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The Writing Dead, in association with Simon & Schuster, closed on 29 April. Read SFX issue 250 to discover the winner!
Aspiring writers be aware: it’s time to scare! SFX has teamed up with top author and master of horror Darren Shan to create a one of a kind short story competition, where Darren himself will judge the winner.
We’re looking for the best original zombie-themed short stories. Your tales can be funny or scary, feature fast or slow zombies, murder and mayhem, or no bloodshed whatsoever. Imagination is your only limit. That and the rules, which are that entries must be no longer than 1500 words, be your own original work, and be about zombies – a genre the author of the Zom-B series knows a thing or two about.
The latest instalment in Darren’s 12-part series, Zom-B Gladiator , is on sale now. The series chronicles the journey of teenage protagonist B Smith during a zombie outbreak in Ireland, to the death-filled streets of London. B has encountered crazy clowns, teenage “Angels” dedicated to restoring order to the living and Mercenaries who capture B in their traps. It’s grisly, fast-paced and guarantees a high body count.
The closing date for entries is Tuesday 29 April . Any submissions received after this date will not be considered, so get your skates on. All entries will be reviewed by judges from the SFX team. The five best will then be passed on to Darren to pick the winner.
The supremely talented winner will not only receive signed hardback copies of the first seven Zom-B books published by Simon & Schuster, but will also have their story printed in full in SFX ’s upcoming landmark 250th issue. It’s your chance to become a part of SFX history!
Good luck, and good scaring!
How to enter
Entries should be submitted in Microsoft Word format (either .doc or .docx files), via the page behind this terrifying link .
Terms And Conditions
By taking part, you agree to be bound by the Competition Rules: www.futuretcs.com . Entries must be submitted in the place and format specified above and be received by midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 29 April 2014. Late or incomplete entries, or entries in excess of 1500 words, will be disqualified. Entries are limited to one per individual. Open to all UK residents of 16 years and over, except employees of Future Publishing Limited (“Future”) and any party involved in the competition. The winner will be selected by Zom-B author Darren Shan in his sole discretion from a shortlist of 5 entries selected by a panel of judges from the SFX magazine team. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner will be notified by email or telephone. There will be one (1) winner entitled to seven (7) signed books from the Zom-B series and whose entry will be printed in Issue 250 of SFX Magazine. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. You will retain all rights you have in the copyright and other intellectual property rights comprising your entry but, by entering the Competition, you grant Future Publishing and its licensees, and the Competition sponsor, the right free of charge to republish your Competition entry in any medium or format. You warrant that the Competition entry is entirely your own work and not copied or adapted from any other source.
