Day 3 CSFF Tour of the Lost Genre Guild: The Grahams

A Frank Review of Adam & Andrea Graham’s Laser & Sword e-Zine:
Day Three of the Guild’s CSSF Blog Tour
by Frank Creed

The Lost Genre Guild Network is still in the planning stages. Podcast fans will have an index of audio files to download and enjoy. I’m hoping that two friends will be in the thick of it. The Grahams have a passion for a serial fiction, a form best showcased in radio broadcasts, before the advent of television. Their passion is apparent not just in the entertaining Laser & Sword magazine, but also in their Podcasts of the Old Time Dragnet Radio Show, available now.


Laser & Sword has features well-written and fun fiction. To date, there are three qualitative and entertaining character-based storylines that run through each issue:

* The Sword, Sword Comics owner Jesse Miller seeks to defeat terrorism by uniting the world’s greatest superheros. Will he learn bad guys masquerade as good guys before the traitor in their midst sends the heroes to their doom?

* Snyder, a juvenile delinquent living in the 78th Year of the Empire, loathes Earth’s dictator while hailing the regime’s American governor as a hero. Getting caught meting out vigilante justice gets him inducted into the Imperial Army under threat of a noose. Can a double agent get Snyder back on the right track? Will Snyder survive to discover his destiny?

*Lastly, Mild Mannered Janitor Dave Johnson discovers an symbiotic alien and this superfan’s dreams of being a superhero come true with hilarious results. One question haunts: can there be such a thing as a good Symbiot, even if he is a silver cylinder rather than black tar?

My favorite character is Snyder, who fights the good fight in a dark future USA, but is such fun to read that the dark is not oppressive. The Grahams even have a wiki database for Snyder fans, and a few Snyder novels. Authors of serial-fiction may submit to Laser & Sword, but one wonders how many authors write in the form anymore.

As this review is my Day Three article for the Lost Genre Guild’s CSSF Blog Tour, I’d like to talk about Adam and Andrea from my own perspective; something I consciously avoid in most reviews. Everyone’s favorite thing about the Guild is our fellowship. Christian authors of spec-fic are commonly isolated, especially when it’s our full-time job. The LGG is a community of coworkers, and we have an awesome Boss.

Adam and Andrea first met in a place that now concerns many Christians, a place where they now present their passions to serve Christ: the Web. Theirs is an amazing love-story that says more about them than I’m able in this brief article.

I first met these founding Guild members during the critique rounds for an almost-award-winning Christian speculative-fiction anthology titled, Light at the Edge of Darkness. From fiction to politics to hobbies, the Grahams live all spheres of their lives glorifying our Boss with everything they have. There’s no better way to learn about authors than from their own bios. These are from the PDF version of Laser & Sword Magazine:

Adam Graham is a multi-talented writer known for his wit and poignancy whether his topic is the fair tax or a speculative fiction piece pondering what if the aliens came and were just like us. His work appears at http://adamsweb.us/blog, the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness, and in Laser & Sword, of which he is editor in chief. He is also host of the Truth and Hope Report podcast, as well as the Old Time Dragnet Radio Show, and the Old Time Superman Radio Show. He holds a general studies Associate of Arts degree from Flathead Valley Community College with a concentration in Journalism.

Andrea Graham created the universe that Rise of the Judge is set in and provides artistic input to that series and others. In edition to editing for Laser & Sword, she provides advice and book reviews from a Christian worldview at her blog, http://askandrea.adamsweb.us. Her short story, “Frozen Generation,” also featured in Light at the Edge of Darkness, details A. L. Snyder's birth. Andrea studied creative writing and religion at Ashland University. She and Adam are members of several writers’ groups, including ACFW and the Lost Genre Guild.

Andrea and Adam live with their cat Joybell in Boise, Idaho.


It’s my honor to be associated with the Grahams. I wish them and everyone in the Lost Genre Guild, a blessed new year.

Faith,
F
Frank Creed.com: the official site of Flashpoint: Book One of the UNDERGROUND
The Finishers.biz: Polishing Manuscripts until they Shine

Day 2: CSFF Tour of Lost Genre Guild

Day Two—Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog Tour:
The Lost Genre Guild’s Featured Artists; December, 2008

Listed Alphabetically:

Brandon Barr: and co-author Mike Lynch recently announced that the first chapter of their new novel won a "first chapter contest" at the Dead Robot Society.

Grace Bridges: Author of Faith Awakened, a cyberpunk tale with a classic old literary sci-fi style; and Legendary Space Pilgrims, a continuation of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress. She also manages our blog and bookstore.

