News Post 572

Have you checked out the Lost Genre Guild's member directory? It's wonderful to see all the names and fields of interest. Are you on it? If not, you should think about joining. Click the About tab for information on how to do that.

The Splashdown Books newsletter is out. Check it out here, and sign up for future updates if you want to keep up to date with exciting new stuff from the Lost Genre.

 

Updates from Laser & Sword ezine:

 

The Great Search, Part Fifteen (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-great-search-part-fifteen/)  Against Revelator's adviace, the Sword and the Dark Mystic meet at last.

 

The Emerald Avenger v. The Corruptibles (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-emerald-avenger-v-the-corruptibles-part-fourteen/): Two crooked police officers take a most unusual trip downtown.

 

Day of Dread, Part Seven (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/day-of-dread-part-seven/) Kendall officers Snyder a way out.

News Post 571

Mike Duran has started an intriguing discussion on the apparent dichotomy of theology and speculation:
http://mikeduran.com/?p=10873

He's also been interviewed about his upcoming book, The Resurrection, at I Smell Sheep.
http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2010/12/interview-with-author-mike-duran_20.html

Here's a podcast interview with Jeremy Bishop on his debut zombie apocalypse novel Torment:
http://freedomtrainonline.com/?p=1231

R.L. Copple's new short story Dragon Stew is now available from Smashwords for $0.99:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34373

Digital Dragon Magazine has created new landing pages for its two current serials, so you can easily catch up and follow along:
The North Star by Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Comet Born by Grace Bridges

Jennifer Hartz is running a contest to win copies of her upcoming book Future Saviour: Conception
http://jenniferhartz.com/2010/12/21/christmas-giveaway-contest/

News Post 563

This week's serials from Laser & Sword:

With Captain Justice in the hospital, Commander Justice, Jr. investigates alone

(http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-great-search-part-twelve/) (The Great Search, part Twelve)

The Emerald Avenger starts a fire with the goal of burning out two corrupt police officers

(http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-emerald-avenger-vs-the-corruptibles-part-eleven/) (The Emerald Avenger v. the Corruptibles, Part Eleven.)

Snyder meets a racketeer who has an offer for him. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/day-of-dread-part-four/) (Day of Dread, Part Four.)

Don't miss the new edition of Residential Aliens, with stories from L. S. King, Gary Raven, Lachlan David, Kurt Hyatt and Walt Staples. Go here: http://www.resaliens.com/

There's a short-form writing contest in several categories going on over at Holy Worlds, and the prizes are five copies of The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead.

http://www.holyworlds.org/blog/?p=377

Walt Staples has a new story up at the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. He claims it's not speculative, but I'm not convinced...

http://www.deadmule.com/fiction/2010/11/walter-staples-sammys-christmas/

A new review of The Word Reclaimed by Steve Rzasa, from Krysti Kercher:

http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/word-reclaimed.html

News for August 27th 2010

Updates this week from Laser & Sword Magazine:

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-double-cross-part-twenty-one/ (The Double Cross, Part Twenty-One): Ian Bucknell (aka. The Dark Mystic) makes a desperate attempt.

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-origin-of-the-emerald-avenger-part-nineteen/ (Origin of the Emerald Avenger, Part Nineteen): The Emerald Avenger decides: Will Night Lord live or die?

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/countdown-part-eight/ (Countdown, Part Eight): Snyder briefs Colonels Morgan and Dread. 


Janalyn Voigt has a guest post on The Book Lightwalker Files entitled The Fragrance of Allegory:
http://victortravison.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/4598670-the-fragrance-of-allegory

One week remains to vote in the Clive Staples Award! So if you haven't already, go here and make your voice heard!
http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/

CSFF Tour Wrap: Rebecca LuElla Miller points out some highlights and gives the chance to vote on the Top Blogger at
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/csff-august-tour-wrap-2/

News for August 20th 2010

Updates from Laser & Sword magazine:

The Sword Comics acquires a new title and makes someone very, very unhappy. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-double-cross-part-twenty/) The Double Cross, Part Twenty

 Night Lord is interrogated by the Emerald Avenger and gets the shock of his life. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-origin-of-the-emerald-avenger-part-eighteen/) The Origin of the Emerald Avenger, Part Eighteen

Colonel Dread meets Colonel Morgan, fireworks ensue. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/countdown-part-seven/) Countdown, Part Seven

Greg Mitchell announces the final cover for his upcoming release, The Strange Man. See it here:
http://thecomingevil.blogspot.com/2010/08/final-cover-for-strange-man.html

