Why create this group?

[Jason]

For a site that's dedicated to literature, I was surprised to find no groups dedicated to Christian horror, or almost any other Christian speculative fiction. After hearing all the criticisms about how Christian horror can't be Christian at all, I was hoping to find any group that would be in support of the genre, only to find as few supporters online as there are authors. So, why not come up with one? This group isn't just for good discussion on horror stories that are explicitly Christian and horror stories that have undercurrent Christian themes, but also to discuss all other fields of Christian speculative fiction that we enjoy, in particular, ones that don't rely on the modern day church's status quo standards, but go for the grits of life.
Of course, if you want to, you can also talk about true-to-life Christian movies and music. After all, the group name doesn't say anything about strictly books. So, free-for-all for discussions that are free for all.

[Dustin]

Hi, Jason!

I'm very much looking forward to conversing with the group, and am HOPING to acquire additional members with similar interests.

[Tracy]

Hey guys, are you reading or have you read anything horrific lately?

[Dustin]

Hi, Tracy!

[Jason]

Recently got done with Mike Duran's Winterland, and planning on (in the near future) reading Whisper A Scream by Pete Turner and waiting for Enemies of the Cross by Greg Mitchell. Only 2 bookstores in this town, one with a VERY tiny and limited amount of books, and the other's small and only has mainstream books, which can't hold my attention, so I'd have to go with amazon.

[Tracy]

Hey Dustin! How are things?

Wow Jason, you are reading authors I have never heard of. I will have to check out some of this new stuff, well new for me anyway.

[Jason]

Well, Enemies of the Cross JUST came in today, but got another book, The Bone House by Stephen Lawhead, ahead of it. In due time, Whisper a Scream (Pete Turner) and Through the Fury to the Dawn (Stu Jones) will be around.

[Dustin]

Hi, Tracy!

Things are good, thank you for asking. How about yourself?

[Krisi]

Thanks for starting this group, Jason. It's a great idea and I'm looking forward to everyone's recommendations.

Hi to Tracy and Dustin, too. :-)

[Dustin]

Hi, Kristi! Welcome.:)

[Adrienna]

Actually never read Christian horror...so there are authors who write this material. I generally read Urban Christian and read Christian fiction thus far. I have came across supernatural/apocalyptic thrillers like Bill Meyers, CS Lewis (fantasy with a Christian scope), and still others to read.

[Tracy]

Krisi wrote: "Thanks for starting this group, Jason. It's a great idea and I'm looking forward to everyone's recommendations.

Hi to Tracy and Dustin, too. :-)"

Hi Kristi. How are things? Its about time to get this group rolling.

Hey Jason, perhaps we should try group or buddy reads to get some of these people introduced to Dekker and friends.

[Dustin]

Great idea, Tracy!:)

[Adrienna]

Yes have Ted Dekker books but still have to read them. Purchased in 2008.

[Adrienna]

Do you offer a book list?

[Jason]

Actually, haven't thought about it, now that you mention it.

[Nike]

SPLIT SENSE by Barbara Ellen Brink (Create Space)
won in the Spec Fiction (science Fic, horror, fantasy, etc.) in the 2011 Grace Awards.

http://graceawardsdotorg.wordpress.co...

[Dustin]

Jason wrote: "Actually, haven't thought about it, now that you mention it."

Hi, Jason-

I've been meaning to comment before now, but anyway, I think it would be a great idea to have a book list. And may I suggest a monthly book read?

[Tracy]

Dustin wrote: "Jason wrote: "Actually, haven't thought about it, now that you mention it."

Hi, Jason-

I've been meaning to comment before now, but anyway, I think it would be a great idea to have a book list. ..."

Hey Dustin instead of a book list maybe we could nominate Dekker books and have a poll to vote for books. Same as we do in other groups. I already have a nomination. Maybe we could talk to the moderator about setting that up for us.

[Dustin]

Yeah, that's about what I was thinking of, too, Tracy. Thank you for your input, it's appreciated.
What is your nomination, BTW?

[Tracy]

It would be Dekker's Adam. I have heard a lot about it but it is one I haven't read yet. Someone compared it to The Boneman's Daughters and I loved that book! I did have to put it down a couple of times but I love it!

[Tracy]

Ohh another one I want to read is The Bride Collector. I will have to start one of them soon.

[Tracy]

Maybe someone would like to buddy read Adam of The Bride Collector by Tedd Dekker.

[J.S.]

Tracy wrote: "Maybe someone would like to buddy read Adam of The Bride Collector by Tedd Dekker."

I've already read Adam but I haven't gotten to The Bride Collector yet.

[Dustin]

Tracy wrote: "It would be Dekker's Adam. I have heard a lot about it but it is one I haven't read yet. Someone compared it to The Boneman's Daughters and I loved that book! I did have to put it down a couple of ..."

