Writer to be honoured at Hollywood ceremony

William Mitchell, 39, from Wandsworth, is one of just twelve writers and illustrators from around the world who will be honoured at the 28th annual L. Hubbard Achievement Awards in Hollywood.

Mr Mitchell, who works full time as an aerospace engineer, started writing ten years ago finding success with horror but recently returned to his first love of science fiction.

With a full time job and busy family life, Mr Mitchell admits he found most of the time to write his novel while standing up on the London Underground rush hour on his PDA.

His winning story, Contact Authority, was his third entry to the competition and his first professional sale.

The highlight of the ceremony will be the announcement of the year’s two grand prize winners who will each receive $5,000.

Runners up will receive cash prizes from $500 to $1,000 with their winning stories and illustrations appearing in the annual L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthology.

The Writers of the Future writing contest was founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983 to provide a platform for aspiring writers.

Past winners have gone on to publish over 750 novels and 3,500 short stories between them.

Joni Labaqui, director of the contests, said: “The writers and illustrators of the Future Contests have proven to be the most effective means for contestants to make their break in the publishing industry, an industry renowned for being closed to the newcomer.

“Well over six million fiction and non-fiction manuscripts make the rounds annually to find a publishing home, yet only 2,500 new science fiction and fantasy titles are published each year, and many of these are from already established authors.

“That’s why these Contests were created – because it’s so hard to get published and there are so many talented people who give up on their dreams to see their works in print.”

For more information visit writersofthefuture.com or to view the awards ceremony online visit youtube.com/writersofthefuture