News for March 17th, 2010

Karina Fabian got a great new review for her book Magic, Mensa & Mayhem at the Midwest Book Review. You can read it here: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/mar_10.htm#janie

Members Cathi-Lyn Dyck and Grace Bridges are also members of a group called International Christian Fiction Writers, which operates a group blog.
Cathi-Lyn wrote there recently on What is Literature, with some insights on speculative fiction: http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-literature.html
And Grace Bridges republished The Night of the Gift, a short story from a few years ago which is both international and speculative:

Keven Newsome at The New Authors' Fellowship has written two articles useful for writers when planning a novel:
The Hero's Journey http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/the-heros-journey/
and The Villain's Quest http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/the-villains-quest/

Jeremy Robinson has released Part 9 of his free audiobook Beneath. You can catch all the parts so far at http://www.podiobooks.com/title/beneath

News for March 15th, 2010

Laser and Sword Magazine Updates: 
March 11, 2010 - Farewell Jirel, Part Four, the latest installment of the Rise of the Judge web serial.

A juvenile delinquent caught meting out vigilante justice gets inducted into a dystopian Army under threat of a noose. Can a double agent get Snyder back on track? Will Snyder survive to discover his destiny?

March 9, 2010 - Powerhouse Carries on, Part seven,  the latest installment of the Tales of the Dim Knight web serial.

A mild-mannered janitor discovers a symbiotic alien cylinder that brings his dreams of being a superhero true. One question haunts: can there be such a thing as a good Symbiot, even if he isn't black tar?

March 8, 2010 - The Fifth Column, Part Nine, the latest installment of the Order of the Sword web serial.

A comic book CEO seeks to defeat terrorism as the Sword by uniting the world's greatest superheros. Will he learn bad guys masquerade as good guys before the traitor in their midst sends the heroes to their doom?

Updates from Mindflights Magazine:

"Balance of Power"
 by Lindsey Duncan
As a mediocre Lightweaver and a former swordswoman, Tanasdra is entirely expendable as a stand-in for the Eye, the most gifted foreteller in centuries. But the ruse won't be enough.


"Patience" by Rosalind Casey (A Student Contributor)
She comforts herself in the waiting

"The Never-People"
 by Douglas Kolacki
How do you tell people about heaven when they never die?

News for March 12th, 2010

Three titles from Marcher Lord Press have landed on the finalist list for the EPIC Awards 2010, otherwise known as the EPPIE. You can go here to see the full list: http://www.epicauthors.com/epicwinners2010.html

Thanks to Caprice for digging up this opportunity for writers to submit short stories on the theme of extraterrestrials: http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/wrg/1635436754.html

A very new member of the Lost Genre Guild is C. Maggie Woychik, who operates Port Yonder Press, publishing fantasy among other things. Read her introduction to her publishing goals at Christian Fiction Online Magazine here: http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/buzz_corner.html

And another brand new member, Ellen C. Maze, has been interviewed about her vampire book Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider - check it out here: http://thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-interview-with-ellen-plus-advice.html

News for March 9th, 2010

Kat Heckenbach's short story Jordan's River is now published at Digital Dragon: check it out at http://www.digitaldragonmagazine.net/heckenbach-jordansriver.php

C.L. Dyck has published part 2 of her online serial The Moonborn Code at http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/08/the-moonborn-code-part-2/. If you missed the beginning, you'll want to go back and start here: http://scitascienda.com/2010/03/01/the-moonborn-code/

Two new reviews for Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges - one by Kat Heckenbach at http://kat-findingangel.blogspot.com/2010/03/there-are-some-books-i-read-and-can.html and the other by Fred Warren at http://frederation.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/book-review-faith-awakened-by-grace-bridges/. Thanks guys!

Fred Warren continues his reviewing with a balanced look at the (in)famous Angels and Demons by Dan Brown: http://frederation.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/book-review-angels-and-demons-by-dan-brown/

And a bonus for writers today on a topic in need of a spotlight: Athol Dickson on the poetry of language in his article Forgotten Beauty at Novel Journey - http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-beauty.html

News for March 5th, 2010

Jeremy Robinson announces the kickoff for the Thrillevangelist program, in which US readers can sign up to complete a few simple tasks, and receive free copies of his books Beneath, Pulse and Instinct in print and audio versions! For more information and full instructions, go here: http://jeremyrobinsononline.com/thrillevangelist.html

A.P. Fuchs announces the release on Kindle of the comic Axiom-Man: Of Magic and Men. For more details on this story and a video trailer, go to http://apfuchs.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/axiom-man-of-magic-and-men-now-on-amazon-kindle/.

Rick Copple says: A short story of mine, "Water Fight," has been accepted into Residential Aliens' new anthology coming out in May, "While the Morning Star Sings."
I know a couple of other LGGers have stories that will appear in it as well: Fred Warren and Stoney Setzer. Kat Heckenbach is there too, with "The Guitar."