Johne Cook: Editor of Double Edged Publishing’s Ray-Gun Revival, serial author and head of the Guild’s Packer fan-club. The kind of guy who wears green and yellow jerseys to Chicago.

Rick Copple: A sci-fi and fantasy author . . . and poet, Rick may be one of the LGG's newest members but he is no stranger to Christian speculative fiction. Infinite Realities, Rick's novel is published by Double-Edged Publishing and his short stories appear in all the best Christian spec-fic ezines. Read his article, Fantasy and Christianity at ResAliens and make sure you visit his blog: Copple's Creations

Steve Doyle: Steve and I go back to my first speculative fiction forays into the Web: elfwood.com and the Herscher Project. Steve is one of three authors on this list with whom I share publication in the Light at the Edge of Darkness anthology. Check out Steve's links:
Elfwood (world's largest fantasy and sci-fi site)
The Herscher Project (all things speculative fiction: for writers)
Steve's website: Doyle Books
New Book News: as the name says

Karina Fabian: One of the few LGG members I’ve met in the flesh. Karina joined the Lost Genre Tour at the Chicago Tribune Book Fair. We will both be presenting workshops at the Catholic Writer’s Conference Online in February. She’s editor of the Infinite Space and Infinite God, and Leaps of Faith Christian sci-fi anthologies, and has an amusing pet—a dragon named Vern.

Andrea & Adam Graham: Editors of Laser & Sword magazine, the Grahams are into Podcasting, and Kilt-making (am I starting to sound like the Dating game announcer, or is it just me?). They’re two of the three authors on this list with whom I share publication in the Light at the Edge of Darkness anthology. Other links include:
Adam's Blog
Kings Kilts

Paulette Harris: Paulette is a writer of inspirational supernatural fiction. Polly’s active in our newsgroup and calls Colorado home. Check out her blog at Come and Sit Awhile.

Caprice Hokstad: Author of The Duke’s Handmaid and Nor Bars an Iron Cage, Caprice is a member of many Web communities, and a great encourager, and a manuscript proofreader for The Finishers. Check out her blog, Queen of Convolution and her official website Latoph (which is way cool!)

Mike Lynch: co-authors with Brandon Barr, and is a frequent contributor to the LGG newsgroup. Mike's much like Brandon, but with more facial hair. 8D

Terri Main: Editor of Wayfarer’s Journal, Communications instructor, our resident voice recognition software expert, and an aspiring Moon-whodunnit novelist and nonfiction author of Creative Calisthenics. Terri has been instrumental at getting the LGG mentors board off the ground and running!

Scott Sandridge: is an editor for Fear and Trembling, a Speculative Fiction Writer, Speaker, Reviewer, and Columnist. Check out his blog A Work in Progress where one can learn all sorts of information about the state of this country!

Sherry Thompson: Author of Seabird, book one of the The Narentan Tumults which is reviewed on the Guild Review. Sherry is a frequent contributor to the LGG newsgroup and can be counted on to dish up some fun as well as serious comments. Visit the Scroll Chamber for more about Sherry—including some great artwork!

Thanks y'all for making the Lost Genre Guild such a positive and constructive group.

Visit Participants' Links Now!
Brandon Barr Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Kathy Brasby Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Courtney Frank Creed Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Andrea Graham Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Timothy Hicks Joleen Howell Jason Isbell Cris Jesse Jason Joyner KaitCarol Keen Lost Genre Guild Mike Lynch MagmaMargaret Rachel Marks Rebecca LuElla Miller Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey Mirtika Hanna Sandvig James Somers Robert Treskillard Steve Trower Speculative Faith Jason Waguespac Phyllis Wheeler Timothy Wise

Not Just Another Little Christmas Book

With shopping, cooking, recitals, and services all piled on top of our daily chores and tasks, how many of us lose sight of what's meaningful, for days at a time, every Christmas? What if you could have one tool to keep that from happening?

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts is only ten chapters long, each themed with a verse of the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke. Chapters are then stuffed with categorized features like Family Snapshot, Gingerbread Genealogy, Vintage Poetry and Lyrics, Peppermints for Little Ones, Stocking Stuffer Tradition, Gift for You, Evergreen Thumb, A Few of Our Favorite Things, Trivia Treasures, Bethlehem Star, Morning Star Light, and Word Quilter's Wisdom.
Every reader will be inspired—in each chapter, learn things, enjoy memories, and consider new family traditions. Consider new ways to help the needy with their holiday. I'm not a guy who will be trying out the new recipes, but I hope to be eating them.

