Podcasts about illustrators

This week on Hope Prose, Tara goes back to the beginning of her own writing journey by speaking with the person who helped ignite her first spark in writing, back when she was a young mother who struggled with post-partum anxiety and an all-encompassing amount of imposter syndrome. Back when she dreamed up picture books at three in the morning with a baby asleep on her chest, and decided to write to one of her favourite picture book authors on a whim. Kathy Stinson was that author and is Tara's guest again after twelve years. Kathy writes timeless picture books that have been published internationally, including the classic Red Is Best,  the award-winning The Man with the Violin, and the Governor General shortlisted The Rock and the Butterfly. She is also a published novelist, short story writer, poet, wife, mother, grandmother, and current president of CANSCAIP (the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers). Listen in as they chat about Kathy's start over forty years ago, how she has maintained this career through avoiding trends, and instead leaning into the creative process and following her own curiosity and interests. They also chat about her newest picture book Boogie & Tee and Twinkle & Hue, and how stories can impact us across the lifespan, even a picture book when we are sixty. The Hope Prose Podcast's InstagramAlex's Instagram Tara's Instagram

Ted Olczak, president of Printed Word Reviews, offers invaluable insights into the competitive world of independent publishing. The discussion dives into the strategic importance of literary awards and book reviews. Ted shares expert guidance on navigating programs like the Independent Press Award and the New York City Book Award. Listeners will learn how these accolades can significantly boost an author's visibility and credibility. Additionally, the episode covers the crucial role that professional book reviews play in a book's marketing. Whether you are an aspiring writer or an established indie author, this conversation provides actionable tips to help your work stand out in a crowded marketplace. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

Tricia Gardella, who is known as National Park Gramma, is the award-winning author of scores of children's books, including a 10-book Mouse Travelers Series, which explores and promotes a love of national parks and monuments. I've read Mouse Visits Everglades National Park and can tell you it's a charming story, wonderfully illustrated, about Tricia's hero, Mouse, exploring the Everglades during a most engaging journey through the park so that young audiences can get a sense of the beauty of the endangered species that live there.Tricia's had her writings published in Highlights Magazine, been interviewed on Sacramento TV shows, and was featured in her local newspaper. She's a Lifetime Member of The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, as well as an active member of Women In Publishing, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and The Alliance of Independent Authors. Tricia's not only a celebrated author, she's also the matriarch of a large family, and an entrepreneur who has run a half-dozen businesses, including an ice cream parlor, crafting, and ranching. After raising her family, Tricia earned her B.A. in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the tender age of 75. 

Kelli Panique started as a strictly behind-the-scenes support person with Picture Book Summit and has grown into our host and producer. In this episode, Kelli shares how she's been inspired to start writing her own picture book manuscripts after listening and learning over the last 12 years. If you're looking for a place to start on your next story, we think you'll find inspiration in today's chat. Resources mentioned in this episode:  The Parallel Universe of Authors and Illustrators with Shadra Strickland - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!  Readers, Relationship, and Revision with Meg Medina - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!  Our Writing Voice is Also Our Singing Happy Birthday Voice, Our Berating Teenagers Voice, Our Hollering at Ducks Voice, and That's Not a Bad Thing with Sophie Blackall - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!  Using Your Fear with Jon Klassen - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!    Books mentioned in this episode:  Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sanchez   What will we learn at this year's Picture Book Summit? Come find out! Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!  Time is running out to save $100 with Early Bird Registration. Offer ends 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!

From Power Rangers to bestselling novels, Neo Edmund shares how he overcame Hollywood development hell, built a writing career through indie publishing, and proves that compelling story always outweighs perfect prose. Essential listening for aspiring writers and storytellers. Learn more at www.neoedmund.com

Alex Shvartsman's newest release, “The Best of All Possible Planets,” reads as a homage to Voltaire's “Candide,” a satire of philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, invoked whenever characters face horrific events to highlight the absurdity of ignoring reality in favor of blind optimism. "All for the best in the best of all possible worlds." We also discuss Mission Earth Volume One, and Alex sees the Voltar confederacy as named after Voltaire, who L. Ron Hubbard considered a master of satire in the introduction to Mission Earth. We discuss Alex's allure to satire, how he writes, and the social value of the sub-genre of comedy space opera. Learn more at alexshvartsman.com.

JENNIFER MELLEN Artist & Illustrators of the Future Winner – Biography Jennifer Mellen is an artist, illustrator, creator and mother living in the beautiful state of Utah. She was born in 1988 in Salt Lake City and raised in Magna, Utah. She has always been passionate about art and expanding her skills with a love for all things fantasy which includes creating strange creatures and dragons in her artwork. Her body of work mainly consists of fantasy creations, realistic works, and bold logos. Jennifer has been drawing from a very young age and, in growing up, she has explored every medium she could find including traditional, digital, and sculpting mediums such as pencils, watercolor, oils, polymer clay, wax, and digital programs. JOHN ERIC SCHLEICHER Author & Writers of the Future Winner – Biography John Eric (“J. E.”) Schleicher is an award-winning author who writes stories that leave behind a fantastical aftertaste long after reading. His short fiction has appeared in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40, Creepy Podcast, The Colored Lens Speculative Fiction Magazine, and Tiny Terrors Volume 1, among other publications. His short story, “Squiddy,” was a winner of the Writers of the Future contest and is currently being novelized. When not reading or writing, he enjoys wandering wonderstruck (on two legs or knobby wheels) the mountains near his home in Missoula, Montana. Can't get enough of J.E.? You're coming on a bit strong. But okay. He came ready. Discover his delights on his blog Dopamine's Delight or connect with him on Threads & Instagram @JESchleicher. Find out more at: www.JESchleicher.com In 2014 she experienced great inspiration after attending the first and only Fantasy Con getting to meet amazing illustrators who she is each a big fan of today. In 2016 Jennifer earned an associates degree in Visual Arts and Design with an illustration emphasis from Salt Lake Community. While attending college she had her first two children with her husband Nathan Mellen. Ms. Mellen worked for some years in graphic design for a company called High School Blanket and developed her graphic design skills further having created many mascot designs. In 2020 she had her third child and started to have dreams of doing more art. Having been unsuccessful at becoming an illustrator, she looked into using her graphic design skill to benefit her family. In 2021 she and her husband started a business called SeaDragon Cove producing and selling fantasy products at various renaissance festivals, conventions, and Evermore Park theme park. This became a successful business and they have now joined their company with We Geek Together Entertainment. In 2023 Jennifer was inspired to submit illustration work she created in college to the Illustrators of the Future contest having met Joni Labaqui (contest director) and Brian Hailes (contest judge) in their panel at the Life, the Universe and Everything Symposium. After receiving encouragement from other fantasy illustrators at Evermore Park theme park and at The Dog and Dragon group at various conventions, she entered the contest which resulted in her winning her most recent award and having her art published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40.United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

