Spoiler Warnings: The Kindred Curse Saga

There’s something magical about getting a front-row seat to your favourite author’s mind. Penn is genuinely one of the kindest people in this industry — thoughtful, generous, and the kind of storyteller you could listen to for hours.

She reminds us that being a full-time author is possible, and she walks us through the realities of creative life, including the Dunning–Kruger effect and why so many of us struggle to trust our own art. In a world obsessed with chasing the next viral hit, she’s encouraging us to focus on craft first and trust that the marketing will follow.

I also introduce her to what I’m calling the “Penn Cole Effect,” and she breaks down the thinking behind her hybrid publishing deal — including why she refused to settle for anything less than what she knew she deserved, even when her dream felt far-fetched. This episode is an absolute must for any indie author!

When I struggled to find a designer to interview, Nikkita didn’t hesitate to step in. To those that have been around for a while, you know she holds a special place in my heart: her first episode is what kickstarted this entire podcast journey, and she’s a very dear friend of mine too. Coming back this time, she shares everything from a designer’s perspective—and truly, no topic is off limits.

We talk about hated characters in literature, the key differences artists consider when creating book covers versus character art, and the fantasy sub-genre cover trends we’re seeing right now. Nikkita breaks down how talent, experience, and instinct guide her creative process, and we even get candid about bodies, anatomy, nipples (yes, really), and what it’s like living with breast implants.

We also dive into taking familiar urban fantasy tropes and making them uniquely our own, researching experiences you haven’t personally lived so you can still write them authentically, and the often-misunderstood difference between commercial and usage rights. Also, why pre-made covers and character art are becoming increasingly appealing for artists.

Most importantly, we talk about trust—what she hopes authors keep in mind when working with artists, and why a strong, respectful author–artist relationship is essential to creating something truly special.

You can find Nikkita on Instagram here.

Spoiler Warnings: Their Series, The Sundered Realms Universe & The Kindred Curse Saga

Meeting Parker and Bree was genuinely one of the coolest moments of my podcasting journey — and a powerful reminder of what true creative friendship can accomplish. Inspired by a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, these two co-authors have an effortless way of building a shared vision and finding compromise when the story demands it.

They talk about the power readers hold — especially how word of mouth can change an author’s entire trajectory — and Parker gives us a glimpse into her author-artist perspective. We also get the official pronunciations for some of their character and series names, and they even confirm a few of my theories about the Ascended.

We dive into why they took a different approach to crafting their trials when writing The Ascended, how that choice shaped the uniqueness of the story, and if their readers have caught all the Easter Eggs they’ve left throughout the books…which now means I need to reread the entire series.

You can find Parker on Instagram here and Bree on Instagram here.