Those of you who know me as a reader, writer, and blogger, know that I’m almost exclusively contemporary in my choices. My only adventures in CSFF have been accidental when I read Robin Parrish’s first in his speculative fiction series (Relentless) which I didn’t like, and intentional when I chose to read Austin Boyd’s Mars Hill Trilogy because of Austin’s credentials, and I enjoyed it very much, although I wouldn’t classify it as full-out sci-fi.
On nearly every blog I visit, whether it’s a professional’s or a writer’s or a reader’s, there is either mention of CSFF material, the desire to read it or write it, or the interest in it by many professionals although their agency or publisher isn’t looking for it. Since there is so much apparent interest in it, and so many Christians who complain they can’t find enough of it, professional CBA editor Jeff Gerke decided to fill a hole in Christian fiction. His concept for his own Marcher Lord Press is so creative, courageous, and unique in today’s publishing arena, I had to give him some props on this contemporary lady’s blog because if you have any interest in speculative, fantasy, or science fiction, “He’s the man”! I admire his initiative and his faith, and I hope the Lord blesses his efforts to create quality products to a missed or under-rated niche of Christian readership.
Here’s Jeff.
1.Before you got the vision for Marcher Lord Press while you were still a respected editor for Christian publishing houses, what would have been your opinion of this endeavor? Has your opinion of like-minded small presses, POD options, and self-publishers changed?
That's an interesting question. I had heard of the occasional small press during that time, but they always turned out to be self-publishing outfits or they produced books with really awful covers (or both), so I didn't pay them much attention. I was probably wrong and no doubt overlooked some quality books, but that was my impression.
However, if I'd seen MLP back then and seen the covers and read its publishing model, I think I would've been very interested. I might've ultimately disregarded it, still clinging to the idea that the solution was to change CBA instead of circumventing it, but I definitely would've kept its ideas tucked away in my mind.
POD never had a negative connotation in my mind. I remember way back when reading a Publishers Weekly article about this new technology and the new publishing model it engendered. I was floored by the implications and the raw coolness of the POD printing mechanism, which can loosely be described as a glorified desktop printer that produces a bound book in the output tray. Incredible.
I don't think I ever looked down on small presses or self-publishers. What disappointed me was the perceived quality of some of the work I saw and the fact that some of the self-publishers seemed more interested in just getting their book out than learning the craft of writing fiction well enough to get published through a standard publishing company. It felt like a shortcut to the dark side of the Force. And the people doing these presses were usually not publishing industry veterans.
However, I realize that there are many kinds of books that had almost no outlet through regular Christian publishing companies. And some of them were very well-written. I can certainly understand the frustration that was no doubt the impulse behind many of these ventures. It is the same impulse that led to Marcher Lord Press.
2.Personally, I think it's a brilliant idea specializing in a genre which CBA publishers have not embraced as a whole but which seems to be in demand in substantial numbers. What are your projections over the next two years for Marcher Lord Press?
We're going to have to wait and see what God has decided to do. LOL. I have projections, but all of them are hypothetical and many of them are complete opposites of one another.
One projection is that I sell 40 books on Launch Day and then it peters out from there. Based on the number of people who have registered at the site and then based on the typical percentage of sales you get from a number like that, something between 15 and 40 books is a logical projection.
If that happened, I'd probably have to close my doors before even releasing a second set of novels.
Someone else has predicted that I'll sell 1,500 units before Christmas. If that happens, I will have more than broken even and will be able to save up toward a second list of books, due out in April 2009.
And of course God may have decided that Marcher Lord Press is to do very well indeed. You know: 10,000 units or more. I tend to doubt that, both because my model is geared for smaller numbers and because God doesn't usually allow my projects to go big like that. I suspect He has more to teach me about dependence, which is good with me.
However, we're attempting to adopt a special needs child from China, and we simply have nothing close to the money we need. Perhaps God will allow MLP to do well so that we can have the money we need for the adoption--plus also for many more release cycles in MLP. I don't know.
What's the line from Job and also the popular Christian song: "He gives and takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord."
3.I respect the clarity in your submissions instructions and your dedication to honoring the Christian worldview. Some CSFF fans and writers feel this genre is "most" able to reach the lost because of the ability to illustrate the principles of Christianity in unique ways from a different approach. Is this your feeling, and is this your purpose?
