News for September 20th 2010

Checked out Tosca Lee's guest blog at The New Authors' Fellowship? No? She shared the story of her journey to publication:
http://newauthors.wordpress.com/

This from Mike Lynch:Taylor Kent at Snark Infested Waters was kind enough to interview Brandon and I about the release of our latest novel, American Midnight: 

http://thesnarkyavenger.com/2010/09/15/snark-infested-waters-for-9152009-michael-lynch-and-brandon-barr-authors-of-american-midnight/


Encounter 10: Jeffrey Overstreet on the how of storytelling from International Arts Movement on Vimeo.

A new review of The Word Unleashed by Steve Rzasa, reviewed by Bill Hayes:
http://holyspeculation.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-word-unleashed.html

Marc Schooley reviews Alpha Redemption by P.A. Baines: "Move over, Hal...meet Jay."
http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/alpha-redemption-winner-review-and-interview/2/

Keven Newsome interviews Jay, the computer from Alpha Redemption:
http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/alpha-redemption-winner-review-and-interview/3/

News for August 30th, 2010

Tosca Lee's "Demon: A Memoir" is now free to download from Lifeway:
http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/tosca_lee.asp

C.L. Dyck gives a very personal reaction to Marc Schooley's "The Dark Man":
http://scitascienda.com/2010/08/30/the-day-marc-schooley-died/

Caprice Hokstad is interviewed at Janalyn Voigt's Book Readers Central, and you have a chance to win a copy of "The Duke's Handmaid":
http://bookreaderscentral.blogspot.com/2010/08/meet-and-greet-monday-caprice-hokstad.html

And on a slight tangent, Mike Duran has a nice rant about so-called "edgy" fiction:
http://mikeduran.com/?p=8680

June 18th News - Terri Main, Jeff Gerke, MLP

Terri Main says: Come meet Carolyn Masters, the main character from Dark Side of the Moon, my new novel coming out in Feb 2011. We catch up with Carolyn as she is giving a lecture at the FBI academy in Quantico about Criminal Investigations in Off-World Cultures.
http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/2010/06/criminal-investigation-in-off-world.html

This from Jeff Gerke: Be in a Marcher Lord Press novel! Here's your chance to have your name listed in one of the upcoming releases from Marcher Lord Press. Take time on the Fourth of July to stop by our store at http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Fiction.htm and buy any of our 12 great fiction titles to have your name entered in the contest. We will randomly select three people whose names will appear in the upcoming new novels by Kirk Outerbridge, Marc Schooley, and the winner of our Marcher Lord Select competition, Matt Koceich.
 
Imagine, your name in a Marcher Lord Press novel!
 
Even if you're not one of the chosen three, everyone who buys an MLP book will receive a free short story by author Steve Rzasa called "Hunting Souls." It takes place in the same universe as his space opera novels The Word Reclaimed and The Word Unleashed, and follows the exploits of an unlikely hero -- one of the secret police who track down Christians.
So remember, go to http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Fiction.htm on July 4, 2010 and enter your chance to become part of Marcher Lord Press history!

Update from Marcher Lord Press

Jeff Gerke says: I'm excited to report that the second release list of MLP titles has officially earned out (publishing lingo for "broken even"). After only two months, the second list is in the black. I was been thrilled that the first list had earned out in only four months. The second did it in two months. What's in store for the third list? Speaking of the third list, I now have the first book for list #3 under contract. You're going to love this thing. Think Asimov meets Muhammad in space. ;-) Marcher Lord Press was mentioned in a national publication in June. The sales event went beautifully (despite the hacking of my site). And my fiction craft book continues to wow readers. Read on to find out more. Jeff Gerke Publisher Marcher Lord Press

The Second List Breaks Even

Led by strong independent sales of The Dark Man, the author's massive marketing genius and great Amazon sales of By Darkness Hid, and strong promotional efforts for Starfire, the second release list from Marcher Lord Press has earned out. In only two months.

Not all the books have independently hit the tipping point, but put together the combined sales of all three have definitely pushed us over the top.

That means I can look forward to list 3 in full confidence that it can go forward as planned. When you're a small press, you live season to season. If season 1 does well, you can do a season 2. Now our season 2 has done well so we can do a season 3.

It shows the extreme importance of you, the loyal fan. Continue supporting Marcher Lord Press as you have and MLP can continue. Thank you for what you do!

Last month's sales promotion was a great success. It was fun hearing the reactions from people who got to discover the "The Istaka Passage," the 10,500-word-long set of scenes that was actually a subplot originally written for Hero, Second Class.

