Guild Member Spotlight: Malcolm Cowen

Malcolm Cowen
1 wife, 3 sons, 3 daughters in law (from 30-12-2009), 3 grand-daughters, 1 grandson, 1 stroppy cat. (the hairy dog and the psychotic cat both recently RIP )

When did you join the LGG? How did you make the connection?
Found it by internet search, can’t remember when, perhaps a year or so ago.

What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?
I lost the link, then the website moved or something.  Took me a fortnight to find it again.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.
The links to useful places, the realization that it's not just me struggling to find outlets.

What's your genre and subgenre? Why do you think that is?
SF - my habitat stories (Golden Age, pref character driven, like John Wyndham), or parallel world - Lady of Foxdale and sequel(s).

I'm not keen on fantasy, the magic too often makes convincing plot conflicts difficult to set up.

Do you like to read the same genre as you write? What other genres interest you? Favourite authors?
Yes, but I also enjoy historical WhoDunIt, Brother Cadfael, Sister Fidelma, M Didius Falco, and so on.

You could argue these have a lot in common with SF.  It’s an alien society, just alien in a different way.

Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more.
It started when I was working in Switzerland, and I sent an article in to a trade magazine. They published it, and about 20 others.
Then the internet came along, and the magazine folded because all their advertising income went online.

I wrote a few more stories;

“The Night that is Different” was published by Small Press of Florida,
and another story, “The Agent” got published in translation by a magazine
in Slany in the Czech Republic.

I’ve done a couple of nevels, “Lady of Foxdale” and sequel “Daughter of
the King”, available on
www.e-bshop.co.uk
(and on Readers Eden at
www.readerseden.com/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=42)

Recently “Conjuction”, was accepted to be published by TeenAge magazine. It's one of a series set in Space Habitats - hollowed out asteroids, as
is the Radio Drama, Sleep of Death, a Habitat WhoDunIt (locked room, 2 bodies, why were the bodies stolen) I’m awaiting confirmation of good
news there.

What are you working on right now? How's progress?
Just submitted 2 radio dramas to BBC The Blitzmädchen (about the German resistance to Hitler) and RTE (a post plague whodunit. There's
only a few hundred people left alive in the country, so who is the strange woman, and who killed her - and why).  Right now I’ve got
some software to write to earn some brass to live on, so writing might have to wait a bit.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?
Encouragement, and information.  I am not alone.

What are your dreams for the future of Christian speculative fiction, and for yourself within that?
Get Christian writing accepted as a genre worth reading, because of our high quality output, and act as salt in our society.  But that
means we must produce the best stuff around, because it’s got to appeal outside the Christian ghetto to people who are currently immersed in a
godless worldview.

Your best writing tip?
Read it out aloud to yourself, ask if the dialogue sounds believable or just twee.  Find a loving but ruthless friend to criticise it.

What else are you up to that our readers would find interesting?
Making a living working from home, so is Wife, who teaches over the internet in an online Christian School. Trying to improve my language
skills in German and Welsh.

Something you reckon not many people know about you? 
Prosthopagnosia - I can't recognise human faces. Add to this all the various bits of me which got re-arranged, twisted round or generally
mucked up, and my loving family reckon this proves I'm really an alien.

I like writing poetry, (follow "Private Web Links" then 'lyrics' on www.cowensw.com).  My English version of
Câlon Lan has been recorded by male voice choirs, and I occasionally get notification of another performance.

Your website or social media profile?
Is in dire need of overhaul. I'm too busy doing other people's.
www.cowensw.com
(includes writing links) www cowensw.co.uk.

The builder's house is the last one to be fixed - as usual.

Guild Member Spotlight: Mike Lynch

Mike Lynch

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

I joined up about 3 years ago. Brandon Barr was already a member and suggested I give the group a try. He had nothing but good things to say about everyone, and was right.
What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?

The first thing I remember was how warmly I was welcomed. I am happy to say this hasn't changed.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

I feel like I am part of a larger community of Christian writers. As we all know, writing can be a very solitary, discouraging pursuit. The stories we try to write often times do not come out as well as we had hoped, or what we do send to publishers invariably gets rejected. It's hard to put yourself out there day after day, only to have doors repeatedly slammed in your face. Having people there who understand what you are going through and giving you the encouragement you need to press on makes all the difference.

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

The genre I write is science fiction, more specifically, space opera. Growing up, Star Trek and Lost in Space were the shows that I enjoyed watching. I must have absorbed that kind of storytelling, and wrote my first novel in the same vein.

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

I actually enjoy reading non-fiction a great deal. I get inspired when I read about people who have overcome tremendous odds and done things that have affected the lives of others in positive ways. I don't really have a favorite author. For me, it's the story that counts.

