Interview with Mindflights Submissions Editor and Author, Angie Lofthouse

Angie Lofthouse is with us today, talking about submissions, her short stories, and her writing journey. She's giving away a free issue of Mindflights print magazine #5 to a lucky commenter.

1. You've written several prize winning short stories and I've loved every one that I've read! Tell us about how long you've been writing and your body of work.

Thanks, Aubrie. I'm glad you've enjoyed my stories. I started writing sci-fi and fantasy in 1994, when my oldest child was a year old. In 2003, my first published story, "Blessing Stone," appeared in NFG magazine. Yep, it took nine long years to get something published. I'm nothing if not determined. Since then, I've published a dozen short pieces, ranging from short story to novella length, in a variety of print and online magazines. Since many of them are now out of print, I'm offering them to readers for free on my blog.

2. How did you get involved as an editor at Mindflights?

I published several stories in Amazing Journeys magazines, and became active on the bulletin boards there. In 2005, another Amazing Journeys author, Bill Snodgrass, approached me and asked if I'd be interested in being an assistant editor for a magazine he was starting up. That sounded like a fun opportunity, so I grabbed it, and I'm so glad I did. I started out with The Sword Review, which later merged with Dragons, Knights, and Angels magazine to become Mindflights. I enjoy working with Selena Thomason and the other Mindflights editors. Reading and judging submissions has done amazing things for my own writing.

3. What are some of the qualities in the stories that Mindflights looks for in submissions?

At Mindflights, we are looking for stories that are entertaining, enlightening and uplifting. We want stories that are family friendly and that uphold (or at least do not denigrate) Christian values. Beyond that, we like stories with great characters, engaging plots and well-written prose. We also accept poetry, though I am not heavily involved in the poetry end of things.

4. Tell us about your Work In Progress!

After a decade of writing short fiction, I finally decided last year that I could try a novel again. I wrote my first novel, Defenders of the Covenant, when I was pregnant with my third child, and put it away for ten years before pulling it back out, revising it, and falling in love with it again. My WIP is a sequel to that first novel. It's called The Ransomed Returning, and I am almost finished! Both novels are science fiction adventures with a religious base. I am excited to finish another novel, if just to prove to myself that I can do it.

5. Here's the zany question: If you could be in any of your stories, which one would you be in? What character would you be?

Wow. That's a tough one I have "lived" in all my stories for a time while writing them. I think I would be Tiann Woodland in "Brierly's Lilies." She gets to have a cockatrice for a pet. How cool would that be? (You can read "Brierly's Lilies" on my blog if you're interested.)

Thanks for the interview, Aubrie. I'd be happy to answer any questions in the comments.

Please comment below for a chance to win a copy of Mindflights issue #5! Here's their website.

And here is Angie's wonderful blog.