What do shoes, cephalopods, and tea have in common? They’re all some of today’s guest’s favorite things. We’re pleased to introduce the one and only Gail Carriger: multiple NYT bestselling author of urban fantasy, steampunk, supernatural, science fiction, and non-fiction. Gail’s background as an archaeologist has helped shape her worldbuilding, and her insights to crafting character and setting are uniquely insightful.

How do you write a hug, make readers laugh, and keep them tearing through the pages? What makes a long-running joke or a character feel like your best friend? Get ready to take notes as Gail’s gives us tips and tales ranging from witty banter in fiction, Firefly stories, and author business advice.

In Part One, We Discuss: 

• Objects in fiction: opportunities and implications for using the inanimate in both world and character development  

Resources and Guest Links: 

• • Gail’s upcoming events: https://gailcarriger.com/upcoming-events/ 

• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree: https://www.travisbaldree.com/books

• Becky Chambers books: https://www.otherscribbles.com/#/thelongway/ 

Gail was such a phenomenal guest! We’re so grateful she gave us her time for this awesome interview. We had so much fun recording, and we hope you got as much out of this episode as we did. 

Host Links: 

• H.Y. Gregor: https://hygregor.com/

Credits: (all assets licensed through the sites listed)

• Intro: Music- Cinematic Epic Trailer by PaulYudin on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user- kazim hussian; from pixabay users-davidfoxx, DavidGallie, olenchic, stefaniejockschat, AiVreaSaStii, RuneSnow, duyen-nguyen, EnchantedStudios, 

• Outro: Music- Good Night by FASSounds on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user-onlydesignz; from pixabay users-olenchic, Placidplace, Evgeniy_Z, Dantegrafico, Shayea_Kim

A true account of the journey. You might find it takes a long time to get where you're going, and there are no promises you'll ever arrive. I wish I could say otherwise…

Host James Fox is joined by guests HY Gregor and Shady (David) for an engaging discussion on the significance of in-person interactions and community-building within the writing and publishing industry. They delve into the benefits of attending conferences, networking events, and conventions, emphasizing how these face-to-face opportunities can foster professional relationships and provide essential support for both extroverts and introverts. The episode also highlights the collaborative and supportive nature of writing communities, sharing personal anecdotes and experiences to underline the importance of establishing strong connections. Additionally, they touch upon the challenges of self-publishing, the role of social media, and the value of constructive feedback from peers. With insights on balancing the demands of writing and marketing, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide to leveraging community and in-person connections for career growth and development in the writing world.

In this episode of Romancing Like Swift, hosts Morgana Bevan and Emma-Lee Jane sit down with guest Michael Evans to explore the art of building strong author communities by drawing inspiration from Taylor Swift's fan engagement strategies. They analyze Taylor Swift’s authenticity and how she connects with her fans through personal interactions, exclusive content, and social media. Michael shares actionable insights for authors on fostering similar connections with their readers through methods like offering early access, polls, and bonus content.

The conversation also delves into the practicalities of subscription models for authors. Morgana, Emily, and Michael discuss various types of subscription tiers, from early access and exclusive content to merchandise, and how to balance free and paid offerings to serve both the author's financial goals and their fanbase. The episode emphasizes the importance of evolving and relaunching subscription content to keep fans engaged over time. They also highlight the significance of creating a genuine sense of community and deepening fan engagement through personal interactions and long-term relationship building.

Key Takeaways:

• Taylor Swift’s community-building success comes from her authenticity and genuine connection with fans.

Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 – Introduction to Romancing Like Swift Podcast

01:01:01 – Final Thoughts and Taylor Swift

Join your Worlds co-hosts as we recap the first ten episodes of Worlds Asunder! We’ll go over our incredible guests, the things we’ve learned, and the most important tidbits we hope our listeners take away from the great insights we’ve received over the last ten weeks. We’ll also give a sneak peek at future episodes and interviews. 

Like the show? Have a topic or guest suggestion? Find us through our websites (or on Facebook) and let us know! Like, comment, subscribe wherever you listen or watch! We’ve had a blast recording these interviews and hope you’ll continue to join us in breaking down worlds to give you the bricks to build your own.