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

I have a non-fiction book published by Arcadia Publishing entitled Dublin (www.arcadiapublishing.com)

My first novel, When the Sky Fell, is published by Silver Leaf Books (www.silverleafbooks.com)

My short story No Revolution is Too Big was published by Ray Gun Revival (http://www.raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1342)

Ray Gun Radio turned No Revolution is Too Big into a fun audio program, which you can listen to at: (http://www.raygunradio.com/podcast/)

Another short story, The Wrong Place at the Right Time, was also published by Ray Gun Revival (http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1572&sid=87ab7498e1bf2b46b9e4c5796af30f95)

Beyond Horizon's Edge can be found at Surprising Stories (http://www.beyondhorizonsedge.blogspot.com/)

My latest short story, A Small Sacrifice, was recently published in Digital Dragon Magazine (http://www.digitaldragonmagazine.net/lynch-smallsacrifice.php)

I've also done a few podcasts for When the Sky Fell --

http://thesnarkyavenger.com/?p=535

http://paeter.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=461948

http://www.aloftstudios.co.uk/cre8iv.html

http://archives.treet.tv/meet-author-mike-lynch

Plus some interviews & reviews

http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/search?q=mike+lynch

http://amydeardon.blogspot.com/2009/06/author-interview-when-sky-fell-by-mike.html

http://amydeardon.blogspot.com/2009/06/author-interview-part-2-when-sky-fell.html

http://www.resaliens.com/2009/07/interviewing-mike-lynch-and-brandon-barr/

http://www.digitaldragonmagazine.net/ambrose-julyreview.php

http://chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/search/label/book%20review

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

Brandon and I are currently working on the Sky sequel. We're about halfway finished with the first draft, though we're taking something of a break for a while. The two of us have been writing pretty much non-stop for the last few years, and are looking to pursue other solo writing projects for the time being before getting back to the sequel.
How has the LGG helped you in your work?

It's always nice to have people to bounce ideas off of, or have them look at some of your work to get some honest feedback. Brandon and I also asked if some the LGG members would be interested in reading our soon to be released next novel, asking them if they would write a review for us. Several people took us up on our offer and wrote some very positive endorsements.
What are your dreams for the future of Christian speculative fiction, and for yourself within that?

One of the reasons I joined the LGG is my firm belief that Christian speculative fiction is a genre that will come into the forefront of publishing sooner or later. There are a lot of writers out there who are creating wonderful stories, but Christian publishers are reluctant to take a chance on them. In order for us to legitimize speculative fiction in the eyes of the publishing world, we need to help one another get books sold. That is truly the bottom line. Success breeds success, and publishers won't take chances on novels if they feel there is a limited audience. But when they see book after book that is speculative nature bringing in strong sales, only then will they fully embrace the genre as we have.

Your best writing tip?

Nothing profound here. Perseverance. You have to keep writing and sending out your stories. The odds of any writer getting published is a 100-1. That is a tough obstacle to overcome. The only way you will ever be among the few who call themselves a published author is to write the best story you possibly can and then send it to every known publisher who might be interested.

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

This is a bit of a departure for me, but I am hoping to start doing research for a non-fiction book I think will be very interesting. I recently met someone at my church who served in the military in the 1970's. It turns out he was assigned presidential protection duty, guarded the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and participated in numerous military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. I've spoken to him a little about this, but the more he says, the more I believe there is an interesting book there.

I have also been in contact with a couple of movie producers who have shown a strong interest in two novels Brandon and I have written. If we could get either one of them made into a movie that would be more than I ever could have hoped for as a writer.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

When I was in high school I learned how to juggle and ride a unicycle. I pick it up again every now and then, though I don't have any aspirations to join the circus anytime soon. Those clowns are a little creepy.
Your website or social media profile?

If people want to know a little more about me, they can always go to my website: www.mikelynchbooks.com

I also have pages on Shoutlife and Facebook.

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

Guild Member Spotlight: Steve Doyle

Steve Doyle

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

In the summer of 2006 Frank Creed posted a message to "the Herscher Project", an international group of writers to which we both belong. He told us about an Christian spec-fic anthology that Dan Weaver was putting together. I signed up and wound up submitting two stories, one of which was accepted for publication in Light at the Edge of Darkness.

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

The name change. The group was originally called Christian_Fic_WRE_Crit_Group where WRE stood for Writing, Reading and Everything. That's quite a mouthful and the group set out to create a more easily recognizable name. The Lost Genre Guild was the result of that effort.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

One good thing is that I became a published author. Previously I'd only had a poem published in an anthology which probably accepted everything by everybody everywhere. The other good thing is all the folks I met along the way, writers who are more than willing to help out other writers.

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

Speculative fiction is not the norm for me. I usually write paranormal, though my WIP is an historical novel.

