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Founded: 1983
We’ve written extensively about the contest over the years. In 2012, we dug deep to show how the writers and artists who take part in it as contestants or judges for the most part hold their noses and try to ignore that the lavish week of celebrations can only take place because of Scientology’s wealth, with only a few daring to voice their concerns.
That year, we showed definitively the direct link between the contest and Scientology’s abuses — Barbara Ruiz, one of the women who ran the contest for Author Services Inc. (Hubbard’s literary agency, wholly owned by the church), had also helped to run the infamous prison for church executives known as “the Hole” at Scientology’s secretive “Int Base” near Hemet, California in 2004 before she vanished entirely.
Although at least one judge decided no longer to participate based on our reporting, the contest has continued on, with most participants either oblivious or willfully blinding themselves to the Scientology connection.
LINKS:
March 12, 2012: Scientology’s Writers of the Future Contest: Troubling Ties to Abuse in the Church
April 7, 2018: On Day One, 2018’s Writers of the Future party betrays its connection to Scientology’s abuses
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E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page. Background on this website and its proprietor can be found at our About page.
Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. Our collaboration with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’, is also available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