11/13/2009
Voting Begins for Marcher Lord Select!
Yes, the time has finally arrived! If you don't know about this awesome new project, get thee over to The Anomaly forums and check it out. Jeff Gerke is letting the readers decide which novel he's going to publish - out of a line-up of 36 manuscripts presented for voting. This is a huge step in the progress of Christian sci-fi and fantasy, so come along and be a part of it. And watch this space for the results over the coming weeks and months as voting rounds continue.
11/11/2009
The Muse by Fred Warren and Flashpoint by Frank Creed on Kindle
Splashdown Books announces its second title, The Muse by Fred Warren. Meet Stan, a wannabe fantasy author struggling with writer's block - until an uncanny solution sweeps him to the head of a ragtag army in an alternate world. Find out more at www.splashdownbooks.com/themuse.
The Muse is now available at all the usual locations. There's going to be a launch party chat with the author and publisher on Sunday November 15th from 7-9pm US Central time - come along to http://tinychat.com/splashdown and join in the fun!
Delightful from start to finish. A story of three friends with writer’s block soon turns into a tale of everyday magic and real danger. Fast-paced chapters, great dialog, a fantastically magical climax, and a soulful inner journey—Warren does a bang-up job of keeping these themes consistent and tight...the result is a heart-warming ending that will have you reminiscing about it for days. A truly impressive debut novel.
~ Kirk Outerbridge, author of Eternity Falls, a Rick Macey Cyberthriller
A breath of fresh air: crisp, sharp and to the point, as creativity becomes a two-edged sword. The Muse is definitely a good first novel—a book to muse about—and a sign that Mr. Warren is an author to watch.
~ Walt Staples, Radio Playwright and author of Crossways comics
The Muse is great fun. Engaging, quirky characters, snappy dialog, unexpected twists, and the thrills and woes of every writer—a story that is quite possibly in itself a cure for writer’s block. A very true-to-spirit yet atypical Christian fantasy.
~ Kasey L. Heinly, Book Reviewer
An excellent read that keeps the focus throughout, with colorful descriptions and smooth dialog to open the imagination. Warren has outdone the norm...definitely a good read for any fantasy buff.
~ “Jesus Puppy,” Book Reviewer
What would you do to fulfill your artistic dreams? The Muse is unique and imaginative, a humorous yet mysterious twist on the journey to success that warns: if the deal is too good to be true, it likely is. I got caught up in the story of love and Divine inspiration, which totally took me by surprise. I loved the idea that you shouldn’t rush creativity, that it takes time to build art that entertains and gets people to think. A well-written delight, The Muse will inspire readers to enjoy their own artistic gifts and the time it takes to create them.
~ Jill Williamson, author of By Darkness Hid
A light-hearted, family-friendly page-turner, my only complaint is that I now have to start the wait for Fred Warren’s next book. The Muse does for writers what Superman did for men wearing tights.
~ T.W. Ambrose, Editor, Digital Dragon Magazine
The Muse is a heart-warming tale of friendship and family that takes an unexpected twist into an otherworldly adventure. This is a story every aspiring novelist can relate to—the struggle for inspiration.
~ Steve Rzasa, author of The Word Reclaimed
This is an engaging, slightly twisted tale of a trio of aspiring speculative fiction authors who do battle with that most dreaded foe—writer’s block. Although this may sound like something to appeal only to authors, that is far from the truth. Fred Warren’s deftly-designed characters and well-developed scenes will draw in a variety of readers and carry them along for the ride. I laughed and cried out loud and found myself wishing for certain denouements, most of which were different than the actual outcomes. Reality and fantasy blur then clear in this kaleidoscope of action.
~ Cathi Hassan, Book Reviewer, Editor at TeenAge Magazine
Flashpoint by Frank Creed is now available in Kindle format for $4.99 at
http://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-Book-UNDERGROUND-Books-ebook/dp/B002U829UE/ref=ed_oe_k
Plus, its sequel War of Attrition is due out in December!
"Flashpoint delivers an action-packed, shocking look into a possible future while bringing to life spiritual truths in a battle between good and evil that is guaranteed to keep your head spinning."
—MaryLu Tyndall, author of Legacy of the King’s Pirates series
"A thriller that touches the soul, Flashpoint by Frank Creed hits the ground running when a father's love for the Lord thrusts his children into a run-for-your-life adventure riddled
with action, suspense, and a quick lesson in what it means to serve the Lord in times of severe persecution."
—Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and short stories published in a variety of anthologies. Fantasy editor at Inspired Author
"Ever heard of ground-breaking fiction? This is it. Hot stuff!"
—Grace Bridges, author of Faith Awakened
I haven’t had this much fun with a book in a long, long time. Creed is a gutsy writer who gets you into the story at light speed, builds a believable futuristic world that keeps you wanting to find out more.
