Interview with Chris Dolley

What inspired Resonance?

Several things. One was Rupert Sheldrake's theory of morphic resonance. I read his book in the 90s and recognised immediately that - with a little tweaking and artistic license - the idea of resonance would make an excellent backdrop for a story. It took me a few years though to find the right balance. I needed a plot to go with it and a character to take the reader through the story.

In 2000 I found all three.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Making a passive protagonist who didn't speak interesting. It's the one of the first rules of writing - have an active protagonist. And dialogue helps. Or else the reader soon gets bored. But the plot called for not just a passive protagonist but the ultimate passive protagonist. One psychologically incapable of doing anything interesting and who hadn't spoken a word since the age of nine.

So I concentrated on making him interesting - telling the story from his perspective. Using his internal thoughts for dialogue and immersing the reader in the very strange, quirky world of Graham Smith - a man who believes that any change in his daily routine will result in tragedy. He's seen people disappear, office blocks move across town, roads change course - all at night when no one's looking. The world's an unstable place - sloughing off reality like dead skin.

Then as the plot unfolds Graham is coaxed out of his shell and the book gathers pace.

What’s the easiest?

The snappy dialogue scenes for my heroine, Annalise. I blame it on Joss Whedon - I think he has some kind of subliminal message inserted into his programmes. Watch enough Buffy and your characters start talking like her. They're certainly much easier to write.

Was BAEN the first place you submitted?

Yes, I only submitted Resonance to the one publisher. I had an agent at the time for an expat true crime and when I gave him Resonance to look at I found out that he didn't like SF. So I was stuck. What do you do when your agent doesn't like your next book or the genre it's written in? I looked around and saw that Baen accepted email submissions (not the Baen's Bar slush pile) and decided to park the novel there while I worked out what to do next.

Two years passed. My expat true crime didn't sell. I parted ways with my agent. And I assumed Baen had passed on my book. Then I received an email from Jim Baen. Resonance was the first novel he'd picked from the slush for years.

Resonance has started off with rousing success, especially for a first novel—what’s next?

The next novel, Shift, comes out in July. It's actually a greatly re-written version of the first novel I wrote back in '94. It's a faster darker read than Resonance and introduces a protagonist who's the complete opposite of Graham. Nick Stubbs acts first and regrets it three pages later. Which makes him fun to write. If you like unusual mysteries or thrillers then you'll like Shift. Plus it has a 'spiritual' side to it - and a detective who's equally at home out-of-body as he is in-body.

Resonance, by Chris Dolley

You can't create a world in seven days without cutting corners
Graham Smith is a 33 year-old office messenger. To the outside world he’s an obsessive-compulsive mute – weird but harmless. But to Graham Smith, it’s the world that’s weird. And far from harmless. He sees things others can’t . . . or won’t. He knows that roads can change course, people disappear, office blocks migrate across town. All at night when no one’s looking. The world’s an unstable place, still growing, sloughing off layers of reality like dead skin. One day you drive by, and it's changed.

Annalise Mercado hears voices, all from girls calling themselves Annalise. Sometimes she thinks they’re spirit guides, sometimes she thinks she’s crazy. But then they tell her about Graham Smith, the men who want him dead, and how only she can save him. So begins the story of two people whose lives appear fragmented across alternate realities and how, together, they hold the key to the future of a billion planets. . .

TWO PEOPLE, ONE MYSTERY, A BILLION WORLDS AT STAKE

Interview with Pamela Thibodeaux

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder/President & Treasurer of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Check her out at http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com


“Inspirational with an Edge!” What do you mean?

In March, 2001 I attended the NOLA STARS conference where one of the guest speakers was Susan Grant. For those who don't know her, Susan is a pilot who writes "aviation romance" and who's first book, Once a Pirate, sold out 3 days before it hit the shelves! She was speaking on book promotion, and since Tempered Hearts had just been Epublished and Tempered Dreams was due out in June, I knew I needed to learn all I could.

One thing Susan stressed was the importance of a tag line and how hers "aviation romance" really set her writing apart. After all, she is a pilot so who better to write about women pilots?

My initial thought for a tag line was 'the Nora Roberts of Christian fiction.' Not knowing how that would sit with Nora or her fans, I kept searching for a more suitable tag line.

