Podcast appearances and mentions of jeff wheeler

Variety is the spice of life – but is it also the secret to a long and prosperous author career?  Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler  knows his stuff, and with a recent pivot into writing thrillers, he's the perfect author to have this discussion with. This is an unedited chat loaded with questions and answers. Listen in!Did you know you can get an expert analysis of your novel in just minutes?Get your book analyzed here > https://authors.ai/

Variety is the spice of life – but is it also the secret to a long and prosperous author career? Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler knows his stuff, and with a recent pivot into writing thrillers, he's the perfect author to have this discussion with.This is an unedited chat loaded with questions and answers. Listen in!Did you know you can get an expert analysis of your novel in just minutes?Get your book analyzed here > https://authors.ai/

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of The Poisoner's Enemy. 

A Thousand Eyes and One Podcast hosts Nikki and Tanya welcome you to Wine On An Empty Stomach: A Speculative Fiction Book Club! In this episode, we discuss "Storm Glass" by Jeff Wheeler. This was originally streamed live on YouTube. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae2R4Yhmm90&t=41s Tanya's Birthday Fundraiser: https://donate.nypl.org/fundraiser/4543852 Tanya's Birthday Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/E4M36IPUTYOQ?ref_=wl_share Find us online! thousandeyespodcast.com facebook.com/athousandeyesandone twitter.com/thousandeyesone instagram.com/athousandeyesandone https://www.youtube.com/athousandeyesandonepodcast

Jeff Wheeler joins Dishin' Dirt again for PART 2 of the NARs lawsuits which will change the landscape of real estate. This continues to be the most important Dishin' Dirt ever. Real estate agents are under attack by plaintiff lawyers and the Department of (In)Justice.   Last week we discussed the adverse commission case. This week we address the lawsuits involving clear cooperation and pocket listing and much more.   Don't forget to like us and share us!Gary* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area. 

This week's podcast review comes from this blog review of Doomsday Match. 

This may very well be the most important Dishin' Dirt ever.  Real estate agents are under attack by plaintiff lawyers and the Department of (In)Justice.   Both are attacking the way you are paid commissions as well as the clear cooperation rule that prohibits brokerage from hiding listings from other agencies. If successful, this could be disastrous for the industry.  It could price buyers out of the market as well as allow big agencies to hide listings from anyone but their agents.    Jeff Wheeler joins me today to discuss the state of multiple cases against our industry that could absolutely change the face of real estate forever!Don't forget to like us and share us!Gary* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area. 

Wulf Moon wrote his first science fiction story when he was fifteen. It won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards–the same contest that first discovered Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter S. Beagle, and a host of iconic names in the arts. It became his first professional sale in Science World. Moon has won over forty awards in writing and thirty in public speaking. A sample of these include: Star Trek Strange New Worlds Contest; Critters Readers' Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story of 2018, of 2019, of 2020; Best Author of 2019, of 2020, of 2021; Best Positive Future Story of 2021; Best Writers' Workshop of 2019, of 2020, of 2021; Nora Roberts Novella Contest; and the Writers of the Future Contest, Vol. 35. Moon's stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications including Writers of the Future, Best of Deep Magic Anthology Two, Future Science Fiction Digest, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2, Best of Third Flatiron, Galaxy's Edge, and DreamForge magazine. Wulf Moon is also a professional voice-over actor and has produced works for Hugo Award winners and bestselling authors like Mike Resnick, Jeff Wheeler, and Will McIntosh. Moon is podcast director at Future Science Fiction Digest. His award-winning SUPER SECRETS Online Resource and Writing Workshop has had over 800,000 views. These Secrets have been attributed by a multitude of writers as the reason they obtained their first professional sales, and wins in national and international writing contests. Two SUPER SECRETS writing books will be published this winter by editor Mark Leslie Lefebvre through Stark Publishing Solutions. Learn more at https://bit.ly/TheSuperSecrets Explore the works of Wulf Moon by visiting driftweave.com or by checking out his Amazon author page at: amazon.com/author/wulfmoon.

Wulf Moon wrote his first science fiction story when he was fifteen. It won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards–the same contest that first discovered Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter S. Beagle, and a host of iconic names in the arts. It became his first professional sale in Science World. Moon has won over forty awards in writing and thirty in public speaking. A sample of these include: Star Trek Strange New Worlds Contest; Critters Readers' Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story of 2018, of 2019, of 2020; Best Author of 2019, of 2020, of 2021; Best Positive Future Story of 2021; Best Writers' Workshop of 2019, of 2020, of 2021; Nora Roberts Novella Contest; and the Writers of the Future Contest, Vol. 35. Moon's stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications including Writers of the Future, Best of Deep Magic Anthology Two, Future Science Fiction Digest, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2, Best of Third Flatiron, Galaxy's Edge, and DreamForge magazine. Wulf Moon is also a professional voice-over actor and has produced works for Hugo Award winners and bestselling authors like Mike Resnick, Jeff Wheeler, and Will McIntosh. Moon is podcast director at Future Science Fiction Digest. His award-winning SUPER SECRETS Online Resource and Writing Workshop has had over 800,000 views. These Secrets have been attributed by a multitude of writers as the reason they obtained their first professional sales, and wins in national and international writing contests. Two SUPER SECRETS writing books will be published this winter by editor Mark Leslie Lefebvre through Stark Publishing Solutions. Learn more at https://bit.ly/TheSuperSecrets Explore the works of Wulf Moon by visiting driftweave.com or by checking out his Amazon author page at: amazon.com/author/wulfmoon.

Today's podcast comes from this blog review of The Betrayed. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of The Hunted. 

This week's podcast comes from this blog review of The Druid. 

Guest preacher Jeff Wheeler challenges us to consider who is in our closest circles and how we can invite them to find and follow Jesus with us.

Guest preacher Jeff Wheeler challenges us to consider who is in our closest circles and how we can invite them to find and follow Jesus with us.

Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 6 times (for The Thief's Daughter, The King's Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, Prism Cloud, and Knight's Ransom) and have sold more than 5 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German. He was the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a publication that ran from 2002-2006 and 2016-2021. He's also a founding author at BingeBooks. You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences like Storymakers and Teen Author Boot Camp. He welcomes hearing from readers: jeff /at/ jeff-wheeler dot com If you are interested in purchasing signed copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com

Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 6 times (for The Thief's Daughter, The King's Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, Prism Cloud, and Knight's Ransom) and have sold more than 5 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German. He was the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a publication that ran from 2002-2006 and 2016-2021. He's also a founding author at BingeBooks. You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences like Storymakers and Teen Author Boot Camp. He welcomes hearing from readers: jeff /at/ jeff-wheeler dot com If you are interested in purchasing signed copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com

Tom's guest today has been his friend and pastor for 11 years. Jeff Wheeler is a husband, father, and grandfather and has served as the Lead Pastor of Central Church in Sioux Falls, SD for over 12 years.In this episode of The RESGEN Giving Life Podcast, Jeff discusses what he learned about himself after completing the 360-Degree Leadership Assessment and shares why prayer should be more of a focus in everyone's life.  Tom and Jeff also talk about their biggest concern for today's Church and provide some simple steps men can take to overcome the struggles they are having in their marriages, in their parenting and/or in their personal lives. The Giving Life Podcast: Conversations about being a man whose life in Christ gives life to others.Watch the video version on youtube -  https://youtu.be/GlHyjXNrqrUMore info about Restoration Generation - www.resgen.org

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of Fate's Ransom. 

Guest author Jeff Wheeler is in a discussion with Alessandra Torre about his secrets of writing in different voices. Bestselling author Jeff Wheeler has an uncanny ability to make believable characters that are unique and believable—especially his female characters.This is an unedited chat loaded with questions and answers.  Listen in!Did you know you can get an expert analysis of your novel in just minutes?Get your book analyzed here > https://authors.ai/

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of Lady's Ransom.

We're joined by Anthony Ryan (The Pariah, Blood Song, The Wolf's Call) to discuss his decade-long publishing journey! Along with Andy Weir, Hugh Howey, and Jeff Wheeler, Anthony was one of the first authors to make it big through indie publishing, and that's what we chat about in this episode. He's also back next week, so be sure to subscribe if you haven't already! Support Wizards, Warriors, & Words on Patreon for bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/wizardswarriorswords Email us your questions: wizardswarriorswords@gmail.com For more about our hosts and our books: Dyrk Ashton: paternusbooks.com Michael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.com Rob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.uk Jed Herne: jedherne.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of Warrior's Ransom.

Jeff Wheeler is a sensitive soul. He once broke into wild tears as a young teen after reading a novel. But now, as a writer who creates books so engaging that readers stay awake late into the night, he feels no guilt for their loss of sleep. In this week's podcast, Jeff shares his desire to create spellbinding fantasy fiction using religious themes that depict protagonists of strong moral character. His books, many of which are on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list, stand in stark contrast to the grim and the dark and the gruesome that editors in the popular fiction field crave. 

Jonathan Rogers and Nirav Batavia are Co-Managing Partners of Forum Financial Management and Co-Directors of Forum's Investment Committee. Forum is an organization of partners and advisors with a wealth of experience in portfolio management, insurance analysis, and planning for estate, retirement, and income tax.    As Co-Managing Partner, Jonathan guides the executive team responsible for various areas, from advisor support to client services, and spearheads the firm's growth by recruiting new partners and advisors.   In addition to his roles as Co-Managing Partner and Co-Director, Nirav also serves as the firm's Chief Technology Officer. Nirav is also the CEO of Owl Technologies, a technology service provider that helps clients experience better and more efficient financial advisory services.   Jonathan and Nirav join me today to discuss the role of technology in developing growth strategies for RIAs. They share how Forum has grown over the years and explain why the firm has recently lowered its minimum asset requirements for clients. They describe the tension between profitability and growth — and how firms can overcome it. They also highlight how they use technology for efficiency, how FinTech companies can bridge the gap in financial advisory technology, and how firms should be set up in order to properly incentivize a new generation of advisors.   “Human connection becomes stronger when advisors can spend all their time not on paperwork but on facing clients because they have data at their fingertips.” - Nirav Batavia   “Rainmaking is the core of value creation for financial advisors. It is the ability to get someone to refer a person over to you. It is what builds a business.” - Jonathan Rogers   This week on The Model FA Podcast:   What Forum is and how they have grown since 2006 The ‘three legs to the stool' approach and the source of Forum's growth Why Forum emphasizes holistic financial planning What financial HENRYs are and why Forum wants them The natural tension in business between today's profitability and the ability to grow in the future Solving for the lack of profitability in the early years The value of working with entrepreneurial advisors Leveraging technology for efficiency with an eye to drive down the cost of working with clients Why the future of RIAs will see a “bionic” advisor and how it's different from a “robo” advisor What the financial services industry can learn from Silicon Valley Developing proactive automation and how AI technology can build a stronger connection between financial advisors and clients The importance of open APIs, and what technology companies can do to create seamless tech for the financial services industry  Walled gardens and the stumbling blocks to using advisor technology Bridging the distinction between workflow and workflow automation   Resources Mentioned:   Book: The Great Game of Business: The Only Sensible Way to Run a Company by Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham Book: Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future by John Scalzi Book: Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters Book: The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler   Our Favorite Quotes:   “When advisors aren't incentivized for rainmaking, the veterans in the firm get richer but bring in less revenue from a percentage perspective.” - David DeCelle “In many firms, rainmaking is awarded a monetary bonus. That's where the disconnect in the industry happens, because that simply isn't rewarding enough.” - Jonathan Rogers “Anything an advisor does repetitively that doesn't use their financial and planning expertise should be automated.” - Nirav Batavia “If you allow others to outgrow you, it incentivizes you to continue working hard, helping more people, and bringing in more revenue.” - David DeCelle   Connect with Forum Financial Management:   Website Forum Financial Management on LinkedIn Forum Financial Management on Facebook Forum Financial Management on Twitter Forum Financial Management on Vimeo   Connect with Jonathan Rogers:   Email: jrogers@forumfin.com Jonathan Rogers on LinkedIn   Connect with Nirav Batavia:   Email: nbatavia@forumfin.com Nirav Batavia on LinkedIn   About the Model FA Podcast   The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes  to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no “gotchas” or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.    Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.    Our Team: President of Model FA, David DeCelle   If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

This week's podcast review comes from this blog review of Knight's Ransom. 

