Best known for her aspirations as an epic fantasy author, Becky is the sole remaining founding member of Speculative Faith. Besides contributing weekly articles here, she blogs Monday through Friday at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. She works as a freelance writer and editor and posts writing tips as well as information about her editing services at Rewrite, Reword, Rework.
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Gender In Fiction: The Implication Of Failure

Are there still majority cultural ideas surrounding gender that can and should define a character? Or is the best plan to include as few gender specific references, or identifying markers, as possible? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2021

What Does “Woke” Culture Have To Do With Christian Fiction?

It’s hard to believe that a novel which has both praise for its treatment of a bi-racial situation and criticism for it, is preachy. One thing that’s true about preachy fiction: readers don’t miss the point. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2021

Introduction: Hunger by Jill Williamson

Jill is a prolific writer. Besides her dystopian Safe Lands books, she wrote a straight science fiction story about cloning called Replication, a young adult series suited for younger teens called The Mission League books, two co-authored (with her son) children’s stories in her RoboTales series, and several fantasy series. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2021

Banning Books

I think the most dangerous piece of this puzzle is the involvement of a state government which has moved the needle toward actual censorship in the form of banning books. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2021

Here’s What Happened

Turns out, my old computer was still suddenly quitting as if the electricity had been turned off, despite his efforts to repair it. So the option was a replacement. He called on Friday to say it was ready. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2021

From The Writers’ Toolbox: Timeless Questions And Eternal Mysteries

Many writers are afraid they will limit the scope of their book if they place their story firmly in a particular economic or political or religious milieu. They’re afraid if they take sides in a controversial question, they’ll make enemies and lose readers. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2020

Speculative Fiction Building Blocks

Remakes are only one aspect of this interest in early speculative fiction. More than one TV channel airs the “oldies.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2020

Thanksgiving Day And Speculative Fiction Revisited

In many respects, we’re witnessing in the US the change in the Thanksgiving Day celebration from a major holiday to a minor one. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2020

Giving Thanks, Despite . . .

Are there stories in the speculative genres that show thanksgiving as a desired end? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2020

Reading For The Soul

Some books go beyond the element of feeding our mind or feeding our pleasure center. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2020

The Silent Majority Or The Minority Underground

For years, Conservation voters, including many Christians, were known as the “silent majority.” But certainly Christians didn’t start out in a world in which they were the majority. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2020

Voting And The Right To Vote

Because the United States is a representative democracy, it seems a little surprising that so few (any?) stories by American authors appropriate this form of government for their story world. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2020

We Have A Winner—2020 Spec Faith Fall Writing Challenge

Thank you all for participating, and watch for the next Spec Faith Writing Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2020

Finalists – 2020 Spec Faith Fall Writing Challenge

In alphabetical order by last name, our 2020 Spec Faith Fall Writing Challenge finalists are as follows: —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2020

Evaluation Phase-Spec Faith 2020 Fall Writing Challenge

We want all the entries, even those that came in at the deadline, to have a fair shot at the finals, and an opportunity to receive the same kind of evaluation as the entries that came in earlier last week. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2020

Fiction Friday: Brand Of Light By Ronie Kendig

There’s a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2020

Operation Grendel Cover Reveal

First the very cool cover, another of the great artistic works by Kirk DuoPonce. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2020

2020 Spec Faith Fall Writing Challenge

As we have done in the past, Spec Faith will offer a prize for the winner of the 2020 Fall Writing Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2020

From The Writers’ Toolbox: Flawed Characters Can Be Too Flawed

The point is simple: to be believable, characters need flaws, but if their flaws overshadow their higher nature, readers may not care enough to continue on the reading journey with them. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2020

Speculative Fiction And Contemporary Culture, Part 2

How can writers speak into today’s troubled culture, whether dealing with the political divide, racial unrest, dealing with a pandemic, economic concerns, or what have you? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2020

Speculative Fiction And Contemporary Culture

Should writers change and speak into the culture through our writing, through our stories? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2020

Don’t Forget The Reviews

Good books generally have a LOT of reviews, and the best books have a lot of positive reviews and a high rating. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2020

Fiction Friday: Daniel And The Serpent’s Abyss

Daniel and the Sun Sword, Daniel and the Triune Quest, and Daniel and the Serpent’s Abyss are young adult, Christian fantasy novels exploring forgiveness, faith, spiritual warfare, and the reality of divine sonship. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2020

From The Writers’ Toolbox: MICE In Your Story

I tend to think that the best stories skillfully weave all the elements together so that the dominant one isn’t overpowering, and the subservient ones aren’t invisible. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2020

From The Writers’ Toolbox: Developing Fresh Story Concepts

Take romance for example. Everyone knows that the traditional plot form of a romance is boy meets girl and they fall in love, but Things happen to keep them apart. In the end, however, they conquer, or their love conquers, and they get together. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2020

Introducing The Author: Nathan Lumbatis

By occupation, Nathan works with young people. No surprise then that his books are written for that audience. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2020

Well, Duh! The Disappointing Thing About The JK Rowling Mess

Rowling mentions that she has “deep concerns about the effect the trans rights movement is having” on her charitable foundations directed toward children and women. She also mentions that she’s concerned about what’s happening to free speech. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2020

From The Writers’ Tool Box: How Important Are Details?

Do the details in fiction matter? Actually, yes, they do. The details give the story a sense of credibility. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2020

Introducing The Author: Paul Regnier

Typically, when an author generates content, he’s more apt to talk about his book or writing or some other related topic. Most don’t talk about themselves much. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2020

A Christian Who Writes Or A Writer Who Is A Christian?

The point, as I see it, is that SOMETHING ought to set the Christian who writes—or who waits tables or cleans hospital rooms or puts out fires—apart from those who do the same activity who are not believers in Jesus. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2020

From The Writers’ Toolbox: Keep ‘Em On The Line

Writers also need to create characters with whom readers can relate and for whom they can cheer. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2020

Stories That Twist A Genre: Paranormia Complex

Take Paul Regnier’s latest book, Paranormia Complex, for instance. This recent release is the second in a two-book series that I would label, inadequately, supernatural suspense, with a twist of humor. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2020

From The Writers’ Tool Box: Writing With Tension

Fiction needs genuine and credible struggles. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2020

From The Writers’ Tool Box: Do You Need An Editor?

Unfortunately, what I’m seeing too much, is a reverting to the former issue—the quality of writing may suffer. I suspect poor editing may be a part of the problem. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2020

Sending The Wrong Message

I’ve heard a number of Christian leaders speak to the topic. I’ve been pleased with some, disappointed in others, and surprised at those who have remained silent. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2020

Reading And Staying Home

Sometimes kids might need to have the “pump primed” by having an adult read to them for a time. Once they are hooked, they may wish to continue on their own. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2020

Speak Lord, For Your Servant Is Listening

Someone has to be pretty blind not to see parallels between the world today and the world of the ancient Jews. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2020

My Perspective—Covid-19

From what I see, the virus and its effects are on the mind of most people. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2020

Memorable Stories

In this day of hoarding, these are especially relevant questions, I think. Perhaps that’s what makes this particular show so memorable. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2020

God Or Satan?

It’s almost become a politically incorrect thing among Christians to say that God is a Judge, that He exercises justice against people. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2020

The Virus Thing

Little did I realize that The Virus Thing would soon have an effect here and around the globe in a way that feels like it came from the pages of Williamson’s Thirst. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2020

Realism And Twenty-first Century Storytelling

Perhaps the twenty-first century version of realism is another way in which we are not addressing spiritual issues realistically. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2020

What Is Speculative Faith? A Reprise

The genre is speculative literature. That ‘s the umbrella term that covers fantasy, science fiction, and allegory in all forms: short story, novella, novel, screenplay, and poetry. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2020

Fiction Friday: Introducing Kara Swanson

I think it’s important when considering books we might like to buy, to know if the writer can actually write, to know it the story is one I’m interested in. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2020

From The Writers’ Tool Box: Honoring Men Of The Past

One way to give a speculative world texture is to create a history the characters can celebrate. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2020

We Have A Winner—2020 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Again, thank you all for participating, and watch for Spec Faith’s Summer Writing Challenge later this year. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2020

Finalists – 2020 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Here, in alphabetical order by last name, are your 2020 SpecFaith Winter Writing Challenge finalists. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2020

Evaluation Phase-Spec Faith 2020 Winter Writing Challenge

Next week I’ll announce the three finalists, based on your thumbs up during this evaluation phase and that given last week as the submissions came in. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2020

2020 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

As we have done in the past, Spec Faith will offer a prize for the winner of the 2020 Winter Writing Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2020

The Day Before The Day Before

No days are wasted in His economy. No passing of time slips by His notice. So, too, the day before the day before. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2019

Speculation VS. Speculative Fiction

Paul point about speculations is that some people create ways to dismiss God, to act as if He does not exist or as if He is not sovereign. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2019

The Impossible That God Alone Can Do

Christmas is both the proof that God can do the impossible and the declaration that the God who is Lord of the impossible accomplishes the miraculous. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2019

Primary Colors And Their Use

Writing can be equated with the use of primary colors. J. R. R. Tolkien used that metaphor, anyway, when he explained his thoughts about fantasy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2019

Fiction Friday: The End Of The Magi by Patrick Carr

Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2019

Thanksgiving Day Meditation

My first observation about Thanksgiving Day is that it is a responsive action. People give thanks because they have first been given something. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2019

Sneak Peek–What’s New In Christian Fiction

Today’s sneak peek is at award-winning author, Patrick Carr’s new novel, The End Of The Magi. Yes, the title refers to those magi. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2019

Veterans: Gratitude For Their Service

The bottom line in regards to military service is this: where would the rest of us be without those veterans who have served in the armed forces? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2019

“The Black Cat” From The Father Of Horror

Poe’s short story,”The Black Cat,” is in the public domain. This post of it may have been better for October, but I think you’ll like it. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2019

Messin’ With Time

Beyond all my complaints about the time change, I find time an interesting topic, a part of world building, actually, in speculative stories. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2019

Halloween, Evil, And Speculative Fiction

The point is this: evil in the real world is not so easy to pin down—not without God’s clear standards. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2019

Columbus Day Controversy

In many places in Europe enforced conversion was standard practice. In essence, Columbus was exporting European custom and tradition. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2019

Fiction Friday: Sojourner by Janalyn Voigt

As a thank-you gift for any purchase of Janalyn Voigt’s latest, buyers can receive free ebooks by speculative fiction authors. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2019

On Culture And Giving Offense Or Being Offensive

Are Christians ready to be marginalized further? Are we preparing to share the gospel regardless of how offensive the culture finds it? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2019

Fiction Friday: Christy Award Finalists

Some of these names you many recognize. A number have written articles for Spec Faith and / or have had their books featured as excerpts. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2019

Is Western Society Headed Toward Illiteracy?

Our society went so far as to make illiteracy a thing of the past. A first step here in the US was to make public school mandatory for children up to a certain age. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2019

Taking Stories To The Culture

This is the culture into which God has put Christians living in western society in the 21st century. So, how should we then live? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2019

Christian Themes In Books By Christians

In truth, themes should be crystal clear, but even Christian themes should not overshadow the story. They are not morals added on to make a point. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2019

Labor Day

There’s no doubt, the development of labor unions and their consolidation at the end of the 19th century, changed the face of America. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2019

Christian Speculative Fiction: Complaining Or Buying

Spec Faith was founded, lo these 15 or so years ago, as a response to editors and agents saying over and over that there was no market for Christian speculative fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2019

Fiction Friday: Stormrise by Jillian Boehme

About Stormrise: “Captivating world-building and fantastical creatures . . . This lush, epic fantasy filled with magic and dragons will circulate well among fans of Tamora Pierce and J.R.R. Tolkien.” ―School Library Journal —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2019

2019 Summer Writing Challenge Winner

The 2019 summer challenge inspired me. I’m considering a twist to the challenge: instead of one sentence every entrant must use, I’m considering two sentences from which each must choose one. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2019

2019 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge Finalists

Be sure to share this post and the 2019 poll on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or wherever you hang out on social media. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2019

Spec Faith 2019 Summer Writing Challenge – Evaluation Phase

We want all of our 2019 entries, even those that came in towards the latter part of the week, to have a fair shot at the finals. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2019

2019 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge

As has been the case for the last several years, Spec Faith’s 2019 summer writing challenge comes with rewards. First, there’s feedback. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2019

The Poison Pill Of Culture

The way culture works is opposed to the way God works, the way Jesus works, and might fairly be considered a poison pill. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2019

Favorite Authors

Authors can captivate a reader, maybe more than a genre does, but to keep their loyalty, an author needs to keep delivering. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2019

Fiction Friday: Paranormia By Paul Regnier

A great balance of comedy, action adventure, and the supernatural, Paranormia is a quirky, heartfelt adventure that is both enjoyable and uniquely engaging. — Jill Williamson —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2019

Realm Makers Conference Facts—From The Writers’ Tool Chest

There are two things to keep in mind: 1) look for blog posts and pictures on social media about the Conference; 2) plan now to attend next year’s event. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2019

Summer Reading List

Here’s an opportunity for us to make those recommendations to Spec Faith readers for their summer reading list, especially about the books we’ve most recently read. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2019

Characters And Their Development: From The Writers’ Tool Chest

Characters make the story, even in speculative fiction. For all our intriguing Other Places, readers still read because they care about the characters. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2019

What Science Fiction Fact Will Be Next?

Although speculative fiction has taken the duel turn toward horror—vampires and monsters of various kinds—and superheroes, are there science fiction writers imagining and producing the next set of future technologies or societal trends in their stories? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2019

Memorial Stones And A Day To Remember

Christian writers, in the telling of our tales, serve as the memorial stones that remind readers of the King and His victory. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2019

Was Tolkien A Racist?

How could Tolkien be accused of being a racist when his races were, well, made up? No, there are no hobbits in the world. No, there are no elves. No, there are no goblins or orcs made be the magic of an evil wizard. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2019

Great Art And Story

Because fiction is first a form of communication, I think stories should pay attention to what Scripture says about our correspondence with one another. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2019

The Bible And Myth

Has speculative literature undermined our belief in God’s word? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2019

Where Are The Original Movies?

But I can’t help wondering—is the mad dash to make money squeezing movies into a narrow slot? Must they be movie re-tellings of books or comics . . . or of other movies? Is there no room for a brand new story made originally for the screen? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

Tolkien, The Movie

“I’m a little worried the filmmakers will make too many parallels between (1) Tolkien’s early life and (2) imagery that they assume a movie audience—familiar only with Jackson’s adaptations—will find recognizable.” – Jeff LaSala, Tor Magazine —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

Are Stories Of Sacrifice Always Stories of Christ?

In most cases, the connection between the sacrificing hero and Christ seems tangible. He willingly puts his life on the line so that another may go free. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

WHEN DREAMS GO TO SLEEP: The Story of Stormrise

JILLIAN BOEHME is known to the online writing community as Authoress, hostess of Miss Snark’s First Victim, a blog for aspiring authors. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

Who’s The Current Go-To Fantasy Writer?

In reality, I just want to pick your collective brains. Do you read fantasy? Who are the authors—general market, Christian, or indie—that you have read recently? What author would you recommend? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

Announcement: The Future of Spec Faith

Today seemed like the best day to pass on some great news for Spec Faith. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2019

Books Have Themes?

Using the vehicle of theme, writers say something. Whether that something is trivial and mundane or significant and profound depends on how unafraid they are. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2019

How Much Is Too Much?

In addressing how Christians are to live—which by necessity includes how we do and enjoy art—we need to root and ground our actions in the word of God. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2019

Theology And Art: Are They Complementary?

For too many bored or otherwise restless and relevance-seeking evangelicals, fidelity to the arts has overtaken fidelity to Scripture. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2019

Safe Fiction Is Dangerous (Or, A Review Of How To Train Your Dragon)

Ideas that float in under the radar, however, enter our minds unchallenged, co-exist with the truth, and someday, after they’ve been fortified, may even challenge the truth to a shootout. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2019

Are We Still Reading Animal Farm?

The point of the allegory is clear: communism is no answer to the inequities and economic difficulties of the workers because those who benefit will be those who rule, not everyone else. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2019

Peruse The Archives

I hope you enjoy this chance to browse various articles of interest from the archives. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2019

Realm Awards In Progress

Why not consider nudging a writer you know whose book you love, to consider entering this contest? Why not make a decision to read the books that are eligible for the Alliance Award, so you can be part of the nominating process. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2019

Superheroes And Heroes As They Relate To God

In part I think the love of speculative fiction grows from the need in the heart of each one of us for a person stronger, better, more capable, committed, willing to put his life on the line for others. We long for rescue—for ourselves, for our community, for the world. We love the idea that Someone will bring justice when we see no hope, when we are convinced that the bad guys will win, when we see devastation wrecking havoc in the face of our helplessness. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Wishing You All A Joyous Christmas

May you enjoy rich times with your family and wonderful worship of Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Fiction Friday: “Pearla’s First Christmas”-Reprise

“Pearla’s First Christmas” is a short story, written from the point of view of one of the characters in the Angel Eyes trilogy —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Speculative Or True?

I suppose a good number of other passages in the Bible also read like speculative literature, but the Christmas story seems to have compacted a number of speculative tropes. There are several angelic visitations, for example. Joseph had a conversation with an angel, and so did Mary. But before them was Zacharias, John the Baptist’s dad, and his encounter with the angel of God in the temple. Most dramatic, and perhaps most well know, was the visitation of the shepherds, first by a single angel, then by “a multitude of the heavenly host.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Christmas: What The World Doesn’t Know

How have we Christians failed to tell the world the truth about Jesus during Christmas? No, He is not a cute newborn or a religious version of Santa Claus. He is the image of the invisible God. In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Truth Or Reality In Fantasy

We are drawn to the truth, to the clear explanation that there is a good ruler, a right way, a guardian-king, and we can side with him. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2018

Don’t Forget Books!

Through flash reviews, the development of book clubs, and author interviews or discussion or profiles, Lorehaven shines the light on speculative books in ways that allow readers to decide for themselves. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

In Memoriam — Brandon Barr

“So here I am, doing what I love now, writing the kind of stories I love, Science fiction and fantasy with soul.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

A Day Of Thanksgiving

We wish you all a joyous day of rejoicing and giving thanks to God our Savior. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

Does Narnia “Rewrite” Christianity?

When something like Schnelbach’s article comes out, especially from a reputable fantasy source such as Tor, I suspect a number of readers have digested this idea that misrepresents Lewis’s views. Many may have even embraced it, so I think it’s imperative to take a stand against such an understanding that undermines a man known for his Christian worldview. And for his many fiction and non-fiction books that deal with Christianity. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

Veterans Day: Mayhem And Its Meaning, A Reprise

While stories in the general market are not intentionally reflecting this spiritual reality, they nonetheless reveal the truth that the world is not as it should be, that there are forces of evil, seemingly insurmountable at times, against which forces of good must strive. Mayhem in speculative fiction also shows that the struggle isn’t just external. Mankind struggles against that part of ourselves that seems bewitched or entrapped or bound to a chair. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

Fiction Friday: The Crescent Stone By Matt Mikalatos

Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger named Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

Thanksgiving Day And Speculative Fiction

In many respects, we’re witnessing in the US the change in the Thanksgiving Day celebration from a major holiday to a minor one. The presence of Thanksgiving or harvest day celebrations seem more apt to be important to a culture if the people are in tune with the growth cycle. As our urban society has become divorced from the way food gets to our table, we seem less thankful and more inclined to take for granted the food we eat. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2018

Frankenstein 200 Years Later

The initial publication of Frankenstein sold only 500 copies, but over time the story has gained in popularity and spawned movies, a TV show, comic books, a song, toys, Halloween costumes, and has essentially taken an iconic place in Western culture. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

Fiction Friday: Unblemished By Sara Ella

Unblemished is the first in the Unblemished Trilogy. Book 2, Unraveling, is a finalist in the 2018 Christy Awards, Young Adult category. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

C. S. Lewis and Sub-creation

Lewis and Tolkien both claimed that fantasy could reveal Truth in a way that reality fiction could not. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

Writers Of Amish Fiction May Not Have It So Wrong

Can speculative fiction find a place for these women? Can they be our protagonists? Do we see them as worth the spotlight? Or do our female protagonists all have to do as the men do? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

Fiction Friday: The Day The Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker

It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

The Bible And Speculative Fiction

So often Christian speculative fiction authors fear the accusation of “preachy” that they don’t want characters doing what actual Christians do —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

C. S. Lewis Fifty-five Years Later

Lewis showed me what a writer could do with fiction. He made me want to put truth in stories so that readers would grasp profound realities because of a simple line —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2018

Let’s Talk Fiction

We have to pass along our recommendations to others. We have to write reviews, we have to talk books up on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or wherever you hang out in cyberspace. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2018

Is Speculative Fiction A First World Pastime?

Is speculative fiction only for the first world, and are we to accept the idea that no one apart from first world individuals will benefit from science fiction and fantasy? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2018

Does Anybody Work In Speculative Fiction?

I wonder if our attitude toward work might not improve if we began to see it as honorable and necessary in our fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2018

Christians And Writing Speculative Fiction

I happen to think that the world desperately needs to hear what Christians have to say. The world needs hope and healing from sin, but the truth is there is only false hope in “looking for the power within,” or the “man is good, you just need to show him empathy” approach to life. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2018

C. S. Lewis Was Right

“I searched for ways out not because I was miserable, or lost, but because I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more.” – V. E. Schwab —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2018

Congratulations to Our Winner

Special thanks to all of you who participated: the entrants for sharing their stories with us, the visitors who commented and gave plus votes to select the finalists, and those who voted in the poll to choose the winner. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2018

2018 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge Finalists

Be sure to share this post and poll with your friends and family, your Google+ circles and your Pinterest people, your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. The more voters, the better. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2018

Fiction Friday — Recruits by Thomas Locke

Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, an award-winning novelist with worldwide sales of seven million copies in twenty languages. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2018

Spec Faith 2018 Summer Writing Challenge – Evaluation Phase

Next week I’ll announce the three finalists, based on your pluses during this evaluation phase, and we’ll vote for a winner. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2018

Fiction Friday: Read Summer Challenge Submissions

For today, why not take advantage of the opportunity to see what writers have already submitted. Then on Monday, I’ll tell you what fascinates me so with this challenge. You’ll find the submissions in the comments of this post: “2018 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2018

2018 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge

Invite your friends to participate, either as writers or readers. The more entries and the more feedback, the better the challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2018

Wood, Hay, And Straw

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2018

A Resurgence Of Epic Fantasy?

Since epic fantasy is a good vs. evil struggle, and good wins in the end, how far can an author flip the script without making evil come out on top? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2018

Fiction Friday — Foundling by D. M. Cornish

The Half-Continent is a world at war: humans and monsters have been fighting for centuries. Biotechnology supplies light, engine power and even, in some cases, superhuman powers. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2018

Where Do You Find Your Speculative Fiction?

This post is really my effort to understand the state of speculative Christian fiction as it stands today. Any thoughts you care to share would be greatly appreciated. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2018

The Myth That Will Not Die

Good speculative novels, written from a Christian perspective, by Christians, or about Christians, are out there. The myth that Christian fiction is like a soiled diaper, that it is only for elderly ladies, is simply a myth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2018

Fiction Friday – Escape To Vindor By Emily Golus

For as long as she can remember, Megan Bradshaw has imagined herself as the heroine of Vindor, her own secret world populated with mermaids, centaurs, samurai and more. When school pressures and an upcoming move make life unbearable, Megan wishes she could escape to Vindor for real. And then she does. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2018

Realism And Twenty-first Century Storytelling—A Reprise

I think there’s something else not particularly real in twenty-first century stories, no matter how real the computer generated characters might appear. We could chalk this up to “that’s just movies” if it weren’t for the fact that screen writing is beginning to dominate the way we write novels, too. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2018

Memorial Day: Remembering The Soldiers Who Died—A Reprise

It doesn’t seem to me that speculative stories are short on wars, and therefore people serving the rest of their culture or nation or species by marching into danger and possible death. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2018

Getting The Most Out Of Conferences

What an opportunity, then, for writers to pick the brains of these professionals at a conference, starting with a presentation—a pitch—of their own work. How else can writers find out if they have an idea that captures the interest of those who are experienced? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2018

Speculative Fiction Trends And Tendencies

With the explosion of self-publishing and small publishers, I wonder if trends will remain pronounced or if writers writing the stories that they themselves like so much will remain true to their passion and consequently provide a wider array of books than we’ve seen in the past. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2018

Have Comic Books Taken Over Speculative Fiction?

I have to wonder if people like these superhero movies made from comic books primarily because they do NOT say anything particular about society (and therefore are not in danger of offending anyone) —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2018

Female Villains

When it comes to contemporary literature written by Christians, I was hard pressed to think of one female antagonist. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2018

Writing Supernatural Stories

Is it OK to use real supernatural beings in a fictitious way in order to create an entertaining story? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2018

And Speaking Of Realm Makers

As far as I’m concerned, awards like these are win-win-win. Authors receive exposure for their work, the conference receives more publicity, but best of all, readers benefit from the filtering of judges or readers who have picked the best books from those that were submitted. How perfect! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2018

Remember Realm Makers

“Realm Makers’s first priority is to help foster excellence in the speculative arts, whether fiction, film, illustrations, or whatever way we can imagine to tell our stories.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2018

He Is Risen!

May you have a Christ-filled celebration of His resurrection this Sunday. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2018

Since Reading Changes Us . . .

Christians have a great opportunity to serve as prophetic voices, as voices of warning, that these trends don’t end well —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2018

Can We Read Just For Fun?

The point is simply: whether we intend to simply read to have fun and have no interest in letting the story change us, it still does exactly that. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2018

We Need More Christian Fiction

Half the battle is believing that Christian fiction should do more than “create art for art’s sake.” I don’t see that position in Scripture. Rather, I think a more accurate statement for the Christian is that we are to create art for God’s sake. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2018

We Have A Winner—2018 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Again, thank you all for participating, and watch for Spec Faith’s Summer Writing Challenge later this year. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2018

Finalists – 2018 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Those who vote in the poll, please be sure you read all the finalist entries and give a fair assessment. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

Fiction Friday: Oxygen by John B. Olson and Randy Ingermanson

“Bob Kaganovski had shampoo in his eyes when the decompression alarm went off . . .” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

2018 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge Feedback

The more input, the more feedback, the better. But please be courteous to all the entrants, encouraging people to read all and vote for as many as they like. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

Fiction Friday — Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle by N. D. Wilson

Sam Miracle has always been different. An orphan who lives in a group home, he often blanks out and finds himself in vivid dreams that seem almost real. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

2018 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Feel free to invite any of your friends to participate, either as writers or readers. The more entries and the more feedback, the better the challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

Weekday Fiction Fix – Seeds by Rachel Starr Thomson

In the fantasy world of Kepos Gé, Linette Cole flees her past by joining a frontier settlement on the edge of the wilderness. But she can’t escape the threats abroad in this new world—or the wild things growing in her own heart. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

Fantasy That Works

Next time you read a fantasy, see how it measures in these areas: premise, conflict, realistic characters that act, a dense story world, a story that says something important. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

Fiction Friday — Exiles by R. J. Larson

For daring to trust their Creator, Araine and Nikaros are swept from their homes into a foreign land—slaves to their enemies. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2018

What If Your Kids DO Read Fantasy?

Parents should be aware and involved in the thought life of their children, and what they read feeds into their thoughts as much, if not more, than what they see. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2018

Star Wars And Christian Fiction

The idea seems to be that I, being a Christian, will quite naturally write from a Christian worldview. But is that true? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2018

So Many Good Writers, So Many Good Books

I thought perhaps today we could add to those resources by sharing information about books and/or authors we like that may be flying under the radar, and others need to know what we know. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2018

Happy New Year!

From all of us here at Spec Faith to all of you and yours: wishing you a Happy New Year —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2018

Wingfeather Saga Short Film

This first in the Wingfeather Saga films is very well done. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

Wishing You A Blessed Christmas

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

The Wretched Controversy

The longer this Wretched position sits there with only a brief flurry of opposition, the more deadly it becomes. What may have started out as an interesting concept to consider can quickly become a hardened conviction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

What Is It About Fantasy And Christmas?