John Otte revisits the Birthright Project by Kathryn Mackel and speculates on its future:
http://leastread.blogspot.com/2010/08/birthright-project-revisited.html

Sherry Thompson joins the Blogging Team at Young Adult Authors You've Never Heard Of 
http://obscurekidlitauthors.blogspot.com/2010/08/hi-from-sherryt.html
http://writtenremains.blogspot.com/2010/08/member-news-sherry-thompson-joins.html

Writers! Want to get your synopsis read by someone at Penguin? Now's your chance. Penguin UK is taking unsolicited submissions until October! More info and guidelines here:
http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/#question11

News for August 13th 2010

This week's serials at Laser & Sword:

Commander Justice rejoins the rest of the Guild of Heroes, and the Sword gives everyone a good talking to: http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-double-cross-part-nineteen-2/ (The Double Cross, Part Nineteen)

The Emerald Avenger hooks Night Lord and reels him in. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/origin-of-the-emerald-avenger-part-seventeen/) Origin of the Emerald Avenger, Part Seventeen

Snyder and Sgt. Kendall prepare for action. (http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/countdown-part-six/) Countdown, Part Six

Here's a new page for Karina Fabian's upcoming book: Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator!
http://www.zombiecookbook.net/NeetaLyffe.html

Interview with Kristina Schram, author of the Chronicles of Anaedor:
http://kenthollowayonline.blogspot.com/2010/08/let-me-introduce-you-tokristina-schram.html

News for August 6th 2010

Updates from the Laser & Sword serials will now be coming to you regularly here on the LGG blog!

Here's what we had this week:

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/the-double-cross-part-eighteen/ With Commander Justice disappearing once again, Captain Justice and Commander Justice, Jr. are left to face down the fearsome Human Muscle. (Double Cross, Part Eighteen)

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/origin-of-the-emerald-avenger-part-sixteen/ :The Emerald Avenger closes in on Night Lord. (Origin of the Emerald Avenger, Part Sixteen.)

http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/countdown-part-five/ Snyder has decoded the Orez game, but how will he get out of the stockade to stop the plot? (Countdown, Part Five.)

R.L. Copple explains for us some of the background of his novels and why there is Hebrew lettering on the cover of Infinite Realities:
http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=262

Tosca Lee's book Havah: The Story of Eve is now available for free download at B&N, for the next two weeks only. More details here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=fl_86265014251#!/event.php?eid=148908605123440And while we're at it here's an interview with Tosca, and four copies of her books to be given away:
http://www.thechristiancritic.net/2010/08/03/tosca-lee-interview/

Becky Minor offers an excerpt from her story The Sword of the Patron:
http://www.authonomy.com/books/24292/the-sword-of-the-patron/

News for May 14th, 2010

It's that time again - nominations are open for the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction. To read the conditions and judging criteria, and nominate your favourite release of 2009, go here:
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/clive-staples-award-2010-accepting-nominations/

The latest issue of Ray Gun Revival is out now and awaiting your reading pleasure: 
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30956784/Ray-Gun-Revival-magazine-Issue-55#fullscreen:on


The pace is stepping up in "Deactivation" - Part 10 of The Moonborn Code by C.L. Dyck: http://scitascienda.com/2010/05/08/the-moonborn-code-part-10/

Here's a new review at Yellow30 Sci-Fi: Future Imperfect by F.S. Vander Meer http://yellow30scifi.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/future-imperfect/

News for May 12th, 2010

Lyndon Perry is posting a free flash fiction "superhero" story at Feedbooks called, "Even Superheroes!" - do me a favor, download it free (pick your own e-reader format) and give me some feedback about the site and process. Thanks! http://www.feedbooks.com/userbook/12197

Karina Fabian announced the sale of her novel Mind Over Mind to Dragon Moon - read all about the good news here: http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/2010/05/perseverance-pays-mind-over-mind.html

Kat Heckenbach's short horror--"Clay's Fire--can now be found in the newly-released "The Four Horsemen: An Anthology of Conquest, War, Famine & Death" by Pill Hill Press. It can be purchased through Amazon in either paperback or hardcover. http://www.amazon.com/Four-Horsemen-Anthology-Conquest-Famine/dp/0984261036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273068479&sr=1-1

A new story at Mindflights: "Wish Seeker"
 by Alaena HaiLing (A Student Contributor) - One precious thing in exchange for a wish, that is how it has always worked for the people of her city, but her pursuit of the rare tree of pearls is making Rulei wonder if she’s never understood at all.

