News Post 574

Yellow30 Sci-Fi has posted its list of the decade's best 25 small-press titles:
http://yellow30scifi.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/the-top-25-books/

James L. Rubart is the guest of honour at this month's Where The Map Ends interview:
http://www.wherethemapends.com/Interviews/current_interview.htm

Residential Aliens ezine, edited by LGG member Lyn Perry, is nominated in the Preditors & Editors poll - go vote here:
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml

Kat Heckenbach has posted the latest in her series on fantasy art:
http://kat-findingangel.blogspot.com/2011/01/inordinate-fondness-for-beetles.html

Janalyn Voigt talks about appearing on Clash of the Titles:
http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/2010/12/clash-of-titles-janalyn-voigt-giveaway.html

And for writers: an exhaustive list of questions to ask yourself about your story - great for getting it unstuck:
http://thescriptlab.com/the-formula/story/development/26-story-questionnaire

News Post 567

Bryan Thomas Schmidt is posting excerpts from his upcoming space opera, The Worker Prince - said to recreate a Star Wars type feel. Here are the first two:
http://bryanthomasschmidt.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-is-first-chapter-of-my-forthcoming.html
http://bryanthomasschmidt.blogspot.com/2010/12/novel-excerpt-worker-prince.html

Millard Jones is giving away a copy of Eternity's Edge by Bryan Davis. Go here to enter:
http://onehundredelectricians.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway_07.html

New short stories online:
Spaced Out by R.L. Copple
http://skaggsworld.com/fwg/2010/12/04/spaced-out/
El Nino: A Christmas Mystery with Carolyn Masters, by Terri Main
http://bit.ly/fPWx4Q
The Fairy Princess and the Troll, by Brandon Barr
http://bit.ly/emFdY6

From the Blogosphere:
At Speculative Faith: E. Stephen Burnett shares Lacy's story of how Lord of the Rings opened her spiritual eyes:
http://bit.ly/fBOAq2

P.A. Baines is interviewed by Lena Nelson Dooley, with a chance to win his book:
http://bit.ly/i2PIEm

Kat Heckenbach started a blog series on art she's doing for speculative fiction:
http://bit.ly/geMI35

News for July 28th 2010

Kat Heckenbach's story "Fire Wall" is up now at The Absent Willow Review.  

http://absentwillowreview.com/archives/fire-wall

A list of links especially for fantasy writers, compiled by Lynnette Bonner: http://authorculture.blogspot.com/2010/07/resource-round-up-for-fantasy-writers.html

Phillip Campbell says: Today I put the final touches on the rough text of my collection of short stories, Paladologies. Paladologies is the sequel to Tale of Manaeth and tells of the deeds of Manissa's ancestors throughout the centuries. The book contains 24 short stories; one of which is available online at this link.

New release: The Last Heir, by Shannon McDermott
When loyalty meets ambition and power meets passion, and the prize is an empire … 
The emperor is dead and the last heir is a child, unable to exercise the power of his throne. Left without a ruler, the Empire's most powerful men struggle for control. Their long fight will spread from the halls of government to all the Empire, and its arena will be their own hearts and families. As the Empire divides against itself, everyone must choose who and what to be loyal to. Lines will grow hard and choices become clear, and the truth of who they are and what they fight for will be revealed.
The Last Heir is a story of intrigue, of politics and war, with moving scenes and vivid characters.
To learn more about the book, to read excerpts, and to purchase, go to http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=140.