The cool thing about good fantasy, however, is that no one explains it. There isn’t a narrator in C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books that says, “Now boys and girls, Aslan is actually Jesus.” Instead, readers are allowed to discover the dots on their own and connect them at their leisure. Or leave them unconnected. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

The God Of The Impossible

One thing I love about speculative fiction is the fact that it opens the door to the impossible. It expands our vision of reality. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix – Fairytale Christmas by Merrie Destefano

Three thousand years ago, a war began between the immortals and the mortals. It’s a war that continues to this day. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

Language And The Influence Of Speculative Fiction

While language influences, the ideas language conveys, influence more. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix – Lawless by Janeen Ippolito

Lawless by Janeen IppolitoThe salvation of humans and dragons lies within a convicted murderer. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

If Donkeys Could Talk: The Point Of Speculative Fiction

Speculative fiction is known for . . . well, speculation. Writers ask the “what if” question in ways that break known boundaries. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

Fiction Friday: “Pearla’s First Christmas”-Reprise

“Pearla’s First Christmas” is a short story, written from the point of view of one of the characters in the Angel Eyes trilogy, and is available as a free download from author Shannon Dittemore. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

Thankful Characters-A Reprise

Despite privation, death, dangers, and the concerns for the future, the early colonists found reason to rejoice. They exhibited a degree of contentment, a gratitude for what they had rather than resentment for what they had lost. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix-The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson

All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality—but, what if she is the only one who can truly see? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

And Then There Is Thanksgiving

So often, when Thanksgiving rolls around, which it does in the US every fourth Thursday in November, the question arises: what are you thankful for? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

Holidays And Celebrations – Reprise

Holidays and celebrations seem to be a staple in society. Many pagan cultures held festivals and commemorations, some connected to their religious beliefs, and certainly Western society under the influence of Christianity fostered holidays consistent with the tenets of their faith. Consequently, novels that incorporate familiar festivities seem anchored in reality. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2017

It’s Not The Holiday You Think It Is – Reprise

I’m not suggesting Christians should have “our holiday” and non-Christians, “theirs.” But it seems pretty clear, if Christians don’t celebrate the Reformation, no one else will. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

Fiction Friday – Terra Soul by S. J. Abraham

Everything should be great for Ayla, but it’s not. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

Ghosts . . . In The Bible?

Ghost stories, to me, are much like demon and angel stories. Real angels and demons do exist, but few stories stick to the Biblical narrative that show us what those supernatural beings are like. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

When Is Horror Too Much?

Believers of old did not shy away from horror. Hardly! Some of our most loved hymns are based on a premise of what we today consider to be horror. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

Fantasy and The Depiction Of Evil

In fantasy, choosing against God can look like eating Turkish Delight or keeping a ring you set out to destroy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

Evil And The One Ring To Rule Them All

Evil is one of the more compelling topics of theology, literature, and philosophy. Does evil exist? If so, where did it come from? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2017

When Monsters Change Sides

Some creatures are imaginary. I think of unicorns and heffelumps and vampires and zombies. Or orcs or elves or hobbits. Some of these beings have a basis in history. For instance dragons are mentioned in the Bible. At least one […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2017

For Me . . . Examining Our Focus

The question is: do any of the things we love become the thing we live for? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2017

Victory

Who wants to read about death, disability, disease, or defeat? Sure, we have stories that contain all those things, but the great thing about speculative literature is that it pits life, ability, strength, and victory against the things that ravage […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2017

Living In A Celebrity Culture

A few years back I attended a course at Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference about promotion. One part of the class dealt with the hesitation many Christian writers feel toward self-promotion. The speaker gave what I believed to be an […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2017

Speculative Stories, The Eclipse, And Other Rare Space Phenomena

What I find interesting is that a solar eclipse or other such space events do not find their way into more stories, either science fiction or fantasy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2017

What Does Self-publishing Accomplish?

Promotion remains the fly in the honey pot of self-publishing success. How can a writer distinguish himself from all the other books—traditional, small press,and self-published—that are out there? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2017

Fiction Friday: Frayed By Kerry Nietz

Frayed by Kerry Nietz is the winner of the Realm Award Book of the Year. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2017

Realm Makers Awards

For the past several years, the folks who developed the Realm Makers Conference also established their own book awards, including a book of the year award (the Realm Award) —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

Managing The Minefield On The Way To Successful Publication

With the changes in the book industry, I think it’s helpful to discuss two particular elements of writing that lead to successful publication. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

Readers, It’s Your Turn

Writers are told to write to their audience, but who ever asks that audience what kind of books they want to read? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

We Have A 2017 Summer Writing Challenge Winner

Congratulations to our 2017 Summer Writing Challenge winner: M. A. Zeller. I’ll be contacting our writing challenge winner privately to arrange the gift card from either Amazon or B&N. For those interested, voting results for our summer writing challenge winner […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

Fiction Friday: Albion Academy By Elijah David

Albion Academyy Book 1 of the Albion Quartet by Elijah David INTRODUCTION—Albion Academy by Elijah David A young adult fantasy Is a Djinni just a trickster? Can a wizard only learn magic? Must a Valkyrie always ferry the dead? For […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

2017 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge Finalists

Be sure to share this post and poll with your friends and family, your Google+ circles and your Pinterest people, your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. The more voters, the better. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2017

Spec Faith 2017 Summer Writing Challenge – Evaluation Phase

We received a good number of interesting and entertaining stories, some coming in at the last minute. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2017

2017 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge

Spec Faith is holding a summer writing challenge, a type of writing exercise, with rewards. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2017

The Button Girl—A Review

The Button Girl by Sally Apokedak is a digital young adult fantasy intended for the general audience. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2017

A Thought Concerning Superhero Movies

Are we turning to a fictitious superhero of the past because we long for heroes or because we want to mold them into a new image to fit with the facts of contemporary society? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix: The Button Girl

Sally Apokedak is an associate agent with the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2017

Sacrifice And Speculative Fiction

Clearly self-sacrifice is a key component in both general market speculative fiction and Christian speculative fiction. But what is it about sacrifice that is so compelling? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2017

Fiction Friday: Bellanok By Ralene Burke

With evil darkening the mountains to the north, the fairy queen, Fauna, must journey from the island realm of Bellanok to the modern world to find the man the Creator appointed to save their kingdom. A man she has been dreaming of her whole life. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2017

Tolerance And Stories? A Discussion Of Carve The Mark

what are Christians to write? What are Christians to read? If general fiction is to be whitewashed of anything that could possibly be considered offensive, what kind of stories will that leave us? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix: Edge Of Oblivion

Earth has emerged from a cataclysmic dark age with little knowledge of its past. Aided by the discovery of advanced alien technology, humanity ventures into the stars, joining other sentient races in a sprawling, prosperous interstellar Confederacy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

On Giving Offense And Being Offensive

Christians are not to be offensive in the way we speak, but the Bible itself says the message of the gospel is offensive to those who are perishing. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

Fiction Friday: Threadbare By Bethany A. Jennings

Bethany A. Jennings, whose name you might recognize because she’s won a few Spec Faith Writing Challenges, is a YA science-fiction and fantasy author, and a chronic night owl. She is endlessly passionate about the power of speculative fiction, both to shape hearts and cultures and to unveil hidden realities. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

What To Make Of Dragons: A Reprise

There are legitimate questions about magic and wizards and dragons and ghosts. The Bible is not silent on the subjects of sorcery, and reportedly mediums are under God’s judgment. But what does that have to do with fiction? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

March Madness And Quidditch

The key to Rowling’s worldbuilding is the consistency with which she infuses the different into the normal. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

Disney And Culture

Pop culture, and Disney right along with others, has been pushing agendas that clash with God’s moral standards for as long as there has been pop culture. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2017

Sentimentality And Christian Fiction, A Reprise

The novel had a simple, even predictable plot, and the writing was serviceable at best. The characters were not complex, the theme undeniably obvious. Imagine my surprise, then, when I came to the climax of the story and cried. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

Christian Fiction Must Be . . . You Know, Christian; Or The Shack Is Back

Not only have writers and readers debated what constitutes Christian fiction, and particularly Christian speculative fiction, we’ve debated the rightness of and the need for good doctrine in our fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

Conversions And The Goal Of Christian Speculative Fiction

I don’t believe conversion stories are the problem in Christian fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

Fiction Friday – Excerpt, Her Dangerous Visions

On the world of Loam, an ancient evil threatens to conquer the portals that exist on every world, and only a young farm woman named Winter is given the power to destroy it. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

Weekday Fiction Fix – The Liberty Box By C. A. Gray

C.A. Gray is the author of the YA Fantasy PIERCING THE VEIL trilogy, as well as the NA Dystopian series, THE LIBERTY BOX. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

What About Christian Speculative Movies?

Speculative fiction by Christians is not uncommon. Readers can find stories about dragons and wizards, about characters trying to survive in a dystopian world, about a clone who escapes the laboratory, about the people in a new fairy world, about space captains, about space aliens, about vampires, about . . . well, just about anything speculative you can imagine. But how will these stories make it to the big screen? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

Fiction Friday – The Long Journey To Jake Palmer

If Jake Palmer had only kept the mundane promise he’d made to himself, his life wouldn’t be headed down a dead-end road at the speed of light. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2017

We Have A Winner – 2017 Winter Writing Challenge

Congratulations to our 2017 Winter Writing Challenge winner: Liv K. Fisher. I’ll be contacting her privately to arrange her gift card from either Amazon or B&N. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

2017 Winter Writing Challenge Voting Reminder

In case you missed Monday’s post announcing the finalists, you can find it here. The entries appear in alphabetical order, determined by the last name of the authors. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

Fiction Friday – The Ice Child By Evangeline Denmark

The Ice Child: A Winter Fairy Tale by Evangeline Denmark INTRODUCTION In the novelette, The Ice Child, Sipp, a clockmaker’s apprentice, dreams of opening his own shop, but the people of Martigny believe he’s marked by the devil—all except for […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

Finalists – 2017 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

All that’s left is to select the winner. Choose from these entries and vote in the poll at the end of this post for one entry you think is best. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

2017 Winter Writing Challenge Announcement

I encourage you to help all the writers by giving some feedback (besides the thumbs). That way, even those who don’t make the top three can benefit from their participation. Thanks in advance. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

2017 Winter Writing Challenge Status

Feel free to share the original 2017 Winter Writing Challenge post and to invite your friends and family to read and to give their thumbs up votes. The more input, the more feedback, the better. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

Winter Writing Challenge Reminder

The 2017 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge will accept entries until midnight tomorrow, Sunday, January 15. That’s midnight Pacific time. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

Fiction Friday – Wickers Bog By Mike Duran

Myth and mystery collide in this short, 34-page tale of Southern Gothic horror. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

2017 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

It’s time for our winter writing challenge! Winter lends itself to snuggling inside with a good book. For writers, that “good book” might be the one you’re writing. Either way, we’d like to add to your winter writing and reading […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2017

Author Profile – Lisa T. Bergren

Lisa was born in Kalispell, Montana, on March 28 and raised in Southern California (there must be a story behind that transition!) Growing up she wanted to be “A nurse. An astronaut. Indiana Jones. A teacher. A journalist. One of the Three Musketeers.” Writing, apparently, has made it possible for her to become any of these through her characters. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Merry Christmas

For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Fiction Friday: “Pearla’s First Christmas”

“Pearla’s First Christmas” is a short story, written from the point of view of one of the characters in the Angel Eyes trilogy, and is available as a free download from author Shannon Dittemore. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

What The World Needs To Know About Christmas

Christmas is the ultimate Reveal! It’s the greatest ah-ha moment since time began. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Review: The Sword Of Six Worlds By Matt Mikalatos

Validus Smith and her best friend Alex Shields know something is seriously wrong when their substitute teacher takes the side of the class bully. When he changes into a creature with fangs and tries to attack Validus, they escape by following two new students through a hole into a different world—one in which animals talk. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Fiction Friday – The Word Changers By Ashlee Willis

Once there was a little small-town girl. She grew up two blocks away from the old, creaky public library. She spent much of her time in that library, either squirreled away in a dusky corner with a book, or loading chin-high stacks of books home to read. Usually barefoot and disheveled. Always brim-full of curiosity and awe at the secret worlds she knew she’d find between those pages. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Author Profile – S. D. Smith

I love to make stories. I want them to be good. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Fiction Friday – The Green Ember By S. D. Smith

“S. D. Smith has a voice for children and families that the world needs to hear.” –Randall Goodgame, singer/songwriter for Slugs & Bugs, Veggie Tales —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Speculation And Christmas

I find it amazing that our world, broken by division and disbelief, still takes from the holiday that superficially celebrates Christ’s birth, the remarkable gifts God gave when He sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

Fiction Friday – Beast By Chawna Schroeder

When her pack scatters after a surprise raid, Beast must defend herself against slavers hunting down the loners. They are so strong, and she is only a beast . . . or is she? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2016

The Fantasy Itch: Gettin’ To Be THAT Time Of Year

Ah, yes, I’m definitely ready to settle down with a good fantasy. It’s that time of year! Last year I read Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, first in the Mistborn Trilogy (which, I learned, is actually a five book series). I’m thinking this year I should finish out the rest, starting with The Well of Ascension. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2016

Thanksgiving–An American Holiday

One way that Christians writers can introduce themes consistent with a Christian worldview might be to include holidays like Thanksgiving. Or in the case of speculative fiction, invented holidays with a religious underpinning. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2016

The Military, Veterans, And Speculative Fiction

In thinking about the military, I had to wonder about the place of the military in speculative stories. Perhaps most famous are the Storm Troopers of Star Wars, but other stories, particularly dystopian fantasy such as Hunger Games, includes a strong military—as part of the side of evil. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2016

Fiction Friday – Kingdom At Sea, By Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including the Blood of Kings trilogy, Replication, the Mission League series, and the Safe Lands trilogy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2016

Halloween Stories In American Literature

It might be interesting to delve into the various traditions that have cropped up around the holiday over the years—bobbing for apples, carving pumpkins, making candied apples, trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, going to haunted houses, and storytelling. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

