Yes, very true Kay. For me I had a deadline and I didn't have the time to wait for publishers to look at my manuscript - I was told it could take 3-6 months. I had set a date to launch my book at a conference for which I was a speaker so I didn't want to miss that date. I elected to self-publish but found a publisher/press house that has a self-publishing arm - they still promote and get my book into stores but I've paid for the publishing and had control over what happens with how it all works.

Kathie, it's great to hear from you!

I have had a book idea (non-fiction) floating around in my head and in outline form for a long time. My husband says I should sit down and actually write the thing. I'm not sure what's holding me back, maybe the fear of rejection is just too strong. I guess the whole publishing world is changing, though, and there are more options than sending off a completed manuscript to a publisher, true?

So good to hear from you all! I didn't realise I wasn't subscribed to this list so have only just discovered your messages now.

I've read some of Frank Peretti's books Kay but not all yet. I do enjoy a good Christian fiction book and got totally wrapped up in the Left Behind series. I find I can't write fiction though - I never finish them! lol. But I can write non-fiction as it's always based on my own life experiences, or those I know and have plans to bring out another book next year, which is a sequel to my latest based on the Proverbs 31 Woman - you'll see it in my profile.

I run a writer's group in my home with members of my church and a couple of them are aiming to write Christian scifi and fantasy as well, so they'll happy to learn about others. They were worried they were alone - but not all of them are on the internet so I'll find a way to get them to come over and visit!

Margaret, Grace and Kathie, I really enjoyed reading your introductions!

I'm Kay. I've lived in the USA my whole life, first in Michigan, then Arizona from 1992 - 1998, and now Ohio. I've been a Christian since 1993.

I guess my tastes are kind of middle of the road. I enjoy Sci Fi as long as it is not too strange (my favorite is Hilltown by new author William J. Rogers) mystery/suspense, historical fiction, and biography. I like some of Frank Peretti's books quite a lot, but "House" was way too gross for me. I really enjoyed Jan Karon's Mitford series -- laughed out loud frequently and felt a "connection" to some of the characters.

I've started a blog, too, and am finding that to be a nice creative outlet. I want to do a lot more with that after my "busy season". I work in Retail so things are hectic until after Christmas Day.

I have been married for 8 1/2 years and we have a wonderful 7 year old son who is truly a miracle. It is unusual to have your first pregnancy/first child at the age of 40! But what a blessing it has been.

Margaret, I relate to your dream about a Tea House with a Reading Room! For about 10 years, I've dreamed of owning my own book store that would serve coffee and old-fashioned home-made pies and pastries. Odd, since I totally do not cook!

I'm Margaret, born and have lived my whole life in the state of Georgia in the US. The only thing I've had published over the years is random poetry, but I eat sleep and breathe Christian Fiction these days with a little cross stitch and quilting thrown in. I just cannot get enough of it. I enjoy some contemporary, but mostly historical stuff, and I'm starting in on the Sci-Fi Christian Fiction tract only recently. I'm a complete book junkie and it is my escape and antidepressant. I currently am not working, but I have two degrees Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and an Associate of Science. I think the dream is to open a tea house with a Christian Fiction reading room, but only time will tell. Oh, I'm 23 (as of last Sunday) and happily married living with my husband Daniel and our children two Cats, Hershey Kisses and Patches.

Hey there! Good to see everyone here. I'm Grace, I come from New Zealand but I'm currently gallivanting round the world. Will be here in Germany till next March, then Ireland and who knows what else :) I dream of opening a Christian bookshop once I get back to NZ, but none of this kitsch-and-CDs-stuff for me. My shop will be for fiction only!

I've been reading novels since I was five and writing them since I was nine (but trust me, you don't want to read that one!)... my first book, Faith Awakened, just came out in the last month and so far most people have really liked it. Admittedly it takes a particular kind of person to enjoy a sci-fi supernatural romance with a Christian slant...

I'm a member of the Lost Genre Guild, where many authors from all over the world focus on Christian sci-fi and fantasy and encourage one another with a team blog and email list. We're keen on getting more of the Lost Genre out there - not easy when most Christians don't want sci-fi or fantasy, and the non-Christians don't like our spiritual angle. There *are* fans out there... and screeds of great books too, check out my list, all right?

Looking forward to getting to know you guys!

Welcome to all the members of this new group. It's good to see you here. A couple of you I know, others I don't, so how about we start with introductions?

My name is Kathie, I live in Melbourne, Australia and have been writing since my early teens. A poem or something I wrote got published in the major newspaper where I was living at that time and I liked seeing my name in print so I just kept writing!

In the 1980s, when my kids were young, I wrote for a lot of Christian publications and often had articles printed. Then I started my business in the 1990s and my writings took a professional turn, i.e. I began writing for business publications.

In the 2000s I discovered blogging and writing took a more personal turn. And then in 2007 I published my first paperback called "Worth More Than Rubies: The Value of a Work at Home Mum" which is a devotional study on the Proverbs 31 Woman combined with my own life story.

On the family front, I have 5 daughters (3 natural, 2 step) and a wonderful husband named Graham. I run a fulltime business at home and my children were the reason for returning home from a corporate job back in 1994.