Writers of the Future Volume 34 Cover Art Announced

World-renowned artist Ciruelo has provided the cover art for L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 34 releasing April 2018.  Known for his fantasy paintings, Ciruelo is perhaps best known as the illustrator of The Official Eragon Coloring Book.

The cover painting named “Dragon Caller” shows a high magician summoning a dragon. He is standing on a platform carved with symbols which amplify the power of his call. Ciruelo stated, “The scene depicts some kind of collaborative relationship between dragons and humans, which is the kind of situations I prefer to paint instead of battle scenes among them.”

The upcoming volume 34 also contains a short story by award winning science fiction author and Writers of the Future Contest judge Jody Lynn Nye, entitled “Illusion” which was inspired by Ciruelo’s cover art.  She told us, “I love having something to inspire me when I write. I was delighted to have the opportunity to write a story based upon the splendid piece of artwork that forms the cover of this anthology, a fantasy painting by Ciruelo.”  She went on, “It so happened that the subject matter dovetailed neatly with another fantasy series I have been working on. Instead of treating with the main character of that series, this story hearkens back decades to her employer, a great wizard—or so he seems.”

Ciruelo became a judge in 2017 after being introduced to the Illustrators of the Future contest by fellow contest judge Larry Elmore (Dungeons & Dragons cover art), who was the cover artist for Writers of the Future Volume 33.  About the contest, Ciruelo says, “I feel honored to have been invited to be part of this prestigious contest which I considered to be an invaluable opportunity for writers and artists to start a professional career. And I’m personally thankful because the Fantasy / Science Fiction genre benefits from this generous event created by Mr. Hubbard.”
Writers of the Future was a contest initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983 as a means of providing a helping hand to aspiring writers. Due to its immense success, a sister competition, Illustrators of the Future, was created.

The annual contests draw entrants from around the globe and are free to enter. Winners retain full rights to their work and each are given cash awards. Grand prize winners receive an additional $5,000. The Contest flies out all winners to Los Angeles for an expense-paid, week-long workshop given by Contest judges and culminates in a black tie gala awards event.

For more information, go to www.writersofthefuture.com.