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

I do enjoy reading mysteries and ghost stories as well as history and historical fiction. Many of my friends write fantasy so I read a lot of that as well. Some of my favorite authors include Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allen Poe. That guy Frank Creed is pretty good too.

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

Other than Light at the Edge of Darkness, I've had stories published online at Residential Aliens and Flashes in the Dark, and in an anthology by cyberwizard productions called Strange Worlds of Lunacy.

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

Right now I'm behind on a short story for the Herscher Project #42: The Meaning of Life, entitled "The Accidental Immortal". I'm in the final stages of finishing "The Casebook of the Paranormal Research Institute", a collection of stories based in and around London. I've also written a few stories for a second casebook which take place in New England. For more information on that I've put together a section at my website. My main WIP is the historical novel, "Seeds of Greed" which takes place in Plymouth, MA around the time of the American Revolution. There's a section of my website devoted to that, including a bit about how I got started on the project and some weird things that have happened along the way. A few of the chapters are posted there as well, although they're only at the rough draft stage.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

Besides the wealth of knowledge various members bring to the table, in all areas of writing, publishing and marketing, and the critique circles, one thing I think helps is the level of commitment and support they have for each other. No matter what you're personally going through, the members of the LGG go out of their way to let you know you're not alone.

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

Maybe the "Lost Genre" will become obsolete as more and more people come to realize that Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror can be written by and for Christians who enjoy a good story without excessive gore and violence and without a patronizing, be-warned-lest-ye-be-lost type of message.

Your best writing tip?

Advice I should follow myself--Write! What else are you up to that our readers would find interesting? I run a blog called New Book News which features books by new-ish authors. I'm also kicking around the idea of a paranormal book based on stories by people who believe them. Many folks tell me they've had personal experiences they can't explain. I think it would be fun to put together a collection.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

"The Casebook of the Paranormal Research Institute" had been accepted by a publisher specializing in "writings pertaining to the Pagan, Gothic, Occult and Vampire Communities". We couldn't agree on some of the contract terms, but had we gone ahead I would have the distinction of being published at both ends of the spectrum.

Your website or social media profile?

Doylebooks.com is my main website. I keep a profile at Doylebooks.com/Myspace and a more active one at Doylebooks.com/Facebook.

Guild Member Spotlight: Grace Bridges

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

Grace Bridges

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

Dan Weaver chased me down on Myspace. I believe it was around June or July of 2006.

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

Folks were very busy critiquing each other's short stories for the Guild anthology, Light at the Edge of Darkness. I joined too late to submit anything, but I did a couple of crits. Those were exciting times of extraordinary passion!

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

How about everything? Ha! If you only knew. All right, since some of you DO know, the short rundown: Mr. Creed encouraged me to publish my novel; many members provided critiques for Faith Awakened and continue to do so for other manuscripts ever since; assistance in blog tours, ready reviewers, insane fans (well okay, not quite that, but fans nonetheless), and a whole bunch of hospitality on my crazy 16-stop USA tour last year - during which I got to meet Mr. Creed's cats, visit a dragon's lair, appear on television, teach in school, celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time ever [not a downunder tradition], and meet a whole lot of my favourite online people!

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

Science fiction, with a definite lean towards cyberpunk and dystopia on the one hand, and space opera on the other. I'm a die-hard Trekkie, so there's your reason right there. I love to imagine what could be technically possible even in the fairly near future, and how that might impact people on a personal level - especially when systems fail.

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

Absolutely. It's my mission in life to hunt down inspirational sci-fi titles for my collection - a task certainly not made easier by living in New Zealand. I also read a fair bit of fantasy because it's the nearest thing to sci-fi and there's a lot of it out there. Stephen Lawhead, Chris Walley, Karen Hancock, Frank Creed, Caprice Hokstad, Amy Deardon, Steve Rice, and Jeremy Robinson are some of my modern favourites alongside of C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton.

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

With lots of help from the Guild, I published Faith Awakened in November of 2007 [just one day after Frank Creed's Flashpoint came out, and we both used the same font on our covers! They are also both cyberpunk dystopias. How weird is that!] Head on over to www.faithawakened.com for all the funky stuff on that book. I also have a few short stories in anthologies here and there, most pending publication, and one online at Digital Dragon Magazine called Second Site. I write a lot of book reviews in the genre and most of these can be found at www.splashdownreviews.blogspot.com.

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

That's a really big question! [LOL! I should know, I wrote these questions!]
I'm republishing Faith Awakened with my own ISBN, under my own publishing company Splashdown Books. I'm also writing the sequel, Godspeed, which is inching towards halfway. In between there are two more projects: Legendary Space Pilgrims, my first foray into space opera [but it's a cyberpunk dystopia as well], is in the latter stages of editing while CyberDublin is post-first-draft, a very fun cyberpunkish story which once again returns to a favourite theme of mine: how the Irish would deal with the end of the world as we know it.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

Critiques, edits, proofreading, reviews, endorsements, prayers, suggestions, and the most important of all: friendship. My Guild involvement predates my joining Shoutlife, Facebook and Twitter - and is still my most important sounding board for issues regarding writing.

