Marcher Lord Press Now on Scribd.com

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Dona Watson

Yes, Marcher Lord Press has another news flash. The publisher’s books are now available on Scribd.com, which describes itself as a social publishing company. Scribd.com is a website where anyone can publish any type of PDF, Word, PowerPoint or Excel file, thus making it a web document that can be accessed by any registered members.

To celebrate its launch on the Scribd.com website, Marcher Lord Press is offering the novel Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton for only $5 until next Tuesday.

Here’s the official blurb on Starfire:

Rathe is a late-hatch saurn with something to prove. Someone born into such a low caste has no hope of achieving much of anything in this life–unless he can prove himself as a warrior. Through his own skill and a fortuitous encounter with a massive creature, Rathe seeks to rise through the trials to secure a position within the imperial army.

But larger forces are at work in the world, and Rathe has been chosen for a grand and terrible destiny. Through an enemy invasion, revitalized technology from an ancient civilization, and supernatural entities beyond his understanding, Rathe is presented with an unfathomable choice. No matter what he decides, it seems an empire–or a world–will be destroyed.

And the only things informing Rathe’s decision are affection for a small saurin under his care and the admonitions from the mystical representative of a god Rathe doesn’t believe in.

Stuart Vaughn Stockton’s website: http://www.ritersbloc.com

You can find Marcher Lord Press on Scribd at http://www.scribd.com/marcher%20lord%20press

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Classic: Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!, Terry Brooks

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Dona Watson

I didn’t discover how much I liked fantasy fiction until about 10 years ago and since then I’ve come to realize how many books I’ve missed out on. As a result, when I come across an older classic that someone has mentioned or recommended, I put it on my tentative list of books I’d like to read. I figure if it’s an older book and someone still remembers it, it must be worth checking out. And then there are cases of pure serendipity.

Last week, a reader stopped by to comment on a recent post (Online Chat with Christopher Paolini and Terry Brooks), he mentioned that I had omitted a few books on a list of works by Terry Brooks. Some of those were the Landover books.

Saturday, when I stopped by our public library to check out their annual used book sale, I found a copy of Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!, Book 1 in the Landover series, and took it home. Since I had just heard about it, how could I resist? Later that afternoon, I picked it up to read the first few pages and ended up reading the entire book. What a great escape. I found Magic Kingdom For Sale–Sold! to be a funny, laugh-out-loud kind of book.

Here’s the blurb:

Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement had promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.

The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything.

Ben’s only followers were the incompetent Court Magician, Abernathy, the talking dog who served as Court Scribe; and the lovely Willow–but she had a habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and turning into a tree. The Paladin, legendary champion and the Kings of Landover, seemed to be only a myth and an empty suit of armor.

To put the final touch on the whole affair, Ben soon learned that the Iron Mark, terrible lord of the demons, had challenged all prospective Kings of Landover to a duel to the death–a duel which no human could hope to win.

The task of proving his right to be King seemed hopeless. But Ben Holiday was stubborn…

I give Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! 4 stars out of 5. For more info on the book, click here.

Marcher Lord Press Announces Marcher Lord Select

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Dona Watson

Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction, has announced the debut of a revolution in fiction acquisitions.

“Marcher Lord Select is American Idol meets book acquisitions,” says publisher Jeff Gerke. “We’re presenting upwards of 40 completed manuscripts and letting ‘the people’ decide which one should be published.”

The contest will proceed in phases, Gerke explains, in each subsequent round of which the voters will receive larger glimpses of the competing manuscripts.

The first phase will consist of no more than the book’s title, genre, length, a 20-word premise, and a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb. Voters will cut the entries from 40 to 20 based on these items alone.

“We want to show authors that getting published involves more than simply writing a great novel,” Gerke says. “There are marketing skills to be developed–and you’ve got to hook the reader with a good premise.”

Following rounds will provide voters with a 1-page synopsis, the first 500 words of the book, the first 30 pages of the book, and, in the final round, the first 60 pages of the book.

The manuscript receiving the most votes in the final round will be published by Marcher Lord Press in its Spring 2010 release list.

No portion of any contestant’s mss. will be posted online, as MLP works to preserve the non-publication status of all contestants and entries.

Participating entrants have been contacted personally by Marcher Lord Press and are included in Marcher Lord Select by invitation only.

