I emerge from the grave this July 4th, because a) it's a holiday and I suddenly have time to check/post on LJ; and b) to let everyone formally know that a story of mine has been named a finalist in the 2nd Quarter 2009 Writer's of the Future Contest! I have to say, I'm fairly bursting with happiness about it-- it's extremely cool to be a finalist; just the idea that four of the the WoTF judges, all of whom are icons of the field, are going to read my little story is pretty darn amazing.

I have never been good with managing expectations-- unlike carrie_ryan  who can daydream ceaselessly about success, if I try and do that, I just get extremely wound up. To that end, I am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed, but I am simultaneously doing my best not to think about it. Instead, this seems like a great opportunity to point out the seven other great writers who I am lucky enough to share finalist status with. They are:

Dario Ciriello of California
Simon Cooper of Ireland
jasonfischer  of Australia
William Mitchell of London
Chris Tissell of Oregon
Susan Watkins of Oregon
Jeff Young of Pennsylvania

I've been able to lay hands on fiction from the first four who I've linked to above (all available from the links), and from them alone, it looks like this is really an incredibly talented bunch and the competition will be extremely fierce. I am both initimidated and honored to keep this company. Chris, Susan, and Jeff, if you happen to see this, my googlefu failed on you, but I would love to read some of your work. Given the quality of the four folks whose work I hae read, I'm sure it's pretty awesome.

And that's really the great thing about all this. Sure, I would like to win. Seriously, I would really like to win. Like "sizeable envelope of cash with Robert Silverburg's name on it" like to win. But even if I don't, and even though I haven't read the specific stories competing with mine, just being in the same category of these up-and-coming SF stars is incredible. Now somehow I have to not explode for until the judging is announced in a month...