And here's Part 9 of Cathi-Lyn Dyck's serial The Moonborn Code: Departure.

News for May 3rd, 2010

C. L. Dyck has posted Part 8 of The Moonborn Code: Counterintelligence http://scitascienda.com/2010/04/24/the-moonborn-code-part-8/
To read all the episodes, go here: http://scitascienda.com/category/loci-litterae/the-moonborn-code/

Krystine Kercher has posted part 2 and 3 of P'olleeaster: http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/polleeaster-part-2-of-5.html and http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/polleeaster-part-3-of-3.html

Sherry Thompson says: Last week, I posted 3 linked extracts from Earthbow Volume 1, beginning at: http://tree-lady.livejournal.com/95027.html I just added three more in another linked set, which completes a second scene. Please check them out when you have a chance. If they pique your curiosity, remember that Earthbow Vol.1 is on sale via Amazon. I'm currently working on the final draft of vol.2. Gryphonwood should be publishing it in a couple of months.

Rick Copple says: John Ottinger has graciously agreed to have me as a guest blogger. http://www.graspingforthewind.com/2010/05/03/guest-post-more-sin-please-by-r-l-copple/ There is a giveaway of two copies of Infinite Realities running that week as well: http://www.graspingforthewind.com/2010/05/03/giveaway-two-signed-copies-of-infinite-realities-by-r-l-copple/
And no, the article isn't a plea for people to sin more. To find out what I'm really talking about, you'll have to read the post. :)

News for April 21st, 2010

New fiction at Mindflights: "Tumbling Parasol"  by Stelios Touchtidis - When a disaster thrusts a Chinese astronaut into deep space with a shrinking window for rescue, what chance will he have against the cold equations of expediency and national ambition?

Stuart Stockton wrote a guest post at Peg Phifer's blog for her genre focus month: http://goaheadandwearthepurple.blogspot.com/2010/04/genre-stuart-vaughn-stockton.html

And he wasn't the only one: Here's Fred Warren on fantasy:
http://goaheadandwearthepurple.blogspot.com/2010/04/genre-fred-warren.html


The next instalment of C. L. Dyck's online serial is now up:
The Moonborn Code, Part 7: Agent



C.S. Lakin says: 
Announcing--The Gates of Heaven Series of fairy tales Book One:
The Wolf of Tebron is now available for pre-order by following these links:
Christianbook.com (less expensive and we like to support them!):
http://www.christianbook.com/wolf-tebron-book-gates-heaven-series/c-s-lakin/9780899578880/pd/578880?item_code=WW&netp_id=800671&event=ESRCN&view=details
or Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Tebron-Book1-Gates-Heaven/dp/0899578888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271543007&sr=8-1
Please come check out our new improved site: www.gatesofheavenseries.com
Read the prologue! Comment on the blog! See why fairy tales are powerful and add your thoughts!

News for March 26th, 2010

Read Part 4 of The Moonborn Code by C.L. Dyck here: http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/22/the-moonborn-code-part-4/


The Diplodocus Effect, a new fantasy humour story by Rob Hunter, is now up at Residential Aliens: http://www.resaliens.com/2010/03/the-diplodocus-effect/ - Includes a link to a podcast version read by the author.


The CSFF Blog Tour this month is focusing on Faery Rebels: Spellhunter by R. J. Anderson. Here is the first post by Rebecca LuElla Miller: http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/csff-blog-tour-%E2%80%93-faery-rebels-day-1/
and another by Fred Warren: http://frederation.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/march-csff-blog-tour-day-1-faery-rebels-spellhunter-by-r-j-anderson/
and Amanda Barr: http://christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-faery-rebels-spell-hunter.html

News for March 22nd, 2010

Maurice Broaddus is celebrating the UK and Australian release of his novel King Makers, and it's already garnering great reviews: here's the first one - http://www.sciencefictionandfantasy.co.uk/king-maker.htm - no doubt the first of many, by the sounds of it.

C.L. Dyck has published Midwife, Part 3 of her online serial The Moonborn Code at  http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/15/the-moonborn-code-part-3/.


Tor.com has an interesting article on the place of religion in science fiction. The perspective is not from inside the church but is definitely worth a read: Religion and Science Fiction: Asking the Right Questions

The Restorer's Journey by Sharon Hinck: new evaluation at Splashdown Reviews http://splashdownreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/restorers-journey-by-sharon-hinck.html

News for March 15th, 2010

Laser and Sword Magazine Updates: 
March 11, 2010 - Farewell Jirel, Part Four, the latest installment of the Rise of the Judge web serial.

