David Carradine, star of Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” (center) honored winners at the 19th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Achievement Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel on  August 9th, 2003. Matthew Candelaria of Lawrence, KS (left) won the Gold Award for “Story of the Year” and Mike Lawrence of Eugene, OR (right) won the Gold Award for “Illustration of the Year”.

   HOLLYWOOD, CA-Actors David Carradine (star of the screen’s upcoming Kill Bill), Jason Lee (Dreamcatcher, Almost Famous), and a roster of best-selling authors, topped the list of presenters at the 19th annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards held this weekend for the best new creative talent in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. Honorees at the ceremonies were reminded of their vital role in society and urged to provide fresh, new and challenging stories, despite the risky uncertainties of the literary and entertainment marketplace. 

   The Hubbard Awards Ceremonies celebrated the winners of the internationally acclaimed Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests for beginning authors and artists of science fiction and fantasy, gathered from throughout the United States, Japan, Canada and countries ranging from Sweden to Romania at the world famous Beverly Hills Hotel. 

   Carradine, star of this fall’s new Quentin Tarantino outing Kill Bill, and of the classic Kung Fu series, presented the Grand Prize for “Story of the Year” and exhorted the budding talent to, “…continue to create imaginative stories despite an artist’s ups and downs.” Carradine also thanked all those who had the courage to take a chance with him as a new artist, and anyone who risks their reputation and money taking that chance today. 

   Lee, who presented the grand prize for “Illustration of the Year” said, “I’ve always believed in the role of artists in the society, which is why I have been a patron of the arts for over a decade now.” 

   Headlining the list of notables were also best selling authors-and judges of the Writers of the Future Contest-Tim Powers (Declare), Kevin J. Anderson (Dune: The Butlerian Jihad), Frederik Pohl (Gateway), Jerry Pournelle (Lucifer’s Hammer), Hal Clement (Needle), and Dr. Doug Beason, co-author of Assemblers of Infinity, Deputy Associate Director at the Los Alamos National Research Laboratory and Robert Silverberg (Sailing to Byzantium) who also received this year’s L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime Achievement Award. 

   Twenty-four contest winners-14 writers and 10 illustrators-received awards during the ceremony, with cash prizes totaling nearly $30,000. 

   Preceded by a dazzling performance by multi-Grammy award winning jazz great Chick Corea and Academy Award nominated composer and musician, Mark Isham, the ceremonies were capped by presentation of the Hubbard Gold Award grand prizes to the top winners in each contest. Receiving the grand prize for “Story of the Year” was Matthew Candelaria of Lawrence, Kansas. The “Illustrator of the Year” prize went to Mike Lawrence of Eugene, Oregon. 

   The event was also highlighted by the release of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume XIX (Galaxy Press), the yearly best-selling anthology of never before published winning stories and accompanying illustrations. 

   For more information on the Contests, visit www.writersofthefuture.com.

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