Friday, July 27, 2007

Spotlighting: Coach's Midnight Diner


There's a new kid on the Christian anthology block.

This kid has edge. So hang on to your chair, turn on the floodlights, and try not to get spooked.


Story Blurbs


Jesus Vs. Cthulhu

In R'lyeh, Jesus Walks--Chris Mikesell--Winner of the Jesus Vs. Cthulhu Category - Take a romp through space and time with Jesus and Lucifer to the sunken city of R'lyeh by way of a comic book convention. Filled with humor and poignancy, Mikesell puts a fascinating twist on the Cthulhu mythos that will keep you laughing and thinking the whole way through.

Work and Worship--Neil Riebe--Paul Carter's parents are so keen on making sure he grows up to be a devout man they abandon the harmful influences of city life to set up a wholesome homestead out west. What Paul and his parents don't realize is that this action has attracted the attention of forces from the Mythos universe, both good and evil. An authentic Lovecraftian tale, Riebe exposes conflicts within Christianity in a unique and graceful fashion, and adds a new facet to a familiar Dream Cycle hero.

Bavel--Jens Rushing--In the near future, asteroid mining becomes big business. A crew of miners discovers a peculiar asteroid that starts to affect them in strange and odd ways. Told through ship logs and transcriptions, Rushing's amazing prose will keep you guessing all the way to a shocking ending.

That One That Happens In A Diner

The Way Station--Kevin Lucia--Winner of the That One That Happens In A Diner - Author Andrew Slater has a problem- he's about to be dumped by his publisher. But problems he doesn't know about force him to make a choice that will determine his destiny. Featuring a cameo by everyone's favorite tentacled dreamer, Lucia's lucid storytelling brings out the choices that so often happen in those little out of the way places that have a reality all their own.

Sanctuary--Linda Gilmore--Ned has a favorite diner, but one night he discovers that this diner isn't what it seems to be on the surface. A story that could have very easily been showcased on the original Twilight Zone, Gilmore beautifully examines the synchronicity that can only happen in an all-night diner.

Elvis Lives--Jennifer Edwards--On her way back to Iowa, Celine just stopped in to grab a cup of coffee. But a conversation with an Elvis impersonator may change the course of history. Edwards dips into Rod Serling's sugar bowl of the possibilities and probabilities in life, and shows how easily we might alter the vectors a life may take.

Horror/Weird Fiction

Gargoyle--J. Mark Bertrand-- College students and professors start to behave strangely when a stone gargoyle shows up under mysterious circumstances at a campus art exhibit. A classic horror tale, Bertrand walks you right up to the edge-- and then gives a little push.

The Looking Glass--Melody Graves-- An Episcopal priest's obsession with an opera diva leads him to a dark realization after indulging in absinthe. An eerie, moody work, Graves' prose will command your senses and lead you straight into darkness and redemption.

The Water Rises--Nathan Knapp-- A man trapped in a white room experiences a series of beautiful and strange events, but is terrorized by an unseen tormentor. Knapp's surreal narrative will entrance you as he moves towards the horrific conclusion.

The Demon--Robert Jennings-- Otis starts visiting the town whore who moonlights as an exorcist when his wife Billie starts to become abusive. But when Otis leaves her, Billie decides to confront her nemesis. A twisted tale of failed redemption and horror, Jennings' gut-level writing style and unrelenting commitment to authentic dialog will thrill and surprise even the most jaded critic.

The Thief at the Altar--Caroline Misner-- A thief who has the intention of stealing from a church is apprehended by a most unusual guardian. Misner will delight fans of the mystical morality tale with her subtle prose and carefully placed twists.

Suspense/Intrigue

Night Train to Berlin--Suzan Robertson--Just prior to World War II, a reporter-turned-spy is assigned to follow a beautiful woman in order to discover her connection to the Nazis. But is she what she appears? Robertson's wonderfully voiced writing will call you back to the days of Bogart and Bacall in this romantic and suspenseful work.

Hardboiled/Mystery/Crime

Last Trip to Crystal Moon--R.M. Olivier--In the pursuit of an acquaintance who raped one of the dancers in his charge, a bouncer at a strip club finds a much bigger quarry. Blending hardboiled fiction with sensibility, Oliver's fiction helped to inspire the inception of Coach's Midnight Diner when it was first submitted to Relief.