Jeff Wheeler is a highly successful fantasy author. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been translated into many languages. Jeff Wheeler joins the Am Writing Fantasy podcast to talk about his road to becoming a full time author, having Amazon as a publisher and his love for fantasy.   Jeff can be found here: https://jeff-wheeler.com/    Tune in for new episodes EVERY single Monday.  SUPPORT THE AM WRITING FANTASY PODCAST! Please tell a fellow author about the show and visit us at Apple podcast and leave a rating and review.  Join us at www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy. For as little as a dollar a month, you'll get awesome rewards and keep the Am Writing Fantasy podcast going.  Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion). Narrator (2s): You're listening to The Am writing Fantasy Podcast. In today's publishing landscape, you can reach fans all over the world. Query letters are a thing of the past. You don't even need in literary agent. There is nothing standing in the way of making a living from writing. Join two best selling authors who have self published more than in 20 books between them now onto the show with your hosts, Autumn Birt and Jesper Schmidt. Jesper (30s): Hello I'm Jesper and this is episode 130 of the Am Writing Fantasy podcast, and Autumn is busy editing our novel today, so I brought on an awesome guest instead, and that is Jeff Wheeler. So welcome to The Am Writing Fantasy Podcast. Jeff, Jeff (47s): Thank you so good to be here. Jesper (50s): Yeah, I've prepared a, just a bit of information about your Jeff. So I can just go through that and then see if I'm missing something. And then, then you can add to it, but basically if anybody listening should not be aware who Jeff is already, then Jeff is a, an author of multiple fantasy series. He has sold over 4 million books and he has also been on the wall street journal bestseller list five times and a year. Novels have been translated into multiple languages as well. And I was on your website earlier today. Jeff and I counted 33 books. So you're quite prolific. Jeff (1m 24s): Hmm. Thank you. So it's my, my dream job was to be writing book, so I love it. I do every day. So Jesper (1m 33s): Yeah, that's, that's so wonderful. It, especially if you can, a once a week, once you can make a living from it, then that's, that's really nice. But a, but I think I also read on your website that you started out self publishing and then God, a traditional publishing contract a bit later on. So w is that right? Jeff (1m 51s): Ah, it is the, of my publishers, not exactly traditional it's Amazon publishing. So after creating the platforms like KDP and things like that, they created their own publishing companies. And I was one of the first authors. They picked up for their fantasy, a line in 47 north. Jesper (2m 9s): All right. All right. Cool. Why did you decide that you wanted it to self publishing in the first place, Jeff? Jeff (2m 18s): For me, it, it, I'm sure my story's very similar to too many of your listeners and others that I tried, the traditional routes. I tried like getting an agent. I tried doing those things and I even created my own magazine to get a readership going through that, so that when I started a self publishing novels that they would take off and none of that worked. And, and so I kind of put it aside. And then I, I wrote as another series of novels, my mirror would novels and again, tried the route of getting an agent was turned down over 40 times. And I finally said, well, either I either going to try this by myself, because the other way isn't working. Jeff (3m 1s): And so I decided to self publish all three of those books simultaneously. So that way readers wouldn't have to wait a everything in between. So I invested the money in there, put it out there, and it happened to come right around the time that Katie P was launching and things like that. So before, when you could only order a print book, a ha having a digital version made things a lot easier. And then suddenly fans started to come in and as my sales increased, that kind of put me on the radar for Amazon publishing. And they reached out to me and asked to acquire that series. So I didn't even, I didn't even get sent a query letter. They, they, they, they sent me a query letter. Jesper (3m 41s): That's a position you want to be in, but that, I guess that's a couple of years down the road that it isn't it a, that Amazon reached out about that, or Jeff (3m 51s): That's true. I had, I had been trying, it's a break into the market for over a decade. So I I'm an overnight success story that took over 20 years to happen. But again, that story is not unique to me. I know a lot of other authors that tried that route and many of them, ah, even who've self-published, you then got a, a contract with some of the big publishing company. So it's not a unique story, but I love working with Amazon because at their heart, there are a tech company in having grown up in Silicon valley, having worked for Intel, a myself, a I understand in their DNA, I understand how they work in their, their constant search for innovation and creating new ways of, of looking and breaking into markets. Jeff (4m 34s): And I thought that they were absolutely my, the kind of model that I was looking for a publisher that was going to be innovative and try to reinvent how publishing works. And boy, have they done that? Jesper (4m 47s): Oh yeah, you could definitely say so, but I guess some people might be curious about what, what is Amazon like as a publisher? How is it to work with them? Jeff (4m 58s): For me, it's, it's been a delightful experience. And I, again, I know many other authors that have a publishing contracts with the major publishers. So there was a lot of core differences, but to me, those differences or advantages that Amazon has, like, for example, I have a dashboard, I can see my book sales every single day. And I know we get that through KTP as well, but I think we get it in and Amazon publishing as a, as a little bit more robust in terms of the market demographics and things that we have access to. I, I get my royalty statements every month, so I know what I'm going to be making in advance. I get to see those royalty statements. I get to see a brake, you know, broken down a, through all the different markets in the world that, that do that. Jeff (5m 40s): A, I earn, you know, a competitive royalties that you would get it, any of the major publishers as well. So I get paid more frequently and, and just as much in the fact that I don't have an agent also helps cause I don't have to pay an agent fee as well. So that's, that's a bonus, a working with them also really nice because certain publishers have cadences. So you have to be like, I'm very prolific. And most publishers wouldn't be able to keep up with a indie schedule that I have, but Amazon can. So I published three to four books with them every year. And then I still publish indie titles occasionally as well. Cause I want to keep that side a open as well. So I'm kind of a hybrid author, but most of my work comes out through Amazon. Jeff (6m 23s): And I can really understand that the decisions that they make are based on data, they're based on a lot of research, they test a lot of things. And so they're able to see what efforts yield to book sales. And so that is amazing. A lot of publishers don't have that visibility to see what they're, what, what effort and what strategy actually increases the number of sales. So all of those things said, I think it's really a wonderful publisher to have Jesper (6m 52s): Do it. Do you also have like a dedicated team of, you know, and as a dedicated editor and dedicated, covered of signs or, or are they more like menacing their pool of authors with a pool of resources? If you know what I mean? Jeff (7m 5s): They definitely use a pool of resources, independent contractors. So I have a editor, you know, assigned to me at Amazon, but then I have a team of, at a development editor for a copy editor for a proofreader that I work with the same people every time. And I do that by request because they know my body of work and they're able to help me see when I've made mistakes, which is frequently. Right. So that's helpful, but they also, you, you contact people to do cover design. So, I mean, I've worked with several different cover designers. I don't really have ultimate say in that, but I, you know, they often say, Hey, these are the three or two that we're looking at. Do you have a preference between them? So I do get to speak up at the beginning a, but we don't use the, this the same ones. Jeff (7m 49s): They, these are a variety of them to work with all of the different authors that they publish. Jesper (7m 55s): Right, right. You okay. And if a, some of our listeners, which I'm sure some will be interested in a way, how do people normally get picked up nowadays by Amazon publishing? Is it, it just based on when they see somebody has enough sales, they are reaching out or, or how, how does that work? Normally Jeff (8m 15s): Today, the way I was picked up was more how it was done in the past. That was over 10 years ago, it's much more traditional now. So they mostly work through agents who then will submit at all, not only to the big five, but also to Amazon publishing as well. So to get in there really having an agent is almost the only way. I mean, I'm sure there's other ways too, that they reach out to other authors that are established and invite them to come in as well. But a there, there definitely, as they were growing a w they were, they were at the one searching for authors and now authors are coming to them through agents for the most part. Jesper (8m 51s): Yeah. It's a wonderful, a first mover advantage. You can get some times Jeff (8m 56s): So, absolutely. And I feel very lucky that I was, I happened to be catching the wave when it happened and have had works already in, and I was writing a whole new series. So when they purchased my mirror with a series, they said, well, what else are you writing? And I told him about my next one, my mirror wind series. And they, they grabbed those to, so I'd signed a six books deal just right off the bat, which is kind of unusual that doesn't happen to everybody. Jesper (9m 20s): No, I can imagine. Yeah, that's a pretty good. So, but are you then also doing some of your own advertising or is Amazon taking care of all of the Amazon ads for you? And so on Jeff (9m 31s): A Amazon covers the advertising and the marketing for sure. And so all the resources that people can pay for today through KDP and things like that, we've been using it within a pub for years, and they even have more things that they can do than our, what we're available. So they can send targeted emails and things to past readers to make them aware of my books coming out. That's not something that's available through KDP. So they definitely have all of their tools plus all the tools that they are now a allowing indie authors too use. And so it, it, it's just neat to see how they've invented this ecosystem to make it possible for writers all over from, from all over the world, a to be able to make careers out of this. Jeff (10m 13s): And so it's just, it's, it's amazing. And I have a lot of friends in the, in the space as well and get it here, but what they're doing and what they're spending their money on in terms of marketing that I don't have to do, because Amazon's giving that to me is just part of being one of their authors. Right. Jesper (10m 29s): Are you running any sort of advertising besides what Amazon does? So you, are you completely leaving it? Everything to them? I doing like I'm thinking like BookBub ads or Facebook ads. So anything like that, or do you do any of Jeff (10m 40s): That? I, I don't, I've, I've tried different ones for my self published title's as well, but I found that just the machine than Amazon is that by the virtue of them selling my books, my indie titles get sucked into that machine. And so it, it makes it available for readers. Anyways, I've tried those different approaches. I know different people have. It's just not something I personally spend my own money on because I already have the benefits of being able to utilize it through Amazon. Jesper (11m 13s): Yeah. And I think over the years, I've also come to the realization more and more that a, if you can find a way to, well, some people call it a tickle the algorithm in Amazon. But if you could, if you couldn't find a way to get Amazon to just push you a book that is a million times easier than anything, you can do yourself basically Jeff (11m 34s): True. But I don't want to underestimate the importance of having a social media presence, having a newsletter list, being engaged with your fans, because that's something they appreciate. And a little bit of effort like creating a newsletter or responding to a message on Facebook or Twitter, or I'm on Instagram as well, and creates that relationship between the author and the reader much more so than when I was a kid growing up, or you'd have to write a letter and mail it to the publisher. And you would eventually maybe if you get to author who may eventually ride back or you'd might see them that a convention are, you might see in them in a book signing, the relationship is much more dynamic now. And I think that having a social media is, has a great enabler of that because it allows us as authors to be able to connect with those fans. Jeff (12m 22s): And the more, a connected they are to you, the more they like you as a person, the more they're going to stay on top of your re re release schedule. And they're going to be wanting to pre-order in and by things coming off so that that's outside the algorithm's, you cannot overstate the importance of word of mouth and how your loyal fans are your most likely source of a future leaders more than an algorithm, I think. Jesper (12m 47s): Oh yeah. Yeah. For sure. No doubt about that icon. I also saw that you are also running a, a, like a newsletter and you have a mini mail list and I sought out on your website as well. How, how, how effective do you find your email list in terms of, you know, generating sales and so on? I, are you using that whenever you have a new book, you're sending out an email and do you then see that convert to sales or, or do you have more Relias as you said before on Amazon pushing things? Jeff (13m 12s): Well, I, I know Amazon con their email list is a lot bigger than mine, so I don't know how much, I don't know how much my newsletter does, but I know that I know, for example, when I send out a newsletter about a pre-order available for a new book that I do, I immediately see a pre preorders going in. So it, it absolutely helps, but I'm not going to a kid myself so that the 800 pound gorilla is not me. And, and in terms of, of, of, of moving the needle. But again, I know my fans like hearing from me, they, they respond back to those e-mails, we, we, I, I respond back to them. I try to be very open and available to my, to my readers and let them know that I'm not, I'm not afraid to talk to them, not afraid to interact with them. Jesper (13m 57s): I think that's a good point. We had actually a podcast episode probably by the time this goes out, it's probably like a month, two months ago or something like that. But autumn and I was discussing the effectiveness of social media in today's landscape in that episode. And I, I do think it's a bit of a difficult one because I fully agree with what you're saying in a sense of interacting with readers and people and responding to them if they tweet at you and you're you send it back a, a, a reply on. So I think that is really important, like you were saying as well. A, but the thing that I am wondering about when, what we discussed quite lengthy in that episode was that it really worth one thing is like somebody tweets out at you all are sense of Facebook messages and you apply it to that sort of one thing. Jesper (14m 43s): And another thing is being actively engaging and trying to build up some sort of a, let's say using as a marketing tool to try to get sales on so on. Whereas I'm not so sure