Tag: RealmMakers

A Time to Speak – An Interview With Author Nadine Brandes

Post author By Amy Brock McNew
Post date November 10, 2015
2 Comments on A Time to Speak – An Interview With Author Nadine Brandes

We are privileged to have Nadine Brandes, author of the extraordinary ‘Out of Time’ series, with us. Book One, ‘A Time to Die’ is available, and two weeks ago, Book Two, ‘A Time to Speak’, released to the public.

I caught up with Nadine one afternoon soon after book two’s release.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us today, Nadine.

Okay, first, tell us a little about yourself. Also, give us a little known fact about you or something that might surprise people.

Thanks so much for having me, Amy! 🙂 I’m an adventurer who loves to write stories soaked in imagination. My day job is freelance editing (which basically means I get to read ALL DAY!) 😉 I’m passionate about pursuing life, seeking shalom, and eating Oreos. I currently live in Idaho, my heart is in Missouri, and hubby (aka: dragon knight) and I want to live in Russia someday.
And, in total transparency, I’m a huge dork and Harry Potter super-nerd who loves her soapboxes. 😛

I’m with you on having a passion for finding shalom, and the Oreos, too! Life is better with both. Russia is a little chilly for me, but I can see where it would have it’s appeal.

I’m curious, where did the idea for the Out of Time series originally come from?

Though I don’t like being cold, hubby and I have a heart for the people in Russia — hence the hopes to move there at least for some part of our lives. 🙂

The origin of the Out of Time Series came when I was in graduate school. An acquaintance of mine passed away very suddenly while doing ministry in Africa. He was my same age and that was the first time, I think, that I realized my life might be short and I didn’t know it.
His death caused me to ask the question: “What am I doing with my life?” And if I knew how long I had to live, would I live differently?
I’ve always processed through stories, so with a heavy life-changing question swirling in my mind, I poured it out into a store and, thus, A Time to Die got its first draft…ultimately transforming my life and mindset in the process.

I get that. I think the most profound and moving stories come from our real life experiences. From using our own trials, pains, and questions, or working through them on the page. A Time to Die also had an intense effect on me as well. I could see myself in the story, and it made me look deeper. Often, seeing things I didn’t want to. But that’s what the great stories do. They resonate deeply with the reader, leaving them changed.

Now, a quick off the wall question, because I’m so random sometimes! Coke or Pepsi, and any particular flavor?

Coke. Normal. Because it keeps me from getting airsick. This is what I drink every time I’m on the airplane. Pepsi is too sweet for me. 😀 Other than that, I don’t really drink pop.

Yay! Another Coke fan. We can remain friends. 😉

Oh phew! 😉

Everyone knows that we as writers tend to furiously devour others’ works when we aren’t knee deep in our own, or when we need a break. What book is your go to, the one you could read over and over? And, who is your favorite character from any of the books you’ve read?

Harry Potter is a definite go-to. It shaped me into a fantasy-lover and devourer of all things speculative. Also, The Hunger Games trilogy for dystopian, because it inspired me to write a dystopian with hope in it. I also go to the Mark of the Lion Series, which leads me to my favorite character — Hadassah. She’s a character who makes me want to live, to love, and to seek God more passionately.

Harry Potter and Hunger Games are a couple of my favorites as well. And I love that there is that thread of hope and faith in A Time to Die. That’s what sets Christian Speculative fiction apart from the general market, I think. Speculative stories tend to be dark and although some still are, like my own, we as Christian writers offer that bit of light. All is not lost, there is always hope, because we have a God who is bigger than it all.

Mark of the Lion series is on my TBR pile. I keep hearing excellent things about it.

Speaking of characters, here’s a question that could be tough for an author to answer. Who is your favorite character from your own books?

That /is/ a tough question! Obviously, I lean toward Parvin because she’s the main character and I totally relate to her the most. But, if I were to enter the story myself and be besties with a character, I’d want it to be Solomon Hawke. He’s easily my favorite and, if you’ve read A Time to Speak (book 2) then you’ll get a glimpse why. 😉
I base “favorites” off of whether I’d be friends with them in real life. Solomon is that character.

Ooh, yes, Solomon is one of my favorites, too! I’ve only read the first book yet (the other is waiting for me to get my to do list caught up), but I’ve seen enough of him to know he’s someone I want to get to know better.

I kind of felt for Jude, though. Seemed to me like he got the rough end of life. He was prickly, but still relatable.

Yes, Jude would definitely be my next favorite, although I didn’t like him when I first wrote him. Isn’t that odd? He was the hardest to get right, but once I got it he becomes more and more attached to my heart every time I re-read book one.