When Christians Vacate An Industry

When Christians vacate a profession, it necessarily takes on qualities that contradict a Christian worldview. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

Prattle

Speaking of true and powerful fiction, Enclave Publishing just released their fall lineup of books. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

The Gospel According To Star Trek, Part 2

All goodness is God’s goodness. All truth is God’s truth. All beauty is God’s beauty. So we mustn’t shy away from something just because we see a philosophical difference in its makeup. If anything, it’s good for us to be in conversation with ideas with which we disagree. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

The Characters We Love

I could go on and on listing characters I loved who appeared as the star of their books, but there’s another set of characters that aren’t front and center, yet they nearly steal the show. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

The Gospel According To Star Trek, Part 1

Initially, the idea that we’re engaging in something philosophical, or even spiritual, by watching a sci-fi adventure show may seem strange, but Star Trek has always been philosophical in nature. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

If You Could Read Anything You Wanted To Read

I started to wonder what sort of stories the visitors here at Spec Faith consider ideal. I don’t think we’ll have a consensus. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2016

Characters Matter, And Their Character Matters

What we see in Christian novel after Christian novel is a flawed character in need of a Savior. The impression this gives is that people without Christ aren’t likable, that their flawed character means they won’t do heroic deeds or stand up for right. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Realism And Twenty-first Century Storytelling

I think there’s something else not particularly real in twenty-first century stories, no matter how real the computer generated characters might appear. We could chalk this up to “that’s just movies” if it weren’t for the fact that screen writing is beginning to dominate the way we write novels, too. I’ll characterize this unrealistic phenomenon as too much conflict. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Fiction Friday – The Mermaid’s Sister By Carrie Anne Noble

There are elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure throughout. The book is a page-turner; the story pulls the reader in and the dynamic characters and plot twists keep interest levels high. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Star Trek On TV

Now, the Star Trek legends are together for the first time on free TV with All Star Trek on H&I. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Weekday Fiction Fix – Capeville By Matt Mikalatos

Today’s fiction fix offering is an excerpt from a book I mentioned earlier this week, a middle grade superhero book by Matt Mikalatos. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Christian Speculative Fiction News Of Note

When presenting news of note, what could be news-ier than the announcement of the Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge winner? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2016

Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge Finalists

Be sure to share this post and poll with your friends and family, your Google+ circles and your Pinterest people, your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. The more voters, the better. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2016

Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge – Evaluation Phase

To find the entries, follow one of the links in this article (such as this one). The entries are in the comments section of that post. Be sure to click on the “Explore More” button to see all of them. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2016

Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge

I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next—in 100 to 300 words, putting your entry into the comments section of this post. “What comes next” may be the opening of a novel, a short story, or a completed piece of flash fiction—your choice. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2016

Fantasy – Not Anybody’s Leftover Stale Bread

One of the unfortunate impressions about Christian fantasy that still lingers seems to be that all fantasy is the same, that it is derivative and stale. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2016

Realm Makers 2016

For many of us, Realm Makers serves as a beacon, a tangible piece of evidence that speculative fiction is alive and well among Christians. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2016

Fiction Friday – A New Threat By Aaron DeMott

A New Threat The Psygen Chronicles, Book One by Aaron DeMott Introduction Finalist – 2015 Realm Makers Genre Award In Science Fiction When an alien ship lands unexpectedly in the middle of her clan’s territory, Bast is sent to investigate […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Writing About Jesus

Could it be, then, that writing about Jesus as the Savior who came to die for the forgiveness of sins is “on the nose” writing, and therefore amateurish? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Guess That Fantasy – A Different Take

I don’t think we can create the contestant aspect of that old TV game show, but it would be fun, I think, if you would post in the comments how many clues you needed in order to guess the title. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Magic, Fantasy, And A Christian Worldview

Part of the inexplicable is that God has allowed His enemies some measure of power (magic), and He chooses to let evil ripen before He puts an eternal end to it. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Fiction Friday – Into The Fire By Kim Vandel

First in the young adult fantasy series, Under Fire by independent novelist Kim Vandel. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July. Have a safe and sane celebration. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2016

Favorite New Voice

Various writers have burst on the scene as if from nowhere. They may garner awards or have instant success as far as sales are concerned. People are talking about this author. They’re doing book signings and speaking at conferences. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2016

Fiction Friday – The Hive By John Otte

A pregnant cyborg and a teenage boy fight against intergalactic governments to protect the unborn. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2016

The Christian Part Of Christian Speculative Fiction

The key to good fiction has always been to show, not to tell. And stories are about characters, so they are the ones readers want to hear from. They don’t want authors to interrupt the story for an explanation moment, no matter what the topic. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2016

Fiction Is The RIGHT Vehicle For Theology

Instead of warning people away from theology in speculative fiction, I think we’d be better served to teach writers how to include themes in effective ways. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2016

Realm Makers Presenters, Part 5 – Mike Duran

Mike identifies closely with the horror genre. In fact, he’s addressed this topic in previous years at Realm Makers, has a guest post here at Spec Faith on the subject, and has a nonfiction book—Christian Horror—that explores the topic. This year he will teach a continuing session on “The Theology Of Speculative Fiction” and an elective on “The Crossover Christian Novelist.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Whiplash Wednesday – A Look At Preachy Fiction

How effectively can Christ’s disciples carry out the Great Commission if they never spell out what they’re talking about? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Realm Makers Presenters, Part 4 – Agent Julie Gwinn

At present Julie is open to submissions. She “accepts queries in the following genres: Women’s Fiction, Romance (contemporary, historical, suspense, inspy. Amish) Spec Fiction and Fantasy, Mysteries and Suspense, Inspirational Fiction and Nonfiction, Historical Fiction, YA.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Realm Makers Presenters, Part 3 – Tosca Lee

Most pertinent to writers who are considering attendance at Realm Makers, Tosca Lee continues to garner praise for her writing. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Realm Makers Presenters, Part 2 – Kathy Tyers

Kathy Tyers has also taken up the mantel of writing instructor. Having been certified as a classroom teacher after her graduation from Montana State University, she was not unfamiliar with the ins and outs of imparting information in a formal setting. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Fiction Friday – Dragonfriend By Marc Secchia

The traitor Ra’aba tried to silence Hualiama forever. But he reckoned without the strength of a dragonet’s paw, and the courage of a girl who refused to die. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Realm Makers Presenters, Part 1

Locke’s fiction, while fitting into the classification of inspirational, is not geared toward Christian readers, but toward a broader range, much like Tolkien’s books. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2016

Christian Speculative Fiction News Of Note

“You may sense my excitement for the future of Enclave, and for the genre as a whole.” Steve Laube —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2016

Fantasy, Theology, and The Depiction Of Evil

In contrast to reality fiction, fantasy can have evil show up in whatever imagined form, but inevitably, the real truth about evil comes out: it is opposed to good. That’s the heart of evil. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2016

Learning From The Secular: Christian Science Fiction And Fantasy’s Distinctive

Christian science fiction or fantasy most often dramatizes the spiritual in general terms rather than in the particular. It’s like writing, What is the spiritual journey of Everyman, instead of writing, What is my spiritual journey. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2016

Of Names And Such

As a reader, how much do you pay attention to the names of characters or places? How much do you think about the significance of the name itself? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2016

Fiction Friday – Rebel By R. J. Anderson

Rebel (Enclave Publishing) No Ordinary Fairy Tale Book 2 By R. J. Anderson Introduction The last time Timothy broke a rule, he got suspended. But when he defies the faery empress, it might well get him killed. Timothy Sinclair doesn’t […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2016

The Superhero Who Dies

In the end, Jesus’s death is the greatest superhero death of all. For one thing, it was real. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2016

Dream Treaders: A Review

I think Dream Treaders is a triple (with nobody out), if not a home run. It’s a great book for middle grade boys, a reading group that is highly under served, in my opinion. I applaud Wayne Batson for such a wonderful story (and Thomas Nelson for publishing it). —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2016

Fiction Friday – The Orphan’s Song By Gillian Bronte Adams

Every generation has a Songkeeper—one chosen to keep the memory of the Song alive. And in every generation, there are those who seek to destroy the chosen one. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2016

We Have A Winner – 2016 Winter Writing Challenge

Special thanks to all of you who participated: the entrants for sharing their stories with us, the visitors who commented and gave YES votes for finalists, and those who voted in the poll to select the winner. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2016

2016 Winter Writing Challenge Finalists

All that’s left is to select the winner. Choose from these entries and vote in the poll at the end of this post for one entry you think is best. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2016

2016 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

For the last several years, Spec Faith has held a winter writing contest, a type of writing exercise, with rewards. There’s feedback from other Spec Faith visitors and there’s the potential for a $25 gift card from either Amazon or B&N. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2016

My Take: The Force Awakens

There’s an interesting nod to behavior psychology, too, and the strength of the human will—both for good and for ill. The idea seems to be that “training” can only be successful to a certain degree, but ultimately the person has the final say about what they will or won’t do. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2016

Fiction Friday – Oath Of The Brotherhood

In a kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man’s worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a scholar, a musician, and a follower of the forbidden Balian faith: problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2016

A Fresh Start And Change

One reason fiction is so powerful is because of the change these characters make. They show readers that change is possible, that trials can bring strength, that hope resides on the other side of conflict because of the growth it brings. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2016

Thinking About Time

Over all what do you think about stories that manipulate time? What are some of the best stories that you’ve read (or written) which depend on the manipulation of time or on a certain time period? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

Merry Christmas

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

The True Story That Reads Like Speculative Fiction

It is Christmas, or nearly so, and naturally my focus turns to the Christmas story. The true, Biblical story. I understand that many people in the world look at the accounts recorded in Luke 1 and 2 and Matthew 1 and 2 as myth. And with good reason. Those passages read like speculative fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

What Does Christian Speculative Fiction Do With Jesus?

I’ve read any number of Christian fantasies that include a god figure or perhaps even God Himself. What I don’t recall as easily is a representation of Jesus. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

The God Of The Impossible

The Christmas story is both the proof that God can do the impossible and the declaration that the God who is Lord of the impossible accomplishes the miraculous. And speculative fiction expands readers’ thinking so that we can more easily come to grips with this truth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

Fiction Friday – By Divine Right

The Darkwater Claims All Who Enter It. All But One. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2015

Mayhem And Its Meaning, A Reprise

Why does mayhem play such an important role in speculative fiction? The clearest and best explanation is that these stories reveal the great struggle of the world—the struggle between the rebel Satan and God. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2015

Introducing Spec Faith’s Newest Team Member

Zac is most active on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus, and he’s also on Instagram and Goodreads. Of course, he’d love to have more visitors to his website. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2015

Hope And Hopelessness In Speculative Fiction

When the imagination is separated from spiritual reality, it seems to stall on the bleak and the horrible. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2015

The Art And Craft Of Glorifying God

The belief that “good art,” simply because it is good art, glorifies God, is a fallacy. Lots of artistic expression has a worldview contrary to God. Contrary, not neutral, and certainly not God glorifying. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2015

The Truth And Story

What Lewis did was alter my understanding [of reality] by giving his own imaginative version that contradicted everything I’d thought before. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2015

It’s Not The Holiday You Think It Is

A corrupt church and priests interested in lining their own pockets weren’t concerned with trivialities such as what the Bible actually said, so salvation by faith alone was not a concept widely known. The idea of “no distinction [between believers] … but Christ is all and in all” was for all practical purposes unheard of. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2015

We Have A Winner – 2015 Autumn Writing Challenge

Special thanks to all of you who participated: the entrants for sharing their stories with us, the visitors who commented and gave YES votes for finalists, and those who voted in the poll to select the winner. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2015

2015 Autumn Writing Challenge Finalists

All that’s left is to select the winner. In this round you’ll choose from these entries and vote in the poll at the end of this post for one entry you think is best. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2015

Evaluation Phase: 2015 Spec Faith Autumn Writing Challenge

We want those “last minute” entries to have a fair shot at moving on to the finals, so please take time to read and give your feedback to those stories as well. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2015

Deadline Approaching

2015 Autumn Writing Challenge

Here it is, the end of September, with the autumn equinox bearing down upon us, and we haven’t had our second 2015 writing challenge yet. So it’s time! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2015

Fiction Friday – Knife By R. J. Anderson

Forget everything you think you know about faeries. . . . Creatures full of magic and whimsy? Not in the Oakenwyld. Not anymore. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2015

Does Anybody Work In Speculative Fiction?

Maybe “ordinary” doesn’t make for a good story. Still, I’d think within stories about the exciting and the exceptional, there need to be those who hold down the fort, who keep the supply lines coming through, who make sure the soldiers have shoes. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2015

Are Heroes Passé?