Sweet. I was hoping you'd say that, Tracy! I really, really want to read Adam!!

[Jason]

I don't really know how to set one up. Maybe someone could set it up for this group. Anyone got experience in that field?
As for Adam, The Bride Collector, and Boneman's Daughters, read all three the moment they came out. Two are murder/mystery thrillers, while Adam is plain-out horror at its finest.
Wait, why only Ted Dekker? Out of curiousity.

[Dustin]

I'm not sure, Jason, but I can say that Dekker's a truly fantastic writer, IMO!

[Tracy]

Not just Dekker Jason. We could just nominate any book/author. There were just a couple of people asking about Ted and I thought that would be a good starting point.

I am not sure how to start a poll but I'm sure we could figure it out. In the meantime we could just use threads to nominate and vote.

I am still interested in reading Adam. Did you want to read this one Dustin? Do you have it or have access to it?

[Ty]

Tracy wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Jason wrote: "Actually, haven't thought about it, now that you mention it."

Hi, Jason-

I've been meaning to comment before now, but anyway, I think it would be a great idea to hav..."


Why nominate Dekker books? He's got a HUGE readership. There are tons of good spec fic writers out there who are worthy of mention. Some of them indie authors who could use a boost.

Like Ellen C. Maze, or as mentioned earlier Barbara Brink.


Ellen C. Maze

Barbara Brink

[Ty]

Tracy wrote: "It would be Dekker's Adam. I have heard a lot about it but it is one I haven't read yet. Someone compared it to The Boneman's Daughters and I loved that book! I did have to put it down a couple of ..."

If I were going to pick a Dekker book I'd pick Adam too. But why limit it to Dekker books?

What about Athol Dickson or Robert Liparulo?

[Tracy]

There is no limit Ty. We could choose any book/author. I haven't ever read either of the two you have suggested so those would be good.

[Dustin]

Yeah, there's no sense in limiting ourselves to one specific author. I just really like Dekker's writing a LOT, and I've wanted to read Adam for nearly a year now. And yes, Tracy, we do have a copy. Do you remember me telling you a while back (it might have been in this thread, actually,) that Tanya bought it last summer, got about 120 or so pages into it, but has yet to finish it...?

[Jason]

Maybe nominations could also bring to light new and rising authors as well, give people reason to check someone else out as well as keep interested in their current faves. How about, as well, a short list of reasons per book why it should be nominated, think that could work out? Or too many opinion-related problems in that line of thought?

[Tracy]

However is fine by me Jason. I have read many unknown authors this way that I love but sad to say I would not have read them if not for these challenges.

[J.S.]

I write Christian speculative fiction, too. Nominate me! ;)

[Tracy]

Do you really J.S., that's cool. Nominate one of your books! That would be great.

Is Jason going to get this started for us?

[J.S.]

Tracy wrote: "Do you really J.S., that's cool. Nominate one of your books! That would be great.

Is Jason going to get this started for us?"

I just made a group poll where people can add and vote for books for a group read. (No, I did not add my own books. lol)

[J.S.]

Here's the link:

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/66...

[J.S.]

You can add to the list, too.

[Tracy]

You put up my nomination! Thanks J.S.

Now we have to get some guys on here nominating some books.

[Dustin]

Hi, J.S-

Thank you very much, it's appreciated.:)
I'm really looking forward to having monthly reads here!

[Tracy]

How long should we do the nomination? Are we going to actually use that as the voting?

[J.S.]

Tracy wrote: "How long should we do the nomination? Are we going to actually use that as the voting?"

I forgot to set an end date for the poll. lol Yeah, I'd say the winner of the poll is the book we'll do for the group read. As long as that's okay with Jason!

[J.S.]

I set the end date to June 14.

[Dustin]

Tracy wrote: "How long should we do the nomination? Are we going to actually use that as the voting?"

Well I sure hope the voting counts!
And since it's already of the 5th, and voting ends on the 14th, I take it the group read won't begin until July 1st..?

[J.S.]

Dustin wrote: "Tracy wrote: "How long should we do the nomination? Are we going to actually use that as the voting?"

Well I sure hope the voting counts!
And since it's already of the 5th, and voting ends on the..."

That works for me. Any objections?

[Jason]

Not from me. And it sounds like a decent method to use.

[J.S.]

Jason wrote: "Not from me. And it sounds like a decent method to use."

Yeah, then we have time to acquire the books if the voting ends on 6/14 and the group read begins on 7/1.

[Tracy]

That sounds great. Thanks for doing this J.S. Is Jason OK with this?

[Jason]

Let me ask myself. *goes away a couple minutes, comes back* I think Jason's okay with it. Is it okay if I throw out extra suggestions for books for future use? Both mainstream and indie?