While talking with a book seller one day, he asked what made my books different from other inspirational or "Christian" romances. I explained that I have a higher level of sensuality and –- as stated by reviewers -- 'gritty realism.' He commented, "Oh, so you write Inspirational with an edge."

That was it!


Most people associate “Christian” or “Inspirational” romance with something sweet and safe. Your romances have been describes as steamier than the usual Christian romance—has this alienated some readers or editors, or been a breath of fresh air?
Both, I think. Many people have told me that they love the way I put God in my books without being "preachy or sappy" and others have said that they enjoyed the books because they are "spiritual without being preachy and sensual without being smutty."

I honestly believe there are numerous readers out there that want this kind of writing….more sensual and grittier with more realistic characters and situations (again, words of my readers) as long as those characters stay within biblical principles.

However, there are some who won't read my books or feel that they push the limits just a little too far.

But, my goal is to reach readers outside the traditional "church" and CBA readership; those who wouldn't normally pick up a "Christian" romance; those who are disappointed with the normal Christian romances, and yet equally disappointed in the explicit and sometimes vulgar portrayals of intimacy in other novels.

What’s the best thing anyone’s ever said about your writing? What’s the worst?
If you're talking about reviews, the best thing ever said was said by Elizabeth Burton about Tempered Dreams. In her review, Ms. Burton said, "Although undeniably Christian, it is never dogmatic or insular -- she offers faith rather than religion. Fans of inspirational romance are certain to enjoy Tempered Dreams, and even those whose tastes don't run in that direction would do well to sample Ms. Thibodeaux's work."

If you're talking about personal comments, I had one fan say, "I love Nora Roberts, but you beat her!" (Honestly! )

As for the worst…well, I had readers complain to Christian bookstore owners about the sensuality and grittiness and ask them to remove all copies from the shelves of the stores.

Alas, we can't please everyone and everyone has their own idea of what should and shouldn't belong in a Christian novel; which is why I write "Inspirational." That said; EVERYTHING that gives God glory deserves to be praised!

Tempered Dreams by Pamela Thibodeaux

Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents. Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife. Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened? Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another?

For more information on Pamela, please visit www.pamelathibodeaux.com. You can pick up your copy of Tempered Dreams at Amazon.

CFRB Presents: Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy

An independent lady rancher with four daughters and a befuddled mountain man who has never been around women get married for practical reasons on the Texas frontier.

He's just sure he heard the word OBEY in their wedding vows.

She keeps meaning to be submissive, but he needs to give her orders that make sense.

While they try to make there marriage work, the man who killed her first husband to steal her ranch, comes back to silence the only witness to his crime.

Petticoat Ranch: Suspenseful, historical, inspirational romantic comedy.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (February 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1597896470
ISBN-13: 978-1597896474

Humanity's Edge by Tamara Wilhite

Humanity's Edge contains 13 science fiction stories that take readers to the edge of what it means to be human. Whether genetic engineering or social engineering, cybernetics or simply the end of the world, humanity will be faced by the changes it has wrought and whether, in the end, we are still ourselves.

Humanity's Edge is available for sale through Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com), Abebooks (www.abebooks.com), and Blu Phi’er Publishing (www.bluphier.com).

Best of the CFRB Tour

It's been a fun week, and for the last day, I wanted to thank the crew on the Christian Fiction Review Blog roll for hosting me. Here are some highlights from the others:

From the Lost Genre Guild: http://blog.lostgenreguild.com/

All of the ISIG short stories are well-crafted and entertaining—the latter a real surprise for me considering that I do not number among the millions of sci-fi fans in this world. The range of intensity in this volume kept me reading because I couldn't predict what I'd discover when I turned another page. We see the teenager Frankie off to evangelize to alien beings; we sit with Saint Francis of Assisi as he ministers to the needs of a mannaro; we make the pilgrimmage alongside an IRA 'terrorist' as he makes his way through the stations to enlightment. The three described above: "Interstellar Calling," "Canticle of the Wolf," and "A Cruel and Unusual Punishment" were my favourites. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories included in Infinite Space Infinite God and liked the fact that they forced me to ponder and question. And one more thing, it is pretty darn refreshing to read good fiction that does not haul out the fictional stereotypes of manical monk or preying priest or nasty nun.

