News for January 1st, 2010

Rick Copple says: You asked for it, you got it. As Paul Harvey would say, "And now for the
rest of the story." Here's what happens when Sisko brings an ogre home for Christmas.
http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=177 [You can find the first part at http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=174]
Hope everyone had a great celebration, and will have a happy new year.


Ken Pick says: "Down to Cathuria" (an episode of Adventures of Jill Noir set between "Mask of the Ferret" and "Dyads") just came out in the small-press anthology Different Worlds, Different Skins by Anthropomorphic Dreams:
http://www.anthrodreams.com/wordpress/2009/12/20/different-worlds-different-skins/
Also note that this is a FURRY anthology, Not a CHRISTIAN one. Some of the stories have PG-13 erotica.


Scott M. Sandridge says: I'll have stories in some anthologies both currently out and upcoming.

CHIMERAWORLD #6 (NEW WORLD DISORDER)
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/chimeraworld-%236/7762716
"In the near future, the world awakens to the corporate threat of the New World Order: a leaderless resistance defeats the global elite. Stories from Alex Severin, Tina Starr, Paul Pinn, Andrew Hook, Danny O'Connor, James A. Stewart, Arley Sorg, Robert Guffey, Sheri Fresonke Harper, Justin Oldham, Thomas Henry Dylan, Mitchell Warren, C. C. Parker, Jeff Drake, Tim Lieder, Aaron Polson, Scott M. Sandridge, John Walters, Peter Diseth, Kevin James Miller, Richard Marsden, J.W. Ocker and You The People."

My story, "Transhuman," is in the antho. After the defeat of the New World Order, a small community within the Free States must face a new threat from the D.C. Hive Mind–a verichipped "transhuman" supersoldier.

A word or three of warning: some stories in the above antho are not suitable for young readers (unless they're already as mentally warped as me, of course).

Also, "A Nighttime Business Arrangement" will be reprinted in DREAMS & SCREAMS, a corroborative anthology courtesy of: House of Horror, Silver Blade, Static Movement, Lame Goat Press, Aurora Wolf, and Liquid Imagination.
The story is set in my PANKEA world. Yavar is sent to "negotiate" a deal with a troublesome noble. (Publication TBA)

And last but not least, "The God-King," a story set in ancient Sumeria, in my CHRONICLES OF CAIN & LILITH world (which I'm still in the process of developing), will appear in the upcoming anthology (with illustrations!) THE FOUR HORSEMEN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONQUEST, WAR, FAMINE, AND DEATH. (publication TBA)

Enjoy! (As soon as they're out, in the case of two of them).

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

Podcasts and Classics

Scott M. Sandridge announces:
THE SILVERBLADE PROPHECY LAUNCHED AS PODCAST NOVEL

Columbus, OH – April 7, 2009, 2009 – Scott M. Sandridge launches a dark heroic fantasy story in podcast novel format: "The Silverblade Prophecy - Book I of The Messiahs War Trilogy." Mr. Sandridge first developed the overall story while writing short stories and selling them to "The Sword Review" and "Dragons, Knights, and Angels." He at first envisioned a collection of related but separate short stories, but as he worked on it, it began to morph into a complete novel and then a trilogy.

A blend of dark fantasy and heroic fantasy, Sandridge delivers a story epic in scope. Throughout Pankea's history, messiahs have come and gone, and many have failed. Marian Silverblade seeks to fulfill her prophetic birthright, but her fallen ancestor has other plans. She will need help from the most unlikely allies to succeed, but before they can help her fulfill the prophecy they must first learn to work together.

Of the short stories that were merged into the novel, "Tangent Online" reviewer, Nicole McClain, said, "…there is enough mayhem to keep things interesting." And Donna Watkins said, "Sandridge digs deep and gives the reader prose and plot worth chewing on." Locus Award-winning author, Paul Levinson ("The Silk Code" and "The Plot to Save Socrates") says of Mr. Sandridge, "Scott is a brilliant up-and-coming author...I expect great things from him." And ELFIE award-winning author Frank Creed ("Flashpoint") says, "Scott's reputation in the Christian speculative fiction market is iron-clad and passionate."

The podcast novel can be found at http://silverblade.mypodcast.com and at http://pankea.wordpress.com and can be downloaded onto your computer or iPod.


Also today: Check out this Publisher's Weekly article on new editions of C.S. Lewis, and while you're at it do take a look at the all-new cslewis.com!

Publishing News

Scott M. Sandridge announces the kickoff for the podcast production of The Silverblade Prophecy - you can listen to two parts of it already:
The Silverblade Prophecy Episode 1 - Martin and Yavar Thain seek to free themselves from slavery in Vangaard. But what price are they willing to pay?
The Silverblade Prophecy Episode 2 - Three years after winning her freedom in Vangaard’s gladiatorial arena, Yavar is now married to her former slavemaster, Warlord Vrang, the very warlord she gave an oath to one day slay. When her brother is captured by her husband’s soldiers, she and Martin must once again find a way to free themselves.
Written, produced, and narrated by Scott M. Sandridge.





This week Splashdown Books has opened its doors. The new venture will be publishing science fiction and fantasy and also showcasing Lost Genre titles from other publishers. Check out the Splashdown Intro, the publisher and author blog, the Splashdown Reviews site, the Lost Genre Library, and the author acceptance guidelines.

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UPDATE from Terri Main:

Even as Christian fantasy is slowly gaining ground among mainstream Christian publishers, science fiction continues to languish. Many reasons have been proposed. Some suggest that extreme beliefs about the end times discourages speculation about the future. Others point to the antagonism between scientific and religious establishments. For whatever reason, Christian science fiction has yet to catch hold in Christian publishing.

Tuesday February 24 at 7 pm (PST) we will be meeting in Second Life to discuss the place of Christian science fiction in the religious literary scene. The location for the meeting can be found at

http://www.tinyurl.com/sllgg

Second Life is a virtual world. You will need to download software and select an avatar in order to take part in the dicussion featuring both voice and text-based chats.

The meeting will run from 7 - 8 pm. Afterward will be a social time.