Door to Door--Charles Browning-- When an evangelist falls off the edge of sanity, hilarity ensues as he accosts a random citizen with the gospel- and a gun. Browning will have you laughing and crying as he walks you through the mind of a misguided zealot in this first-person narrative.

Blind Dog Detective--S.J. Kessel--When two hottie sorority girls walk into P.I. Ace Jackson's office, he hoped they would just go away. But he needed the work, and they were willing to pay, and like always, the case is more complex than the hotties first let on. Kessel's debut work will keep you wondering who the real culprit is from start to finish.

Almost a Hero--Mike Dellosso--A young gas station attendant begins dreaming of a girl's demise, and is completely wrecked by the experience. But when he sees the girl show up at the gas station, he is faced with a choice that alters his destiny. Dellosso's terrific craft will keep you on the edge of your seat as he rockets you through a harsh reality.

American Angel--Mike Medina--In the near future, bounty hunter James Vega takes on a tough case- find the head of a child porn and trafficking operation. But this case hits closer to home than he realizes. Medina's hardboiled edge comes through in this satisfying tale that makes Dirty Harry look like Strawberry Shortcake.

The Paranormal/Archetypal Exploration

Polly's Muse--Mike Duran--What’s a demon gotta do for a promotion? For Brichard and his band of bumbling imps, it’s as simple as keeping a lid on Polly. With her muse imprisoned, this assignment should be a cakewalk. But little do they know, Inspiration is everywhere … and so is the Adversary. Duran's brilliant writing takes us back to the days of Screwtape as he illustrates some surprising truths.

The Salvation of Sancho--Robert Garbacz--In the pub in a place called the Abyss, where stories outlive their authors, a young man with a bullet wound stumbles in to tell his tale. With cameos by Lewis, Chesterton, and Chandler, Garbacz's wonderfully textured storytelling will suck you in to a reality just next to our own.

The Deluge--Matt Mikalatos--A missionary comes into contact with a reality outside of his belief, and is forced to confront a truth he is not ready to accept. Mikalatos weaves a tale of spiritual warfare that is both surprising and realistic in its scope.

The Gift of the Magi If The Magi Had Been Big Idiots--Paul Luikart--What would happen if a young, poor couple so stupidly in love took what each other had and made something completely- useless? A twist on the O'Henry classic, Luikart will have you laughing and banging your head against the table at the same time.

To read a sample edition and order your copy, click here: http://www.reliefjournal.com/SampleSizeCDiner.pdf



Spotlighting: Coach's Midnight Diner


Coach’s Midnight Diner: The Jesus Vs. Cthulhu Edition
A Hardboiled Genre Anthology with a Christian Slant


A hardboiled anthology of horror, mystery, and paranormal fiction, Coach's Midnight Diner is the faith-based anthology readers have been waiting for. With full allowance for artistic freedom, Diner authors pull no punches.

Entrees of Jesus Vs. Cthulhu Fiction by Chris Mikesell, Kevin Lucia, Neil A. Riebe, and Jens Rushing highlight the first edition of Coach's Midnight Diner, but there's so much more on the menu.

We'll server up horror fiction by Editor's Choice Award winner Robert N. Jennings, J. Mark Bertrand, Melody Graves, Nathan Knapp, and Caroline Misner.

Side orders of Crime, Mystery, and Detective Fiction by Charles Browning, Suzan Robertson, R.M. Oliver, S.J. Kessel, Michael Medina, and Mike Dellosso will have you trying to guess who the culprit is until the very end. We'll quench your thirst for Paranormal Fiction with stories from Mike Duran, Robert Garbacz, Matt Mikalatos, and Paul Luikart.

And for dessert, Jennifer J. Edwards and Linda Gilmore bring stories from That One That Happens in A Diner.

Coach's Midnight Diner will satisfy your appetite for thrills and quench your thirst for something a little deeper than your average fare.



“Long before the rise of Christian publishing, marketing departments, and book committees domesticating content to appeal to the sensibilities of evangelical audiences, Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote novels filled with profound Christian truths. However, his characters were a dark and colorful bunch including murderers, the mentally challenged, gamblers, seditionists, and prostitutes. Fyodor's painted his characters with such a dark brush that one wonders if "The Possessed", "Crime and Punishment", or "The Brothers Karamazov" would be publishable in today's Christian market.

