CSFF Presents: the Lost Genre Guild--Meet the Members

For the last day of the LGG Tour, I want to introduce you to a few of the Lost Genre Guild members. (Thanks to Frank Creed for this list.):

Brandon Barr: and co-author Mike Lynch recently announced that the first chapter of their new novel won a "first chapter contest" at the Dead Robot Society.
http://deadrobotssociety.com/second-annual-contest/after-the-cross-by-brandon-barr/

Grace Bridges: Author of Faith Awakened, a cyberpunk tale with a classic old literary sci-fi style; and Legendary Space Pilgrims, a continuation of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress. She also manages our blog and booklist.
http://www.gracebridges.com/

Johne Cook: Editor of Double Edged Publishing’s Ray-Gun Revival, serial author and head of the Guild’s Packer fan-club.
http://www.raygunrevival.com/

Frank Creed: Author or Flashpoint, a Christian cyberpunk novel reviewed here. Founder of the LGG and a great guy.
http://frankcreed.com

Steve Doyle: Steve and Frank go back to my first speculative fiction forays into the Web: elfwood.com and the Herscher Project. Steve is one of the authors on this list with who shares publication in the Light at the Edge of Darkness anthology.
http://www.elfwood.com/
http://herscher.cwgservices.com/
http://www.doylebooks.com/
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Light-at-the-Edge-of-Darkness/Cynthia-MacKinnon/e/9781934284001

Karina Fabian: Editor of the Infinite Space and Infinite God, and Leaps of Faith--Christian sci-fi anthologies--and the DragonEye, PI fantasy mysteries.
http://www.fabianspace.com
http://www.isigsf.com/
http://www.leapsoffaithsf.com/
http://dragoneyepi.net/

Andrea & Adam Graham: Editors of Laser & Sword Magazine, the Grahams are into podcasting, and kilt-making. They’re two of the three authors on this list who share publication in the Light at the Edge of Darkness anthology.
http://www.adamsweb.blogspot.com/
http://kingkilts.adamsweb.us/
http://lasersword.adamsweb.us/
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Light-at-the-Edge-of-Darkness/Cynthia-MacKinnon/e/9781934284001

Paulette Harris: You can tell who’s joined the guild while I’ve been away. Polly’s active in our newsgroup and calls Colorado home.
http://pauletteharris.biz/

Caprice Hokstad: Author of the Duke’s Handmaiden and Nor Iron Bars a Cage, Caprice is a member of many Web communities, and a great encourager, and a manuscript proofreader.
http://cfvici.blogspot.com/
http://www.lulu.com/caprice
http://thefinishers.biz

Mike Lynch: co-authors with Brandon Barr.
http://www.mikelynchbooks.blogspot.com/

Cynthia MacKinnon: Publisher of The Writers Cafe Press and Frank's better half. A wonderful lady with a lot of savvy.
http://www.thewriterscafe.com/

Terri Main: Editor of Wayfarer’s Journal, communications professor, our resident voice recognition software expert, and an aspiring moon-whodunit novelist and nonfiction author of Creative Calesthenics.
http://www.wayfarersjournal.com
http://www.creativecalisthenics.com/

Scott Sandridge: is an editor for Fear and Trembling, a speculative fiction writer, reviewer, and columnist.
http://www.fearandtremblingmag.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/scottmsandridge/

Sherry Thompson: Author of Seabird, book one of the The Narentan Tumults.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Seabird/Sherry-Thompson/e/9780979573828

As you can see, they are active writers, editors and speakers--people with a lot of imagination and a lot of eloquence.

Would you like to meet them? Want to be part of the Guild? If so, there are several ways:

Through the website: http://www.lostgenreguild.com/index.html
Through the forum: http://www.lostgenreguild.com/phpBB3/
Through the Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lost_genre_guild/
Through ShoutLife: http://shoutlife.com/groups_home.cfm?group_id=1241
Read the blog: http://blog.lostgenreguild.com/
They also meet in Second Life, but I don't have that information. If interested, contact Terri Main.

***
Learn what other CSFF bloggers have to say about the LGG:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise

CSFF Presents: The Lost Genre Guild and What It Means for Readers

I'm not a writer. I'm a reader who wants to find genre fiction that's entertaining and doesn't offend my Christian morals. Why should I care about the Lost Genre Guild?

