Writers Drinking Coffee

Lisa returns with her sequel to the first novel (Slanted and Disenchanted) with a character-driven story called Welcome to Hollywood. It's a novel of two 20-somethings in 2004 Hollywood, battling with high rents, unsatisfying jobs, and a deep attraction to one another - problem is, they haven't figured out how to communicate who they are, what they want, and who they are each individually becoming. They're still a band though, even if they stopped practicing, and music has a way of making connections. … Continue...Episode 216 – Somewhere in Lisa Czarina Michaud's Hollywood

Nick Mamatas has newly released an anthology called 120 Murders. A nod to an old MTV show in title, the stories collectively bleed thematically deep into the alternative rock scene of the 1990s, with touches of noir here, fantasy there, and universal transgressive fiction with characters that tell the truth about life as they perceive it. … Continue...Episode 215 – 120 Murders with Nick Mamatas

Jim C. Hines is a Hugo-award winning author of a series of princess fairy tales reimagined. Jim has taken the whole fairy tale Princess trope to a new and darkly glorious confection, combining multiple versions into a new saga where the women band together to solve their problems. Come listen as we delve into folklore retelling and cunning new ideas. Damn the Narrativium, full speed ahead! … Continue...Episode 214 – Interview with Jim C. Hines

K.M. Herkes writes across multiple genres, from Science Fiction and Fantasy to straight up good contemporary literature. She started as a novelist first, oddly enough, then moved to short stories. We read and squeed over her new book "Relics from a Traveling Show", and dug gleefully through the wide variety of stories in this, her first collection. … Continue...Episode 213 – Interview with K.M. Herkes

L. Douglas Garrett takes us back to his “Remember the Trade” series of professional operatives, and we sit down with him and his editor Nicky Robinson to chat about their compilation of Remember the Dead. Join us to learn along with “Dave” as he becomes the operative we know and love through a new novella and two prequel short stories. … Continue...Episode 212 – The Operative Returns – welcome back L. Douglas Garrett

I hope you all remember Richard Sparks, author of New Rock, New Role. We're here to squee with enthusiasm at the next in the series that just dropped in November, called New Rock, New Realm. We pick up right where the first book ended, so join us! … Continue...Episode 211 – Rocking Out with Richard Sparks

Come meet Karen Nelson, one of the masterminds behind Writing by Writers workshops and author of The Sunken Town. It's a story about a girl who suddenly inherits property from her birth mother, the narrative dancing gracefully between concepts of adoption, identity, and the consequences of the choices we make. Enjoy! … Continue...Episode 210 – Interview with Karen Nelson

We welcome back Martin Treanor to ask that most interesting of questions: what do fairies want? In his new book, Curiosity and the Cat, a girl who finds herself without much adult influence commits a crime that makes her feel guilty, but happy. But what has she unleashed? What is that cat, really? … Continue...Episode 209 – Martin Treanor's Cat

Garrett Hutson writes upmarket mysteries and historical spy fiction, with a cast of characters that reflect the diversity and variety of their respective eras. We caught up with him to get his definition and ideas about what upmarket means, talk about his approach to historical fiction like in his Gray Paree, and hear more exciting things about the pre-launch of his piratical LGBT buccaneer adventure novel. … Continue...Episode 208 – Interview with Garrett Hutson

We have chatted with many memoirists, but this vision of the past is new and startlingly original. Alma Alexander's newest book takes us through her life in stages via the description of the written word that impacted her so profoundly over the years. From childhood to adult, she describes the books she was reading with a glorious review, taking the reader either back to their own experience reading the author or poet, or sending them right out to the library to find a new delight. … Continue...Episode 207 – The Literary Memoirs of Alma Alexander

The Queen of Swords Press is “an independent small press specializing in swashbuckling tales of derring-do, bold new adventures in time and space, mysterious stories of the occult and arcane and fantastical tales of people and lands far and near.” Which really sums up why we love all the books they've put out, without even mentioning their wide variety of protagonists that increase representation for all of us. But how does an indie press work? Constantly, as this interview with Catherine Lundoff demonstrates! … Continue...Episode 206 – Indie Publisher focus – The Queen of Swords Press

We are delighted to introduce you all to Anne Montgomery: Sportscaster, referee, journalist, teacher, and author of six published novels. Your Forgotten Sons, inspired by a true story, touched us deeply as Anne taught us about a vital but unsung group of heroes in every war. In this book, set in WWII, we follow Bud Richardville through his younger years into the Army where he becomes a Sergeant in the Graves Registration Service. We sigh with Bud over his wife at home as well as his wistful sweetheart in Europe. Join us to hear more about this well-told tale of WWII historical fiction based on the letters a Sergeant in this service sent home to his family, which they collected and shared. … Continue...Episode 205 – Interview with Anne Montgomery

