Scouting The Competition
Fred Warren, May 10, 2011
Why do so many Mormons write genre (speculative) fiction?
What Readers Are Reading
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 9, 2011
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.
Jeffrey Overstreet on Art, Questions, and The Ale Boy’s Feast
E. Stephen Burnett, May 6, 2011
In this, the last of my posts on the now-complete Auralia Thread, I have the privilege of interviewing author Jeffrey Overstreet. With no further ado … Rachel: Before we even start, let me say thank you for an extraordinary reading […]
Critiquing Critics Of Christian Fiction, Part 3
E. Stephen Burnett, May 5, 2011
Many Christian readers have learned to put up with preachiness in secular stories, while some non-Christians (or even professing Christians) can’t stand hearing real Christianity repeated in a work of fiction, even with artistic excellence.
Traveling With The Time Lord (A Commentary on Three Seasons)
Kaci Hill, May 4, 2011
Lord of the Time Lords Just by way of recap, in my previous entry I surmised that even the Time Lord answers to a higher power–whatever that power may be. My post had more to do with seasons 1 and […]
The Next Big Thing
Fred Warren, May 3, 2011
Christian writers are often accused of being tone-deaf on popular culture, behind the times, and generally out of touch. Well, I’m here to help.
Readers, Writers And What Each Understands
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 2, 2011
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 […]
Exploring Doctrine Through Fiction, With Kathy Tyers
Kathy Tyers, Apr 29, 2011
Author Kathy Tyers, pioneer in Christian futuristic fiction, discusses how theology informs her storytelling.
Critiquing Critics Of Christian Fiction, Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 28, 2011
We’ve all heard it, and often said it: “Christian novels are too preachy.” But what do we mean by that? Some critics say “preachy” only to mean “Christians speaking and acting as Christians naturally do,” and therefore can’t be pleased.
The Ale Boy’s Feast: A Review
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 27, 2011
The journey began in Auralia’s Colors, when two crotchety old thieves outside House Abascar found a child lying in an enormous footprint. That child grew to be an artist, a reckless, loving girl who dared display the colours she saw […]
Another Look At Good Versus Mediocre
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 25, 2011
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 […]
Jill Williamson on Writing, ‘Darkness’ and Light In Fiction, Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 22, 2011
Part 2: Jill Williamson discusses her writing, completing the ‘Blood of Kings’ trilogy, darkness and light in fiction, and what is ahead for herself and the Christian visionary field. Also available in audio with our NEW podcast, The Portal.
Critiquing Critics Of Christian Fiction, Part 1
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 21, 2011
You’ve likely heard this: “Christians novels aren’t edgy enough. They don’t show what the world is really like. They make everything cleaned-up and black-and-white.” But perhaps we critics should give thought to these questions.
Guest Entry: Jeremy McNabb Asks “Solid or Static?”
Jeremy McNabb, Apr 20, 2011
Good morning! I’ve caught up with another writer friend of mine and asked him to write us an entry based on a series of conversations and observations we’ve had on Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files. Jeremy McNabb is a […]
Good Versus Mediocre
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 18, 2011
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?
Jill Williamson on Writing, ‘Darkness’ and Light In Fiction, Part 1
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 15, 2011
Jill Williamson discusses her writing, completing the ‘Blood of Kings’ trilogy, darkness and light in fiction, and what is ahead for herself and the Christian visionary field. NEW: The Portal Podcast — the complete interview in audio form.
What’s The Difference In ‘Inspirational’ Stories?
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 14, 2011
Replace “follow your dreams by believing in yourself” with “follow your dreams by believing in Jesus”; does that make a story Christian?
Everything Sacred
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 13, 2011
As I finished The Ale Boy’s Feast last week (review coming soon–and let me just say that despite what you may read in the Amazon reviews, this book is incredible), one of its premises took me back to something I […]
It’s A Miracle!
Fred Warren, Apr 12, 2011
As readers and writers of speculative fiction, we’re marinated in the miraculous. It’s easy to take for granted. All sorts of things happen that transcend the comprehension and capabilities of mortal men.
Romanticizing Christ?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 11, 2011
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.
The Story We Write For Ourselves
C.L. Dyck, Apr 8, 2011
With Marc Schooley What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? -Eccl. 1:3 This year, as with every year past, I find myself busier than ever. Vanity of vanities, right? Hebel (vanity, transitory, […]
Seeing Truth Reflections In Light Of Scripture
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 7, 2011
If we enjoy natural wonders, works of art and fantastic God-honoring stories, does that mean we don’t believe Scripture is sufficient? Not at all. Instead we can love all these, not in place of God’s Word, but because they reflect its light.
Observations: Lord Of The Time Lords
Kaci Hill, Apr 6, 2011
Rambling Introduction Yes, that’s exactly the reference it appears to be. 0=) Just for reference, this is a bit of a throw-back to Inherently Religious (Some things are sacred by default, no matter our efforts to ‘secularize’ them) and Speculating […]
The New Neighbors
Fred Warren, Apr 5, 2011
“You know the planetary survey that’s been going on the past several years, looking for worlds similar to ours in deep space?” “Of course, though I haven’t paid much attention. All they ever find are gas giants, or planets too far or too near their star to be inhabitable.” “Well, yesterday they found one almost identical to ours.”
Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 4
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 4, 2011
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 […]
‘God Can’t Spell and Has Bad Grammar’?
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 31, 2011
Can Christian writers correctly say, “God laid this on my heart. It’s such an amazing story. God told me to write this!”?
The Auralia Thread: Reflections on A Vast Expanse
Rachel Starr Thomson, Mar 30, 2011
I joined the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour, run by our own fabulous Becky Miller, all the way back in January 2009. I missed my chance to read the first book, and the second book–Jeffrey Overstreet’s Cyndere’s Midnight–had […]
Call Writing
Fred Warren, Mar 29, 2011
Called? I’ve heard people describe their motivation for writing this way. “God called me to write.” It always feels a little presumptuous to me.
