CFB Monday News Brief:

New Spec Fiction Publisher

Marcher Lord Press, a new publishing company based in Colorado Springs, Colo., plans to release its Christian fantasy and science fiction novels next October. Founder, former literary agent, 13 year industry vet, Jeff Gerke.

"I've always loved Christian speculative fiction-Christian fantasy, science fiction, time travel, supernatural thrillers, the works," Gerke said. "But I was always frustrated that these novels seemed to get short shrift in the industry. And so I decided to do something about it. - Gerke

Fantasy author steers movie watchers from Golden Compass
Best-selling children's fantasy author G.P. Taylor has issued an open letter to Americans warning of the dangers of the forthcoming movie The Golden Compass, an adaptation of British author Philip Pullman's novel Northern Lights (Scholastic,) controversial for its anti-Catholic themes. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, The Golden Compass is slated to be released Dec. 7 in theaters nationwide. In an e-mail message this week, Taylor, who lives in Scarborough, England, said that the reason he wrote Shadowmancer (Charisma House/Penguin Putnam) and the other books in the series was because of Pullman and "the damage that his books were likely to do to the Christian church."

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Blair Underwood & BET's NEW Urban Ministry Narrative Series BET has chosen Blair Underwood to narrate its new, weekly series "Exalted." The show explores the lives of African American ministers as they prepare their sermons, lead their congregation, and perform weekly ministerial duties while at the same time deal with the challenges of everyday life. The program airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Steeple Hill Harvest Festival
Join Steeple Hill Authors as the celebrate with online games and chats. From Oct. 22-26.

CBS13 Sacramento's Apology to Tyler Perry
Last week, Tyler Perry sent out a request and a vent regarding his interview at CBS 13 last week when Mar, S. Allen, the entertainment reporter made barbs at Janet Jackson. This week the newstation gormally apologized to both Perry and Jackson. In an excerpt from Perry's message regarding the incident:

I'm sorry for that last email about the interview on the Sacramento TV station. I mean for the way that it started out. I try not to bring you any negativity in these emails, but I needed to vent to someone who would understand my plight. I mean I took a beating on that press tour. But the more they tried to get me down the more you all had my back. WOW!!! So much so that not only did millions of you pile into those 2,000 screens last weekend but after you all saw that interview that Janet and I did; you started an email campaign that ended in this man going on air and giving an apology. He got so many emails that it crashed the computer system at the TV station. The other employees couldn't get emails from what I understand. - Tyler Perry

NEW!! LI Historical Line

This new brand in the Steeple Hill imprint is a series of historical romances featuring Christian characters facing the many challenges of life and love in a variety of historical time periods.Set to launch in February 2008, we're excited to have this brand new addition!

My Soul Cries Out Tour
Urban Christian fiction author and one of my write-or-die chicks, Sherri Lewis will be on tour in Maryland and Texas through November for the My Soul Cries Out Tour.
If you have news that is related to Christian Fiction or Christian entertainment please hit me up at vidae at writing dot com. Thanks.

The White Witch vs My Flame Wielding Angel

"There is in every person an inward sea, and in that sea there is an island and on that island there is an altar, and standing guard before that altar is 'the angel with the flaming sword.' Nothing can get by that angel to be placed upon the altar unless it has the mark of your inner authority. Nothing passes "the angel with the flaming sword" to be placed upon your altar unless it be a part of the fluid area of your consent.' This is your crucial link with the Eternal."

-an excerpt from With Head and Heart, an autobiography of Howard Thurman.

This weekend I took my Girl Scout troop to see the play adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe at our local community dinner theater. One of our big sister Girl Scouts--Lindsey-- who has a major part in the play is moving away, so the girls were excited to see her perform. It was a bittersweet moment for me. This young women epitomizes the kind of faithful, passionate Christian I hope for our daughter, Selah to become. I had hoped and prayed that Lindsey would be in Selah's life longer, because she looks up to her so much. And she was a fantastic cheap, babysitter.

So we ate and watched. As the story unfolded I watched our girls faces. They were locked in. They cried when Aslan sacrificed himself, and they cheered when the White Witch died. 9Lindsey was the White Witch, but they didn't mind!) But what happened next held my heart. I saw their minds churn until it ignited a flame that I know-- we parents know-- has always been inside them, that is inside all of us.

It is an eternal flame. Once turned on we cannot help, but seek it. We hunt it. We thirst for it. No matter what we do or how far away we think we are that light finds us and warms our very core every time. It is unstoppable only if we disconnect, drift away and get lost.

And that drifting concerns me. As an artist, a mother and a creation of the Master Artist why do I see myself as a vase when He created me to be an azalea? Why am I fighting my guardian angel? When did I become the White Witch?

Continue reading "The White Witch vs My Flame Wielding Angel" »