News for July 19th 2010

Keven Newsome says: The New Authors' Fellowship celebrates 6 months!  Drop by and take a look at the changes!  Let us know what you think and leave a message about what NAF has meant to you so far!  Please come celebrate with us!
newauthors.wordpress.com

July's Digital Dragon magazine is here! With cover art by Kat Heckenbach and stories by several Guild members inside, you won't want to miss this one. www.digitaldragonmagazine.net
  
Malcolm Cowen says:
Just had confirmation that Spirit Blade are going ahead with my script "Sleep of Death".
Locked and barred (on inside) chamber carved out of rock in a space colony.
Inside 2 bodies, in a heap, with hacked off limbs around.
Then a few hours later the bodies are stolen......
There's a link to the English version on my website, here
http://www.ebook.cowensw.co.uk/Scripts/Sleep-of-Death.php

Jon Acuff on the Stuff Christians Like blog has instigated a discussion on the merits of Harry Potter and Gandalf. Why is it that some people hate one and love the other?
http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/hating-harry-potter-giving-gandalf-a-free-pass/

News for July 16th 2010

Interview with A.P. Fuchs at the Black Glove: Horror Culture and Entertainment Magazine - http://bit.ly/9lb0TN

From NovelTeen: JULY IS READ CHRISTIAN SPEC FICTION MONTH : http://wp.me/phFfA-Ad

A new short story from Kat Heckenbach in the horror genre:  http://flashesinthedark.com/2010/07/12/frog-face-by-kat-heckenbach/

Interview with Terri Main at One Writer's Journey: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-with-author-terri-main.html


New at Mindflights - Holy Cats by Kersley Fitzgerald: http://www.mindflights.com/item.php?sub_id=6553

News for June 4th, 2010

A Flame in the Dark, a web zine "dedicated to publishing and promoting good Christian horror, thriller and suspense fiction," launched June 2. Kat Heckenbach's poem, Serpent Uncoiled, is the first featured piece.

An article by Robert Liparulo is on Novel Journey called 5 Elements that Make Fantasy Fiction Feel Real http://bit.ly/11sMqe

The final list of nominees for the Clive Staples award has been posted. This year, to vote you have to have read at least two of the titles. So check it out and make sure you qualify when the time comes. http://bit.ly/cZ97Ib

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 April 28th, 2010

The CFBA tour is featuring The Sword by Bryan M. Litfin. Two of the reviews can be found at these links:
Review by Andrea Graham: http://askandrea.adamsweb.us/the-sword-by-bryan-m-litfin/
Review by Becky Miller: http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2010/04/21/cfba-tour-the-sword/
You can look up more linked reviewers at http://www.christianfictionblogalliance.com/.


Kat Heckenbach is in the papers again: check it out at http://brandonnews2.tbo.com/content/2010/apr/21/161420/valrico-mom-pens-inspiration---and-horror/.


Jill Williamson paid a visit to Peg Phifer's blog for Genre Month: http://goaheadandwearthepurple.blogspot.com/2010/04/genre-jill-williamson.html.


And Stuart Stockton has a Facebook fan page you need to be sure and join: http://bit.ly/bPRSDz.

News for April 9th, 2010

There's a new edition of Residential Aliens up now at http://www.resaliens.com/. This time it includes stories by Walt Staples, Kat Heckenbach, Stoney M. Setzer and more.

A.P. Fuchs says: My zombie novel, Zomtropolis: A Record of Life in a Dead City, is now being posted on my website at http://www.canisterx.com. There will be a new installment each week, updated Fridays. This is a story about zombies, a futuristic city torn to ruins, blood, guts and that little thing called love. Please click on the link to be taken to the book's page, which lists the table of contents. http://apfuchs.wordpress.com/zomtropolis/ Thanks. Enjoy the story.

Check out the Facebook fan page for the New Authors Fellowship: http://www.facebook.com/newauthors for plenty of action and interaction with up-and-coming speculative fiction authors.

This also looks to be an interesting Facebook group: the C.S. Lewis Society of California. 

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

News for February 16th, 2010

After a quiet weekend, it's time to jump back into the fray with all your favourite LGG happenings!

T.W. Ambrose, editor of the Digital Dragon Magazine, announces that his short story The Pilgrimage won first place in the Preditors & Editors poll for Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Story of 2009. Check out what he's got to say about that here.