From David Brollier on www.cfrblog.blogspot.com:

About "The Harvest": This was one amazing and complex story of the unfolding of truth, the revealing of evil and the emergence of love. Lori… did an absolutely superb job in answering a universal question about what it means to be human. This carries with it so many other lessons that it could easily have been the only story in the book and I would have loved it none-the-less. Thank you for helping us to see a universe a bit larger than the one we had believed in beforehand.

About "Hopkins' Well": The feeling of “being there” in this story is powerful. No writer could ask for a better portrayal.

About "Interstellar Calling": I truly loved this story...because the story spoke to my heart.

About "Mask of the Ferret": It's the complexity and drive of the story that gets to you… Excellent. Truly wonderful.

About "Little Madeleine": I enjoyed the story, especially since accepting the truth was in itself another battle that she needed to fight… “Little Madeline” is one of those rare stories that takes you smack dab into the center of life's problems and then shows you the choices you, or rather that of the heroine in this case, have.

From Caprice Hokstad on www.shoutlife.com/capricehockstad:

I always want more, more, more. Just as I was starting to get to like a character or a setting, BAM, the story was over!

From Grace Bridges at http://www.gracebridges.blogspot.com/:

Are you ready to have your imagination expanded beyond what you thought possible, while doing some serious thinking? Then this is the book for you...

This anthology blows classic speculative fiction out of the water time and time again with amazing twists on the eternal question: “What if…” while giving you just enough time… to ponder a little along these lines for yourself…. “What if” really is a much bigger question than I ever thought…

I believe good science fiction should, among other things, always stretch your brain – and that’s just what this collection has done for me…fifteen times over. Watch out world – the Fabians are coming! And it looks like they're bringing their friends...

Oh, yes, we are, Grace! Watch out for the arrival of Infinite Space, Infinite God, coming to Amazon, B&N online and by order from other fine bookstores starting August 15.

Title: Infinite Space, Infinite God
Author: Karina and Robert Fabian, editors
Category: Science Fiction
ISBN: ISBN 1-933353-62-7
Format: Trade paperback
Publication Date: August 15, 2007
Pages: 288
Price: $18.95 US
Available from: Twilight Times Books, www.twilighttimesbooks.com
For More Info: http://isigsf.tripod.com

Marketing ISIG--The Real Work Begins

You'd think the real work in compiling and editing an anthology like Infinite Space, Infinite God would be in the gathering of stories, the copy-editing, the research in the introductions, and the selling it to a publisher.

Oh, no. That's the easy part.

The hard part is finding the readers who will want to lay down the $18 for a copy--or convincing potential readers that your book is worth $18.

I didn't know a thing about marketing, but fortunately, my publisher Lida at TwilightTimes Books is full of ideas. She also directed me to the MuseOnline writers conference. And I got bit by the bug.

Since that fateful October, I've been a marketing hound--media releases, websites, networking, workshops… You name it, I'm doing it or trying to learn about it. About the only thing I can't do is wander around town with a book in my hand and a sign saying--"Did Work for Fame--buy my book." And I'm having a great time.

The things that have been the most fun:

--The website: http://isigsf.tripod.com. I've got interviews, photos, events, summaries and reviews--and I'm glad to add anything else I can. It took several hours and a lot of hair-tearing to get it done, but now that it's up, I love it. I update it at least twice a week, too, so go check out what's new.
--FabChat. This started out as a separate thing. I'd seen another conference buddy make a chat on her site and it seemed like a great way to give authors a chance to talk about their works. I also attend the Writers' Chat Room author chats. So I decided to add that for some of my friends, too. It grew so fast, I finally had to select a regular day and time or it was going to take over! FabChat meets Thursdays at 8 PM EST. go to www.fabianspace.com and click on FabChat. (There's a list of guests so you can see who's guest of honor. I'm booked into August!)
--The Book Trailer. Here's another hair-puller, but one I enjoyed and am eager to try again. With Window's Movie Maker and some cobbled-together graphics and royalty-free photos, I actually made my own movie! That is so cool! (Look on March 31st's entry to see it.)

