Galaxy's Edge #2 just went live on May 1, featuring a story by this year's WotF Gold Prize winner. They still haven't hired me any slush readers, so it's still by invitation only, but I haven't been neglecting WotF finalists. and these are the finalists who are or will be in the first five issues:
Brad Torgersen
Tina Smith
Nick Tchan
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
Nick DiChario
Eric Flint
Lou Berger
Eric Cline
Marina Lostetter
Brennan Harvey
Laurie Tom
I'm also editing the Stellar Guild books, each featuring a team-up between a superstar and a protege of the star's own choosing. Of the first 7 titles, 3 feature WotF finalists as proteges
Brad Torgersen
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
Tina Smith
So to say I'm glad I've been invited to judge the past 4 years is an understatement.
-- Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
Good stuff. Looking forward to seeing the next few issues!
Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
Wow, now there's a line-up!
Note to self: Become finalist.
Preston Dennett
HM x 12
F x 1
Winner, 2nd place, Q1, Volume 35
40 stories published! (and counting!)
Wow, now there's a line-up!
Note to self: Become finalist.
(I think, by the way, Mike might mean winner. Although I don't recognize half the names on the list, stories are supposed to be judged blind until they've officially won, so I don't think a finalist would get you name recognition.
)
Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
Not trying to toot my own horn, but I'm very honored to be on such a list.
And I'm sure we'll see more forumites added in the future!
~Marina
WotF Winner Q1 2012 (Vol. 29)
WotF Finalist Q2 2010 (Vol. 27)
WotF Finalist Q4 2011 (Vol. 28)
Dear S, C. Baker: Finalist means Finalist. Someone else can explain.
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
By the way, those writers I listed are not just appearing in the magazine, but are rubbing shoulders between its covers with Robert Silverberg, Nancy Kress, Robert J. Sawyer, Jack McDevitt, Mercedes Lackey, David Gerrold, Kij Johnson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jack Williamson, Barry Malzberg, Greg Benford, Eric Flint, and C. L. Moore. That's mighty good company to be keeping at the beginning of their careers.
Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
Dear S, C. Baker: Finalist means Finalist. Someone else can explain.
Good to know--I wasn't sure. No need for a further explanation. Thanks for clarifying! ![]()
Edit: Well, I suppose clarifying isn't the right word, since you were perfectly clear the first time... 
Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
You know, Mike, I was a recent Finalist. . . . Just sayin'.
(My finalist entry remains unpublished, as a matter of fact.)

You know, Mike, I was a recent Finalist. . . . Just sayin'.
![]()
(My finalist entry remains unpublished, as a matter of fact.)
And within the "less than 4K" word count for Galaxy's Edge. Although *some* people (glares at Brad) can go over the word limit.
Also, like Aqua Marina, I'm super excited to have my story in Galaxy's Edge!
Tina
Got to say that Aqua wrote me a smashing piece of flash fiction, as good a thousand-worder as I've
seen this year. It'll be in issue #4.
On the other hand, the simple answer is usually best: Brad knows 8 times as many words
as Aqua.
-- Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
I like to read the dictionary!

Coming up: "Life Flight," in
Coming up: "The Chaplain's War," from
Nebula, Hugo, and Campbell nominee.
Yeah, I figured that when you used "myxophyceae" three times in the same paragraph.
Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
I like to read the dictionary!
Read it? I thought you wrote it! 
http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
Got to say that Aqua wrote me a smashing piece of flash fiction, as good a thousand-worder as I've seen this year. It'll be in issue #4.
On the other hand, the simple answer is usually best: Brad knows 8 times as many words
as Aqua.-- Mike
Why thank you, I... Hey, wait a minute.
~Marina
WotF Winner Q1 2012 (Vol. 29)
WotF Finalist Q2 2010 (Vol. 27)
WotF Finalist Q4 2011 (Vol. 28)
Aqua> Did I say -better- words?
Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
Got to say that Aqua wrote me a smashing piece of flash fiction, as good a thousand-worder as I've
seen this year. It'll be in issue #4.On the other hand, the simple answer is usually best: Brad knows 8 times as many words
as Aqua.-- Mike
I know as many words as Brad. Most of 'em are cuss words though.
Nick Tchan
2 x HM
1x Finalist
1 x winner Q2 2011
Got to say that Aqua wrote me a smashing piece of flash fiction, as good a thousand-worder as I've
seen this year. It'll be in issue #4.On the other hand, the simple answer is usually best: Brad knows 8 times as many words
as Aqua.-- Mike
I know as many words as Brad. Most of 'em are cuss words though.
Sounds like it mean both know more than I.
Working on turning Lead into Gold.
Four HMs From WotF
The latest was Q1'12
HM-quarter 4 Volume 32
One HM for another contest
published in Strange New Worlds Ten.
Another HM http://onthepremises.com/minis/mini_18.html
I know as many words as Brad. Most of 'em are cuss words though.

Just bought a story by another Writers of the Future finalist -- Ron Collins. That's 12 in 5 issues.
Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
Just bought a story by another Writers of the Future finalist -- Ron Collins. That's 12 in 5 issues.
Mike
We multiply at the rate of a virus. I shook like at least twelve people's hands at the WOTF award week, so it's spreading.
Tina
I didn't even know Ron was a WotF alumnus. I know he's sold over 50 stories -- including one this morning to Asimov's -- and that I wrote the intro to his first collection last year.
Ain't as purty as Doodle and Aqua, tho.
On the other hand, he's a lot purtier than Eric Flint.
-- Mike
Hugo & Nebula multi-award winner
Writers of the Future Contest Judge
I didn't even know Ron was a WotF alumnus. I know he's sold over 50 stories -- including one this morning to Asimov's -- and that I wrote the intro to his first collection last year.
Ain't as purty as Doodle and Aqua, tho.
On the other hand, he's a lot purtier than Eric Flint.
-- Mike
For those who don't know. Mike likes to come up with nicknames for some of his female writer children (and other women and a very small percent of male writers). Marina is Aqua and I'm Doodle.
Most frequently asked question: Why Doodle? You'd have to see my email address to really understand.
I'll let Marina explain Aqua.
Tina
I didn't even know Ron was a WotF alumnus. I know he's sold over 50 stories -- including one this morning to Asimov's -- and that I wrote the intro to his first collection last year.
Ain't as purty as Doodle and Aqua, tho.
On the other hand, he's a lot purtier than Eric Flint.
-- Mike
For those who don't know. Mike likes to come up with nicknames for some of his female writer children (and other women and a very small percent of male writers). Marina is Aqua and I'm Doodle.
Most frequently asked question: Why Doodle? You'd have to see my email address to really understand.
I'll let Marina explain Aqua.
I assumed it derived from aquamarine.
Although putting you two together, you get Aquadoodle. Isn't that some sort of kids toy?
http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
I didn't even know Ron was a WotF alumnus. I know he's sold over 50 stories -- including one this morning to Asimov's -- and that I wrote the intro to his first collection last year.
Ain't as purty as Doodle and Aqua, tho.
On the other hand, he's a lot purtier than Eric Flint.
-- Mike
For those who don't know. Mike likes to come up with nicknames for some of his female writer children (and other women and a very small percent of male writers). Marina is Aqua and I'm Doodle.
Most frequently asked question: Why Doodle? You'd have to see my email address to really understand.
I'll let Marina explain Aqua.
I assumed it derived from aquamarine.
Although putting you two together, you get Aquadoodle. Isn't that some sort of kids toy?
LOL. Yes. We're an unstoppable force
Tina
Yes, an Aquadoodle is a toy (well, art set, really)!
I've been everything from Dock (cuz a marina is where you park a boat) to M1 before, but Aqua is a new one. Mike's number two choice for my nick name was Semper Fi--which also would have been pretty cool.
~Marina
WotF Winner Q1 2012 (Vol. 29)
WotF Finalist Q2 2010 (Vol. 27)
WotF Finalist Q4 2011 (Vol. 28)
Aqua is a new one. Mike's number two choice for my nick name was Semper Fi--which also would have been pretty cool.
'Aqua Marina' was the theme tune of the UK children's TV series 'Stingray' (1964 - 5) and the character Marina was a mute who could breathe under water. Stingray was a futuristic submarine and her crew had a variety of fantasy adventures. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD96RQ1-wnY
(Princess) Marina (of Greece) was the most recent foreign princess to marry into the British royal family.
(Morris) Marina was a family car produced 1971-80.
Might I also suggest 'Hoo-ra!' ?
These helpful comments are probably as near as I'll get too Galaxy's Edge!
1 x SF, 2 x SHM, 11 x HM, WotF batting average .583
Blog
Yes, an Aquadoodle is a toy (well, art set, really)!
I've been everything from Dock (cuz a marina is where you park a boat) to M1 before, but Aqua is a new one. Mike's number two choice for my nick name was Semper Fi--which also would have been pretty cool.
Together we make an art set??!! That is so totally cool. Equally as cool as when Martin, Kary, and I get together we make one brain.
I liked Semper Fi as well, but Aqua is also very cool. Doodle sort of sucks as a nickname, but at least I'm not "Sexpot" or something else that would be hard to explain to my grandmother.
These helpful comments are probably as near as I'll get too Galaxy's Edge!
You never know....
Tina
Aquadoodle, a way for kids to draw and paint using only water on a special mat.
http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
Aquadoodle, a way for kids to draw and paint using only water on a special mat.
Until I went back and read for context, I was sure that Martin's account had been hijacked by spammers. 
Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