An enterprising Englishwoman has made an independent spin-off movie as a companion to the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy. LGG member Peter Grant explains the background at his blog, where you can also view the 70 minute movie in its entirety.

At the New Authors Fellowship, Keven Newsome comments on Paul Baines' unpublished novel Alpha, which deals with space travel and the ability of an artificial intelligence to discover God.

For writers: The Wordplay blog has an article about a fascinating approach to improving your writing by reviewing your own work. Check out this unusual idea right here.

And lastly today we have two new LGG member reviews for The Muse by Fred Warren: one by Kat Heckenbach, and one by Greg Mitchell. Thanks guys!

News for January 29th, 2010: Kat Heckenbach, Terri Main, and New Talent Colin Moore

Terri Main has posted the third chapter of the audio version of her book Dark Side of the Moon, here: http://www.wayfarersjournal.com/darkside3.mp3

The New Authors Fellowship is featuring a peek at Colin Moore's unpublished novel System City, which was a participant in the Marcher Lord Select contest. Check it out here:
http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/new-author-series-system-city/ The novel also has a fan group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/System-City/238962417452

Kat Heckenbach is featured in the South Shore News & Tribune, which reports on her upcoming event teaching at a writers' group in Riverview, Florida. Check it out: http://bit.ly/dcMjUn

Guild Member Spotlight: Kat Heckenbach

Kat Heckenbach

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

Actually, I joined just a couple of weeks ago. I've been following the blog for a while and finally got some published short stories I wanted to announce, so I applied for membership.

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

Well, I haven't really had much time for anything to happen. I do remember feeling completely technically-impaired trying to get hooked up on WebRing.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

As I said, I've only just joined. But good things have transpired ever since finding LGG. Mainly, talking with some great writers/LGG members. I love feeling like I'm part of a community of misfits :). Just kidding. It is nice to know that others have the same appreciation for this genre that does seem a bit misunderstood.

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

My novels are YA fantasy--a little bit urban, a little bit traditional, with a slight Southern twang. I have short stories of the same genre/subgenre that are based on my books, but outside of that my writing tends to be dark fantasy/horror.

Why that is--not sure. I've just always loved fantasy novels and TV shows that had magic. I wanted to be Samantha from Bewitched, wanted to discover an enchanted forest, wished my house had a secret passage. Anything that opened a door to a "world beyond" fascinated me, and still does.

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

Yes, YA fantasy is at the top of my list, as is dark fantasy/horror. I'll read just about any genre if the story hooks me, though. Fave authors: JK Rowling, Cornelia Funke, Donita K. Paul, Bryan Davis, Steven James, Suzanne Collins, Stephen King, Madeline L'Engle, CS Lewis, Scott Westerfeld. The list, of course, goes on :).

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

I have stories published in the November 2009 issues of Mindflights ("The Artist") and Digital Dragon ("The Gift")--both are stories based on my novels.

One of my darker pieces ("Willing Blood") was selected Editor's Choice in The Absent Willow Review (Jul/Aug 2009) and I have another ("A Day Better Spent") coming out in TAWR in January 2010.

I've also published a couple of mainstream Christian stories--one in Christian Fiction Online Magazine and one in Einstein's Pocket Watch. My professional sales have all been personal experience stories, though.

A full list of all my published and soon-to-be-published stories can be found on my website, www.findingangel.com. Just click on the "Who's Putting Me in Print" tab.

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

I'm working on the second novel in my YA fantasy trilogy. (Yeah, trilogy--I know, that's just unheard of in fantasy :P.) I'm about half-way through the book, and it's coming in chunks. The first novel, Finding Angel, just poured out of me in about three months. But, of course, it needed gobs of editing. This one, Seeking Unseen, seems to be coming out more polished, but it's taking longer. I'm also in the middle of another short story based on a character in the books.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

It's definitely helping to keep me motivated. Seeing other writers get published and getting to be a support to them has been fun. And in turn, feeling their support--words of praise and encouragement for my writing--has been invaluable.