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts should be as much a part of your holiday as the family Christmas-fying their home with wreaths and decorations. If ever there was a book printed for seasonal bathroom reading, this is it; pack it away in that first box you open every year, and then annually, drop it in the reading basket. Young, old, and everyone between will find something memorable in this little Christmas book.

By Frank Creed, novelist and manuscript critiquer for thefinishers.biz

Lost Genre Guild & Live Christian Virtual Reality

Happy Monday--the Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog Tour's first day featuring the Lost Genre Guild. If you have a fast computer, join us tomorrow as we meet at one of the Web's virtual reality communities. But, pLeAsE don't sit in the water--you'll sink.
8D

Here's directions from the editor of Wayfarers Journal about how to get virtual at 10pm Eastern Time, 7pm Pacific:
We are going to restart our meetings in Second Life. Tomorrow [Tuesday December 30th] at 7 p.m. Pacific time also SLT we will be meeting at my place. The SLURL is http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Bound%20Marina/227/25/25

If you are an SL resident just click that or paste it in your browser and it will take you to a webpage that will open your SL software and drop you into my living room landing zone. I built a stage there to land on I hope it works.

If you are not an SL Member, you can join at http://www.secondlife.com . You do have to complete a "training course" on Orientation Island the first time you log in. So, if you are planning on joining add about a half hour to set up your avatar and complete the course.We will be having a general discussion about Christian Speculative fiction. After the new year we will be having chats with authors and themed chats. Right now, we will be going on alternating weeks. But maybe we will be able to go to a weekly schedule if some others want to help out.

Visit Participants' Links Now!

Brandon Barr Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Kathy Brasby Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Courtney Frank Creed Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Andrea Graham Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Timothy Hicks Joleen Howell Jason Isbell Cris Jesse Jason Joyner KaitCarol Keen Lost Genre Guild Mike Lynch MagmaMargaret Rachel Marks Rebecca LuElla Miller Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey Mirtika Hanna Sandvig James Somers Robert Treskillard Steve Trower Speculative Faith Jason Waguespac Phyllis Wheeler Timothy Wise
---
Faith,
f

http://thefinishers.biz/

Frank Does Tea

Yup, FC likes his tea parties.



Learned all about afternoon tea from my Canadian wife and now embrace the tradition . . . perhaps can even be called an afternoon tea snob.

Tea at the Propylaeum Club in Indy is the-thing. Everything served as it should be and gotta love that Devonshire Cream and cherry preserves slathered on every last scone crumb.

Some might turn their nose up at the little tea sandwiches, but hey! small they may be but you get to eat a whole bunch of different sandwich types.

Only thing worth calling them out for was the suggestion that if our tea wasn't hot enough, they'd nuke it for us. How faux pas and all.

Nuke tea? must be agin some tea law. I mean. Whatever happened to tea cozies? *crack up at using "tea cozy" in a sentence*

Black Wednesday for Publishers

Some interesting points from a recent NY Times article:

“. . . never in all my years as a bookseller have I seen a retail climate as poor as the one we are in.” (Leonard S. Riggio, chairman and largest shareholder of Barnes & Noble)

• Simon & Schuster: 35 people laid off
• Simon & Schuster: president of children's division resigned
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: publisher of adult division resigned
• Houghton Mifflin: further layoffs
• Thomas Nelson: 10% cut in staff
• Penguin Group: freeze on raises
• Harper Collins: delay on raises
• Random House: resignation of heads of two of its largest groups
• Doubleday: layoff of 10% of its staff

Along with the rest of the economy, the publishing industry is taking punches (see the entire NY Times article below).

I guess it shouldn't come as a complete surprise but I was thinking that the recession might mean that people would be looking for cheaper forms of entertainment: like reading.

For the price of one movie admission, a person could purchase a novel and get hours of entertainment--without driving anywhere or being tempted by the popcorn and drink combo that doubles the cost of the movie night.

I wonder if the federal government would be interested in shoveling some $$ the way of publishers?

(from NY Times, December 3, 2008)

PUBLISHERS ANNOUNCE STAFF CUTS
In a day of especially grim news for the book business, Random House, the world’s largest publisher of consumer books, announced a sweeping reorganization aimed at trimming costs, while Simon & Schuster laid off 35 people.

The moves signaled just how bad sales have become in bookstores and followed the news this week that the publisher of the adult division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the house that represents authors including Philip Roth and José Saramago, had resigned, presumably in protest of a temporary freeze on the acquisition of new books.

Industry insiders were already calling it “Black Wednesday” as news trickled out about further layoffs at Houghton Mifflin, a cut of 10 percent of the staff at Thomas Nelson, the world’s largest publisher of English-language Bibles, a freeze on raises at the Penguin Group unit of Pearson and a delay of pay increases at HarperCollins, the books division of the News Corporation.

The news at Random House, which included the resignations of the heads of two of its largest groups, followed months of speculation about the company. Ever since Bertelsmann, the German media conglomerate that owns the publishing group, appointed Markus Dohle, formerly head of the company’s printing unit, to head Random House in May, most people assumed he would consolidate some imprints and make staffing changes.

In a memorandum to the staff on Wednesday, Mr. Dohle said that Irwyn Applebaum, publisher of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group, and Stephen Rubin, publisher of the Doubleday Publishing Group, had stepped down. In a separate message, Mr. Dohle said that he was in discussions with Mr. Rubin about “creating a new role for him at Random House.”

Bantam Dell publishes authors including Dean Koontz and Danielle Steel. Doubleday’s authors include John Grisham and Dan Brown.

Mr. Dohle did not announce any further layoffs on Wednesday. But in an interview, a spokeswoman, Carol Schneider, said publishers would be reviewing their staffs. “There may be some difficult choices that they’re going to have to make down the road,” she said.

In a message to the Simon & Schuster staff, Carolyn K. Reidy, the president and chief executive, said the 35 layoffs at the company resulted from “an unavoidable acknowledgment of the current bookselling marketplace.” Rick Richter, president of the Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, also left the company. Ms. Reidy said Mr. Richter resigned to “explore other opportunities in publishing.”

Simon & Schuster, publisher of authors including Stephen King and Bob Woodward, is the books division of the CBS Corporation.

The shakeout in the industry comes during what publishers and booksellers have described as the worst retailing environment in memory. Recently, Leonard S. Riggio, chairman and largest shareholder of Barnes & Noble, predicted a dreadful holiday shopping season and wrote in an internal memorandum that “never in all my years as a bookseller have I seen a retail climate as poor as the one we are in.”

The deterioration in book sales appears to have come late in the year. According to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks about 70 percent of retail sales, sales for the year are actually up slightly. But several publishers said that sales in October and November had weakened drastically.

The industry was bracing for more layoffs. Last month, John Sargent, chief executive of Macmillan, whose publishing houses include Farrar, Straus and Giroux and St. Martin’s Press, said in a companywide meeting that he could not guarantee that everyone would have a job going forward. Mr. Sargent declined to comment. Macmillan is part of the Georg von Holtzbrinck publishing group.

“During good times, you can better absorb a variety of lines not doing well than you can when the economy is in this kind of condition,” Robert Gottlieb, chairman of the literary agency Trident Media, said.

At Random House, Mr. Dohle announced changes that elevated the roles of Sonny Mehta, head of the Knopf Publishing Group; Gina Centrello, head of the so-called Little Random unit; and Jenny Frost, president of the Crown Publishing Group, publisher of two memoirs by President-elect Barack Obama.

Mr. Mehta’s empire will expand to include the Doubleday and Nan A. Talese imprints, merging authors like Margaret Atwood and Jonathan Lethem with Knopf’s writers, like John Updike and Toni Morrison.

Ms. Centrello, who oversees the Random House Publishing Group, which includes the Ballantine division, will assume Bantam Dell, the Dial Press and Doubleday’s Spiegel & Grau. Ms. Frost will take over imprints including Doubleday Business, Doubleday Religion and Broadway Books.

Many people in the industry were not surprised that Mr. Applebaum was resigning from Bantam, considered Random House’s weak link. A significant part of its business is the mass market segment, the smaller paperback format of thrillers and romances, whose sales have declined over several years.

But industry veterans were surprised that Mr. Rubin, who is well regarded in the business, was being removed from his post and that the Doubleday Group was being dismantled, despite a particularly bad year.

Dan Brown, author of “The Da Vinci Code,” failed to deliver his next novel, originally set for release in 2005. Jon Krakauer, author of the adventure hits “Into the Wild” and “Into Thin Air,” withdrew his book about Pat Tillman, the former football star killed in Afghanistan, originally scheduled for an October release.

To top it off, “The Gargoyle,” a first novel for which Doubleday reportedly paid $1.25 million, flopped, selling 34,000 copies in hardcover, according to Nielsen BookScan. In October, Doubleday laid off 10 percent of its staff.