It recently dawned on me, by the light of the moon, that we need an opportunity to properly introduce ourselves. As a result of my musings the Lunar Lounge is now open! Swing on by, say “hello”, tell us something about yourself, how you found the Lunar Awards or any number of fascinating tidbits you think would be of interest to a group of fantasy and science fiction afficionados.
I'm Brian, and I'm a software architect by trade, living in Southeast Michigan with my wife and two kids. While I'm the founder of the Lunar Awards, which keeps me busy enough, I'm also in love with the short story. I write fantasy and science fiction on Future Thief, my Substack, and I'm failing miserably at writing something longer, like a novella or novel. Although I did publish a short story collection this year, and that was a major accomplishment.
An interesting tidbit is that my degree is actually in journalism, and during the dotcom boom I realized had a knack for reverse engineering and ended up teaching myself to code. I'm one of the remaining few who survived the dotcom bust and who does not have a degree in computer science.
Hi! I'm Suzanna. I write Catholic fantasy and am getting ready to start publishing my Substack in October. I am a stay at home wife, living in South Carolina, and I heard about the Lunar Awards though one of the Substacks I subscribe to. I think S.E. Reid or Gibberish.
Awesome, welcome Suzanna! You are definitely in the right place, and we're very welcoming to new writers on Substack. You'll find so much information that should help you on your journey. If you're not already, be sure to check out Fictionistas, but if you have questions in the meantime feel free to reach out and ask away.
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
I am also Catholic and I write fiction at Gibberish, but I don't (overtly) write Catholic Fiction! I can list a few others in the same space, welcome to the club!
I'm Michael, I live in southern Indiana across the river from Louisville, Kentucky; I work as a staff attorney checking conflicts for a local law firm. If I recall correctly I found the Lunar Awards through a mention on Substack Notes; it might have been Fictionistas, though. I write short stories and serials about angels, superheroes, and occasionally sci-fi, most often with a comic bent.
One interesting tidbit is that I have visited the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk in Riverside, Iowa, and as a souvenir I have a small vial of actual dirt from said birthplace. (I'm very proud).
That's an awesome tidbit. I would proudly display the vial. It's wild how we have such a diverse group of writers here with various backgrounds. When I need official lawyerly advice, now I know who to talk to. 😉
I'm Meaghan. I mostly write fantasy for young readers (mg and ya). I'm currently publishing my horror comedg Zombie Shark Highway serially on substack. I also draw...a lot. I've been following the Lubar Awards for a while now, I think i first learned about it through fictionistas!
Happy to have you, Meaghan! You're one of those rare breeds who is an amazing writer AND artist! The first time I read the synopsis for Zombie Shark Highway, I thought, oh yes, this will be a wild ride. 🦈🦈🦈
Hello! I'm Reina. I'm a middle school social studies teacher and write dark speculative fiction.
I'm actually a new mom. I've been adjusting to my new normal and finding how I can fit writing into my routine. My little girl often distracts me with her cuteness!
I found lunar awards through the amazing fiction community here on substack. I'm happy to officially meet everyone 😁
Welcome, reinancruz, and congratulations on the little one! My wife and I have two children, but they are middle school and high school now, so not quite as much hand holding, but I definitely understand the challenges of trying to do things when they were younger. When you do post, we'll be here, ready to read. 😁
Hello Fellow Writers! I'm Amy Letter, the Florida writer and artist who lives in Iowa now. I teach creative writing at Drake University, which includes teaching AI in Fiction and a Writing in a Networked World course -- I'm basically a huge science nerd who writes. I love teaching. I love writing. I love drawing. I love life. I love ideas. I love animals. And I love this pale blue dust-mite of a dot we all live on. I discovered the Lunar Awards by following a chain a writers around Substack, where I've been publishing Human in the Post-Human World for 3 years. I've been honored with a Lunar Award for "Amicus Memorandum," a story about bots being Very Loyal to Very Bad people, and one honorable mention for "A Sexbot Reads Chekhov's 'The Darling,'" and both of them absolutely made me squee like Mabel Pines in a 50 gallon drum of confetti sprinkles. :) I have also really enjoyed finding new stories through the Lunar Landscape. My favorite Lunatic is Em Eaulders: IYKYK
"...both of them absolutely made me squee like Mabel Pines in a 50 gallon drum of confetti sprinkles." 🤣🤣🤣
I immediately got the Gravity Falls reference, and that's how I know that you're in the right place, Amy! We're so thankful you joined our merry band and won a Lunar Award. You qualify to submit again next season, and I can't wait to read more of your entries. Also, as a teacher of creative writing we expect you to dazzle us in the future with your knowledge of all things writerly.
Hey everybody, I'm Stephen. I reside in the UK where I work from home as a graphic designer for a company based in Canada :D. I found the Lunar Awards through Fictionistas and the amazing writing community here on Substack in my efforts to connect with more of my fellow writers.
I've been serialising my YA novel, Underland and the Forehidden Kingdom, on Substack since 2021. Once in awhile I write articles. Once in a once in awhile I write short stories.
My name is Justin. I live in the Hudson Valley and work as a middle school teacher. I found the Lunar Awards because I’ve been reading Brian Reindel’s fiction for over a year now. He’s one heck of a storyteller, not to mention an all-around class act.
I admit, I still haven’t submitted a story to the Lunar Awards ...but my plan is to write one for season four. And I’m sticking to those words, darn it! 😄
Hey Justin! So happy to have you here. Now that you've said it, I'm holding you to those words. 😉 Isn't it crazy how long it's been already on Substack?
If you haven't already, be sure to check out Justin's work. He's also an amazing storyteller!
Hi Justin! I didn't realize you are a teacher. I'm working with a start-up with plans to build a platform for teachers. We're doing a lot of research and information gathering at this point. I'd love to pick your brain some time if you'd be open to that. Drop me an email at ben@benwakeman.com if you'd be willing to chat.
Ben, my husband James Dietz writes a stack called Classical Learning Digest and he might also be interested in chatting with you. I can’t tag him but you should be able to find him on Notes and get in touch.
Hey hey, fellow teacher! That’s awesome, Claire! I had no idea that’s what you’re pursuing. Teaching is a rewarding and, I won’t lie, stressful profession. It’s a lot of hard work, but I think you will love it. I’ve been a special education teacher for eleven years. When you dive in and land your first job, remember two things: it’s okay to say no, and prepare for a marathon, not a sprint. 😀
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
I've tried teaching middle schoolers, during the summer, and I don't know how you do it. One middle schooler is like three high school students. You deserve a medal.
Haha! Thanks, Randall. Are you a high school teacher? Here, let me hand you a medal, too. I taught high schoolers for six years before switching it up a bit. Middle schoolers are a lot of fun and require a different type of energy/approach. I just drop dad jokes all day and it seems to help. 🤣
Only during the summer at nerdy science camps. During the academic year I am at UNC Greensboro (where, come to think of it, I do have the occasional dual-enrolled high school student).
I'm Redd and I write fantasy and sci-fi here on SubStack. I also paint portraiture and the occasion landscape when time allows. Most of my recent writing has been short stories but before SubStack I wrote 5 novels with the aim of trade publishing, but the industry is glacial and I grew tired of waiting for other people to say I could publish and build an audience. It may be slow going sometimes and I need to wear many hats to do it but growing an audience and community from scratch is well worth it. I have published short stories and novellas thus far and am looking to start publishing a space-opera novel/series in the near future.
I heard of Lunar Awards from Brian's fiction Stack, Future Thief, and knew I had to get involved from the outset.
I fell into fiction writing everday during my Masters degree (Philosophy) back in 2018. Sure I'd done NaNo a few times and enjoyed it but never thought about it beyond November. The seed grew to bursting and I suddenly felt the need to write. The Masters went well but I was repulsed by academia so option 2 for 'a career' was out. (Option 1 was graphic design and while I love drawing and painting I learnt during my A-levels I don't want to do it all the time). Between odd jobs I learned the trade of writing and am now looking to make it, not just a creative hobby but also, a good paying job.
Wow, Redd, I didn't know that you paint portraiture! Also, you've got quite the background -- philosophy, art, writing, so much to lean on as an author. I understand trying to find the right fit for a career and life study. I absolutely fell into programming and had never even considered it, so you never know where you'll land. I'm just happy you landed at the Lunar Awards!
I will get round to posting photos of them to Notes one day. Yes, I remember early on in learning to write watching lots of author panels of conventions and, I think it was, Rothfuss said that the best thing a writer could study at uni was anything but writing. Now I'd already done my first degree (Philosophy and Anthropology) by that point but I have found it to have proven true. A wide interest in history as also helped.
Falling into things seems more common than choosing things! Me too, thanks for founding the Lunar Awards.
Hi, I'm Michael. I live in the Washington, DC area. Recently, I just graduated from Grad School and I'm hoping to move back to my home country of Indonesia by next year. But right now, I've been focusing on my writing career while hustling in the gig economy.
I started writing my novel, Inquisitor's Promise in the beginning of 2023, though I've had a lot of notes and even story bits in my hard drive long before. That was the first novel I've finished and it will always have a special place in my heart. Right now, that story has now been released as an ebook in Amazon Kindle (amongst others) and also a web novel serial in Substack.
Speaking of Substack, I've also written other things from fiction to nonfiction. To be honest, I don't remember how I ran across the Lunar Awards, but I'm glad I did. As for an interesting tidbit, I'm not afraid to entertain alternative cosmology. So one might find the setting of my stories to be a bit off-kilter.
Welcome, Michael! We're going to go ahead and add Indonesia to our list of countries represented, even if you're not living there now. 😁
I'm impressed by how many writers here have completed their first novel. That's a HUGE accomplishment. I'm happy that you found us, and I look forward to more stories from you in the future!