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

Oh, gee, you know I haven't actually thought about that? But I will now. Let's see. World domination by small presses to the benefit of niche genres, with side-effects for the movie and TV industries. Yeah, that about sums it up. Me? I'm just going to do my darndest to publish great books and see where that takes us.

Your best writing tip?

READ. There is no way anyone can become a great writer without first being a great reader. Get those books into you, imbibe those words so that they are added to your arsenal and can be used at will.

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

Splashdown Books is my own small publishing business for inspirational sci-fi and fantasy, and the first book is The Muse by Fred Warren, a fine start to what I hope will be a long and satisfying stream of good books. Watch the movie here and check out the T-shirt shop here! Well hey, it's gotta be serious if there's a shirt shop, right?

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I rarely leave the house without a hat on. I play the bodhran, which is an Irish hand drum. In my spare time, should I have any, I engage in photography, astronomy, Muppet-making, cookie-baking, and Tweet-ups. I speak German like a native, French like a rusty fourth-year university student, and a little Maori and Latin.

Oh yes, and I was homeschooled - or rather, as Cathi puts it, unschooled - and blame my writing craze on the hundreds of books I devoured as a child and teenager.

Your website or social media profile?

www.gracebridges.com - this hub site contains links to all of my web presences that I know of. I may have missed a few. To join my reader network for exclusive free ebooks and contests, please go to www.gracebridges.com/signup. See you there!

Guild Member Spotlight: Fred Warren

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

Fred Warren

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

December 2008. It was kind of a convoluted path. I was lurking on an Orthodox Christian newsgroup, where I encountered Rick Copple, who caught my attention because Orthodox and speculative fiction just seemed like a really strange combination. That led me to RayGun Revival and RayGun Radio, which led me to Double Edge Publishing, which brought a variety of Christian spec-fic authors to my attention, including a few more in LGG. I checked a few profiles on the LGG website and discovered a lot of folks with reading lists very similar to my own, so it seemed like a good fit. I'd already connected with a secular writers' forum online, but was looking for a group with a Christian focus as well.

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

Well, there was the first time I went to an LGG meeting in Second Life, and Frank Creed's avatar was wearing a fox suit. That was different.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

Just being in touch with a lot of other like-minded folks who want their writing to glorify God has been an incredible morale-booster and challenge for me. Another unexpected blessing was that Grace Bridges discovered my novel when I was circulating the draft for critique, and liked it so much she wanted to publish it.

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

I hate to pigeonhole myself, but I mostly write soft science fiction and modern fantasy—putting human beings in extraordinary situations and then seeing what happens. Though I have an engineering education and love gadgetry, the development of technology isn't as interesting to me as what people do with it or how their lives change because of it. With regard to fantasy, I see magical or supernatural elements in much the same way—they're a vehicle for bringing characters and readers into a world where the rules are different than what they expect, then seeing how they react.

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

Yes, I enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy as much as I enjoy writing it. I read the odd mystery or Western once in a while, and nonfiction about science or nature. It's almost cliché for someone who writes stories with Christian themes to say they like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, but I do. They're the masters. On the secular side, Mark Twain, for his wonderful sense of humor, Ray Bradbury, who brought poetry and science fiction together, and finally, William Tenn and Fredric Brown, two great short-story writers with a gift for delivering a huge punch in a small package.

Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more. I've had fifteen or so works of short fiction published in a variety of online and print magazines, both Christian-oriented and secular, and I keep a current list on my writing blog at http://frederation.wordpress.com/publications/ . The stories are a mixed bag of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, usually with a little humor leavened in there somewhere. In November 2009, my first novel, The Muse, will debut from Splashdown Books. I'm also a regular contributor to the month Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour, and frequently post book reviews on whatever I happen to be reading at the moment.

What are you working on right now? How's progress? I've always got a few short stories in the works, but now that I've finished writing The Muse, I've begun two new novel projects--a sequel to The Muse, and a science fiction adventure story.

How has the LGG helped you in your work? Aside from the benefits I mentioned earlier, I'd have to say that the enthusiasm among LGG members is infectious. Even a couple of years ago, I would have considered “quality spec-fic with a Christian sensibility” to be a contradiction in terms. Now, I'm actually excited about trying to write it.