What's great about this, too, is that I can apply the lessons I'm learning now to every book I write--and even those I haven't written yet. I've got a great character and world: a private detective dragon in a fantasy noir universe. Dragon Eye, PI, has a few short stories out, but already I have a website and am starting the publicity train. Check him out at www.freewebs.com/dragoneyepi. Vern (the dragon) blogs once a month, and there's a mystery serial you can read.

I'm still hard at work, with sell sheets and review requests. I'm like a dog with a favorite squeak toy. Last week, when I spoke to my publisher, she told me, "Slow down until June at least! The book isn't even out yet." So I'm trying to calm down some.

An Interview with Joyce Anthony, Author of Storm

Just what DO an abused child, a prostitute, a disillusioned minister, a Vietnam vet and a homosexual have in common?
First--all of these belong to what I call "the forgotten"--people we meet every day, yet barely noticed and almost never get to know. Even the minister represents all those alone and lost in society. Secondly, my MC comes into all of their lives, and in some way changes all of them internally, except in one case where he is changed.

What drove you to write this story?
Storm wouldn't let me rest--I thought of him at odd hours of the day, dreamt of him at night--he wanted his story told and was determined I was going to tell it. I figured if I was going to get any rest, I'd better write the book :-)

Did anything in the characters or plot surprise you as you wrote it?
This book was full of surprises for me--Maggie, the amethyst-eyed
dog, just appeared out of nowhere--I didn't know she was there until she appeared. A couple other characters were the same way--it was almost as though I watched them walk into the story all on their own. I didn't do any outlining on this book. I knew the beginning and the end--and the rest just fell into place as I wrote. I started to feel at times like the story literally did write itself.

Why StarPublish for the publisher?
I wanted the control I could have with POD, but also wanted quality. I wanted to go with a place that actually was picky about what books they accepted--and was willing to speak up if something was lousy. Kristy Maguire, head of Star Publish, is like that--she maintains very high standards and isn't afraid to speak up, make suggestions, etc.. I trust her to see that I have put my best out there. In a way, I got the best of both worlds, quality that is expected by the big name publishers, yet more control that comes from POD.

What do you want readers to get from this book?
I want my readers to think. I want them to examine their lives and see the people around them in a different light. I want them to feel so strongly they can't just go about their lives as they are now--but instead need to act to change something, whether within themselves or within the world around them.

What are your future writing plans?
I am currently working on my second book, a nonfiction piece entitled Spirit of the Stallion. I also have two books planned out after that, a YA historical/paranormal entitled The Trees Remember and a young reader's book, The Gospel According to Rex.

In an interview on Dust of the Time last December, DustIAm asked about our title, Infinite Space, Infinite God. How can God, which is infinite, create something infinite? We replied:

Infinite space, infinite numbers, infinite possibilities… Can they really be infinite? When it comes to our limited human perceptions, the answer is, "Yes, of course." But just like in mathematics, there are different infinities.

Thomas Aquinas said that things other than God can be relatively infinite without being essentially infinite, and that when you speak of infinity, you are speaking about the potentiality of an object rather than the form of the object. (Summa Theologica, Question 7: The Infinity of God)

So "Infinite Space, Infinite God," as a title, presents a juxtaposition of infinities--relative vs. essential--and alludes to the incredible potentialities of space. What better image for an anthology of Catholic science fiction?

With 20-20 hindsight, "Infinite Space, Infinite God" is a very appropriate name for a Catholic SF work, yet when we thought of it, it was just a place-holder until we could come up with something better. Lida, publisher at Twilight Times Books, liked it and that's what we contracted under. And it is a cool name.

Still, there's a part of me that wishes we'd picked another title. One that's easier for me to type.

First, there's the word "infinite." -ite is such a common ending, so why can't I get it right? Half the time, I end up with "Infintie Space." As often as I've typed it--and it must be tens of thousands of times by now--I still transpose the I and T. I'm changing my name to "Fingers-Stumble-Over-Keyboard." At least spell check hasn't corrected it to Infantile Space….yet.

Then there's the comma in the middle. It makes an impact when looking at the title alone, but when you put it in a sentence (Our latest book, Infinite Space, Infinite God, is coming out in August.), it looks wrong. Maybe a colon instead?