Have our tastes in fiction moved past the good guy? Is there no interest in a character who wants to be heroic and works to be heroic and succeeds at being heroic? Must all our heroes be reluctant or all our protagonists be “bad guys”? Have we come to an end of good guy heroes? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2015

Beauty And Function

So does beauty exist for beauty’s sake? Are evangelical Christians wrong to think art can and should do more than just be beautiful? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2015

The Future Of Christian Speculative Fiction

We’re at a crossroads, I believe. Are Christian speculative stories going to speak to our culture, or not? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2015

Animals And Christian Speculative Fiction

In short, the Bible is “animal friendly” in that humankind, as rulers, are to be benevolent in the exercise of our authority. But clearly, humans and animals are not equal. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2015

Fiction Friday – Draven’s Light By Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.†—Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Realm Makers – 2015

Realm Makers, a conference for speculative writers with a Christian worldview, is still in its infancy. This year marks only the third annual event. But clearly, word is out. Enrollment in 2015 has doubled. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Fiction Friday – Space Drifters By Paul Regnier

Captain Starcrost is not having the carefree, adventurous life of a star pilot promised in all the space academy brochures. He’s broke, his star freighter is in dire need of repair, and there’s a bounty on his head. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Speculative Worlds And Christian Tenets

What are some of those Christian beliefs that would subvert our culture today? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Why I Liked Jurassic World

Jurassic World was a better than expected rendition of this dinosaur science fiction series. Kudos to the writers, actors, directors, and of course the incredible special effects teams. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland – 150 Years Old

If only I’d understood as a child that the story wasn’t supposed to make sense, maybe I would have liked it better. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2015

Culture Shifts And The Christian Writer

Is it OK for Christian novelists to write to other Christians or to general market readers “purely for entertainment”? Or should we aim to make an eternal difference through what we write? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2015

Exploring The Light

What is the point of departure between those who read and write horror and those who don’t? From my perspective, the answer is “focus.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2015

Cover Reveal And Contest

Continuing The Horror Conversation

Paul’s counter to the legalistic approach was for believers to readjust our focus, to explore, if you will, the things above. Which is why I generally ask in these discussions about horror, why we believers aren’t doing more in our fiction to show the light—God’s light and truth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2015

Remembering The Soldiers Who Died

It doesn’t seem to me that speculative stories are short on wars, and therefore people serving the rest of their culture or nation or species by marching into danger and possible death. What novels actually show beloved characters dying as part of their commitment to fight for right? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Weekday Fiction Fix – Cloak Of The Light By Chuck Black

What if…there was a world beyond our vision, a world just fingertips beyond our reach? What if…our world wasn’t beyond their influence? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Books You Should Consider Nominating For The Clive Staples Award

This list is just a starter. The goal, of course, is to find the best of the best, so we’re looking for you to nominate/vote on the CSA survey for three books you believe are a cut above the rest. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Fiction Friday – Heir Of Hope By Morgan Busse

All of it, gone. Caleb staggered against the wall inside the dark back rooms of the tavern, the shock at last catching up to him. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Books I’ve Tried To Read And Can’t Get Into

Have you started books you haven’t finished? Do you know what made you stop reading? Do you try and try again until you get into a book? Have you persisted with some book and discovered it’s a keeper, one you’re glad you read and would recommend to others? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Weekday Fiction Fix – Jupiter Winds By C. J. Darlington

In 2160, a teenager becomes the bait to capture her missing revolutionary parents she thinks are long dead. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

The Resurgence Of Fantasy

Christian fantasy, late to the prom with dystopian and post-apocalyptic fantasy, seems primed to take advantage of this new resurgence of classic fantasy. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2015

Use What You Know

Like so much else about fiction, immersion into a fantasy world is as much a result of the readers’ imagination as it is the writer’s execution. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2015

Stories With Romance Or Stories With Love?

Could it be that our current Christian speculative fiction has focused so much on the kind of love the world recognizes that we are neglecting the kind of love the Bible extols? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2015

Introducing Gillian Bronte Adams

Texas born and bred, Gillian Adam’s writing journey started when she was quite young. As the baby of her family, she emulated her older sister who “was always writing something.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2015

Culture Wars And Speculative Fiction

Are speculative fiction writers creating worlds that reflect disagreements and opposing factions representative of societal struggles? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2015

Great Secondary Characters

Great secondary characters are larger than life. The story is not about them really, but they add so much, they make the story so much richer, that they become as memorable as the protagonist. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2015

What’s In A Book Cover

Clearly some readers are making reading decisions based on covers. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2015

Violence In Speculative Literature

Speculative fiction is built upon a violent struggle. The goal is never to learn to co-exist with evil or to just learn to get along or to agree to disagree. Instead, two opposing forces, two incompatible worldviews square off. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2015

So Many Books

I’m more convinced than ever that we here at Spec Faith need your eyes and ears. What books do you know about that have recently become available? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2015

Weekday Fiction Fix – Curse Bearer By Rebecca P. Minor

An epic tale of curses and miracles, where headstrong ignorance creates bondage, and the desire to serve offers freedom. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

Finding Good Books

Should we be content to let traditional publishers narrow their offerings while we scramble on our own to find the books we like—books we hope are out there but can’t know for sure if we’ll find? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

Fiction Friday – I Am Ocilla By Diane M. Graham

I am Ocilla. This is my story. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

People Groups

The creation of people groups seems to be a common speculative trope, sometimes for allegorical purposes and sometimes for the sheer beauty and ingenuity of creation. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

Fantasy Friday – Storm Siren By Mary Weber

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse – and the girl – can be controlled. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

The Power Of “Type”

Not every non-Christian is ready to receive the message of humankind’s fall, lost state, need of salvation, and rescue by a loving God through the blood of His precious Son. Something intervening takes place to bring a lost soul to the place where he is willing to listen to the salvation message. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

Art And Evangelism

We writers don’t have to incorporate all Truth into our stories because, above all else, we can’t. Instead, we can give our own feeble glimpse of God’s work or nature in order to contribute some small addition to the reader’s knowledge of our great God. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2015

We Have A Winner!

What a close competition. Our 2015 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge came down to a 2-vote difference! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2015

Finals – 2015 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

I know those who have followed the 2015 Winter Writing Challenge were not expecting to vote in the finals. My original intent was to bring in at least one judge. But best laid plans don’t always pan out. See for […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2015

Week Two: 2015 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Spec Faith’s 2015 Winter Writing Challenge has now closed. We now have a week to finish rating the entries. Remember, you can “thumbs up” as many stories as you wish. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2015

2015 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge

Your 2015 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge prompt: Ryder needed to know the truth, but he was pretty sure none of the others were interested. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2015

Review – The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

My first thought at the end of the movie was, How sad that there will be no more stories set in Middle Earth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2014

What The World Doesn’t Know About Christmas

Ah, it’s Christmas. We celebrate Jesus, good news to the world, because He brings peace on earth, He gives joy to all mankind. Yet so obviously, many people do not have peace or joy and do not understand the promise of Christmas. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2014

Fantasy Isn’t For Rabbits . . . Or Kids Exclusively

Are Christians, then, the only people who “outgrow” speculative stories, who don’t want to read fantasy or science fiction as adults? Or is this an incorrect perception publishers have reached? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2014

Not All Fantasy Is Equal

Which of these types of fantasy do you prefer? Below is a poll to show us what the Spec Faith readership likes best. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2014

Mockingjay, Part 1

I don’t see any elements I’d say parallel Christian thought. Katniss wants to fight those who are hurting the people she loves. She wants to help those who are fighting their common enemy. She has no greater aim. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2014

Christian Writers Guild Closes

Thanksgiving Day And Speculative Fiction

In speculative literature, Thanksgiving can be much more than just a celebration. Whether or not a story world holds harvest festivals and how they are celebrated can define a culture and make it come alive. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2014

Review – A Time To Die

The government of the United States of the East, where this story takes place, is strict in enforcing (with Enforcers) certain laws of the land, most prominently that individuals must produce their clocks—a physical device that has been coded for them and counts down the years, days, hours, and seconds to their death. Anyone without a clock is branded a Radical and duly punished. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2014

Fiction Friday – Arena By Karen Hancock

Callie Hayes is living a life of fear and disillusionment when she volunteers for a psychology experiment that promises to turn her life around. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2014

What Do We Do About God?

Fiction can represent Christ, rather than replicate Him, simply by portraying characters who lead the escape or sacrifice that others might live or provide the means of healing the wounded or become the long-awaited ruler. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2014

Who Cares About Extraterrestrials?

I certainly have no problem with people who write science fiction. I consider it to be a type of fantasy, though. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2014

Fiction Friday – A Time To Die By Nadine Brandes

There was once a time when only God knew the day you’d die. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2014

Reflecting The Spirit Of Columbus

Think what it took for Columbus to set sail, depending on little else besides his idea of what the world looked like. He had to have courage, an adventurous spirit, fortitude, confidence. In miniature I think these are the same qualities writers and readers have to have. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2014

Fiction Friday – Rebels By Jill Williamson

Levi woke to the sounds of chaos. Footsteps thumping through the house. Giggling children. Screeching children. Women shushing. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2014

Stories And Human Nature

What I find fascinating about these three movies is the theme that runs through them—unlikeable characters depicting marriage as psychological warfare; evil is real and we can’t get rid of it; and “good” removed leaves evil to fend for—and against—itself. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2014

If It’s Fiction . . .

Truth in stories is a tricky thing. On the story-telling level, often referred to as realism, readers need to believe in what’s taking place. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2014

Christianity, Diversity, And Speculative Fiction

Diversity marked Christ’s ministry and has been a hallmark of the Church from early on. Today Christianity encompasses any number of people groups, largely because believers take seriously God’s commission to make disciples of those at home, nearby, and far away. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2014

Science Fiction And Fantasy?

The overall trend seems to be that the general market favors either science fiction or fantasy, but not both—at least not in great numbers. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2014

Great Art And Story

We must grapple with the demands of our culture when it comes to realism in Story and the greater demands of Scripture to obey God in all we do and say. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2014

Re-imaging Villains

The idea in books like Wicked by Gregory Maguire and Iscariot and in movies like Maleficent is that there’s more to the villain of some well-known story, fact or myth, than people know. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2014

Story Weariness

I’ve had other instances of story weariness, which I guess I’ll define as familiarity with a story to the point that another rendition seems needless and unappealing. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2014

Speculative Fiction On TV

Which are your favorites and which of the new shows do you think might be promising? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2014

The Book Wars: Is There A “Right” Position?

Is Amazon the godfather of the book business or a visionary entrepreneur? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2014

Make Plans Now – Realm Makers 2015

Winner Of The 2014 Summer Writing Challenge

Once again we had a great group and our finalists made it hard to decide, but in the end, we have a winner who separated herself from the pack: Athelas Hale. Contratulations! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2014

2014 Summer Writing Challenge Finalists

Choose from the finalists and vote in the poll at the end of this post for one entry you think is best. The one receiving the most votes will be the winner, and the author will receive a $25 e-gift card from either Amazon or B&N. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2014

2014 Spec Faith Summer Writing Challenge, Evaluation Phase

The Spec Faith Writing Challenge is a huge opportunity for writers to learn what readers think, but it depends upon faithful readers willing to put their opinions out there. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2014

Spec Faith 2014 Summer Writing Challenge

I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next—in 100 to 300 words. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2014

Reading Long Fiction

Many of these books will be among those nominated for the Clive Staples Award next year, so why not get a jump on reading them? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2014

Happy Fourth Of July

Have fun reading, and for those celebrating the USA’s independence, happy 4th of July! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2014

The Availability And Benefits Of Short Fiction

You can discover new authors who might become your next Favorite Author by reading their short stories. And your investment in time is minimal. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Divergent, Great Stories, And Good Writing

The book series was one more hot story that had fans craving the next book and the next. Granted, though the first book opened as #6 on the NY Times best-selling list, it didn’t reach the stature of Twilight or Hunger Games and certainly not of Harry Potter. Still, it had a loyal and avid following. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Speculative Fiction And Children’s Books

Because God has given adults the responsibility of passing on the truth about God, and because He said we are to use every opportunity to do so, I think stories offer the perfect opportunity for showing what we believe. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Fiction Friday – On The Edge Of The Dark Sea Of Darkness

Just outside the town of Glipwood, perched near the edge of the cliffs above the Dark Sea, sat a little cottage where lived the Igiby family. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Cover Reveal – Failstate: Nemesis By John Otte

Safe Fiction Is Dangerous (Or, A Review Of How To Train Your Dragon)

“Safe” fiction is the most dangerous kind because people are disarmed, no longer alert to possible ideas that may foster a false worldview. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Hollywood Worldviews And Safe Fiction

“It is not only true, honorable and right to proclaim that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, but it is also true, honorable and right to proclaim that Satan is the father of lies”—Brian Godawa —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2014

Fiction Friday: Dream Treaders By Wayne Thomas Batson

Something was behind him. In the pines. Something big enough to snap a tree trunk as if it were a twig. Archer knew there were only a few creatures in the area large enough and heavy enough to do that kind of damage —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

CSA Judges Announced

Safe Fiction And The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

In western culture we have Man, clawing up behind Satan, trying to replace God. In part because of a piece of “safe” fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

Introducing Shannon McDermott

Safe Fiction – Discernment, Tim Downs, And First The Dead

What I’m wondering … really, what I’m doubting … is if one person can make a determination for another that a particular work is “safe.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

The Christian Writer And The Trends

Students and teachers alike, apparently, are embracing “the role that the arts and education can play in galvanizing people around an issue.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

Fiction Friday: Numb By John Otte

Crusader perched like a gargoyle on a second floor ledge across from the safe house’s entrance. He ignored the rain pouring down his face even though it blurred his vision. The weather didn’t matter. Neither did his posture. God created him to execute the Ministrix’s justice. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

Readers Sound Off

Readers never get heard. Writers are told to write to their audience, but who ever asks that audience what kind of books they want to read? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

RMC Spotlight – Pelican Book Group

Getting The Most Out Of Conferences

What makes the expense of traveling to a conference, paying for tuition and room and board, spending two or more days away from family and the regular routine of life, worth it? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2014

RMC Spotlight – Crosshair Press

What Brings God Glory?

When believers say that the “chief end of man” is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” I have to wonder if “glorify God” in that context means the default position—i.e., do nothing because your existence, as God created you, glorifies Him. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

More Thoughts On Reviews

Receiving reviews makes a huge difference in how wide an audience a book reaches. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

John Otte Books Discounted

Realm Makers Conference Spotlights

When Christians Review

My fear is that we Christians are slipping down the same path the people of Israel took. They had a relationship with God and they had His Law, but they wanted so to be like the nations around them. So they began to compromise. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

CSFF Blog Tour Features Numb By John Otte

Why Don’t Christian Writers Speculate According To Scripture?

We have an infallible, Spirit-inspired revelation of God’s work in the world from the beginning of creation. Why, then, don’t we Christian speculative writers more often take what we know from the Bible and speculate on what the world might look like? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

Satan Is For Real, Or What Became Of The White Witch?

Above all Satan wants people to shrink their view of God. That’s his great lie: God is not so great after all. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

2014 CSA Finalists

It’s my pleasure to announce this year’s Clive Staples Award finalists. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2014

Last Day To Vote For Clive Staples Award Finalists

Noah, Speculative Fiction, And The Biblical Narrative

Not every Biblical account lends itself well to fictionalization. The backbone of fiction is conflict. While there certainly is a fair amount of conflict in the various individual narratives in Scripture, some are nothing more than a snapshot of God working. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

List Of 2014 CSA Nominations

The following is the list of 2014 Clive Staples Award readers’ choice nominations (in alphabetical order by the author’s last name). —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

Voting For The 2014 CSA Finalists

It is time to vote for the 2014 CSA finalists. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

Reaching Beyond Exclusive Readers

How can readers like me, the eclectic kind, find out about books we label “speculative”? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

Clive Staples Award Nominations

You have the opportunity to learn about the books that other readers nominated as the best of royalty paying Christian speculative fiction published in 2013. Our hope is two fold. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

Managing The Minefield On The Way To Successful Publication

With the changes in the book industry, I think it’s helpful to discuss two particular elements of writing that lead to successful publication. By “successful” I mean selling to people other than our friends and family. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

Let The Reading Begin

Remember, to be eligible to vote for the finalists you MUST have read AT LEAST two of the nominations. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2014

2014 CSA Nominations – Update #3

Nominations Update Number Two

2014 CSA Nominations Are Now Open

The first two rounds of the Clive Staples Award are still in the hands of readers, beginning with the nominations which we’re opening today. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2014

Ron And Hermione Or Harry And Hermione?

J. K. Rowling, having gained perspective in the intervening seven years since the final Harry Potter book released, thinks she made a mistake. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2014

Reading Choices: Realism, Truth, And The Bible

God has made us in His own image–which would suggest that we are, by nature of our similitude to Him, creative beings, though we cannot create from nothing. Rather, what we create comes from something already made, and therefore, from God’s world. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2014

Reading Choices: Down With Snobbery

Pretentiousness, arrogance, haughtiness, elitism–I don’t think any of it belongs among Christian writers and readers. But sadly, literature–or more accurately, people’s feelings about literature–generates attitudes of exclusivity. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2014

Reading Choices: Isolation Or Insulation?

I don’t think isolation is an answer to the darkness of this world, and that approach leaves our culture without a witness. I’d also suggest that it’s wise to use insulation only as necessary. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2014

Reading Choices: Do Christians Deserve Our Support?

What are Christian readers to do? Do we support those writers with whom we agree? Do we give a theological pass to those who are aiming for innovation and speculation? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2014

Steve Laube Answers Your Questions And Mine

On the heels of the news that Steve Laube has purchased Marcher Lord Press, I contacted the new owner regarding the questions that some feel still have been unanswered. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2014

Winter Challenge Winner; Fiction Goals

Special thanks to all who participated in the 2013 Spec Faith 2013 End-of-the-Year Writing Challenge–those who entered, who voted in either or both first rounds, who gave feedback to the writers, and who were part of choosing our winner. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2013

Final Vote – End Of The Year Winter Writing Challenge

The entry receiving the most votes will be the winner of the 2013 End Of The Year Winter Writing challenge, and the author will receive a $25 gift card from either Amazon or B&N. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2013

2013 Winter Writing Challenge Round 1 Voting Redo

I’m re-posting the entries below in the order in which they were originally posted (alternating font color to make it easier to identify the beginning of each entry). As before, you may like (vote for) as many as you wish —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2013

Winter Writing Challenge Entrty Phase Drawing To A Close

Today is the last day to post an entry to the 2013 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge, but it is not the last day of the Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2013

End-Of-The-Year Winter Writing Challenge

Feedback continues though the Challenge is now closed to new submissions. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2013

Thankful Characters

Despite privation, death, dangers, and concerns for the future, the settlers found reason to rejoice. They exhibited a degree of contentment, a gratitude for what they had rather than resentment for what they had lost. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2013

C. S. Lewis Fifty Years Later

“Of the three [famous men who died November 22, 1963], it was Lewis who not only was the most influential of his time, but whose reach extends to these times and likely beyond.” – Cal Thomas —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2013

Fairytales … Truer Than Real Life?

Fairytales promote a desire for . . . other. Not a desire for fire-breathing dragons to terrorize your city block, or a desire for fantastical battles to happen on your front lawn, but a desire for “something beyond.†—Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2013

The Words Of C. S. Lewis

On November 22, fifty years ago, C. S. Lewis passed away. While we at Spec Faith certainly have never ignored this great Christian thinker, apologist, and speculative writer, it still seems appropriate to focus on him this month as a tribute. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2013

Spec Faith Welcomes R. L. Copple

Finding Books

Most of us don’t choose our stories based on what’s good for us. That smacks too much like taking our medicine or eating our vegetables. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2013

Expectations

So is it inevitable? If we love a series, will we always be let down because of our expectations? Or is it possible to hope and wait and wonder and anticipate and find the story ending is completely satisfying? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2013

Kerry Nietz Discusses Amish Vampires In Space

Once Upon A Time In Wonderland – A Review

When ABC advertised their new TV program Once Upon A Time In Wonderland with the tag line “Not the Alice you thought you knew,†I almost passed. How glad I am that I decided to watch it instead. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2013

Do We Need Books?

Speculative fiction has moved to visual media in a big way. And not just stories devoid of spiritual truth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2013

Because God Says So

In some small part, I think Christian writers have the responsibility to dispel the objection that says says “reality” doesn’t verify belief in the “fairy tale” ending, and to demonstrate the way the world really works. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

Today’s News You Can Use

Working Together

Please take a moment and answer this poll question with as many of the choices as apply to you. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

How Small Do We Want To Be?

Not only can God use speculative stories to make Himself known, which we’ve discussed frequently here at Spec Faith, but He can do so on a Grand Scale. He is not a tiny God struggling for recognition. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

The Continued Search For The Next C. S. Lewis

Lewis’s fiction did not spring to life in a vacuum, nor did it germinate exclusively from the fertile soil of his own imagination. Rather, he read widely, studied profusely, and spent hours discussing literature and theology with other scholars. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

A Cast Of Stones By Patrick Carr – A Review

Already, at the age of 18, Errol Stone is a drunk. The town drunk, in fact, but he knows his way around the countryside, including a dangerous gorge that must be crossed to reach the ravine where a certain secluded churchman lives with his servant. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

2013 Summer Writing Challenge Winner And Question

We have our winner: Austin Gunderson. Congratulations. But now, I have to ask. How many of you writers would be interested in participating in a short story contest if you were required to pay a $5.00 entry fee? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2013

Summer Writing Challenge Finals

Here are the top three entries, followed by the poll. Please choose the one piece you think is the winner of the 2013 Summer Writing Challenge and vote. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

What Is Intellectual Rigor?

Some writers sacrifice theme for the sake of art. However, the most artfully told story that says something untrue is nothing more than an artful lie. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Summer Writing Challenge Update

We writers know how our work seems to us, but we don’t know how it comes across to others. This challenge gives us a little window to view the reaction of our words on others. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Christian Speculative Fiction And Intellectual Rigor

There is power in stories. Stories help us to see truth through someone else’s eyes rather than through our own biased view. Through stories we can get to Truth by seeing past our own version of truth. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Summer Writing Challenge

It’s time for another Spec Faith Writing Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Books I’m Excited About – Captives By Jill Williamson

How Christianity fits into a dystopian fantasy is anything but pat. There is no one “right way,” no standard treatment, no prescribed formula. In Captives Jill Williamson has chosen to show Christianity primarily by way of contrast. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

The Heart Of Speculative Fiction Is Not Weird

These stories, some believe and others may assume, are for the few, the proud, the niche, and not for everyone. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Celebrating The First Ever Realm Makers Conference

From top to bottom, this looks like it is a well-thought out event with lots of great material for anyone interested in Christian speculative fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2013

Real Life Meets Fiction

If we are to speak the truth in real life, then we should be speaking the truth in our stories. If we are to edify one another in real life, then our stories should edify. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

Presenting The Final Five

Voting is underway to determine the winner of the 2013 Clive Staples Award. We’re down to the five finalists. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

CSA 2013 Finalists

The first round of this year’s Clive Staples Award is over. Now the final round has begun. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

CSA Round One Voting Ends At Midnight

No Pressure

Writers live on the edge of expectation. Unpublished authors live with the expectation of editors for crisp writing, fresh stories, yet ones that aren’t so far “out there” that readers will not want to go on the reading journey with them. The expectation is that writers will find that razor thin balance between the comfortably familiar and the inventively original. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

It Is Time To Vote

Voting begins today! Please read these instructions carefully, then proceed to the ballot by clicking on the link below. Voting ends July 17. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

One To Go

Whoo-hoo! It’s Two

Now Only Four

Five And Counting

Then There Were Six

The Countdown Has Begun

The countdown to the voting for the Clive Staples Award. Round one begins IN ONE WEEK. The announcement of the CSA winner which will take place at the Realm Makers Conference is IN ONE MONTH. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

2013 Clive Staples Award Nominees

The following, in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name, are the 2013 nominees for the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2013

Characters Matter, And Their Character Matters

What we see in Christian novel after Christian novel is a flawed character in need of a Savior. The impression this gives is that people without Christ aren’t likable, that their flawed character means they won’t do heroic deeds or stand up for right. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2013

Readers And Writers Finding Each Other

For me, reading is similar to going to a nice restaurant. When I order my meal, do I get the item on the menu that I know I really like, or do I experiment, try something new? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2013

Art And The Clive Staples Award, Continued

The Clive Staples Award is not a popularity contest. Consequently, no voter should choose a book he has not read! Our aim instead is to honor fiction well written. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2013

Art And The Clive Staples Award

There are good books on the list, and I don’t think it’s going to be easy to pick the one I want to vote for as best of the lot. But I’d like to think through the process of making that choice. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2013

The Clive Staples Award For Christian Speculative Fiction

For those in the US, blessings on this Memorial Day. For all of us, an update on the Clive Staples Award–specifically three announcements —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2013

Speculative Fiction And Our Culture

How do we as Christians know what to do when we face troubling circumstances: disabilities, abortion, choices between life and death? All of that makes me think, What do we as Christians do in a world of super drones and string theory and cloning and possible pandemics and the push for euthanasia? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2013

Books Versus The Screen

The vast majority of the best stories are within the pages of books, not on the little or big screen. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2013

Sharing My Reading Joy

Many readers are still unfamiliar with Christian speculative fiction–even Christian writers, even Christians writing speculative fiction. Consequently, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorites. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2013

World-building: The Undervalued Element Of Speculative Fiction

Books that transport me somewhere else have a dense culture filled with rituals, slang, moral right and wrong, tradition, art, entertainment, bureaucracy, and so much more. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Speculation And Biblical Elements

The Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour (CSFF) is currently featuring Broken Wings, Book 2 of the Angel Eyes triology by Shannon Dittemore. I haven’t had time to read the first round of posts yet (those that went up […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Christy Award Nominees Announced

Are Libraries On The Way Out?

If as a reading society, we don’t care about the free availability of reading material on nearly any subject, we may be creating a gatekeeper much more restrictive than any publishing company has been. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Daughter Of Light On Sale

Clive Staples Award 2013: Calling All Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Christians Writing Speculative Fiction Published In The General Market

We [Christian writers] are a somewhat fractured community. Rather than working in unity, we seem content to support and encourage only those who are like us. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Realm Makers Cost And Conference Details Available

The Undefined Unity Of Speculative Fiction

On the surface speculative fiction seems fractured into a thousand pieces, which undoubtedly explains the numerous small enclaves of speculative writers and fans that exist in cyberspace. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2013

Art Contest Winner Announced

Who Reads Christian Speculative Fiction?

If Christians who love the genre so much that they are writing their own stories aren’t reading what other Christians are writing, then who is reading them? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2013

Christian Horror Giveaway

Art Contest – Your Vote Needed

Reading And Standards For It

Maybe the entire reading experience is subjective. Maybe there isn’t an “everyone should read this†book out there. Maybe the best we can do is know ourselves and what’s good for us to read. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2013

What Makes Fantasy Work? Part 2

I hope our readers here at Spec Faith are thinking about the Christian speculative novel–fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, or whatever–they would like to nominate for the Clive Staples Award. Let’s find the books that work and pick the best of the lot to honor. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2013

What Makes Fantasy Work? Part 1

Readers love Narnia and Lord of the Rings, and they love a handful of later fantasies. But a lot of stories don’t go viral, don’t get hundreds of reviews, and in fact get tepid responses. So what makes fantasy work? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2013

Reviving The Clive Staples Award

Voters will be eligible only if they have read two or more of the books nominated. We want this to be a selection by readers of Christian speculative fiction, not just the fans of particular authors. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2013

Idolatry And Reading-Fandom

Religion scholar David Chidester has famously argued that baseball, Coca-Cola, rock ‘n’ roll, Tupperware—and even the Human Genome Project—serve, for their biggest fans, as “religious fakes,†meaning they play the role of religion, though they aren’t the real thing. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2013

Scary Title Alert: The Discipline Of Reading Fiction

Readers get inoculated by “fun” fiction, and no longer approach stories as vehicles of ideas, shown not told. When we as Christians do look for meaning, we are primarily looking for a Christ figure and a picture of redemption. We rarely dig deeper. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2013

Books To Love

I recently talked with a friend about a book I was reading and enjoying. The question came up: why was I enjoying it? What was it about this book that made it a satisfying reading experience? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2013

A Review: Imaginary Jesus By Matt Mikalatos

Without a doubt, one of the great strengths of this book is the humor. Matt, the author, has done a wonderful job of producing laugh-out-loud lines that simultaneously point to false ideas many of us have clung to from time to time. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2013

Realism And Twenty-first Century Stories

If all characters are victims of disaster, I suggest readers or viewers stop caring and start looking for the “out.†Will the character die and come back? Have a narrow escape? Have a death that only looks like death? In truth, all the arguing and betrayal and refusal becomes–predictable and boring and unrealistic. Soon the characters seem more like caricatures because none acts with nobility or courage or hope. All display their flawed selves with so little inner struggle. And this, we’ve come to believe, is realistic. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2013

The Christian And Stories

Should we seek to win the hard drinking and hard swearing jock by writing stories filled with drinking and swearing? Since real people do drink and swear and assault people and have affairs, since real people are prostitutes or frauds or terrorists, shouldn’t our stories show them in all their ugliness and need? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2013

Winter Writing Challenge Winner

We have a winner in the 2013 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge–Austin Gunderson —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2013

Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge Finals

I’ve reposted their entries below, followed by the official poll to determine the 2013 winner. You will be able to vote only once for only one entry to determine who will receive the $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The poll closes at midnight (Pacific time), Sunday, January 20. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2013