15 plays15 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Podcast Owen Cotter is a radio host and on-camera presenter. He has appeared on major media such as ESPN, VH1, SiriusXM, Real Scene TV, and William Shatner's My Outer Space TV. He is also the owner of SciFiction.com, the Hugo- and Nebula-award-winning SciFi literary project formerly owned by the SyFy Channel. ScyFiction.com showcases geek-chic news, reviews, interviews, events, and articles, and publishes the works of relevant artists and authors, becoming the go-to place for up-to-date news for the SciFi and Fantasy community.

From the right way to make master studies to finding mentors to feeding your creative bank account, Jake Parker, Sam Cotterill, and Lee White cover a little bit of everything in this live-recorded episode.

As the Director of IngramSpark, Paige Allen has built the platform into a global print-on-demand and ebook distribution solution for authors who want to self-publish their works and provide hard-copy distribution to its massive network of over 40,000 retailers, libraries, and online stores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Key features include: • Global Distribution: Reaches major international markets through extensive wholesale networks. • Format Variety: Prints high-quality paperbacks, hardcovers, and diverse trim sizes. • Wholesale Pricing: Allows authors to set standard discounts, making books attractive to physical bookstores. • Free Title Setup: Offers no-fee standard book creation to lower upfront costs. Learn more at www.ingramspark.com. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

Did you know there is hidden treasure right in your home town? There is! And everyday people like you and me are using geocaching to find them. Geocaching is like using a digital treasure map to locate items that have been hidden. There are websites dedicated to these hometown treasure hunts, which is also the topic of this week's podcast. In this interview, Tracy sits down with author Abbi Lee to talk about the latest book in the Geocache Club Series: Hometown Treasure Hunt. The book follows sixth graders, Sixth graders Layton and Sherry as they start a geocache club at their school and transform a hiking trail into a geocaching adventure. Buy the book: https://abbileebooks.wordpress.com/pu... Want to take part in the geocaching fun? Visit the Official Geocaching Website: https://www.geocaching.com About the Author: Abbi Lee is a treasure hunter at heart, except instead of gold, she collects stories. As the author of the Geocache Club trilogy, she weaves adventure, mystery, and a dash of history into tales that keep young readers turning pages. Outside of reading and writing, Abbi enjoys cooking, baking, geocaching for hidden treasures, and going on adventures with her husband and two daughters. Abbi has been published in multiple magazines and is an active member of the Kansas Authors Club and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

Did you know there is hidden treasure right in your home town? There is! And everyday people like you and me are using geocaching to find them. Geocaching is like using a digital treasure map to locate items that have been hidden. There are websites dedicated to these hometown treasure hunts, which is also the topic of this week's podcast. In this interview, Tracy sits down with author Abbi Lee to talk about the latest book in the Geocache Club Series: Hometown Treasure Hunt. The book follows sixth graders, Sixth graders Layton and Sherry as they start a geocache club at their school and transform a hiking trail into a geocaching adventure. Buy the book: https://abbileebooks.wordpress.com/pu... Want to take part in the geocaching fun? Visit the Official Geocaching Website: https://www.geocaching.com About the Author: Abbi Lee is a treasure hunter at heart, except instead of gold, she collects stories. As the author of the Geocache Club trilogy, she weaves adventure, mystery, and a dash of history into tales that keep young readers turning pages. Outside of reading and writing, Abbi enjoys cooking, baking, geocaching for hidden treasures, and going on adventures with her husband and two daughters. Abbi has been published in multiple magazines and is an active member of the Kansas Authors Club and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

In this episode, Sarah Bean, Marketing Director at Book Launchers, discusses the rapidly evolving world of self-publishing and provides quality advice on how to navigate getting your voice heard over the din of other authors wanting to be heard as well. Visit authorlaunchkit.com and check out what they have to offer for FREE for seven days . United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 26! Our guests today are Jolene Gutierrez and Chris Sasaki… two of the creators of the picture book Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, Published by Abrams. It's an incredibly moving story cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights. Unbreakable is a great balance of historical information, lived experiences for Tonai and his family, and the emotional challenges they faced during their incarceration in the Amache "camp" during World War II, as they campaigned to release Tonai's father from the FBI. The book does a great job of balancing a very serious topic and making it accessible to younger audiences. Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will inspire others to learn and grow in compassion. She is the winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region. In addition to Unbreakable, Jolene's work includes Mamiachi and Me: My Mami's Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); Too Much! An Overwhelming Day; the Stars of Latin Pop series; Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks; and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader. Chris Sasaki is an EMMY and ANNIE award-winning animation artist. With a rich career spanning over several high-profile studios, they have directed and developed content for Pixar, Tonko House, and Apple. Their impressive portfolio includes collaborations with LAIKA Entertainment, Blue Sky Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks, and the Jim Henson Company. In addition to their animation work, Chris is a celebrated figure in the literary world, known for their captivating picture books. Their titles include GHOST; Home is a Window; Animal Architects; Sakamoto's Swim Club; and of course, the incredible Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist. Their illustrations have earned them the prestigious Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators. To learn more about Jolene, you can find her online at jolenegutierrez.com or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads @writerjolene. To learn more about Chris, you can find them online at csasaki.com or on Instagram @christopher_sasaki. We highly recommend getting your own copy of Unbreakable (preferably from the Japanese American National Museum). And if you're an educator or know an educator, then please share the educator's guide that can be found on Jolene's site as well as some coloring sheets on Chris's site. And if you're interested in going to one of their live events, the book's website has a list of upcoming events including events in Colorado and Southern California. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.  