Finally, it's long. Again, not on its own, but after writing it a half-dozen times in a letter, it gets old. As a former military officer and a military wife, I'm fond of acronyms, so I've shortened it to ISIG. Rob and I pronounce it I-sig. I like the flow. Lida, our publisher, says each letter. I've no idea how anyone else says it. As long as they recognize it in print, right?

So here's a hint for all of you authors: Before you title a piece, run it through the Title Test:

--Type it 10 times fast. Can you spell it right?
--Put it in a sentence. Does it look right with all the commas and other words? Does it stand out?
--Put it in a press release. Does it look annoying to say the title again and again, or dies it flow?

It's a little late for changes now (though I may ask Lida about that colon), and besides, Infinite Space, Infinite God really does project the feel of the anthology. It makes an impact.

Now, if I could just get my fingers around that ite.

ite ite ite ite ite ite....

Storm by Joyce Anthony

Today and Tomorrow, I'm touring Storm by Joyce Anthony as well as Infinite Space, infinite God. Look later for another behind-the scenes post about the ISIG's title (and why I say ISIG nowadays). In the meantime, enjoy the Storm.



What do a prostitute, an abused child, a disillusioned minister, a Vietnam Vet and a homosexual have in common? These and many others find their lives changed when they meet Storm and his companion, an amethyst-eyed dog named Maggie. As you follow Storm on his journey to discover his true identity, you will meet many of society’s forgotten people. You will laugh, cry and get angry—whatever the emotion, you will feel deeply. When Storm realizes who he is and why he is here, the world is completely changed and not one soul remains untouched. Upon closing the covers of this book, you will see the world around you in a far different light and find yourself wondering—is it really fiction?

Multi-published author Janet Elaine Smith stated, “This book will not leave you alone. It will fill you with passion, compassion, faith and a zest for life unequal to anything you have ever imagined…This is a must read for readers of all ages. To miss it is to ignore the best book you will probably ever read.”

Marvin D. Wilson, author of I Romanced the Stone, said, “In an age when ‘God’ has become a four letter word, and in a contemporary society that by and large considers all things Biblical to be babble, author Joyce Anthony brings us home to all things spiritual and meaningful with this charming and insightful story… Plan on a few hours of uninterrupted trance-like reading, you won’t want to do anything else except keep turning the pages once you’ve started.”

Joyce Anthony shares her Pennsylvania home with her teenaged son and mini-zoo. She has written numerous articles and has published one short story. She is one of the founders of WINGS, an advocacy group. When not writing, Joyce spends time home schooling her son and working on her photography. She is currently working on her next book, Spirit of the Stallion. A portion of all royalties from Storm will be donated to StopItNow.

For more information, go to http://starpublish.com or http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/

Tao of Collaboration

Tuesday, I promised to tell you why I love collaborating with my husband Rob.

Rob and I are truly soul mates. We just seemed to naturally mesh, both in ideals and ideas. So it's kind of surprising that our actual thinking styles are so different.

Rob has the most amazing mind of anyone I've ever known. He's not only got a terrific memory for detail, but he can see how those details--whether the technical aspects of a satellite, the myriad regulations in a military procedure, or the fine points of an complex task--all fit into the big picture. (Remember those logic puzzles that used to be an extra section on the SAT? He maxed the score, and he just did them "for fun.") This has served him extremely well, not only in his military career, but in our writing.

When we go on our dates, we pick around at ideas until we find one we like. For me, that means something I can envision a character for. For Rob, the situation usually grabs him. Then we take off:

Me: What if Sister SpaceCadet did this?
Rob: Can't happen, because of this. But she could do that.
Me: Bit if she did that, she's going to feel like this, so maybe then...

Once we have the story hammered out, it's on my shoulders to write the draft. Then Rob gives it the logic check. Like a precision instrument, he'll hone in on any trouble, from the misapplication of orbital mechanics to the illogic of someone's actions to a misplaced plot complication. He'll also catch my writing flaws, from misspellings to my penchant for front-loading information. Sometimes, that means major re-writes (like in our novel-in-progress, Discovery.) Other times, it leads to exciting new plot complications.

Collaborating on an anthology is a little different, but we still benefit from his brilliance. I tended to judge a story on character and writing style first, and then he evaluated the more technical aspects. When we almost liked a story, he would find on the spots that needed improving. And he was always there to keep me focused on the big picture--like when someone I'd rejected wrote me back that I "didn't understand" his story. Rob reminded me that it wasn't my job to understand him; it was his job to be understood.