Ha, I was born in Fairfax, and alternated between there and Prince William County for most of my life. Before moving to SC, my family and I were living in Springfield. I also know Fauquier County fairly well.
Hi everyone! I'm Claire and I'm from Idaho. I'm currently in school to become a middle school math teacher.
When I'm not doing math I sometimes find time to write a variety of short stories and flash fiction across many genres. I found the Lunar Awards through Brian and Future Thief! I love the fiction community here and it's so fun to pop in and interact with everyone when time allows!
Welcome, Claire! I had no idea you were still in school. Your writing is very creative and developed, and I enjoy any time you post a new short story. Also, I'm terrible at math, but I sure am glad somebody likes it enough to teach it!
Hi I'm Houck, I am a programmer and parent of two young kids who keep me on my feet. I've come across Substack as a way to share my fantasy writing works and been loving it. It's a lot easier than other site builders and keeping track of my newsletter became a lot simpler. I found Lunar awards when it was featured on my list of recommendation and it is a great way to find some wonderful works and writers here on Substack.
Welcome, Houck! A fellow programmer in our midst. There are a few of us lurking around here, making a go of this writing thing as well. 😁 Writing all of that code has made us yearn for something more.
Hi Lunarites! I’m Olivia from the Midwest. I write slightly twisted tales with the occasional happy ending (because variety is good, right?). I also dabble in fantasy, and though attempted several times, have not yet succeeded in sci-fi. Oh, and I’m working on a horror novella that’s still in process, but shows up every now and then on my substack.
I’m still working on my Lunar win, but I did get an honorable mention in Season Two! It’s the highlight of my writing career so far. 😊 I can’t say enough positive things about this competition - I look forward to it every time, and if you haven’t had the chance to participate, you absolutely should. Your writing will thank you!
Midwest nice in the house! Do you call it a "doorwall" or a "sliding glass door"? Is it "pop" or "soda", a "fridge" or a "refrigerator"? Inquiring minds want to know.
Your honorable mention was so well deserved, and I'm excited to see more from you in the future, Olivia. We're happy you stopped by to introduce yourself. Dark fantasy is allowed for the Lunar Awards, so you might be able to manage a dark supernatural fantasy that scratches your horror itch.
It's a sliding glass door, a soda (personal preference), a fridge, peanut butter and chocolate Reece's Cups are pronounced "Reesie Cups", and apparently I'm the only person EVER to use the word "sweeping" to describe cleaning something with a vacuum cleaner. Or a broom. Or both.
Ooh! That would be delightful! Perhaps I'll come up with something suitably spooky for the next season. I know it just ended, but I already can't wait for the next one!
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
Hello, everyone!
My name is Maya and I write dark fantasy and horror for adults. My focus is on documenting my journey to publish my debut novel Shades of Night, but I have a lot of little scribblings from other projects. I've written my whole life but this is the first time I managed to finish something! I found the Lunar Awards through Brian Reindel’s fiction---very happy I did! Maybe one day, I will submit something to the First Chapter category! My interesting tidbit is that I work as a film archivist and watch a lot of military film.
Welcome, Maya! Wow, a film archivist. I have to ask, have you ever come across a piece of film that you knew was rare, or had previously gone missing?
We're open to dark fantasy, so definitely submit when you can. We've had a few entries so far, and it's been wonderful to read the variety. I'm so happy you found us, and can't wait to hear more from you in the future.
Thank you for the warm welcome! To answer your question: yes! Our team leader was sent footage from an individual who inherited a series of WWII newsreel footage. On the day we watched it, news broke of the discovery of a wreck identified as the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE 79). It just so happens we were sent footage of the moment the ship sunk and watched it 24h before it’s discovery. It was such both a sobering and fascinating experience.
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
Both! The films we watch are digitised and placed online for public viewing. The target audience for the films' initial release vary. We see anything from 80s USMC recruitment films, 50s equipment tests, and combat/briefing footage from Vietnam.
Hello! I'm Patty and I'm too creative for my own good and love writing and knitting. I'm in the UP of Michigan by the Canadian border. I have a morbid fascination with serial killers. Other non-creepy interests are jigsaw puzzles and playing with graphic design. I started writing one day because I was bored out of my skull and now have 4 published novels and a handful of novellas. Usually of the fantasy genre, but I dabble in sci-fi a little, too. I love a good escape from reality.
Eh, dah UP, nice ta meetchya! I'm a lower peninsula guy myself, but have been up to Mackinac. Someday we'll go all the way up and we had some friends recently that came back from Isle Royale. All of that land up there is gorgeous. It's also the kind of place where people with morbid fascinations with serial killers hang out... I think.
Well, there's a lot of trees and not much to do but obsess about morbid things. ;) Definitely make the trip, though, as we got some great sights to see. Taquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are musts!
I have a couple Legend of Zelda that my hubby got me that I love. I also have a Funko Pop one that is a fun challenge. Right now, I can only do small ones as I'm in an apartment, and I don't have space for anything too large.
Those sound fun, especially the Zelda ones! Yeah big puzzles take up so much space!! Every surface of kitchen was covered in pieces when I did my big one!
I'm Randall, "your friendly neighborhood neuroscientist," though these days I teach biology labs during the academic year and sometimes neuro or other things for fun during the summer. I also have a small business where I design internships and do other educational consulting. I'm from Kentucky originally, but have been living in Greensboro, North Carolina, for about 15 years.
My writing is science articles and SF short stories, with an occasional cartoon or animated diagram thrown in. I have never had the patience for anything longer. I do still submit to magazines, frustrating though that process often is, and except for a couple of entries to the Lunar Awards, most of my fiction here is reprints (so far). The Lunar Awards popped up in Substack's auto-recommendations.
I'm also a huge game nerd, though not of the video variety, and I used to read a lot of superhero comics, though these days that monkey is fed by animation, and most comics I read are indie things.
Welcome, Randall! I haven't been into collecting comics for a long time, but there was a time where I tried to write and create one. I managed to finish a B&W short story of 4 pages that was put into the Alterna Comics "It Came Out On A Wednesday" anthology. It even got me an official credit.
Which one was yours? I went to the link and tried to find it but no luck. Some great pulpy titles there.
Seed of the Serpent: God, Guns and Giants
The Gods Will Not Leave You
Mr. Crypt [Untitled]
Icarus The Man-Bird in The Terror of Sub-Terra!
Restitution
Coincidentally, my wife was cleaning and just found a half-dozen typed WHO'S WHO style character profiles that a friend and I did back in the mid-80s. I thought we had stopped by the end of 8th grade, but no, these primitive drawings were stamped '85 and '86, so I was in drivers' ed. Pretty cringey to look at, now.
Mine was Restitution. It's a sci-fi about an organized crime group on another planet that kidnaps the protagonist's daughter because he refuses to do a job for them. So, he seeks restitution by blowing them all away. It was lacking, but an exercise that made me realize how much work goes into drawing comic book panels.
Mostly tabletop RPGs, though it's hard to find a regular group as an adult. Fortunately there are game cons.
I tried a lot of different board / card games when my kid still lived at home. We played quite a bit of Love Letter for a while. Middle-Earth: the Wizards was a favorite, but a large time investment. The Stars Are Right, with the moving sky-tiles. Recently I've played through Terraforming Mars twice, and enjoyed it both times, though again, that's a full evening.
Do you have a dedicated group, or play at a shop, or what?
I have a big family and we have game night pretty often! Oh!! Forgot to mention our recent favorite-- Secret Hitler! Haha it’s a crazy game that’ll have even your most timid friends yelling “no YOU’re the lying secret fascist!” in no time lol.
I'm Lisa Kuznak and I'm a stay-at-home-mom from northwestern Ontario, Canada. I write primarily SFF, sometimes with a literary bent—I enjoy experimenting with words and narratives. I also post poetry occasionally. On Substack I have a serial, Pull Me Under, a sword and sorcery inspired portal fantasy, and recently I published my first novel, Pallas, a scifi/horror with major old-school pulp vibes. I have another book being prepped for release, a literary fantasy, and I have a couple other novels in the works.
My reason for starting my Substack was to just share my writing instead of keeping it to myself, work on my short fiction skills, and meet other writers. I discovered the Lunar Awards through Notes.
Other than my writing and love of books, I've also delved into the textile arts rather heavily, knitting, sewing, etc, and I love history and film, too. If anyone needs fact checking for historical (European) clothes or textiles, I'd be happy to help out.
Welcome, Lisa! I'm pretty sure there are a few knitters hanging around these parts. I never got into textiles, but I love clay sculpting and carving. I don't do as much as I used to, but there is something about creating a physical object with the hands that is so satisfying. Every Halloween I sculpt a miniature clay pumpkin, and this year I plan to show it on Notes. 🎃
Also, congratulations on your first novel. That's such an amazing accomplishment, and I hope one day to join the ranks.
I’m Heather, & I’m a fantasy novelist/short storyist (that’s a word, right? Lol). My family & I live in Missouri, where we enjoy the sunshine for lake days & our garden but still spend a lot of time cussing out the humidity. My husband is a meteorologist & we homeschool our two rowdy boys.
When I’m not writing, I’m either playing Minecraft, D&D, or some other board game.
Super excited to be hanging out here and meeting other fiction authors on Substack! This is my new favorite online hangout spot.
Welcome, Heather! Do you ever hide the fact that your husband is a meteorologist? Like, oh man, if I tell people they will blame us for the weather forecast. 🤣 We won't do that at the Lunar Awards. I promise.