I've got one book for list 3 already under contract. Hopefully in August I'll be able to talk about all three books I will (he said by faith) by then have under contract.

Finally, Marcher Lord Press and our title By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson was mentioned in USA Today in June! How cool is that? That's great exposure for lil' ol' us! Check out the article.

News for May 15th 2009

In member news: Flashpoint by Frank Creed has reached the #1 spot in its category on Amazon, blazing past Peretti, Jenkins, Dekker and, well, everyone else! Check its current status here - or view the whole screenshot here!

Read the brand new press release at Christian Newswire! "I nearly fell off my chair..." ~ Creed


While you're at it, check out this new review of Flashpoint:
"An adrenaline infused, roller-coaster ride into a future where a belief can cost you a brain-washing and even your life, this science-fiction novel reminds me most of the best of the "Indiana Jones" movies in its pacing and level of excitement."~Michael G. Lail

The Dark Man by Marc Schooley - Reviewed by Eric Wilson: "In the middle of this Ted-Dekker-type action, Schooley engages our hearts with some relational moments, and our minds with some sly, often humorous, jabs about politics and faith."

Reposted at Splashdown Reviews:
Raising the Past by Jeremy Robinson
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

News from member Paulette Harris:
This was a book signing in Denver, Colorado for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson and LeAnn Thieman. These book series sell well over 33,000 each time one comes out. In this case, it was Living Catholic Faith.

Talk about faith. I wrote a story about a miscarried son of Jim and mine. I submitted it three years ago to Guidepost and the story was loved by the editor but the newly hired Jr. editor didn't think it quite fit. I put it in the file drawer and continued on my third novel at the time.

Then, last fall out of the blue, the editor and publisher called me for a contract on this story! I did not ever send this story out to them for consideration, I asked them where they had gotten wind of this and they said they didn't know! Just that they had a copy and wanted to know if I was the author. Well, of course I signed a contract because this publishing company has far more reaching (international) buyers than the previous so I consider this pretty much a miracle and an answer to my writing. One thing I learned.....trust God more that he is in control of my writing and where it goes! And...to keep writing.

Pictured above: LeAnn Thieman, Nancy Noonan, Shirley Dino, Ben Lager, Linda Osmundson, Helen Colella and Paulette Harris of the LGG (front right)

Update from Marcher Lord Press

From Jeff Gerke: The New Books Are A Success!

Despite the delay caused by my trip to China to adopt our little girl, the second set of Marcher Lord Press titles successfully released in April.

The trip and preparation for it caused me to lose about six weeks that I would've been using to finilize the list, but we didn't have a six-week delay to the launch, as we had been expecting. By the grace of God, the books were actually shipping on April 15.

These new novels continue to receive great reviews. And, as a surprise bonus, they became available on Amazon only days after being released officially on the Marcher Lord Press site.

So if you're waiting for that free shipping or you live outside the Continental U.S., now's the time to take advantage of their availability through Amazon.

The books are also available in Kindle versions through Amazon! Thanks to MLP novelist Jill Williamson for making that happen.

If you haven't ordered your copies of all three new MLP titles yet...what are you waiting for? LOL. I hope you'll avail yourself of these new novels from the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction.

And if you've loved By Darkness Hid by the aforementioned Jill Williamson, you'll want to catch her interview over at WhereTheMapEnds.

By the way, the MLP store site does have a place to write reviews. I'd love to see your comments on these books--both at the MLP store site and at Amazon and elsewhere.

Buying MLP novels and promoting them where you can--it's one way you can advance the cause of Christian speculative fiction. Thank you for what you do.

Marcher Lord Press announces new releases

Jeff Gerke says: The New Books Are Here!

After the success of our inaugural list of Christian speculative novels, Marcher Lord Press is proud to announce the release of its second list.

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson is a thrilling fantasy about a young hero and heroine who are discovering their abilities to "bloodvoice"--to communicate telepathically.

It is a land literally divided into Darkness and Light, and mystery surrounds both sides. Achan, a young stray (worse than a slave) is hearing strange voices in his head, and Vrell, a girl disguising herself as a boy to avoid a forced marriage, is trying to learn to block out the voices pressing into her mind.

Meanwhile, strong men with foul agendas seek them both. And a strange new voice, higher than them all, calls to Achan. Deceptions will be unveiled, foes will be found out, and identities long hidden will be exposed. No longer will they be...By Darkness Hid.

Library Journal calls By Darkness Hid a "thoroughly entertaining and smart tale" and gives it the coveted "highly recommended" stamp of approval.

Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton is as original as it is alien. This science fiction thriller takes you to a world where saurians--dinosaur-like beings who speak and use advanced technolgoy--wage war against one another and seek to control devastating weaponry left over by an ancient civilization.

Rathe is a saurn from a low caste, whose only hope of bettering himself is through the combat ring. On his first mission with his new military squad, he is thrust in the middle of a destiny larger than he could ever imagine.

Torn between his desire to protect a small saurin in his charge and the counsel of a prophet representing a God he doesn't believe in, Rathe is forced to make a horrible choice, one in which he will cause suffering no matter what he chooses.

Starfire is utterly unpredictable and irresistably engaging. As Christian fantasy novelist Donita K. Paul says, "I was thoroughly enmeshed in this out-of-this-world world!"

The Dark Man by Marc Schooley is difficult to classify. It is equal parts near-future adventure, dystopian America, spiritual and psychological thriller, and romantic espionage spy drama.

And also helicopter gunships. And a building that talks. And a screaming banshee. Plus bombs, disguises, Ferris wheels, and a mysterious wooden puzzle box.

It's a Christian Twilight Zone that is impossible to put down--or forget.

Charles Graves is a master of disguise who infiltrates the final cells of the underground church--and brings them down. But this futuristic Saul of Tarsus has his own Damascus Road experience, and suddenly he must help the very ones he sought to exterminate.

If only his dead brother would leave him alone. And the talking wood-block puzzle.

The Dark Man is intense psychodrama with masterful writing and deep Christian thoughtfulness.

By the time you read this, all three of these incredible new novels will be available for purchase.

BONUS: If you buy one or more of these books within the first week of April, you will receive a free download of the PDF versions of the book(s) you purchased. While you're waiting for the novels to arrive in your mailbox, you can begin reading them right away. And when the hard copies actually arrive with their beautiful covers, you'll want to crack them open and read them all over again!

I know that you and your fellow fans will understand that the divinely ordained timing of the adoption of our precious special needs daughter has slightly impacted the ship dates of the new Marcher Lord Press books. But you'll still be able to enjoy them on April 1. Read the trip journal here.

Genre Videos and Upcoming Releases

Here are three genre videos for your viewing pleasure. First is Jeremy Robinson's latest video blog in which he talks about his podcasting activities and marketing by authors and publishers.
Then comes a video made by Ezlo from the Lost Genre forum. It's actually a short supernatural movie based on a story by Ezlo.
Finally, in a rare captured moment, J.R.R. Tolkien tells how he came to begin writing about Hobbits.

Jeremy Robinson Video Blog #6


Matters of Life, Death, and Headaches by Andrew Bunk


Tolkien on Hobbits


Marcher Lord Press has announced the release list for April 1st. Here's what Jeff Gerke said about the new lineup:

The books comprising the second release list of Marcher Lord Press are Starfire by Stuart Stockton, By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, and The Dark Man by Marc Schooley.

Starfire is one of those kinds of books I created Marcher Lord Press to publish. Because of Stuart's subject matter the book is all but unpublishable at traditional Christian houses. It's a far-future, non-earth, non-human science fiction novel. Not a humanoid in the bunch. But it's terrific and needs to be published. If the regular houses can't do it, let's create a house that can. Oh, wait, that's what I've done! :D

Starfire is the story of Rathe, a member of a race of talking, machine-using dinosaur people. (No, really.) Rathe is trying to make his mark in his military unit while concealing the secret of his quick advancement through the ranks. The empire he serves is at war with an enemy that is on the brink of discovering the secret of a lost civilization--a civilization whose Starfire weapons system will assure victory to whichever side seizes it first. A mysterious follower of an all but forgotten God warns Rathe not to use the weapon as he has planned to.

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson is a wonderful fantasy with dual protagonists. Each is something other than what he or she appears, and both are learning the dangers of who they are. Both hero and heroine find they are capable of bloodvoicing--a powerful and feared form of telepathy. While our heroine strives to keep her identity hidden, our hero must learn who he truly is. Though when the world finds out, it will likely mean his death. Meanwhile, a different kind of voice is calling...

The Dark Man by Marc Schooley is the first novel I acquired for the second list. This book is so imaginative it defies all categorizations (except "Amazing"). It's a near future urban thriller about a master of disguise whose job it is to infiltrate the last remaining Christian cells and bring them down. But this futuristic Saul has a Damascus Road experience and becomes a figure like Paul. With helicopter gunships. And a dead mother who may not be dead. And a child's wooden box puzzle that kind of talks. A lot.

The impulse that launched Marcher Lord Press is very much alive in these new selections. Incredible imagination, masterful writing, and subtle (or not so subtle) Christian content.