—Steven Macon, Y-30 Staff www.yellow30scifi.com
To read more, visit the Flashpoint media page.
The Muse is now available at all the usual locations. There's going to be a launch party chat with the author and publisher on Sunday November 15th from 7-9pm US Central time - come along to http://tinychat.com/splashdown and join in the fun!
Delightful from start to finish. A story of three friends with writer’s block soon turns into a tale of everyday magic and real danger. Fast-paced chapters, great dialog, a fantastically magical climax, and a soulful inner journey—Warren does a bang-up job of keeping these themes consistent and tight...the result is a heart-warming ending that will have you reminiscing about it for days. A truly impressive debut novel.
~ Kirk Outerbridge, author of Eternity Falls, a Rick Macey Cyberthriller
A breath of fresh air: crisp, sharp and to the point, as creativity becomes a two-edged sword. The Muse is definitely a good first novel—a book to muse about—and a sign that Mr. Warren is an author to watch.
~ Walt Staples, Radio Playwright and author of Crossways comics
The Muse is great fun. Engaging, quirky characters, snappy dialog, unexpected twists, and the thrills and woes of every writer—a story that is quite possibly in itself a cure for writer’s block. A very true-to-spirit yet atypical Christian fantasy.
~ Kasey L. Heinly, Book Reviewer
An excellent read that keeps the focus throughout, with colorful descriptions and smooth dialog to open the imagination. Warren has outdone the norm...definitely a good read for any fantasy buff.
~ “Jesus Puppy,” Book Reviewer
What would you do to fulfill your artistic dreams? The Muse is unique and imaginative, a humorous yet mysterious twist on the journey to success that warns: if the deal is too good to be true, it likely is. I got caught up in the story of love and Divine inspiration, which totally took me by surprise. I loved the idea that you shouldn’t rush creativity, that it takes time to build art that entertains and gets people to think. A well-written delight, The Muse will inspire readers to enjoy their own artistic gifts and the time it takes to create them.
~ Jill Williamson, author of By Darkness Hid
A light-hearted, family-friendly page-turner, my only complaint is that I now have to start the wait for Fred Warren’s next book. The Muse does for writers what Superman did for men wearing tights.
~ T.W. Ambrose, Editor, Digital Dragon Magazine
The Muse is a heart-warming tale of friendship and family that takes an unexpected twist into an otherworldly adventure. This is a story every aspiring novelist can relate to—the struggle for inspiration.
~ Steve Rzasa, author of The Word Reclaimed
This is an engaging, slightly twisted tale of a trio of aspiring speculative fiction authors who do battle with that most dreaded foe—writer’s block. Although this may sound like something to appeal only to authors, that is far from the truth. Fred Warren’s deftly-designed characters and well-developed scenes will draw in a variety of readers and carry them along for the ride. I laughed and cried out loud and found myself wishing for certain denouements, most of which were different than the actual outcomes. Reality and fantasy blur then clear in this kaleidoscope of action.
~ Cathi Hassan, Book Reviewer, Editor at TeenAge Magazine
Flashpoint by Frank Creed is now available in Kindle format for $4.99 at
http://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-Book-UNDERGROUND-Books-ebook/dp/B002U829UE/ref=ed_oe_k
Plus, its sequel War of Attrition is due out in December!
"Flashpoint delivers an action-packed, shocking look into a possible future while bringing to life spiritual truths in a battle between good and evil that is guaranteed to keep your head spinning."
—MaryLu Tyndall, author of Legacy of the King’s Pirates series
"A thriller that touches the soul, Flashpoint by Frank Creed hits the ground running when a father's love for the Lord thrusts his children into a run-for-your-life adventure riddled
with action, suspense, and a quick lesson in what it means to serve the Lord in times of severe persecution."
—Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and short stories published in a variety of anthologies. Fantasy editor at Inspired Author
"Ever heard of ground-breaking fiction? This is it. Hot stuff!"
—Grace Bridges, author of Faith Awakened
I haven’t had this much fun with a book in a long, long time. Creed is a gutsy writer who gets you into the story at light speed, builds a believable futuristic world that keeps you wanting to find out more.
—Steven Macon, Y-30 Staff www.yellow30scifi.com
To read more, visit the Flashpoint media page.
11/09/2009
Guild Member Spotlight: Rebecca Ellen Kurtz
Welcome to our ongoing series of conversations with Lost Genre Guild members. Catch them here on Mondays!
Rebecca Ellen Kurtz
When did you join the LGG? How did you make the connection?
I found LGG when I was researching for a genre for my own book. I began reading about the LGG and thought, "Wow, these are the books I would like to read." I didn't even know what speculative fiction was, but finally realized that is what I was writing. I was going between Mythic Fiction, Supernatural Thriller, Action/Adventure/Romance (what the film script was listed as), and then Amazon put it under Horror/Occult for the demons, vampires, and exorcisms. I joined....well, definitely less than a year ago. I'm thinking last spring.
What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?
I remembered thinking, "Wow, these people communicate a lot."
Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.
Some excellent connections have been made with people who write stories like mine. It has helped me find books to review for my blog: Godly Goth. It's wonderful to know that there are others out there that enjoy and write speculative fiction. Authors understand promotion and marketing, and some of the authors on LGG have reached out to help new authors in promoting and marketing their novels.
What's your genre and subgenre? Why do you think that is?
Supernatural Thriller/Mythic Fiction/Romance. Well, we have angels, demons, Nephilm and mortals caught up preparing for the final battle of Armageddon. Raechev and Caleb (Nephilim/ brother and sister) return to their home town of Nineveh where an archaeological dig has stirred up some mysterious supernatural deaths. They get caught up in their fallen brethren's plans and are hunted by some mysterious archaeologists who seek out supernatural entities.
The premise of Sons of God is that the N'filim, the descendants of angels and mortals, are the basis of all world mythology. The novel series includes Thor, Loki, Nimrod, Sekhmet, Osiris, Sokar, Mithras, Ishtar, and several more. Of course, some serve Elohim while others plot to rebuild a strong N'filim army before the Battle of Armageddon to defeat God. Scholars acknowledge that the Greek gods closely resemble what the Hebrews would call fallen angels living amongst and having children with mortal women. We still hear tales of Hercules, Medusa, Thor and other half divine heros and villains who survived a great flood. In Norse mythology, great battles were fought between the gods (fallen angels) and cannibalistic giants before a flood wiped out the giants for the humans to repopulate the earth. Celtic mythology of the Tuatha de Danaan continues this trend and has documentation for their ancestors originally hailing from the Middle East where tales of the N'filim were first recorded. In almost every ancient religion there are tales of angel-like/divine creatures mating with humans and/or animals to create their god-kings or a superior semi-divine race worshipped by humans.
Do you like to read the same genre as you write? What other genres interest you? Favorite authors?
Pretty much, but I also greatly enjoy romances. Although each of my novels has some romance in it, the novel itself is not a romance. Favorite authors include Lynn Kurland, Francine Rivers, Frank Peretti, Stephanie Meyers, and Dan Brown (not for his "facts"). I am still searching for authors to love though now that I know where supernatural thriller authors have been hiding - LGG & Where the Map Ends.
Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more.
Sons of God: Supernatural Thriller/Mythic Fiction/Nephilim/Vampires/
Rebecca Ellen KurtzWhen did you join the LGG? How did you make the connection?
I found LGG when I was researching for a genre for my own book. I began reading about the LGG and thought, "Wow, these are the books I would like to read." I didn't even know what speculative fiction was, but finally realized that is what I was writing. I was going between Mythic Fiction, Supernatural Thriller, Action/Adventure/Romance (what the film script was listed as), and then Amazon put it under Horror/Occult for the demons, vampires, and exorcisms. I joined....well, definitely less than a year ago. I'm thinking last spring.
What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?
I remembered thinking, "Wow, these people communicate a lot."
Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.
Some excellent connections have been made with people who write stories like mine. It has helped me find books to review for my blog: Godly Goth. It's wonderful to know that there are others out there that enjoy and write speculative fiction. Authors understand promotion and marketing, and some of the authors on LGG have reached out to help new authors in promoting and marketing their novels.
What's your genre and subgenre? Why do you think that is?
Supernatural Thriller/Mythic Fiction/Romance. Well, we have angels, demons, Nephilm and mortals caught up preparing for the final battle of Armageddon. Raechev and Caleb (Nephilim/ brother and sister) return to their home town of Nineveh where an archaeological dig has stirred up some mysterious supernatural deaths. They get caught up in their fallen brethren's plans and are hunted by some mysterious archaeologists who seek out supernatural entities.
The premise of Sons of God is that the N'filim, the descendants of angels and mortals, are the basis of all world mythology. The novel series includes Thor, Loki, Nimrod, Sekhmet, Osiris, Sokar, Mithras, Ishtar, and several more. Of course, some serve Elohim while others plot to rebuild a strong N'filim army before the Battle of Armageddon to defeat God. Scholars acknowledge that the Greek gods closely resemble what the Hebrews would call fallen angels living amongst and having children with mortal women. We still hear tales of Hercules, Medusa, Thor and other half divine heros and villains who survived a great flood. In Norse mythology, great battles were fought between the gods (fallen angels) and cannibalistic giants before a flood wiped out the giants for the humans to repopulate the earth. Celtic mythology of the Tuatha de Danaan continues this trend and has documentation for their ancestors originally hailing from the Middle East where tales of the N'filim were first recorded. In almost every ancient religion there are tales of angel-like/divine creatures mating with humans and/or animals to create their god-kings or a superior semi-divine race worshipped by humans.