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

I want to see Christian spec-fic become known for both its craftsmanship and its innovation. If we're going to prosper, we have to write well, be willing to take risks, and develop speculative visions that will catch people's imagination. We can't just follow established trends or conventional wisdom--we have to step out and lead. We follow a Saviour who knows how to tell an important story, and how to tell it in a way that nobody's ever heard before. If I can grab hold of a little bit of that mastery, I'll be a happy guy.

Your best writing tip? Write something every day. It doesn't have to be a story—even if it's a letter to your Mom or a page in your diary, just developing the discipline to regularly put some words on paper or into electrons gets you used to thinking like a writer.

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

My day job is pretty interesting. I help run computer simulations that the Army uses for training, so they can practice their combat procedures without burning a lot of fuel or blowing things up.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I spent some time living in Korea, where I developed a taste for bulgogi and kimchee.

Your website or social media profile?

My writing blog, Frederation, is at http://frederation.wordpress.com, and there are links there to my profiles on Facebook, ShoutLife, Twitter, and LiveJournal.

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/

Romance/Messianic Judaic Author

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.com/index.html
Ephesus LLC Site: http://www.ephesusmedia.com/
Supernatural Blog: http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/blog/
Godly Goth: http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/GodlyGoth/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982238/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/REKurtz
Myspace: www.myspace.com/reksonsofgod
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sons-of-God-Messianic-Fiction-Novel-Series/163712519464

"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-the-Hebrew-Nfilim-the-Foundational-Element-of-All-World-Mythologies-and-Vampire-Lore?&id=2460249
http://www.ideamarketers.com/?articleid=577907
http://www.articlealley.com/article_932312_51.html
http://www.easyarticles.com/article-346932.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/religion/article_918.shtml
http://www.a1articles.com/article_932312_51.html
http://vampiresweaters.com/articles.php
http://geniusfind.com/gfanswers/Zeus.html

Interviews
Rebecca Ellen Kurtz, author of best selling novel Sons of God, by Karina Fabian at Virtual Book Tour de `Net
http://virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com/2009/06/sons-of-god-by-rebecca-ellen-kurtz.html

Podcasts or Web Chats
Rebecca Ellen Kurtz on the Author's Insight (podcast)
http://www.emeraldbookcompany.com/authors/kurtz/
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9bd904284f9d8228694e

Reviews
Sons of God by Phyllis Wheeler at The Christian Fantasy Review
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/2009/04/27/sons-of-god-by-rebecca-ellen-kurtz-a-review/
Amazon Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Sons-God-Rebecca-Kurtz/dp/0982313500/ref=pd_rhf_p_img_1

Guild Member Spotlight: Greg Mitchell

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

Greg Mitchell

When did you join the LGG? How did you make the connection?
I joined in 2007 after self-publishing my first novel The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man. I was looking to get the word out on it and always considered it kind of weird because it’s a self-described “Christian Horror” novel. I sought out Sue Dent because she, too, writes horror and is a Christian and she, along with Kevin Lucia, another horror writer who’s a believer, said I should check out the LGG. I did, and here I am.

What's the first thing you remember that happened in the Guild?
I think just hearing all the different creative voices. Everybody is trying to serve the Lord through their writing and it was just really neat to see how these people interpreted their gifts and their ministry.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.
Well, *meeting* Frank Creed was really neat, and getting to know more about his Underground series of books and getting a chance to contribute a story in the upcoming Underground anthology. I think we’re on the same wavelength as far as showing a really dynamic “action movie” version of the Christian faith and it was a lot of fun working on that with him and just meeting someone else with similar tastes. I’ve met a lot of really supportive people in the Guild, and I really feel like, if I ever needed anything, they’d be there for me. That’s a nice feeling.

What's your genre and subgenre? Why do you think that is?
I say “Christian Horror”, but I think it’s probably more accurately “Christian Monster”. I love monsters. I love that sort of 1980s campy “creature feature” vibe like Fright Night and Gremlins and—“The King”—The Monster Squad. Plus Ghostbusters (1 and 2), Lost Boys, I could go on and on. I’m not into Saw and the sort of gritty “realistic” horror. I like movies that have gravity and emotion and heart, sure, but I also like car chases, shotguns, and a one-liner now and again. That sort of fun, Saturday afternoon vibe is really missing from most horror movies these days (except for Drag Me To Hell, which was a much-needed breath of fresh air) but I hope to bring that fun back—only in the Christian genre. Growing up, I watched these movies and saw people running and screaming from these monsters, but every once in a while, a priest or some other “person of faith” would brandish a cross and send the vampire fleeing. That always excited me because, when they started talking about God and Christ, I—as a young Christian—completely related. That started me thinking, what if all of these monsters attacked a whole group of Christian believers? That sounded like a lot of fun to me. It opened up a lot of possibilities to explore faith and how we respond to evil and to God. From that, the heart of The Coming Evil was born.