Today's guest is Illustrators of the Future winner Arthur Haywood. Arthur started as a graffiti muralist and saw his career explode from there. He is a reader who does judge books by their covers and so began sharing his stories through illustration. He is now focused on making book covers, as well as murals for libraries and schools to engage youth in reading. You can see his multi-faceted styles of art at www.arthurhaywood.com/

Today's guest is Illustrators of the Future winner Arthur Haywood. Arthur started as a graffiti muralist and saw his career explode from there. He is a reader who does judge books by their covers and so began sharing his stories through illustration. He is now focused on making book covers, as well as murals for libraries and schools to engage youth in reading. You can see his multi-faceted styles of art at www.arthurhaywood.com/ United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

After four years, this is it — my final episode of Thoughts on Illustration. Instead of going out with a single deep dive, I wanted to leave you with a roundup: the seven tips I find myself circling back to most often, whether I'm recording an episode, teaching a class, or sitting across from someone in a one-on-one coaching session. And then I close with one last piece of advice that I think ties everything else together — especially relevant right now, with AI reshaping how we think about creativity and originality.Thank you for four years of listening, sharing, and supporting this show. It's meant more to me than you know.Have a Daily Drawing Practice: Why drawing regularly — especially slow, observational drawing from life — is the foundational skill every illustrator needs before taking on real client work.Know What and Who Inspires You: Why your heroes and mentors (most of whom you'll never meet, and many of whom are long gone) are essential teachers, and how to study them like a student.Share Your Work: Why sharing isn't optional self-promotion but a core part of the creative process — it builds accountability, audience, and feedback you can't get any other way.Take Technique Seriously: Moving past "just drawing with color" toward real artistic technique, and how working within a "media paradigm" (drawing, painting, collage, or printmaking) sharpens your style.Lean Into Constraints: Why creative freedom isn't the absence of limits — it's working skillfully within them — and why illustration is always applied art with a purpose.Have a Well-Defined Creative Process: Breaking down the path from brief, to research, to sketches, to finished art — and why a repeatable process beats waiting for inspiration.Illustration Isn't Art, It's Problem Solving: Why thinking of illustration as a form of design — not just self-expression — actually frees you to do better creative work.Final Advice: Why the act of making art changes the artist, and why no AI tool can replace that deeply human, embodied experience of thinking and working through your hands.Drawing Is Important — The Book and Class: If you want to go deeper on tip #1, check out the book and the companion class on Skillshare.https://www.tomfroese.com/bookStyle Class, Composition for Illustrators, and The Six Stages of Illustration: Referenced throughout this episode — all available on Skillshare for anyone who wants to dig further into style, constraints, and process.https://www.tomfroese.com/teachingPast Episodes Mentioned: Episode 62 (How do you make an illustration cohesive?) and Episode 13 (Why constraints make you more creative) — both dig deeper into the constraints conversation from tip #5.One-on-One Coaching: If you want personal guidance on your portfolio or a specific project, book a session.https://www.tomfroese.com/coachingThank you to everyone who has listened, shared, and supported this podcast over the past four years — especially those of you who've supported here on Patreon. The show is ending, but I'm still here on Patreon for the Draw With Me's until further notice. If you'd want to sign up to be notified on my next adventure, stick around here, or find me/subscribe on Substack —> https://mr⁠tomfroese.substack.com⁠Work: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠Coaching: ⁠tomfroese.com/coaching⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠In this EpisodeLinks and ResourcesWhat's Next?Find Me Elsewhere

We are here today in Portland, Oregon, at the Independent Publishers' Booksellers Association conference. During the Independent Book Publishers Association Conference in Portland, OR, Keith Riegert spoke about the changes in the Amazon algorithm and how, given a good book, discoverability is an author's major challenge. He explained how AI is a tool to solve this. Keith is the president of The Stable Book Group and CEO of Brooklyn-based independent publishing companies, Ulysses Press and VeloPress Books. Keith is also CEO of Perfect Bound Technologies Corporation and a co-founder of the book publicity and digital marketing firm, Pacific & Court. Keith is a member of the board of advisors at NYU's School of Professional Studies in the Center for Publishing, where he also teaches Analytics and Consumer Insights. Keith also serves on the boards of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and the AI firm, Inkbloom. Learn more at www.keithriegert.com/ United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Howard Lovy talks to Amelia Ross, a developmental editor and children's librarian who specializes in KidLit, about what authors need to know when writing for young readers. Amelia explains the differences between board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, and YA, and why age categories matter. She also discusses authentic voice, age-appropriate content, the role of illustrations, and why children's books work best when lessons emerge naturally through story and character. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Howard Lovy is an author, developmental editor, and writing coach with a long career in journalism and publishing. He works with writers at many stages of their careers, with a focus on helping them develop their ideas and strengthen their work while preserving their unique voices. He lives in Northern Michigan. About the Guest Amelia Denyven Ross is a developmental editor for KidLit authors. She has an MFA in children's literature and has studied fiction for young readers for twenty years. During that time, she has also worked with children and teens in public libraries and schools, where she has led story times, facilitated book clubs, and mentored teen writers. Now, as a freelance editor, she splits her time between the library and working remotely from her home in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Amelia is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Josie Moore grew up in the valley town of Westfield, Massachusetts with a voice that wouldn't work and a brain filled to bursting. Paranoid by the world and abandoned by those around her, she turned to art in her time of hiding. When she was scared, she wrote about it. When she cried, she drew comforting pictures. With the inability to pinpoint and process her own emotions, she used art and storytelling as her communication, turning her fear into something beautiful. Nowadays, she can finally leave her bedroom, but never without a sketchbook by her side. She attends the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in hopes of getting her BFA in Illustration. She spends her days doodling elves, bears, and silly little faeries and nights writing, planning, and…hopefully writing some more. Finally having an outlet to put all her obsessive, creative energy, she dreams of one day showing even the deepest crevices of her mind with her odd love stories and twisted mysteries. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests are the most prestigious writing and illustrating competitions in the world with the Writers of the Future being in its 43rd year, the Illustrators of the Future in its 38th year and they are judged by the premier names in speculative fiction. The Illustrators of the Future Contest judges include, Bob Eggleton (11 Chesley Awards and 9 Hugo Awards), Larry Elmore (Dungeons & Dragons book covers), Echo Chernik (graphic designs for major corporations including Celestial Seasonings tea packaging), Rob Prior (art for Spawn, Heavy Metal comics and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ciruelo (Eragon Coloring Book). Joseph Sidari lives in the Boston suburbs with his wife and a delightfully spoiled labradoodle named Chloe, who takes him for walks twice a day. As a practicing physician, he works hard caring for his patients while trying to kill off his protagonists. He is a current member of the Grub Street Writers Group of Boston and a former member of the Spacecraft Writers' Group. He's been a lifelong fan of reading speculative fiction, but only started writing it after flipping his bicycle during triathlon training. Typing at his computer felt like a less risky hobby, so that summer, with his wrist on the mend, he wrote a novel. Then another. On his third attempt, he found an agent who suggested that writing short stories could help build his reputation while the book was being shopped around. The manuscript never sold, but he realized short stories were fun, too. Since then, he has earned multiple honorable mentions in the Writers of the Future contest and two Silvers, while publishing several short stories—though not enough to “pro out." This story was one of those honorable mentions. You know the email Joni Labaqui [contest director] sends? The one that suggests to “revise and resubmit an old story if you don't have anything new.” It resonated. “I liked the idea of the epistolary tale I'd entered to the Contest about a woman trying to free the last dragon in America. But I needed to double down on the premise. Write more than just blog posts. So, I rewrote it from top to bottom.” And here is the new and improved story. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com The Writers of the Future Contest judges include, Tim Powers (author of On Stranger Tides), Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Dune prequel series), Robert J. Sawyer (The Oppenheimer Alternative), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series, The Stormlight Archive), Larry Niven (Ringworld), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death), Hugh Howey (Wool), and Katherine Kurtz (Deryni series) to name a few.