that that part is very efficient anymore. I I'm really not. So convinced that because social media is also a time suck, right? You can spend so much time and generating new posts or a new content to post there and whatnot. And I'm not really sure that it helps so much when it comes to sale. I think you are you're time is probably better spent writing and releasing a new book, to be Jeff (15m 16s): Honest. No, I, I would agree with you. And, and if you've been on social media at all, you've seen, especially brand new authors, you using that too, to market a book in, and people don't pay attention to that, what they pay attention to a friend who's recommending you're book. So yeah, I, I use social media and let my fans know when my books are on sale. That's another awesome thing Amazon does for me. They put my books on sale regularly, even after the initial launch, it could be years later, there's still a marketing. My releases, my fans would want to know that they're on sale for 99 cents or a, a, you know, a, a British pound, right. They want to know that. So I want to make sure that they're aware of it. Jeff (15m 57s): And then I find my fans will often forward and boosts that signal to saying, oh, this is on sale. And they share that with their friend. So that's, that's effective much more effective than, than me doing it because I don't, I mean, I, I've never bought, brought in a book because of the author reached out to me. I've, I've, I've, I've, I've bought a book because my friends and my author friends are recommending books to read. So that's, that's the power of it. I think people can definitely try to beat that too much. And what's more important is just being genuine and real in your social media and not just posting about your books, but posting about other things. I, all my Instagram account, I do, I do photos. I D that's a different thing than what I do on my Twitter. Jeff (16m 39s): And so it, I just try to use the different social media is depending on the purpose of it, but it's not just for promoting a, a new release. Jesper (16m 51s): Hmm... No, I get you a and I was also thinking a, just shifting gears slightly here, because I noticed that as well on your website, that you have a book called your first million words, a where you are describing your journey to publication. And, and as far as I could tell, at least I think that's the only a non-fiction book. If you had, at least this was the only one I found on your website, but why did you decide to write that one? I was a bit curious about that. Jeff (17m 14s): It's a, it's a great question. I get asked so often, you know, I get, I get email request from authors that are starting out students in college, high school students. I'm part of teen author bootcamp as a player, I get asked for advice a lot. And so over the years I had written articles T which I put it on my blog, but I kept getting asked, like in, in speaking appearances, tell us your author journey, tell us how you got where you are. And I, my story's kind of a different and unique and a lot of twists and turns. And it that I think, I thought it would be helpful to other who are beginning their own journey. And so, I mean like many I've read Stephen King's on writing. Jeff (17m 56s): I've, I've read a lot of different things all on the craft, but over the years, like looking at Intel and then in doing this, you know, dealing with the discouragement of getting rejected so many times, there's a lot of aspects to it that I think weren't being covered. And so I just, I, you know, I've, after having shared in speeches and talks my story so many times, I said, you know what I mean, just going to start writing these things down in a book, it's probably only gonna be like 70 pages. And it ended up being almost, you know, a lot more than that. And I just, I wanted it. I wanted it to inspire. I wanted it to inspire future authors. I wanted them to see the good, the bad and the cringe-worthy right. Jeff (18m 37s): There's things that, of the mistakes I've made along the, the, the, the, the road that it's like, look, you know, I didn't get this right on the first try. I, I mean, I, here's what I did. Here's how I plotted my own course when, when nobody was telling me yes, and everyone was telling me know, and I just want it to give it, give some of the hope that if they tried not necessarily what I did, but just see that they're going to have their own journey. And I just felt like sharing that experience. In fact, I got a text from a, a, a high school buddy of mine just last night who finished your first million words, and he's a high school teacher down in LA. And he was like, wow. It's like, I knew you were in high school. I had no idea of these things that you went through. Jeff (19m 18s): Thank you for being candid with us on your failures, as well as your successes, because you learn so much that, those things. And that's, that's what I wanted it to do with that book. Jesper (19m 31s): Yeah. And I also really appreciate it because you, you, you are very much giving back. And I really like that a lot. Also, when, when I reached out a, regarding this podcast episode, you replied quite quickly that you were very happy to come on for it and for a chat here. So, and so I think it's a wonderful once people get some, some success and they sell a lot of books that they don't sort of forget to give back to everybody else. Who's not at that level yet. So I do it really appreciate it. I think it's a very good thing. Jeff (19m 58s): You know, what it feels like when I created, started creating my own magazine deep magic, I would reach out to authors that I admired and, and, and hearing back, just hearing back anything meant so much to me. So I still remember what that was like, and you were a very courteous, yes, we are with your request. So I do this, this, this kind of a thing frequently, so, and I'm happy to do it. Jesper (20m 18s): No, that, that's, that's a wonderful, but we also need to talk a bit of a fantasy here. Of course, 'cause a, this is The Am Writing Fantasy Podcast. And I saw that you initially inspiration as well was from this Shinara, a Chronicles by Terry Brooks'. So T tell me a bit about that. Jeff (20m 38s): Absolutely. I was not an avid reader until probably high school, but for me it began that kind of a desire to become a writer began. I was in middle school and it started with Terry Brooks' book a from his Shannara a universe. And it w you know, for me, I would pick up a book and I would immediately start to try to predict the endings. And most of the time I was right. And so it, it was, it just, it, to me, it, it was hard to find a book that challenged my imagination. And, and again, I, I wasn't reading Tolkien back then. I was just trying a lot of different things. And it was that Terry books, books that really kind of kickstarted to me in, in me the desire to be able to do that. Jeff (21m 20s): He happened to come to Silicon valley multiple times for a book signings at the local as some of the local bookstores. So I had the opportunity to meet him. And so he really played a role in, in, in, in, in terms of my creativity of, of having unpredictable plots, having strong characters, having a lot of action. That's a kind of thing that I like to write good versus evil. Those themes and stories have always appealed to me. And so he became somebody that I looked up to well, as an adult, I found that he was doing a writing seminar in north of San Francisco, and I had the opportunity to spend an entire day with him. Jeff (21m 60s): And you can just imagine how that affected me the chance to, he's going to read my writing. I'm going to be able to learn from him for a whole day. That was really a turning point moment for me. So yes, it began when I was in middle school, but he's influenced me even until today. In fact, I was so happy when my publisher approached him to do a little blurb for my newest series, the first Sergeant times. And he agreed to read the first book and do a blurb for it. I mean, I was over the moon, as you can imagine that somebody that I looked up too, I'd studied under a, was, I was now supporting it. I've been to a comic con event with him and up onstage with them. So it's been a fantastic thing. Jeff (22m 41s): The influence that he's been in my life from the earliest of times, sparking that creativity within me, and then being able to watch his career and see how he's handled it and, and, and to learn from him in person was just amazing. Jesper (22m 55s): Yeah. How did it feel getting critique on your work far from him? How did that feel at that point in time? Jeff (23m 1s): Well, it was terrible. All right, because we all had to submit a story to him in advance. And I wasn't the first one that he began the critique with. And, and he was very, very candid and very pointed with his critique. You, it, it wasn't like a, I'm just going to try and make you feel good. He was challenging what people were saying. He was showing gaps in logic. He was showing where things weren't working. And I was starting to just sweat, like, oh my goodness, this is going to be horrible. And when he got to mine, he asked some questions, he challenged me, but I was able to answer it. And he didn't rip my, my things apart at all. And I was like, well, that's interesting. And then when we, we had it a little lunch break, we're in this cafe, buy this book at this bookstore. Jeff (23m 46s): And I was sitting there and I was watching him get his sandwich. And I was in my mind, I'm a come sit by me, come sit by me. And he did, he came and sat by me. So I was just the two of us. And he told me during that lunch, he was like, Jeff was like, you're the best writer in this class. He was like, I could really see that U you have, you can have a future with us and talk about validation. I, I was like, wow. It was like to hear that from you're, you're a superstar. It meant the world to me. And it, it, it, but it, what that did is that it actually motivated me to throw away all the fantasy books that I had written prior to that. And to say, you know what, I've learned a lot from him. I've learned a lot through my magazine. I'm going to start fresh with something brand new. Jeff (24m 27s): And that was my mirror wood series. And that's the one coincidentally, after having written and thrown away a million words, that was the book that a launched my success. Jesper (24m 40s): So, yeah, it must've been extremely transformative as far as I can also hear from what you're saying, having a chat with him there, and my God, how lucky that he just sat down at your table. Jeff (24m 50s): I know, I know it just was one of those things. Like, it was just meant to be a again, if I had the pleasure of meeting him since then, and it's just been a wonderful thing to, to know him. Jesper (25m 2s): So did you fall in love with a fantasy genre from reading those specific books? A, was that sort of the trigger? Jeff (25m 10s): Well, the vet, we all did help, but to be honest, the first books that I wrote while I was in high school, we're more thrillers, a more, a political thrillers. And, but I, when I came to realize is how much research you had to do to make something accurate in today's world. It took a raw, less research to make a fantasy world, because you could create the, the landscape, the geography, you weren't constrained by historical things. And so for me, a lot of my inspirations for my fantasy novels have come from periods of history in our own planet. Sometimes medieval Europe, I've written a series on ancient China. I've done lots of different kinds of series that I can kind of dive into. Jeff (25m 53s): It kind of take something that interested me from history, and then it kind of repackage it and make it my own. And that's what I really loved about fantasy as it's not that it, the lack of research it's just allowed me to combine different elements that I didn't have to worry about somebody coming back and saying, no, this isn't the way it really works. Like you can't say that to a fantasy author. Cause you know, in my world, apple trees produce in what's in what, twice a year. And no one can tell me I'm wrong because I invented apple trees that way. So Jesper (26m 26s): Yeah, no, I fully agree. I sometimes a hear on other podcasts as well when some of those may be a thriller auteurs and authors and so on. Talk about how, you know, Rita's come back to them and say, well, this gun, actually, it doesn't work that way and so on. And I, every time I'm just like, I'm so happy. I don't have that problem. Exactly, exactly. Well, of course we, we do still need to think a bit about the weapon's we use and the Armas, we used a a, unless you sort of create something that nobody has ever heard about. We, we still need to think a bit about that and not make it a unrealistic in that sense, but, we do have an easier life. Jeff (27m 2s): It's it's true. And, and to me there's a lot of fun in researching things. I saw some great, a German videos of medieval Knights for my first Argentine series. Like how sturdy the Armour wise, how would they get it? How would they stand up against arrows and swords and things and watching a film footage of Armour taking a beating, or weapons' taking a beating, see, and that to me, and it's not even research, that's just fun. And so I like doing that stuff to make my stories as realistic as possible, but then you got to create your magic system and that's, that's part of the fun too. Jesper (27m 39s): That's the best part. Yeah. Yeah. I also was, I can't remember anymore because there's many, many years ago, so I cannot remember if it was on one of the network shows or if it was just YouTube videos of whatever I can't remember anymore, but I was one time where they were this discussing whether or not like medieval Knight, you could resist a shut from like a musket and, and the, the, almost that they created now, the musculature right through them. Ah, but then during this show, they talk to like a, a, a blacksmith who we specialized in creating medieval llamas. Like they were created back then, and then they got him in the show to Smith, such an AMA, and then they shot at it and the bullet did not go Jeff (28m 27s): Through it. Yeah. So there's all sorts of things. That was pretty interesting. I found was one of the tickets and I actually used to it in my new series that they would have these trials between nights and they wouldn't, you know, they wouldn't even wear armor that just sword against the board. And, and so you imagine getting cut up by a sword? Well, they would use moldy bread to put on the wound and I'm like moldy bread. It's kind of like penicillin, you know, I, my, they figured that stuff out, they figured out that moldy bread helped keep preventive women from getting infected. I'm like, that's cool. I've got to use that if my series, which I did it. Jesper (29m 1s): Yeah. It's so cool. Yeah. And, and I'm also, I love listening to, I don't know if you ever listen to Dan Carlin, so a hardcore history podcast, a but that is such, such a good podcast. And I remember some point when he was talking about medieval Knight's as well as, and he was saying something like, they were like tanks, you know, it, when you meet a, a medieval Knight on a battlefield, you just can't, you can't do anything. So you saw it, it will not penetrate. If you could just hit him and it hit him and hit him and it doesn't help Jeff (29m 28s): You and hope he falls down because other than that you're toast. Yeah. Yeah. Jesper (29m 35s): So that was pretty cool. Well- Jeff (29m 37s): It, it was exactly what was that. It was that kind of a theme that kinda of medieval night that inspired by new series. Cause I really wanted to write a story about Knights, but from their point of view and the training they'd have to go through the armor, they'd have to wear how hard it was. And some of the books I read from, you know, accounts written from the, you know, 12 hundreds, 11 hundreds, and it just fascinating. You send me those little details that we as authors weave into our stories, that when it is often, when people read my books, they don't realize this is real. This is a scene that actually happened in history. I'm not just making it up. Jesper (30m 12s): Do you always go with some, something from real history that inspires you or do you all, so something sometimes just make something completely random up. Jeff (30m 21s): Most, most of the books that I've written have come from something that inspired me from history or from Dungeons and dragons, a, a big role playing a fanatic, especially when I was in high school and in college. And so those story elements are, those are my two biggest sources of inspiration. And mostly because history is so unpredictable and D and D is so unpredictable. Like when I would play with my friends, they would come up with things that I did not anticipate or expect, which is a great thing to learn is a writer because it's the unanticipated that really delight's a reader. It, if they've like, just like I had a problem with always predicting what was going to happen next, one of the great things as finding ways to be unpredictable and to make your plot twist such that people don't see it coming, then it just deletes a certain part of our brains when something like that happens. Jeff (31m 14s): And that's one of our, and you go to our core competencies as a writer. Jesper (31m 21s): Yeah. It it's, it's like a double-edged sword, that stuff. Because a, I also feel like after, after becoming an author and writing books and stories, you know, when I watch like a murder mystery show or whatever, I like it. Not every time of course, but a lot of the times I'm able to foresee who to murder is Willow ahead of time when I'm watching like a TV show on Netflix or something. And it's sort of, I wouldn't say it destroys those shows, but, but it's a different experience watching that kind of thing nowadays, when you a story-telling you yourself compared to when you worked, but I don't know if you have that experience. Jeff (31m 56s): I can completely relate too. You Yesper because I I've had that too. Book reading for me has not been as enjoyable in recent years as it was in the past because my author brain can't help, but want to make it better, or I predict what's happening because I see the clues and I piece it together. And so I tend to read more biographies or other things that are outside of my genre, just because I need something to trick my brain, to stop me from trying to predict everything that's happening. And I just find, find more history or biographies gives me that then sitting down with a novel, when I can find an author that's new, like one of my new favorite as Anthony, Ryan in the UK, a when I do find some, somebody who's so good at his craft and can create a world and do things and I can't see what's coming, I can't see where he's doing it. Jeff (32m 48s): I just get transported. It brings me back to those days with Terry books again. And unfortunately its more rare than come in now. And it's just part of the process of being an author of your, you, you, you just start figuring stuff out easier. Jesper (33m 2s): It, it is. Yes, absolutely. And I also feel like a, one of the things Autumn and I are doing with our books that we really tried and purposely to craft it so that you won't see what is it coming at the end. So we try to with all the books. So we were trying to see if we can sort of make twists always in the end so that you didn't see it because I really feel like personally, at least that's the kind of fantasy books that I like. I like when something happens at the end that I, I couldn't work it out a but at the same time. And maybe that was what you were trying to say a bit there as well, is that if I look across like fantasy books in general, many of them feel to me, at least in not that I've read all of them, of course, but, but the ones I've read a lot of the time, they feel like very, very straight forward. Jesper (33m 48s): Like it's just like you go on this quest thing and at the end you fight the dragon or whatever and then yay. You, you won. And then, I mean, not that its not, it can be a good story. Of course it could be incredibly well-written. But I just feel like if we can work in some stuff that may be normally belongs a bit more over in another like thrillers and we can, if we can work that a bit into the fantasy, I personally at least feel that it becomes more interesting. Jeff (34m 17s): A and I agree and that's the kind of books that I like to ride, but even within fantasy you can have things that are more action, adventure, Ew, there's a romance fantasy. And those readers expect a certain kind of trope that, that goes with it. So you, you have to understand kind of what your, what your market is, but I'm always looking for that a different angle of how can I like in my book, the Queen's poisoner, I made my protagonist eight years old and that puts all a whole series of constraints. Right? Cause he's not going to pick up a sword in and defeat the bad guy. He's got a defeat him with his head, but an eight year old can't outsmart as an adult, unless there's another adult helping the eight-year-old. Jeff (35m 1s): So I like putting together these ideas that kind of create a totally different kind of a story than what people are expecting again. But those with those twists and turns put in there that make you want to keep turning the pages and say, what, how was this kid going to get out of these Kings? This King's clutches, you know, but the cards or so stacked against them. So I like looking for those different angles and not just having the, the stamp using the standard tropes, but often flipping them. No, no, I agree. Jesper (35m 30s): And is that a book then written for a mature audience? I mean for adults or is it more like a YA? Jeff (35m 37s): It's kind of both by audience range and I, I know this from my, my Amazon re results. I have readers who are in eight years old and I of readers that are over 80 years old. So I I've got, that's a good way. That's a great problem to have. And so it, you can't really classify it as why, because there is a very adult characters and there as well, but I don't, I don't ride with a lot of adult themes. There's no sex or swearing in, in my books, but, but that's just the kind of things that I like to enjoy myself, but yeah, people of all ages can, can get sucked into it and including my own kids and including my own inlaws. So I've got a range on both sides. So my, my father-in-law's begging for my new book, which comes out next week. So like I can't wait till this book comes out. Jeff (36m 17s): So it's good to see that, that enthusiasm. Jesper (36m 21s): Yeah, absolutely. But do you find a, the more books that you write at it becomes more and more difficult to come up with new, let's say interesting takes on things or, or, or, or does just the fact that you go into a different historical, a like theme, does that automatically bring some new twists and turns so to speak into your books? Or how do you feel about that? Jeff (36m 45s): So, well, I kinda of two different processes. So like when I'm writing a book, my focus is on that one. And, and if a new idea comes to me for another series, while I'm working on that book, I'll send myself an e-mail a kind of capture some of the idea and I'll just file it away and I'll just let it kind of incubate in the back of my head. But I don't spend a lot in my conscious time processing that new idea. I want to stay focused on the idea that I have. So that as I'm thinking about the next few chapters, I always kind of plot off a story arc of where is this series going, but I don't plot all the twists and turns in advance. So I spent my time thinking about is I'm maybe I might need a, a N in, in, or a CASEL or a certain place in as I go in. Jeff (37m 30s): And as I research that, that would give me a new ideas that I can weave into that story, add some twists to it. But meanwhile, in the background, I've got these other ideas that are cooking and I worried that am I going to run out of ideas? And I can tell you after all these years, my, my, my idea folder and my inbox is getting longer, not shorter. And so a new ideas come to me all the time, often multiple ideas while I'm working on a series. So if I get three new ideas for every series exponentially, that's a problem. Like I'm gonna die before I'm gonna write all of the story ideas that I have. So then I have to really be thoughtful about what am I going to work on next? Jeff (38m 12s): What's that next adventure going to be? What do I feel the most passionate about? Cause I've got all of these ideas to choose from what are the ones that are the most exciting to me. Jesper (38m 21s): Yeah. And I think that's actually a good point. A it's one that I've also started thinking more and more about in terms of, because my idea for all of those also a very, very long, and it does not get shorter. Like you S but I, I think it's a, it's a good point. The fact that once you start working on a series, you, you will probably, well, some are some for some people take longer, obviously, but your probably locked in four a year, at least a day. Some people might working on it even longer than that. But I think there is a good point in this choice that you're making, which one do we actually want to ride? And what, and, and what do you then choose out of that list? Jesper (39m 3s): Write a book. I think, I mean, it does not, I don't think it's easy. Jeff (39m 7s): No, no, no. It's not a bit. It, for me, it is the key decision maker is, do I have a fire in the belly four? It am I excited? So, right. So I'm working on a series. That's going to be coming out next year. And before I started working on it, I shared three ideas with my wife. And I just talked to her about all three of them, just independently. Here's the three ideas for three different series that I can do. And she said judging by the, by the look on your face, you're the most excited about this one? And I'm like your right. Like, there is a very practical and pragmatic reasons why I could have worked on the other to, but she could tell the, and excitement enthusiasm was there. Jeff (39m 51s): And that's gotta be a key ingredient. Cause I, I have readers that say, Hey, go back to your, you know, an early, early, early series you self-publish before a mirror would, I said, I have zero interest in going back to that series. I have no fire in the belly, four. It, it would be painful for me to try to go back and try to write more in that world because I had originally designed like maybe a 12 book series. And I have since come to learn that most publishers don't like 12 books series because your readership keeps getting smaller and smaller. The further out you go. And so it's not, they're, they're, they're, they're good for like Robert Jordan's and others, but, but most of us can't a command the attention in that long and they'd preferred trilogies, or maybe for maybe I've done five a month and her advice was spot on and that's the one I'm writing right now. Jeff (40m 40s): And she was right. I am still excited and passionate about writing this book. And then I'll make the decision as I get near the end of the final book. What am I going to go back to either of those two other ideas or did something else come along that I'm now passionate and excited about it? That's it gotta be a key ingredient for it? Jesper (40m 60s): Yeah, absolutely. And maybe a way of had to watch the end. Jeff, I'm thinking if I, if we could like invent a time machine here and a, you could go into a time machine and you can travel back to the earlier version of yourself when you were just starting out on your publishing journey. If you had to, you only have time in the, in the past year for, for saying like one advice to yourself, and then you're going to sit back right here and depressant. So what would be the one thing that you will tell you a past selves as a piece of advice? Jeff (41m 34s): You know, I've, I've, I've wondered that at times, you know, it because, you know, if I look at my journey, what would I have wanted to know the most that would have kept me motivated? Because my skills of changed my interests have changed. I've grown as a writer since becoming a full-time author a lot has changed. And you can't really summarize that in a, in a sentence or two, but the advice, if I could like flip out of a, at a time machine in and talk to myself while I was it Intel, or if I was in high school, I would, I would, I would have just told myself it's gonna happen. Like you're gonna get there. You're gonna become a full-time author some day. But I wouldn't tell me how, because would be no way to summarize that the up and down experience and talk about in my memoir it to the point where that, that self could understand what I was talking about. Jeff (42m 21s): But, but, but I think it would be motivating to me to know that, you know, that I made it, that I made that happen. And that's the, that's the advice I'd like to give writers today. It's like, like, if you could imagine that you would succeed in anything that you did, what would you dare to do? Like if you knew that there was no chance you could fail, that you would eventually succeed, what would you dare to do? And I, I just knowing that by daring to be an author that I would achieve it someday. And that, if that, if I, if I don't know, if I'd tell myself that I would be more popular than I could have even imagined back then, like I I've exceeded way more than I ever thought I would of never thought I would of deserved. Jeff (43m 4s): But if I could just tell myself you're going to make it, that would have a, that would've been very inspiring to me. And I hope it's inspiring to your listeners to, to put in the time it takes to write those books in a lonely room without anybody else there, unless you've got a co-writer it's up to you by yourself to pull it off. Well, but to know that you're going to make it, you'd make it worth it. Jesper (43m 28s): You just don't give up. I think that's a, that's a very good a point to the conversation on M, but Jeff also wanted to ask you if, if a, if people want to check out more about you, where, where do they go? Jeff (43m 44s): My website is Jeff Wheeler dot com. I have all of my different worlds there. I have a different page from the different worlds that talks about the settings and the magic and the kind of thing. So that way, if people want to explore like, oh, I may be more interested in this one. This one's got a more, a medieval feeling. This ones got it. More of a steam punk feeling. This ones got you. You can kind of look at it that way. I always get asked, like, where do I start? You've got over 30 books. Where do I start? The page that gets viewed the most on my website is one call it the one called a reading order where I suggest if, if I had a pick, this is the order. I would read my books. And cause a lot of my stories are tied together. Jeff (44m 24s): There's a little hints from one that leak into another. And so if you want to capture all those nuggets and little Easter eggs, you would, if you read it, it in the order, I suggest you, you probably maximize that the most, but that's, that's what I would suggest. Jesper (44m 42s): That's so cool. And I did, I can confirm the, those well page's you have on your website. It's really cool. There's a nice images and everything as well. So it looks really good. And a, of course, a reading about some, a fantasy setting who doesn't want to do that. It's a, it's a wonderful, thank you. So thank you so much for coming on a Geoff. I really appreciate it. Jeff (45m 8s): It's my pleasure to be here. Jesper (45m 9s): Okay. And next week, Autumn will be back and I'm prerecording this, so I'm not quite sure what we're going to talk about, but the tune-in. Narrator (45m 20s): If you like what are you just heard, there's a few things you can do to SUPPORT THE AM WRITING FANTASY PODCAST. Please tell a fellow author about the show and visit us at Apple podcast and leave a rating and review. You can also join Autumn and Jesper on patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy. For as little as a dollar a month, you'll get awesome rewards and keep The Am Writing Fantasy Podcast going. Stay safe out there and see you next Monday.

