In episode 2, 2026, hosts, Selina and Jarryd talk traditional publishing with Dianna Evans of Bushland Castle Productions.

We cover practicing gratitude, feeding or fouling our creativity, active mindfulness, creating a publishing company, and supporting writers and their stories.

We get into ways to balance creativity and personal life, the influence of mindfulness on creativity, the connection to childlike wonder and inspiration, and our favourite genres and reading habits.

We share share insights on self-care, mindfulness, and the impact of childhood influences on our creative work, researching book covers for self-publication, the challenges of writing and coaching, and the details of a speculative fiction novella series due for release later in 2026.

Takeaways

• Practicing gratitude
• Feeding or fouling
• Active mindfulness
• Creating a publishing company
• Supporting writers and their stories Self-care and balance in creative work
• Influence of mindfulness on creativity Diverse Reading Preferences
• Challenges of Writing and Coaching
• Otherworldly Emergence Speculative Fiction Novella Series from Bushland Castle Productions

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
• 34:12 Active Mindfulness
• 40:29 Creating a Publishing Company
• 49:01 Supporting Writers and Their Stories
• 55:09 Influence of Mindfulness on Creativity
• 01:04:15 Childlike Wonder and Inspiration
• 01:14:15 Favorite Genre and Reading Habits
• 01:33:13 Challenges of Writing and Coaching
• 01:53:46 Speculative Fiction Novella Series

In episode 1 of A Sense of Wonder, hosts Selina and Jarryd explore the importance of creativity, mental health, and the writing process.

They discuss gratitude, the role of nostalgia in emotional resilience, and the intricacies of writing coaching. The episode emphasises the significance of self-care for creatives and the responsibility authors have in representing their genres authentically.

Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, the hosts aim to inspire listeners to reconnect with their sense of wonder and creativity.

In this engaging conversation, Selina and Jarryd explore the intricacies of writing across various genres, the importance of understanding genre expectations, particularly in romance and horror.

They discuss the elements that make horror effective, the intersection of comedy and horror, and the influence of acting on writing.

The conversation also goes down some unexpected paths and into the significance of emotional memory in character development, the role of dialogue, and the benefits of feedback in the writing process.

Additionally, they touch on the importance of mental health in character portrayal and the creative use of writing prompts to overcome writer's block.

Takeaways

• Gratitude - what are you grateful for?
• Tools of the Trade Research and accuracy are crucial in writing to ensure the representation of characters, settings, and experiences.
• Sensitivity readers play a vital role in providing feedback and ensuring cultural and experiential accuracy in writing. Acting classes can benefit writers
• Emotional memory work can deepen character development

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to A Sense of Wonder Podcast

00:29 Practicing Gratitude: Finding Joy in Difficult Times

01:59 Genres and Author Responsibilities

45:59 Exploring Paranormal and Romance Genres

48:53 The Impact of Acting on Writing

51:44 The Art of Understanding Characters

54:51 Emotional Memory in Writing

57:11 The Importance of Dialogue

58:57 Becoming a Fiction Book Coach

01:03:51 The Influence of Mental Health on Writing

01:08:43 Exploring Writing Prompts