Steve Laube purchased Enclave Publishing in 2014. Enclave Publishing specializes in speculative fiction such as science fiction and fantasy with Christian themes. Speculative fiction allows for creativity beyond real-world constraints. Though once controversial, the genre is becoming more accepted in Christian markets. Enclave Publishing seeks to bring the reality of the Gospel to readers through storytelling. The small press plans to release 12 new titles per year from its award-winning authors.

1. • C H R I S T I A N
COMMUNICATORA P u b l i c a t i o n of A m e r i c a n C h r i s t i a n W r i t e r s
Steve Laube,
Enclave
Publishing:
A Champion
of Speculative
Fiction
Accountability:
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Top Seven
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2. EDITOR I N T E R V I E W
A Champion
of Speculative Fiction
N
'"ot many people would pur-
chase a Christian publishing
house that unabashedly says
it releases "strange books." But Steve
Laube is one of those few people.
In a publishing career that spans 35
years, he has been a Christian bookstore
manager, an award-winning editor at
Bethany House Publishers, and an
award-winning literary agent who has
represented everything from romance to
^theology.
Two years ago he added a new facet
to his work: publishing a genre of books
that brings something unique and in-
teresting to the Christian fiction market.
"Speculative fiction reflects the cre-
ativity of God in a way that no other
genre can," Steve explained. "Histori-
cal fiction, mystery, thriller, romance,
and other genres are ail bound by the
rules of physics, history, and relation-
ships in the real world. But in specula-
tive fiction you can make it all up. It can
be created ex uihUo, out of nothing. And
that is a reflection of God's creativity."
P u b l i s h i n g R e s u m e
Steve started his career in book publish-
ing as a student at Grand Canyon Uni-
versity in Phoenix, Ariz., working as a
part-time shelt-duster at a Christian
bookstore next to the campus. Over time
he advanced to full-time work, then
manager positions, and finally to man-
aging two Phoenix locations in that
bookstore chain and becoming the na-
tional book buyer tor the chain.
"That retail experience still defines
everything I do," he said. " I can imag-
and asking, 'What's new?' then guiding
them to the rightbooks for their interests."
A tew years after his bookstore chain
won the Christian Booksellers Associa-
tion (CBA) Store of the Year award in
1989, Steve left bookselling to become
acquisitions editor at Bethany House.
He continued working there until 2003
when he joined a New York-based lit-
erary agency to bring Christian books
to its firm. The next year he formed his
own agency.
"The agency is my day job. It is more
than 'selling manuscripts and closing
deals.' 1 pour heart and soul into every
client and into the other agents who
work tor me. Together, we manage
around 250 authors and their careers."
In 2014 Steve added new responsi-
bilities to his already impressive
resume by purchasing Marcher Lord
Press, an independent Christian pub-
lishing house that specializes in specu-
lative fiction—science fiction, fantasy,
supernatural fiction, and the many
subtypes of those genres—written from
a Christian viewpoint.
Speculative Fiction F a n
Steve freely admits he has been a fan of
speculative fiction for many years. He
read the John Carter of Mars series in
high school. One of his brothers later
introduced him to The Chronicles of
by Gabriel Connor Salter
Steve Laube
Publisher,
Enclave Publishing
Narnia by C. S. Lewis.
In spite of his deep love tor the genre
and belief that speculative fiction could
successfully sell to Christian readers,
he is aware it has only recently become
acceptable in the Christian market.
As an editor, he acquired several
science-fiction and fantasy titles tor
Bethany House in the late 1990s. But
"there were simply tew places that had
the editorial support or publishing sup-
port to show their viability." In particu-
lar, fantasy used to be hard to sell to
Christian publishers because "decades
ago 'fantasy' equaled 'magic' in many
eyes. Narnia and Middle Earth were
lion ^Trtta because they had spells and
witches in them."
E n c l a v e P u b l i s h i n g
The market has shitted in recent years,
and authors like Ted Dekker and Kathy
Tyers have proven speculative fiction
has a voice in the Christian fiction mar-
ket. Steve believes Marcher Lord Press
(renamed Enclave Publishing after the
purchase) played and continues to play
Enclave Publishing
24 W. Camelback Rd.,A-635, Phoenix,AZ 85013

3. a part in showing that speculative fic-
tion is viable.
"The only challenge is discoverabil-
ity. When people find our books, they
become instant and lasting tans." He is
perhaps too modest to mention that
most of the authors listed on Enclave's
website have either won or been short-
listed tor major literary awards.
At the same time, Steve and his asso-
ciates aren't afraid to embrace the tact
that speculative fiction is inherently a
strange and often misunderstood genre,
llie About page on the website explains
that its name refers to the tact that "an
enclave is a group of like-minded people
in a place where they are surrounded
by those who arc not like-minded. It is
not a place to hide."
Its biblical theme verse is Acts 17:20,
"You are bringing some strange ideas
to our ears, and we would like to know
what they mean" (NIV).
Enclave w i l l continue bringing
strange ideas to people's ears for a long
time. Despite being a small press, the
company plans to release 12 new titles
each year. And its impressive roster of
ward-winning authors and books, in-
Juding the 2010 Christy Award-win-
ning novel By Darkness Hid, should keep
it in good stead.
Moving forward, Steve said, "We can
help bring the reality of the Cospel into
the lives and hearts of readers through
the vehicle of story. It's a simple goal I
hope to accomplish."
Gabriel Connor Salter is a hook reviewer
for the Evangelical Church Library Asso-
ciation and The Aboite Independent. He
I ts a staff editor with The Echo.
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Writing for Enclave Publishing
Enclave publishes science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, and similar specu-
lative novels for adults, young adults, and teens. Fully completed manu-
scripts must be between 75,000 and 140,000 words and written to reflect an
evangelical Christian worldview. Whereas Enclave recommends authors have
a literary agent, it is not necessary to have one in order to submit proposals.
To submit your manuscript, go to www.enclavepublishing.com/guidelines;
and fill out the acquisitions form.
—Gabriel Connor Salter
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Accountability
continued from page 4
If you add accountability to your
writing life, you'll gain greater produc-
tivity, your writing will improve, your
published credit list will lengthen, and
you'll have more money in the bank.
What do you have to lose?
Cindy S. Huff's writing credits include
Christian Communicator, Examiner,
com, Splickety, Today's Christian, Au-
rora Beacon-News, and Bread tor Chil-
dren. Check out her blog. Writer's Patch-
work, at www.iubileewriter.wordpress.com;
or visit with her on Facebook at www.
facebook.com/cindy.e.huff.