Irvin Rodriguez is a visual artist whose work offers a synthesis of painting and drawing, inspired by the European masters and 19th-century painters, paired with the narrative influence and aesthetics of illustration and contemporary art. Rodriguez's artistic practice spans multiple disciplines, from analog to digital media, resulting in figurative compositions and portraits that communicate individual and collective experiences. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1988, Rodriguez graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Illustration (2010), while simultaneously studying at the Grand Central Atelier (2008–2010), and later at the Art Students League of NY (2013–2016). Since then, Rodriguez has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Europe, South America, and the United States, and was also the recipient of the 2016 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, the 2019 John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship, and the 2019 Donald Jurney Travel Fellowship. Over the years, he has developed into a compelling and versatile artist, with works in the film, comic book, publishing, and video game industries for clients like Naughty Dog, Lucasfilm, DC Comics, and Magic: The Gathering. He currently lives and works out of his studio in Los Angeles, California. Irvin was the 2011 recipient of the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award. He has been an Illustrators of the Future judge since 2023. In this episode, Irvin discusses his journey in a successful artistic career. Learn more at irvinrodriguez.com.

Irvin Rodriguez is a visual artist whose work offers a synthesis of painting and drawing, inspired by the European masters and 19th-century painters, paired with the narrative influence and aesthetics of illustration and contemporary art. Rodriguez's artistic practice spans multiple disciplines, from analog to digital media, resulting in figurative compositions and portraits that communicate individual and collective experiences. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1988, Rodriguez graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Illustration (2010), while simultaneously studying at the Grand Central Atelier (2008–2010), and later at the Art Students League of NY (2013–2016). Since then, Rodriguez has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Europe, South America, and the United States, and was also the recipient of the 2016 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, the 2019 John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship, and the 2019 Donald Jurney Travel Fellowship. Over the years, he has developed into a compelling and versatile artist, with works in the film, comic book, publishing, and video game industries for clients like Naughty Dog, Lucasfilm, DC Comics, and Magic: The Gathering. He currently lives and works out of his studio in Los Angeles, California. Irvin was the 2011 recipient of the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award. He has been an Illustrators of the Future judge since 2023. In this episode, Irvin discusses his journey in a successful artistic career. Learn more at irvinrodriguez.com.

Illustrators and comic artists from across the GCC are invited to submit pitches for the annual comic anthology Only applications submitted through the website will be considered. The deadline for submitting pitches is 11:59 pm, UAE local time (GMT +4), on 30 June 2026. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered. If you have questions, contact corniche@sharjahart.org, and mention ‘Corniche 8 Open Call' in the subject line. For more information and application details, visit sharjahart.org. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.net ************************ Follow us on Social. www.instagram.com/pulse95radio www.facebook.com/pulse95radio

Meet Illustrators of the Future winner Roddy Taylor, and Writers of the Future winners Brenda Posey and Thomas K. Slee, and learn their story of how they won the Contest and what it means to their future as creatives.

Meet Illustrators of the Future winner Roddy Taylor, and Writers of the Future winners Brenda Posey and Thomas K. Slee, and learn their story of how they won the Contest and what it means to their future as creatives.

Meet Writers of the Future winners Mike Strickland, Shaun Stevenson, Michael Kuester, and Illustrators of the Future winners Nathan Deiwert, and Tracy Eire and learn their story of how they won the Contest and what it means to their future as creatives.

Meet Writers of the Future winners Mike Strickland, Shaun Stevenson, Michael Kuester, and Illustrators of the Future winners Nathan Deiwert, and Tracy Eire and learn their story of how they won the Contest and what it means to their future as creatives.