I agree. I think all the speculative genres--and fantasy, in particular--are the most useful storytelling genres for presenting the gospel. With speculative, you're automatically dealing with things beyond human, beyond the norm. You're usually dealing with ultimate good and evil, ideas that have a diminishing meaning in our everyday world. You're dealing with higher powers, issues outside death and life, and the very workings of our universe. It's natural to talk about God in such a context.
But is this my purpose for MLP? No. I have faith that God wants MLP to produce books. I have this feeling that He has a plan for it, though I don't know what. I've often asked Him why He wants MLP to go forward, because to me I can't point to any direct way that these books will be advancing the Kingdom. I'm not publishing Bibles or tracts, after all. I'm publishing entertainment.
I don't have a great answer to that question. But I do have this suspicion that 1) He has a plan for it, and 2) He likes it. :D Yeah, I actually think God likes speculative fiction. I know that sounds bizarre and I could be totally wrong, but sometimes I think it's His favorite kind of story. Or maybe it's just that Chariots of Fire thing that when I work on Marcher Lord Press I feel His pleasure. Either way, I believe God is up to something with MLP and I'm just glad to have a front row seat to find out what it is.
4.Do you do the routine writers' conferences now that you're the head dude of MLP, and do you believe in the current processes to publication?
I enjoy Christian writer's conferences. For one thing, God has given me the gift of teaching, so when I get the chance to get in front of Christian novelists and teach about something I'm so passionate about, something wonderful happens. I also enjoy these conferences because they give me the chance to encourage aspiring Christian novelists. I had so little encouragement when I was trying to get published with my own fiction (I've now had six of my novels published, writing as Jefferson Scott) that the little I got was like ingots of pure gold. So, to quote Postman, I try to hand out hope like it's candy in my pocket.
It was my great thrill in mid-September to be at the ACFW conference and have a number of writers come up to me with their published books, telling me that I'd encouraged them some years back and that it had helped them persevere until now they're published novelists themselves. What an incredible joy to me. Indeed, it made me think that that is what heaven may be like, having the opportunity to go up to people and thank them--and sometimes having people coming up to you for the same.
Christian writer's conferences afford opportunities to see my peers and friends in the Christian publishing industry (faculty at these conferences). Many of them I wouldn't see all year long if it weren't for these conferences. They give me the chance to meet new folks at CBA houses, as well, and continue the networking that is so important for my day job, which is as a freelance editor, book doctor, and writer.
I went to three Christian writer's conferences this year, and that's probably one too many. But I do enjoy them. And going to the ACFW conference this year was perfect timing because it allowed me to get in front of hundreds of Christian novelists and editors and agents and promote MLP just before launch.
Do I believe in the current process to publication? Hmm. Interesting question. I certainly believe in it in the sense of whether or not it works. I've been published through it and so have thousands of others, so I know it works.
I actually think the weeding-out and honing that goes on through the current acquisitions process in CBA is quite healthy. For the most part, only the titles that will have the best chance of succeeding in that market are chosen for publication. This usually has a correlation to the quality of the writing. It's true that sometimes great writing gets rejected and less polished writing gets published. It's also true that publishing houses sometimes take a chance on great writing in genres that don't typically sell well in CBA.
On the whole, better fiction has a better chance of getting published, and genres that succeed best in CBA have a better chance of getting published. So if you write in those genres and you write them well, you have a very high chance of getting noticed in CBA.
I think what you may be asking is whether or not the current acquisitions process is serving everyone. Certainly it is not. What CBA publishing has done very well is figure out what is the largest bloc of book-buyers in white, American, Evangelical churches, and give that group of ladies what they want. If Christian publishing is a niche (and it is) then this is the largest portion of that niche. We can all easily identify portions of Christendom that are not included in that bloc, but no one can fault CBA publishers for going for the biggest piece of the pie. That's smart business.
The opportunity we have now, in what I'm calling the age of the small press, is to begin serving the other portions of that niche that are currently not being served. With small presses we can begin to fill those vacuums and provide books that are precisely to the liking of Christians who are essentially disenfranchised by CBA publishing.
That's what I hope to do with Marcher Lord Press. We'll have to see what God has decided to do with it all. ;-)
Check out Jeff Gerke and Marcher Lord Press. It’s worth a visit even if you’re like me and don’t prefer this niche market.
Father, continue to bless Jeff in all that he does to honor and follow you. Encourage him, stengthen him, and shine your glorious face upon him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments