Authors Quill author Andrew Jackson artist Marianna Mester artist Jordan Smajstrla autho Armand Diab

Leatherhead, Surrey, England writer Andrew Jackson is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning him a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and his winning story will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41.

Andrew Jackson started writing and illustrating since age twelve and never gave up the former but (thankfully for his readers) has stopped the latter! One of his earliest memories is of watching Star Trek with his dad and falling in love with the speeding ships, bizarre aliens, and the diamond glitter of myriad stars in that eternal blackness.

Even now, as he explores the strange new worlds of family, fatherhood, and a career in retail, he’s never lost his love for the stars. Counting authors such as Stephen King, Iain M. Banks, and Alastair Reynolds amongst his literary influences, he revels both in reading and writing rich, tangible worlds other than our own. Born too late to watch the Apollo missions but too early for interstellar travel he must content himself with dreams and the sad knowledge that he may never know what’s out there. Is there anybody out there? Why aren’t they talking?

Budapest, Hungary artist Ms. Marianna Mester is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41.

Marianna Mester was born in Hungary and spent her childhood in a small village. From a young age, she was drawn to painting and admired those who could create works of art. Growing up, she didn’t have much time to pursue it, but ten years ago, she made a decision to take her painting to a high level and began studying various artistic styles. She practiced relentlessly, experimenting with countless techniques, and now she’s able to paint in about nine different styles. Everything Marianna knows, she learned on her own without attending any formal art school, so she’s especially proud that people appreciate my work. Her parents started calling her “Manna” and now that has become her artist name with even her friends calling by that name as well. Her goal is to bring beauty into as many lives as possible because, for her, painting is not just art, it’s life itself, a true expression of freedom. Savannah, Georgia student Ms. Jordan Smajstrla is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Jordan is originally from Boerne, Texas and is currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Jordan Smajstrla was born in 2003 in Houston, Texas, and has been drawing for as long as she can remember thanks to the encouragement of her parents. She attributes her admiration of fantasy art in particular to her childhood interests, which included reading any book she could get her hands on, as well as repeatedly rewatching a wide library of fantasy films. That love for fantasy was strengthened when she began to play Dungeons & Dragons in high school, as well as finding other creatives with similar interests. Though she began her creative journey as a traditional artist, she always admired the work of digital illustrators and finally got her chance to jump into the digital medium thanks to her high school animation class. Always having known that art would be her future, Jordan ultimately decided to pursue concept art and illustration for video games when she got accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design. While studying there, she discovered a whole new community of incredibly creative people and has eagerly taken any opportunity that comes her way to continue learning and creating. Jordan is currently finishing up earning her BFA in Illustration and looking forward to what life after graduation will bring. US expatriate Armand Diab, an English teacher in Tieling, China, is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning him a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and his winning story will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41.

Armand Diab, who writes under the pen name, Barlow Crassmont, has lived in the USA, Eastern Europe, Middle East and China. When not teaching English or writing speculative, fantasy, and science fiction, he dabbles in juggling, solving the Rubik’s Cube, and learning other languages (his Spanish is coming along nicely).

He has been published by British Science Fiction Association, Wilderness House Literary Review, and in Dark Speculations: Volume 1, by Little Red Publishing.

"The Boy From Elsewhen '' was inspired by the current social climate across the globe. Everywhere one goes, regardless of country or nation, most people are endlessly staring at their smartphones, unable to look away, and often neglecting other humans around them for the sake of technology. As the dominant species on Earth, we are becoming too dependent on our hand devices, but are no smarter for it. In fact, I feel if the trend continues (and I see no evidence that it won't), future generations won't be able to construct a single solitary thought without AI's assistance. Let's hope that that day, at least, is in the far distant future, after me and mine are long go