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

My dream would be for it to be taken more seriously by the publishing market, both Christian and secular. I'd like to see the lines blur a bit--I want to find Christian spec-fic in the secular sections of the bookstore more often.

As for me within that--I want to be seen as a Christian who writes speculative fiction that is read by both fans of Christian and secular writing. My books and stories tend not to address spiritual issues directly, but are more symbolic and allegorical, so I'm hoping my work can serve as a bridge. I actually have a writer friend who is using my short story "Willing Blood," which is what I've sort of been calling an allegorical horror, as a witnessing tool--I thought that was pretty cool.

Your best writing tip?

Learn the difference between writing "rules" and style. It's one thing to correct grammar, but quite another to change the tone of a passage. If someone has given you a suggestion that merely restates your writing in their style, it's not a suggestion you should follow.

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

Hm, at the moment the only thing I can think of is that we're moving. That seems to be consuming most of my energy right now. Maybe also that I've begun drawing again--something I haven't done in years.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I can think of a lot of quirky things, but most people who know me already know them :). Maybe that I become completely obsessed with learning things I have an interest in. For example, my degree is in Biology and after reading the book The Case for a Creator I read every book by all the scientists Lee Strobel interviewed, and went through their bibliographies and read books they referred to--until I realized I spent two straight years reading nothing but books on the Creation/evolution debate. People at my church actually started asking me to lecture on it during Bible studies and such.

Or maybe you're looking for something like the fact that I write limericks to vent when I'm stressed, or that I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue?

Your website or social media profile?

website: www.findingangel.com

blog: www.kat-findingangel.blogspot.com

or search "Kat Heckenbach" on Facebook

News for November 18th, 2009

Karina Fabian says: I had a lovely book signing at Godspace, the Catholic bookstore in Thousand Oaks. I sold more books than I had in a long time. What did I do different?
Read more at her post Bookstore Efforts Led to Book Signing Success.

Also check out Karina's latest press release in response to the Vatican's conference on astrobiology: As Vatican Explores Idea of Extra-Terrestrial Life, Catholic Sci-Fi is Already There

G.K. Fields announces publication of Change at Digital Dragon Magazine.

Rick Copple also announces his new flash fiction title at Residential Aliens:
Life Intruders: The Voyages of Neptune 2

Kat Heckenbach is a freelance writer, homeschool mom, and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Tampa (Biology). Her short fiction ranges from light-hearted fantasy to dark and disturbing. You can enter her world and learn about her novels and other writing at www.findingangel.com and www.kat-findingangel.blogspot.com. Here are two of her stories:

"The Artist" in Mindflights at http://www.mindflights.com/item.php?sub_id=5785.

"The Gift" in Digital Dragon at http://www.digitaldragonmagazine.net/heckenbach-thegift.php.

Don't forget to keep an eye on all the other great ezines out there too, for regular new stories incuding many by Lost Genre Guild members and friends:
Mindflights
Digital Dragon
The Cross and the Cosmos
Residential Aliens
Wayfarer's Journal
RayGun Revival
Laser & Sword

News for August 28th, 2009

Kat Heckenbach says: My horror story "Willing Blood" can be found in the August issue of The Absent Willow Review. Check it out here: http://absentwillowreview.com/archives/willing-blood


Rebecca Ellen Kurtz says: Sons of God made Yahoo News!!!! I love book giveaways! They are awesome!

Check it out: http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20090826/bs_prweb/prweb2787094

To enter yourself go to www.rebeccaellenkurtz.com/blog/

And for writers, Terri Main found this resource:
This is kind of fun. It's a "random" character generator. You go through the charts and throw dice for the choices in each category. Of course, you can also make the choices consciously as well. At any rate it's an interesting way to look at characters.
http://www.droppin-the-fork.com/fantasygen.htm