Debbie Bishop on PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING and Becoming Your Own Hero

PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING with Debbie Bishop | Fantasy, AI and Resilience

Debbie Bishop's PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING Blends Fantasy and Real Power

Inside PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING with Fantasy Author Debbie Bishop

Debbie Bishop on Epic Fantasy, Reinvention and PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING

What if no one is coming to save you—and that is actually the good news?

In this episode of Books That Make You, award-winning author and entrepreneur Debbie Bishop joins us to talk about PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING, a sweeping fantasy adventure filled with fey worlds, hidden realms, imprisoned boys, dragon danger, martial arts, strategy, friendship, and the powerful idea of becoming your own hero.

Debbie shares how the story explores resilience, reinvention, and the strength that comes from rising through difficult circumstances rather than waiting for rescue. She discusses the layered world of PILLYWIGGIN: AWAKENING, where characters build bonds, train themselves, challenge stereotypes, and discover courage in unexpected places.

The conversation also moves beyond fantasy into Debbie's own creative life, including her work in Hollywood, her experience reinventing herself after personal and professional setbacks, and her views on creativity, metaphysics, AI, and the future of storytelling. She opens up about learning to stop diminishing herself, step into her own voice, and finally promote the work she has spent years creating.

This conversation is for fantasy readers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone who has ever felt called to break out of their shell and trust their own power.

#DebbieBishop #PILLYWIGGINAWAKENING #FantasyBooks #BooksThatMakeYou #EpicFantasy #AuthorInterview #CreativeWriting #AIAndStorytelling #WomenAuthors

Do you have ADHD and not even know it? For many professionals, the answer may be more complicated than they think.

In this episode, Dr Jennie Byrne MD PhD joins the show to discuss her book, ADHD in Professionals: Embracing Your Brain, and the hidden ways ADHD can show up in high-achieving adults. From doctors and executives to entrepreneurs and leaders, many people appear successful on the outside while privately struggling with focus, emotional regulation, procrastination, overwhelm, shame, and burnout.

Dr Jennie Byrne explains why the phrase "too high functioning to have ADHD" can be misleading, how stigma keeps many professionals from seeking help, and why ADHD may be better understood as a brain variant rather than simply a disorder. She also explores how ADHD can look different in women, why many women are diagnosed later in life, and how workplace support, coaching, medication, therapy, and environmental changes can all play a role.

The conversation also looks toward the future of ADHD care, including AI tools, binaural music, neurofeedback, biosensors, and new approaches that may help people better understand and work with their brains.

If you have ever wondered why success still feels harder than it should, this conversation may help you see your brain in a new way.

#ADHD #ADHDInProfessionals #DrJennieByrne #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #BooksThatMakeYou

What happens when an enlightened society built on intelligence, healing, magic, and pacifism suddenly faces a threat it is not prepared to confront?

Author Peter Gribble returns to Books That Make You to discuss The City of the Magicians, his three-book fantasy series exploring what happens when stability begins to crack, ideals are tested, and a culture must decide whether it can survive without losing itself.

In this conversation, Peter looks at the difference between transition and rupture, and why he believes rupture marks the beginning of a deeper breakdown in the systems and assumptions people once trusted. Through the world of The City of the Magicians, he examines nonviolence, integrity, compromise, resistance, and the dangers of becoming too comfortable in the belief that freedom and stability are permanent.

Peter also shares how history, court memoirs, ancient Rome, and real-world social upheaval shaped his worldbuilding. He discusses how speculative fiction and fantasy can create space to explore difficult questions with honesty, depth, and urgency.

Writers will also appreciate Peter's insights into craft, including how he writes toward powerful endings, how characters sometimes interrupt the story, and why some scenes need time to "marinate" before they find their final shape.

Most people know Superman as the heroic figure from Krypton, the mild-mannered Clark Kent who fights for truth, justice, and the American way. But as William Bernhardt reveals in The Superman Wars, the story behind Superman's creation is far more complicated, emotional, and dramatic than many fans realize.

In this conversation, William Bernhardt joins Books That Make You to discuss the decades-long fight of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, whose work helped launch the superhero genre and reshape American pop culture. Drawing from legal documents, personal letters, unpublished manuscripts, and interviews with people who had never spoken publicly before, Bernhardt uncovers a story of creativity, commerce, betrayal, persistence, and long-delayed recognition.

The Superman Wars explores how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created one of the most recognizable characters in the world, only to spend much of their lives fighting for credit, dignity, and justice. Bernhardt also discusses the larger impact this story had on comic book history, creator rights, and the way artists are treated when their work becomes valuable to powerful companies.

This episode is for comic book fans, writers, creators, pop culture historians, and anyone interested in the real human story behind an American icon.

What happens when the world is rebuilt after catastrophe and the power structure flips, completely? In this episode, author and tech executive D.A. Murray joins us to unpack her debut dystopian novel, Dominion: Ascension. The conversation starts with the central provocation: a society where women hold leadership across civilization and men are pushed into tightly controlled roles, including a "breeder class" shaped by fertility and status. From there, we go deeper into what the book is really examining—how power changes people, how systems enforce obedience, and what gets lost when identity becomes something managed rather than lived.

