Why I hang out with Lyn Perry
After my comments yesterday, you might be wondering why I’m involved with Lyn Perry’s little enterprise at ResAliens Press. Why do I send him stories? Why do I read slush for his magazines? Why do I exchange puns with him on Facebook?
1. I think we share a common vision for the future of Christian speculative fiction. Something along the lines of “Truth, communicated in original, creative storytelling, with technical excellence.” The future is just that–in the future. We need to move toward leading the marketplace of ideas, not following it. Small, independent publishers have the agility to spot new trends and promising writers, and little to risk in developing them. Lyn’s doing this right now.
2. He has a commitment to quality. Lyn engages with every writer that steps through his editorial doorway. He doesn’t answer many queries with form letters, and he frequently offers the opportunity to rewrite a rejected manuscript that shows promise, providing suggestions to make it better. He pays for every story he publishes–he can’t afford to pay much, but it sends an important signal about his professionalism as a publisher and his belief that a good story has more than just aesthetic value.
3. He has a sense of humor. Writers and publishers can be way serious. Not this guy. He definitely walks on the brighter side of life. He’s also a middle-school teacher, and you don’t survive five minutes of that without a healthy appreciation of the ridiculous. Follow him on Twitter. He’s very funny.
4. Kansans need to stick together. Kansas gets no respect. Ask somebody about Kansas, and you’re likely to get one of the following responses. Go ahead. Ask anyone.
- “Isn’t that where Dorothy and Toto live?” Usually followed by some crack about “no place like home,” “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto,” “if they only had a brain,” etc.
- “Powerful flat there, ain’t it?” Why, yes. Yes, it is. We also have beautiful rolling hills, plenty of wildlife, sparkling rivers and lakes, and some lovely fields of wheat and sunflowers in the summertime.
- “Dude, I love their music!” Me too, but those aren’t the droids I’m looking for. Thanks for playing.
Tomorrow…I have no idea what I’m going to write about tomorrow. I suppose more compliments and recommendations for Residential Aliens, which, if you haven’t yet visited, you ought to, like our intrepid tour bloggers listed below.
Webzine link: http://www.resaliens.com/
Editor’s blog: http://residentialaliens.blogspot.com/
Editor Lyn Perry’s personal blog: http://blogginoutloud.blogspot.com/
CSFF Tour Bloggers:
Noah Arsenault
Brandon Barr
Thomas Clayton Booher
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
CSFF Blog Tour
Carol Bruce Collett
D. G. D. Davidson
Dean Hardy
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Lyn Perry
Sarah Sawyer
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Frederation 
It’s neat to see a personal perspective on ResAliens. Thanks for sharing, Fred!
It’s nice to have some direct personal observations to offer. Lyn is truly a great guy and fun to work with.
See, this is why I am KICKIN’ myself for not interviewing the guy for the tour. Would love to have him share more with us. But you’re doing a nice job giving us a thumbnail view of Lyn. Thanks, Fred.
Becky
If I’d been thinking, I would have called up Lyn and gotten an audio interview before I left on this work trip. Alas, hindsight is still 20-20.
The geological center of the lower 48 is located in Kansas. I know. I’ve been there on my way to Nebraska, another state that gets no respect.
And we’re also the birthplace of such notables as Damon Runyon, Walter Chrysler (yes, *that* Chrysler), Amelia Earhart, and Kirstie Alley.
I mean, come on people…Kirstie Alley!
Hey, first, thanks for the comments, I’ll pay you later. But more importantly, didn’t you get my text as I was passing through Olathe last weekend? You could have interviewed me then.
You: What does IDK mean?
Me: I don’t know.
You: See, nobody knows!
🙂
It’s easy when it’s true. Sorry I missed your text, but I was in Hawaii…returning tomorrow. I’ll bring you back one of those little hula dancers for your dashboard. 🙂
Don’t get me started on the no respect for Kansas rant. I grew up in a small town there and am a proud graduate of the University of Kansas. I can’t count the number of store clerks who have seen a Jayhawk on my credit card and thought it was a funny cartoon character. Argh!! Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
I didn’t want to get into the college rivalry thing, as I don’t (yet) have a dog in that fight. Still waiting on kid #3 to declare, and I’m a recent immigrant. Lyn, however, is a Shocker fan.