Well, this was a nice surprise to see! For those not in the know, hello! The name's Jake Calta. I'm a filmmaker, composer, and writer, born and raised in New York State, and currently a free man out in the wild, cutting my teeth on any projects I can get my hands on. You'll know me here on Substack by my current project, "365 Infantry," a speculative fiction quarterly set in a wild post-nuclear cyberpunk dystopia starring a bunch of tough wolves and their magnificent motorized machines.
My fun fact is this: I'm 22 and I know more about arts and entertainment than most 20-somethings ought to be allowed. I can talk of classical music, comic books, films and television galore, games, pulps, the works. It's only through this unending fount of knowledge I can even write half of the most deranged things I come up with for my series and my other efforts.
Welcome, Jake! I'm impressed by the breadth of your knowledge and experience, and I'm also happy to have some younger folks representing their generation. Much has been made of Substack being for an "older" audience, but there are quite a few younger readers. I'm happy you found the Lunar Awards and hope to see more from you in the future!
I'm Christopher Deliso, an American professional writer based in Southeast Europe since 2002, with my big publishing projects mostly in non-fiction (travel, history, culture, current events mostly on themes and places in SE Europe). I opened my TLS substack in Jan. 2023 to expand my ongoing fiction writing and literature analysis. My interest is mostly in detective fiction, but speculative also comes in as I enjoy anachronism and playing with time. However, lacking math/IT skills, I do need to learn more from those of you who are savvy in those realms and thus keep an eye out for new and different sci fi plots.
The Lunar Lounge is a great idea, Brian and for some shameless self-promotion, please note that I have given a shout-out to you and Winston for the Lunar Awards Season 3 as part of today's best of August article below. It's an unusually long one, but has something for everyone. Happy writing, all- CD
Sweet! Thanks for the shoutout, Chris. Bring on that shameless self-promotion. I'll take it.
It's interesting you mention the math/IT because several of us don't write hard sci-fi, but are more character driven in our approach. I have a bent toward creature features and enjoy X-Files and Twighlight Zone, which are both heavily driven by character development. One of my recent favorite reads was "Klara and the Sun", and one of my favorite books is "The Day of the Triffids", which is also character driven. We've got room for it all in the Lunar Awards, and I love the variety of the submissions.
That is a very interesting point, Brian, re. the character-driven aspect of sci-fi. I agree (and remember watching the X Files when it was first on tv :) But I do think there is a conception, right or wrong, that this is a genre one should only seriously get into if they have the analytical chops to at least understand the underlying math/science concepts behind it. I do think that given this view, there is probably a very good niche for writers who are educated in the relevant fields, and can communicate in plain English to us lesser-expert authors- I imagine this trend will continue as technology proceeds apace.
Aug 23, 2023·edited Aug 23, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
That was actually the basis for a column I did for about four years. Not pedantic "education," but pointing out tropes and opportunities to jump past them using current or forgotten science. The last two were on AI, which is all over the news now.
thanks, Randall- when I click that link, I see a long list of previous linked columns- can you tell me the title of the one to which you are referring? I will read it then, thanks!
wow, I'm impressed- even if AI and consciousness issues were, as you say, long known, your articles of 2019 were 3-4 years ahead of the time when major media (and podcasts) really got into the issue. I liked this sentence from the first one:
'Several scientific disciplines are converging on some very old questions of philosophy, and beginning to answer them in productive ways. However, the people involved are not necessarily talking to one another. This is where generalists like SF writers can be especially valuable, in knocking ideas together to see what sparks.'
One reason I made the comment to Brian was because of a post I saw from NSA on LinkedIn, warning businesses of the dangers of quantum computers used against national security systems and businesses. Of course, even the public-info sheet was way over my head, but it made me think of follow-up questions as a writer like, 'well, how small will quantum computers likely be by X point in the future to become a problem? I think that fiction authors with science backgrounds could add real value and service by explaining complex issues like this and how it could, or could not, beused in science fiction (adhering to science fact). Could be a monetizable aspect of the Lunar, Lounge in future, and give the Lunar Knights some worthy work to do, Brian! :)
When an author of science fiction disseminates complex science into a fictional setting, and makes it fun and comprehensible, then it definitely makes the story more interesting. I would agree that the ability to do that puts a writer at an advantage.
Hey fellow writers! 👋 I’m Alexa, a Jane-of-all-trades sort of misfit obsessed with storytelling. I’ve been steeping in the magic of the many forms that stories can take for my whole life! ✨ I am a voice actress, filmmaker, and writer. At the start of this year I created my own Substack called The Giggler which is where I am serializing my zany spy adventure comedy “Over the Top Secret.” 🤓 Between book releases I have fun plans for entertaining readers with my real life crazy adventures and strange ideas! Not sure how I discovered Brian— perhaps he discovered me?? Either way I’m excited to be part of the fiction writing clan here on Substack! 🥳
Welcome to the lounge, Alexa! I remember you mentioning before that you were a voice actress and filmmaker. Any chance you have anything posted where we can listen or view it? It's funny you mention not remembering how we discovered each other because I don't remember either. 🤣
I suppose it’s the magical mystery of Substack 🤪. My website is where you can watch my movies and listen to my voice demos! Most of the voice over projects I’ve been in have not come out yet, but I will definitely share about them when they go live! However I do play a character in the mobile game Dislyte which is out and super addicting! Be warned lol.
Did not expect to see Dislyte here. I played it for a bit due to curiosity with the mythical theme. Also should let you know, the auto scroll on your website happens even if you're watching the Dislyte video, fullscreen doesn't help, have to go to youtube.
Hi! I'm Lloyd, I divide my time between the Netherlands and Italy (though I grew up in the US). I love reading science fiction. I write travel/history/social nonfiction and crime fiction. Found Lunar Awards through Brian, whom I found via Fictionistas. I work in CRM for my day job, and I also run creative writing workshops (online and in the Netherlands) and writing retreats in Italy.
Welcome, Lloyd, I'm glad you found both Fictionistas and the Lunar Awards! It's interesting that you're in CRM and still find time to run the Italy workshops and write. Your presence is making us a more respectable bunch. 😁
I'm Joe, and I'm a Fantasy writer. I've been writing for 15 years and just self-published my first novella on Kindle. My night job is as a Detention Officer. I am going to publish another novella in about two months, and am working on another one, with a fourth in the planning stages.
I have to write or my characters say they will cut my fingers off.
(They are so mean to me.)
I know most of the usual crew. Brian, Scoot, Michael, Stephen, Jacob, RedOscar.
If you have any books that you'd like me to read and review, I'll gladly read them, if you'll do the same for me.
Thanks for stopping by Joseph! You're killing it with the novellas. I'm thinking if I want to publish something longer, I'm going to need to do a novella first, and then a novel.
I'm Josh, and I live in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. I've been in the land surveying/civil engineering industry for almost 11 years.
I first hopped on Substack back in February because I needed somewhere to complain about what a pile of crap God of War: Ragnarok was, and Substack seemed to be what all the cool kids were using. At the time, I had (almost) no intention of using my platform to write fiction, though I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. I discovered the Lunar Awards one way or another at the end of Season 1, and that set me on a collision course with the absolutely thriving fiction community on here. Thanks to some guidance/encouragement from Brian early on, I decided to switch gears and focus almost exclusively on honing my storytelling skills, though I do still publish the occasional "thinkpiece."
I recently added a section for 100 word stories to my page, for those times when I absolutely just have to fire off a short burst of creativity. Also, I'm currently working on my first serialized story, which is also my first attempt at writing a western 😳😬
"I first hopped on Substack back in February because I needed somewhere to complain about what a pile of crap God of War: Ragnarok was, and Substack seemed to be what all the cool kids were using." 🤣🤣🤣
I love the honesty. Josh, we sucked you into the vortex, and now you're here in the fiction community, and we're never going to let you go! Keep that fiction coming, but if you ever have a choice between writing non-fiction and nothing at all, choose non-fiction. We have to keep the gears from rusting.
Ah God of War: Ragnarok, or as I call it, Odin Character Assassination Simulator 2022. I did enjoy watching my brother play it and thought it was well done for the most part as it's own thing, but in terms of the mythology I'm definitely not a fan.
Atreus is fine on his own as a character, but he is absolutely not Loki, and the fact that everyone calls him Atreus shows how forced and artificial the label of Loki is. My issue with the writer's handling of Odin is best summed up when Freya and Kratos murder a retreating enemy they could have spared and blame Odin for it. As the game went on it got a little old to see yet another piece of Norse Mythology have its spine broken to make Odin a villain.
I'm Will, I've been with the Lunar Awards since the start. I write fantasy fiction, and have serialized story that uses the framing device of a game walkthrough to mix my love of fantasy books and fighting games. Also passionate about mythology and have strong opinions on the proper way to use it for fiction.
Off of substack I write fanfiction. In addition to playing video games I wish it was easier for me to get groups for boardgames and tabletop RPGs.
Hey Will! We're both veterans now on Substack and Fictionistas. I was inspired by your collab with Geoffrey and have an Adventure Snack coming out in October. He is working on the art, and it should be a really fun and goofy adventure.
G'day. I'm in Queensland Australia. Been writing for most of my 76 years but published for the first time this year on substack. Been an academic, journalist, corporate high flyer (that sucks), business owner, farmer, firefighter , beekeeper and more. Travelled extensively around the world. Hope to get some of those experiences down before time runs out.
Wow, Bob, we're honored to have you here! Someone else mentioned that they were 22, and that makes it so wonderful to have such a breadth of ages and experiences. For both Future Thief and the Lunar Awards, I have really good representation from Australia. I have no idea why, but it's cool to see.