We also talk about Danny Matthews, the 29-year-old protagonist whose emotional development makes sense inside a world where information is restricted and self-exploration is contained. At the heart of Danny's experience is her relationship with her mother, giving the story a pulse that goes beyond the dystopian frame. D.A. Murray shares why technology in Dominion isn't a sleek promise but a "jagged edge of progress," and how today's AI boom raises real questions about privacy, guardrails, and what it means to stay human while moving fast. Plus, a glimpse at what's coming next in the trilogy, including the second book, Anarchy.

What compels someone to walk away from a lucrative Wall Street career and dedicate their life to eradicating generational poverty? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Abraham George, author of Mountains to Cross and founder of Shanti Bhavan, a residential school in India that transforms the lives of children born into extreme poverty.

Dr. George shares the deeply personal story behind his life's mission, from surviving a dynamite blast as a young officer in the Himalayas to building a financial foundation with a single goal: to serve. His philosophy, the 50/50 life model—spend half your life creating wealth, the other half giving back—is more than theory. It's the driving force behind Shanti Bhavan's global impact.

We dive into the school's powerful success stories, including graduates attending Ivy League schools, and the wider social change sparked by a single opportunity. Dr. George also reveals how his mother's resilience and generosity helped carry his vision through the 2008 financial crisis.

If you've ever questioned how one person can make a difference—or wondered when the right time is to start—this conversation will inspire you to act.

Author and ritual designer Bill Hulseman returns to the show to take us deeper into his profoundly moving and gently humorous essay collection, six to carry the casket and one to say the mass. This time, Bill helps us reimagine the meaning of the holidays—beyond the performative gratitude and commercial frenzy.

In this episode, Bill discusses two standout essays from his book: Grateful and How to Put Up a Christmas Tree. Through personal stories of family, grief, queerness, and complicated traditions, Bill reveals how the holidays can be both beautiful and deeply painful. From hand turkeys and Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation to moments of heartbreak behind a glowing Christmas tree, Bill invites us to hold space for both memory and renewal.

Whether you're someone who dreads the season or seeks to find new meaning in old rituals, this conversation will offer you perspective, comfort, and maybe even inspiration to create your own traditions.

This is a raw, honest, and reflective episode for anyone who's ever felt out of place during the holidays—and for those looking to reconnect with what matters most.

#six tocarrythecasket #BillHulseman #holidaygrief #ritualdesign #queerauthors #BooksThatMakeYou

What happens when a cranky humorist and a tech-savvy illustrator team up with some rebellious poodles and launch them into space? You get Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz — the latest wild ride from author Steven Joseph and illustrator Andy Case.

In this episode, the duo dives deep into their colorful, noodle-fueled universe. They talk about the imaginative process behind their newest book, from musical jailbreaks to intergalactic dance battles and zany characters like Coolio the Grand Rudel. But it's not just about the laughs. Steven and Andy explore the deeper themes woven into their story, including creativity, environmentalism, teamwork, and even the importance of museums and public spaces for inspiring young minds.

We also get a peek behind the curtain into their one-of-a-kind working relationship—think less "formal author and illustrator" and more "creative soulmates on a rocket ship." Plus, Andy talks about the real-world educational challenges kids face today, especially the growing imagination deficit from too much screen time.

And yes, there's a full original soundtrack. Because why shouldn't a book about dancing poodles come with a banger of an album?

What if your stepfather was one of the most misunderstood yet spiritually profound composers of the 20th century—and your mother spent years writing his story? In this episode, Bill Holst shares the extraordinary journey behind Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century, a memoir built from the poetic writings of his late mother and enriched with his own personal reflections. Alan Hovhaness was known for his deeply mystical, culturally diverse compositions, drawing from Armenian roots, Eastern music traditions, and nature itself. Bill shares how Hovhaness faced rejection early in his career—even from names like Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland—yet stayed true to his vision, ultimately creating over 500 pieces of music that defied genres and resonated with artists like Carlos Santana and Ravi Shankar. We dive into the soulful relationship between Bill's mother and Hovhaness, the spiritual lens through which he viewed life and art, and the thousands of unpublished and rediscovered works that are still being archived today. From midnight storytelling sessions to mysterious reincarnated cats, this conversation uncovers the composer's otherworldly spirit and the love that defined his final decades. Discover how Bill Holst is carrying forward the legacies of both his mother and Alan Hovhaness—one page, and one note, at a time. #AlanHovhaness #BillHolst #ComposerLegacy #MysticalMusic #BooksThatMakeYou #Memoir

How do you go from writing a Star Trek episode to launching rockets, facing crocodiles, and eventually healing through writing? Chester L. Richards returns to the show to share moments from his second memoir, The Trek Continues: More Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist. This lively interview explores how a vivid dream led to a Star Trek script, setting him on a lifelong path filled with science, danger, love, and self-discovery. Chester takes us behind the scenes of his early writing journey, reveals the high-stakes world of aerospace engineering, and shares stories of rafting down wild rivers and facing wild animals. But it's not just about adventure. At the center of his story is Sarah, his late partner and creative muse. Her memory continues to inspire his work and helped him through the most difficult chapter of his life. From humorous mishaps to moments of deep emotion, Chester explains how writing helped him rediscover joy. He also reflects on the importance of failure, how it shaped his career, and why it's never too late to write your own story. This is a conversation about creativity, courage, and the human spirit. Chester's journey shows that the real final frontier might just be the stories we choose to tell. #StarTrek #Memoir #RocketScience #AuthorInterview #BooksThatMakeYou #ChesterLRichards