Tyers’s Firebird Trilogy literally invented the
Christian science fiction genre in the modern era. Any conversation
about Christian speculative fiction will eventually include Tyers and
her books. It has been said that Tyers did for Christian SF what Peretti
did for Christian fiction on the whole.
But Tyers’s reach extends beyond Christian
publishing. Her The Truce at Bakura and Balance Point novels are
official Star Wars books. The popularity of her treatment of the Star
Wars storyline led to her contributing to several Star Wars short story
collections including Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Tales from
Jabba’s Palace, Tales of the Bounty Hunters, and Tales from The Empire.
Tyers has been on sabbatical for the last several
years, trying to listen for a call on her life to write speculative
fiction. In 2006 she relocated to Vancouver, BC, to attend Regent
College, a small international graduate school of Christian studies. For
her Integrated Project in Theology and the Arts, Tyers wrote a new
science fiction novel in the Firebird saga. During this time, she
believes, God revealed to her that He does indeed want her to continue
writing speculative fiction.
“We are thrilled to be Kathy Tyers’s publisher,”
said Jeff Gerke, Marcher Lord Press founder and publisher. “Kathy’s
impact on Christian publishing is nearly unrivaled. We feel extremely
blessed that she has agreed to join our award-winning stable of
authors.”
As publisher and acquisitions editor, Gerke long
pursued Tyers, trying to sign her for Marcher Lord Press. But in the end
it was the Marcher Lord Press authors and books, not Gerke’s efforts,
that swayed Tyers’s heart.
“I read several excellent novels that were recently
released by Marcher Lord Press,” she said, “and I decided this was the
best place to finish the Firebird series. I’m delighted to be part of a
great and growing team.”
Publishing plans for Tyers at Marcher Lord Press
include a deluxe, author’s preferred version of the Firebird trilogy in
one volume and two additional Firebird novels that have been selected
but will be announced at a future date.