At last we’re ready to gather news for the next issue of Latest In Spec. We’re looking for information specific to speculative fiction, with the idea that whatever appears in Latest In Spec can promote your work as well as the genre. You do not need to be a LIS subscriber to give us your information.

Reminder: we want to avoid repetition. Contests, book releases, and author appearances need pre-event buzz. Therefore, those items may appear more than once. Other items such as blog information, interviews, and reviews should be one-time announcements

* Send your news to Rebecca LuElla Miller: rluellam@earthlink.net by Friday, November 6, 2009.

Follow the steps below:

1) Identify the category your news fits in.
2) Provide all the necessary news in the correct format as shown in the example. Improper formatting may exclude your item from appearing. (Please be sure to give the EXACT LINK to a blog post).

Categories and examples:

Member Profile (CSFF or LGG)
Up to 250 words about you and your writing, along with a picture.

Favorite Bookstore
Example:
State
Store name
Address
URL (if available)

Author Appearances

Book Signings
Speaking Engagements
Teaching Engagements
Example:
I. M. Author:
Wonderful Little Book Store
City, State
April 7, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Book Releases (include a book that will release within the next 3 months—building pre-release buzz is important)
Example:
Book Title by I. M. Author
Publisher (May, 2009)
The premise of the story in 15 words or less.

Contract News
Example:
I. M. Author with Best Publisher, a three book deal.
Description of book or series.
Fall 2009

Reviews (ones you have done; ones featuring your book)
Example:
Great Fantasy by B. A. Writer – Outstanding Publishing House (April 1, 2009)
Reviewed by Top Blogger at Noteworthy Blog.
Exact Link

Interviews (ones you’ve conducted; ones featuring you)
Example:
Famous Author by Top Blogger at Noteworthy Blog,
Exact Link

What’s on the Web (new web site or new section; genre blog information you wish to announce)
Example:
My Sci Fi Novel book trailer posted at Noteworthy Blog.
Exact Link

Contests
Example:
Imaginary Annual Fiction Contest
First Prize: $00.00
$5.00 Entry Fee. Electronic submission .
Deadline: February 10, 2009
Contest details at Exact Link

Awards
Example:
“My Short Story” by I. M. Author
Semifinalist in Super Contest
Exact Link

Podcasts or Web chats
Example:
I. M. Author’s Web Chat
Topic, guest speaker, or any other special information
Saturday, May 26, 6:00 pm (CET)
Exact Link

And-Then-There-Is-This (Miscellaneous)
Example:
Whatever else you have to announce that doesn’t fit into the other categories.
Any pertinent details.
I. M. Author
Exact Link

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Becky

According to the Christian Fantasy Review, when thinking of Rebecca Ellen Kurtz’s Sons of God, one should “think of Twilight, the Mummy movies or Indiana Jones full of paranormal activity.  But this one has a Biblical worldview.”

A former high school history teacher, Rebecca has become a television writer and producer, historical film consultant, screenwriter, film producer, and author.  Her film production company and small press, Ephesus LLC, chooses its projects on its extreme niche of discovering and interpreting historical and theological mysteries.

Rebecca currently writes on the Supernatural Blog, the Godly Goth Review, and many e-zine sites.  Her script trilogy, Sons of God, has become a five novel series and has already attracted another producer and casting director.  She is currently writing Aryan State for three interested producers and awaiting the final results of 1636 in script competitions before continuing development deals.

To one Christian Barnes & Noble manager, Sons of God is a perfect gift for any teen who is being drawn into the rapidly growing genre of Twilight, House of Night, and other YA books in the horror/occult genre.  Blessedly, the Sons of God series is pro-God and anti-occult.  Although just getting into several B&N stores, Sons of God has already made it to Amazon’s Best-Seller List several times.

