266. How Do You Assemble a New Expo for Christian Fandoms? | with Scott Minor
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Realm Makers started in 2013 with a Christian-led speculative fiction writers’ conference. Now it’s a 24/7 organization to train aspiring authors, a traveling bookstore, and cousin to a stationary bookstore. This summer the conference levels up with the Realm Makers Expo, a crossover fan-centered event with many other Christian groups and fantastical creators. Join us for this inside look into the past, present and future of the Realm, featuring Scott Minor.
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Backstory: Scott Minor
Scott Minor is the CEO of Realm Makers, a premier conference and community dedicated to supporting authors of faith who write fantasy and science fiction. With a passion for fostering creativity, he and his wife Becky work together to grow Realm Makers into a vital resource for Christian speculative fiction writers. Scott oversees operations, event planning, and the Realm Makers Bookstore, which promotes faith-based fantastical novels. A dynamic leader with a background in operations, project management, and acting, Scott also directs youth theater and has a deep love for the performing arts. Residing near Philadelphia, Penn., he continues to inspire and equip authors to share stories that explore truth and sacrifice.
- RealmMakers.com: Bookish store, Expo, RealmSphere, writers conference
- Realm Makers on Facebook
- @RealmMakers on IG
- @RealmMakers on X
Quotes and notes
On August 2-3, 2013, a core group of self-professed nerds are going to try something a just a little bit terrifying — we’re going to hold a conference just for people of faith who love science-fiction, fantasy, and all their odd offshoots.
The event is called Realm Makers, and it will take place on the campus of The University of Missouri, St. Louis, in their JC Penney conference center. …
A little over a year ago, a group of speculative fiction enthusiasts were talking online about science fiction and fantasy conventions, and how many of us would like to attend one, but how the pervasive presence of scantily-clad “booth girls,” the glorification of dark and evil ideals, and the sometimes-antagonistic tone toward Christianity made an otherwise awesome environment too uncomfortable for some fans. Half-jokingly, I suggested we needed a “con” of our own. One where we could talk about the stories we love, but conduct the discussion through the filter of our worldview. One where there might not be so many chain mail bikinis. Though I expected people to laugh, they didn’t. They agreed with me. The enthusiasm and excitement about the idea began to boil.
In order to keep the first attempt at Realm Makers manageable, we pared the idea of a full-blown convention down to a writers conference, since my main area of contact is with the fiction community.
- Episode 171. How Did Christian Creators Seek Wonder at Realm Makers 2023?
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- Episode 265. How Can We Shine the Gospel at the Realm Makers Expo?
1. 2013: Outlining the Realm Makers origin story
- In the past, Christian fantasy creators may have felt a bit lost at writers’ events!
- March 2013: Rebecca P. Minor announced the first Realm Makers conference.
- That first conference in Missouri was small yet fantastic, and it quickly grew.
2. 2014–2024: The drafting and revising of Realm Makers
- Assembling just a writers’ conference every year is no picnic.
- Meanwhile, you’re building social media community, livestreams, and the like.
- Lockdowns and the 2020 virtual event brought even tougher challenges.
3. 2025: Realm Makers Expo unites the Christian fandoms
- After Becky’s original 2013 vision of a con, Scott began to see this drawing near.
- Our own early conversations about the possibilities of a crossover fan event.
- Now, next month, Realm Makers Expo brings top Christian creators to the con.
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Top question for listeners
- Will we see you at the Realm Makers writers conference and/or new Expo?
Next on Fantastical Truth
Aircraft pilots see a lot of amazing sights, above the Earth in planes and even spaceships. But men who do this challenging work often confront the nastier sides of these hard jobs, struggling to stay good in a gritty world. For pilot and new sci-fi novelist Dan Daetz, these realities rocket into a cosmic setting when one man, with the ugliest job in the universe, must break free from his past. Next week: what if a bad father, with a worse job, fought to become a hero?
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