Golden Pen Award Winner Michael T. Kuester from Cincinnati, Ohio, with his story “In Living Color,” and Golden Brush Award Winner Bohuslav “Bafu” Argalas from Ruzomberok, Slovakia, with his illustration of the story “Saffron and Marigolds.” Michael is an engineer by day, a science fiction writer by night. An avid hiker and cooking enthusiast, he is a passionately curious individual and lives his life by the motto “In the twenty-first century, there's no excuse for an unanswered question.” His story, “In Living Color,” evolved into a surprisingly personal allegory for social isolation, generational misunderstanding, and neurodivergence. Bafu began drawing before he learned to read or write. That passion led him to study art at the private school of Applied Arts in Zilina and later at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno, Czech Republic. Bafu creates illustrations and comics filled with humor, emotion, and a touch of the strange, hoping to make people smile, think, and drift away from reality—even just for a moment. Michael can be found at michaeltkuester.com/ Bafu can be found at www.bafu.art/

Karah Richardson was born in 2007, spending much of her childhood moving to and exploring new states across America. She met a variety of people though having prosopagnosia (face blindness) made recognizing them a challenge. Karah loves challenges. Growing up, she had a fascination with studying faces, assuming that she could “learn” how to memorize family and friends by drawing them over and over. This led to a lifelong love of art. She'd blend together a wide variety of separate features and piece them together like a puzzle, relying on others to tell her if it looks “correct.” Due to such an early start on such a potent hobby in her life, she quickly discovered many teachers, family, and friends wanted to encourage her to cultivate this study into a real-life applicable skill. They helped her branch out beyond her comfort zone of faces into just about anything, allowing her to combine this new joy in art with her deep appreciation for stories. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests are the most prestigious writing and illustrating competitions in the world with the Writers of the Future being in its 43rd year, the Illustrators of the Future in its 38th year and they are judged by the premier names in speculative fiction. Mike Strickland has made a career out of writing everything from marketing copy and finance articles to technical documentation and mobile app messages—and even twenty thousand science fiction-themed trivia questions. Other jobs he's been paid to do include scuba diver, navigator, call center representative, user experience designer, and now, science fiction author. His love of words began with fantasy and sci-fi, where it has now brought him full circle. After a long hiatus from fiction, Mike started writing and publishing again in 2024. A year later, he earned a master's degree in creative writing and won the prestigious Writers of the Future Contest. Mike currently lives and writes in a Denver, Colorado suburb, but other places he's called home include San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, DC, Japan, Honduras, an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, and even a 1973 Volkswagen Squareback. He's not sure if this itinerant lifestyle emerged from his love of travel or vice versa, but his wanderings have undeniably inspired his writing. The story idea for “As Long as You Both Shall Live” was born from a dream two days before the Writers of the Future contest deadline. Mike wrote most of the story on the day of the deadline itself—his most prolific day of writing yet. The inspiration that powered such output focused on this question: “If technology allowed a person's consciousness to be transferred to a virtual environment, disconnected from their physical body, what would happen if that person's body died while their consciousness was in that state?” Mike explores the ethical questions inherent in this premise through the context of a hopeful love story—as all the best stories are told.

Join Stefan Rudnicki, Gabrielle de Cuir, Susan Hanfield, Orson Scott Card, Jim Meskimen, Scott Peterson, most of the cast who voiced “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42,” in this podcast interview talking about what made this project special, why science fiction and fantasy are so important as a genre, and the value of celebrating creativity which is what Writers and Illustrators of the Future are all about. The other cast members were unable to participate due to prior commitments, but their creativity in their role in the audiobook is equally appreciated. The full cast along with stories they narrated are: Stefan Rudnicki narrated “Artistic Presentation,” “Shell Game,” “Skinny-Shins,” “The Creator's Journey,” “In Living Color,” and “A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts.” Orson Scott Card read his bio and introduction. Gabrielle De Cuir narrated Jody Lynn Nye and Echo Chernick's introductions as well as “Bloom Decay.” Janina Edwards narrated “Thickly.” Susan Hanfield narrated “Canary” and “A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts.” Kirby Heyborne narrated “Saffron and Marigolds,” “Dragon Visits,” and “As Long as You Both Shall Live.” John Lee narrated “The Triceratops Effect.” Jim Meskimen narrated “Form 14B—Application for Certification of Consciousness Transfer (Post-Mortem),” “Space Can,” “Collaboration,” and “Ghost Dog.” Scott Peterson narrated “A Ready-Made Bubble of Light.” This audiobook was produced by Skyboat Media. Edited, Mixed, and Mastered by Phaseshift. And the music was composed by Mark Isham.

Join Stefan Rudnicki, Gabrielle de Cuir, Susan Hanfield, Orson Scott Card, Jim Meskimen, Scott Peterson, most of the cast who voiced “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42,” in this podcast interview talking about what made this project special, why science fiction and fantasy are so important as a genre, and the value of celebrating creativity which is what Writers and Illustrators of the Future are all about. The other cast members were unable to participate due to prior commitments, but their creativity in their role in the audiobook is equally appreciated. The full cast along with stories they narrated are: Stefan Rudnicki narrated “Artistic Presentation,” “Shell Game,” “Skinny-Shins,” “The Creator's Journey,” “In Living Color,” and “A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts.” Orson Scott Card read his bio and introduction. Gabrielle De Cuir narrated Jody Lynn Nye and Echo Chernick's introductions as well as “Bloom Decay.” Janina Edwards narrated “Thickly.” Susan Hanfield narrated “Canary” and “A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts.” Kirby Heyborne narrated “Saffron and Marigolds,” “Dragon Visits,” and “As Long as You Both Shall Live.” John Lee narrated “The Triceratops Effect.” Jim Meskimen narrated “Form 14B—Application for Certification of Consciousness Transfer (Post-Mortem),” “Space Can,” “Collaboration,” and “Ghost Dog” Scott Peterson narrated “A Ready-Made Bubble of Light.” This audiobook was produced by Skyboat Media. Edited, Mixed, and Mastered by Phaseshift. And the music was composed by Mark Isham.

Ron Clements was the keynote speaker in 2025 for our Writers and Illustrators of the Future Gala. We connected up again at LTUE - Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium - in Provo, Utah, where we recorded this interview. Ron has been an animation director, screenwriter, and producer for Disney for four decades. Along with co-producer John Muster, he is the creator of Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Moana, Princess and the Frog, and one of my favorites, Pete's Dragon. In this interview, we discuss his journey to become one of the most successful animated movie producers of today and the process of creating animated movies. The story of how Robin Williams was brought on board for Aladdin was amazing!

Ron Clements was the keynote speaker in 2025 for our Writers and Illustrators of the Future Gala. We connected up again at LTUE - Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium - in Provo, Utah, where we recorded this interview. Ron has been an animation director, screenwriter, and producer for Disney for four decades. Along with co-producer John Muster, he is the creator of Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Moana, Princess and the Frog, and one of my favorites, Pete's Dragon. In this interview, we discuss his journey to become one of the most successful animated movie producers of today and the process of creating animated movies. The story of how Robin Williams was brought on board for Aladdin was amazing!