Winter Writing Challenge – Phase 2

In this phase two, visitors here at Spec Faith have one more week to read the one-hundred-to-two-hundred-word entries and give a thumbs up and/or comment to as many as they like. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2013

Spec Faith New Year’s Eve/Winter Writing Challenge

Here at Spec Faith we’ve had several successful writing challenges in 2012, so what better way to usher in the new year than by holding our winter challenge! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

What The World Doesn’t Know About Christmas

The end of the Mayan calendar notwithstanding, another Christmas is approaching–celebrating the ultimate Reveal, the greatest ah-ha moment since time began.. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

Seeking A Better Country Than Middle Earth

Watching Peter Jackson interpret J.R.R. Tolkien is like watching a master jazz impresario play Beethoven. The original is classic; the interpretation as a new work is equally brilliant. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

New Spec Faith Columnist

We’re happy to announce that our new Tuesday columnist here at Spec Faith, starting a week from today, is Christopher Miller, co-author with his brother Allan of the Hunter Brown middle grade/young adult fantasy series (Warner Press). —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

What Constitutes “Derivative�

Some scholars claim J. R. R. Tolkien owed a debt of influence where he claimed none. I find this criticism to be thoroughly ironic because the great accusation against writers of high fantasy today is that their work is derivative, a mere shadow of, you guessed it, J.R.R. Tolkien. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

Why Fiction Is The Wrong Vehicle For Theology—A Rebuttal

Rather than shying away from the depiction of “theologyâ€â€“by which I mean knowledge about God–in speculative fiction, I think Christian writers should embrace the challenge. In saying this, however, I do not believe all stories must show all the truth contained in the Bible, nor do I believe that our stories must affirm all Biblical moral values (as if Christians even agree on what those are). —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2012

Holidays And Celebrations

J. K. Rowling was not alone in making use of this-world holidays. C. S. Lewis created a powerful, and Christian, message in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by referencing the fact that Narnia suffered under a never-ending winter–always winter and never Christmas. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2012

Wars And Warriors

Certainly thanking those who served in the military is appropriate as is commemorating those who died. And what better way than to think about wars and warriors in speculative fiction. After all, there are plenty of them. Fantasy is filled with armed conflict–good fighting evil. Science fiction isn’t short on military engagement either, Avatar being a prime example. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2012

Voting And Speculative Fiction

I don’t see democracy held up in fantasies or in science fiction as The Answer to the ills of the world. Rather, it seems as if democracy is not an option or it has led to a despotic take over, a la Rome or, in modern times, Germany. The Answer to the ills of society seems instead to be either the benevolent rule of a King or hero, or the anarchy of the individual. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2012

Evil And The One Ring To Rule Them All

Tolkien, as most speculative readers know, was not attempting an allegory. Nevertheless, his mythopoetic world, the result of his sub-creation, contains parallels with reality. In fact, his world throws revelatory light on what he believed about certain things in the real world. One of those things is evil. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

The Success Of Fantasy By The Masters

According to Dr. Drout, Tolkien, and I would argue Lewis, created a bridge for contemporary readers to step into the realm of the fantastic. These writers tied their magical, mystical worlds to the world readers knew and recognized. Interestingly, they did so in vastly different ways. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

Ingredients Of A Good Story

Whether on blogs or in conference writing instruction or how-to writing books, it seems to me there is much more discussion about point of view and avoiding passive verb constructions and steering clear of forms of “to be” than there is about what ingredients go into a good story. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

Check For Chips

My real question is this, can great writing and compelling stories really be marginalized? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

And The Winner Is

The winner of the Spec Faith Fall Writer Challenge is

Eugene Black

Congratulations! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

Fall Writer Challenge Finalists

In no special order, the finalist entries are re-posted below. After reading (or reviewing) them, vote in the poll to determine who will win this year’s Fall Writer Challenge. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2012

Last Day To Pick Fall Writer Challenge Finalists

We need to pick the finalists. There are some very close races. Be sure you add your voice (in reality, what counts is your thumb up) to the decision so that we can include the three entries readers prefer. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2012

Now It’s The Readers’ Turn

This early stage is to determine the top three entries which will be included in next week’s poll, so visitors may hit the thumbs-up button on as many of the entries as they wish. You might ask yourself if you’d like to keep reading. If yes, then that entry might deserve a thumbs up. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2012

Fall Writer Challenge

By way of reminder, here’s the way this particular challenge works: I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next–in 100 to 200 words, putting those in the comments section of this post. Readers will give thumbs up to the ones they like the most —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2012

Mayhem And Its Meaning

Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy might be the benchmark for grand battles, notably in the battle of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the Battle of Bywater in The Return of the King. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2012

Monsters And Their Meaning

Some writers take monsters and re-envision them. Thus, vampires become love interests instead of deadly beings from which to flee (the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers). Dragons are good instead of evil, protected from dragon hunters by an act of God (Dragons In Our Midst series by Bryan Davis). Elves are noble and wise rather than mischievous or selfish (Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings). —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2012

Stories Of Sacrifice

I think there’s something to the idea that self-sacrifice is appealing. C. S. Lewis was particularly good at weaving self-sacrifice into his stories. It, of course, is crucial in the (traditional) opening book of Narnia–The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2012

A Review: Hunter Brown And The Secret Of The Shadow

Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow by The Miller Brothers (Warner Press), first in the Codebearer Series, is actually the tip of a media iceberg, with related games and forums and videos as part of the Hunter Brown experience. One look at the Codebearer Web site reveals the broad and techno-savvy reach Christopher and Allan Miller are attempting. It is timely and certainly aimed perfectly at their target audience. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2012

The Fairy Tale Phenomenon

Is our perception of fairy tales changing? As Dean said in his post Friday, some guys feel as if their “man card†is at risk if they admit to reading fairy tales. Tolkien has wars and a civilization-saving quest, outsmarting a dragon and evading goblins, but fairy tales are about saving a damsel in distress. The damsels, of course, very much want those stories told. But do guys want to read them? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2012

What’s A Work Of Fiction To Accomplish–Revisited

The question is this. Does a piece of fiction impact a reader more by ambiguity and the ensuing discussion, or by clarity? I’ve never heard a discussion about whether or not Aslan was a redemptive character. Did Lewis create a less powerful character as a result of making him clearly good, clearly redemptive? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2012

The Appeal Of Fantasy For Young Adults

Of all the unexpected things in contemporary literature, this is among the oddest: that kids have an inordinate appetite for very long, very tricky, very strange books about places that don’t exist, fights that never happened, all set against the sort of medieval background that Mark Twain thought he had discredited with “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.†(excerpt from “The Dragon’s Egg”) —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2012

News And Your Views

A smattering of this and that today. An update on our First Ever Spec Faith Writing Challenge, then news for For fantasy lovers. Finally, your views, in two parts. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Readers And Reviews

Some people are intimidated by the whole writing reviews process. Since Spec Faith has added the review component to our library, I thought it might be helpful to look at writing reviews briefly, in the hopes that more readers will brave the waters of influence and post their thoughts here and elsewhere on the web. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Announcement: The 7/16 Writers’ Challenge

Last week I left open the possibility that we might add a second round to the first ever Spec Faith Writers’ Challenge, creating a poll for the entries that received the most thumbs up so that readers might decide which is their favorite. I’m not closing the door to that possibility, but I realized that the entries posted later in the week need some time for readers to read them. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Writer Time: A Short Writing Challenge

Here’s the way we’ll set up this first ever Spec Faith writing challenge. I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next–in 100 to 200 words, putting those in the comments section of this post. Readers will give thumbs up to the ones they like the most, and, if they wish, they may give a reply to the various entries, telling what particularly grabbed their attention. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Review: The Gift

This second in the dystopian Chiveis Trilogy will be a book those who love fantasy and who want a story with a Christian worldview will enjoy. I suspect there will be more Litfin fans coming on board because of The Gift. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Introducing N. D. Wilson

Publishing as N. D. Wilson, Nate writes middle grade fantasy for the general market, including the well-loved Cupboards Trilogy. His most recent release is the much acclaimed The Dragon’s Tooth, first in the Ashtown Burials series, which received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal. The paperback edition is due out next month. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2012

Reading, Ratings, And Parental Guidance

Rating systems deliver the job of discernment into the hands of someone removed from the consumer. Movie ratings are often used as an example of what works when it comes to a quick and easy assessment of stories. However, I doubt seriously if any person Hollywood charges to rate a movie does so based on a Christian worldview. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Book Review: Replication

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a page-turner. It’s not hard science fiction. You might even call it near-near future because the story had a very contemporary feel. I’d also say the book is not one only teens will enjoy. They will, but adults who have teens or who taught teens or who were teens can enjoy it too. In short, this is a book readers will want to get a hold of. I suggest you do so ASAP! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

The Point And Purpose Of Reading Fiction

We frequently discuss whether or not we should expose ourselves to “gritty” stories about the garbage dump of life. Must we wallow in the mud, or can we choose instead to read stories that evoke truth and beauty? A tangential issue that might help with that question is this: are truthful stories beautiful (artistic) simply because of their truth? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Book Review: Angel Eyes

I hope Frank Peretti endorses Shannon’s next book. He should. She is marvelously contributing to the supernatural/spiritual warfare genre he established with the Darkness books years ago. Although this book is directed at young adults, all-the-way-grown-up adults can enjoy it just as well. A must read for Christians. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Content To Be A Niche

Do we as readers value Christian speculative fiction to the point of seeing it as a treasure? What if there were no more Christian speculative fiction tomorrow? No self-published e-books, no more POD Marcher Lord Press paperbacks, not any from Splashdown Books either, and none on the shelves of Christian or general market stores. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Picking Books

More and more, readers are faced with Choice. But how do we filter through the thousands of books to find the ones we actually want to read? Spec Faith does not sell books, so this isn’t one stop shopping. It is, however, the place for readers of Christian speculative fiction. But we need your help. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Prepare For The Horrific In ‘Beckon’ By Tom Pawlik

I highly recommend Beckon to adults who love the creepy, the bone-chilling, the fear-inspiring, and to those who want to consider the issues of life and immortality. It’s a good story filled with tension and intrigue and packaged in a unique structure that enhances the reading experience. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2012

Which Ones Are Required Reading?

Besides Tolkien and Lewis, who else has had an impact on Christian speculative fiction? Specifically, what titles would you consider “required reading” for someone trying to understand the shape and history of present-day Christian speculative fiction? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2012

The Characters We Love

Some stories are notable because of the action and their fast pace, others because of their epic nature, and still others because of their vivid world. But when it comes to characters, which stand out in your mind? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2012

Fantasy: Where To Go Next?

You want to introduce a friend of yours to fantasy. Where do you start? That seems like a no-brainer. Start with the best — Lewis and Tolkien. But then what? What if this particular friend of yours says, I love this fantasy stuff you’ve given me. Love, love, love them. What should I read next? What do you say? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2012

What Are You Reading?

What are you reading? What Christian speculative titles have you read in the last year or two? Have you written a review of those books, either here at Spec Faith as a comment to the title in our library or for one of the online outlets? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2012

Poll Time For Readers

We’ve run some polls from time to time aimed primarily at writers, but this one is for readers (of which writers are a subset — or ought to be.) Where do you get your books? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2012

Chuck Colson, 1931-2012

Defend the Truth. Live the Faith. Advance the Kingdom. These became the hallmarks of Chuck Colson’s life and ministry. The founder of Prison Fellowship passed away last Saturday at the age of eighty. To my knowledge, he had no connection with speculative fiction, but he was staunchly engaged with faith. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2012

Fantasy And Overt Christianity

Should Christian writers refrain from having their characters do what Christians do — turn to Christ, pray for help, give spiritual counsel, worship with other believers, and so on? If Christians do want to show their characters acting like Christians, should their books then be confined to Christian circles? Should we indeed write for and market to Christians only? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2012

Is Fiction Killing Hope?

As part of our sin or as a result of our sinful hearts, we turn to idols to fill up the longings God alone can assuage. But what happens when we say, in true nihilistic fashion, there is nothing that satisfies or can satisfy. What happens when a society decides there is no hope? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2012

Readers And Writers

Special thanks to all those who participated in Spec Faith’s Shredding, Round Two. I couldn’t help but think as I read through what everyone had to say, how vital it is for writers to hear from readers, not just other writers. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2012

Spec Faith Shredding, Round 2

Now comes the “shredding” part. In the comments tell us why you made your selections, or why you did not find a submission compelling. Please make your remarks constructive, but at the same time be honest. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2012

Let’s Look At Openings – Round Two

Back in September we gave five different writers the opportunity to have the openings of their work posted here at Spec Faith and to receive feedback from you, the Spec Faith community. It’s time for Round Two. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2012

The Inklings, Part 3 – J. K. Rowling, An Honorary Member?

As early as 2000 John Granger, author of several books about Harry Potter, floated the idea that the creator of the series, J. K. Rowling, was at least an Inklings wanna-be. In part he debunks the idea that Rowling’s rise […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2012

The Inklings, Part 2 – Who Are They

The key to The Inklings was the double linchpins of their love of words and their love of Christ. But one other thing can’t be ignored. These men of letters lived in Oxford, a place that fostered academic pursuits. In other words, it was no accident that so many men interested in similar subjects were in the same location at the same time. Of course, in light of God’s sovereignty, we know it was no accident at all. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2012

The Inklings, Part 1 – News And Tidbits

My recent series based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s lengthy essay “On Fairy-Stories” has renewed my interest in the group of scholars and writers known as the Inklings who famously met in the Oxford pub The Eagle and Child. Hence […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2012

Wishing You A Happy New Year

Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, there will be no post today. We here at Spec Faith wish each of you a blessed 2012. Our regular schedule of posts will resume tomorrow. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2012

Jack And John In Conversation

In lieu of our planned article, then, I offer you a fascinating dramatization of a dialogue between C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, with thanks to Fred Warren who found it and passed it along to me because of its relevance to the just concluded series on Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy-Stories.” Enjoy! —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 7 – Tolkien And The Gospel

Few people, even those not well-versed in fantasy, will argue against the idea that J. R. R. Tolkien is the master of the fantasy genre. In that he wrote his thoughts about this type of tale in his essay “On […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas

The Spec Faith regular contributors want to wish you a blessed Christmas. May you enjoy rich times with your family and wonderful worship of Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 6 — Tolkien On Romance

Would J. R. R. Tolkien, if he were alive today, be a fan of prairie romance? The question is appropriate because of what he wrote in his essay “On Fairy-Stories” regarding escapism. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

‘The Next C. S. Lewis’?

