Steve Laube Answers Marcher Lord Questions
Macher Lord Press’s new owner as of this year answers some questions about the publisher purchase at his website.
Christian fantasy/sci-fi fan and literary agent Steve Laube said little will change at Marcher Lord Press at present.
The goal is to publish the best. Nothing changes in that regard. There are some tremendous writers already in the MLP catalog and we hope to continue those relationships. We will also be looking for new voices as well as those that are already established.
No details yet on how Marcher Lord would change in the future. But for would-be new Marcher Lord authors: for now, the submission guidelines stay the same.
Laube: Well-written, but not a title he would have published.
Laube also responded — though with fewer details than some would like — to questions about the Hinterlands “mature content” imprint, and Amish Vampires in Space, not being part of the purchase.
[Hinterlands] and all those titles have been sold by Jeff Gerke to a third party and will likely reappear under a new publishing name in the near future.
Amish Vampires in Space was not part of Hinterlands and is a well written book (no surprise considering Kerry Neitz is the author). Jeff Gerke, Kerry Neitz, and I discussed this prior to my purchasing MLP. While we have differing opinions on its publication, ultimately it would not have been a book I would have published had I been the publisher. The title has reverted to Kerry and the book is still available for sale in most major online outlets.
Personally, I feel indifference toward Amish Vampires in Space. It’s something that doesn’t immediately appeal to me, but which I’d nonetheless consider reading upon recommendation. With that said, I don’t think Steve Laube has managed to put anyone’s concerns to rest with this Q&A. All he’s said is “it would not have been a book I would have published had I been the publisher.” But we already knew that. What we still don’t know is why. And it’s the why that’s making people nervous. Does Mr. Laube deem the book too campy? Too violent? Too transgressive of sacred CBA-esque tropes? What?
The real answer may or may not have extensive ramifications.
Recommendation issued. Read it.
Only disclaimer: don’t expect the novel, at least its present edition, to reach all the way to the final pages. If you do then the ending will seem much too premature. (But the MLP version includes preview chapters of other MLP titles.)
It could be because it’s (on the surface) making fun of Amish. Or perhaps because the “camp” (on the surface) of the premise is different from MLP’s usual offerings.
R.L. Copple offers some interesting speculations tomorrow.
He didn’t say much more than he did here.
Eh, well, wait and see I guess.