In episode 36 of Creative Dynamos, fantasy author Brian Rathbone discusses his path from horse training and a 35-year technology career to self-publishing, including mentally developing stories for years before writing after a 2005 layoff. He recounts early mistakes like an expensive print run with no distribution, later success selling eBooks via MobiPocket (before Amazon acquired it), and setbacks from Amazon’s 2016 algorithm and Kindle Unlimited shift. Rathbone explains defining personal success, building audience through free podcast novels, and focusing on long-term backlist sales using aggressive price rotations, SEO-focused metadata, and wide distribution, with Google Play and Chirp as key channels. He outlines his 12-book epic fantasy series built as four complete trilogies, a children’s book success (“The Silliest Dragon”), lessons on cliffhangers, community collaboration, and his in-progress historical fantasy duology “Witches and Scoundrels and Fools,” aiming for completion by year’s end. He shares where to find him at https://brianrathbone.com, on Threads as “Fantasy author Brian Rathbone,” and via email at brian@brianrathbone.com.

00:00 Meet Brian Rathbone

00:32 From Farm to Fantasy

02:24 First Epic and Publishing Reality

04:35 Print Run Mistakes and Early Ebooks

06:17 Amazon Shifts and Cliffhanger Lessons

07:58 Defining Success and Audiobooks

12:12 Backlist Strategy and Going Wide

16:33 World of Gods Premise

19:19 Accidental Kids Books

21:50 Unexpected Global Readers

23:45 What Epic Fantasy Means

26:33 Writing Accessible Series and Social Snippets

29:03 Content That Feels Human

30:19 Platform Wins and Flops

31:49 Plotting an Epic Series

32:09 Writing Like a Coder

33:12 Finding the Series Ending

34:26 New Historical Fantasy

36:16 Duology for Marketing

37:18 Shorts as Proof of Concept

41:02 Pricing and Free Hooks

42:16 Retailer SEO Strategy

44:40 Chirp and Box Sets

47:43 Collabs and Promoting Others

50:23 Building Writer Community

54:39 Podcasts and Approachability

56:57 Where to Find Brian

In episode 35 of Creative Dynamos, I talk with author Eric Swett, discussing the value of local writer communities for sharing advice on writing, marketing, and events. Swett traces his path from D&D dungeon mastering to fiction, shifting from formulaic fantasy to a post-apocalyptic serial and a daily 100-word exercise that became his first published book. He describes his Armageddon Angels series, featuring Justin—an angel who becomes the Grim Reaper—and a four-book arc focused on the horsemen, plus mystery-focused books filling a five-year gap. Swett explains his approach to worldbuilding, his blend of Christian-influenced mythology with fantasy elements, and inspirations like Supernatural and Lovecraft. We cover the benefits and costs of in-person events, strategies for low-cost venues, supportive author communities, and the guiding principle “progress, not perfection,” before sharing where to find Swett online and at upcoming events.

https://www.instagram.com/innocenteric/

https://www.facebook.com/ericswettauthorinprogress/

https://bsky.app/profile/innocenteric.bsky.social

https://www.tiktok.com/@eswett_mywritersc

I interview horror author Jake Bible, a Bram Stoker–nominated novelist, co-chair of the North Carolina Horror Writers Association chapter, and a primary story writer for Dr. NoSleep podcast studios. Bible shares his writing history (first short-story sale in 2006/2007), his output (about 65 novels and roughly 250 short works), and how he began writing for Dr. NoSleep after responding to a freelancer ad in May 2024, now averaging 3–4 stories a week (sometimes more). He discusses early podcasting his novel “Dead Mech”, building a large audience through free podcast fiction, and his current approach of compiling Dr. NoSleep stories into monthly collections while posting free serialized stories on his Substack without paid subscriptions. Our conversation covers the early “new media” podcast-fiction community, cycles of gatekeeping in indie spaces (including Substack), his views on AI and online pile-ons, and his belief in avoiding self-editing out of fear of offense. Bible explains his focus on drabbles (exactly 100-word stories), including his drabble-structured first novel, and how the form sharpens editing and concision. He talks about balancing paid writing with passion projects, developing screenplays, and his flexible approach to scheduling and writing frequency. Bible also explains why he loves horror—its rule-free creativity, adaptable tropes, and supportive fandom—and how he approaches tropes while maintaining story logic. He directs listeners to jakebible.com and jakebible.substack.com for free fiction every Wednesday and a free drabble every Friday, and highlights his latest release, “It’s Under the Shroud: 10 More NoSleep Stories, Volume Three.” The episode ends with an ad for Mark Burton’s horror/sci-fi thriller “Aroughcoune”, about a genetically modified 15-foot military-bred raccoon escaping a secret lab on Plum Island.