A juvenile delinquent caught meting out vigilante justice gets inducted into a dystopian Army under threat of a noose. Can a double agent get Snyder back on track? Will Snyder survive to discover his destiny?

March 9, 2010 - Powerhouse Carries on, Part seven,  the latest installment of the Tales of the Dim Knight web serial.

A mild-mannered janitor discovers a symbiotic alien cylinder that brings his dreams of being a superhero true. One question haunts: can there be such a thing as a good Symbiot, even if he isn't black tar?

March 8, 2010 - The Fifth Column, Part Nine, the latest installment of the Order of the Sword web serial.

A comic book CEO seeks to defeat terrorism as the Sword by uniting the world's greatest superheros. Will he learn bad guys masquerade as good guys before the traitor in their midst sends the heroes to their doom?

Updates from Mindflights Magazine:

"Balance of Power"
 by Lindsey Duncan
As a mediocre Lightweaver and a former swordswoman, Tanasdra is entirely expendable as a stand-in for the Eye, the most gifted foreteller in centuries. But the ruse won't be enough.


"Patience" by Rosalind Casey (A Student Contributor)
She comforts herself in the waiting

"The Never-People"
 by Douglas Kolacki
How do you tell people about heaven when they never die?

News for March 9th, 2010

Kat Heckenbach's short story Jordan's River is now published at Digital Dragon: check it out at http://www.digitaldragonmagazine.net/heckenbach-jordansriver.php

C.L. Dyck has published part 2 of her online serial The Moonborn Code at http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/08/the-moonborn-code-part-2/. If you missed the beginning, you'll want to go back and start here: http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/01/the-moonborn-code/

Two new reviews for Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges - one by Kat Heckenbach at http://kat-findingangel.blogspot.com/2010/03/there-are-some-books-i-read-and-can.html and the other by Fred Warren at http://frederation.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/book-review-faith-awakened-by-grace-bridges/. Thanks guys!

Fred Warren continues his reviewing with a balanced look at the (in)famous Angels and Demons by Dan Brown: http://frederation.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/book-review-angels-and-demons-by-dan-brown/

And a bonus for writers today on a topic in need of a spotlight: Athol Dickson on the poetry of language in his article Forgotten Beauty at Novel Journey - http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-beauty.html

Exciting Online Happenings

Yellow30 Sci Fi has posted its review of A Lever Long Enough by Amy Deardon:

"Amy Deardon has written a truly fantastic debut novel. It is a fast paced, well written and throughly engaging tale. Deardon has paid attention to detail and history, weaving a high energy thriller from the very first page."

Read the whole review at http://yellow30scifithereview.blogspot.com/2009/03/lever-long-enough.html

Deb Kinnard's Angel With A Ray Gun is re-releasing as an e-book - and you can enter to win it! Details at http://justtellthestory.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-books.html

Karyn Knight is starting up an episodic sci-fi series called Nighthawk, due to begin in April. In the meantime, read all about this exciting new Christian space opera here: http://www.nighthawkseries.com.


Karina Fabian says:

I'm the guest at the Writers Chat Room Sunday 7-9 EDT at http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm. I'll be talking about Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, and Vern the dragon detective will drop by for awhile as well. Hope you can make it!

New poetry at Mindflights Magazine: Knight on the Old North Shore by Mary R. Hawkins ~ She has only been dreaming...hasn't she?

And finally, for a bit of fun, check out The Hero Factory, where you can enter a virtual process to be transformed into a superhero. http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory.

Weekend Reading Online

There's so much quality material online that it's hard to keep up with posting news about it! Here are the offerings of today's post.

Mindflights Magazine has posted new content:
Birds of a Feather by W. K. Tucker - Looking after his strange sister is no easy task for thirteen-year-old Henry. And it doesn't help matters any that his ma is crazy in the head.
Encounter, a poem by Elyn W. Marsh - I never would have expected him, but there he was...
Quanruzaman's Gateway by Peter Simon - A long overdue, unexpected but happy appointment.

We are also excited to bring you The Ballad of Scabbard Pete by LGG forum participant Tony Lavoie. This is a supernatural pirate story posted in chapters, or rather, stanzas.

Also appearing in regular episodes is Archangel, a series of novels by Scott Roche from the LGG forum. It's a podcast, an audiobook of the supernatural thriller type. Who needs TV any more?