Rebecca has an extensive web presence, including pages at Twitter – http://twitter.com/REKurtz, Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/reksonsofgod, and Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Selling-Author-Rebecca-Ellen-Kurtz/84457608680?ref=ts

In June CSFF was privileged to tour Vanish by Tom Pawlik, the novel that won the 2009 Christy Award – Visionary Category. Over 30 bloggers posted more than 50 articles. The July tour for The Enclave by Karen Hancock ran from July 20-22 with 46 blogs signed up to participate.

Looking ahead:

*  August – Offworld by Robin Parrish (adult science fiction)
*  September – The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita Paul (YA fantasy – tentative)
*  October – Haunt of Jackals by Eric Wilson (adult supernatural suspense – tentative)
*  November – Curse of the Spider King, Book 1 of The Berinfell Prophecies by Wayne Thomas Batson/Christopher Hopper (YA fantasy – tentative)
*  December – Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter (HarperCollins Children’s Books) by R.J. Anderson (general market middle grade fantasy – tentative)

To learn more about CSFF or to become a member, stop by http://www.csffblogtour.com. To purchase any of the past or future books featured on the CSFF Blog Tour stop by the CSFF Book Store.

CSFF’s Newest Members

*alihsee
http://alihsee-reads.blogspot.com

*Emmalyn Edwards

http://home.earthlink.net/~wyverns/

*Dona Watson

http://www.fantasyandfaith.com

*Elizabeth Williams

http://kerani-in-the-world.blogspot.com/

Speaking

*Scott M. Sandridge  as a panelist at Context 22

http://www.contextsf.org

Doubletree Hotel

175 Hutchinson

Columbus, OH, 43235

August 28-30

Book Signing

*Bryan Davis

Barnes & Noble

75 BS Hood Drive

Mississippi State, MS 39762

Thursday, July 23 From 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Barnes & Noble

The Mall at Barnes Crossing

1001 Barnes Crossing Road, # 104

Tupelo, MS 38804

Friday, July 24 From 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Contests

*Sons of God by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz Book Giveaway Contest

Details at http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/blog/?page_id=484

Awards

*Christy Award – Visionary

Vanish by Tom Pawlik – Tyndale (June 2008)

http://www.christyawards.com/winners.html

*CSFF Top Tour Blogger Award

June 2009: Steven Rice

http://ansric.blogspot.com/

*Clive Staples Award Poll and Readers’ Choice Practice Survey

http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/thoughts-on-the-clive-staples-award/

http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/clive-staples-award-update/

*Sons of God by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz hits Amazon’s Best Selling List for Horror/Occult

*The Godly Goth – review site in search of

God-fearing romantic horror and supernatural thrillers

http://rebeccaellenkurtz.com/GodlyGoth/

If your book or a book you know fits this genre,

contact Rebecca at rek@rebeccaellenkurtz.com.

*Sons of God by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz (Ephesus Books – March 2009) available for review

Request a free review copy at rek@ephesusmedia.com

*The Codebearers Series, Book 2: Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire

by The Miller Brothers – Warner Press (September, 2009)
Hunter Brown returns to Solandria where he must find “the Seven” and save the Resistance.

*The Enclave by Karen Hancock
Bethany House Publishers (July, 2009)
When science plays God, can one man summon the courage to stand in its way?

*Sons of God by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz

Ephesus Books (March 2009)

According to the ancients, our whispers of ghosts, demons and vampires come from the Sons of God, the 1/2 angelic N’filim race found in the Bible.

*The Chronicles of Soone: Rise of Lucin by James Somers

Grace Publishing (2009)

In this sequel to Heir to the King, Lucin takes a new host body and sets out to destroy the new Barudii king and his family.

*Hallowed Be Thy Name by James Somers

Grace Publishing (2009)

Dr. Trenton Hallowed uses himself as a guinea pig for his genetic mutagen experiments only to unleash the darkness within.

*Perdition’s Gate by James Somers

Grace Publishing (2009)

When Jason Night learns the organization he works for has targeted the woman he loves for termination, he sets out to find answers at all costs.

*When the Sky Fell by Mike Lynch & Brandon Barr

Silver Leaf Books (May, 2009)

An ancient evil has sought unquestioned dominion over the galaxy, and they’ve found…us.

*Join the UNDERGROUND: the RPG by Mike Roop

The Writers’ Café Press (July 2009)

Based on Frank Creed’s popular sci-fi novel, this interactive-fiction lets you adventure in the futuristic underground of Flashpoint.

*Tom Pawlik by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/5-questions-for-tom-pawlik.html

*Brandon Barr and Mike Lynch by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation (in 2 parts)

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-with-brandon-barr-and-mike.html

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-with-mike-lynch-and-brandon.html

*Rebecca Ellen Kurtz by Karina Fabian at Virtual Book Tour de ‘Net

http://virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com/2009/06/sons-of-god-by-rebecca-ellen-kurtz.html

*Conlan Brown by Jeff Gerke at WhereTheMapEnds,
http://www.wherethemapends.com/Interviews/current_interview.htm

*Frank Creed by Derek Gilbert “A View From the Bunker”on PID Radio

Listen to the interview at http://www.pidradio.com/?p=434

*Rebecca Ellen Kurtz on the Author’s Insight (podcast)

http://www.emeraldbookcompany.com/authors/kurtz/

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9bd904284f9d8228694e

*When the Sky Fell by Mike Lynch and Brandon Barr – Silver Leaf Books (May 2009)

Reviewed by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/07/when-sky-fell.html

*Nightmare’s Edge by Bryan Davis – Zondervan (May 2009)

Reviewd by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/nightmares-edge.html

*By Darkness Hid by Jill WIlliamson – Marcher Lord Press (April 2009)

Reviewed by Kim Ford at Window to My World

http://berlysue.blogspot.com/2009/06/by-darkness-hid-blood-of-kings-book-one.html

Reviewed by Janna Ryan at Cornhusker Academy

http://cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com/2009/06/by-darkness-hid-book-review.htm

*Sons of God by Rebecca Ellen Kurtz – Ephesus Books (March 2009)

Reviewed by Phyllis Wheeler at The Christian Fantasy Review

http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/2009/04/27/sons-of-god-by-rebecca-ellen-kurtz-a-review/

*Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J.Anderson – Harper Collins (2009)
Reviewed by Phyllis Wheeler at the Christian Fantasy Review
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/2009/07/07/faery-rebels-spell-hunter-by-rj-anderson-a-review/

*Cry for the Moon by William Woodall – Jeremiah Press (self-published – 2009)
Reviewed by Phyllis Wheeler at the Christian Fantasy Review
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/2009/06/28/cry-for-the-moon-by-william-woodall-a-review/

*Isle of Fire by  Wayne Thomas Batson – Thomas Nelson (September 2008)

Reviewed by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/isle-of-fire.html

*Vanish by Tom Pawlik – Tyndale (June 2008)

Reviewed by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/vanish.html

Reviewed by Rebecca LuElla Miller at A Christian Worldview of Fiction

http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/csff-blog-tour-day-2-a-review-of-vanish/

Reviewed by Rachel Starr Thomson at Inklings

http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/06/a-review-vanish-day-2/

*The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux by Clifford Leigh, OakTara (2008)
Reviewed by Phyllis Wheeler at the Christian Fantasy Review
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/2009/07/03/the-wordsmith-the-kid-and-the-electrolux-by-clifford-leigh-a-review/

*This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti – Crossway Books (revised edition, 2003)

Reviewed by Jill Williamson at Novel Teen Book Reviews

http://novelteen.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/review-this-present-darkness-by-frank-e-peretti

*The Door in the Dragon’s Throat by Frank Peretti – Crossway Books (1990)

Reviewed by Chawna Schroeder at Imagination Investigation

http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/door-in-dragons-throat.html