Master Wheeler joined me on September 9th, 2020 to talk about public service, giving back, his history in the martial arts, helping to build the next generation up and more on this great episode.

There are a LOT of parts involved in writing a story. Even if you are a panster, you should be thinking about the story's plot, characters arcs, how the two inter-link, sub-plots and how they affect the main plot, and then there is the story's emotional plot. Wait. Emotional plot? The emotional plot of a story isn't something we talk about much. In fact, there isn't a ton of information out there on it, but it is an important part of plotting as well.  Tune into episode 130 of the Am Writing Fantasy podcast as Autumn and Jesper (well, mostly Autumn) share insights on the emotional plot. Tune in for new episodes EVERY single Monday.  SUPPORT THE AM WRITING FANTASY PODCAST! Please tell a fellow author about the show and visit us at Apple podcast and leave a rating and review.  Join us at www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy. For as little as a dollar a month, you'll get awesome rewards and keep the Am Writing Fantasy podcast going.  Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion). Narrator (1s): You're listening to the Am Writing Fantasy podcast. In today's publishing landscape, you can reach fans all over the world. Query letters are a thing of the past. You don't even need a literary agent. There is nothing standing in the way of making a living from writing. Join two best selling authors who have self published more than 20 books between them now onto the show with your hosts, Autumn Birt and Jesper Schmidt. Jesper (30s): Hello, this is episode 130 of the am writing fantasy podcast. And in today's episode, we're going to talk about the emotional plot and how to use it. Or perhaps I should say that you Autumn will be talking about... Autumn (49s): I guess that's fair. This is one of my ideas because when I, I guess I knew about the emotional plot, but when I started playing with it recently and did a recent post in our Patrion feed, I just got so excited. Like, yes, we need to talk about this. And I somehow strong arms you into it. Jesper (1m 12s): No, no, that's, that's good. Then I can take a bit of a backseat and enjoy all the preparation work you of course have done for this episode, Autumn, like you do for every single episode. Autumn (1m 24s): Usually. Occasionally. Jesper (1m 26s): No, you don't. Autumn (1m 28s): I'll be fine. I have every faith. We'll figure it out besides not doing my homework. How, how have you been? Jesper (1m 42s): Well, good. I did start writing book two in our series and I really wanted to get a writing sprint done this morning as well, but I failed. I was, I was actually up at five 15 this morning, but yeah, I prioritized exercising thinking that I could get a writing sprint done afterward, but then other tasks sort of got in the way and I hate mornings that just spiral, it feels like it just spirals out of control that way. Yeah. And I always advocate that people should prioritize writing and do it as the first thing, because then you don't get sucked into other things and you see, it happens to me like fingers, but I don't know my excuses that the being a soccer referee as well, it's important that I have a good fitness level. Jesper (2m 37s): So that's my shoes. But writing is important too. So it's one of those choices. We'll all have to make at some point, but yeah, I will. I'll I'll get some more chapters to be too hard on yourself because you have started writing it. You've done two chapters. We did all the plotting. You finished the previous book, which I'm still editing. So I think you're fine just because you're like a half a book of me, your foe. Yeah. Well, it's not necessarily that I want to be far ahead of you, but it's more like, I like to be productive and I love when I can see progress. So when nothing happens because I get sucked into a million other things, well, I do make progress on other things, but I want to see the book advancing all the time. Jesper (3m 25s): So since that's a bit annoying, oh, and by the way, my apologize in advance, if somebody can hear shouting in the background while we are recording, because my wife is watching the world championship, ice hockey in the other room and she can get quite an Tuesday astic about that. Autumn (3m 42s): So if somebody shout to me, that's exciting. That's pretty fun. Yeah. Yeah. How about you? Could we have like a number 10 day? I, since I should've played hooky because I, you know, had to do my homework anyway, but it was one of those days where it's started off cool in the morning and got warm in the afternoon and we just got clouds, but it was like brilliantly, sunny, but not too hot. And it was just if every day was like that, but since it's not, it was definitely one of those. I want to go sit in the hammock and have a cider and just kick up my feet for a little bit. Autumn (4m 24s): But I was, I adulting and I came prepared as much as you say, I didn't for today's podcast, so I I'm ready, but it's been good. Hey, and I got my second vaccination over the weekend. I am now. Well, once it's all the humanities kick in, I am now vaccinated fully. So that's, that was exciting. It wasn't horrible. I totally prepared. I was planning. I was going to be horribly sick coming in. My husband was horribly sick with his and I thought, okay, I'm just going to, I'm going to sleep on my bean bag chair. And he came back early from his training and was with me for the weekends. I'm like, I am totally, totally fine. And really, I just, I felt a little slow on my head was just, I've had worse, cold. Autumn (5m 7s): I mean, it really wasn't bad, but I wasn't quite myself. So we didn't, we binged on Netflix and took it pretty easy over the weekend. I didn't force myself strong on myself to do much work. That's always woke up Monday, felt like I had started a bunch of caffeine and ready to go. So that's pretty good. Oh, what do you watch? Everything a program called sexify actually. And it was the characterization and the story were fantastic. I think it's a Polish. And so it was, I do tend to like foreign series and it was just outstanding, the characterization and what they were going through. Autumn (5m 54s): And there were basically three women, three young college students who decided to develop an app. And the one was, she was head programmer and she was going to do something on sleep. And it was basically told it wasn't sexy. So she came up with something else and we won't go into it on this podcast, but it was a, if it, the name sexify and the stigma around it, you know, here I am skipping the topic, this typic stigma around what they decided to do was so interesting to see all their different roles and how they dealt with parents and try to figure out themselves in the world. And I just, we ended up watching, I think it was seven or nine episodes. And in two days we watched them all admit, which is totally unusual, uses one episode a day for me. Jesper (6m 38s): But yes, it was fine. Got some tea, got some chips, some veggie chips and just sat down and watched shows. Yeah, that's good. Yeah. And you still need to, if you love the foreign shows, you still need to watch those. I know you need to find them. Right. We have like the bridge, I guess it's the English translation. And then what is it called? What is it called? Killing, I guess it's called, but it's not good in the unit because the English wasn't when you're got a headache, the last thing you want to do is have to read subtitles, but I've looked for that. Autumn (7m 22s): And I thought, for sure, we had a workaround because we use a VPN and I figured what I could just put the VPN in Denmark. And then I could go ahead and watch the shows that I can't get in the U S it doesn't work that way. Netflix won't let me log in unless I'm under the U S VPN. So I can't get to your shows. Maybe I come over there and watch with you. Yeah. Yeah. And you can learn it's cold foods. Okay. To work on this. Autumn (8m 3s): That's a good try. Narrator (8m 5s): A week on the internet with the am writing fantasy podcast. Jesper (8m 9s): So I'd like to thank Jen for joining us on patron. So thank you so much. It was so great to see you join us there. And we can't wait to hear more about what you're writing. Absolutely. Your support is of course, what enables us to keep the lights on here at the app, riding fences, you podcast. So we really appreciate that. And Jen has also become eligible for our monthly live Q and a sessions, and they are so fun. I love getting the question. See, that's why I'm always fine for the podcast. We never know what the readers or listeners are going to ask when they join us, our students and our Patrion people, when they join us for the monthly Q and a, you got to just be ready to go with the flow. Autumn (8m 55s): But there it to me, especially when people come back in and they give us the progress, updates are just so fantastic to hear how people are doing. So it's good to answer the questions and share and offer support, and then celebrate when things are going well. Absolutely. Yeah, it it's really, it's really nice. I love those sessions as well. So dear listener, if you feel like you're getting something from these podcast episodes, then why not check out the patron page associated to the am writing fantasy podcast, we offer a number of rewards to supporters. And of course there is a link in the show notes, if you want to, or if you're interested in checking that out. Autumn (9m 37s): So I don't know, is that it autumn, or do we have anything else that you see that the M writing fantasy Facebook group is almost at 5,000 members? It like exploded last month. I think we jumped a thousand and just a couple of weeks. So that's been exciting, but I was going to tease you and say, well, even if maybe I'm teasing the listeners, but even if you don't enjoy the podcast, if you have questions on your writing, you can join one of the question and answer sessions, answer sessions for like $5 a month. That's a pretty good deal for customized help on your questions on your world, building in your marketing. And I don't know how we came up with that plan, but darn it, that's pretty cheap. Jesper (10m 23s): That's the, like the cheapest consultancy support you'll ever get in your life. That's for sure. But yeah, that's true. But I guess the irony is if they don't enjoy listening to the podcast, they will never say that Narrator (10m 48s): And on to today's topic. Jesper (10m 50s): So we should perhaps mention that the idea for today's episode came from a patron post that you wrote in the . Exactly. We always, I always try to give my best posts away there, and eventually they might find their way onto the podcast then the, maybe even the blog down the road, but this was one that I really enjoyed discussing Patriot. Like I said, once I, once I stumbled on the topic and that the emotional plot is totally separate from character arts and it's totally separate from the actual story plot, the story structure I'm like, it was like, I was finding one of those words that you've always something to define something you did anyway. Autumn (11m 33s): And you're like, oh, that's what it's called. I was so excited. So I'm like, yeah, we got, we've got to talk about this one because there is not much out there on the emotional plot, but I think it's, I think I stumbled on like one of the things I could finally say, this is one of my favorite parts of writing. So I'm excited. Yeah. It's cool. And I feel like the topic of the emotional plot, isn't that clear really? And as you say, there's probably not that much about it out there. So perhaps it would be a good place to start if you just sort of explain why no one ever understands what I'm talking about. And you want me to explain? Autumn (12m 15s): No, that's fair enough. The emotional, explain your mind, my story organization. And I've terrified you, I think have scarred you forever, that I was trying to, to, to just make any sense and make sense out of it. It's just the goal with go with my mind map. It's chaos, you know, that little meme that's, you know, Hey, what's that thing coming out of your head. And then someone's like, is mine, it's the plot to my next novel? And it looks like this giant worm cloud. Yeah, that's me all for time. But emotional plot, like I said, for it is not your story plot. Autumn (12m 57s): It's not the story structure and it's not character arcs, but it kind of overlaps like if those are two spheres, it kind of overlaps with them. It's so if you have a Venn diagram out, it's one of those, the third sphere of it, it is you could define it two ways. And the first way is that it is the character's emotional journey through the story. And that's a good place to start. If you never considered emotional plot before and applying it to the story, you're writing start there, that's one you can do easily. But to me, I think what I like is sort of like the pro level, and that is the readers emotional journey through the story. So it is literally plotting out what you hope. Autumn (13m 40s): You know, you never a hundred percent, you can't target another person a hundred percent, but what you really kind of want the reader to be feeling when they reach certain parts of your story. And that's what I think is so much fun. And that's interesting because I feel like normally when we are talking about plot, you automatically thinks about actions and you know, what is happening and stuff like that. And this is sort of more the yeah. Right. But, but you also mentioned the, but you also mentioned the character emotional journey and also the reader emotional journey. Autumn (14m 25s): But do, are they not linked like that? They're not two separate things there they be linked, but they can be the reader's emotional journey can be different from the characters, especially if you have several characters, but if you are, if you play with foreshadowing, if you have different characters, like you have the villain's perspective. And so the reader might have information that character doesn't have. So the character might be feeling dread and intention and a whole bunch of other emotions that the character doesn't feel because the character doesn't know. And that's the advanced level of emotional plot that I like when you, when you start layering in those bits of foreshadowing and those little elements, so that you're going to ratchet up the tension on the reader in a way that is actually not part of the story structure per se. Jesper (15m 14s): I mean, you might have those elements there to make it all tie together. But what you're really doing is you're putting in those elements to up the emotional impact of the story. And that's, that's the emotional plot. So you mean like for example, that the reader knows what is coming around the corner, but the character doesn't. So is that sort of what you mean? So hence it's, it's stressful or well exciting depending on what word you want to use for the reader, but the character is just sort of trotting along because they don't know what they are going to walk into. In two seconds, the character could be racing to meet her lover or wondering where he is, why he's late in the reader might already know the answer he's been captured or is dead or whatever has happened. Autumn (16m 5s): So the reader is going to have a much deeper, mixed feelings going on where the character is not quite there yet doesn't realize what happened. And so that's, like I said, that's more of the advanced level at the very surface. Especially if you write with mostly just one, one point of view character, then the emotional plot can be very similar to what the readers plot would be. And it's much more, much easier. You may have a little bit of foreshadowing that the reader might or might not pick up on and that's going to change the emotional plot. But of course, I think it could also be the other way around, you know, if you have an unreliable narrator, then it could be the other way around that the character actually knows what's going to happen, but the reader is not knowing. Autumn (16m 58s): So the reader feels all the emotions when it happens, whereas the character maybe don't because they already knew what or something, I guess, I guess it could go both ways. I guess that's what I'm saying specifically, you know, choosing to have that unreliable narrator, you can do that as a plotting element to help, you know, increase tension, but you can also do it, you know, add that other layer of that emotional plot. You're doing it because you're basically manipulating the character or the reader's emotions and you're doing it purposefully. And I think by saying, Hey, this is a different plotting element. This is a whole different layer and mapping it and keeping an idea of like, what am I'm doing this plot action to do this, to make this happen in the plot. Autumn (17m 39s): And I'm doing it also has this reaction emotionally, and that's going to be that and making sure it all lines up. So that way I know I just read a story recently where something big happened and blew up something that a character was waiting for and the character didn't react. And so basically the emotional plot element was completely missing. And by recognizing that there is an emotional plot element, you don't do that. You don't have a big event happen and then completely ignore the characters reaction when something totally changes. Autumn (18m 20s): But I'm wondering as well. Jesper (18m 22s): So of course, if you know how you want your reader to feel at a certain moment, you know, in the book, that's very powerful tool if you do it deliberately, but I'm also wondering is that like something you would go through as you edit the novel, so you feel like, okay here, probably they need to feel like this and that, and then always, or do you more see it, like something you do while you're plotting your actual chapters or scenes like you added in there? Or, or what if you're pantsing then do what, how do you think? Autumn (19m 1s): I would say if you're always, I think we both, I don't think there's any wrong way to do it. If you're a pantser it probably is something that you're going to add in later, unless you're just, especially if you're adding in the reader's reactions, if you're talking about the characters, reactions, if you're a, pantser, who's very attuned with emotions and the emotions of your character, you're going to put that in almost naturally. And then when you edit, you'll just have to make sure it's, you know, it's all there. You're clear on it. If you're looking at how to manipulate the reader, I think it comes out much better if you're a plotter or at least if you're more of a hybrid and you just simply plot out your chapters and if you have all your chapter, like, you know, your hook and your disaster and everything that happens in your chapter, if you also make sure when you do those, you say these are the emotional reactions, or this is the emotional note that this chapter is going to end on. Autumn (19m 53s): And it's almost, you know, you can have the emotional reaction as your hook to the next chapter. And the nice thing about the emotional reaction, you talk about hurdles and you talk about laws while the emotions are often, sometimes highest in the laws, because things are happening in the hurdles and you don't really have a chance to react. So those ones where those chapters, where the pace is slower are usually saturated with emotion. So therefore your emotional plot is actually almost counter your regular story plot. And so that makes it gripping. It keeps the pace gripping on some level, no matter what, and you can't ever drop that, you know, you always have them oscillating around each other, which is a really fun way of writing. Jesper (20m 43s): Hmm. Yeah. And also I really, I've grown over the years to love the lulls more and more and more because those scenes where there's no fighting going on there, they're sitting around the campfire and they're enjoying their bread and smoking a pipe and, and talking to each other. Right. Yeah. I mean, I, I've really grown to love those scenes because