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 brandonmull.com/

15 Illustrated Short Stories Bonus short stories and art and writing tips by L. Ron Hubbard / Orson Scott Card / Brian C. Hailes / Nina Kiriki Hoffman / Larry Niven If 42 is the answer, these stories ask the questions worth thinking about. Discover fifteen unforgettable science fiction and fantasy short stories—illustrated in full color—featuring twelve emerging voices alongside three acclaimed masters of the genre. From visionary sci-fi to emotionally rich fantasy and quiet horror, this collection delivers bold “what ifs” that linger long after the final page. What if a perfect rescue went catastrophically wrong? What if the “better you” doesn't want to share your life? What if love could survive inside a virtual reality? Inside, you'll encounter a flawless time-rescue gone wrong, a beauty treatment with terrifying consequences, a detective hunted by a body-hopping killer, and a homesteader uncovering a truth that rewrites Earth itself. You'll also find dragons that defy myth, fairy-tale chaos, supernatural horror, and high-concept science fiction that blends heart, humor, and imagination. From time travel and first contact to magical realism, monsters, and folklore-inspired fantasy, every story is paired with an original illustration—bringing these worlds vividly to life. Featuring a classic story by L. Ron Hubbard and original stories by Orson Scott Card and Nina Kiriki Hoffman, alongside twelve rising stars shaping the future of speculative fiction. Writers of the Future Volume 42 is your gateway to bold ideas, fresh voices, and stories readers love to discover—and recommend. Perfect for fans of: Orson Scott Card, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Blake Crouch, Brandon Sanderson, V. E. Schwab, Naomi Novik, Michael Crichton, Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, and Black Mirror. Includes: • 12 illustrated science fiction & fantasy short stories • 3 bonus stories by bestselling authors • 3 articles on the craft and business of writing and illustrating from top creators Selected from thousands of entries worldwide, Writers of the Future Volume 42 brings together a new generation of authors and illustrators—your launchpad into the future of science fiction and

Mark interviews former publicist to the stars Isabelle Knight who is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success. Prior to the interview Mark shares that he is on the road at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future annual workshops and gala as one of the writer judges and is using his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs to record the introduction and closing reflection. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. During the interview Mark and Isabelle talk about: Isabelle's background as a publicist for film, TV, and books Recognizing how there's a real knack of knowledge for creating an effective brand/profile Teaching authors the basics of that branding without using the terms PR or publicity The idea of creating foundations of how an author can be able to pitch their books to an audience How talking about marketing can quickly fill authors with a sense of terror The importance of wanting to know, before helping an author, what makes them tick How the author's story is what tells us who they author is and ultimately "why do we care?" about your book(s) Finding the themes that can tie books together rather than what makes them different when an author has written more than one book The challenge of wanting, too much, to share the details from a book, the plot, the tropes, etc versus sharing higher level themes and patterns The misconception that PR and Publicity is only for celebrities or people who are comfortable being in the spotlight A misperception that authors have about how to provide content for social media How Isabelle doesn't work like a traditional publicist The course that Isabelle runs with a cohort about three times a year And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the conversation. Links of Interest: Build Your Author Brand Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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 www.charlienholmberg.com/

This week I'm talking with Molly Arbuthnott about writing picture books, working with illustrators and creative ways to get our books in front of the reader (including traveling...!) You can find more about Molly here: https://www.mollyarbuthnott.co.uk/about/ and you can find her books here (audios as well) https://oscartheferrycat.co.uk/product-category/books/Y0u can listen to one of her books here: https://youtu.be/plbZp5wcPVoAnd vote for her for the People's Book Prize here: https://www.mollyarbuthnott.co.uk/blog/the-peoples-book-prize-please-vote/Sign up for my writers' newsletter to learn more about the craft of writing, know when my workshops are and be the first to get exclusive information on my writing retreats. https://katcaldwell.com/writers-newsletterWant more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I'm reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter. https://storylectory.katcaldwell.com/signup You can always ask me writing questions on instagram @author_katcaldwellWho do you want to be on the show? DM me on instagram or TikTok and let me know!

#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 naughty-girl lead female character in a romance is so popular with the female audience. United Public Radio @ www.uprntalkradio.com

The Authors Quill todays guest or winners of The L Ron Hubbard writers and illustrators of the Future contest guest Josie Moore Roddy Taylor Karah Richardson Tracy Eire Josie Moore grew up in the valley town of Westfield, Massachusetts with a voice that wouldn't work and a brain filled to bursting. Paranoid by the world and abandoned by those around her, she turned to art in her time of hiding. When she was scared, she wrote about it. When she cried, she drew comforting pictures. With the inability to pinpoint and process her own emotions, she used art and storytelling as her communication, turning her fear into something beautiful. Nowadays, she can finally leave her bedroom, but never without a sketchbook by her side. She attends the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in hopes of getting her BFA in Illustration. She spends her days doodling elves, bears, and silly little faeries and nights writing, planning, and…hopefully writing some more. Finally having an outlet to put all her obsessive, creative energy, she dreams of one day showing even the deepest crevices of her mind with her odd love stories and twisted mysteries. Roddy Taylor is a former high school science teacher, who decided to become a full-time artist and illustrator. He and his wife moved to Ellensburg six years ago after his son was born and fell in love with the place. Since deciding to go full-time with his art, he has developed his previous love for mythology, nature, and fantasy themes. His most recent accolades involve winning Best of Show at the Kittitas County Fair twice. His work has shown often at Gallery One in Ellensburg, including a solo show in the Fall of 2024. It was a fairly short wordcount bio. Find out more about Roddy at,… RoddyTaylorArt.com Karah Richardson was born in 2007, spending much of her childhood moving to and exploring new states across America. She met a variety of people though having prosopagnosia (face blindness) made recognizing them a challenge. Karah loves challenges. Growing up, she had a fascination with studying faces, assuming that she could “learn” how to memorize family and friends by drawing them over and over. This led to a lifelong love of art. She'd blend together a wide variety of separate features and piece them together like a puzzle, relying on others to tell her if it looks “correct.” Due to such an early start on such a potent hobby in her life, she quickly discovered many teachers, family, and friends wanted to encourage her to cultivate this study into a real-life Tracy Eire grew up far to the north in a place called Newfoundland. She has spent most of her life with one foot in the real world and the other somewhere else—maybe on Mercury, maybe in the realm of myth, or ... somewhere near Hobbiton. It's a place where stories breathe, where the old gods whisper, and where women step out of the fog wearing their strength and brilliance plainly. That is the space her art comes from. An oil and charcoal artist with a deep love for narrative painting, Tracy focuses on portraits of women who feel ancient and modern all at once. These are figures who carry storms behind their eyes, but choose the light anyway. She often paints the things she sought—or witnessed—in her youth: courage, grace, grit, and the quiet power of women who refused to disappear, even when maligned. It's no wonder her harpies wear couture. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

