2014 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest Award winners and presenters. Shown are Baen editor Jim Minz, contest winner Sean Monaghan, contest runner up Marina Lostetter, and contest administrator William Ledbetter.

A press release from Baen Books:

Writer Sean Monaghan from Palmerston, New Zealand, has won the 2014 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest with his short story “Low Arc.” Second place went Marina J. Lostetter for her short story, “Balance.” The contest has been co-sponsored by Baen Books and the National Space Society of America since 2007. It honors Jim Baen, prominent space exploration supporter and founder of Baen Books, a science fiction publisher.

Monaghan was presented with his award May 16, 2014, by Baen editor Jim Minz, at the National Space Society sponsored International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles. Along with the award comes professional publication by Baen Books on the Baen.com web site and in a 2014 short story ebook anthology. Lostetter’s story will also see publication at Baen.

“The contest looks for positive stories about man’s future in space and many previous winners have examined the sacrifice, heroics, adventure and discovery that will no doubt come hand in hand with human expansion into the solar system,” says contest administrator William Ledbetter. Previous winners have come from the U.S., Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Finalists are judged anonymously by a panel of Baen editors and writers helmed by science fiction author David Drake.

More information can be found at the contest web site:http://williamledbetter.com/contest.htm