Do you like to read the same genre as you write? What other genres interest you? Favourite authors?
As you can tell, I’m a total geek when it comes to my monster movies. Apart from that, I like a good war movie and I’m completely absorbed in the Star Wars mythology and Back to the Future—perhaps the greatest trilogy of all time (that’s some tight plotting!). As far as favorite authors, it’d sound completely typical to say Stephen King, so I won’t say it.

Tell us about your published work, and where we can go to find out more.
My first writing cred was the novelization of the movie Time Changer for writer/director Rich Christiano. Other than that, I’ve had “Flowers for Shelly” published in the 2^nd Edition of Coach’s Midnight Diner (another LGGer, there, folks), a story called “White Ghost” on the Halloween Comics website in conjunction with a series of comics based on the quite awesome John Carpenter movie Halloween, and a short piece for the Official Star Wars website about an orphaned smuggler, the hapless bounty hunter she’s in love with, and a broken-down ship called the Dusty Duck.

What are you working on right now? How's progress?
I just finished working up a draft for the novelization of The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. It’s a family-friendly, feel-good Christian film done by my old collaborator Rich Christiano. It’s got a good message, lots of heartwarming and funny moments (though, sadly, nary a monster in sight :p) and it was really fun diving below the surface of what you see on the screen and fleshing out the inner workings of those characters. It was a nice challenge. I believe the plan is to release the novel when the DVD comes out early next spring. Apart from that, I’m working on getting the Revised and Expanded Edition of The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man picked up by a traditional publisher and out to a wider audience. I’ve had the trilogy planned for the last ten years now, and I’m ready for it to see the light of day. I’m also writing the script for Cloud Ten Pictures’ Apocalypse V and I’m always trying to break into the comic book business. So, yeah, pretty busy.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?
It’s given me new perspectives. As with any group, we don’t always agree on various topics, such as how “in your face” to be with the message, or writing style, or even doctrine, or whatever. It can get pretty heated sometimes, but that’s just because we’re all passionate. When I don’t agree with someone, it causes me to ask myself “Why don’t I agree with them?” And that helps me define for myself my beliefs and views and why I hold them. So, it’s all beneficial. Sort of an “iron sharpening iron” effect, I suppose.

What are your dreams for the future of Christian speculative fiction, and for yourself within that?
I think my biggest dream for the future of Christian Spec-Fic is for the walls to come down. Today, I see a lot of division in the camp. There are those who write from a very evangelical standpoint, there are others who like to be a little more “low key” with how they present God and the faith, and then there are others who don’t really include anything obvious at all, but just sort of have this subtle understanding that the God of the Bible exists in a particular story. Behind those decisions are very valid points concerning the nature of how to communicate God to a lost world—which I believe is the call of all Christians, whether they’re writers or not. We all want to do our part to share Christ with the world, but we don’t always agree on how to do that. I see a lot of cutting down and animosity between these camps and I don’t think it has to be there. I think people should just write the stories God has for them to tell and leave it up to Him to use them and to get the stories into the hands of the people who will benefit the most from them. There are people who are going to read The Coming Evil (I hope, anyway) who will “get it” and it will really speak to them. There are others who are going to read it and think it’s “preachy, Christian propaganda”. But they might go read another book by another LGGer and feel really moved to consider God. Isn’t that what it’s ultimately all about? Yeah, I’d love it if everybody loved The Coming Evil, but that’s a human vanity. It’s more important from where God’s standing that they just get fed somewhere. Be it in my corner of the Christian Spec-Fic spectrum, or somewhere else. So, yeah, in the future, I’d like to see less division and just more “write what God’s called you to write”.

Your best writing tip?
Again, “write what God’s called you to write”. It’s gotta start there. Yeah, you’ve got to have technique and craft and yada yada. But you could take twenty years off from your life and devote it to nothing but workshops and studying under wise mentors, and if you don’t have a passion—a heart—for the story you’re trying to communicate, it’s just words on paper.

What else are you up to that our readers would find interesting?
Between all the writing projects, and taking time to spend with my wife and our 3-year-old daughter, there’s not a whole lot of time to do anything else, ha ha.

Something you reckon not many people know about you? (such as a quirky hobby or ability)
What, liking 80s monster movies isn’t enough quirk?

Your website or social media profile?

You can keep up with all that I’m doing and also read FREE short stories set in my The Coming Evil universe on my blog at http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com

Guild Member Spotlight: Kimberli Reneé Campbell

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

Kimberli Reneé Campbell

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

I joined the group in September 2006. I found out about the LGG when a member sent out an invitation to another writing group I belong to.

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

Um…my memory stinks. Sorry. I can’t remember that far back. I’m lucky if I can remember what I did five minutes ago.