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/

Some stories stay with you… and this is one of them.Today on the Anchored by the Sword Podcast, I'm joined by Haylee Graham, author of the upcoming book: Take the Horse and Run: The Incredible True Story of a Horse Fighting for His Life—and the Girl Who Would Stop at Nothing to Save Him (releasing April 7!)And let me just say this…I planned to just skim the book to prepare for this interview…But I ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting because I could not put it down.This story is raw, gripping, and full of redemption.In this episode, Haylee shares her journey of:Growing up in chaos, instability, and searching for meaningBattling depression, anxiety, and a suicide attemptEncountering God in her lowest, darkest momentFinding healing and identity in ChristAnd the powerful role her horse, Cartier, played in her storyWhat I love most about this conversation is how it reminds us that:God will meet us wherever we areEven when we don't recognize Him, He is still presentAnd sometimes… He shows up in the most unexpected waysFor Haley, that looked like a horse.For you, it might look different—but the truth remains the same:God is always workingGod is always pursuingAnd God is always redeemingHaylee's story is a beautiful reminder that even when life feels broken beyond repair, God is still the Master Weaver—bringing everything together for good.Listen now and be reminded:Even in your darkest moments…God is still there, still working, and still writing your story.Bio:Haylee Graham, daughter of actor Gary Graham and actress Susan Lavelle, is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and speaker who has written professionally for over a decade. A member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, she has penned four young adult novels and earned literary accolades from the International Christian Film Festival, IndieX Film Fest, CARE Awards, and the 168 Film Festival. Haylee's work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul andGoodNews Northwest, and she has been featured on the KTLA 5 Spoken Dreams podcast series, as well as in publications such as The Los Angeles Tribune, Voyage LA, and Bold Journey magazine.Her short film Out of the Quiet received over twenty-eight awards and nominations at major film festivals across the country, while her latest film Planted swept the 20th Annual 168 Film Festival with honors including Best Screenplay and Best Film of the 168 Festival.Take the Horse and Run, her debut memoir, is the extraordinary true story of her bond with Cartier—the beloved horse whose online presence has drawn a fan base of thousands of followers and millions of views. The memoir has been adapted for the screen as The Horse Thief by Writers Guild of America screenwriter Dan Goforth (Walk. Ride. Rodeo.).Anchor Verses:Psalm 62:6Jeremiah 29:11Connect with Haylee:Website: https://www.hayleegrahamwrites.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/hayleegrahamauthorPreorder Take the Horse and Run: https://a.co/d/0iLLJuQQ***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it's a simple way to make a big impact!***

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. He is mid-releasing a 5-book series, each covering two subjects of the most common issues he sees in fiction writing as a full-time editor. Learn more about his latest in the series here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshua…k-of-land-vol-1