Connecting readers and writers is the main purpose of the LGG. This isn't just to get the author sales (though we love that, of course). We want readers to know that there's a lot more fiction that not only respects but incorporates Christian beliefs than the sweet romance or the End-Times novel:

Christian fiction has experienced much growth over the past decade. As it has become more popular, the numbers of new authors and new genres has exploded--and so has the quality available. Novelists like Frank Peretti, T.L. Hines and Ted Dekker have done much to help Christian fiction cross the boundary from the safe "church-lady" fiction to fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, yes, and even horror written from a Christian worldview.

These authors are published by members of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) who market to members of the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). To hear many in the world of Christian fiction speak, these groups are the end-all and be-all. (They would assert that) To the reader and consumer of Christian fiction they represent the totality of the industry. But the story does not end there. Not by a long shot. There are many misnomers and misunderstandings about the Christian fiction industry.

--Frank Creed, About the Christian Publishing Industry (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/566151/about_the_christian_publishing_industry.html)

The LGG does not limit itself to Christian fiction that the ECPA would approve of. We have aliens and vampires, high technology and high magic, and a wide tapestry of Christian faiths--from Presbyterianism to Catholicism--treated with respect and portrayed with realism and generosity. Here's where you find the stuff you won't find in your Christian bookstore, and sometimes not even in your secular store; not because they don't measure up, but because they don't fit the neat pegs that stores prefer--too Christian to be secular, too edgy to be "Christian." We want readers to know that exciting Christian sci-fi, fantasy and horror is out there, and we want to make it easy for you to find it.

To that end, we've developed the Lost Genre Guild website, where we provide covers and links to books and magazines that we think the Christian reader of genre fiction will enjoy.

I'm going to give you a small sampling. These are books by LGG members available on Amazon. (With so many to choose from, I selected those who have not been featured here yet, but several of the Christian spec-fic titles I've toured are LGG member books.)

Science Fiction:


Fantasy:


Horror:

(Note: Sue Dent's Never Ceese was toured by me.)

And if you're looking for a little taste of all the genres: (This was reviewed by me.)


There are dozens more listed on the website--series, anthologies and novels, as well as magazines. If you enjoy Christian speculative fiction that may or may not follow the strict morality code of ECPA books, the Lost Genre Guild is a great place to browse for your next reading adventure.

***
Learn what other CSFF bloggers have to say about the LGG:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise

CSFF Presents: The Lost Genre Guild--What It Means for Authors

I did something very silly. I posted my original interview for the CSFF tour of the Lost Genre Guild two weeks early. Therefore, I invite you to click here for an excellent interview by LGG founder Frank Creed.

For those who don't want to click around: The Lost Genre Guild is a community of authors working together at the intersection of our God-given talents and passions. Quality, entertaining speculative fiction (sci-fi, horror, and fantasy), has such ministry potential. Its mission is to raise awareness and respect for Biblical and Christian speculative fiction, and to encourage, educate and support the writers of such fiction. (From the interview)

Simple mission with a big effect. Its members have found not only moral support for their writing, but practical support that has led to novels and stories written and works published. Today, I present three successful LGG members: Terri Main and Grace Bridges, and myself.

Terri Main:


Book published and magazine: Creative Calisthenics: A Workout for the Writer's Imagination and Wayfarer's Journal.


Why did you join the Guild? Frank asked me to join. Mostly he wanted me to share some of my marketing experience. I was still separated from my fiction writing roots. I had been away from fiction writing for nearly 20 years, except for a few things I wrote as part of personal therapy. I shared them with others of similar troubles, and they loved them, but, hey, we were emotionally distressed, you like anything that doesn't make you feel so alone. I didn't come in as a writer--only a bit as an editor of a ezine, mostly as a marketing expert. Little did I know it would stir up an ember that had nearly gone out.

What have you gotten from the Guild? Restoration of the joy of fiction writing. Whether I ever get a book contract, I have recovered those vicarious adventures writers have as they follow their characters chasing a story.

Are you a better writer because of the Guild? Yes. I'm writing more. My imagination is always being stimulated by some discussion or other. I am challenged to bring my "A" game by being accountable to others.

Tell us a little about Wayfarer's Journal. Wayfarer's Journal seeks to publish science fiction stories with a spiritual or ethical component. That doesn't mean it will always be a story about Christianity or Christian doctrine directly. I have a couple of potentially controversial stories ready to go into the next issue which have that type of moral or ethical component, but without any direct reference to Christian doctrine. I'll be releasing that issue about the first of January. WJ also publishes a limited number of semi-scholarly articles about science fiction with a spiritual element. It is intended to fill a niche for a pure science fiction publication. Most of the Christian speculative fiction e-zines are heavily focused on fantasy. Nothing wrong with that. I like fantasy, but science fiction seemed to take a back seat. So, I decided to find a niche not being covered at this time. We currently get about 180,000 hits a year.

