Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Author Notes on “The Convert”

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??


“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!