dr_phil_physics | A Certain Level of Distinction

The Results Are In...

... for the 2009 Older Writers Grant from the Speculative Literature Foundation. This was my first year of eligibility, and as they required a writing sample of less than 10,000 words, I sent my May 2009 Analog story "The Brother on the Shelf".

While I would very much have liked to have won the unrestricted $750 writing grant, I have to say that I am still pleased to have been selected as one of the five Honorable Mentions.

Dear Mr. Kaldon,

The Speculative Literature Foundation is pleased to announce Karen Simpson as the 2009 Older Writers Grant winner.

However, we are also delighted to inform you that your submission, "The Brother on the Shelf," has been selected as one of five Honorable Mentions for the 2009 Older Writers Grant.

We enjoyed your story very much, especially the timeless feel we get from the opening of the story, despite it being set in 2882, and the unique take on card collecting. The little boy in me wishes I had battleship trading cards I could hold up to the sky for updates.

Please feel free to apply for our 2010 Older Writers grant. Applications will be considered from January 1 to March 31, and the winner will be announced June 1, 2010.

Thank you for applying for the 2009 Older Writer's grant, and we hope to see a 2010 application from you.

Kind Regards,

Malon Edwards
Older Writers Grant Administrator
http://www.speculativeliterature.org/
2010 Older Writers Grant application period: Jan 1 - Mar 31

I personally think it's very nice of the Speculative Literature Foundation and its sponsors, Centric Advertising and ISFIC (Illinois Science Fiction in Chicago), to provide this grant opportunity to the older speculative writer. Not all the up-and-coming writers of the future, so to speak, are young whippersnappers. (grin)

Dr. Phil