Max Barry joins Edward Savio to talk satire, persuasion, and why even the most ridiculous ideas have to feel real. From Lexicon to Jennifer Government to The 22 Murders of Madison May, which sets a serial killer loose across the multiverse with reality-bending consequences, they get into dialogue, power, and the problem of writing satire in a world that keeps outpacing it. Funny, sharp, and a little unsettling, it’s a look at how the absurd starts to feel uncomfortably real.

Presented by Bookstr.com

Music: “Local Forecast - Slower,” “Loopster,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

“Patron Saint of Heists” by Bryan Teoh Licensed under Creative Commons: license 0 attribution

Software developer turned bestselling sci-fi author Dennis E. Taylor joins Edward Savio to talk about the unlikely path that led to the Bobiverse series. They discuss engineering, artificial intelligence, writing habits, and the moment a bad Kindle book inspired Taylor to start writing fiction himself.

Presented by Bookstr.com

Music: “Local Forecast - Slower, ” “Loopster,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0   

"Patron Saint of Heists” by Bryan Teoh Licensed under Creative Commons: license 0 attribution

Bestselling novelist and cultural critic Kat Rosenfield joins Edward Savio for a candid and hilarious conversation about writing by instinct, trusting creative chaos, and the difference between building stories and breaking them apart.

Rosenfield discusses her novels No One Will Miss Her, You Must Remember This, and the just-released How to Survive in the Woods, her instinct-driven writing process, and why writer’s block often means your brain is still “baking” the story. They also talk about cultural criticism, great dialogue, and the strange experience of researching pop culture “for professional reasons.”

A sharp, funny look at storytelling, criticism, and making it up as you go—like a grown-ass professional.

Music:“Local Forecast - Slower, ” “Loopster,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Patron Saint of Heists” by Bryan TeohLicensed under Creative Commons: license 0 attribution

Bestselling author Jonathan Maberry joins author and screenwriter Edward Savio to talk monsters, trauma, productivity, and the joy of writing without fear. A candid, wide-ranging conversation about craft, character, and surviving the long haul.

Presented by Bookstr.com

• “Writing is 99% thinking about it. The rest is typing.”

• “You find the speed at which you do your best work — not the speed people tell you to.”

• “Trauma doesn’t disappear. It changes shape.”

• “If I’m writing to please readers, that’s fear-based. I want to be joy-based.”

Music:“Local Forecast - Slower, ” “Loopster,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Patron Saint of Heists” by Bryan TeohLicensed under Creative Commons: license 0 attribution

Julia Whelan on acting, audiobooks, writing, and why "this story" is never really about her.

Actor-turned–audiobook superstar–turned-novelist Julia Whelan joins Edward Savio for a candid, funny, and unexpectedly revealing conversation about how she found her creative voice on and off the page. She reflects on her Once and Again years, the childhood improv moment that shaped her writing philosophy, and the twist that led her into audiobooks long before the industry exploded. Whelan talks about writing My Oxford Year, Thank You for Listening, and her latest, Casanova, LLC—and why you won’t catch her writing a memoir.

She explains her aversion to prescriptive writing rules and the single question she always asks before starting a new project. With thoughts on Ray Porter’s influence, the evolution of audio storytelling, and DWNOL’s refreshing longform “non-interview” format, this episode offers an intimate look at a storyteller who’s mastered more mediums than most people try.

Presented by Bookstr.com

Featuring: Julia Whelan • Host: Edward Savio

Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/DWNOLpodcast

Spotify: https://bit.ly/DWNOL

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DWNOL

Music:

“Local Forecast - Slower, ” “Loopster,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh”

by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Patron Saint of Heists"

by Bryan Teoh

Licensed under Creative Commons: license 0 attribution

Guts, glory, and funny stories. Boot camp, writing, and the journey from feeling invisible to finding your place. Greg Cope White joins Edward Savio to talk identity, the Marines, and turning survival into story—from The Pink Marine to the Netflix series Boots.

Presented by Bookstr.com

Music:

Songs by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - “Local Forecast - Slower,” “I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teo,” “Loopster,” & “Your Call” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

DWNOL Themes by Trina Davis and Ani Musical Team © Babelfish Press, LLC Used with permission.

Writing, rewriting, and the occasional F-Bomb.

In the premiere episode of DWNOL, screenwriter and novelist Edward Savio interviews Christopher Moore, international bestselling author ("Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal", "A Dirty Job", and "Bloodsucking Fiends", and "Fool"), known for his humorous and absurd storytelling. They discuss Moore's journey from being discouraged by a high school teacher to becoming a bestselling writer. The conversation covers the challenges of balancing humor with meaningful storytelling, the rigorous process of writing and research, and the importance of staying true to one's creative vision. With plenty of fun anecdotes and insights into the writing life, this episode offers an intimate look at the creative process and the tenacity required to succeed in the literary world.

DWNOL is presented by Bookstr.

Christopher Moore's Latest Novel: Anima Rising

Music:

“Local Forecast - Slower”

“Loopster”

“Your Call”

“I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teo”

by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

DWNOL Themes by Trina Davis and Ani Musical Team © Babelfish Press, LLC Used with permission.

In this introduction, screenwriter and novelist Edward Savio explains what this podcast is—and what it isn’t. It’s not the standard writer interview. It is a conversation between two creatives—a deep dive into process, the blank page, and the ways stories save us.

DWNOL is presented by Bookstr.

Music: Cold Funk - Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.