Marcher Lord Press: One-of-a-Kind Christian Publisher

Interview with Jeff Gerke

While Jeff Gerke is no stranger to the publishing, his newest foray into the business defines his passion for Christian speculative fiction. Under his pen name, Jefferson Scott, he has written several near-future technothrillers. He co-authored the non-fiction Be Intolerant which went on to become a bestseller. Gerke has worked for Multnomah, Strang Communications, and NavPress. In 2006, he struck out on his own and founded the popular speculative fiction site Where the Map Ends and has since expanded to form Marcher Lord Press, a unique Christian speculative fiction-only publishing company. In this first of a three-part interview, Jeff Gerke discusses the background and events leading up to the formation of MLP.

Jeff, some background. What points of your own spiritual sojourn have led to the path of speculative-fiction?

Ever since the original Star Wars came out--when I was 12--I’ve dreamed in speculative worlds. I know I had had leanings in that direction before 1977, but when I saw Star Wars something came alive in me. I suddenly understood the power a story could have--and it was a speculative story that did it. A few years later, in college, I discovered The Lord of the Rings and I was similarly stunned. Once again I was moved beyond words, and once again it was a speculative story that did it.

Both of those stories, I realize now, are "hero’s journey" tales. Anthopologist Joseph Campbell originated the idea that certain stories and story patterns recur in all human cultures throughout history. The most fundamental of these is called the hero’s journey.

It’s essentially a coming-of-age story. Or, in Jungian terms, a story of individuation. A young person is taken from his safe but boring normal world and thrust into an epic adventure that involves specific components, such as a mystical forest, strange allies, and an impossible quest. At the end, the hero enters the dragon’s lair and either slays the dragon or fails to. If he is successful in his task he brings the prize and his hard-earned wisdom back to the village for the benefit of his people, among whom he is now a hero of lore.

Read the rest of the first of a three part interview with Marcher Lord Press's publisher, Jeff Gerke at Frank Creed's Associated Content site.