Aug 23, 2023·edited Aug 23, 2023Liked by Brian Reindel 👾⚔️
Great idea, Brian. A bevy of writers collects within these comments. A good resource too for a scroll and read of things and authors I hadn't heard of.
Hi all, I'm Nathan, a research scientist/lecturer in biochemistry but with a strong passion for good fiction and a love of science fiction and fantasy. I live in Melbourne, Australia and I love any writing that moves me and takes me to other places, fantastical or otherwise. Strong dialogue is a must. Some of my favourite authors are Haruki Murakami, David Mitchell, Bret Easton Ellis, Dan Simmons, and (more recently, because *facepalm* I don't know why it took me so long to get there) Gene Wolfe.
A random fact is that I used to be a close up magician, which helped to pay my way through my PhD.
I think I heard about Lunar Awards around the onset of Notes on Substack :)
Welcome, Nathan, so glad to have another Aussie in our midst! I was sharing with Bob Pritchard, who is here in the comments and also from Australia, I'm not sure where the Australian connection originated, but apparently, I've got a few. 😁
Thank you for the author recommendations. I'm always looking for good reads. I've slowed a little because I want to spend more time writing, and just needed a little break. Also, a close up magician to pay for your PhD... that sounds like a story idea right there! Thanks for dropping by with some interesting tidbits.
I write Sci-Fi and Suspense books and join several short story writing contests. That was how I found Substack. I am still pretty new and unsure how things work around here, and the first note I read was the Lunar Awards.
English is not my first language, but the language I'm most comfortable expressing myself. It's not easy, but I am learning every day.
I am a very introverted person in real life, but I'd love to connect with other writers and readers out there!
Hello All! So glad to be here, it's such a nice place. My name is James Ron. I live in the northeast San Francisco Bay Area about a third of the way between SF and Sacramento. I entered a story for the first Lunar Season but missed the second one because I published it too soon and missed the third one because it was a part 2 of another story. I should be in sync next time around. : ) I have thoroughly enjoyed the great stories I've read lately. Looking forward to more of same. Write on!
Welcome, James! I'm excited to read more from you and I'm sure you'll be able to provide us with a fantastic tale for the next season. One thing I think about quite a bit is how the rules are communicated to subscribers, and if they are clear and presented in fashion that's easy to understand. If you have any feedback in the regard, let me know, so I can continue to keep them easily accessible.
Hi, Brian! Thanks. I think the rules are fine, and clear. At least I caught myself before entering the stories - my bad. : ) Such a good idea and format you've presented.
I've been on Substack since last December, and decided to make Substack my place to focus on my writing a few months ago. I'm sci-fi and fantasy nerd, Tad Williams is probably my all time favorite author, Gaiman comes in at a close second.
I've just started dipping my toes into writing urban/modern fantasy, so we'll have to see how that goes.
I am Teri Adams. My cred is that I went to Clarion in 1977 when it was still in East Lansing, Michigan. Excellent experience, but for various neurotic reasons, I didn't write much much fiction after that.
My undergrad degree is in English (Creative Writing emphasis.) Then I went to law school. I hated every minute of it, but it bought me cred to work in providing services for students with disabilities, which I did for 27+ years until I retired last fall.
Getting back to writing, but I am more comfortable in the non-fiction realm. I still love science fiction, though!
Welcome, Teri, we're glad you decided to join us and it's nice to have another Michigander in our party. Also, congratulations on your retirement and the wonderful service you provided to students with disabilities! That's an amazing accomplishment. You're in the perfect place to share any writing, since many of us write non-fiction and cross over genres. The Lunar Awards is a great spot to discover those authors.
Hi everyone. I am a musician who also writes when I can find time and inspiration. Teaching guitar and bass pays the bills. I currently play in an acoustic trio called American Garage Band. We Livestream on TikTok every Thursday at 9:30 EST and have built a following of 62k followers in a year. (I wish I could say the same for Substack. 🤣) We also play local live gigs occasionally.
I have written two novels in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series that you can read on my Substack (Mark Starlin Writes!) for free. I also wrote a serial “space sitcom” called Space Traveler Fargone, which is on hiatus (it is also on my Substack.) I mainly write short fiction and humor. Too many genres to mention. I love variety.
I live in North Carolina, and am married with three daughters and five grandsons.
Mark, I love that you're keeping things young in those old bones. 😉 You're on TikTok, in a band, playing gigs, writing novels like a 20-year-old and keeping us entertained with your humor. Even though Space Traveler Fargone is on hiatus, I'm convinced we'll see more in the future. Science fiction humor can be tough to write, but is so fun to read. Thanks for stopping by the lounge!
Hello friends! I'm Christopher. I'm a I'm a lawyer living in the Boston area with my wife and our two wonderful little kids. I've been itching for a creative outlet so I started my Substack last month: a weekly source of writing prompts (check it out if you're ever looking for a spark!) with fantasy and sci-fi mixed in. I use each prompt to inform my post for the week, and so far it has been a great way to get myself writing. I've posted one short story so far (wherein a magic gnome grapples with his own mortality) but more are on the way, and I definitely plan to submit one for the next Lunar Award season.
I'm also writing a sci-fi/cyberpunk novel. I just finished the first version of my outline (apparently I'm an architect, not a gardener under George R.R. Martin's classification system) and I'm now turning to actually writing the darn thing. First impression: it ain't easy, but it is fun.
I only discovered the Lunar Awards a few days ago, but I think it is great. I came across it while actively searching for more speculative fiction because the algorithm was sending me a bit too much non-fiction for my taste. Now that I'm here I feel like I've hit the mother lode. I can't wait to dive into everyone's work!
That's awesome, Christopher! I'm thrilled to have new writers discovering the Lunar Awards. The best two places for you to discover new science fiction and fantasy authors here on Substack are The Pitch (https://www.lunarawards.com/s/the-pitch) section, and each season's winning announcement, which lists all of the entries. You'll have months of reading and lots of new connections you can make. Good luck on your cyberpunk novel, and I can't wait to read a future entry from you!
Great idea, Brian! It's fascinating to read about other Substack authors and what drives them. I'm Finlay Beach, the author of the Managed Paranoia Book Series (33 chapters of Book One are on Substack so far), but my Doctor of Chiropractic diploma bears the name Ray Pope. Writing my debut book was a revelation beyond keystrokes. Here's why I opt for a pen name: 1) Shielding colleagues' 2) Segregating my vocations; 3) Coolness (like Mark Twain). Finlay Beach is a fusion of my middle name and my cherished beach location.
Welcome, Finlay! I haven't really thought about it, but I guess lots of folks I interact with could be using pen names. You're the first to admit it. 😁
I'm Brian, and I'm a software architect by trade, living in Southeast Michigan with my wife and two kids. While I'm the founder of the Lunar Awards, which keeps me busy enough, I'm also in love with the short story. I write fantasy and science fiction on Future Thief, my Substack, and I'm failing miserably at writing something longer, like a novella or novel. Although I did publish a short story collection this year, and that was a major accomplishment.
An interesting tidbit is that my degree is actually in journalism, and during the dotcom boom I realized had a knack for reverse engineering and ended up teaching myself to code. I'm one of the remaining few who survived the dotcom bust and who does not have a degree in computer science.
To stay ahead in the
business of IT
requires no degree.
Just be five minutes ahead
of every other body.
👍😛🌟
Hi! I'm Suzanna. I write Catholic fantasy and am getting ready to start publishing my Substack in October. I am a stay at home wife, living in South Carolina, and I heard about the Lunar Awards though one of the Substacks I subscribe to. I think S.E. Reid or Gibberish.
Awesome, welcome Suzanna! You are definitely in the right place, and we're very welcoming to new writers on Substack. You'll find so much information that should help you on your journey. If you're not already, be sure to check out Fictionistas, but if you have questions in the meantime feel free to reach out and ask away.
https://fictionistas.substack.com
I have already subscribed to Fictionistas! Thanks!
Hooray! I’ve been searching for Catholic fiction writers here! 🙌
I am also Catholic and I write fiction at Gibberish, but I don't (overtly) write Catholic Fiction! I can list a few others in the same space, welcome to the club!
Nice to meet you!
Mind if I ask what part of SC? I live in Beaufort.
I live in Florence, SC!
WHERE THE BUCCEES IS!
YES! I've only been once but that place is ENORMOUS. It's like Walmart and Flying J's had a baby in a Cracker Barrel.
LOL!
Question seconded, as another south carolingian!
Fellow Catholic SAHM/full time homemaker and fiction writer here! Nice to meet you! I think we’ve interacted in notes a few times :)
I think we have!
Hello, all!
I'm Michael, I live in southern Indiana across the river from Louisville, Kentucky; I work as a staff attorney checking conflicts for a local law firm. If I recall correctly I found the Lunar Awards through a mention on Substack Notes; it might have been Fictionistas, though. I write short stories and serials about angels, superheroes, and occasionally sci-fi, most often with a comic bent.
One interesting tidbit is that I have visited the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk in Riverside, Iowa, and as a souvenir I have a small vial of actual dirt from said birthplace. (I'm very proud).
Welcome, Michael, we're happy to have you!
That's an awesome tidbit. I would proudly display the vial. It's wild how we have such a diverse group of writers here with various backgrounds. When I need official lawyerly advice, now I know who to talk to. 😉
Oooh I’ve been there too!! Stopped there on the way back from Chicago to see the Klingon Christmas Carol (which was amazing!)
Where in Indiana? My mom has family in the Seymour / Cruthersville area.
I'm in New Albany, so just a bit further down the interstate. :)
Hi all!