Resources and Guest Links: 

• Chris Kennedy: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/

• Katie Cross: https://katiecrossbooks.com/

Host Links: 

• H.Y. Gregor: https://hygregor.com/

Credits: (all assets licensed through the sites listed)

• Intro: Music- Cinematic Epic Trailer by PaulYudin on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user- kazim hussian; from pixabay users-davidfoxx, DavidGallie, olenchic, stefaniejockschat, AiVreaSaStii, RuneSnow, duyen-nguyen, EnchantedStudios, 

• Outro: Music- Good Night by FASSounds on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user-onlydesignz; from pixabay users-olenchic, Placidplace, Evgeniy_Z, Dantegrafico, Shayea_Kim,

Engages in an insightful conversation with guest Tyrone Jackson, an accomplished indie children's book author specializing in financial literacy. The episode discusses how Tyrone leveraged social media, particularly Instagram, to grow his following from 5,000 to 200,000 and achieve substantial book sales independently. Tyrone shares practical advice on content creation, engaging with followers, and educating children about financial literacy. The episode also touches on overcoming negative perceptions, the impact of social media on modern marketing, and balancing personal authenticity with promotional efforts. Throughout the discussion, Tyrone emphasizes the importance of providing value, fostering community, and maintaining persistence in the face of challenges.

In this episode of Author Intelligence, explore various aspects of writing and publishing with AI assistance. We'll address the lack of beginner resources in the FFA (Future Fiction Academy) realm and endors several YouTube channels dedicated to writing and AI, such as those by Ekelo Harrods, Miragold, and several others. We'll also add insights into these channels and individuals, while emphasizing the importance of including more women in the AI writing space.

In this episode of Romancing Like Swift, hosts Morgana Bevan and Emily McKay dive deep into the concept of circular storytelling, a technique that seeds an element at the beginning of a story and revisits it at the end to represent a character’s emotional journey. They explore how Taylor Swift masterfully employs this technique in her songs, using examples like the iconic scarf in "All Too Well" and the house in "The Last Great American Dynasty."

Morgana and Emily discuss how circular storytelling can be a powerful tool for authors, especially in romance novels, to create emotional resonance and give readers a sense of satisfaction and cleverness. They also share tips for writers on how to effectively integrate circular elements in their stories, emphasizing the importance of trusting the story’s natural flow, layering key elements throughout the narrative, and introducing settings through a character’s perspective.

Throughout the episode, they draw parallels between Swift’s storytelling methods and other literary works, such as Lord of the Rings, and highlight how circular storytelling is also used in comedy and sitcoms. The conversation is enriched with insights from Morgana and Emily’s personal writing experiences, offering listeners practical advice on how to enhance their own storytelling techniques.

Key Takeaways:

• Circular storytelling involves planting a significant detail at the story’s beginning that is revisited at the end, often mirroring the character’s emotional journey.

Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 – Introduction to Romancing Like Swift

39:15 – What We're Listening To

Whether you love it or you hate it, sometimes writing just requires research. All authors fall down the rabbit hole at some point, but some genres require it more than others. Alternate history is such a beast. This genre requires attention to detail and strategic decisions about changes to true events and historical figures. This leads us to a warren of worldbuilding questions. Where do you start? When do you bring in primary sources? When do you need a centuries-old map to find a forest that doesn’t exist in the 21st century? How did people really talk during the Revolutionary War, and does it matter? 

We’re so pleased to introduce Kevin Ikenberry, science fiction, mil sci-fi, and alternate history writer. He’s the author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing and non-fiction The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure. Join us as we interview Ike about historical research, ripples in time, genre differences, and how he decides where to take liberties in his alternate history. 

In Part Two, We Discuss: 

• Using worldbuilding to create conflict for your characters 

• How do changes impact the near-future in history? What about far-reaching futures?

Resources and Guest Links: 

• https://kevinikenberry.com/ 

We can’t thank Ike enough–for his time or his margaritas. He’s as generous a host as he is an author, and we’re so grateful he was willing to share his experiences and expertise with our audience. 

Host Links: 

• H.Y. Gregor: https://hygregor.com/

Credits: (all assets licensed through the sites listed)

• Intro: Music- Cinematic Epic Trailer by PaulYudin on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user- kazim hussian; from pixabay users-davidfoxx, DavidGallie, olenchic, stefaniejockschat, AiVreaSaStii, RuneSnow, duyen-nguyen, EnchantedStudios, 

• Outro: Music- Good Night by FASSounds on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user-onlydesignz; from pixabay users-olenchic, Placidplace, Evgeniy_Z, Dantegrafico, Shayea_Kim

In this episode, Jody Sperling challenges listeners to undertake a 90-day social media challenge by posting once daily on a selected social media platform. The goal is to create content relevant to one's passion or profession to see significant changes in engagement and reach. Jody shares personal experiences and reflections, including dealing with COVID-19 and the struggle of feeling unaccomplished. They emphasize the need for willpower to change life's course and relate this to efforts in social media. Jody proposes content strategies focused on themes within their work, particularly their "Luke in Time Mysteries" series, and invites listeners to share their progress and stories.