“We’re also running a secondary contest,” Gerke says. “The ‘premise contest’ is for those authors who have completed a Christian speculative fiction manuscript that fits within MLP guidelines and who have submitted their proposals to me through the Marcher Lord Press acquisitions portal before October 29, 2009.”

The premise contest will allow voters to select the books that sound the best based on a 20-word premise, a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb, and (possibly) the first 500 words of the book.

The premise contest entrants receiving the top three vote totals will receive priority acquisitions reading by MLP publisher Jeff Gerke.

“It’s a way for virtually everyone to play, even those folks who didn’t receive an invitation to compete in the primary Marcher Lord Select contest.”

The premise contest is open to anyone with a completed Christian speculative fiction manuscript that meets MLP guidelines for length, content, genre, worldview, audience, etc. To enter, authors must complete the acquisitions form found at the Marcher Lord Press site and supply all the components listed below on or before October 29, 2009.

Marcher Lord Select officially begins on November 1, 2009, and runs until completion in January or February 2010. All voting and discussions and Marcher Lord Select activities will take place at The Anomaly forums in the Marcher Lord Select subforum. Free registration is required.

“In order for this to work as we’re envisioning,” Gerke says, “we need lots and lots of voters. So even if you’re not a fan of Christian science fiction or fantasy, I’m sure you love letting your voice be heard about what constitutes good Christian fiction. So come on out and join the fun!”

Marcher Lord Press is a Colorado Springs-based independent publisher producing Christian speculative fiction exclusively. MLP was launched in fall of 2008 and is privately owned. Contact: Jeff Gerke; www.marcherlordpress.com.

Hero, Second Class, by Mitchell Bonds

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Dona Watson

Ok, I admit I’m a little behind in reading this one. I had hoped to read it sooner than now, but…well, let’s just say there are so many good books out there it’s hard to choose sometimes. But Hero, Second Class was so intriguing I never forgot it and now, a year after it was published, I finally got around to reading it.

First, let me say that Hero, Second Class is 600 pages of hilarious satire. It reminds me of a cross between The Princess Bride and Monty Python. It took me longer than usual to work through this book because I kept going back, thinking “Did I read that right?” Then I’d find out that, yes, that’s what I thought it said. If you don’t like corny puns, by all means don’t read this book. At times it almost became too much for me, but I stuck with it, pressed on, and finally finished it with a smile.

Overall, I have to say that it was worth it to me. I can see where some wouldn’t like this book, decrying it as simply too silly, but to me, that was the fun of it. Think of all the most popular fantasy novels, take them to an extreme level of stereotypic situations and plot, throw in some really bad puns, and you have Hero, Second Class. And, I might add, there is a serious element that runs through the book as the main character refuses to acknowledge the existence of the Creator, but in the end must acknowledge that there is indeed a Creator that can and will bend reality to His will when it is for the best, a Creator who loves us and pursues us, even when we run from Him.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Hero, Second Class 3.75 stars.

Hero, Second Class is published by Marcher Lord Press. You can read the prologue here.

The Marcher Lord Press website is: http://www.marcherlordpress.com

The Ninth Generation, by John L. Owens

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Dona Watson

The Ninth Generation by indie author John L. Owens is a novelization of the Biblical story of the first few generations of man after the fall in the Garden of Eden and before the flood. Owens has taken a brief section of the book of Genesis and brought it to life with pictures of what life might have been like in that period. The book opens with Methuselah leading his family through difficult times in which Nephilim are stealing the daughters of men and demanding grain shipments to feed their voracious appetites.

Here’s the official blurb:

Before the birth of Noah, in a land of primordial beauty…an unusual darkness descends… and daughters begin to disappear. Angelic watchers transgress sacred boundaries and unleash a race of half-human giants – the Nephilim. Within a tree village, Methuselah’s family suffers tragedy, and a son – the ninth from Adam – rises up. Vengeance turns to wisdom as Enoch prepares Lameck to be a conqueror. An unlikely ally joins him on the desperate journey which threatens to end at a river temple with Leviathan, but a tunnel takes them to a mysterious island with its own terror…and the palace of the gods. Lameck discovers Lucifer’s plan but escape is blocked and time is running out. All future hope rests in the ancient truth, inscribed on a tablet still missing…the survival of the human race and all creation.