Oh, and let's not forget that his style of thinking makes it easier for him to understand and work with computers. He's become very familiar with hearing, "Babe, how do you...?"

Some folks think I'm odd, but I believe the most attractive feature about my husband is his mind. But when writing is your vocation, avocation, and day-to-day pursuit, a good man with a great mind is the very best kind of man to have.

Reading a Book Backward

Gotta do a short post today because I'm proofing the copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God for the publisher. The pre-release promotional copies come out by end of April--if I can get the galley copy to Lida at Twilight Times by Saturday.

I remember the first time I'd seen a galley copy--now called a proof copy by some. I had interviewed Kathleen and W. Michael Gear, and they sent me a copy of their latest book to review. I'd thought it was called "gallows copy," which seemed to fit in my mind. Simplistic gray cover, every error still unchecked--it looked pretty grim to me. I remember being astounded at the errors you found.

Loved the book anyway.

Now it's my turn to put on my editor's hat again, switch my mind to "Anal-retentive grammarian" and read Infinite Space, Infinite God yet again. Only this time, I'm reading it backwards.

Yes, backwards. There's no better way to catch a missing comma, a mis-capitalized word or an awkward phrase than to remove the sentence from its context and look at it in isolation. It's interesting, too, how seeing it in the book form makes a difference. Even though it's been checked twice by me in print and on the computer, by my editor, by a copy editor and again by me on-line, I'm still finding errors, missing words and differences in format. (BTW--you may not realize it from my posts sometimes--I tell folks my Native American name is "Fingers-Stumbling-Over-Keyboard"--but I'm a very good editor when I put my mind in reverse.)

I'm also finding there's no better way to appreciate the terrific writing of some of the contributors. You can tell who writes the great story and who has great writing in the story. last night, as I went over Maya Bohnhoff's "Cruel and Unusual Punishment," I would pause now and then to share a line with my friend over the IM. I paused with Colleen Drippe's "Far Traveler" to write in the margins, "Like this line!" Now, I'm in Rob's and my "These Three," and there are still lines that make me think, "Yeah, got it that time." I'm gaining a whole new appreciation for the talent that shared their stories with me.

I won't go so far as to suggest that you read your favorite book backward, but it is an interesting exercise in writing. And it's very useful when editing.

So, back to the grindstone--222 pages to go and counting down!

The romance of ISIG II

Rob likes to quote Mercedes Lackey, "If you don't have to write, don't." He says that's why I'm the real writer in the family, while he's more of a writing hobby-ist.

Of course, this causes some friction when collaborating. Since this is my vocation and my passion, I tend to be the go-getter, pushing, writing, forging ahead on the next idea--and dragging my poor husband along.

There are days our collaboration goes like this:

Me: (shouting from my study across the hall to Rob in his study): "We got another story for ISIG! It's pretty good. What do you think?"

Rob: (dragging himself from the news he's reading on the Internet, mental gears grinding from paradigm shifting without a clutch) "Did you shoot it my way?"

Me: (holding back my impatience. I've already screened five stories--can't he look at just one?) "Yes! Two hours ago. You haven't looked at it yet?"

Rob: (holding his tongue. In the last two hours, he's gotten home changed out of uniform, played with the kids, eaten, and had just settled down to read his newsgroups.) "I'll get to it tonight."

And he did, sometimes. Sometimes, we replayed the whole scene over again the next day.

Then there were those dangerous nights I'd bring the laptop to bed. "Hey, honey, what do you think of this?" I'd ask, then I'd read a snippet without noticing he was still engrossed in his book. On the flip side, many a time he's started reading me a funny scene from his book as I was struggling with a paragraph from my own scenes.

So we struggle with timing and with where in the priority list our writing belongs.

When it comes to the actual collaboration, however, there's no one better than Rob, but that's tomorrow's topic.

Learn more about Karina and Rob and all the ISIG collaborators at http://isigsf.tripod.com.

The Romance of Infinite Space, Infinite God

It all started with a date.

Rob and I sometimes go out to dinner without the kids. It's one of those thing that the marriage "experts" always recommend as a chance for couples to have time to really concentrate on each other and building good communication.

