News for October 16th, 2009

Karina Fabian says:

Writers, editors, agents, and other publishing professionals from around the world are gearing up for the third annual Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, which will be held February 26-March 5, 2010. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild, the online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels who register between October 1, 2009 and February 15, 2010. Develop your skills with forum-based workshops, or tap experienced writers and editors for their knowledge in live chats. Do you have a Catholic book to pitch? Prominent Catholic publishers will be holding pitch sessions! (Limited attendance.) To register or get more information, go to www.catholicwritersconference.com. (Non-Catholics: You do not need to be Catholic to attend, but you do need to respect our beliefs.)

Check out a review of the controversial book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies reviewed by Michelle Levigne at the Christian Fiction Online Magazine.

For writers: A contest that is open to Christian spec-fic at:
http://joyfulhutch.googlepages.com/rattlerscontest

Robert Treskillard says: I wrote an article titled "What is Christian Fantasy? A Definition and a
Challenge" at the new Holy Worlds site:
http://holyworlds.x10hosting.com/blog/?page_id=283
Even though I focus on Christian fantasy, what I wrote can equally apply to any spec-fic.
Feedback on the article can be left at: http://epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php?title=holy_worlds_amdash_what_is_christian_fan&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

And Fred Warren has a new story up at Mindflights: One Smile At A Time. There's something special about the girl with the big smile in Mr. Joseph's third grade class, and it just might save the world.

Fred also says: Wow, two stories published in the same week–that's a first for me. This story, "Of All Things, Seen and Unseen," is a tale of faith and adventure set in the Rescue Sisters Universe created by Robert and Karina Fabian in their anthologies, Infinite Space, Infinite God, and Leaps of Faith. My story was inspired by their work and inhabits their universe with their permission.

A lot of new stories at Residential Aliens (www.resaliens.com) this week--check 'em out!

Jeremy Robinson's new releases

Jeremy Robinson says: Respect the Ninja! Feed the Zombie! If you should find yourself alone on a leaf littered street, alone, late at night, that sound you hear-like a dry whisper-might not be the wind carrying a leaf across the pavement. It might be zombies! Or ninjas! It all depends on which of the following websites you're checking out AND which of the future books you snag. This was a very trying year for me and essentially wiped out my sense of humor. As part of my quest to find that sense of humor again, I have dived headlong into two humor projects (both under pen names) and have completed two books that are both disgustingly funny. The first book, THE NINJA'S PATH is an inspirational gift book for ninjas. The second, THE ZOMBIE'S WAY is an inspirational gift book for zombies. To celebrate their completion I have launched two websites. In the future, both sites will feature the published books as well, but right now they're simply full-up with funny zombie and ninja related media. What's better than that is that I'm looking for funny photos and videos to post (with a new post up daily I will eventually run dry on what I can dig up or create myself). So visit the sites and follow the links for "Submit to the Ninja" and "Feed the Zombie" to send in your funny pics and videos. Visit ZombieFlarg here. Visits NinjaHappens here.

Guild Member Spotlight: Scott M. Sandridge

Welcome to our ongoing series of conversations with Lost Genre Guild members. Catch them here on Mondays!

Scott M. Sandridge


When did you join the LGG? How did you make the connection?

Around 2006, I think. I got invited by Rebecca Miller soon after my short story, "Fang of the Serpent," got reviewed while was featured in a blog tour.


What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?

Um...I almost sparked a flame war?


Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

I've got to meet a lot of fellow Christians who also love to write Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Just goes to show we're not as rare a breed as we thought. ;)


What's your genre and subgenre? Why do you think that is?

I primarily write Science Fiction and Fantasy but dabble in Horror, yet I'm the Managing Editor of a Horror webzine, and my published Science Fiction falls more into the category of Science Fantasy with a humorous twists or three, while my Fantasy runs the gamut from Epic to Dark.

Don't worry; I'm confused, too.


Do you like to read the same genre as you write? What other genres interest you? Favourite authors?

When I'm not reading to write reviews, I tend to prefer anything fantasy-based or horror-based; though, sometimes I might enjoy an occasional Mystery, Action/Adventure, or Political Thriller. I read a lot of non-fiction, too; mostly stuff about alternative theories and such. I tend to avoid mainstream stuff (whether fiction or nonfiction) as much as possible these days. My fave authors tend to chage with my mood, currently they include J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Orson Scott Card, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman, Troy Denning, Eric Griffin, C. J. Cherryh, Timothy Zahn, Eugie Foster, Paul Levinson, Brian Keene, Carrie Vaughn, Micheal Ehart, E. Sedia, Jackie Gamber....

Oh, and some guy named Frank Creed. ;)


Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more.

That's a pretty long list these days. Start here: http://smsand.wordpress.com/bibliographyor-wheres-your-street-cred

My latest published short story (as of Sept. 09), "A Nighttime Business Arrangement," can be found in Issue 4 of http://www.silverblade.net>Silver Blade.


What are you working on right now? How's progress?

I'm currently in the middle of doing a bunch of reviews for Withersin (3 so far, but I have this sneaky suspicion a boxload is on the way to my doorstep) while finishing the reviews I'm doing for my A Work In Progress podcast. I'm also in the middle of writing two novels at roughly the same time, one of which will be the sequel to http://pankea.wordpress.com>The Silverblade Prophecy podcast novel (which, of course, will have to be made into a podcast as soon as the novel's finished).

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

It's helped me to network with other writers and editors and keep me up to date on what's happening in the realm of Christian spec-fic publishing.


What are your dreams for the future of Christian speculative fiction, and for yourself within that?

To be the best writer I can be, and for Christ to bless my work by awakening hearts and minds with it.


Your best writing tip?

As Eric Griffin says: "Butt to Chair, Write."


What else are you up to that our readers would find interesting?

I'm looking for an artist(s) to collaborate on a couple graphic novels with. Although, I might not be able to get started on that until mid-2010.

Yeesh! If only I could warp time....


Something you reckon not many people know about you?

Asperger Syndrome. It sucks.


Your website or social media profile?

Wordpress: http://smsand.wordpress.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/scottmsandridge and http://www.myspace.com/pankea
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottmsandridge
Shoutlife: http://www.shoutlife.com/scottmsandridge
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/scott-sandridge/7/645/509