it's, it's usually where you can have the characters reflect on what happened. I mean, of course they will react in the moment when the dragon attacks and whatnot, of course, they will react to that and they will have emotions related to that. But the deeper understanding about the character's personality and their desires and their view of the world and all that stuff really comes to the forefront in those levels. Jesper (21m 27s): And, and I really, I have really grown to like those, I previously, I think years back, I always felt that they were, you know, we just need some action, but, but in reality, it's in the slow scenes that, that you can really also build that relationship between the reader and the character. Because once you start understanding what the character is about and how they view the world, how they think, what they decide and what they want, that's also where as the reader, you start building connections with that coach and you start understanding them, even if you don't, you don't have to agree with them and their desires and their wants. But, but if you understand where they're coming from, you will start building a connection to that character. Autumn (22m 10s): And I really feel that that's something action scenes can totally agree. Those are, I've always think I've always liked the lulls. And I, like, I think that's where, you know, that's where the, like I said, the emotions happen. That's where a character is fall in love. That's where they might have an argument that they couldn't have when they're helping their best friend. It's like, you know, you're, they're going to be there for their best friend to fight the dragon. But if there's anything like you won't, why did you do that? Why did you bring us here? That's what happened? You know, your risk, my friend's life. Those are the things that come out on the laws. And I like that kind of emotional spewing, I think. And that's why I liked this idea of the emotional plot is that you make sure you include that because you know, thrillers and action, adventure books, the ones that are always like the Hollywood cinemas that are boom, boom, boom, boom, you don't have an emotional plot. Autumn (23m 1s): And that's why they feel superficial. And also why some of the characters feel so thrown away, you don't make that connection. You never see the characters reaction. You know, they're always this stoic. I am doing this because I am saving and rescuing my daughter. And you're like, okay, do you ever show that you love her? Other than you save her life, that's going to help me Chris, back to you? No. Well, saving somebody's life is a problem. The coloration, I think I know what you mean because I know, I know what you mean. Jesper (23m 43s): And also when, when, for example, when I wrote the first draft of our book one, I tried really to, because something you said just reminded me that oftentimes also in the past, my LOLs would often be discussions between characters. You know, they would be disagreeing about something, maybe even arguing, I don't know, but big, because that would keep the tension high. So I thought like, oh, well that keeps it interesting. Even the laws. And it does. So it there's nothing wrong with it. But in the book, one draft that I just wrote that the one you were editing at the moment, I really try to make sure that some of the laws are not just arguments, but also just have like more deep and thoughtful conversations between characters and how they're growing to like each other and stuff like that. Autumn (24m 39s): And focus more on that as well. Other than it's just being somebody arguing all the time. So because otherwise you have like a full novel with either there's somebody fighting or somebody's arguing. And that gets tiring walls are where the humor comes in. And so it's, you know, like I said, you can find in book one and I'm bringing it out a little bit more, but those where you can tease each other where you show characters are, are truly friends or, you know, things like that. Or like I said, like if you had that romance supply, they fall in love during, you know, during those laws. And that's where, like I said, where's your plot action drops your emotions, emotional plot goes up. Autumn (25m 23s): And so then they both head into the climax and it's that much more explosive because the reader is tied with a character, is bonded with a character over those emotions. And the character has that the stakes are that much higher, you know, that they're emotionally invested in the outcome and maybe they're afraid and they know how much they're risking, where if you're just running Pell, Mell straight into the climax from one hurdle to the next, to the next to the next it's exciting. But I mean, you can only do an adrenaline rush for so long before you just need to catch your breath. And maybe you really won't remember, you know, remember the characters, remember the story as much. Autumn (26m 4s): You'll be like, oh yeah, that was a fun read, but it doesn't resonate with you for a very long time. I think it's really the emotional plot that makes the story resonate and brings the characters to life. And especially if you are a cruel, cruel author and you manipulate the rate reader with an emotional plot that is specifically designed to, to bring out certain emotions at certain points where, you know, you have two characters falling in love, but you know, maybe the reader knows that it's not possible or, you know, something else is going on that they know one of them is, is not going to be true. And that can really start twisting some gears that the reader knows things that the characters don't. Jesper (26m 45s): And they're like, no, I want to tell you don't do it. Don't do it. And when you have a reader shaking the book, wanting to tell characters, don't do something. You got them in your story. You've got a locked. Good. Yeah. And there was, I can't remember if it was one of our Q and a sessions or when, but there was somebody asking me at some point why I hated, or maybe it was one of our interviews, which we mentioned in last week's episode that somebody asked me, why do I, why do you hate the superhero so much? Jesper (27m 24s): I, and all the Marvel stuff. But I think listening to what you just said, that's exactly why I don't like those superheroes stuff, because they feel so superficial that they don't have, at least to me. I mean, I understand some people would disagree and that's okay. Don't, don't, you know, send me 500 emails telling me how, how wrong I am. This is just my opinion. But, but this is just my opinion, but I feel often like the older Marvel superheroes that they don't have that same depth to them. Jesper (28m 7s): You don't get those well laws, I guess, you know, a lot, a lot of the time in those movies where you really get to understand their emotional journey, that they are very caught, bought kind of characters often. I feel, well, I say that. And then of course, when I don't know if I can make it, it's under, it's behind a pay wall. And I didn't feel like spending like 9 99 to watch one movie. I thought it was just like, no. Oh, okay. Okay. Because that's like the perfect example of what I'm not talking about here, because the joker is built on emotional plot. Jesper (28m 52s): It is built on characterization. That is really what it's about. It's not so much about the joker or Superman Batman. I meant it's not so much about that as much more about the couch and what happens to him and his personality and stuff and the eighties. Autumn (29m 10s): It's so good, but that, I guess that's, to some extent, proof of my point, right. That that's what I feel like that's when it gets good. Whereas the other opposite where Superman is just fighting bad guys, or Batman is fighting the Joe Crane, you know, the older movies and stuff like that. It's it's, I don't know to me, it's this way. I think I agree. So it was like Superman loves Lois lane because he does. And it's just, it's like having someone who's evil. Yeah. It's like having a character who's evil for the sake of being evil. It's just, you need to see why, I mean, what does that mean to love somebody? What will he do for her allied or about who he really is? Autumn (29m 50s): Does he ever feel conflicted about that? I mean, those are the questions that I really love. I love stories with a little bit of PTSD. These heroes faced massive battles. They see friends die. I want to see the reaction to that, those emotional fallouts of maybe somebody, you know, getting angry over this or not wanting, not treating themselves well, because they're so upset. That's the reality. I, I see in the world around me and that's what I want to see in the stories. And you don't just do that by like writing and you just throw in a random emotion, you know, readers will call that out. You want to have that layered in lace through the whole story, which means stepping back and looking at your plot, looking at your characters and the character arcs and saying, what is the emotional reaction? Autumn (30m 40s): How is this character progressing on this character arc? What does that look like emotionally at this point in this chapter and making sure that it really is added in there. It's another plot thread to make sure is clear. And I think one of the few posts I've that are out there on this had a good suggestion saying if you're writing a chapter and it feels flat, or you feel like you don't know where it's going step back and look at the emotional plot. Because if you're not, if you're not connecting with your character, it's probably because you don't know where their emotions are and their emotional plot is. And once you figure that out, you will actually get the writing that much faster. It will help you write to figure this out. Jesper (31m 27s): No, that might be true. Yeah. If you want to see something where it is more or less only, yeah. I would say so or driven by the emotional plot or more or less only. Yeah. You can hear that this is English. That's how you say it. Don't, you know, you should go to your native speaker, even you should know that that's how you say it more or less only driven by the emotional flood. But if you ever watched the mythic quest show it's, it's on apple TV, plus I think it's called mythic quest, but that is really like, it is just characters and their emotions basically. Jesper (32m 12s): I mean, of course there is some sort of applauded it's it's about like a gaming company who makes an online game. And then it's basically about the people who work in that company. And it is a, it's a comedy show and it is quite funny, but it's funny because of the characters and their emotions. It's funny. And it is, it is actually really well done. I was very hesitant to what did I, I saw the trailers in the beginning, like many, many, many months ago when I was like, yeah, don't want to, but this is typically me when I see someone that's like, no. And then later on, I give it a try and, well, this is really good. Did the same thing with American gods. I also watched the trailer for it. Jesper (32m 53s): Hadn't felt no. And then I watched it and I loved it, or I, I say, I'm still watching it. I love it. But, so I think if you want to see like a show where it's done really well, and it's easy to consume, it's like 20 minutes episodes or something like that. Yeah. So it's something you can easily consume. It's just a human there's. No, you don't need to think watching it at all. That there's no plot to follow as such. But I would say try to watch that show because it, it really shows you couch your feelings and emotions and how it makes you connect to those characters. I've been watching the good place, which is also very similar where it's, you know, looking at the enterprise. Autumn (33m 37s): It's funny, it's cute. But it's the characters you fall in love with the characters I need. Even with sexify these three young hero wins that you know, how they meet, you know, there's, there's not a ton of action there. There's, it's, she's a game and app developer. Who's just trying to get her degree, despite not knowing things about her life. I mean, yeah, it's a coming of age story, but you get so sucked in because the emotional plot is so well done. They relate these characters. And this is, again, I think it's important in this day and age because we like good characters that have flaws. And we like villains that have good qualities and all of those layers, you can try to force them into a character profile, but by showing them actually manifest through the sh the plot and through the emotional plot, seeing the characters act certain ways, not just be told that it's a good show. Autumn (34m 31s): It's a, not a towel. You develop that that much more and the reader experiences it. And they're going to get that little bit of connection, have those feelings. You're gonna like them when they think, oh, you know, this is a good character, a good person, but they did something wrong and there's going to be fallout from it. No, my gosh, what's that going to be? Or the villain is not a hundred percent evil and there's this other side to him. And do you just wish you'd wake up and see the smell of coffee and see his be a good person and save the world. Because as he's already got the power or the position to do it, he just needs to stop being evil. So those are the stories you really can tell really well with an emotional plot, I'll call back, call back, call back. Jesper (35m 17s): What did we talk about? Just a few episodes. A good look at that again. We've talked about so much. Can we just go one of the worst, top 10 lists? It's just because I want to put you on the spot. W w no, but what was the topic of the episode evil things to do? Your character is one that comes to mind, the worst things to do to characters. We talked about a point of view, and yes, this goes along. And I think there is a very, very strong correlation here, because if you're writing in deep point of view, you are going to get exactly. They go hand in hand, it's taking the deep point of view. Autumn (35m 58s): And if you're struggling with it, this is maybe what you're struggling with is looking at the emotional plot, getting into that character's head, because the deep point of view is also word choice. Like, you know, a sailor using, you know, as Todd, as a rigging line, you know, things like that. They're going to always use words that fit their perspective. They're not going to talk about, you know, garden hose and things like that. If they're a sailor, they don't know anything about garden hose, but they also, this is taking just the emotional side of it. So not worrying so much about the word choice that you would in the deep point of view, but talking about, you know, how are they experiencing this moment? And like I said, and then if you really want to get too technical, figuring out what you want the reader to be thinking, feeling at that moment. Autumn (36m 44s): And that way you can make sure that even though it's a law, you know, there's something in there, the reader is going to be gasping over or so excited. Their heart's going to be fluttering. You know, those are the kind of emotions knowing you want to do that to your reader. You can be a little bit more strategic in making sure the chapter and everything that comes before builds that kind of emotion in your reader. And I really feel like if you get used to writing and deep point of view, a lot of this will come out automatically the emotional plot and the emotional reactions and the local scenes where you get to know, I mean, a lot of that will just come out naturally as you write your first draft. Jesper (37m 33s): And then I think it's to a last degree, I would almost say it's a lot about being very vigilant when you do your editing passes, to make sure that you are not only looking for, you know, of course, the good grammar and all those sorts of things. And then, but, and also finding the right words, but also bringing out those emotional elements and sort of keep asking yourself, am I, am I hitting the emotional, Akio the emotional plot? Am I showing what the character feels about? What happened here? Not, not like, I think I'm not saying overdo it like all the time, but, but at least making sure that maybe, you know, every other chapter so that there is some emotional stuff. Autumn (38m 19s): Well, yeah, I mean, you can almost guarantee that if it's a very action packed chapter, you probably don't need to worry about the emotions. That, that is an action chapter. That's a horrible leave it. The inciting incident. You don't, you have the reaction phase after the inciting incident because you are basically dealing with emotions. But yeah, I think it's, it's something just like when you're looking, if you're doing, especially if you do edit like me and you have those layer edits and you know, you're looking for your senses, you're making sure that the opening and closing hooks are good, look at the emotions. And if it's a chapter that isn't very exciting with action, make sure that there's emotional residence and depth there and, you know, decide how you want your reader to go through the novel, how they want, how you want them to feel. Autumn (39m 5s): And maybe there's a way you can tweak that. I think by taking control of it and looking at it, you will have a much smoother transition and flow through the novel, and you'll make sure that those emotions resonate and you won't forget about them. Like I said, I've reading, I've been reading a couple of working with a couple of really new first time novice authors the last month. And in both of the stories, I had to point out parts where it's like this big thing happened and it undermines everything they expected. And then they just keep going. What happens next? You look at that emotional arc and make sure the character at the very least reacts. And then, you know, once you get a series under your belt, make sure you're trying to figure out how you want the reader to react and see how that goes. Jesper (39m 49s): See if you can work on that a little bit more, often impressed by the fact that you can, you can do several editing passes and you can be so structured and make notes and everything. When I've looked at your script, the file, it's just that it's like night and day. I don't understand how you that's. It that's all you have is a very, I have this idea. I did a medullary right in Nevada, and it really developed the series yet. You should see my tainted Fe it is much more organized and much more clear and clean and clear crisp so I can organize it. Jesper (40m 31s): If you think I'm mad, you should see my husband seriously. He can't find a socks. Okay. Okay. But I think, unless we have more to say on this, I think I can, I can conclude by reading out aloud how you actually ended that excellent patron article, because I think it sums everything up. Nice. Lovely. So yes, let's do that. Yeah. So these are your words being quoted to you. Okay. Yeah, it is. If your story feels, something is missing and doesn't align, look at the emotional plot. Jesper (41m 14s): What is the character feeling? Does it make sense? What emotion are you trying to create in the reader? Are you succeeding? Nope. Somebody has been a genius who wrote that? I don't know who that was, but the author of that article, wasn't you. Okay. So next Monday I have an interview with the extremely successful Jeff Wheeler lined up for you. So you don't want to miss that one. Narrator (41m 54s): If you like what you just heard. There's a few things you can do to support the am writing fantasy podcast. Please tell a fellow author about the show and visit us at apple podcast and leave a rating and review. You can also join Autumn and Jesper on patreon.com/amwritingfantasy. For as little as a dollar a month, yYou'll get awesome rewards and keep the Am Writing Fantasy podcast going. Stay safe out there and see you next Monday.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://brucesbible.website/2021/06/14/book-review-warriors-ransom-by-jeff-wheeler/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bruce-dinsman/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bruce-dinsman/support