The Ninth Generation is undoubtedly a Christian book and makes no apology to that effect. Nor should it. In the book, Owens has successfully captured the feeling of a full relationship with God. For example, here is one quote from the book:

Stretching his hands upon the earth floor, he groaned deeply. There were times when no words could express his thoughts and emotions. But he knew that his Maker, the One with absolute knowledge of him, was able to understand and interpret. Enoch’s cries were never ignored and an indescribable sense of love and peace would often flood his being. He had the inner assurance that Holy God, the Almighty Creator of the universe and Father of his soul was not only listening but present and waiting to respond.

Some of my favorite lines convey one main theme of the book–the sinful nature of man and God’s judgement:

“Were the angels to blame for leaving their given domain, or man for believing and following a lie?” Enoch considered the question but concluded that all had fallen. All were equally guilty and no one had escaped the effects.

While the dialog in the beginning of the book was a bit stilted at times, this mostly disappeared somewhere near the middle of the book and I found the book flowed well from that point on.

Owens has graciously granted an interview, as follows:

What led you to write The Ninth Generation?

As best as I can calculate, the year for the novel was 3,017 B.C., the same year that Enoch vanished. A lot of mystery surrounds the record of this epic period – involving angels, giants, leviathan, and people of great age. I suppose the project started with a desire to imagine the fascinating pre-flood earth, and to explore the mystery of Genesis 6 – those references to the Nephilim – what it was like living at that time. The protagonist turned out to be Noah’s father, Lameck, whose name means “conqueror”, and his mentor, his own grandfather, Enoch – the one who walked with God. Teaching at a high-school and having a teenage son had given me a heart for communicating critical spiritual truths in a way that would be fast moving and entertaining – a unique adventure. But it had to be far more. The Ninth Generation: Conquering the Giants was a project not just initiated, but executed through prayer. This was vital for the foundational truths to be woven into the story. It also helped to have the encouragement of friends and a family business that allowed the creative time necessary for such a book.

I see you and your family served as missionaries in the former USSR as well as pastors in the United States. How did these experiences affect the writing of The Ninth Generation?

There were things I had studied about faith and God’s provision within the Bible, but until we left our world behind and stepped onto the plane with our infant son headed to Latvia (and two years later moved to Moscow), they were only theoretical truths. I discovered that surrender and availability brings understanding of God’s will – a necessary key to writing from the heart. Such experiences definitely helped me later to envision what my characters felt when facing dangers and disappointments, and the ageless pathways employed by people of faith. Russians are by nature more intense and aggressive than most cultures, which translates into highly-charged worship among the converted – it was a fresh and vital experience. They were so expressive of their love that they even brought flowers in sub-zero winter. Discovering our worldwide family in Christ was invaluable.

I also see you mentioned your father was a wordsmith. What kind of influence did he have on your writing?

The memory of my father seated with a behemoth dictionary at his side was enough to remind me to carefully choose the right word. His poetic gift, disciplined work ethic and sense of humor probably continue to influence me more than I realize.

Who are your favorite authors and how have they affected your writing?

Frank Peretti played a most significant part in showing me how spiritual warfare can effectively work within a novel. Another was Dr. Henry M. Morris in his exposition of Genesis from a scientific perspective. Others are Randy Alcorn, Joel Rosenberg and Victor Hugo (Les Miserables).

Are you working on any new projects or ministries?

The Ninth Generation embraces an ancient people and an epic period bracketed by creation and the flood, not the sort of book that starts a series. It was one of a kind. At this time I have no plans for another but that’s not to say it won’t happen. I love to write and am experimenting with articles on various online sites. I see it all as ministry.

Is there anything else you would like to say to your readers?

I would enjoy any comments or questions, even if it involves a controversial area of Biblical interpretation. In my research for the novel, I gleaned as much as I could first from the Old and New Testaments, then also delved into the Books of Enoch and a few other apocryphal works in an attempt to better understand the antediluvian age and the mysterious references to the Nephilim. Although the story is classified as fiction, I believe that it might well have happened.

How can readers find you on the web and order a copy of The Ninth Generation?

The website for the novel is www.TheNinthGeneration.com. There is more information with some helpful links for previewing and purchasing, readers’ reviews, and contact information on that site. The novel is available through the publisher, Xulon Press, as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, and any local bookstore with online connections.

My thanks to John Owens for providing me a PDF for review.