I’ve had characters of my own that, starting out, I thought would be my least favorite, or least likeable. Then they turned out to be the ones I adored. It is odd! It’s like they grow on us when we’re not paying attention.I know book two just released, and I’m curious, how many books do you see in the Out of Time series?

There will be three. 🙂 I never intended it to be a trilogy, it was originally intended as a standalone but then the story changed a bit and I had to make a second book…which grew into a third book. But it’s officially finished at book three. I can guarantee this because I’ve just finished the 5th draft. 😉

Awesome! I was hoping there would be at least one more.

Okay, one final question that I ask everyone I interview. What is your favorite verse? The power verse that gets you through. And what is your favorite quote?

I guess that’s two questions! lol

My current favorite verse is Isaiah 60:1-3:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

I love this verse because I feel like it encompasses our calling as His people and the best way we can live a full life. It’s just…powerful. 🙂

I don’t know a lot of quotes, but my favorite writing-related quote is from the movie Finding Forrester:

“You write the first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head.” That’s so true. If we don’t start with our heart, how can it minister to the hearts of others?
Just a good reminder to keep my heart in the right place. 🙂

(Nadine cosplaying as Parvin)

Exactly. Great verse and I love the quote. What’s the saying? No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. So true.

Thank you so much, Nadine, for sharing your heart with me. I appreciate you taking the time!

I’ve never heard that saying — how neat! I must remember that.

Thank you so much for having me. This was a lot of fun! 🙂 And a question for the reader:

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

You can find Nadine online at: http://nadinebrandes.com

On Twitter at: @NadineBrandes

And on Facebook at: http://Facebook.com/NadineBrandesAuthor/

Her books, the ‘Out of Time’ series, are available at most fine book retailers.

Tags #Adventure, #ATimeToDie, #ATimeToSpeak, #Christianfiction, #Dystopian, #NadineBrandes, #OutOfTimeSeries, RealmMakers

Author Christian Fiction Science Fiction Speculative Fiction

Interview with author John Otte

Post author By Amy Brock McNew
Post date October 13, 2015
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Today, we have a special guest on Guts on the Page. Author John Otte’s latest novel, ‘The Hive’, releases on the 16th and I am happy to be part of the blog tour.

In the midst of his crazy busy life, John took the time to answer a few questions for us and give a little insider information. So, without further ado, I give you John Otte!

HI, John. Thanks for sharing with us today. Would you care to tell us a little about your world?

Well, it’s roughly spherical, although the forces of its spin and gravity and all that tend to make it bulge at the equator, which is 12,742 kilometers around, and…

Oh, wait, you mean my little corner of the world, don’t you? My bad.

It’s okay, I walked into that one!

I like to say that I’m a pastor, husband, father, author, and geek, although not necessarily in that order. It’s hard to sum a person’s life up in just a few titles. But those five do a pretty good job of talking about the things I do and what I am. Balancing all of those isn’t easy, so I’m getting more and more adept at metaphorical juggling.

I think most of us can identify with juggling, especially writers!

I’ve heard that your latest novel, The Hive, is a sequel of sorts to Numb. Can you tell us how you came up with this story world and its characters?

Well, the story world itself came first. Many years ago, I published my first short story in an online magazine called “Dragons, Knights, and Angels”. Shortly after they accepted my story, they ran a contest where they challenged people to write a short story that used all three elements from their title, and they specifically said they wanted sci-fi authors to come up with stories as well.

So, I came up with a story called “The Dragon’s Heart”, but as I wrote it, I realized that the story was big enough to be a novel. I tried to write it as part of my first NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) project. The story fizzled after I reached 50,000 words, but one of the things that emerged were these two intergalactic governments, the Ministrix and Praesidium.

Shortly thereafter, the characters for “Numb” popped into my head and I went from there. And when that was published, I kind of asked myself “What would happen next?” I think. To be completely honest, I don’t remember where I got the idea for “The Hive”. Kind of weird in hindsight, but there you go.

I don’t think it’s strange at all. Often, stories take on lives of their own and we as writers simply follow along.

The Hive is, I feel, a fabulous example of what science fiction should be, complete with tech speak and intriguing inventions. What kind of research went into writing something like that?

I hat to admit this, but very little. I mean, I would look stuff up to make sure that I had a veneer of plausibility to it, but I like to think that what I write is more “space opera” than hard science fiction. So, as long as the technobabble is consistent, I think it works.

Well, whichever way you went about it, this story definitely works!

Are you planning on writing more books from this story and making it a trilogy or series?

I actually am working on a new book that would continue a story thread that’s woven through the first two books. And hopefully, this new book would be the first in a trilogy that would cause a lot of chaos for both the Ministrix and the Praesidium.

Ooh, can’t wait to read that!

What do you hope the reader will take away from The Hive? Was it written strictly for entertainment, or did you have a clear message in mind?

A little from column A, a little from column B. I can’t say much about my original message. It’s definitely in there, but if I talk abut what it is, it’ll give away the ending. Let’s say that by the end of the last page, I think people will understand what part of the story is about. But as I was working on this story, I realized that there was second message that was emerging about what the role of the Church is in the world. I tried to draw a parallel between The Hive and certain segments of Christian society.

I like that. It speaks to the strength of the message, I think, if it is so tightly interwoven that it would be a spoiler to mention it. To have that solid connection to the real world is also vital, even in speculative fiction.

One random question before we get back to the serious stuff. Coke or Pepsi and why? Any flavors?

Coke. Cokecokecokecokecoke! Did I mention Coke? I’m the guy that, when I’m at a restaurant and ask for Coke and the server asks, “Is Pepsi okay?” my immediate reaction is “No.”

I knew there was a reason I liked you. Kindred spirits!

Christian Speculative fiction has been getting more attention lately, not only fro the Christian fiction market, but the general market as well. Yet, Christian spec fic still lags well behind mainstream Christian fiction titles in sales. Why do you think that is, and do you have any ideas of your own about how we can go about reaching a larger market?

Oi, that’s a good question. I think part of it is market inertia. For a long time, speculative fiction just didn’t sell well in the Christian market. That created a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts: there isn’t that much spec fic out there because it doesn’t sell well, so it doesn’t sell well since there’s so little out there. That trend is changing (I hope), but we still have a long way to go.

The best way to continue the change, I think, is to do our best to support the speculative stories that are out there. Buy the books, talk them up on social media, recommend them to friends, that sort of thing. There’s no magic bullet; it’s just matter of getting the word out.

Oi, good answer. I couldn’t agree more.

What do you think stories like The Hive, and other spec fic titles, have to offer that other genres don’t?

Oh, boy, another really good question. Every genre of Christian fiction can bring something to the table in illustrating what our faith is all about. And speculative fiction can certainly do that as well. For one thing, it can help illustrate the realities of spiritual warfare in a vivid and engaging way. It also reflects our Creator’s own heart, since He allows His creation to be creators in their own right as well. Speculative fiction creates unique and amazing worlds for people to explore and enjoy.

I couldn’t have said that better. And as an author of supernatural stories with a high focus on spiritual warfare, I would agree that the visualization of such things in spec fic can be more in depth and descriptive.

What made you decide to write Speculative fiction, instead of, say, westerns or thrillers?

It’s just a matter of writing what I enjoy. I love reading speculative fiction, so it’s only natural that I gravitate toward that genre when it comes to writing. I can’t imagine writing anything else. Well, I take that back. I have tried writing mysteries and even an ill-advised Biblical fiction book. But I think I’ll stick with speculative fiction.

I agree, it’s definitely a love for the genre with me as well.

Finally, I have a question I ask everyone I interview. What is your favorite verse or favorite quote? Or both if you wish.

Oooo, never ask a pastor if he has a favorite verse! I actually have a top ten list. If I had to pick just one, though, it’d probably be Romans 8:28-29. But my favorite non-Biblical quote is actually something I saw on a bumper sticker once: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans”. I normally don’t try to base my theology off a bumper sticker, but in my experience, that is most certainly true.

John, I’d like to thank you again for taking the time to hang out with me here today. I’ve enjoyed the conversation!

If you’d like to see more from John, find him on his website at: http://johnwotte.com

Facebook at : http://Facebook.com/authorjohnwotte

And Twitter: @JohnWOtte

Tags #Adventure, #Christianfiction, #JohnWOtte, #Sci-Fi, #Speculative Fction, #TheHive, RealmMakers

Christian Fiction Speculative Fiction

Citzens of the Realm

A fantastical tale of the strange, wondrous, and imaginative people of Realm Makers

Arrival: Day One

When I first happened upon the current village of this nomadic, creative tribe, I wasn’t entirely certain what to expect. Though I had travelled many miles to find them, I grew anxious. My hands were clammy, and my heart beat a spastic rhythm from its new location in my stomach. I feared that territorial disagreements may erupt. Many tribes do not take kindly to interlopers. I steeled my resolve, prepared to hold my ground and fight for my place among them.

My trepidation was somewhat quieted upon encountering two familiar faces. Much to my delight, they greeted me with open arms. While they may have frightened those who did not understand their culture, these kind and lovely females radiated a kindred spirit to me.

Upon securing a place to reside for my stay, I met those who would be sharing my dwelling. They too were welcoming, and I recognized them immediately as those I would call friend and sister. As our stay continued our bond grew, creating a sense of family. Albeit a sarcastic, teasing, and loud one.

As the evening continued, I was ushered into the main gathering area to meet with the rest of the clan. Again, the maniacal lightning bugs in my belly began their dance. This insane ballet only gained fervor when I realized I would be meeting some of the guardians of the group. People I had long admired and held in high regard. But as we chatted, I discovered that they were most gracious and humorous, and saw no rank among their people. Each person present was treated as though they were on equal footing, no matter battle experience or age. This was a delightful surprise.

Acclimation: Day Two

The following morning, my training commenced. I was regaled with stories of adventure, and instructed on how to create my own. To embrace the calling, talent, and dreams given to me by the Great Author, and use them to spread His message in an engaging, thought-provoking manner. The instruction was unparalleled. It was as if every member of this community wanted to see me succeed in my quest, and were willing to give of themselves to see that I did so.

In between training sessions, I was able to meet the rest of the clan. I discovered that I had much in common with these people. More so than with any other group I had come into contact with. Each tribal member was kind, warm, and welcoming. They absorbed me into their family as if I had always been one of them. The way they folded me into their ranks was heartwarming. I will feel forever connected to these special people, and always grateful for their kinship.

To close out this first day of instruction and fellowship, a party was thrown. Everyone came dressed in their native apparel. It was fascinating! The odd nature of the clothing may have been off-putting to some, but I found myself enjoying the variety and joining in with gusto.

Animation: Day Three

The final day of my visit with this amazing people was bittersweet. We received yet more invaluable instruction, enjoyed our last moments of camaraderie until the gathering reconvened next year, and were treated to a wonderfully motivating call to action. We were told to Go! To be bold, and remember that we could do whatever was required.

We were sent out into the world to use what we had learned to further this precious realm of ours. My heart filled to bursting and my mind reeled with possibilities. I had entered this camp a frightened, solitary warrior. I didn’t know if those I yearned to glean knowledge from and battle alongside would accept me into their elite and wonderfully weird band of soldiers. I left as a member of a mighty army. Fully outfitted with the weapons I would require to conquer for the realm, and the support and kinship of brothers and sisters as dedicated to this cause as I.

Now, I leave you with a few words from masters of our craft.

May we STOP doubting, GO forth boldly, and be prepared when our Father says “your turn”!

May we always be on guard and never assume, as our enemy will be more likely to show up in a bonnet than with fangs!

May we remember that our genre of the odd and magical, like no other, reflects the creativity of the Great Author!

And may we always remember we can do whatever it takes, because Robert Liparulo said we could!

Long live the Realm Makers, weavers of fantastical tales and messengers of the Word!

Tags #Adventure, #Christianfiction, #Fantasy, #Paranormal, #Sci-Fi, #Speculative Fction, #Supernatural, RealmMakers

Uncategorized

Battle Plans and Techno Thrillers

Post author By Amy Brock McNew
Post date July 27, 2015
No Comments on Battle Plans and Techno Thrillers

Welcome to Monday!

It’s a brand new week and I hope yours has started well. There’s a lot going on here at Guts on the Page!

~RealmMakers is around the corner!

Our entire household is abuzz getting me ready to attend my first ever RealmMakers Convention, a gathering of the Who’s Who of Christian Speculative Fiction.

– Proposals are being drafted.

-Edits are being polished off.

-My costume for the banquet is slowly coming together, with much help from the boys and my best friend.

-The boys are feverishly planning a trip to Toys-R-Us to outfit me for the Zombie Apocalypse Nerf War.

As you can see, there’s a lot of activity around here, and that’s just for starters!

~Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Contest

And the excitement doesn’t end there. My manuscript, REBIRTH, is a finalist in the Cascade! When I return from RealmMakers, I will find out if my baby won! So pray, keep your fingers crossed, and send good vibes my way. I have put my heart and soul, quite literally, into this work, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far I can take it.

And last, but certainly not least:

~The trailer for a new techno-thriller by Thomas Locke!

Being part of the launch team for Trial Run has been amazing! I will post my review of this fascinating read next week but, for now, I wanted to tease you with a sneak peak.

Trial Run will be available August 4th! You don’t want to miss this!

Don’t forget to head over to my Facebook page, Facebook.com/AmyBrockMcNewauthor, and give me a like. I love interacting with you guys!

Make your week one to remember, and keep fighting the good fight, friends.

Love and hugs.

Tags #Rebirth, #Speculative Fction, Cascade, Christian fiction, RealmMakers, Techno-Thriller, Thomas Locke