I'm Meaghan. I mostly write fantasy for young readers (mg and ya). I'm currently publishing my horror comedg Zombie Shark Highway serially on substack. I also draw...a lot. I've been following the Lubar Awards for a while now, I think i first learned about it through fictionistas!
Happy to have you, Meaghan! You're one of those rare breeds who is an amazing writer AND artist! The first time I read the synopsis for Zombie Shark Highway, I thought, oh yes, this will be a wild ride. 🦈🦈🦈
Haha thanks Brian! 🦈😱
I seriously love the name Zombie Shark Highway.
🥰
Hello! I'm Reina. I'm a middle school social studies teacher and write dark speculative fiction.
I'm actually a new mom. I've been adjusting to my new normal and finding how I can fit writing into my routine. My little girl often distracts me with her cuteness!
I found lunar awards through the amazing fiction community here on substack. I'm happy to officially meet everyone 😁
Welcome, reinancruz, and congratulations on the little one! My wife and I have two children, but they are middle school and high school now, so not quite as much hand holding, but I definitely understand the challenges of trying to do things when they were younger. When you do post, we'll be here, ready to read. 😁
Thank you so much!
Reina! Just wanted to chime in a fellow post-partum-er (I’ve got a 2yo and a 4mo) and say hello!
Congrats on your little ones! I hope you're hanging on there. Thanks for saying hi 👋
Thanks girl, and likewise!!
Wow! I can’t imagine how difficult and magical it must be as a new mom! Congratulations and way to go, Wonder Woman!
Thank you!!
Hello Fellow Writers! I'm Amy Letter, the Florida writer and artist who lives in Iowa now. I teach creative writing at Drake University, which includes teaching AI in Fiction and a Writing in a Networked World course -- I'm basically a huge science nerd who writes. I love teaching. I love writing. I love drawing. I love life. I love ideas. I love animals. And I love this pale blue dust-mite of a dot we all live on. I discovered the Lunar Awards by following a chain a writers around Substack, where I've been publishing Human in the Post-Human World for 3 years. I've been honored with a Lunar Award for "Amicus Memorandum," a story about bots being Very Loyal to Very Bad people, and one honorable mention for "A Sexbot Reads Chekhov's 'The Darling,'" and both of them absolutely made me squee like Mabel Pines in a 50 gallon drum of confetti sprinkles. :) I have also really enjoyed finding new stories through the Lunar Landscape. My favorite Lunatic is Em Eaulders: IYKYK
"...both of them absolutely made me squee like Mabel Pines in a 50 gallon drum of confetti sprinkles." 🤣🤣🤣
I immediately got the Gravity Falls reference, and that's how I know that you're in the right place, Amy! We're so thankful you joined our merry band and won a Lunar Award. You qualify to submit again next season, and I can't wait to read more of your entries. Also, as a teacher of creative writing we expect you to dazzle us in the future with your knowledge of all things writerly.
Great summary, Amy! And congrats!
Another great idea Brian!
Hey everybody, I'm Stephen. I reside in the UK where I work from home as a graphic designer for a company based in Canada :D. I found the Lunar Awards through Fictionistas and the amazing writing community here on Substack in my efforts to connect with more of my fellow writers.
I've been serialising my YA novel, Underland and the Forehidden Kingdom, on Substack since 2021. Once in awhile I write articles. Once in a once in awhile I write short stories.
Hey Stephen, I'm glad you could stop on by! I never realized you were in the U.K., and I'm happy to have representation across the world.
This is one of Stephen's once in a while short stories. 😁
https://underland.substack.com/p/the-eyewitnesses
Hi Stephen. Do you know another Stephen, last name Oram? https://stephenoram.net/
He's in the UK. I'm working with him on a near-future anthology about AI in education now.
Hey Randall, I don't no, but looks like he has a cool body of work!
Hi all! 👋
My name is Justin. I live in the Hudson Valley and work as a middle school teacher. I found the Lunar Awards because I’ve been reading Brian Reindel’s fiction for over a year now. He’s one heck of a storyteller, not to mention an all-around class act.
I admit, I still haven’t submitted a story to the Lunar Awards ...but my plan is to write one for season four. And I’m sticking to those words, darn it! 😄
Thanks, Brian!
Hey Justin! So happy to have you here. Now that you've said it, I'm holding you to those words. 😉 Isn't it crazy how long it's been already on Substack?
If you haven't already, be sure to check out Justin's work. He's also an amazing storyteller!
Consider this my early submission! 😀
It really is wild. Time flies! Thanks for the kind words, my friend! Hope you have a great day.
Hi Justin! I didn't realize you are a teacher. I'm working with a start-up with plans to build a platform for teachers. We're doing a lot of research and information gathering at this point. I'd love to pick your brain some time if you'd be open to that. Drop me an email at ben@benwakeman.com if you'd be willing to chat.
Ben, I'm working with fellow Substacker Dave Gray on this
https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/
and would be interested to hear more about what you're doing. agnosia.media@gmail.com
Hi Randall - thanks! I'd be curious to learn more about what you and Dave are working on too. I'll shoot you an email.
Connections, connections, connections... the lounge is a success!
Ben, my husband James Dietz writes a stack called Classical Learning Digest and he might also be interested in chatting with you. I can’t tag him but you should be able to find him on Notes and get in touch.
Thanks, Sara! I'll see if I can find him.
Sure, Ben! I’ll drop you an email later tonight or tomorrow morning.
Sounds good Justin - would love to connect.
Justin, I think it's awesome that you teach middle school!! That's actually what I'm working towards right now!
Hey hey, fellow teacher! That’s awesome, Claire! I had no idea that’s what you’re pursuing. Teaching is a rewarding and, I won’t lie, stressful profession. It’s a lot of hard work, but I think you will love it. I’ve been a special education teacher for eleven years. When you dive in and land your first job, remember two things: it’s okay to say no, and prepare for a marathon, not a sprint. 😀
I'm so excited to be a teacher! I've got a long ways to go yet to get there, but I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for the good advice!
I've tried teaching middle schoolers, during the summer, and I don't know how you do it. One middle schooler is like three high school students. You deserve a medal.
https://randallhayes.substack.com/p/alien-ecosystems-2022
Haha! Thanks, Randall. Are you a high school teacher? Here, let me hand you a medal, too. I taught high schoolers for six years before switching it up a bit. Middle schoolers are a lot of fun and require a different type of energy/approach. I just drop dad jokes all day and it seems to help. 🤣
Only during the summer at nerdy science camps. During the academic year I am at UNC Greensboro (where, come to think of it, I do have the occasional dual-enrolled high school student).
Greetings, all!
I'm Redd and I write fantasy and sci-fi here on SubStack. I also paint portraiture and the occasion landscape when time allows. Most of my recent writing has been short stories but before SubStack I wrote 5 novels with the aim of trade publishing, but the industry is glacial and I grew tired of waiting for other people to say I could publish and build an audience. It may be slow going sometimes and I need to wear many hats to do it but growing an audience and community from scratch is well worth it. I have published short stories and novellas thus far and am looking to start publishing a space-opera novel/series in the near future.
I heard of Lunar Awards from Brian's fiction Stack, Future Thief, and knew I had to get involved from the outset.
I fell into fiction writing everday during my Masters degree (Philosophy) back in 2018. Sure I'd done NaNo a few times and enjoyed it but never thought about it beyond November. The seed grew to bursting and I suddenly felt the need to write. The Masters went well but I was repulsed by academia so option 2 for 'a career' was out. (Option 1 was graphic design and while I love drawing and painting I learnt during my A-levels I don't want to do it all the time). Between odd jobs I learned the trade of writing and am now looking to make it, not just a creative hobby but also, a good paying job.
Wow, Redd, I didn't know that you paint portraiture! Also, you've got quite the background -- philosophy, art, writing, so much to lean on as an author. I understand trying to find the right fit for a career and life study. I absolutely fell into programming and had never even considered it, so you never know where you'll land. I'm just happy you landed at the Lunar Awards!
I will get round to posting photos of them to Notes one day. Yes, I remember early on in learning to write watching lots of author panels of conventions and, I think it was, Rothfuss said that the best thing a writer could study at uni was anything but writing. Now I'd already done my first degree (Philosophy and Anthropology) by that point but I have found it to have proven true. A wide interest in history as also helped.
Falling into things seems more common than choosing things! Me too, thanks for founding the Lunar Awards.
Hi, I'm Michael. I live in the Washington, DC area. Recently, I just graduated from Grad School and I'm hoping to move back to my home country of Indonesia by next year. But right now, I've been focusing on my writing career while hustling in the gig economy.
I started writing my novel, Inquisitor's Promise in the beginning of 2023, though I've had a lot of notes and even story bits in my hard drive long before. That was the first novel I've finished and it will always have a special place in my heart. Right now, that story has now been released as an ebook in Amazon Kindle (amongst others) and also a web novel serial in Substack.
Speaking of Substack, I've also written other things from fiction to nonfiction. To be honest, I don't remember how I ran across the Lunar Awards, but I'm glad I did. As for an interesting tidbit, I'm not afraid to entertain alternative cosmology. So one might find the setting of my stories to be a bit off-kilter.
Welcome, Michael! We're going to go ahead and add Indonesia to our list of countries represented, even if you're not living there now. 😁
I'm impressed by how many writers here have completed their first novel. That's a HUGE accomplishment. I'm happy that you found us, and I look forward to more stories from you in the future!
Haha. I'm happy to represent. I also aim to get more stories out there in the future, including novels.
I live in South Carolina now, but I spent most of my life in the Northern Virginia/DC area.
Whereabouts in VA? I was born in Fauquier county and grew up in Fairfax
Ha, I was born in Fairfax, and alternated between there and Prince William County for most of my life. Before moving to SC, my family and I were living in Springfield. I also know Fauquier County fairly well.