Did your being in the LGG influence the creation of the WJ? If so, how? Certainly, it influenced the development of the site. Many of our writers are LGG writers. And I got encouragement and support from the various LGG members. They also have helped promote the site.

One of the things I find wonderful about LGG is that although we are in the same "business," we are not competitors. We all know we work "for The Boss," as Frank says. We help each other succeed, and everyone else's success is celebrated as if it is our own. Here's the secret: It is our own. When another LGG member breaks through with a popular website or a good selling book, that helps the entire genre. By helping each other, we not only have more joy on the journey, we also make the journey more productive for all concerned.

Grace Bridges:



Name of book: Faith Awakened

Why did you join the Guild? Daniel Weaver invited me from Myspace to join his crit group. Then this guy called Frank pulled it all together and I was there right from the start. I'd been working on a sci-fi novel for some years and thought this could help its progress--and it did!

What have you gotten from the Guild? Ooh, where do I start? Fabulous critique partners, reviews, hospitality, moral support, hugs real and virtual, publishing and co-writing opportunities...

How are you a better writer because of the Guild? Critiques are probably the single biggest factor in my improvement. Folks who tell you the truth about your work are worth their weight in gold!

Do you have a personal success story (publishing, sales, etc.) that is a direct result of your participation in the Guild? The Guild encouraged me to self-publish my first book and told me in no uncertain terms to ensure the quality meant no one could ever tell it was self-published. That book has sold 500 copies. Due to further support from the gang, I'm about to launch an independent press. And when I trekked across the States on my way home, so many LGG folks opened their homes to me. It was wonderful to meet them in person!

Karina Fabian:



Books Published and magazine: Infinite Space, Infinite God and Leaps of Faith, and Faith-Filled Fiction.

As for me, the Guild has provided some great friendship, a place to bounce ideas and get feedback and critique, and discuss what it means to write faith-filled fiction. On a practical marketing side, I've participated in a book fair with Frank and Cynthia, where we promoted LGG books and books of the Catholic Writers Guild. I also found a publisher for Leaps of Faith, an anthology of Christian SF, through the Guild, and have sold some stories thanks to leads from this group. Every day, we have active discussions going on topics ranging from someone's latest story idea to working out kinks when publishing with Lulu to market news to ideas to sell our books.

If you are an author of Christian Sci-Fi, fantasy or horror, this is THE group for you to join!

****

For more about the LGG, including the great fiction by its authors: http://www.lostgenreguild.com/

Learn what other bloggers have to say about the LGG:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise

CSFF Presents: Marcher Lord Press, a Christian Speculative Fiction Publishing Company

This month, rather than highlight a book, we're letting people know about a new publishing company, Marcher Lord Press, which is dedicated to bringing readers quality speculative fiction with a strong Christian worldview. Jeff Gerke, publisher, saw a need for the genre stuff that the usual Christian publishers and genre publishers generally won't touch, and is now providing those stories to you. So if you like horror, sci-fi or fantasy but don't want the usual Godlessness or witch/wicca angles, check out their bookstore.

This is a great time for it, too! Their grand opening is October first, and they are having drawings for great prizes (including a trip to ComicCon!) and free gifts with each purchase.


Marcher Lord Press:

What is it that sets Marcher Lord Press apart from every other Christian publishing company?

If you're curious about the industry—or you think you might want to become a Marcher Lord Press author—this is an essential question.

The most obvious thing that sets Marcher Lord Press apart is the kind of fiction it concentrates on. No other Christian publishing company is dedicated to nothing but Christian speculative fiction.

What is Christian speculative fiction, you ask? It's the "weird" stuff: fantasy, science fiction, time travel, spiritual warfare, alternate history, chillers, superhero fiction, near-future technothrillers, and supernatural thrillers. All the Christian stories that are off the edge of the map.

Marcher Lord Press: http://www.MarcherLordPress.com/ .
Jeff Gerke's Web site, WhereTheMapEnds: http://wherethemapends.com .


*Participants’ Links:

Brandon Barr
Tina Kulesa
Jason Waguespac
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Courtney
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Kameron M. Franklin
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Greg Slade
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise