Monthly Archives: March 2016

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

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THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR!

Thanks go to all the competitors in this year’s thrilling contest! It has been an incredible couple weeks of exciting and entertaining fictions. The final round begins in the morning.

Eric Bosarge, who was knocked out in the very first round last year has dominated some stiff competition and emerged victorious, so far. Congratulations, Eric, also, on your new novel, The Time Train!

In her very first year of competition, Nicole Platania has stunned the crowd with fantastic stories, and managed to defeat even the formidable champion from last year, Alex Livingston. Congratulations, Nicole, and I hope you are ready to sharpen your quill for the final round!

The final round is a little different. An expression is used, and each contestant is given a side of it to express in flash fiction.

This year, you can put your boots in the oven, but that don’t make ’em biscuits.

Eric is putting the boots in the oven.

Nicole will prevent them from becoming the biscuits.

3… 2… 1…

WRITE!

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

Some of my favorite things in the garden, from a  papaya to peach to sweet almond verbena. The pear and the grapevines were the slowest to wake up.

We have a lot of fruiting trees, vines, and canes.

In our exciting contest, we have already seen some amazing work from our authors. Some have moved on, and others will have to wait until next year for their chance at Madness glory!

In Battle The Sea versus The Sky, last year’s champion, Alex Livingston has moved on to the next round. He is probably very excited, with the release of Glitch Rain from Apex, and this energy has carried through to the competition!

In Battle Sparrow versus Hawk, “Wings Over Helion” was a clear favorite and pulled ahead early. Congratulations Nicole! This is her first foray into competitive fiction, and she has already defeated a very worthy opponent, and experienced battler from two prior years!

In Battle Root Versus Leaf, Libby Cudmore’s story was so popular, there wasn’t even a single vote for the other contestant’s piece. Since that other contestant is me, all I can say is congratulations Libby on your solid victory! (She is also likely quite excited about her recent book release, from HarperCollins!)

Finally, in Battle Red Riding Hood Versus Big Bad Wolf, the extrication of Red Riding Hood from the belly of El Lobo won out in a landslide.Congratulations, Eric! (Also, such excitement coming in July, Eric’s first novel The Time Train!)

It was a series of hard-fought battles, and I congratulate all contestants. I had a great time reading all the stories, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

New prompts will be sent to contestants tomorrow morning, and the battle continues on Monday!

Eric Bosarge and Libby Cudmore will square off in the arena. Alex Livingston and Nicole Platania will, as well. Whoever pulls ahead next week will continue on to the final round!

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

That’s it for 2016! Next year, the eBook will be posted to support SFWA’s EMF!

March Madness Begins!

Remember, fair reader, to vote for your favorite in the comments of each entry!

The first battle will be epic, worthy of becoming a folk legend, wherein author Eric Bosarge, whose debut novel is just out from Medallion Press, squares off against New York Times-Bestselling author and editor Philip Athans, famous for Wizards of the Coast and the Forgotten Realms!

[snip!]

ETA: That’s it for this year, folks! Stories will be compiled into an eBook and sold to support the Emergency Medical Fund at SFWA.