I live in the Maryland part of the DMV. But I used to work in Dulles Airport, so I'm familiar with parts of NoVA.
Hi everyone! I'm Claire and I'm from Idaho. I'm currently in school to become a middle school math teacher.
When I'm not doing math I sometimes find time to write a variety of short stories and flash fiction across many genres. I found the Lunar Awards through Brian and Future Thief! I love the fiction community here and it's so fun to pop in and interact with everyone when time allows!
Welcome, Claire! I had no idea you were still in school. Your writing is very creative and developed, and I enjoy any time you post a new short story. Also, I'm terrible at math, but I sure am glad somebody likes it enough to teach it!
Thanks for the kind words, Brian, they are such a compliment!
Hi I'm Houck, I am a programmer and parent of two young kids who keep me on my feet. I've come across Substack as a way to share my fantasy writing works and been loving it. It's a lot easier than other site builders and keeping track of my newsletter became a lot simpler. I found Lunar awards when it was featured on my list of recommendation and it is a great way to find some wonderful works and writers here on Substack.
Welcome, Houck! A fellow programmer in our midst. There are a few of us lurking around here, making a go of this writing thing as well. 😁 Writing all of that code has made us yearn for something more.
Sometimes those variable names might as well be a sentence.
Coding helps create great characters. If MC does this, would they do this? Else this?
"If MC does this, would they do this? Else this?"
That's a fantastic observation. I had never considered that!
Hi Lunarites! I’m Olivia from the Midwest. I write slightly twisted tales with the occasional happy ending (because variety is good, right?). I also dabble in fantasy, and though attempted several times, have not yet succeeded in sci-fi. Oh, and I’m working on a horror novella that’s still in process, but shows up every now and then on my substack.
I’m still working on my Lunar win, but I did get an honorable mention in Season Two! It’s the highlight of my writing career so far. 😊 I can’t say enough positive things about this competition - I look forward to it every time, and if you haven’t had the chance to participate, you absolutely should. Your writing will thank you!
Midwest nice in the house! Do you call it a "doorwall" or a "sliding glass door"? Is it "pop" or "soda", a "fridge" or a "refrigerator"? Inquiring minds want to know.
Your honorable mention was so well deserved, and I'm excited to see more from you in the future, Olivia. We're happy you stopped by to introduce yourself. Dark fantasy is allowed for the Lunar Awards, so you might be able to manage a dark supernatural fantasy that scratches your horror itch.
It's a sliding glass door, a soda (personal preference), a fridge, peanut butter and chocolate Reece's Cups are pronounced "Reesie Cups", and apparently I'm the only person EVER to use the word "sweeping" to describe cleaning something with a vacuum cleaner. Or a broom. Or both.
Ooh! That would be delightful! Perhaps I'll come up with something suitably spooky for the next season. I know it just ended, but I already can't wait for the next one!
Haha “the occasional happy ending” I love that!
Hello, everyone!
My name is Maya and I write dark fantasy and horror for adults. My focus is on documenting my journey to publish my debut novel Shades of Night, but I have a lot of little scribblings from other projects. I've written my whole life but this is the first time I managed to finish something! I found the Lunar Awards through Brian Reindel’s fiction---very happy I did! Maybe one day, I will submit something to the First Chapter category! My interesting tidbit is that I work as a film archivist and watch a lot of military film.
Welcome, Maya! Wow, a film archivist. I have to ask, have you ever come across a piece of film that you knew was rare, or had previously gone missing?
We're open to dark fantasy, so definitely submit when you can. We've had a few entries so far, and it's been wonderful to read the variety. I'm so happy you found us, and can't wait to hear more from you in the future.
Thank you for the warm welcome! To answer your question: yes! Our team leader was sent footage from an individual who inherited a series of WWII newsreel footage. On the day we watched it, news broke of the discovery of a wreck identified as the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE 79). It just so happens we were sent footage of the moment the ship sunk and watched it 24h before it’s discovery. It was such both a sobering and fascinating experience.
😯😯😯 So fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
Do you mean films shot by and for soldiers? Like for internal consumption?
Both! The films we watch are digitised and placed online for public viewing. The target audience for the films' initial release vary. We see anything from 80s USMC recruitment films, 50s equipment tests, and combat/briefing footage from Vietnam.
Hello! I'm Patty and I'm too creative for my own good and love writing and knitting. I'm in the UP of Michigan by the Canadian border. I have a morbid fascination with serial killers. Other non-creepy interests are jigsaw puzzles and playing with graphic design. I started writing one day because I was bored out of my skull and now have 4 published novels and a handful of novellas. Usually of the fantasy genre, but I dabble in sci-fi a little, too. I love a good escape from reality.
Eh, dah UP, nice ta meetchya! I'm a lower peninsula guy myself, but have been up to Mackinac. Someday we'll go all the way up and we had some friends recently that came back from Isle Royale. All of that land up there is gorgeous. It's also the kind of place where people with morbid fascinations with serial killers hang out... I think.
Well, there's a lot of trees and not much to do but obsess about morbid things. ;) Definitely make the trip, though, as we got some great sights to see. Taquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are musts!
You had me at jigsaw puzzles!! What is your favorite puzzle that you've done? I did a 3000 piece one that was a picture of a puzzle and it was so fun!
I have a couple Legend of Zelda that my hubby got me that I love. I also have a Funko Pop one that is a fun challenge. Right now, I can only do small ones as I'm in an apartment, and I don't have space for anything too large.
Those sound fun, especially the Zelda ones! Yeah big puzzles take up so much space!! Every surface of kitchen was covered in pieces when I did my big one!
I'm Randall, "your friendly neighborhood neuroscientist," though these days I teach biology labs during the academic year and sometimes neuro or other things for fun during the summer. I also have a small business where I design internships and do other educational consulting. I'm from Kentucky originally, but have been living in Greensboro, North Carolina, for about 15 years.
My writing is science articles and SF short stories, with an occasional cartoon or animated diagram thrown in. I have never had the patience for anything longer. I do still submit to magazines, frustrating though that process often is, and except for a couple of entries to the Lunar Awards, most of my fiction here is reprints (so far). The Lunar Awards popped up in Substack's auto-recommendations.
I'm also a huge game nerd, though not of the video variety, and I used to read a lot of superhero comics, though these days that monkey is fed by animation, and most comics I read are indie things.
Welcome, Randall! I haven't been into collecting comics for a long time, but there was a time where I tried to write and create one. I managed to finish a B&W short story of 4 pages that was put into the Alterna Comics "It Came Out On A Wednesday" anthology. It even got me an official credit.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/it-came-out-on-a-wednesday-15/4000-886109/
Alas, I enjoy the writing much more. Thanks for stopping by and bringing your friendly neuroscience into the lounge.
Which one was yours? I went to the link and tried to find it but no luck. Some great pulpy titles there.
Seed of the Serpent: God, Guns and Giants
The Gods Will Not Leave You
Mr. Crypt [Untitled]
Icarus The Man-Bird in The Terror of Sub-Terra!
Restitution
Coincidentally, my wife was cleaning and just found a half-dozen typed WHO'S WHO style character profiles that a friend and I did back in the mid-80s. I thought we had stopped by the end of 8th grade, but no, these primitive drawings were stamped '85 and '86, so I was in drivers' ed. Pretty cringey to look at, now.
Mine was Restitution. It's a sci-fi about an organized crime group on another planet that kidnaps the protagonist's daughter because he refuses to do a job for them. So, he seeks restitution by blowing them all away. It was lacking, but an exercise that made me realize how much work goes into drawing comic book panels.
What sorts of games do you enjoy? Some of my favorites are Code Names, Exploding Kittens, Bye Felicia, Chameleon, Spyfall, and Ticket to Ride.
Mostly tabletop RPGs, though it's hard to find a regular group as an adult. Fortunately there are game cons.
I tried a lot of different board / card games when my kid still lived at home. We played quite a bit of Love Letter for a while. Middle-Earth: the Wizards was a favorite, but a large time investment. The Stars Are Right, with the moving sky-tiles. Recently I've played through Terraforming Mars twice, and enjoyed it both times, though again, that's a full evening.
Do you have a dedicated group, or play at a shop, or what?
I have a big family and we have game night pretty often! Oh!! Forgot to mention our recent favorite-- Secret Hitler! Haha it’s a crazy game that’ll have even your most timid friends yelling “no YOU’re the lying secret fascist!” in no time lol.
Just what I'm always looking for . . .
Hey everyone!
I'm Lisa Kuznak and I'm a stay-at-home-mom from northwestern Ontario, Canada. I write primarily SFF, sometimes with a literary bent—I enjoy experimenting with words and narratives. I also post poetry occasionally. On Substack I have a serial, Pull Me Under, a sword and sorcery inspired portal fantasy, and recently I published my first novel, Pallas, a scifi/horror with major old-school pulp vibes. I have another book being prepped for release, a literary fantasy, and I have a couple other novels in the works.
My reason for starting my Substack was to just share my writing instead of keeping it to myself, work on my short fiction skills, and meet other writers. I discovered the Lunar Awards through Notes.
Other than my writing and love of books, I've also delved into the textile arts rather heavily, knitting, sewing, etc, and I love history and film, too. If anyone needs fact checking for historical (European) clothes or textiles, I'd be happy to help out.
Pleasure to meet you all!
Welcome, Lisa! I'm pretty sure there are a few knitters hanging around these parts. I never got into textiles, but I love clay sculpting and carving. I don't do as much as I used to, but there is something about creating a physical object with the hands that is so satisfying. Every Halloween I sculpt a miniature clay pumpkin, and this year I plan to show it on Notes. 🎃
Also, congratulations on your first novel. That's such an amazing accomplishment, and I hope one day to join the ranks.