Except Rob and I have a naturally strong marriage and good communication. Our personalities are such that our goals are in sync, and we'd learned how to discuss our days and dreams around changing diapers and feeding toddlers. So what could we talk about over a private dinner?

We're writers. We talk stories.

This particular date found us in unusual places, interest wise. I'd been researching religious orders for The Wyoming Catholic Register, and Rob was involved in Artemis society, a group dedicated to getting a commercially/privately funded colony on the Moon. For us, it was just one small step to think of nuns in space.

But what would they do? So often, we only think of nuns as teachers or nurses, but they do so much more. Women religious (as they are sometimes called) are research scientists, writers, social workers, pioneers, and businesswomen. They've suffered incredible hardships, rolled up their habit sleeves and done manual labor, and explored the frontier, usually paving the way for more civilized society. They were gentle (jokes about Sister Mary Margaret and her knuckle-breaking ruler aside), but they were tough.

We knew it'd be a long time before families made it to space, and we wanted a presence there earlier. So what could a religious order do that a commercial interest could not? The answer lay with money. We needed a vital service that a company could command a high price for that the sisters could do for "air, supplies and the love of God." Space search and rescue was our choice.

Since that date a decade ago, we've got to dinner armed with a spiral notebook and talked about "our future": a future of spaceships and daring rescues, faith and miracles. As we indulge in our escapist fun, a synergy grows between us. We come back from our dates relaxed and ready for the everyday challenges of life on planet Earth.

So when I say that writing is a romantic venture, I do mean it.

Once we started writing stories of the Order of Our Lady of the Rescue, we naturally wanted to see them published. Of course, there's not a lot of market (in terms of magazines) for Catholic sci-fi, so we began the search that led us to editing the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God. But that's another story.

ISIG Virtual Book Tour

April 1-7 is the Infinite Space, Infinite God book tour on the Christian Fiction Review Blog! If you look at the navbar on the right, you'll see the links to the places which will have reviews and commentary on this anthology of thought-provoking sci-fi with a Catholic twist. In the meantime, here is the video book trailer:



Each day of the book tour, I'll be adding some snippets for what others have said about Infinite Space, Infinite God and some behind-the-scenes stuff. I'll also take questions--e-mail me at karina(at)fabianspace.com.

Blessings,
Karina

Visions by Lisa Logan

What if you bumped into a stranger...and suddenly became psychic? Actor Trenton Dane is about to find out. When a chance brush with psychic Glory Windsor imbues him with stirring premonitions, Trenton must come to grips with his new power. Will he find the sultry woman who haunts his dreams in time to save her from certain danger?

Psychic Romance/Mystery
January 30, 2007 Draumr Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-933157-15-3 Print / eBook


For more: http://lisalogan.net/
To order: Amazon Link or Dramr Publishing

Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer

For reasons beyond her control, Sophie finds herself alone in the wartorn Spanish countryside. What was once a thriving paradise has become a battleground for fascist soldiers and Spanish patriots. She is caught up in the escalating events when the route to safety is blocked and fighting surrounds her. On her darkest night, Sophie takes refuge with a brigade of international compatriots. Among these volunteers, she pledges to make the plight of the Spanish people known around the world through the power of art.

Read the first chapter here.

Some of you might recall Tricia's other book that's posted on this site, Arms of Deliverance. Well, this lovely lady and winner of ACFW's Book of the Year award (best long historical romance) has done it again. I'm pleased to host her for her book tour. Learn more about her and her books here.




Here's what Tricia has to say about writing this book:

A few years ago when I was researching for my fourth World War II novel, Arms of Deliverance, I came across a unique autobiography. One B-17 crewmember I read about claimed to make it out of German-occupied Belgium after a plane crash due, in part, to his skills he picked up as a veteran of The Spanish Civil War. Reading that bit of information, I had to scratch my head. First of all, I had never heard of the war. And second, what was an American doing fighting in Spain in the late 1930s? Before I knew it, I uncovered a fascinating time in history—one that I soon discovered many people know little about. This is what I learned:

Nazi tanks rolled across the hillsides and German bombers roared overhead, dropping bombs on helpless citizens. Italian troops fought alongside the Germans, and their opponents attempted to stand strong—Americans, British, Irishmen, and others—in unison with other volunteers from many countries. And their battleground? The beautiful Spanish countryside.

