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Tim Marquitz - Editorial Dark Lord (trans: Editor-in-Chief) at Ragnarok Publications and pen-wielder on many tales grim and heroic (including the Demon Squad Series, The Blood War Trilogy and more, returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to workshop - what else - a grimdark tale of corrupted power and the horrific price that comes with it.

The tale of a doomed king and his wretched destiny is offered up by Rob Matheny, curator and evil genius at the Grimdark Fiction Readers & Writers Blog, and is a first short story to ever be workshopped at the Roundtable. With my co-host Moses Siregar (author of “The Black God’s War“) with me, we dive in to the shadowy world of awakened darkness and its appetite for destruction with both hands. In the end, the darkness is pushed aside by the pure auric radiance of Literary Gold!

This week we are delighted to welcome Tim Marquitz - Editor in Chief and Co-Publisher at Ragnarok Publications as well as author of grim and fantastical tales - to the Big Chair at the Roundtable. Tim's experience runs the gambit from crafting novels (like the Demon Squad Series, The Blood War Trilogy and more) and short fiction (appearing in anthologies like "Neverland's Library" along side Mark Lawrence, Jeff Salyards, and Tad Williams) to editing superb anthologies (like "Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters" and "Fading Light") to co-authoring the Dead West series with Joe Martin and Kenny Soward.

With Moses Siregar (author of "The Black God's War") joining me on the mic, we indulge in 20(ish) minutes of writerly inquiry with Tim, exploring the key aspects of urban fantasy, where the line is draw between editor and story, and the qualities that define a "great story" for Tim. A veritable feast of writerly victuals awaits at the Roundtable Buffet!

Author and writerly guru, Delilah S. Dawson - author of the Blud Series, featuring "Wicked as They Come", "Wicked as She Wants", and "Wicked After Midnight", and her latest work, a YA tale titled "Servants of the Storm", as well as being the instructor for a fabulous Worldbuilding Workshop at LitReactor (firing up Sept 10), returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to lend her writerly mojo to our brainstorming efforts.

My splendid co-host, Starla Huchton, and I are joined by creageous Guest Writer Karey Bunch who brings a tale of monsters hiding in plain sight, a monster squad assigned to dealing with them, and a young woman who gets swept up in all the adventure. The story sparks a froth of discussion as we weave our way through a catacomb of possibilities, unearthing some glittering fragments of Literary Gold along the way.

To have Delilah S. Dawson join us at the virtual Table is the podcast equivalent of plummeting down a water slide riding an alpaca (without the bleating and flailing of hooves). Author of deliciously wicked tales for adults (including the Blud Series, featuring Wicked as They Come, Wicked as She Wants, and Wicked After Midnight) and honest no-punches-pulled tales for teens (like Servants of the Storm), Delilah is blazing her own path through the literary world. With Guest Co-Host Starla Huchton at my side, we foray into a remarkable 20(ish) minutes discussing the power of music as a writing tool, insights into the art of worldbuilding, and how to craft a good sex scene. Hitch up your knickers, kids... this is quite a ride!

Hugo Award Winner Kameron Hurley - wordsmith of the epic Bel Dame Apocrypha series (featuring "God's War", "Infidel", and "Rapture") and the eagerly anticipated "Mirror Empire" (on shelves Aug 26) - returns to the Big Chair, wielding her potent storytelling mojo in the arena of the story brainstorm.

The catalyst for our workshopping-fu is provided by our Guest Writer, Shiri Sondheimer, who brings an epic scifi version of the Arthurian tales to the Table. With such a delightful weave of threads to draw upon, the ensemble entangles itself into the tale, emerging with a rich tapestry woven with Literary Gold.

Kameron Hurely is a singular voice in the speculative fiction continuum. Not only is she the author of the Bel Dame Apocrypha (comprised of "God's War", "Infidel", and "Rapture") and the upcoming "Mirror Empire" (hitting shelves August 26), she is also a prodigious blogger, infusing the world with her startling and articulate insights. Brion and I were delighted to have this decorated veteran from the spec fic trenches take the Big Chair at the Table and we spend 20(ish) minutes discussing Wonder Woman on a kangaroo, the responsibility of writers to "own" their words, the idea of making authentic fantasy, and so much more. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll walk away with an armload of writerly goodness

Cat Rambo, weaver of hundreds of lush story tapestries, returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to join co-host Moses Siregar ("Black God's War", and the 'Adventures in SciFi Publishing' and 'Hide and Create' podcasts) and myself, lending her storytelling mojo in the time-honored tradition of a good frothing brainstorm.

Seeding the thunder clouds of awesomeness is our Guest Writer, August Grappin. Gus brings a most intriguing coming-of-age tale fraught with oracles, fate, and destinies. As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear it's OUR fate to have a rollicking good time as we brainstorm our way through the tale, unearthing a veritable cornucopia of Literary Gold

We kick off the first episode of the newly reawakened RTP by enjoying 20(ish) Minutes With Cat Rambo. Cat is the whole literary package - author, editor, educator, award-winner, and VP of the mighty SFWA - and it was a pleasure to explore her craft with her. With Moses Siregar (author of "Black God's War") as my guest co-host and wingman, we delve into the idea of collaborating with yourself, the joys and perils of worldbuilding, and so much more!

Joe McKinney returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to lend his superb storytelling mojo in workshopping a tale of supernatural and psychological horror (one of his many fortes). The tale is presented by the mighty Rob Smales (who has crafted more than a few tales of terror in his time). Rob's tale of childhood terror maturing into a horrifying adult nightmare sends us all digging in the grave dirt in search of blood-stained Literary Gold!

Joe McKinney knows zombies. His Dead World series (including "Flesh Eaters" which won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel of 2011) has established Joe as one of the kings of Undead Fiction. But that's not the end of his literary exploits... he's written post-apocalyptic scifi, crime thrillers (he IS a police officer in San Antonio after all), and edited numerous works as well. Joe's the whole package and Brion and I have a blast spending 20-ish minutes discussing the nature of horror literature, the keys to writing a chilling tale, zombie pride, and so much more.