Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely welcome award-winning author, creative director, entertainment executive, Debbie Bishop, for a wide-ranging conversation about fantasy, worldbuilding, comics, Hollywood, technology, and the creative life. Bishop discusses her new epic fantasy Pillywiggin Awakening, a story built around resilience, friendship, courage, science, and the idea […]

The post Debbie Bishop on Pillywiggin Awakening, Ray Harryhausen, and Building Fantasy Worlds first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely sit down with retired aerospace engineer, inventor, adventurer, and author Chester “Chet” L. Richards, whose extraordinary life includes co-writing the classic Star Trek episode “The Tholian Web,” earning 19 patents, contributing to aerospace and space technology, and embarking on adventures around the […]

The post Chester L. Richards on Writing Star Trek, Rocket Science, and a Life of Adventure first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely welcome author Thimble, who discusses his journey from writing his first femdom novel to publishing ten novels and multiple novellas. The conversation explores why he chose to write female-led BDSM fiction, his mission to challenge stereotypes surrounding submissive men, how he […]

The post Writing Authentic Erotica: Thimble on Breaking BDSM Stereotypes first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely sit down with bestselling author and legal thriller legend William Bernhardt for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, creator rights, perseverance, and the realities of building a writing career. Bernhardt dives deep into his newest book, The Superman Wars, a gripping narrative […]

The post William Bernhardt on The Superman Wars, Creator Rights, Publishing and WriterCon first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Beth A. Freely and Dirk Hooper tackle the rapidly changing world of indie publishing, from Draft2Digital’s new account and maintenance fees to Barnes & Noble Press limiting accounts to 100 titles. They discuss how AI-generated “slop books” are reshaping the industry, why indie authors must start thinking like […]

The post Self Publishing in Crisis? AI, Fees, and Platform Changes Explained first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew Podcast, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely welcome science fiction romance author Kathleen Osborne. Kathleen shares the story of finally pursuing her lifelong dream of writing after retiring from multiple careers, how she turned one chaotic first manuscript into multiple novels, and why short fiction anthologies helped her […]

The post Writing Science Fiction Romance with Kathleen Osborne first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely dive deep into one of the biggest questions writers face: should you plot your book or write by the seat of your pants? Dirk reveals his evolving plotting system, complete with notebooks, note cards, character arcs, and beat sheets, while Beth explains […]

The post The Novel Plotting Process: From Brainstorming to Beat Sheets first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb After a long break, Book Crew is back, and this catch-up episode is packed with real-life challenges, creative momentum, and exciting plans for the future. Dirk Hooper shares his journey through a health scare and a complete tech overhaul that derailed everything, while Beth A. Freely reveals just how prolific she’s been, dropping books, […]

The post Writing Through Chaos – Real Talk from Book Crew first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb This episode of Book Crew dives deep into the art of historical storytelling, as Beth A. Freely delivers a powerful breakdown of how to balance research, imagination, and emotional truth in fiction. From samurai armor to pirate footwear, and even the hidden pitfalls of “presentism,” this conversation explores what truly brings a story to […]

The post How to Turn Research Into Storytelling Gold – Historical Research with Beth A. Freely first appeared on Book Crew.

Blurb In this high-energy episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely sit down with powerhouse indie author Vic Leigh, who has written 22 books in just five years. From building a publishing company to champion indie authors, Vic shares her fast-paced writing process, the secrets behind her productivity, and how she’s […]

The post 22 Books, 5 Years: The Power of Consistent Writing with Vic Leigh first appeared on Book Crew.