Thank you! And yeah, I've dabbled in spoon carving and clay sculpting, drawing, painting, etc... so many creative pursuits, so little time!
Hello everyone!
I’m Heather, & I’m a fantasy novelist/short storyist (that’s a word, right? Lol). My family & I live in Missouri, where we enjoy the sunshine for lake days & our garden but still spend a lot of time cussing out the humidity. My husband is a meteorologist & we homeschool our two rowdy boys.
When I’m not writing, I’m either playing Minecraft, D&D, or some other board game.
Super excited to be hanging out here and meeting other fiction authors on Substack! This is my new favorite online hangout spot.
Welcome, Heather! Do you ever hide the fact that your husband is a meteorologist? Like, oh man, if I tell people they will blame us for the weather forecast. 🤣 We won't do that at the Lunar Awards. I promise.
If you haven't already, check out the interview with Mike Shea. Or, maybe that's how you found us? https://www.lunarawards.com/p/dungeons-and-dragons-adventures-with
Yup, that interview is how I first found you!
We have had a few folks joke, “oh, so you both lie for a living” when we tell them our careers. 😅 Most folks are pretty nice about it though.
Ahaha, that's a great joke. 🤣
Well, this was a nice surprise to see! For those not in the know, hello! The name's Jake Calta. I'm a filmmaker, composer, and writer, born and raised in New York State, and currently a free man out in the wild, cutting my teeth on any projects I can get my hands on. You'll know me here on Substack by my current project, "365 Infantry," a speculative fiction quarterly set in a wild post-nuclear cyberpunk dystopia starring a bunch of tough wolves and their magnificent motorized machines.
My fun fact is this: I'm 22 and I know more about arts and entertainment than most 20-somethings ought to be allowed. I can talk of classical music, comic books, films and television galore, games, pulps, the works. It's only through this unending fount of knowledge I can even write half of the most deranged things I come up with for my series and my other efforts.
Welcome, Jake! I'm impressed by the breadth of your knowledge and experience, and I'm also happy to have some younger folks representing their generation. Much has been made of Substack being for an "older" audience, but there are quite a few younger readers. I'm happy you found the Lunar Awards and hope to see more from you in the future!
I'm Christopher Deliso, an American professional writer based in Southeast Europe since 2002, with my big publishing projects mostly in non-fiction (travel, history, culture, current events mostly on themes and places in SE Europe). I opened my TLS substack in Jan. 2023 to expand my ongoing fiction writing and literature analysis. My interest is mostly in detective fiction, but speculative also comes in as I enjoy anachronism and playing with time. However, lacking math/IT skills, I do need to learn more from those of you who are savvy in those realms and thus keep an eye out for new and different sci fi plots.
The Lunar Lounge is a great idea, Brian and for some shameless self-promotion, please note that I have given a shout-out to you and Winston for the Lunar Awards Season 3 as part of today's best of August article below. It's an unusually long one, but has something for everyone. Happy writing, all- CD
https://christopherdeliso.substack.com/p/travels-value-for-writers-my-mediterranean
Sweet! Thanks for the shoutout, Chris. Bring on that shameless self-promotion. I'll take it.
It's interesting you mention the math/IT because several of us don't write hard sci-fi, but are more character driven in our approach. I have a bent toward creature features and enjoy X-Files and Twighlight Zone, which are both heavily driven by character development. One of my recent favorite reads was "Klara and the Sun", and one of my favorite books is "The Day of the Triffids", which is also character driven. We've got room for it all in the Lunar Awards, and I love the variety of the submissions.
That is a very interesting point, Brian, re. the character-driven aspect of sci-fi. I agree (and remember watching the X Files when it was first on tv :) But I do think there is a conception, right or wrong, that this is a genre one should only seriously get into if they have the analytical chops to at least understand the underlying math/science concepts behind it. I do think that given this view, there is probably a very good niche for writers who are educated in the relevant fields, and can communicate in plain English to us lesser-expert authors- I imagine this trend will continue as technology proceeds apace.
That was actually the basis for a column I did for about four years. Not pedantic "education," but pointing out tropes and opportunities to jump past them using current or forgotten science. The last two were on AI, which is all over the news now.
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=randall_hayes&article=_index
thanks, Randall- when I click that link, I see a long list of previous linked columns- can you tell me the title of the one to which you are referring? I will read it then, thanks!
The last two (at the top), Conscious AI parts 1 & 2.
wow, I'm impressed- even if AI and consciousness issues were, as you say, long known, your articles of 2019 were 3-4 years ahead of the time when major media (and podcasts) really got into the issue. I liked this sentence from the first one:
'Several scientific disciplines are converging on some very old questions of philosophy, and beginning to answer them in productive ways. However, the people involved are not necessarily talking to one another. This is where generalists like SF writers can be especially valuable, in knocking ideas together to see what sparks.'
One reason I made the comment to Brian was because of a post I saw from NSA on LinkedIn, warning businesses of the dangers of quantum computers used against national security systems and businesses. Of course, even the public-info sheet was way over my head, but it made me think of follow-up questions as a writer like, 'well, how small will quantum computers likely be by X point in the future to become a problem? I think that fiction authors with science backgrounds could add real value and service by explaining complex issues like this and how it could, or could not, beused in science fiction (adhering to science fact). Could be a monetizable aspect of the Lunar, Lounge in future, and give the Lunar Knights some worthy work to do, Brian! :)
When an author of science fiction disseminates complex science into a fictional setting, and makes it fun and comprehensible, then it definitely makes the story more interesting. I would agree that the ability to do that puts a writer at an advantage.
Hey fellow writers! 👋 I’m Alexa, a Jane-of-all-trades sort of misfit obsessed with storytelling. I’ve been steeping in the magic of the many forms that stories can take for my whole life! ✨ I am a voice actress, filmmaker, and writer. At the start of this year I created my own Substack called The Giggler which is where I am serializing my zany spy adventure comedy “Over the Top Secret.” 🤓 Between book releases I have fun plans for entertaining readers with my real life crazy adventures and strange ideas! Not sure how I discovered Brian— perhaps he discovered me?? Either way I’m excited to be part of the fiction writing clan here on Substack! 🥳
Welcome to the lounge, Alexa! I remember you mentioning before that you were a voice actress and filmmaker. Any chance you have anything posted where we can listen or view it? It's funny you mention not remembering how we discovered each other because I don't remember either. 🤣
I suppose it’s the magical mystery of Substack 🤪. My website is where you can watch my movies and listen to my voice demos! Most of the voice over projects I’ve been in have not come out yet, but I will definitely share about them when they go live! However I do play a character in the mobile game Dislyte which is out and super addicting! Be warned lol.
alexatuttle.com
I'm going to stalk your website after work today.
Haha, enjoy!
Did not expect to see Dislyte here. I played it for a bit due to curiosity with the mythical theme. Also should let you know, the auto scroll on your website happens even if you're watching the Dislyte video, fullscreen doesn't help, have to go to youtube.
Thank you for letting me know! I’ll fix it
Hi! I'm Lloyd, I divide my time between the Netherlands and Italy (though I grew up in the US). I love reading science fiction. I write travel/history/social nonfiction and crime fiction. Found Lunar Awards through Brian, whom I found via Fictionistas. I work in CRM for my day job, and I also run creative writing workshops (online and in the Netherlands) and writing retreats in Italy.
Welcome, Lloyd, I'm glad you found both Fictionistas and the Lunar Awards! It's interesting that you're in CRM and still find time to run the Italy workshops and write. Your presence is making us a more respectable bunch. 😁
Thanks, Brian! It involves a lot of planning & frequent insomnia 😂
That is so cool! What a fun combination of places.
Good Evening,
I'm Joe, and I'm a Fantasy writer. I've been writing for 15 years and just self-published my first novella on Kindle. My night job is as a Detention Officer. I am going to publish another novella in about two months, and am working on another one, with a fourth in the planning stages.
I have to write or my characters say they will cut my fingers off.
(They are so mean to me.)
I know most of the usual crew. Brian, Scoot, Michael, Stephen, Jacob, RedOscar.
If you have any books that you'd like me to read and review, I'll gladly read them, if you'll do the same for me.
Thanks for stopping by Joseph! You're killing it with the novellas. I'm thinking if I want to publish something longer, I'm going to need to do a novella first, and then a novel.
That's my thought. I think the one I'm working on right now might turn into a novel.
Greetings, fellow Substackers!
I'm Josh, and I live in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. I've been in the land surveying/civil engineering industry for almost 11 years.
I first hopped on Substack back in February because I needed somewhere to complain about what a pile of crap God of War: Ragnarok was, and Substack seemed to be what all the cool kids were using. At the time, I had (almost) no intention of using my platform to write fiction, though I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. I discovered the Lunar Awards one way or another at the end of Season 1, and that set me on a collision course with the absolutely thriving fiction community on here. Thanks to some guidance/encouragement from Brian early on, I decided to switch gears and focus almost exclusively on honing my storytelling skills, though I do still publish the occasional "thinkpiece."
I recently added a section for 100 word stories to my page, for those times when I absolutely just have to fire off a short burst of creativity. Also, I'm currently working on my first serialized story, which is also my first attempt at writing a western 😳😬
"I first hopped on Substack back in February because I needed somewhere to complain about what a pile of crap God of War: Ragnarok was, and Substack seemed to be what all the cool kids were using." 🤣🤣🤣
I love the honesty. Josh, we sucked you into the vortex, and now you're here in the fiction community, and we're never going to let you go! Keep that fiction coming, but if you ever have a choice between writing non-fiction and nothing at all, choose non-fiction. We have to keep the gears from rusting.
Heh, never played GoW: Ragnarok but sounds like I don't need to.
Ah God of War: Ragnarok, or as I call it, Odin Character Assassination Simulator 2022. I did enjoy watching my brother play it and thought it was well done for the most part as it's own thing, but in terms of the mythology I'm definitely not a fan.
Atreus is fine on his own as a character, but he is absolutely not Loki, and the fact that everyone calls him Atreus shows how forced and artificial the label of Loki is. My issue with the writer's handling of Odin is best summed up when Freya and Kratos murder a retreating enemy they could have spared and blame Odin for it. As the game went on it got a little old to see yet another piece of Norse Mythology have its spine broken to make Odin a villain.
Yeah, they spend the whole game crying about what an evil guy Odin is, but he never actually does anything that warrants such hatred and disdain.
I have the feeling at least one of the writers was using Odin as a punching bag for some sort of issue or complex.
I'm Will, I've been with the Lunar Awards since the start. I write fantasy fiction, and have serialized story that uses the framing device of a game walkthrough to mix my love of fantasy books and fighting games. Also passionate about mythology and have strong opinions on the proper way to use it for fiction.
Off of substack I write fanfiction. In addition to playing video games I wish it was easier for me to get groups for boardgames and tabletop RPGs.
Hey Will! We're both veterans now on Substack and Fictionistas. I was inspired by your collab with Geoffrey and have an Adventure Snack coming out in October. He is working on the art, and it should be a really fun and goofy adventure.
I saw the news about the collab but didn't realize mine had inspired it. Looking forward to it.
G'day. I'm in Queensland Australia. Been writing for most of my 76 years but published for the first time this year on substack. Been an academic, journalist, corporate high flyer (that sucks), business owner, farmer, firefighter , beekeeper and more. Travelled extensively around the world. Hope to get some of those experiences down before time runs out.
Wow, Bob, we're honored to have you here! Someone else mentioned that they were 22, and that makes it so wonderful to have such a breadth of ages and experiences. For both Future Thief and the Lunar Awards, I have really good representation from Australia. I have no idea why, but it's cool to see.
Great idea, Brian. A bevy of writers collects within these comments. A good resource too for a scroll and read of things and authors I hadn't heard of.
Hi all, I'm Nathan, a research scientist/lecturer in biochemistry but with a strong passion for good fiction and a love of science fiction and fantasy. I live in Melbourne, Australia and I love any writing that moves me and takes me to other places, fantastical or otherwise. Strong dialogue is a must. Some of my favourite authors are Haruki Murakami, David Mitchell, Bret Easton Ellis, Dan Simmons, and (more recently, because *facepalm* I don't know why it took me so long to get there) Gene Wolfe.
A random fact is that I used to be a close up magician, which helped to pay my way through my PhD.
I think I heard about Lunar Awards around the onset of Notes on Substack :)
Welcome, Nathan, so glad to have another Aussie in our midst! I was sharing with Bob Pritchard, who is here in the comments and also from Australia, I'm not sure where the Australian connection originated, but apparently, I've got a few. 😁
Thank you for the author recommendations. I'm always looking for good reads. I've slowed a little because I want to spend more time writing, and just needed a little break. Also, a close up magician to pay for your PhD... that sounds like a story idea right there! Thanks for dropping by with some interesting tidbits.
I just read that comment from Bob, too 😄 Go Australia (I'm actually from the UK originally, but have been here since 2009).
Yeah it can be hard to keep up with writing and reading. I seem to go through phases, but I need to be reading to fuel my creativity, I find.
Hi, I am Sotto.
I write Sci-Fi and Suspense books and join several short story writing contests. That was how I found Substack. I am still pretty new and unsure how things work around here, and the first note I read was the Lunar Awards.
English is not my first language, but the language I'm most comfortable expressing myself. It's not easy, but I am learning every day.
I am a very introverted person in real life, but I'd love to connect with other writers and readers out there!
Hello All! So glad to be here, it's such a nice place. My name is James Ron. I live in the northeast San Francisco Bay Area about a third of the way between SF and Sacramento. I entered a story for the first Lunar Season but missed the second one because I published it too soon and missed the third one because it was a part 2 of another story. I should be in sync next time around. : ) I have thoroughly enjoyed the great stories I've read lately. Looking forward to more of same. Write on!
Welcome, James! I'm excited to read more from you and I'm sure you'll be able to provide us with a fantastic tale for the next season. One thing I think about quite a bit is how the rules are communicated to subscribers, and if they are clear and presented in fashion that's easy to understand. If you have any feedback in the regard, let me know, so I can continue to keep them easily accessible.
Hi, Brian! Thanks. I think the rules are fine, and clear. At least I caught myself before entering the stories - my bad. : ) Such a good idea and format you've presented.
Hi from Chicago !
I've been on Substack since last December, and decided to make Substack my place to focus on my writing a few months ago. I'm sci-fi and fantasy nerd, Tad Williams is probably my all time favorite author, Gaiman comes in at a close second.
I've just started dipping my toes into writing urban/modern fantasy, so we'll have to see how that goes.
Welcome, Kim! You're among a great group of sci-fi and fantasy nerds, and we're glad you're here. 🚀🚀🚀
The Dragonbone Chair was one of the first fantasy novels I read. I wish Tad Williams was on Substack. 🤓
Same! I'm facebook friends with him and his wife, maybe I'll go pester him about that!
(I actually don't know if he's considered it, I do know he's got his hands pretty full right now, maybe it's on his radar)
Cool.
Hello!
I am Teri Adams. My cred is that I went to Clarion in 1977 when it was still in East Lansing, Michigan. Excellent experience, but for various neurotic reasons, I didn't write much much fiction after that.
My undergrad degree is in English (Creative Writing emphasis.) Then I went to law school. I hated every minute of it, but it bought me cred to work in providing services for students with disabilities, which I did for 27+ years until I retired last fall.
Getting back to writing, but I am more comfortable in the non-fiction realm. I still love science fiction, though!
Welcome, Teri, we're glad you decided to join us and it's nice to have another Michigander in our party. Also, congratulations on your retirement and the wonderful service you provided to students with disabilities! That's an amazing accomplishment. You're in the perfect place to share any writing, since many of us write non-fiction and cross over genres. The Lunar Awards is a great spot to discover those authors.
Hi everyone. I am a musician who also writes when I can find time and inspiration. Teaching guitar and bass pays the bills. I currently play in an acoustic trio called American Garage Band. We Livestream on TikTok every Thursday at 9:30 EST and have built a following of 62k followers in a year. (I wish I could say the same for Substack. 🤣) We also play local live gigs occasionally.
I have written two novels in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series that you can read on my Substack (Mark Starlin Writes!) for free. I also wrote a serial “space sitcom” called Space Traveler Fargone, which is on hiatus (it is also on my Substack.) I mainly write short fiction and humor. Too many genres to mention. I love variety.
I live in North Carolina, and am married with three daughters and five grandsons.
I think I learned about Lunar Awards on Notes.
Mark, I love that you're keeping things young in those old bones. 😉 You're on TikTok, in a band, playing gigs, writing novels like a 20-year-old and keeping us entertained with your humor. Even though Space Traveler Fargone is on hiatus, I'm convinced we'll see more in the future. Science fiction humor can be tough to write, but is so fun to read. Thanks for stopping by the lounge!
Thanks, Brian. I definitely want to return to Fargone. I just tried to do too much and had to cut back.
Hello friends! I'm Christopher. I'm a I'm a lawyer living in the Boston area with my wife and our two wonderful little kids. I've been itching for a creative outlet so I started my Substack last month: a weekly source of writing prompts (check it out if you're ever looking for a spark!) with fantasy and sci-fi mixed in. I use each prompt to inform my post for the week, and so far it has been a great way to get myself writing. I've posted one short story so far (wherein a magic gnome grapples with his own mortality) but more are on the way, and I definitely plan to submit one for the next Lunar Award season.
I'm also writing a sci-fi/cyberpunk novel. I just finished the first version of my outline (apparently I'm an architect, not a gardener under George R.R. Martin's classification system) and I'm now turning to actually writing the darn thing. First impression: it ain't easy, but it is fun.
I only discovered the Lunar Awards a few days ago, but I think it is great. I came across it while actively searching for more speculative fiction because the algorithm was sending me a bit too much non-fiction for my taste. Now that I'm here I feel like I've hit the mother lode. I can't wait to dive into everyone's work!
That's awesome, Christopher! I'm thrilled to have new writers discovering the Lunar Awards. The best two places for you to discover new science fiction and fantasy authors here on Substack are The Pitch (https://www.lunarawards.com/s/the-pitch) section, and each season's winning announcement, which lists all of the entries. You'll have months of reading and lots of new connections you can make. Good luck on your cyberpunk novel, and I can't wait to read a future entry from you!
Thanks Brian!
Great idea, Brian! It's fascinating to read about other Substack authors and what drives them. I'm Finlay Beach, the author of the Managed Paranoia Book Series (33 chapters of Book One are on Substack so far), but my Doctor of Chiropractic diploma bears the name Ray Pope. Writing my debut book was a revelation beyond keystrokes. Here's why I opt for a pen name: 1) Shielding colleagues' 2) Segregating my vocations; 3) Coolness (like Mark Twain). Finlay Beach is a fusion of my middle name and my cherished beach location.
Welcome, Finlay! I haven't really thought about it, but I guess lots of folks I interact with could be using pen names. You're the first to admit it. 😁