

My story may have won the grand prize, but make no mistake: there are no bad stories, or even mediocre stories, in this anthology. Each story was judged anonymously by a panel of judges including the aforementioned established authors, as well as the incomparable Hugh Howey: author of the Silo series, now a hit series on Apple TV+.

If you haven’t already preordered, click here to learn more, and find links to buy Writers of the Future, Vol. 42.

And now, a brief note to any aspiring genre fiction writers reading this:

It’s not hyperbole to say that this story, and its anthology, changed my life. If you’re struggling to break into the publishing world, trust me when I say I know how it feels. I’ve been where you are. I was there just one year ago. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future contests are a fantastic way to jump-start your stalled career. The contest is open only to unpublished writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. It’s the only such contest I’ve found that both goes year-round and does not charge an entry fee. Please believe me when I say there is no good reason for you not to enter this contest every quarter.

One of the keys to launching a successful writing career is to pursue every avenue you can find, and take every opportunity that presents itself. You won’t find a better opportunity than this. I know. I’ve looked.

Click here to learn more about L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest, and here to enter the writers’ contest for the current quarter. You miss all the shots you don’t take. You lose nothing by entering, and if you wonder what you have to gain, just look at what happened to me. – MK