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

If I have to choose, I’d say Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery. I believe the Lord had me write in this genre because there are tons of secular stories in this genre that do not bring glory to his name. Yet, our children swarm to them. This must change.

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

I do enjoy reading fantasy. But I’d pretty much read any genre that has clean romance in it.

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

I published my first book in November 2008 called – The Sword of Light: Shayia’s Adventures Book One. It is an easy to read children’s chapter book. You can find it on www.amazon.com, www.target.com, and www.theswordoflight.com (we’re working on the site).

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

At this time, I’m working on the sequel to The Sword of Light. How’s progress? Well, I have a three-year-old son (and a fifteen-year-old son) who keeps me busy ALL day long. He’s going through a phase where he wants me to play with him 24/7. In addition, I care for my father, who suffered a stroke this year. So, although things are not going as quickly as I’d like, I know the Lord will help me get the story done.

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

They have truly opened my eyes to genres (horror, supernatural, vampires, etc.) that I did not know existed in the “Christian” world. It’s exiting to see the Lord glorified in ALL genres.

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

I would like us to continue to write stories which contain scripture and draw us closer to the Lord, even if the story is just to entertain.

Your best writing tip?

If the Lord has called you to write, then you write no matter what!

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

I hope to work on a screenplay the Lord had given me many years ago to submit to Disney.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I love to dance and took lessons only as an adult – tap, ballet, and hip hop. I’m 45-years-old.

Your website or social media profile?

You can find me on Facebook and Twitter (soon). You can also see a trailer of my book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g24buPdbSX8

Thank you!!!!

Guild Member Spotlight: R.L. Copple

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


Rick Copple - byline, R. L. Copple

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

October 22, 2008. I'd seen Frank Creed on forums and kept hearing about Lost Genre Guild. I finally asked him what it was about and decided it was something I would like to be a part of.

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

When I jumped in, there was a discussion on short fiction, flashes. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I challenged everyone to write a 100 word or less flash. Only Alice and myself participated that I recall, but it was fun.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

Mostly support and help with marketing. Plus some interesting discussions from time to time. But it is great to have others in the same boat as yourself, who can not only help you, but you can help them.

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

I've done fantasy and soft science fiction, mostly space opera type. I also have a partiality to super hero stories.

I think it is because I find the unusual interesting. Maybe I'm just bored with real life. lol. But I experience that myself, I would rather read about life I can't experience. So, I tend to want to write that kind of story as well.

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

Yes, I like to read the same genres that I write in. About the only other type of story that interest me is comedy in general, and I tend to like spoofs in particular, but anything that can make me laugh and in good taste is fun to read, watch, or write.

I guess that's why my first published short story was a fantasy comedy: Dragon Stew.

Favorite authors are mostly in past years. Lester Del Ray, Asimov, Tolkien, Lewis.

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

I have a central place on my web site that list all my published works.

http://www.rlcopple.com/published.php

You'll find there several short stories, flashes, and poetry that's been published on-line. You'll also be able to see the blurbs, reviews, and where to buy my two published books, /Infinite Realities/ (Nov. 2007), and /Transforming Realities/ (Mar 2009).

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

Several projects. One, the final book in the Reality Series, /The Reality/, is in the editing stages. I'm hoping that one will be ready to come out in 2010.

Mind Game - is a space opera story in the polishing stages. I'm hoping to start finding a publisher for it soon. Jeremy and Mickey end up trapped along many others from Earth into a realistic virtual reality game which is really designed to trick them into fighting an real alien world's war.

Hero Game - is the planned sequel to that, which if I can come up with a good plot, will be the novel I write at his year's National Novel Writing Month.

Worlds Apart - a space opera style novel. This is the first novel I wrote in 2005 which started me down this writing road. I'm currently rewriting it fresh since there are so many problems with the original that I felt it would be easier to simply rewrite it than edit it.

On short stories, seems 2009 has been my rewrite year. I have about four rewrite request on short stories that I'm finding hard to get to with my focus on my novels. Unlike previous years, I've published no short stories or flashes to date. Not much time left!

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

The writing and discussions have been good, but I think the biggest thing is help with marketing and publicity. I don't take full advantage of everything, but the help with reviews and getting info on blogs has been a big help. And making contacts in the business is half the struggle. What better place to make friends that who can help each other get published and then to get the word out?

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

As has been noted before by people higher up than me, the industry is changing. I think Christian speculative fiction is certainly going through an Internet/small indie press renaissance of sorts. The success of those efforts will open up opportunities in the more established CBA as well who have traditionally not been very keen on this type of fiction, suggesting Christians wouldn't buy it. I think we're proving them wrong.

I'm hoping that over time, I can carve my own nitch into this movement. Ideally, I would love to write full time. I know that is a dream, but dreams do come true, and while not easy, it is possible. Until then, I'll keep writing and selling. I figure at a minimum, it will be something in my retirement years to keep my mind active. And who knows, something I write could positively affect someone else's life. Actually, I believe it already has, so in my book that is a win-win situation.

