Flirt to deconvert: Therese Doucet’s “A Lost Argument”

Alan says:

Here’s her blog and the independent press she’s started, which was born just this month.

Strange Violin Editions will be publishing:

…fiction and nonfiction relating in some way to Mormonism. We are interested in books by current and former Mormons as well as those whove never been Mormons but write on Mormonism-related topics. Mormonism need not be a direct or central theme, but may play a part in the setting or a major characters background, or even merely play an oblique role in shaping the world of the narrative (as in novels like Stephenie Meyers Twilight series or science fiction by Orson Scott Card). Work we publish may come from a variety of perspectives: atheist, agnostic, unorthodox, questioning, or faithful. The most important qualities we look for are intelligent writing, the ability to engage a readers interest through a well-structured narrative, and appealing prose.

Fiction may be in any genre or literary. We are open to works that portray moral ambiguity, include graphic content (i.e., books that might be rated R or NC-17″ if they were movies), or depict same-sex (GLBT) relationships, characters, and scenes. Our catalogue will attempt to note where books include such content.

For nonfiction, we are most interested in narrative nonfiction, humor, essays, and accessible philosophy and theology.

Now see, THAT is what I’d call a MORMON publisher. There’s very little boundary maintenance.

Here’s an excerpt from Doucet’s blog:

There are a lot of very talented people out there writing about their experiences in and out of the Church, but its hard to find a publisher because Mormons, let alone ex/post/former/alumni Mormons, are something of a niche audience.

If youre writing faith-affirming stuff, theres always the chance of getting picked up by one of the handful of Mormon publishers: Deseret, Covenant, or even brave little Zarahemla Books (go them!) And every now and then you get the rare breakout book that catches the attention of mainstream publishers, like Elna Bakers New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance, or Martha Becks Leaving the Saints. But for the most part, ex/post/former/alumni Mormon writers are on their own.

If I started my own press, though (I thought), I could maybe do my own little part towards finally giving that niche audience a home for those writers books.

I’m definitely a fan of the self-publishing phenomenon, and then networking around a theme for a small press. I can’t imagine how great it must feel to have one’s own successful small press (although of course Doucet is just beginning). Sure, these little presses come and go everyday, but I think Doucet has potentially tapped into a longstanding market.