Science fiction author, former TCU student and Writers of the Future Award winner Gerald Warfield is scheduled to sign books and talk to aspiring writers about the opportunities to get their work published. 

Warfield will be signing copies of the anthology "Writers of the Future Volume 28" by L. Ron Hubbard, which features his award-winning short story “The Poly Islands,” on Feb. 23 at the university's bookstore.

He said the short story is set 75 years in the future. The Sargasso Sea has become a place where so much garbage congregates that islands of plastic are formed and fugitives inhabit these islands. At the end of the story, he proposes a way for the sea to be cleaned. 

Warfield said he does book signings to sell books and to make people aware of The Writers of the Future Contest.

Mike Quint of Galaxy Press, which sponsored the award, said this contest allows up-and-coming writers to have their work published and encourages them to continue writing. 

“You make a lot of professional connections, and it puts you on the fast track for science fiction writing,” Warfield said.

Warfield attended the university for three years before transferring to the University of North Texas then transferring to Princeton in the late 1960s. He said he never imagined he would be a writer because he was a music major.

“My English teachers were outstanding,” he said. “They took an interest in my work.” 

He said he is grateful for the time he spent in college and the things he learned at each university helped pave the way for his future.

“The broad education that you get at colleges like TCU gives you greater flexibility later in life, and it leaves a lot of opportunities open to you that simply aren’t open to people who don’t have this kind of background,” he said.

Warfield will be accompanied by award winner William Ledbetter whose piece “The Rings of Mars” is featured in the anthology as well. 

“For anybody who likes science fiction or fantasy, these are the guys to talk to,” Quint said. 

The book signing is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. at the university's bookstore. The anthologies will be sold at the event for $7.99.