Dawn's first novel, “Pono & Aloha vs the Zero-Sum Game”, was just released and available on Amazon — and we're delighted to meet her to chat about it! It's a fascinating coming of age story of a young girl in Hawaii who discovers the spirit world and her place in it while trying to solve the historically challenging conundrum of saving the past vs helping the present and future. It is a novel of examining the unintended consequences of all our actions, whether we mean them for the best or no. There are trigger warnings, but it's a very worthy book that many women of all ages can relate to. … Continue...Episode 204 – Interview with Dawn Akemi

Cat Rambo is the early-rising, indefatigable writer of multiple stories, games, MUD administration, and novels - and we're delighted to chat about the upcoming crown of their Disco space opera series called “Rumor Has It”, coming out next month! Join us as we chat about the intrepid crew and chef running the ship You Sexy Thing as they lay a course for Coralind station and fight off pirate kings. … Continue...Episode 203 – Cat Rambo's Rumors

Welcome Karl Dunn, who has his first book published in May 2024 called “How to Burn a Rainbow”. Karl has won multiple awards writing on themes for others — but his first full-length diary novel is a frighteningly beautiful memoir about his process of being one of the first gay men he knew to go through a divorce. Join us as Karl talks about his voyage of discovery, finding spirit guides, and becoming his own guide. Then enjoy his thoughts on the writing process and other fun discussions from his screenwriter days on how to punch up dialogue and doing script doctoring. … Continue...Episode 202 – Interview with Karl Dunn

We welcome back Mark to talk about Becoming Terran, a near-future 2077 on this planet, describing how the people of Earth came together in one (okay, uneasy) Terran Confederation and reached for the stars. In his latest book, there is a conspiracy of plutocrats, a dynasty of brave women who understand when to fight for what they believe in, and some tasty genetic and surgical mod technology. … Continue...Episode 201 – Becoming Terran with Mark Roth-Whitworth

While many adore Katharine Kerr for the Deverry novels, lately she's been leaving fantasy behind for a new setting - outer space. Kit joins us to talk about forging ahead into a new world she's created in space, and how she thinks about world building, translating science and physics into fiction, and other tricks of a veteran wordsmith. Come join us and hear about the two new novels that will be coming out this fall - starting with Haze, set in the universe of her previous work, Polar City Blues, Snare, and Palace. … Continue...Episode 200 – Katharine Kerr does Sci Fi!

Richard Sparks may have started his career as a comedy writer, lyricist, librettist, and director, but since moving to California and picking up gaming he's started writing fantasy novels - and we love them! He combines his comedic wit, honed over a long career, with high fantasy and a soupçon of science fiction. For lovers of gaming, fantasy, or laughter, this book is for you! Plus he already has 4 more books in the series written… … Continue...Episode 199 – Interview with Richard Sparks

Come with us on a joyful ride with healer, hippie, and Harley rider Dr. Stacey Marie Kerr as we discuss her book Wild Heart, her biography about growing, learning, embracing, and being wild at heart. We go a little long because we had fun and learned so much, including about The Farm and Helmet Haiku! … Continue...Episode 198 – Interview with Dr. Stacey Marie Kerr

We're delighted to welcome back Lynn Harrod upon the release of his latest book, Child of Imago. Lynn weaves a new version of Dorothy in Oz located an interesting twist on the post-apocalyptic world. DOT slowly discovers that her memory has been wiped, heading off on a heroine's journey to find out who she is, how to rescue the girls in her dreams, and what family might really mean. Hint: It's not in Kansas. Enjoy! … Continue...Episode 197 – Welcome Back Lynn Harrod

Canadian author Angie Elita Newell of the Lidly-Q First Nation from the Dehcho, is a trained historian, blending oral stories with academic and First Nations history. Her first published novel: All I See is Violence is told through the lens of 1970s reservation violence and the events 100 years before leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn where the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes took on Custer's 7th Cavalry Regiment. … Continue...Episode 196 – Interview with Angie Elita Newell

It's the end of 2023, the beginning of 2024, and our intrepid hosts sit down to chat about what they learned in the first 5 seasons of WDC — what they enjoyed, the challenges, and the warnings for other podcasters. (The scam marketing! So much!) Drink with Jeannie, John, and Deirdre as they look at the last few years in retrospective, and randomly quote poetry. … Continue...Episode 195 – But Did You Learn Anything?

