Margaret Dunlap and Brian Francis Slattery are each astonishing storytellers in their own right. But TOGETHER, they comprise two-fifths of the writing team for Serial Box Publishing's exceptional series "Bookburners"! With Season FOUR (!!!) of the series releasing tomorrow (June 13), we consider ourselves fortunate indeed to have these two literati join us in the APN virtual studios.

Joined by APN colleague and co-host, Marie Bilodeau, we indulge in 20(esque) minutes of writerly discourse with Margaret and Brian, exploring their unique contributions to the series, the allure of collaborative shared world writing, war stories from the collaborative trenches, and more!

Michael R. Underwood - a veteran of the APN and Literary Alchemist behind the Geekomancy and Genrenauts series, as well as the immanent "Born to the Blade" serialization from Serial Box Publishing - returns to the Big Chair at the APN to brainstorm a tale of grief, art, and magic.

The tale is offered up by creageous Guest Writer Val Griswold-Ford, the story of a grieving woman who discovers her art is able to create true magic in the world. With Marie Bilodeau as co-host, together we through some jet fuel into the Literary Alchemy Machine and crank it up to 11!

Michael R. Underwood is no stranger to the APN Virtual Studios, but every time he makes the scene, our awareness of the storyteller's craft is always expanded. The alchemy of his joyful passion mingled with his extensive experience ensures that any conversation with him will be compelling (and a great deal of fun).

Joined by APN colleague and co-host, Marie Bilodeaux, we indulge in (way more than) 20 minutes of writerly discourse exploring Michael's astonishing new project, the "Born to the Blade" story world serialized by Serial Box... how it began, the nuances of the collaboration between him and his co-writers, the notion of "post-cynical optimism", and more! It's a conversation not to be missed, so hit that PLAY button!

Media Commentator, Essayist, and Man of Words Alasdair Stuart returns to the Brainstorming Arena to workshop a steampunk story of secret societies, dark betrayal, and coming to grips with loss.

The tale is offered up by creageous Guest Writer Paul K. Ellis, a tale vengeance and intrigue set against the backdrop of a Steampunk world. John Adamus rocks the co-host chair and together we fire up the Literary Alchemy Machine and conjure up some Literary Gold!

Alasdair Stuart - media connoisseur, game designer, and mastermind of the Escape Artists podcasts - explores how gender informs horror narratives, advocacy of inclusive strategies for writers and authors, how to tell a story (or run a game, in this case) in a deeply established media property, and more (with co-host John Adamus)

Robyn Bennis - author of "The Guns Above" and the soon to be released "By Fire Above" – returns to the Big Chair in the APN virtual studios to workshop a tale of future steampunk, alien invasion, the fate of a planet.

The tale is offered up by creageous Guest Writer, Christopher Michael, a tale of a loyal naval officer - struggling to overcome the shadows of her parents' deeds- who is drawn into a conspiracy of global (and possibly galactic) consequences.

 

Marie Bilodeau rocks the co-host chair once again and together we fire up the aethyr engines, hoist the mainsail and set course for LITERARY GOLD!

Robyn Bennis Robyn Bennis - author of "The Guns Above" and the soon to be released "By Fire Above" - joins the APN crew to wax rhapsodic on organizing book research, creating a "writing space", crafting an effective conflict character, and more!

Seanan McGuire - award-winning author, graphic novelist, podcaster, and storytelling badass - returns to the Big Chair in the APN virtual studios (along with co-host Michael R. Underwood) to workshop a tale of superheroes, romance, and the dark side of adulation offered up by creageous Guest Writer Arthur De Leon.

Seanan McGuire - award-winning author, graphic novelist, podcaster, and storytelling badass - returns to the APN after five years. In the intervening time, her commitment to her craft has only strengthened and her facility with narrative, character, and story development remains a benchmark for many writers.

Joined by co-host and colleague, Michael R. Underwood, we engage Seanan in 20-ish minutes of writerly discourse, delving into discovering YOUR story, working on multiple projects at the same time, sustaining your creative energy, violence equating to drama in contemporary narratives, and more.

Kij Johnson - author of The Fox Woman, The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, The Riverbank, and more - returns to the Big Chair in the APN virtual studios to apply her brainstorming fu to a tale of rival agents in a metropolis of the dark future.

The tale is offered up by Guest Writer Richard Webb, a story that tests the honor among thieves when a simple data extraction goes grimly sideways. Joined once again by APN veteran and literary swiss army knife  Alasdair Stuart, we "Tony Stark" Richard's tale, exploding it into cool rotating holograms of story, running a file search for Literary Gold. SPOILERS... we find a BUNCH of it! :D (and if you missed it, you gotta check out Kij's INSIGHTS episode!)