00:00 Welcome + Meet Horror Author Jake Bible

00:25 Jake’s Writing Origin Story & Prolific Career Snapshot

01:50 Landing the Dr. NoSleep Podcast Gig (and Writing at High Volume)

03:35 The Early Days of Podcast Fiction: iPods, GarageBand, and Serializing a Novel

06:12 Free Fiction vs. Giving It All Away: Substack Teasers & Collections

08:34 ‘New Media’ Then and Now: The Wild West Era of Digital Publishing

11:58 When Indie Movements Become Gatekeepers: Cliques, Rules, and Substack Cycles

15:53 AI, Accusations, and Genre Dogma: Why the Struggles Stay the Same

19:21 Drabbles 101: The 100-Word Story and Why Jake Swears by It

25:06 Writing ‘Bonkers’ Horror: No Idea Is Too Much (and Handling Controversy)

29:25 Don’t Self-Edit: Writing Characters Who Disagree With You

31:08 Tea, Picard, and Trusting Your Creative Instincts (Indie Freedom)

32:29 The Working Writer Reality: Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time

36:13 Time Management Without a Schedule: Writing in the Cracks

38:08 “Write Every Day” Is Bad Advice: Grace, No Rules, and Chaos English

41:48 Why Horror? Halloween DNA, No Rules, and the Nicest Fandom

47:07 Using Tropes Without Getting Trapped: The Road Trip Analogy

50:49 Genre Rulebooks vs Horror Freedom (LitRPG, Romance, and Story Logic)

54:54 Wrap-Up: Where to Find Jake Bible + New Releases

56:31 Outro Ad: Raccoon—Conspiracies, Genetic Experiments, and a Giant Predator

In episode 33 of Creative Dynamos, I interview James Alan McGettigan, a talented filmmaker and author. We discuss his early inspirations, both in writing and filmmaking, his journey from creating fan fiction to developing his own unique fantasy and sci-fi series called The Dust Cosmos, and the challenges of writing across multiple genres. He also shares his experiences with filmmaking, the intricacies of writing screenplays versus novels, and the ethical challenges faced in creative collaborations. James emphasizes the role of self-reflection and enlightenment through storytelling, aiming to inspire readers and viewers to engage deeply with art for personal growth. Tune in to learn more about James Tigan's creative path and his upcoming projects.

In episode 32 of the Creative Dynamos Podcast, I chat with author Angela Sylvain about her journey into writing, her inspirations, and her work. Angela shares how she transitioned from reading voraciously to writing in her mid-thirties, inspired by a coworker. She discusses her initial foray into young adult paranormal novels and how she honed her skills with short stories, leading to over 60 published. The conversation delves into her horror-comedy novel 'Frostbite' and its sequel 'Cold Snap,' both set in North Dakota, blending sci-fi elements with dark humor. Angela talks about her inspirations, including 80s and 90s horror films and Stephen King’s works, and how she balances horror and comedy in her writing. She also discusses her experiences with publishing, marketing, and the importance of community in the literary world. The episode wraps up with Angela sharing her plans for Women in Horror Month and the importance of adaptability in the ever-changing landscape of social media.

https://linktr.ee/angelasylvaine

https://angelasylvaine.com

Pre-order Cold Snap - https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/cold-snap

Promo for Aroughcoune by Mark Berton - https://www.markberton.com

Affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4a6NTLT

In episode 31 of Creative Dynamos, I interview author Andrew K. Clark. Andrew discusses his journey as a writer, starting from high school, and elaborates on his works 'Where Dark Things Grow' and 'Where Dark Things Rise.' He delves into the influence of his Appalachian roots, the importance of authentic voice in storytelling, and discusses the balance between maintaining character depth and engaging readers in horror fiction. The conversation also touches on effective marketing strategies for authors, the significance of literary community engagement, and a shared appreciation for grits.

https://www.andrewkclark.com

Othering Podcast - https://www.otheringpodcast.com

In this episode of Creative Dynamos, I talk with my longtime friend and mentor, Matt Selznick. We cover the gamut, from Matt's extensive writing journey. From writing short stories in his childhood to creating immersive fantasy worlds like the Shapers World and the Sovereign Era, Matt has done it all. Matt provides insights into his self-publishing experiences and the early days of podcasting fiction. Our conversation delves into world-building, character development, and the intricacies behind Matt's unique, character-driven storytelling approach. Matt also introduces his 'Your Story Buddy' service and announces an exclusive offer for listeners of the podcast.

https://www.mattselznick.com

https://www.threads.com/@matthewwayneselznick

https://www.youtube.com/@MatthewWayneSelznick

https://bsky.app/profile/mattselznick.bsky.social

https://mastodon.cloud/@MattSelznick

Aleshka aka Alexandra and I talk about her family history, her multiple creative outlets, and her book In the Garden Behind the Moon: A Memoir of Loss, Myth, and Magic. Affiliate Link - https://amzn.to/4pU08jo