Peter Sartucci is a Boulder, CO game writer turned author. He of the Shadow fantasy series set in Silbar - a land of wonder and magic. He has five books in the series focusing on Sir Kirin DiUmbra, the Left Hand of the king (who secretly is his twin brother). Peter talks to us about storytelling constructs he learned from gaming, world building, why to keep your first novel around, and how he approaches writing descriptive prose. Use all your senses! … Continue...Episode 194 – Interview with Peter Sartucci

Join us for a lovely discussion with local California author Shauna McGuiness. Shauna explains her writing style and experience, which is key to her prolific publishing. Her take on YA fiction and fantasy is refreshing, and her latest novel in the Axe's Daughter (Lizzy Borden) series brings attention to well loved settings, and she's really fun to talk with! … Continue...Episode 193 – Interview with Shauna McGuiness

Karen Marie Shelton has a long and storied career started in technical writing that has spanned Medium, Quora, ghostwriting, and most recently a VERY useful self-help book explaining how to avoid murder while using dating apps. Karen and Chaz caught up with her to ask about her path to writing, her favorite tools, and other paths to avoiding being murdered. All very useful input, if you ask us! … Continue...Episode 192 – Interview with Karen Marie Shelton

We have a lovely discussion with Morgan Hazelwood, a writer and podcaster who has taken time out from her soon-to-be tenth NaNoWriMo success to discuss so many good things about writing, and open our mind to new tools, connections, and even terms! We discuss resources, and the perfect alpha reader as well as the best snacks to fuel writing. Enjoy, with dark chocolate! … Continue...Episode 191 – Interview with Morgan Hazelwood

We are delighted that the talented Raven Belasco is back with us, talking about the latest anthology that was just released: Adventures in Bodily Autonomy. Raven edited fourteen amazing stories from some of our favorite authors that flow through multiple universes, space, and time, offering new perspectives on the issue of reproductive justice. And besides paying the writers, all profits will go to non-profit Reproductive Freedom for All. She also got the rights to her Blood and Ancient Scrolls series back from her publisher, and talks about how and when a writer may need to do that. … Continue...Episode 190 – Welcome Back Raven Belasco

PL Hayes has self-published a gumshoe trilogy in the style of Stout, Hammitt, and Cross - the Odd Jobs set. We enjoyed the familiarity of chatting with an old friend about his path from writing games and LARP adventures into modern crime dramas. You'll like Cameron, and if you're like us you'll wonder about where he met up with his companions before the writing started. Paul draws pictures of Colorado mountain towns with a heart full of love, and it shows in his words. … Continue...Episode 189 – Interview with PL Hayes

William is a new novelist, with his first novel ever self-published on Amazon. It's about a man's immortal journey through history from the Black Death to the present (give or take). Magglio Cervantes is an interesting sort of protagonist, who goes from being a leaf on time's river that drifts from eddy to whirlpool into coming to terms with his endless existence and learns how to reconnect with humanity. … Continue...Episode 188 – Interview with William Klem

There are so many ways to earn a living as a good writer, and if what you love is writing there are more “expertise” or “value-add” monetization models out there. Ever wonder about the fiscal model for Quora and Medium? Sean Kernan went from years of working in a giant finance company to working from home, earning his living by being paid to be an essayist. He's a top writer on Medium, telling interesting stories about interesting people. … Continue...Episode 187 – Interview with Sean Kernan

Come meet Mark Roth-Whitworth, who wrote a brilliant novel about a scientific ship from Earth in the year 2169 that is investigating a black hole, only to be caught up and flung 11,000 Years into the future. What begins then as a story of loss, the grief cycle, and readjustment, shifts into a study in what humans have become as they found their way to the stars. In 11,000 Years, Mark delves into ideas of human expansion and evolution, of rejoining a society you want to belong to while simultaneously exploring the ramifications of what that world is doing flung across multiple planets. … Continue...Episode 186 – Interview with Mark Roth-Whitworth

Brenda Clough is a prolific Asian-American Sci-Fi writer, returning to visit with us after another book and novella have hit the stands - Cleo's Scroll (Dante Sci-Fi!) and then A Door in His Head - which won an award! We chat about historical Sci-Fi, lament over the lack of shark-based deities in the world, and she reports about the latest Marian Halcombe book. … Continue...Episode 185 – Welcome Back Brenda Clough

Kari Sperring, amazing author and medieval historian, has written a splendid new Arthurian novel called The Book of Gaheris. Join us as she talks about developing a new version of an Arthurian legend through historic research, reading the classics, and re-imagining the status quo as it very well may have been touched by magic. … Continue...Episode 184 – Interview with Kari Sperring

We welcome back Sharon Lee and Steve Miller to talk about their 25th Liadon book - Salvage Right, from Baen Books. They tell us about the space station that straddles two realities, as we debate where the cats might come in and own the place. There's also an in-depth discussion of the dinkus and the telling detail, so you can learn something new! … Continue...Episode 183 – Journey Back to Liadon

Jeannie and Howard have a very convivial talk about Howard's new Chronicles of Hanuvar books being published by Baen press, the need for smart characters, how to write them (and how to overcome mistakes). Plus, how to Barcon (and where not to be at Dragoncon), and other interesting subjects. … Continue...Episode 182 — Interview with Howard Andrew Jones

In which the WDC crew geeks out with joy at the presence of David Gerrold, writer of the silver screen and television, novels, short stories, and limericks - and teacher of writing to others. David talks to us about science fiction in the early days, the trend toward social justice awareness and addressing current problems in new ways. From Sleestacks and Tribbles to the strike lines of WGA and SAG-Aftra, David walks us through how Hollywood has changed, and where it needs to go so that everyone involved in the industry can live long and prosper. … Continue...Episode 181-Interview with David Gerrold

Your WDC crew welcomes back Alma Alexander, who has won a great struggle with publishing rights to re-release her trilogy "WorldWeavers" with a bonus new fourth book coming out this November! WorldWeavers has all the magical youth and schooling of Certain Bestselling Books and Movies - but we like them even better! WorldWeavers posits a world where everyone knows about magic - it's even regulated. Alma seamlessly blends American Spiritualism and gods, with fae-like creatures, magic, computers, and a scrappy bunch of young students you'll adore. Thea is a splendid young heroine, and we think you'll like her as much as we do. … Continue...Episode 180 – Alma Alexander re-releases WorldWeavers

Dr. Marsha Gordon wrote a biography of Ursula Parrot, the best-selling female author of the 1920-1930s. Her book, "Ex-Wife", sold more than Faulkner and Fitzgerald put together when it came out. She wrote screenplays for Hollywood that catapulted women into stardom. But no one has heard of her. Come with us as Marsha delves into the world of being a professional woman of the age, of working in a man's world, and what it meant to be successful and wealthy in her own time but still die penniless and alone. It's a fascinating book of a fascinating woman, and we give her to you. … Continue...Episode 179 – Interview with Dr. Marsha Gordon

In this episode, Dr. Alan Wu reads to us a story about a real-live toxicology case study. It's fascinating to delve into the world of doping and toxicology reports - and for all your writers out there, understanding HOW doping and discovery works can make the difference between a really good story and something that makes doctors, nurses, or scientists roll their eyes. From doping to posthumous blood screens and "toxicology" reports, enjoy gaining some insight on how laboratories really work, and gain a cautionary tale on the topic of sports doping. … Continue...Episode 178 – Dr. Alan Wu Reads Us A Story

Dr. Alan Wu is a professor of lab medicine at UCSF and the Lab Director at San Francisco General Hospital. He's written over 500 peer-reviewed papers in scientific and medical journals - and now is taking that factual background experience and creating forensic procedural fiction with an emphasis on scientific accuracy. With an eye toward the world learning more about proper lab work and methodology, and not unconscious of the effect House and Bones have had on TV, he has published his own book of speculative science fiction short stories - Mind Portal. If you love science, time travel, and “What If” speculation, you'll love it! … Continue...Episode 177 – Interview with Dr. Alan Wu

We caught up with Kate Elliott again now that her second book in The Sun Chronicles is out: Furious Heaven. Your hosts are LOVING this gender-swapped Alexander the Great in space, and Kate talks in depth about her world building around how multiple countries find their way to the stars in the far future, and what kinds of societies they set up, and then how they all come into conflict. We discuss themes and plots and dive into questions that Kate won't answer yet on Why Cloning is Forbidden. We can't wait for the next book! Listen in and you'll find out why! … Continue...Episode 176 – Welcome back Kate Elliott!

