Newsletter 2008-April
Greetings. Update time once again. I have nothing grand and glorious to report, but I want to keep you current with the little things going on.
Writing. I’d hoped to have The Lore of Efrathah completed, but I’m still working on the revision of book three. It’s been slow going. By the way, I’ve retitled two of the three books. The trilogy opens with The Sword of Secrets, followed by Journey to Mithlimar, and concluds with The Battle for the Throne.
I’ve got the start of three other novels waiting in the wings. Sometimes I get excited about working on the new projects, but I know I’ll miss Efrathah. By now the place feels pretty real.
Apart from the novel work, I have two assignments for Victorian Homes magazine due early next month, so I’m focusing on those. I’m also developing a short story for another contest.
Publication. My blogging article came out in the February issue of Victorian Homes. This was my first piece in a national periodical.
In February, I covered four soccer playoff games, including the CIF Southern Section Division III girls’ finals, and those articles appeared in the Whittier Daily News.
Contests. “Haj,” the story I wrote for the Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition, ended up placing in the top twenty-five (number seventeen, out of 6000+ entries). The prize includes over $50 of books, and my name is listed on line and in the June issue (already out) of Writer’s Digest. In addition, “Haj” will appear in an anthology with the other winning entries. If, by any chance, you’re interested in purchasing a copy, they are available for $6.00. You may order on line at the Writer’s Digest Web site or send a check to 8th-Annual WD Short Short Story Collection, 700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990. Of course, you can always ask to borrow mine—I get a free copy.
Now I’m working on a longer story to enter in the Genre Short Story division of the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.
Editing. Currently I’m not working on any new projects.
Blog Tours. The Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour received mention in a recent article in Christian Retailing, the CBA industry periodical. CSFF has over a hundred members, and we continue to promote speculative fiction and the best authors and webzines in the genre.
Latest In Spec. This newsletter is designed to be the hub of Christian speculative fiction, informing readers of new books, author interviews, reviews, podcasts, contests, and much more. Growth is slow. As for books from a first time author, getting the word out to readers about this resource isn’t easy.
Speaking. I had a minor part dealing with the CSFF Blog Tour in a blogging seminar at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. Time was short, so I said less than what I prepared, but hopefully the handouts gave those in attendance a better idea of what we try to accomplish in CSFF.
Blogging. I never realized how much I would enjoy posting articles at A Christian Worldview of Fiction and at Speculative Faith. The writing, of course, is fun because I’m pontificating about writing, fantasy, or theology. But even more, I appreciate the community of writers. Many visit regularly and offer helpful insights, feedback, questions.
Wrap Up. I’m tempted to babble on about how well UCLA did in the NCAA basketball playoffs or how the Lakers are doing currently in the NBA playoffs, but I’ll restrain myself. This is, after all, an update about my writing, not my sports fanaticism. 