There’s only one C.S. Lewis. So let’s stop comparing all debut or contemporary writers, especially ourselves, to him. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 5 – The Use Of Primary Colors

I wonder what J. R. R. Tolkien would think about Harry Potter. Or Twilight. Or dystopian fantasies like Veronica Roth’s Divergent. Would the author of “On Fairy-Stories” be a fan of the darker forms fantasy has taken in the last decade or so? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 4

Fantasy is a natural human activity. It certainly does not destroy or even insult Reason; and it does not either blunt the appetite for, nor obscure the perception of, scientific verity. On the contrary. The keener and the clearer is the reason, the better fantasy will it make. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 3

In many ways Tolkien separated himself from Christian parents today because he stated bluntly that children aren’t to be protected from reality though they can and should retain the guileless wonder of childhood: Children are meant to grow up, and not to become Peter Pans. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 2

Fairy stories are for children. Or are they? J. R. R. Tolkien in his essay “On Fairy Stories” built an argument that challenged the usual assumptions. First, he believed that fairy stories had significance beyond entertainment. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2011

The Making Of A Myth, Part 1

Tolkien is specific. Fairy stories are certain things and definitely not others. First they are stories about Faerie, “the realm or state in which fairies have their being,” though this realm contains much more than elves or fairies —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2011

Taking Every Thought Captive

Speculative stories are the brunt of criticism from those who believe fantastical elements don’t belong. At the same time, however, the hammer comes down, claiming theology has no place, that it’s too restrictive, too confining, too box-like. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2011

Interacting With Culture

Are giving in to our culture as traitors or fighting against it as a lover of what is right and true our only two choices? Is there no intersection in which we who know the truth can show it to our society rather than running from the assault or turning to fight? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2011

Sentimentality And Christian Fiction

I believe that stories that suggest God never brings things to right here in this life are just as untrue as those that imply He always does so. Perhaps J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were such masters because they knew how to show both the truth of this world and the truth of Christian hope. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2011

A Look At Family Friendly Fiction

Unfortunately, the term “family friendly†has become entwined with the idea of “safe.†But safe from what? What is it that can do eternal damage to a soul? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2011

Christian Speculative Fiction In A Postmodern World

On one hand, Christian speculative fiction authors believe, in contradiction to our culture, that there are absolutes, that belief is essential, that beauty is recognizable, and that now pales in comparison to one day. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2011

Are You Hooked?

Not long ago, I discussed the “It Factor,” that intangible something that sets a work of fiction apart and gets people to notice and talk and read. One thing most writing instructors agree on is that a novel opening needs to hook readers into the story. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2011

Mythopoeia Or … It’s Opposite

Mythopoeia, according to Wikipedia, is “a narrative genre … where a fictional mythology is created … The authors in this genre integrate traditional mythological themes and archetypes into fiction.” When I first heard the term, I was confounded. Which is it, I wondered, the creation of a myth or the integration of traditional myth into a new story? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2011

The “It” Factor

What is the “It” factor that makes people sit up and take notice? What makes them buy a book, review it, talk about it, give it as a gift? More so, what causes them to tweet and re-tweet, to write their own articles and link to someone else’s discussion of the book, to share it on Facebook or Google Plus? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2011

The Place Of Hope In Speculative Fiction

I find Chesterton’s perception of “modern fiction†— stories written in a realistic style nearly a hundred years ago — eerily similar to stories written in a realistic style today. When the imagination is separated from spiritual reality, it seems to stall on the bleak and the horrible. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2011

What’s In Yours?

Summer is over, and many readers used a part of their vacation time to kick back and enjoy a good book. But every day authors announce new releases, and the fall line up seems full of a wealth of new books. Then there are the classics — the books everyone else talks about that we’ve never picked up ourselves, though we’ve been meaning to. For writers, there are also books of friends and colleagues. So, what’s in your to-be-read pile? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2011

The Good And Bad Of The Reading Experience

If fiction is a model for life which readers create in collaboration with writers, then it seems to me readers are being transformed by writers into whatever writers believe to be true. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2011

The Psychological Study Of Creativity – Or, You Experience What You Read

Stories matter. Any reader can tell you this. We cry because a beloved old yeller dog, which never actually existed, dies. We laugh at the pig’s tail applied to the imaginary greedy Dudley Dursley. We cheer when the fictitious Aslan […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2011

The Worldview Of Science Fiction

As anyone who frequents Spec Faith on a regular basis knows, I’m a fantasy writer. However, I can’t help but notice that science fiction, along with an amalgamation best termed science fantasy, is slowly on the rise. Interestingly, along with […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2011

Speculating About The Known

Last Friday, on my own blog I discussed truth in fiction. In part I looked at an article by Travis Prinzi at the Rabbit Room (where Andrew Peterson, Pete Peterson, Jonathan Rogers, and others interested in speculative fiction also hang […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2011

Recommendations And What They Mean

So what do recommendations mean? I’ll answer with the negative: they do not mean a guarantee that the content will be absolutely safe and free from error — artistic or spiritual. They do not mean the reader can put his critical thinking to bed when diving into books given high praise. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2011

Escaping To Inspiration

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2011

Fans Or Community Or Personal Entourages

Recently I posted an open letter to readers of Christian fantasy over at Facebook. The article centers on what readers can do to promote the books they like with the ultimate goal to send a message to publishers to put […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2011

Independence Day

Because of the Fourth of July, the USA’s Independence Day, there will be no Spec Faith article today. Feel free to hang out in the library. Just a reminder, this feature is still under construction. We have loaded only a […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in July 2011

Establishing Trust

Yesterday I was reminded of an important principle in relationships — establishing trust. Author and apologist Ravi Zacharias aired an interview on his radio broadcast with his son about a trip he took to India. He’d been invited to discuss […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2011

Exploring Darkness Or Exploring Light

As I’ve noted before, Anne Rice has stated that her vampire books were actually explorations of the spiritual. Spiritual light or spiritual darkness? Some may say that an exploration of spiritual darkness must precede any look at spiritual light. I […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2011

Christian Speculative Fiction – Where Does It Start, Where Does It End?

In response to guest author John Olson’s post, “Speculative Marketing: Re-imagining Reality,” I wrote a comment that revealed something about me, something I don’t usually tell the Spec Faith crowd: I don’t feel weird. That in itself makes me weird, […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2011

Post-Apocalyptic And Dystopian Fiction

Christians are actually cutting-edge in this genre. But why is our culture currently focusing on ways we could reach The End? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in June 2011

Comic Books, Movies, And Novels – Where The Trine Meet

Recently former Writer’s Digest columnist Nancy Kress wrote a review of the movie Thor. In it she referred to the production as a “comic-book movie.” Whether or not you agree or disagree is beside the point (I haven’t see it, […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2011

Imagination And Truth

I am in conflict. I believe in telling the truth and I believe in the creativity of Man based on the Imago Dei. Part of me resonates with the “Evolution Of The Artist.” It sounds so freeing to color outside […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2011

Speculative Stories Keep Coming

Supernatural stories on the little or big screen undoubtedly bode well for books. The two media seem inter-dependent. Some of the movies were born from previous print sources (books or comic books), and these movies will foster new works of a similar kind. The question is, where will the Christian writer fit into this explosion? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2011

What Readers Are Reading

My conclusion in all this is that once again, story proves to trump all. A good story matters more to readers than artistic writing or genre or even the reputation of the author. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2011

Readers, Writers And What Each Understands

A (lengthy) discussion broke out this weekend prompted by Friday’s interview with Spec Faith’s special guest, Kathy Tyers, author of Firebird. Much of the conversation centered on one commenter’s view of Ms. Tyers’ implied hatred of Jews in the Firebird […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in May 2011

Another Look At Good Versus Mediocre

Do Christian writers want to write great literature? You know, the kind that will be around for another hundred years (provided Christ’s return doesn’t come before that)? Do we even want to write books that will stay on bookstore shelves […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2011

Good Versus Mediocre

I found myself asking, Is one person’s good book another person’s mediocre fare? And if so, is there in reality a standard of art writers should be aiming for and readers should be looking to support? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2011

Romanticizing Christ?

I suspect, however, that the problem for most Christian fiction isn’t in romanticizing Christ — because, quite frankly, He isn’t in most Christian fiction, not even in a lot of speculative fiction. Rather we might be romanticizing our relationship with Him. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2011

Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 4

A substitute title for this article might be How My Christianity Informs My Entertainment Decisions. I appreciate the feedback from last week’s article, especially those who shared their thoughts about their justification for their choices in entertainment. I posed the […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in April 2011

Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 3

Being a Christian is not a part time occupation. Consequently, when we’re at work, we are Christians. When we’re in the grocery store, we’re Christians. When we’re in our cars on the freeway, we’re Christians. And when we pick up a book or flip on the TV or log into the Internet, we are still Christians. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2011

Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 2

As a result of the discussion generated by last week’s post on this topic, I want to make some general statements. First, I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer to the question, is entertainment a waste of time? In […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2011

Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 1

How many times did I see my mom shake her head as she clucked her tongue at whatever TV program we kids were watching. The thing was, my dad often was watching too, which put Mom on an island by […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2011

What Gives You Nightmares?

Last Friday, our guest blogger, author Wayne Thomas Batson, wrote about fantasy as a vehicle for soul searching. His remarks reminded me of what I read from Anne Rice when she announced her conversion (since revoked) to the Catholic faith. […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in March 2011

What’s Wrong With Allegory?

Why does allegory seem to get a lot of negative press? Last week the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy (CSFF) Blog Tour featured The God Hater by Bill Myers. Some reviewers indicated that the allegorical aspects of the story lowered […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2011

“Christian Speculative Fiction” Is Not An Oxymoron

In Friday’s guest post, “Is ‘Christian Speculative Fiction’ an Oxymoron?” debut novelist Mike Duran (if I “got” him correctly 😉 ) hypothesized that a Christian’s theology may get in the way of speculating about our world — that which is […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2011

Know Your Audience

This week the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Dragons of the Valley, book two in the Chiril Chronicles by Donita Paul, winner of the first Clive Staples Award. It struck me as I was reading this story that one of […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2011

What Is It About Narnia?

What is it about the Narnia books that we love? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, first in the order C. S. Lewis wrote the series, has four main characters and none of them is the hero. With the omniscient point of view, readers do not benefit from close character identification. The plot is straightforward, without multiple subplots, and the writing wouldn’t be considered lyrical. Why, then, do we love these books so much? —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2011

It’s Dawn

OK, it’s actually late afternoon here, but it is time for me to write my review of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so I used a little chronometric license 😉 . I went to see the latest version—I say […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in January 2011

Happy New Year!

From all of us here at Spec Faith to all of you and yours: wishing you a Happy New Year, filled with a multitude of opportunities to praise and honor God Most High. Just a reminder that there will be […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2010

My 2010 Favorites

Being a slow reader and too poor to see a lot of movies and not being a big television watcher, I don’t have long lists of favorites. Consequently this is a limited selection of favorites. I’m picking my top three […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2010

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the contributors here at Speculative Faith. We are taking the “Eves” off, so there will be no guest post Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2010

Feechies And Hobbits

I love Hobbits. I loved them before I became a writer, and I love them more now. In my way of thinking, the ultimate in creativity is to concoct legend, starting with legendary creatures. Hobbits are just such beings, springing […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in December 2010

Guest Blog – Mike Dellosso

The Philosophy of Me Mike Dellosso When Becky asked about writing a guest post she said I could write about anything I wanted as long as it was somehow related to speculative fiction and then she mentioned the P-word: Philosophy. […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2010

Guest Blog – Jonathan Rogers

Jonathan Rogers is the author of four middle grade fantasy novels – the Wilderking Trilogy and the newly released The Charlatan’s Boy. Besides all the traditional places, The Charlatan’s Boy may be purchased at The Rabbit Room where Jonathan hangs […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2010

Guest Blog – D. Barkley Briggs

You know the afternoon TV blurbs that try to drum up interest and ratings for the local evening news? Things like: “Man Caught Selling Palmolive as ‘Spicy Jalapeño Sauce’ at Local Taco Hut. Film at 11:00!†There’s a typical arc […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in October 2010

Guest Post By Author Eric Reinhold, Part 2

Today, we’re continuing a post by Eric Reinhold, actually a transposition of Eric’s answers in an earlier interview. * * * God works things out in his own time and in hindsight it’s fun to look back and see how […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2010

The 2010 Clive Staples Award Winner

The 2010 Clive Staples Award Winner

Nineteen nominations. Thirty days of voting. One winner. After deleting ineligible ballots and ones that did not adhere to the instructions, I can now reveal the 2010 Clive Staples Award winner. Since no nomination had a majority of first place […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2010

Guest Post By Author Eric Reinhold

Eric Reinhold is the author of the middle grade supernatural fantasy series, The Annals of Aeliana (Creation House). This summer the first book, Ryann Watters and the King’s Sword, is being made into a movie by TYG Studios. I asked […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in September 2010

Fantasy and A Christian Worldview

One of the reasons I love to write fantasy is because of the good vs. evil conflict present in the stories. In most fantasy types—classic or high fantasy, adventure fantasy, even fairy-tale fantasy—good and evil are defined in rather stark, […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in August 2010

Introducing The Vanishing Sculptor

Introducing Starfire

Introducing Offworld

Introducing Lunatic

Introducing The Firstborn

Introducing Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

Introducing The Enclave

Introducing By Darkness Hid

Introducing The Nominees – A Star Curiously Singing

CSFF Blog Tour – Curse Of The Spider King

Book one of the Berinfell Prophecies, Curse of the Spider King, by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper, is the November feature of the CSFF Blog Tour. A couple of observations about the tour and the book. From what I’ve […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in November 2009

By Darkness Hid – A Review

I read my first Marcher Lord Press book this week – Jill Williamson’s By Darkness Hid (April 2009), first in the Blood of Kings series. Well, actually I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC), but I suspect there will be […] —Rebecca LuElla Miller in February 2009

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