T.W. Ambrose, intrepid editor at Digital Dragon, announces a new podcast Tim and Jeff’s Geeked Out Show of Awesome Awesomeness which began on February 8th. For more information, visit Tim's post here: http://www.twambrose.net/2010/02/tim-and-jeffs-geeked-out-show-of-awesome-awesomeness.html

News for March 2, 2010

A.P. Fuchs has some big news to share: Coscom Entertainment has signed on with a New York agency, which will no doubt expand its circle of influence. Congrats A.P.! Check out this post for all the details: http://apfuchs.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/the-big-news-uncensored - and for the more formal press release, go here: http://apfuchs.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/press-release-monster-and-superhero-press-signs-with-new-york-agency-for-representation/

And following up Greg Mitchell's big news last week, he's been interviewed at the publishing company he is now leaving to join up with Realms at Strang Communications. The interview is here: http://www.xulonpress.com/blog/?p=217

Carole McDonnell has recorded some audio excerpts of herself reading from her book Wind Follower. The prologue can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjXO4mi3nAE and an excerpt from later in the book is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8WViWF9nxk. Find out more about Wind Follower here: http://www.juno-books.com/windfollower.html

Several of the independent publishers affiliated with the Lost Genre Guild have their own Facebook fan pages. Head over and make sure you're connected!

Coscom Entertainment - A.P. Fuchs
Splashdown Books - Grace Bridges
Written World Communications - Kristine Pratt and friends

News for February 25th, 2010

Greg Mitchell has just signed a contract with Realms Fiction for his Christian Horror/Monster trilogy "The Coming Evil". The first book "The Strange Man" was originally self-published through Xulon Press in 2007. A new Expanded Edition of the book will be re-released through Realms Fiction later in early 2011 followed by the remaining two volumes in the trilogy. Keep updated at www.thecomingevil.com

The Christian Small Publishers' Association is holding a vote for the best books of the year. Head on over to http://www.christianpublishers.net/10votes/ and cast your vote - in the Fiction section is a spec-fic title worth supporting: Earth is Not Alone by John Knapp II (go here to see my review of it).

At the New Authors' Fellowship, Keven Newsome provides an introduction and commentary on the manuscript I Am Ocilla by Diane M. Graham, which was a winner in the Marcher Lord Press premise contest. Go here to check it out: http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/new-authors-series-i-am-ocilla/

Bryan Thomas Schmidt says: My first short story publication was an an ezine called Einstein's
Pocket Book this month. It is based on a real experiences last October and November with my wife's struggle with mental illness (she gave permission to use that) and then becomes a kind of contemporary fantasy as it moves along.
http://peafant.wordpress.com/the-maintenance-man-by-bryan-thomas-schmidt/

Announcing the Idahope Writers' Conference 2010

February 27 @ 8:30 a.m. at Grace Bible Church at 4262 North Eagle Road in Boise

Want to become a better writer? Would you like to meet other Treasure Valley Christian Writers? Come to this year’s mini-conference.

We have two fabulous keynote speakers this year:

• Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of more than thirty books, including Christian romance, historical fiction, and non-fiction. Her most famous book is the epic, Glastonbury: A Novel of Christian England. Her latest book, an ecclesiastical mystery entitled A Very Private Grave will be released later this year.
• Jill Williamson is the author of By Darkness Hid, a Christian Fantasy novel. She will be representing Marcher Lord Press. She is a former editor for Wild Rose Press. She also writes the Novel Teen Book Review blog. Jill has just signed a movie option for her Blood of the Kings Trilogy.

Also speaking at the conference are:

• Jon Colson is a professional author and speaker from Meridian, Idaho.
• Ray Ellis is a member of ACFW and Idahope Writers. He is a 20-year veteran of law enforcement and lead investigator for the city of Meridian in crimes against children.
• Sherrie Lord is “a Christian Biker Writer” who writes full throttle Christian Romance. She has two published books. More information on Sherrie is available at her websitesherrielord.com
• Adam Graham is President of Idahope Writers and was published in the 2007 Anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness along with his wife Andrea. He and his wife, Andrea collaborate on Laser and Sword Magazine. He is a columnist for Pajamas Media and has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, and the New York Times Best-seller Do The Right Thing.

The cost of attending the 2010 conference is $20, which includes a one year membership in the Idahope Christian Writer’s group (normally $10.) NNU students are elligible for a special $10 rate. Your membership will help you to continue to grow as a writer through regular meetings which provide opportunities for learning and fellowship. Please note this does not include the $50 membership dues of our parent organization, ACFW.

News for February 19th, 2010

Here's a new interview with Kerry Nietz, author of A Star Curiously Singing, at Lena Nelson Dooley's blog - with a chance to win a free copy if you hurry. Head over here to check it out.

Jeremy Robinson announces the release of the 6th segment of the free audiobook version of his novel Beneath. You can catch up on all six episodes here.

Ellen C. Maze wants us all to know about her new website at http://www.rabbitnovel.com. There's lots of action there surrounding her novel Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider - book trailers, bonus stories, and more.

For writers, Karina Fabian says: I've placed a sample issue of the 30-Minute Marketer on my website for those that might be interested. http://karinafabian.com/index.php?name=Content&pid=31 This isn't your usual tip-driven publication. This is a weekly newsletter with four marketing tasks, complete with step-by-step instructions. Each should only take about 30 minutes. Whether you do one or all four, you're making steady progress toward getting your name and book out into the world. I also lead you through projects that you can do again and again for each book.