The 2024 Realm Makers Writers Conference, held July 18-20 in St. Louis, Missouri, was filled with writers of speculative fiction—and all manner of elves, hobbits, storm troopers, fairies and sword-wielders. The 12th annual gathering attracted some 475 attendees (many of whom dressed up as a favorite character) as well as 47 exhibitors, including small publishers and self-published authors, leather workers and cookie makers, and Lorehaven, the online publication dedicated to reviewing science fiction, fantasy and other speculatives, and hosts of the podcast Fantastical Truth.
The conference was sponsored by Oasis Family Media, owners of Enclave Publishing, which publishes exclusively in the faith-based speculative fiction arena, with other sponsors including The Author Conservatory, Ingram Spark, and Towers of Light Christian Resources. This year's conference was the best attended yet, organizers report, marking steady and impressive growth from the 60 authors who attended the inaugural show in 2013.
Owned and operated by Scott and Becky Minor (Becky acting as conference CEO and director and Scott as COO and operations manager), the show has made good on Becky Minor’s vision of creating "a faith-friendly event where writers could celebrate all things science fiction and fantasy," and in its second decade has indeed become a place for faith-based speculative fiction readers and authors have a place to call home. “Christians have always enjoyed fantasy and science fiction, but the authors have had to bifurcate their creativity from their faith,” explained Becky Minor. “They go to church and can’t talk about what they create.”
But that's changed over the years. The Minors point to the growth of small publishers and self-publishing options as important entrees into the speculative genres, which large, faith-based publishers have been historically hesitant to join. Now, faith-based authors can self-publish or go with a small house, "and that has increased the number of people who feel they can get into the marketplace,” said Becky Minor.
And where the “spec fic” crowd may still be considered "a couple shades too weird for the established Christian writers conferences," according to the Realm Maker website, the Minors see speculative fiction as a way to share faith-infused themes such as sacrifice, love, and the defeat of evil without the overt Christian messaging of other genres.
“The themes of good vs. evil and more in Christian sci-fi and fantasy point people toward truth and sacrifice," explained Scott Minor. "And the closer you get to truth, the closer you get to Jesus.”
Next year’s Realm Makers conference will combine with the Christian Game Developers Conference, to be held July 18-20, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2024 Realm Maker Award Winners
A highlight of the conference, the 2024 Realm Award winners were announced. Winners include:
Short Story: Inversion by Cathy McCrumb (Havok Publishing)
Novella: Shattered Echoes by Hope Jian (The Author Conservatory)
Audiobook: Rogue Pursuit by D.L. Dean, narrated by Sierra Kline (Tantor Media)
Cover Design: Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall, design by Kirk DouPonce
Middle Grade: On Hidden Wings by Adare Alyse (Truly Fantastic Media)
Young Adult: Suspended in the Stars by E.A. Hendryx (Pine Mountain Publishing)
Horror/Paranormal/Supernatural: Almost Paradise by Bryan Mitchell (Descendant Publishing)
Fantasy: Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington (Independently published)
Science Fiction: When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum (Ginger Rock Publishing)
Debut Author: Suspended in the Stars by E.A. Hendryx (Pine Mountain Publishing)
Readers’ Choice: A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips (Ethereal Echo Press)
Book of the Year: Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington (Independently published)