Your best writing tip?

My *best* one. Hum. Probably this. Write. Don't expect to get rich. Write anyway. Don't expect to become an overnight sensation. Write anyway. Don't expect to become an expert writer on your first story/book. Write anyway. Expect to struggle with this for a few years before you really get noticed. Write anyway. If you love to write, do it because there's a story that has to get out. If you are writing, are open to learning, but always keep writing, you'll eventually find your voice, style, and stories that work for you. But you never will unless you keep on writing.

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

Our regional National Novel Writing Month coordinator has asked me to manage a workshop on preparing/planning on writing your novel. It is scheduled to take place at the Pflugerville Public Library (north edge of Austin, TX) on Oct. 21st, at 7:00 pm Central Time. I think there is talk of the library recording it and putting it on the web as a podcast.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I used to draw comics and record stories on a tape recorded when I was a teen. Three of those comics that I still have are on my published page listed above. Free bonus material.

I also wrote a Shakespearian style comedy play in High School English class once. I wish I still had that, would be fun to read now.

Your website or social media profile?

http://www.rlcopple.com
http://www.twitter.com/rlcopple
http://www.shoutlife.com/rlcopple

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

Guild Member Spotlight: Sherry Thompson

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

Sherry Thompson

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

Feb-Mar 2008. Frank invited me to join becuase he knew me via the Christian Fandom list.

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

Previous to my joining, a LGG member asked for advice for her mystery novel set on the Moon. The question was cultural in nature, I believe. By the time I becaue I member, the thread had taken over most of the bandwidth on LGG and had become quite wacky. I leaped in at once, feeling quite at home.

Tell us some good things that have transpired from belonging.

Three huge things:
1. Getting to know all of you!
2. Having my fantasy novel "Seabird" blog-toured this year.
3. Obtaining Frank's help with Earthbow.
Make that 4 things--Learning all sorts of bits and pieces about all sorts of things including specific Christian Speculative fiction publications by LGG members and their friends.

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

I write Christian fantasy which is sort of on the cusp of YA and adult. I write it because way back in 1979, I was inspired to write it.

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

I read very slowly and therefore have less time to finish works than most people. Generally, I prefer readng fatnasy but I do read some SF. I am gob-smaked amazed at the people who can write SF well, much less Christian SF!
Favorite authors remain the Inklings of mid-20th century Oxford, plus Geo MacDonald, etc.

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

"Seabird", my YA/adult Chridstian fantasy novel, has been available since Jan 2008. The publisher is a small indy named Gryphonwood Press, owned by Daved Wood who is a part-time Methodist minister. It--the book-- can be purchased through Amazon and B&N online, and can be special ordered via most bookstores.
For more information, pleae go to my website:
http://khivasmommy.googlepages.com/news%21 (links to reviews)

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

I am revising "Earthbow" which is the sequel to "Seabird". It's also a fantasy, set in my world of Narenta--which is a Christian world beset by sorcerers, werewrights and other forces of evil. Amongst other themes, "Earthbow" is about the nature of forgiveness. In spite of the theme, much of "Earthbow" is kind of swashbuskly, sword-and-sorcery-ish. ;-)

How has the LGG helped you in your work?

Thanks to the information in too many threads for me to remember in detail. Also, I learned about The Finishers via LGG.

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

I would love to see it spread its wings and land in both regular and Christian bookstores in a larger way than it has to the present time. The only way that this will happen --in my opinion-- is of various types of publishers but especially indy publishers to accept the promise of Christian speculative fiction as a viable genre in the market place. In the long run, I look to the indy press for this to happen. And to God moving certain hearts in certain publishing houses of course.)

Your best writing tip?

Two. The first is ancient--BiC, i.e. butt in chair.
The second one works for me especially when I'm revising. The "job" --any job actually-- looks far worse before you start working on it. Find I way to begin and you're halfway to the end of the project whether it's writing the first paragraph of a story or revising a novel.

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

Not much. I've started attending a new church which I can only reach by very wonky Sunday bus transportation. Please pray for me that I may find someone with whom I can ride to and from the church.
Once "Earthbow" is revised and published (end of year into beginning of new year), I want to take the show on the road to one or more speculative fiction cons in the eastern seaboard area. Possibly, Arisia or Boskone.

Something you reckon not many people know about you?

I used to write lyrics for filk songs. (pre-2000 mostly) I even one a prze once for the "Most Fannish Filk Lyrics" Title of song: "Fenton, the Neo and the Dew"

Your website or social media profile?

http://tree-lady.livejournal.com/91893.html

Under the Mercy,

SherryT