Coach Culbertson and the creative minds at ccPublishing are hoping to change all that with COACH'S MIDNIGHT DINER, an anthology of "horror, mystery, crime, and paranormal goodness." Like Dostoevsky's universe, the pages of the diner are filled with murders, strippers, demons, debauched pastors, trolls, alcoholics and a host of other unlikely purveyors of divine truth.”
-Larry Shallenberger, Author of Divine Intention



Book Details:

Title: Coach’s Midnight Diner: The Jesus Vs. Cthulhu Edition
Editors: Coach Culbertson, Vennessa Ng
Category: Horror, Mystery,
ISBN: 978-0979228445
Format: Trade paperback
Publication Date: Aug 2007
Pages: 276
Cover Price: $20.00
Trim: 9.4 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
Available from: Ingram’s, Baker and Taylor



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Monday, July 16, 2007

Spotlighting: A Shred of Truth by Eric Wilson


About The Book


“Violence has long been my way of life. For years, rage coursed through my veins like a poison . . . last October it all began to change.”

In The Best of Evil, Aramis Black uncovered family secrets and historical conspiracies, hoping that his own dark past had come to certain resolution. But now, in the dark of night, he finds his brother unconscious and tied to a statue in Nashville’s Music Row . . . with the initials AX carved into his back.

A shadow from his former life has reappeared, casting threats of violence and retribution. And soon the attacker is swinging his blade of self-righteous judgment directly at Aramis, calling upon him to “face his sins.” Can Aramis finally break free from the guilt of his old ways . . . or will he succumb to the vengeance of an arrogant sociopath?

Illuminating Fiction Comments

Eric Wilson’s latest novel is wonderfully crafted, weaving a number of issues into a complex mystery that will keep readers guessing right until the end. Just when I thought I had the culprit figured out, Eric delivered yet another twist to deflect suspicion.

Readers will identify with Eric’s multifaceted characters. Their struggles and inner conflicts are very real, and many have well balanced good and bad aspects.

Themes contained in the book include determining fact from fiction and racism. A Shred of Truth explores the impact of urban legends in today’s society and highlights how gullible we can be to all forms of media.

As in his previous books, Eric incorporates historical fact into the storyline, creating an entertaining yet enlightening novel.

For readers who love suspense and mystery, I recommend a cup of your favorite coffee, a cosy chair, and A Shred of Truth.


About The Author

Eric Wilson is the author of Dark to Mortal Eyes, Expiration Date, and the first book in the Aramis Black series, The Best of Evil. He lives with his wife, Carolyn Rose, and their two daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Find out more about Eric by visiting his Web site: http://www.wilsonwriter.com/

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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Review: Fearless by Robin Parrish



About The Book

Book Two of the Dominion Trilogy:

The world changed after that terrible day when the sky burned, and now every heart is gripped by fear...

Earthquakes, fire, disease, and floods pummel the earth, and its citizens watch in horror.

But in the darkness there is hope -- an anonymous but powerful hero whom the public dubs "Guardian." He is Grant Borrows, one of a chosen few who walk the earth with extraordinary powers. But while Grant enjoys this new life, signs of a dangerous ancient prophecy begin coming true, and those closest to Grant worry he may be hiding a terrible secret.

A search for answers brings Grant and his friends to London, where an extraordinary discovery awaits that will challenge everything they thought they knew. With a deadly new enemy dogging his steps, Grant realizes that the world's only hope may come from unraveling the truth about himself once and for all. But what he comes face-to-face with leaves even this most powerful of men shaken with fear.

Secrets will be revealed.

Friends will make the ultimate sacrifice.

And destiny will not be denied.

The story continues...


About The Author

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist.

In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

Born Michael Robin Parrish on October 13, 1975, Robin's earliest writing efforts took place on a plastic, toy typewriter, and resulted in several "books" (most between 10 and 30 pages long) and even a few magazines.

By the age of thirteen, he had begun winning local writing awards and became a regular in his high school's literary magazine. In college, he garnered acclaim from his English professors and fellow students while maturing and honing his skills.

After college, he entered the writing profession through a "side door" -- the Internet. More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and his current project Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book, Relentless -- but two sequels. A trilogy, to unfold in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin is the Editor in Chief and creator of Infuze Magazine. He and his wife Karen reside in High Point, North Carolina. Karen works for High Point's First Wesleyan Church, where Robin and Karen are members and Small Group leaders.


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