Jeff Wheeler took early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies.

We don’t know who needs to hear this but go water your air plans. Also, this is the episode where Valia says “interesting” about a hundred times. Come talk anti-heroes with us! Including books by Suzanne Collins, Jeff Wheeler, Rebecca Shaeffer, Kiersten White, and more! Hosted by Joanna Reeder (@joanna_reeder), Kristin J. Dawson (@kristinimagines), Stacey Trombley (@trombolli), and Valia Lind (@valialind). Webtoon: https://www.webtoons.com/en/thriller/not-even-bones/list?title_no=1756 Bookshop page: https://bookshop.org/lists/ep-20-blue-hands-villains-anti-heroes Artwork by Hanna Sandvig. Music by Stephen Roy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/readingqueens/message

This week's podcast review comes from this blog review of The Void of Muirwood. 

It’s Monday, so you know what that means: it’s time to talk agronomy! On today’s episode of RealAg Radio, you’ll hear: Shawn Conley, soybean and small grain specialist at University of Wisconsin, Madison, on artificial intelligence in soybeans; Dr. Alan Blaylock joins host Shaun Haney for a Nutrien Smart Nutrition product spotlight; Jeff Wheeler, chief... Read More

It’s Monday, so you know what that means: it’s time to talk agronomy! On today’s episode of RealAg Radio, you’ll hear: Shawn Conley, soybean and small grain specialist at University of Wisconsin, Madison, on artificial intelligence in soybeans; Dr. Alan Blaylock joins host Shaun Haney for a Nutrien Smart Nutrition product spotlight; Jeff Wheeler, chief... Read More

Less than 90 minutes north of Seattle, is The Center for Wooden Boat's secondary location, a hidden oasis at Cama Beach State Park. Hear first hand from the family members (Gary and Sandra Worthington) who donated the former 1930's family fishing resort property and the 18 year process of turning it into a state park. Additional guest speaker, Jeff Wheeler from Washington State Parks shares the importance of how CWB has created a unique experience as an enduring partner and continuing to honor the native cultural history. A copy of Gary Worthington's book about the detailed history of Cama Beach State Park can be purchased at the Cama Beach State Park Gift Shop! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cwbheritage/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://brucesbible.website/2021/04/25/book-review-silverkin-by-jeff-wheeler/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bruce-dinsman/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bruce-dinsman/support

The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today's guest is Jeff Wheeler with Plant Response

Chatting With Sherri welcomes back author Wulf Moon! Wulf Moon wrote his first science fiction story at fifteen. It won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the same contest that first discovered Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Truman Capote, Peter S. Beagle, and a host of iconic names in the arts. It became his first professional sale in Science World. Since then Moon has won over forty writing awards, and thirty in public speaking. These include: Star Trek Strange New Worlds Contest; Critters Readers' Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story of 2018, 2019, 2020; Best Nonfiction Article of 2019, Best Author of 2019, 2020; Best Writers' Workshop of 2019, 2020; and the Writers of the Future Contest, Vol. 35. His stories have appeared in numerous publications including Writers of the Future, Deep Magic, Future Science Fiction Digest, Best of Third Flatiron, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2. Moon is also a professional voice-over actor and has produced works for Hugo Award winners and bestselling authors like Mike Resnick, Jeff Wheeler, and Will McInstosh. Moon is podcast director at Future Science Fiction Digest. Wulf Moon's award-winning SUPER SECRETS Writing Resource and Workshops have been attributed by many aspiring writers as the secret to their success in obtaining their first professional sales. Two of his books on writing will be published by Mark Leslie of Stark Publishing Solutions in the fall of 2021. Want in on the Secrets? He invites you to join the Wulf Pack at www.driftweave.com    

Tonight we’re chatting with Emily B Martin, author of Floodpath, brand new from HarperVoyager.Martin’s eco-fantasy (cli-fi) novels, which are accessible to adult and YA readers alike, are “an exciting take on the fantasy genre with its mix of Wild West and a tempered glass court” (-Jeff Wheeler.) In FLOODPATH, Martin’s worldbuilding expands to incorporate new characters, new countries, and new intrigue. The epic fantasy adventure begun in Sunshield races to its thrilling conclusion in FLOODPATH, an imaginative finale in which the fate of four extraordinary young people—and their nations—will be decided.

Tonight we’re chatting with Emily B Martin, author of Floodpath, brand new from HarperVoyager.Martin’s eco-fantasy (cli-fi) novels, which are accessible to adult and YA readers alike, are “an exciting take on the fantasy genre with its mix of Wild West and a tempered glass court” (-Jeff Wheeler.) In FLOODPATH, Martin’s worldbuilding expands to incorporate new characters, new countries, and new intrigue. The epic fantasy adventure begun in Sunshield races to its thrilling conclusion in FLOODPATH, an imaginative finale in which the fate of four extraordinary young people—and their nations—will be decided.

Today's podcast comes from this blog review of The Banished of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler. 

Author Jeff Wheeler chats with JeanBookNerd’s Erik about his latest book, KNIGHT'S RANSOM.JEFF WHEELERAuthorWebsite: https://jeff-wheeler.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/muirwoodwheelerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/muirwoodwheelerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/muirwoodwheeler/=====================================KNIGHT'S RANSOMWebsite: https://jeff-wheeler.com/book/knights-ransom/Amazon: https://amzn.to/30i9T1E======================================To learn more about the JeanBookNerd Storytellers BOXhttp://www.jeanbooknerdstorytellersbox.comExclusive author Interviews, reviews, and contests from JeanBookNerdhttp://www.jeanbooknerd.comJeanBookNerd HostErik Werlin (@erikwerlin)

This podcast comes form this blog review, Broken Veil by Jeff Wheeler. 

Today's podcast comes from this blog review of Prism Cloud by Jeff Wheeler. 

This week's podcast review comes from this blog review of Iron Garland. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of Storm Glass, by Jeff Wheeler. 

Not everyone takes a traditional path into financial advising. When building your team, how can you make sure you're finding the best people to meet your firm’s needs? We talk with Jeff Wheeler of The Wealth Collaborative in Westlake Village, California, about how his prior career as a lawyer has shaped his perspective as an RIA. Then, Kate Healy of TD Ameritrade Institutional joins to share tips for how RIAs can make sure they are looking beyond their typical networks to hire diverse talent for their firms.  At an RIA firm, your people are your most important assets. Download our guide for insights into your next hiring decision here.  Guests: Jeff Wheeler, The Wealth Collaborative Kate Healy, TD Ameritrade  

From East Liverpool, Ohio, Jeff was deeply impacted by Gideon Emery’s performance as Balthier in Final Fantasy XII. From there, he’d grow his interest and his desire to become a voice actor, and progress his career forward. Jeff Wheeler: https://jeffwheelerva.crd.co

This week's podcast review is from this blog post, The Blight of Muirwood. 