In this episode, Christopher Robbins speaks with Lee Wind, Chief Content Officer for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), about the vital role independent publishing plays in bringing diverse voices and stories to readers. They discuss IBPA's history and mission, the advantages of mission-driven publishing over purely profit-driven models, and how independent publishers create communities around their content. The conversation also addresses the concerning trend of book banning and censorship, and IBPA's innovative "We Are Stronger Than Censorship" program that buys and donates two books for everyone book challenged. Lee provides valuable advice for aspiring authors and publishers, emphasizing the importance of professional development and community collaboration in the independent publishing world. Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Christopher Robbins introduces the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and himself as co-founder of Familius, husband, father of nine, author, and various outdoor enthusiast based in California's Central Valley. 00:00:59: Introduction of guest Lee Wind as Chief Content Officer for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest trade association for publishers in the United States. 00:01:13: Lee's personal mission described as writing books that would have changed his life as a gay Jewish kid and teen, including his award-winning non-fiction books "No Way They Were Gay" and "The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie." 00:01:35: Discussion of the "We Are Stronger Than Censorship" program that buys and donates two books to offset every one book challenged, run by IBPA with the American Library Institute and over 75 industry partners. 00:01:59: Lee expresses enthusiasm about joining the podcast to discuss book publishing. 00:02:12: Christopher shares his history with IBPA, having served on the board and participated in strategy that helped the organization grow. 00:02:34: Lee explains IBPA's origins in 1983 when about a dozen Southern California publishers pooled resources to send one representative to a major New York trade show. 00:03:27: Discussion of how IBPA has evolved while maintaining its core mission of advocacy, education, and tools for success to level the playing field for independent publishers. 00:04:15: Lee emphasizes the importance of independent publishing to prevent four or five corporations from deciding what everyone reads, highlighting the diverse and mission-driven approaches of independent publishers. 00:05:21: Christopher encourages the audience to explore independent books, music, and film as sources of exceptional content. 00:05:35: Christopher shares a personal memory of Jan Nathan, IBPA's founder, inviting him to dinner in 1990 and being welcoming and encouraging to him as a young industry newcomer. 00:06:20: Lee discusses how mission-driven independent publishers differ from corporate publishers focused solely on financial bottom lines, using examples like Patagonia and Just Us Books. 00:06:53: Christopher compares this to Familius's philosophy that revenue is simply fuel for the mission. 00:07:26: Lee explains how independent publishers understand the power of community and niche markets better than corporate publishers, with four out of five books in bookstores from corporate publishers but that fifth book representing hundreds of different independent voices. 00:08:38: Discussion of the advantages of direct-to-consumer sales for publishers vs. sales through major retailers like Amazon, where publishers don't own the customer relationship. 00:09:31: Lee cites Brandon Sanderson's successful Kickstarter campaign as an example of authors leveraging their platform and community. 00:09:45: Christopher mentions that Brandon Sanderson teaches at his alma mater BYU and that his niece has been one of Sanderson's test readers. 00:09:56: Lee shares that some of Brandon Sanderson's BYU lectures on topics like world building are available on YouTube. 00:10:15: Christopher discusses how Famis provides value to nearly 50,000 engaged subscribers through biweekly free content about helping families be happy. 00:10:45: Christopher acknowledges the highly competitive nature of the book industry, particularly regarding physical shelf space where getting one book on a shelf means removing another. 00:11:14: Lee shares IBPA's motto "helping each other achieve and succeed" and explains that bookstore sales are actually a small portion of most publishers' revenue. 00:12:09: Discussion of how quality books naturally generate word-of-mouth marketing and how AI- generated content makes quality even more important. 00:12:48: Christopher introduces the topic of book banning and censorship through Famis's book "Down with Lime Books," expressing his discouragement with how some have weaponized religion to deny people their own voice. 00:13:59: Lee agrees that while parents should have input into what their own children read, they shouldn't control what other people's children read. 00:14:53: Lee explains that book banning creates a chilling effect that makes schools and libraries afraid to bring in diverse books, resulting in sales drops of up to 50% for some independent publishers focused on marginalized voices. 00:15:55: Lee provides the example of "Everywhere Babies" illustrated by Marla Frazee, which depicts diverse families including same-sex parents and has been called pornography despite being innocent family scenes. 00:17:02: Christopher simply states "love your neighbor" as his religious perspective on book banning. 00:17:08: Lee describes meeting with Dr. Tessel Magnusson and creating the offensive strategy of buying and donating two books to offset every one book challenge. 00:18:10: Christopher shares that he always recommends aspiring authors get involved with IBPA to help them succeed. 00:18:35: Lee explains that IBPA helps people become professional publishers, with membership including about 1,200 authors who publish their own work and 2,000 independent companies of various sizes. 00:19:35: Lee directs people to his personal website at LeeWind.org and IBPA's website at ibpa-online.org. 00:20:04: Christopher concludes by thanking Familius for supporting the podcast and encouraging listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and choose independent books for their next reading adventure. Key Takeaways Independent publishing is essential for maintaining diversity in what people read, preventing a handful of corporations from controlling all published content. Mission-driven publishing creates different outcomes than purely profit-driven publishing, allowing publishers to maintain control over their values and production methods. Building a community around your content and selling directly to consumers creates stronger relationships and more sustainable success than relying solely on major retailers. Book banning is not about the content of specific books but rather an attempt to create a chilling effect that erases diverse identities and perspectives from libraries and schools. Quality content will ultimately win out even in an age of AI-generated material, as authentic books generate word-of-mouth recommendations that drive long-term success. The "We Are Stronger Than Censorship" program demonstrates how the publishing community can go on offense against book banning by buying and donating two books for every 1 book challenged. Aspiring authors and publishers should join professional organizations like IBPA for business guidance while also developing their craft through specialized groups like the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Independent publishers understand niche markets better than corporate publishers, creating content that serves specific communities rather than trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Quotable Moments "The idea of only four or five corporations deciding what everyone reads is a really terrible idea." "If the bottom line is financial, it's a very different outcome than if the bottom line is a mission, a vision for our to make our world a better place through books." "The revenue that we generate is simply fuel for the mission." "The magic of it is that if you have a community, if you have a niche and or niche and you're publishing books that are what those people really want, then that's sort of the recipe for success." "We have a motto at IBPA, it's helping each other achieve and succeed." "In this age of AI slop that we are on the cusp of, it's nice to know that quality will win out." "The idea that I should be able to control what your kids read is really wrong." "They're attacking books because books help people have empathy and I think that empathy is in short supply these days." "Love your neighbor." "We don't have to just sit back and let this ridiculousness continue. We can fight back"

Let's Think About "The Authors and Illustrators' Relationship" With Special Guests John Collado & Kelly Mitchell Schilling John and Kelly share their thoughts on the authors' and illustrators' relationship, reminding us that establishing good communication is key to a successful and enjoyable experience for this relationship. While learning about John and Kelly, we discussed how, as an illustrator, one must have patience, and as an author, one should not compromise one's vision. This episode aims to prompt thought.                     To stay in touch, please visit John's website at https://johncolladoart.com/  and Kelly's website https://kellymitchellschilling.com/ to learn more about them.

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.

In this episode of The Bruno Brief, we spoke with Kendra Eastep, an illustration chief and senior staff writer for The Herald's Arts & Culture section. Kendra brings an artistic flair to each of her reviews, while supporting the rest of The Herald's multimedia staff.Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or listen via the RSS feed. Send tips and feedback for the next episode to herald@browndailyherald.comMusic:Denzel Sprak: https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track304681Sharp Lapel: https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/367181

To kick off the launch of his recent book, "Heroes of the Comics," Gilbert and Frank were joined by their favorite illustrator, the incomparable Drew Friedman. While sitting and admiring Drew's work adorning the walls of Manhattan's Society of Illustrators, the boys managed to cover everything from Drew and Gilbert's days at "National Lampoon" to Gilbert's Lon Chaney, Jr. obsession to the time a 15-year-old Drew paid a visit to the home of the legendary Groucho Marx. ALSO: "The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"! Jerry Lewis kvells over Drew's portrait! The triumphant return of Milton Berle's schlong! And Drew reveals why he's Howard Stern's favorite artist!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of movie buffs knew Robert Osborne as the elegant, erudite film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, but few knew that he spent time as a struggling actor, was mentored by comedy legend Lucille Ball, and even appeared in the pilot of “The Beverly Hillbillies” — a show he was certain would “never catch on.” Some years ago, Gilbert sat in as TCM's “Guest Programmer” and Robert generously returned the favor by traveling to Manhattan's Society of Illustrators on a hot July evening to dish a little dirt and share anecdotes about Hollywood luminaries Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Natalie Wood and Walt Disney (among others). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices