On behalf of Michael Halcyon:

Greetings,

as most of you may or may not know, I've been writing for the Classic BattleTech science fiction novel series since quite a couple of years already. After Fasa went bancrupt, it sold the license to WizKids LLC who are, in turn, renting it out (almost fully) to FanPro LLC, a German company.

The BattleTech novel series ended in 2003 with Loren Coleman's "Endgame" sounding the last trumpet to the BattleTech universe as we knew it. For a while, people were unsure how BattleTech's future would look like. Then, however, WizKids announced that they would be continuing the (quite successful) series with their new one called "Mechwarrior: Dark Age". MWDA makes a jump in time, a hundred years into the future, beginning whole new story arcs with whole new characters.

What's that got to do with you? Well, like I mentioned before, WizKids rented out the license to the original BattleTech universe to FanPro who are now allowed to continue the franchise under the label "Classic BattleTech". FanPro has the only license to publish CBT novels - albeit only in the German language area (so far). Not only does this mean that the BattleTech universe continues to exist, it also allows for a one-time-only chance: To become a real book author with real novels published.

The setting? FanPro wants novels written and published. The problem? There aren't enough good authors around. The deal? You can step in and become one.

The deal in particular:

• You write a full-fledged script for a novel in English or German. This includes roughly two pages of detailed description what happens, headed by the Dramatis Personae.
  
• In addition, you give a sample of your work, again in English or German. That should be something between 3-6 pages of writing, Courier New, 12pt, 2-line-spacing.
  
• All in .doc format
  
• All pages should have your name in the footnotes (note: Normally this would be your real name and address and whatnot, but since this is a special occasion and we want to cater to the anonymity provided by the DJB, your DJB name (or any pseudonym) will be acceptable. Just make sure that I can identify the submissions)
  
• You send everything to me and I'll forward it to my publisher
  
• If your writing is acceptable, we go on from there
  
• Eventually, you may be given an official contract with all rights and priviledges. This isn't guaranteed, however.
  

You:

• Have at least a bit of experience in writing
  
• Are at least 16
  
• Have decent background knowledge of the BattleTech universe (<- this is important). What does "decent" mean? It means that you have read a number of BattleTech novels already and know at least the rough deal.
  
• Are ready to dig into numerous soourcebooks and do acribical research should you get a contract. You are writing in a multimedial universe with a whole lot of established facts - more than Star Wars, in fact.
  
• Have enough time to write a novel (<- one year/novel is acceptable, faster is better)
  

I:

• will forward your work after an initial screening
  
• will make sure that your ideas stay your ideas
  
• will keep in contact with you once I've forwarded your exposee.
  

That's about it. I am sorry if I used the DJB news for it, but I guess a chance to test out your DJB-earned writing skills in real life is worth it. Please direct all your further questions (and of course your exposee) to me: mike.halcyon[at]new-avalon.net

-Mike