In this episode we talk with Shaman Jeff Wheeler about stones and how you can use them to enhance your life, spirit and health. We talk about basic stones and what to do with them. Contact Jeff at https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageMy... or call (941) 744-2424. Their website is www.thevillagemystic.com or visit 1017 12th Ave W. Bradenton, Florida 34205 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/suzanne576/support

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of "The Forsaken Throne", book 6 in the Kingfountain Series. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review, The Silent Shield by Jeff Wheeler.

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of The Hollow Crown. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of The King's Traitor. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog review of The Thief's Daughter. 

Today's podcast review comes from this blog post, The Queen's Poisoner. 

Fantasy author Jeff Wheeler provides an insightful look into what it was like in the trenches of self-publishing in the pre-Kindle era.

--Blurb #1: Author: Andy Peloquin Title: Trial of Stone: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Heirs of Destiny Book 1) A kingdom of death. A war for power and profit. Young heroes caught in the crossfire.   Kodyn expected hardships along his journey to return a kidnapped girl to her father.  Yet harsh deserts and cutthroat bandits prove far less lethal than the foes that await him in Shalandra, the City of the Dead.   In the shadows of golden spires carved from mountain stone, currents of corruption and vice run deep. Priests of the god of death rule with an iron fist, imposing a rigid caste system that elevates some to a life of privilege and condemns others to miserable squalor.   Together with Aisha, a fierce warrior from the north with the mystical ability to speak to the dead, Kodyn must survive the cesspool of high society deceit and betrayal.   Polite smiles hide sharp knives. Killers, criminals, and bloodthirsty cultists lurk around every corner. Can these youths overcome impossible odds to save the realm?   Click now if you love action, intrigue, and heroic deeds that will set your heart racing! For fans of A.C. Cobble, Jeff Wheeler, and Robin Hobb, Heirs of Destiny is a thrill ride on epic fantasy’s darker side.   "If you like intricate world-building, vivid descriptions that transport you to another place, and heart-pounding, visceral fight scenes, then Heirs of Destiny is your book!" – A.C. Cobble, author of Benjamin Ashwood   "A masterfully woven story with wonderfully imagined characters you will not soon forget!" -- Stevie Collier, Author of The Dark Assassin Trilogy   In the Heirs of Destiny series: Trial of Stone (Book 1) – Jan 22, 2019 Crucible of Fortune (Book 2) –Feb 5, 2019 Storm of Chaos (Book 3) – Feb 19, 2019 Secrets of Blood (Book 4) – Mar 19, 2019 Ascension of Death (Book 5) – Apr 16, 2019 AND BONUS: The Renegade Apprentice (Book 6) May 14

Hello and welcome to my Author Diary for the week ending May 12, 2019. May 12 is my birthday. So happy birthday to me. I received a new guitar amp from my wife, so I’ll be annoying my neighbours/family with clumsy renditions of Queens of the Stone Age songs. I had a mixed bag of a week. It was a bank holiday on Monday so that meant one less writing day and then on Tuesday and Wednesday I was feeling pretty rough. I’m getting over what was basically a chest infection, so that was fun and exciting.   Writing I managed to complete the first draft of Wheel of Fortune, which is book ten of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I thought it was high time I named a book after one of my favourite games shows of the 90s—look out for my future books, Catchphrase and Bullseye! Book eleven is going to be the end of the second main arc. There’s a lot of things coming together, a lot of revelations and a big game-changer at the end. It’s going to be a lot of fun to write. Book eight, Strength, comes out tomorrow, along with the boxset of episodes five to eight. Click HERE to order.   Pikachuuuuu!  On Friday, I went to see Detective Pikachu with my son and wife. It was a fun film filled with jokes that will no doubt wash over kids’ heads. It’s  one of those films that is a bit like Toy Story where it works for children of all ages.   Books I finished reading The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler. I very much enjoyed that and look forward to reading more in the series. I also started re-reading Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, which is the May read in The Arcane Book Club Facebook group.   More places to consume my fiction My steampunk story Lord Sidebottom and the Awesome Airship Mystery was reprinted on the Science Fantasy Hub and it will be featured on next week’s Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast as an audio story, so do check that out. Also, my first novel Wizard of the Wasteland is only 99c/99p at the moment, so grab yourself a copy HERE.  

Hello, welcome to my author newsletter for the week ending May 5, 2019. I’ve had a very productive week. I managed to finish my first draft of The Hermit, episode nine of The Ravenglass Chronicles. I'm really pleased with how that went. I think it answers a few questions and raise more. I also finished writing the new scenes for the third Black Death novel. This was fast-paced, with a lot of drama and action. I really enjoyed getting to write a redemption story. As with all my first drafts, it’s in no fit state to read, but the story is there, and I can no build on the bones to make it palatable for human consumption.   To get me in the right frame of mind of writing in a thriller style, I read Dan Brown’s novel Angels and Demons. The pacing and action was excellent, but the story was preposterous. There more fantastical things going on than in my Ravenglass Chronicles, and my series features magic blades, talking wyverns, sentient ships, and prescient dreams. That being said, it was a fun, quick read.   I’ve also been reading The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler—now this is more to my taste! I’ve been recommended this book several times by readers who said it reminds them of my fantasy stuff. I can see where the comparisons are in terms of the writing style and the minimal level of description. It’s primarily about the characters and story, and doesn’t get bogged down in too much world-building.    I watched the latest episode of Game of Thrones this week (I use the word ‘watch’ very loosely as I’m convinced most of this episode was filmed with the lens cap left on). This was a tense episode with a lot to keep track of—most of all the deaths. Shit is really starting to hit the fan. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. I cannot wait to see where this goes!   If you haven't done so already, please do subscribe to the Sci-Fi Roundtable podcast. Last week we had a interview with Stephanie Barr, who is an author and rocket scientist. We talked about troubleshooting in space as well as cats and dragons, so that was a lot of fun. Over the next month, we’ve got episodes about steampunk, genetically modified humans, and engineering after the apocalypse. So, please do check those out.   Until next time, cheerio.   Jon

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for $100 credit Triplebyte CacheFly Episode Summary In this episode of Views on Vue, the panelists chat about accessibility with Maria Lamardo, a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst currently working as a Corporate Systems Engineer at Nutanix. Maria is also the founder of Developers at RTP and is the Vue Vixens' Chapter Leader. She has extensive experience with people with learning disabilities. For Maria, accessibility means making the web available to everyone regardless of their location and their disabilities. These disabilities could be permanent or temporary and can be auditory, visual and cognitive in nature. One of the biggest challenges in developing accessible apps is making the business case to management. Maria shares tips on how to approach new projects with accessibility in mind from the start. Elements of Vue that help with accessibility like the vue-announcer plugin and Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes are briefly discussed. Beyond accessibility, Maria shares her journey of how she transitioned to become a web developer. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialamardo https://github.com/mlama007 https://www.meetup.com/tr-TR/Developers-RTP https://vuevixens.org/team https://www.npmjs.com/package/vue-announcer Picks Erik Hanchett: https://gridsome.org/ Program With Erik https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones Chris Fritz: Sex Education Good Place https://purple.com/seatcushions Charles Max Wood: https://www.audible.com/ Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler Turmeric Bio Shots Maria Lamardo: https://www.vuemastery.com/ Xbox Adaptive Controller

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for $100 credit Triplebyte CacheFly Episode Summary In this episode of Views on Vue, the panelists chat about accessibility with Maria Lamardo, a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst currently working as a Corporate Systems Engineer at Nutanix. Maria is also the founder of Developers at RTP and is the Vue Vixens' Chapter Leader. She has extensive experience with people with learning disabilities. For Maria, accessibility means making the web available to everyone regardless of their location and their disabilities. These disabilities could be permanent or temporary and can be auditory, visual and cognitive in nature. One of the biggest challenges in developing accessible apps is making the business case to management. Maria shares tips on how to approach new projects with accessibility in mind from the start. Elements of Vue that help with accessibility like the vue-announcer plugin and Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes are briefly discussed. Beyond accessibility, Maria shares her journey of how she transitioned to become a web developer. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialamardo https://github.com/mlama007 https://www.meetup.com/tr-TR/Developers-RTP https://vuevixens.org/team https://www.npmjs.com/package/vue-announcer Picks Erik Hanchett: https://gridsome.org/ Program With Erik https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones Chris Fritz: Sex Education Good Place https://purple.com/seatcushions Charles Max Wood: https://www.audible.com/ Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler Turmeric Bio Shots Maria Lamardo: https://www.vuemastery.com/ Xbox Adaptive Controller

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Clubhouse CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My JavaScript Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/  Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Clubhouse CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My JavaScript Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/  Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Clubhouse CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My JavaScript Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/  Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Triplebyte offers a $1000 signing bonus CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My Angular Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/    Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler  

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Triplebyte offers a $1000 signing bonus CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My Angular Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/    Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler  

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan Triplebyte offers a $1000 signing bonus CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Special Guest: Miško Hevery Episode Summary In this episode of My Angular Story, Charles hosts Miško Hevery, creator of Angular and Senior Computer Scientist at Google. Miško was introduced to computers when his father brought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home for them to play with. When they moved to the United States from Czech Republic, Miško attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Computer Engineering. After working for companies such as Adobe, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Xerox, he joined Google where created the Angular framework. For more on the story of how Miško created AngularJS, listen to the ‘Birth of Angular’ episode on the Adventures in Angular podcast here. Miško is currently working on Angular Ivy at Google and plans to restart a blog in the future. Links Adventures in Angular: The Birth of Angular JavaScript Jabber: Dependency Injection in JavaScript with Vojta Jína & Misko Hevery Miško's Twitter Miško's GitHub Miško's Medium Miško's LinkedIn How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk https://devchat.tv/my-angular-story/    Picks Miško Hevery: Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa Charles Max Wood: The Kingfountain Series by Jeff Wheeler  

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” to get 2 months free on Sentry small plan TripleByte offers a $1000 signing bonus CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Guest: Andrew Mason Summary Charles Max Wood introduces the newest panelist for Ruby Rogues, Andrew Mason. Andrew shares his background and how got into computer programming. Andrew and Charles share their stories of first using ruby and the sense of wonder they felt. Andrew talks about what he has done in Ruby and shares his excitement to learn while on Ruby Rogues. Links https://github.com/andrewmcodes https://twitter.com/andrewmcodes https://www.andrewmason.me/ https://devchat.tv/ruby-rogues/ Picks Andrew Mason: https://undraw.co/ Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Charles Max Wood: Modern medicine & antibiotics Inflatable donut pillows https://purple.com/seatcushions The Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler The Covenant of Muirwood Series by Jeff Wheeler Pomodoro Timer  

Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” to get 2 months free on Sentry small plan TripleByte offers a $1000 signing bonus CacheFly Host: Charles Max Wood Guest: Andrew Mason Summary Charles Max Wood introduces the newest panelist for Ruby Rogues, Andrew Mason. Andrew shares his background and how got into computer programming. Andrew and Charles share their stories of first using ruby and the sense of wonder they felt. Andrew talks about what he has done in Ruby and shares his excitement to learn while on Ruby Rogues. Links https://github.com/andrewmcodes https://twitter.com/andrewmcodes https://www.andrewmason.me/ https://devchat.tv/ruby-rogues/ Picks Andrew Mason: https://undraw.co/ Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Charles Max Wood: Modern medicine & antibiotics Inflatable donut pillows https://purple.com/seatcushions The Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler The Covenant of Muirwood Series by Jeff Wheeler Pomodoro Timer  

I mostly talk about books in this post. You do hear some Metal in the background, but if you don't like that genre just don't listen. A good bit of the post is about the awesomeness known as Jeff Wheeler. I also talk about the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny.

In today's Vandercast, William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, talks with Jeff Wheeler, Lead Pastor at Central Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. William and Jeff discuss discerning God's call to minister to people, wherever and whenever that may be. Tweet your takeaways using the hashtag #Vandercast, and join our Facebook group for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and giveaways. www.facebook.com/groups/vandercast/

Jeff Wheeler (https://amzn.to/2uvzrLt) is the author of more that 20 novels, including the Legends of Muirwood Trilogy, the Whispers from Mirrowen Trilogy, and the Landmoor Series. His most recent books are the Kingfountain Series.

This week, hit fantasy author Jeff Wheeler joins the show to talk about writing, being published by an Amazon imprint, world building, and just about everything in between. To learn more about Jeff visit his site: http://www.jeff-wheeler.com/