Don’t tell the other Lorehaven readers …

But last month, I missed a monthly update.

Here are my excu—er, reasons:

• Realm Makers 2024 was amazing and busy.
• I just got back from a trip to the coast for a Sibling Summer, and my arms are tired (from holding two new nephews and one niece)
• Thursday, Sept. 5 is the Above the Circle of Earth cover and story reveal.

Meanwhile, we’re planning the fall season of Fantastical Truth and even more episodes going into 2025. Keep reading to learn what’s next for the podcast!

Speaking of crossing new barriers …

🕋 What if Christians joined civil war against immortal elites?

Last month, I read our review of The Wall, a dystopian novel I hadn’t previously heard about. And I liked the sound of it. Felt it might work for the next Book Quest in our Lorehaven Guild community on Discord.

So I bought the audiobook and hooked by chapter 1. Then by chapters 2–18.

May have teared up at the finale, too. Dark yet with hope.

Now that we’ve finished The Nightmare Virus book quest, I’m leading the September book quest beyond The Wall, the debut dystopian by (the aptly named) Brian Penn. Here’s a summary from our review:

In 2099, the former United States is divided by an electrified barrier that keeps smuggler Asher from reuniting with his true love. Then the discovers the elite Lazurites’ dark secret: a technology that grants biological resurrection but is withheld from the people. Forced to join The Defiance, Asher battles to expose the truth.

If you’re not already a Guild resistance hero, enter like so:

1. Enter the Lorehaven Guild (on Discord)
2. Find our #🕋-the-wall book quest
3. Follow the Introduction for updates
   

Speaking of predictions for the future …

🎙Planning for a Fantastical Truth fall

Just before Realm Makers, we wrapped our Left Behind Legacy series on the podcast with a long-awaited conversation with Jerry B. Jenkins. I actually got to ask him, “What’s your favorite plague?” And if you want his answer about this crucial eschatological inquiry, listen to the episode.

Since then, we’ve been blessed to engage topics like:

• Why we reject artificial imagination to celebrate stories #MadeByHumans,
• “Church Back Home syndrome” and its threat to Christian imagination,
• Why modern fans love Middle-earth books, films, and meme culture,
• How the word “inspiration” may not apply to God-gifted fantastical talent,
• Whether biblical Christianity is truly holding back “the Star Trek future.”

Zackary Russell handled that last one, while I was enjoying shore leave (but not on Risa). I always enjoy listening to one of our episodes as a fan-only!

This fall and spring, we hope to explore several genres we haven’t covered before. That means we’ll need some help from authors comfortable with public speaking and giving us a grand tour of their favorite story type (beyond their own books). Maybe you know such a storyteller. If so, let us know!

As always, you can listen at Lorehaven.com or on any podcasting platform.

Finally, speaking of new fantastical creations …

🚀 Fantasy games and sci-fi names at Realm Makers 2024

Was the last Realm Makers conference truly last month? Indeed it was, and many Lorehaven creators had a glorious time. This year we launched our open world quests at the booth, encouraging debut quests, fetch quests, and boss battles for the goal of amazing handmade prizes. Next year we’ll upgrade again, such as adding special quests for younger fans (and non-users of social media).

Meanwhile, I got to reveal my debut sci-fi novel title in conversations: Above the Circle of Earth. By now that title is public. But the novel cover and synopsis are holding in orbit … until they’re revealed, by the way, this Thursday, Sept. 5.

Once upon a time, I doubted there’d be a place for this sort of science fiction drama. But the scale of Christian-made fantastical fiction just keeps increasing. Now, from fantasy with all its subgenres (cozy! gaslamp! superheroes! romance! romsupergascozy!), to science fiction, to even those supernatural and paranormal tales … I can’t wait to see what our ultimate Author has in store.

Very truly yours, and with a hearty #GoTherefore!,

Stephen