Dr. Evelyn Alsultany teaches in the department of American Studies and Ethnicity at USC L.A., and chats about her latest book Broken, covering topics of Islamophobia and Muslim representation, inclusion, and stereotyping. It's a fascinating reference book from an incredibly articulate educator, and Evelyn also consults with Hollywood studios as a sensitive reader and expert for writers and filmmakers. She co-created The Obeidi-Alsultany Test to help writers improve general and specific representations in all the arts, pointing out the challenges of Muslims being from many different geographic heritages, non religious but still cultural, and more. … Continue...Episode 175 – Interview with Dr. Evelyn Alsultany

Martin wrote The Logos Prophecy, a delightful world-trotting thriller wherein a conspiracy theorist and a science guy have to figure out how to save the world. We talk about satire in fiction, metaphysics, quantum mechanics, conspiracy theorists and psychology, laws, symbols, and more! … Continue...Episode 174 – Interview with Martin Treanor

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are the authors of 25 Liaden Universe novels as of this coming July, and many short stories. These two prolific writers met in college and took classes together - and they just celebrated their 100th collaboration together, and talk about how they work together with different specialties in the creative process. If you love Space Opera, the Liaden Universe and its timelines may be for you! … Continue...Episode 173 – Interview with Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

In which we discuss how to write – and run – good role-playing games with Norman Lutes (He/him). GMing and game writing have a lot in common with good story writing. For example: Reading is to writing as playing is to GMing. And: "What do you start with? A story? A setting?" ...smacks of Plotting vs Pantsing or Game-mastering is a combination of critical path project management and storytelling in the fireside tradition or Writing a game is like writing software - spend the majority of your time planning for exceptions and errors. And: Spoon-feeding vs. player involvement: it's a balance or You can lead players back to the path if they go astray. But you need to have done some world-building, or at least world-stealing. Don't forget to file off the serial numbers or If you ask your players for their characters' backstories, don't be surprised if they're not interested when you fold it into the story. Bonus: Role-playing via email: The story, backstory, player's interests, and world-building all come together. AND it's self-documenting! … Continue...Episode 172 – Make the Adventure you want to play in: GM talk with Norman Lutes

Tami is an enby/aro/ace author of queer fiction, and we all admire their stunning productivity during the pandemic! Tami also writes as S.T. Lynn, London Kemaker, and Anna Morgan - and offers clarity for new writers on how to establish a brand with a particular name to make it easy for readers to find more of what they love. Their storylines feature queer characters, found families, and the happily ever afters we all could use more of in today's zeitgeist. … Continue...Episode 171 – Interview with Tami Veldura

In which some of the members of the Flying Kerrs writing group read aloud a Christmas Ghost story written by Denise Tanaka. Sit back and enjoy - Don't Go Upstairs. … Continue...Episode 170 – A Christmas Ghost story written by Denise Tanaka

Welcome to one of the queens of science fiction, Nancy Kress, as we talk about her newest book "Observer" — written in partnership with Robert Lanza, MD. Observer is a brilliant story that combines tasty science with real human problems. The science mingles theories of consciousness and the nature of reality with quantum universal cosmology and brain neural pathway mapping. From how to write a novel with a scientist to a critique of science fiction in movies, Nancy takes us from Mars to the oceans and we just can't get enough of her. … Continue...Episode 169 – Interview with Nancy Kress

Mark Shaiken rides again! We talk again with the author of the 3J legal procedural novels about his most recent release Unfair Discrimination, writing a lot during lockdown, and changes in procedure. The book and discussion are wide ranging and of interest to readers and authors alike. … Continue...Episode 168 – Interview with Mark Shaiken

Colm O'Shea is a Clinical Associate Professor with the Expository Writing Program at NYU. Today he joins us to talk about his first science fiction book, Claiming De Wayke. It's a marvelous dystopian novel set in the near future in a post-plague apocalyptic Ireland. Colm weighs many interesting topics in his book: What is the nature of consciousness? What does it mean to be human, and where does dignity lie? What is important, and what is fulfillment? Tayto is a charming tour guide for the reader into and out of his favorite place - the world he experiences through his VR halo - and a highly reluctant participant from time to time in reality, called by him de Wayke. … Continue...Episode 167 – Interview with Colm O’Shea

Dr. Guthrie P. Ramsey Jr. has written a book on the fascinating topic of jazz, and the perspective of musicologists as their approach to studying black music history has changed through the years. His new book Who Hears Here? is a collection of essays that celebrates the history of jazz and performers through the ages, using the thoughtful lens of modern perspective on race, sexism, regionalism, and more. The contemporary era of black music inquiry is a thoughtful one that must examine implications of race, sex, politics, world history and movement, and sociology, and his essays on the topic as well as his approach are a delight. … Continue...Episode 166 – An Interview with Guthrie P. Ramsey Jr.