The inside scoop on the
science fiction short story, “The Convert” is that it’s about 4,700 words or 19
pages (according to Amazon.com) The story was selling for $1.99, and has now been reduced to $0.99.
Back in 2002, there was a
publisher’s call for short stories to be included in a Christian Science
Fiction anthology. I was intrigued with the idea of combining Christian fiction
with science fiction. While I’ve written science fiction and also written about
faith, I’d never merged the two. I really enjoyed creating this
thought-provoking story.
The idea for "The
Convert" started with the phrase "Bless me, Father, for I have
sinned." If this was to be the beginning of my story, I then wondered why
the speaker needed God's forgiveness or blessing. To give the tale a science
fiction twist, I created an unusual dilemma for the main character, Father
Wren. The question "The Convert" asks is: who is the real convert in
this story?
Although a short story, this
little science fiction gem has a long history and has garnered lots of awards.
It first appeared in a digital anthology, LEAPS OF FAITH, where it was a Dream
Realm Award Finalist in the Anthology category.
Then “The Convert”, was also
included in a print version of LEAPS OF FAITH, published by TheWritersCafe.com,
and was a finalist in the prestigious EPIC Awards (now EPIC eBook Award) for
Best Anthology.
Here is a book trailer for LEAPS OF FAITH, which
includes “The Convert”:
LEAPS OF FAITH also was
voted a Top Ten Finisher in the prestigious Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.
What ties all these
Christian science fiction stories together in LEAPS OF FAITH including “The
Convert” is the theme of faith depicting challenging times or ethical dilemmas.
Once the contract expired, I
offered “The Convert” by itself on Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, and other
internet sites.
When one of his congregation wants to marry an alien who is more flora than
fauna, what's a priest to do??
Amazon.com and Smashwords
“The Convert” also was voted
one of the top seven stories of LEAPS OF FAITH and also garnered this review:
“The Convert by Susanne Marie Knight ... takes an
entirely different angle and addresses a person's faith versus human prejudice
and the role it might play if there is ever close contact with races who differ
from us in very obvious ways.”
My snippet from real life: I was born under the sign
of Pisces, and am a self-confessed incurable romantic. So, to me, love can
conquer all. I couldn’t resist writing a story of two people from dissimilar
circumstances who overcome their differences. In “The Convert” one of the
strangest pairings I created was with a human, Chloe, and a being who was more
flora than fauna, Ping. They bridged the gap separating them with beautiful
music. And who doesn’t love beautiful music?
Ping’s voice reflected
ecstasy. He then started singing.
Breathtaking rapture
inundated Father Wren’s senses, almost overloading them. This melodious song
was fairly bursting with supreme love and beauty.
Love
is an extremely powerful emotion--physically, mentally, and spiritually. I hope you enjoy this unusual science fiction story with Father
Wren, Chloe, and Ping.
Happy reading,
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing
With A Twist!
