Speculative Faith was the volunteer-led website that preceded Lorehaven. From 2006 to 2021, hundreds of Christian fantastical writers added their voices to this team blog. Many of those creatives now continue this work at Lorehaven. This archive preserves all the original SpecFaith articles and reviews. You may find, however, some outdated bios and missing images as well as occasional formatting glitches! Please note that some reviews have been updated and republished to Lorehaven.

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 —

Tranquility: Tainting Creation in Fantasy Fiction

Tranquility is the first fantasy novel to include a mythical creature based on the common loon.
— Christa Conklin in August 2019 —

Christian Products Expo 2019 Lessons

I visited the 2019 Christian Products Expo. Here’s what I learned about Christian bookstores, the Christian book market, and more.
— Travis Perry in August 2019 —

Four Classes

This collection of fairy tales is admirably broad-minded in its inspiration, drawing from Scripture and history and legend.
— Shannon McDermott in August 2019 —

So Do We All Just Hate ‘Star Wars’ Now? Is That How It Is?

If the new “Star Wars” movies really do subvert fantasy hero-worship, doesn’t this also mock our good desires for heroes?
— E. Stephen Burnett in August 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 —

Shields, Starship Combat, and Outer Space Fortresses

A realistic look at shields and defenses for starships and space stations can help you make interesting and plausible stories about outer space combat.
— Travis Perry in August 2019 —

The Sound and the Fury

How has heavy metal music influenced my writing?
— Mark Carver in August 2019 —

You Must Not Steal E-Books

I keep seeing all these excuses from e-book thieves eager to justify their violation of God’s law.
— E. Stephen Burnett 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 —

The Price and Power of Individual Choices

Some readers have asked me why The Savage War doesn’t have much to do with magic. My first serious answer is that High Fantasy was not the story I was given to write. My second is that it is very […]
— Esther Wallace in August 2019 —

Non-Lethal Speculative Fiction Weapons

On Star Trek, setting a weapon to “stun” is easy. In reality, it’s easier to use energy to kill or maim than to immobilize. But science fiction and fantasy stories alike can benefit from thinking about what non-lethal weapons can do.
— Travis Perry in August 2019 —

A Few Highlights

I’ve been reflecting on the books I have had the opportunity to read and the privilege to review. I am going to highlight just a few.
— Shannon McDermott in August 2019 —

Realm Makers 2019: One Hundred Graces, part 3

E. Stephen Burnett reviews graces 51 through 75, which he found at last month’s Realm Makers conference.
— E. Stephen Burnett 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 —

‘I Do Not Read Fluff!’

If she’d said, “I’m not a fiction person,” or “I’m not into fantasy,” I would have understood.
— K. Berklund-Pagé in August 2019 —

The Serious Business of Science Fiction and Fantasy

I have friends who don’t quite understand why I think science fiction and fantasy are important. I explain why in this post.
— Travis Perry in August 2019 —

Are We Part of the Problem?

What is our responsibility as authors? Do we share any of the blame if our words put ideas into people’s heads or ignite the brittle underbrush that already exists in depraved minds and is just waiting for the spark?
— Mark Carver 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 —

Grace Through ‘The Story Peddler’ Helped Me Find Healing from Trauma

Lindsay A. Franklin: While creating The Story Peddler and its sequels, I found a safe place to pour out the emotional turmoil of my own story.
— Lindsay A. Franklin in August 2019 —

That Time a Serial Killer Confessed to Me

Once upon a time, an ordinary conversation slipped into a killer admitting horrific crimes. I’m sharing this story to talk about the nature of evil and also because…
— Travis Perry in August 2019 —

Two Streams of Thought

I am in favor of fandoms. But sometimes I wonder: How much do any of them matter?
— Shannon McDermott in July 2019 —

Realm Makers 2019: One Hundred Graces, part 2

E. Stephen Burnett steps back to those days of yester-week and recalls twenty-five more graces God gave through Realm Makers 2019.
— E. Stephen Burnett in July 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 Power of Apologetics Fiction

Novelist Keith A. Robinson: The practice of apologetics defends Christianity, while apologetics fiction explores this in exciting novels.
— Keith A. Robinson in July 2019 —

A Post-Realm Makers Report

For me Realm Makers was more about creating and launching new projects and small groups and individual one-on-one meetings than anything else. I’m grateful for the opportunities the conference provided!
— Travis Perry in July 2019 —

From the Archives: How Dark is Too Dark?

How dark is too dark? Is it permissible to include horrific and explicit elements in a story intended for the Christian market?
— Mark Carver in July 2019 —

Realm Makers 2019: One Hundred Graces, part 1

E. Stephen Burnett shares one hundred graces, gifts of God, that he enjoys through the Realm Makers Christian fantasy writers conference.
— E. Stephen Burnett in July 2019 —
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 7
  6. 8
  7. 9
  8. 10
  9. 11
  10. 12
  11. 13
  12. ...
  13. 85

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