Do you like to read the same genre as you write? What other genres interest you? Favorite authors?
Pretty much, but I also greatly enjoy romances. Although each of my novels has some romance in it, the novel itself is not a romance. Favorite authors include Lynn Kurland, Francine Rivers, Frank Peretti, Stephanie Meyers, and Dan Brown (not for his "facts"). I am still searching for authors to love though now that I know where supernatural thriller authors have been hiding - LGG & Where the Map Ends.
Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more.
Sons of God: Supernatural Thriller/Mythic Fiction/Nephilim/Vampires/
According to the Christian Fantasy Review, when thinking of Sons of God, "one should think of Twilight, the Mummy movies or Indiana Jones full of paranormal activity. But this one has a Biblical worldview....In fact, it is a romance at heart."
Sons of God tells the tale of a 3,000-year-old half-angelic, half-human female warrior who disguises herself as a treasure hunter for mythic items while hunting down her fallen brethren who've committed atrocities against mankind. But now, in the present day, some mysterious murders begin occurring at the archaeological dig at Nineveh, and she must return to face her worst mistake. The most fascinating aspect of this mythic thriller is research from the Old Testament on this supernatural race and historical accounts of these blood-drinking tribes, which introduces an alternate vampire theory. It raises the question - is this semi-supernatural race mythical or not? Sons of God has been dubbed the Da Vinci Code for Twilight, Hancock, & Indiana Jones fans.
To one Christian Barnes & Noble manager, Sons of God is a perfect gift for any teen who is being drawn into the rapidly growing genre of Twilight, House of Night, and other YA books in the horror/occult genre. Blessedly, the Sons of God series is pro-God and anti-occult. Although just getting into several B&N stores, Sons of God has already made it to the Amazon Best-Seller List several times.
If you wish to read the article based on the research found in Sons of God "Are the Hebrew N'filim the foundational element of all world mythologies and vampire lore?" please scroll to the bottom of the spotlight interview. Other sites that have reviews, interviews, etc are also at the bottom.
What are you working on right now? How's progress?
I'm reviewing editors' comments for book 2, Nimrod, in the Sons of God series, and I'm writing book 4, Caleb.
What are your dreams for the future of Christian speculative fiction, and for yourself within that?
For authors to be able to write realistically. Oftentimes, the guidelines for Christian fiction is too goody two-shoes. It's unrealistic, and you can't connect with the too-perfect protagonist.
Your best writing tip?
Write with all five senses.
What else are you up to that our readers would find interesting?
I am also a screenwriter and producer. I've written and produced various television shows and am awaiting feedback from one of my scripts currently in script competitions. I just received notification today that 1636 has made it through the second judging round at CWA. From 2000 down to 75 scripts. I also have a couple of producers requesting the script for Aryan State which I need to finish soon, and I'm helping some Messianic rabbis organize a pastor's convention for those wanting to know and understand more of the Hebraic roots of Christianity.
Something you reckon not many people know about you?
Uh, I perform exorcisms? Also, I'm one of Elohim's seers.
Your website or social media profile?
On the Facebook Fan Page, I give out free prizes, interesting tidbits, and sneak peeks at upcoming novels in the Sons of God series, and I really need to update my IMDB page.
Author Site: http://www.rebeccaellenkurtz.
Ephesus LLC Site: http://www.ephesusmedia.com/
Supernatural Blog: http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/
Godly Goth: http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/REKurtz
Myspace: www.myspace.com/reksonsofgod
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/
"Are the Hebrew N'filim the foundational element of all world mythologies and vampire lore?" E-zine article by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz, best-selling author of Sons of God.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-
http://www.ideamarketers.com/?
http://www.articlealley.com/
http://www.easyarticles.com/
http://www.buzzle.com/
http://www.articlecity.com/
http://www.a1articles.com/
http://vampiresweaters.com/
http://geniusfind.com/
Interviews
Rebecca Ellen Kurtz, author of best selling novel Sons of God, by Karina Fabian at Virtual Book Tour de `Net
http://virtualbooktourdenet.
Podcasts or Web Chats
Rebecca Ellen Kurtz on the Author's Insight (podcast)
http://www.emeraldbookcompany.
http://www.tangle.com/view_
Reviews
Sons of God by Phyllis Wheeler at The Christian Fantasy Review
http://christian-fantasy-book-
Amazon Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Sons-
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