The Assignment of Runner ETI
A. R. STONE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Child of a cellist and a travel agent, Fiona Lehn seemed destined to live a life of passion and drama in other worlds—or, at least, to write about them. Her own world began in Stockton, California where she read Nancy Drew mysteries, wrote poetry and dreamed of becoming a musical sensation just like Karen Carpenter. But it was science fiction that literally hit her: While working on a BA in creative writing at UC Santa Cruz, the Zoë Fairbairns’ novel Benefits fell from the shelves of a local bookstore and landed on her head. Soon the works of Gilman, Tiptree, Le Guin and Russ got inside her head as community and inspiration.
Since then, Fiona has worked as a high-school teacher for at-risk youth, an audio editor for film and TV and a freelance editor. She didn’t lose her musical dream either. Her record label Droidfingers has released several CDs of her original music for those who dream of other worlds.
Although Fiona has had short pieces published in local magazines and the UK’s Litro, this novelette is her first entry to Writers of the Future and professional sale. Fiona now makes her home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
A. R. Stone’s work first appeared in an art show at age four with a picture entitled, “If the Hippo Bites the Balloons They Will Break.” By age twelve, A. R. wanted to learn to illustrate books. By eighteen, A. R. left home for Hollywood to continue a career as a costume designer. Unable to get work, A. R. took up a job in a sweatshop and then in a bookstore. A. R. was accepted into college in Colorado and earned an undergraduate degree. After working many years as an accountant, A. R. got accepted into a high-end art gallery where A. R. ended up as manager, learning tips from working artists like Sandra Bierman and Robert Venosa.
Through it all, A. R. admits that books and graphic arts have always been a first love: “Something about paper and pencil speaks to me.” Relocating to Oregon, A. R. joined the Wordos group in Eugene, which encouraged A. R. to enter the Illustrators of the Future Contest. The entry’s success helped inspire A. R. to sell over 300 illustrations last year in over twenty publications. A. R. is currently working on an online series of graphic novels called The Tales of Anieth.