The field of theology is overwhelmingly populated by men. The field of film studies is also dude-heavy, but less so. So if you combine those two disciplines, your potential authors become even more likely to be male. I understand why few women are working in this field. Why would someone pursue a discipline where historically they have not been welcome? I am determined to provide opportunities for more women to contribute their perspectives to the discipline of theology and film. I have been in conversation with many of the most notable women in the field. We have books in the works from two of them, and a book we worked on with another we ended up recommending for publication in a different series where it was a better fit.

I also actively seek out emerging female voices. I first read Sarah Welch-Larson's writing on the excellent long-form film criticism website Bright Wall/Dark Room. I detected a hint of Christianity in her writing, and when I looked her up online, I wasn't surprised to find that she also contributes regularly to Think Christian, the terrific cultural commentary website helmed by Josh Larsen (no relation to Sarah). I followed Sarah's work for a while and waited for my opportunity.

It came when she tweeted one day about being readily able to talk about religion and science-fiction. I pitched her our series, talked with her about potential ideas, and then she ran with it. I couldn't be happier with how this book turned out. As with Niles Schwartz's book on Public Enemies, after you read Becoming Alien you wonder how you never before asked these theological questions about these movies you know so well. Sarah opens up a whole new universe of inquiry. Studies of the Alien films cannot procede in good faith in the future without reckoning with Sarah's work.