Episodios

  • 376. Brandon Mull Writing Epic YA Adventure Fantasy

    376. Brandon Mull Writing Epic YA Adventure Fantasy
    Apr 18 2026
    Brandon Mull was a guest on this podcast a few years ago in episode #251. We met when he was the Toastmaster at The Life, the Universe, and Everything Conference, after which he sent me a copy of “Fablehaven,” which became the topic of our first interview. This interview is about his newest release, “Guardians: Forbidden Mountain,” an epic adventure fantasy that can be enjoyed by YA as well as adult readers. He normally takes 6 months to write a novel, but this one took 2 ½ years due to the story’s depth—and the fact that it is the first of a three-novel series. There are two hero journeys that gradually weave into each other. Mako Boughbreaker is along one path, and Arden is on the other side of the empire, walking her path. The book deftly addresses people's spirituality while weaving in the idea that one does have the choice to do the right thing—and that one’s actions have consequences, good or bad —which is important. Possibly even more so these days. Learn more at https://brandonmull.com/
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    1 h
  • 375. Charlie Holmberg Creating Dark Fantasy and Romance Fiction

    375. Charlie Holmberg Creating Dark Fantasy and Romance Fiction
    Apr 10 2026
    Charlie Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon best-selling author of over 20 novels. She sent me her book “The Shattered King,” book one of a duology, a dark fantasy with a lot of adventure, and the romance contributes to the fantasy/magic. So, while it is a slow-burn romance—placing it squarely in the romantasy genre—I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adventure with a lot of political intrigue. I was fascinated by her magic, a system in which the main character, Nym, works with a physically broken Prince Renn to heal his "aura" or "soul," thereby healing his body. As I enjoy discovering new magic systems, this was an especially nice treat. And I must say that I really enjoyed meeting Charlie at the Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium, where this interview was recorded and discussing her journey as an author. Learn more at https://www.charlienholmberg.com/
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    59 m
  • 374. Tricia Levenseller Explains Why the Villainess Girl Lead in Romance Is So Popular

    374. Tricia Levenseller Explains Why the Villainess Girl Lead in Romance Is So Popular
    Apr 4 2026
    #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author Tricia Levenseller was interviewed at the Superstars Writing Conference in Colorado Springs and discusses the various types of romance and specifically romantasy novels and what makes them so popular. NOTE: This was the first romance novel I ever read, which made the interview all the more interesting for me! We discuss her “villain love story,” “The Shadows Between Us,” and how she writes fantasy romance novels. She explained why the villainess-girl lead female character in a romance is so popular with the female audience. Find out more about Tricia at https://tricialevenseller.com
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    1 h y 2 m
  • 373. Elaine Midcoh Writing Award-Winning Fiction on Sensitive Subjects

    373. Elaine Midcoh Writing Award-Winning Fiction on Sensitive Subjects
    Mar 28 2026
    This interview was recorded in Provo, Utah, at the Life the Universe and Everything Symposium, with Elaine Cohen, pen name Elaine Midcoh, Writers of the Future Volume 39 winner, with her story “A Trickle in History.” Elaine’s earlier careers included being a lawyer and a college professor, but she now focuses on her writing. Her short story “On Behalf of Lake Owakeela” was recently published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the Fiction Issue, having won the “Write Before Midnight” short fiction contest. It is a story that editor Kim Stanley Robinson commented had “A very knowing and expert feel.” In this interview, Elaine discusses how to research and write a fictional story on politically sensitive topics. Learn more: elainemidcoh.wordpress.com/
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    55 m
  • 372. Joshua Essoe Discusses Most Common Issues He Sees as a Book Editor

    372. Joshua Essoe Discusses Most Common Issues He Sees as a Book Editor
    Mar 21 2026
    Joshua Essoe is a freelance editor with over a decade of full-time work under his belt. He has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, including the multi-award-winning novel, Nightingale. He’s also edited for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, former director at Kobo, USA Today bestsellers, Writers of the Future winners, and many other top-notch independents. He was the lead editor at Urban Fantasy Magazine from 2014-2015. From 2012-2015, he recorded the weekly writing podcast Hide and Create with co-hosts Michael J. Sullivan, Diana Rowland, Jay Wells, and Debbie Viguie. You can find Joshua teaching about editing, pitches, and writing back-cover copy every year at the Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado. His approach to editing is to help you make your story the best version of itself it can be. Joshua is also a writer. He was a 2014 finalist in the Writers of the Future Contest and just released the third volume in a 5-book series, each covering two subjects of the most-common issues he sees in fiction writing as a full-time editor. Find his latest project at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshuaessoe/shazzwick-of-land-vol-1.
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    1 h y 2 m
  • 371. Thriller Author Rachel Howzell Hall Discusses Passion for Untold Stories

    371. Thriller Author Rachel Howzell Hall Discusses Passion for Untold Stories
    Mar 14 2026
    Rachell Howzell Hall is the NYT, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of 16 novels. The novel discussed in this interview was Fog and Fury. Her bio says she also writes romantasy, something "Fog and Fury"—an intense thriller—is not. And with the fact that she does write romantasy, it allowed discussing questions not previously asked including the difference between writing thrillers and romantasy.
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    59 m
  • 370. Tim Waggoner Discusses Why Horror Is So Popular

    370. Tim Waggoner Discusses Why Horror Is So Popular
    Mar 7 2026
    Tim Waggoner is a multi-award-winning dark fantasy and horror author with a spattering of media tie-ins, now totaling over 60 novels. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. We discuss what attracts people to horror and why he enjoys writing it, and his horror novel, “The World Turns Red.” Visit Tim at TimWaggoner.com
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    1 h y 2 m
  • 369. Lisa Mangum, Bestselling Author and Managing Editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing

    369. Lisa Mangum, Bestselling Author and Managing Editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing
    Feb 28 2026
    In this episode, Lisa Mangum, a veteran editor and author, shares her extensive experience in publishing. She has worked as an editor at Deseret Book since 1997, and became the editorial manager at Shadow Mountain in 2014. She has authored four bestselling YA novels—including the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello—plus short stories, novellas, and a craft book inspired by Supernatural. She also edits anthologies for WordFire Press and teaches at writing conferences, including her unique UVU writing weekends in Capitol Reef National Park. The discussion centers on her book “Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published.” emphasizing why even self-published or indie authors benefit from professional editing. Lisa explores key storytelling elements: the distinction between plot and story, various plot types, and narrative perspectives. She compares first-person, second-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient viewpoints, highlighting their relative strengths, challenges, and the genres where each thrives most effectively.
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    59 m