From July 17, 1936-April 1, 1939, well before America was involved in World War II, another battle was fought on the hillsides of Spain. On one side were the Spanish Republicans, joined by the Soviet Union and The International Brigade—men and women from all over the world who have volunteered to fight Fascism. Opposing them, Franco and his Fascist military leaders, supported with troops, machinery, and weapons from Hitler and Mussolini. The Spanish Civil War, considered the “training ground” for the war to come, boasted of thousands of American volunteers who joined to fight on the Republican side, half of which never returned home.

Unlike World War II, there is no clear line between white and black, good and evil. Both sides committed atrocities. Both sides had deep convictions they felt worth fighting and dying for.

Loyalists—also know as the Republicans were aided by the Soviet Union, the Communist movement, and the International Brigades. If not for the weapons and volunteers from these sources their fight would have ended in weeks rather than years. While many men fought side by side, their political views included that of liberal democracy, communism and socialism. The Catholic Basque Country also sided with the Republic, mainly because it sought independence from the central government and was promised this by Republican leaders in Madrid.

Nationalists—or Francoists were aided mainly by Germany and Italy. The Nationalist opposed an independent Basque state. Their main supporters were those who believed in a monarchist state and fascist interests. The Nationalist wished for Spain to continue on as it had for years, with rich landowners, the military, and the church running the country. Most of the Roman Catholic clergy supported the Nationalists, except those in the Basque region.

During the Spanish Civil war, terror tactics against civilians were common. And while history books discuss the estimated one million people who lost their lives during the conflict, we must not forget that each of those who fought, who died, had their own tales. From visitors to Spain who found themselves caught in the conflict, to the communist supporters, Basque priests, and Nazi airmen . . . each saw this war in a different light. These are the stories behind A Valley of Betrayal.

Featured This Month on the CFRB: Chronicles of Soone: Heir to the King

(This summary from his site in http://www.breakneckbooks.com/soone.html.)

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS

A devastating interplanetary war has been raging for decades. The fallen ones have instigated mankind’s downfall, waging a sinister campaign leading towards a singular goal, universal domination.


A WARRIOR RACE

Long the ordained guardians of peace, the Barudii, have been reduced to a scattered remnant struggling to survive. All but wiped out by the Vorn clan, they have little hope of stopping the genocide that threatens mankind’s survival.


THE LAST HEIR

Young Tiet soone, the only remaining heir to the Barudii throne, returns from exile to avenge his fallen people. He is the final hope for restoration, and the only one that can mediate a peace between the warring clans before its too late...before the dark forces opposing his every effort succeed in enslaving humanity. To claim victory he will do what Barudii warriors do best—fight—to the death if need be.

For more information, check out the CFRB tour on the right or go to http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/

Saving Those Damned Catholics

Saving Those Damned Catholics
By Judie Brown

Saving Those Damned Catholics chronicles the reasons why the current mess within the Catholic Church is not something that should surprise anyone, whether Catholic, Protestant, or just curious. After all, as the story unfolds you will learn how a bureaucracy has replaced individual commitment; and how politics has become far too appealing to the majority of Catholic bishops. It is no surprise that Americans scoff at Catholic teachings on birth control, abortion and euthanasia. The statistics tell the tale: most Catholics don’t know what the Church teaches on these matters of life and death, and if they do, they choose to disagree and – ho-hum – the hierarchy moves on.

Saving Those Damned Catholics outlines the logic behind the most controversial teachings in the Church today, and exposes the arguments put forth by priests and bishops who clearly do not agree with some of these teachings themselves.

Endorsed by Congressman Robert K. Dornan, New York Post columnist Roy Kerrison, Human Life International president Father Tom Euteneuer, Pro-Life Action League founder Joe Scheidler and others, this riveting book tells a story of intrigue, disappointment, frustration and heroism. Calling the nation’s bishops to lead the flock toward Christ, Brown pulls no punches in recounting the facts.

To order, call ALL toll-free at 866-LET-LIVE
or order online at www.ProLifeGear.com.

Hard cover: $28.79 Soft cover: $18.69

American Life League • P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555 • 540-659-4171