In Other Words

Welcome back to In Other Words! In this episode, your four favorite co-hosts sit down with the brilliant, bestselling indie author and filmmaker, Jonathan Yanez!

Jonathan is the mastermind behind massive hits like the "Forsaken Mercenary" series and the incredible urban fantasy universe of "Hunters for Hire." With over a million copies sold and a Jack London Award under his belt, Jonathan pulls back the curtain to give us an exclusive look into his creative writing process.

In this deep dive, we discuss:

How he manages the intricate world-building and tight continuity of "Hunters for Hire"
His journey adapting his own books for the big screen
A massive hint about upcoming film opportunities for the "Hunters for Hire" universe!
His brand-new live rough-drafting experiment with his dedicated fanbase, "The Reading Wolves" 
A special shoutout to narrator Steven Barnett's incredible work on the audiobooks


Whether you are a die-hard member of The Reading Wolves, a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, or an aspiring author looking for expert process insights, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Subscribe to the In Other Words Podcast for more deep-dive interviews with your favorite creators!

Connect with Jonathan Yanez: Website & Store: https://jonathan-yanez.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_jonathan_yanez
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanYanezAuthor
Facebook for Jonathan’s Reading Wolves Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jonathansreadingwolves 

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words, the hosts sit down for a true behind‑the‑scenes conversation about everything happening at Crimson Crow Press.

What started as a single anthology project has grown into something much bigger — we formed our LLC, launched our new website, and officially got our company off the ground. We talk about the progress we’ve made on the anthology, the lessons we’ve learned while building a press from scratch, and the excitement we feel about where we’re headed next.

t’s a relaxed, honest roundtable full of laughter, reflection, and a whole lot of momentum.

If you’ve been following our journey, this episode is a great peek into how far we’ve come — and what’s coming next.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of the In Other Words Podcast, we sit down with Christian Taylor, a technology entrepreneur, product leader, and AI founder with more than two decades of experience building digital products and companies.

Christian’s journey is a masterclass in creativity and adaptability. Before shaping the tech landscape, he was a longtime musician and songwriter—bringing the same obsession with building and creating to music that he eventually brought to Silicon Valley. After spending 14 years in San Francisco leading startups and holding senior product leadership roles at companies like LinkedIn and Autodesk, Christian returned to his hometown of St. Louis. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of Fortrius AI, an enterprise AI governance platform helping companies adopt artificial intelligence securely and responsibly.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative looking to pivot careers, or a leader trying to navigate the complex world of enterprise AI, Christian’s insights are packed with invaluable lessons.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Creative Mindset: How a background as a touring musician and songwriter fuels tech innovation.
The Startup Grind: Christian’s experience founding Payvment, a Silicon Valley social-commerce startup acquired by Intuit.
Big Tech Leadership: Inside his senior product leadership roles at LinkedIn and Autodesk.
The Future of AI Governance: Why Christian founded Fortrius AI and how companies can adopt AI safely and responsibly.

Connect with Christian Taylor & Fortrius AI:
Website: fortrius.ai
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mrchristiantaylor

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

William Symington joins In Other Words to talk about his three decades in theatre, scenic design, production management, and arts education. From his years at Arizona State University to helping launch Grand Canyon University’s College of Fine Arts and Production, William has shaped programs, mentored emerging artists, and overseen more than 200 productions across theatre, film, and live entertainment.

In this episode, we explore his creative process, the evolution of theatre education, the future of entertainment production, and the lessons he’s learned while preparing the next generation of designers, makers, and storytellers.

Topics We Cover:
• Scenic design & world‑building
•Production management & leadership
• Theatre education & mentorship
• Building arts programs at ASU & GCU
• Creativity, collaboration, and professional growth
• The future of live entertainment, themed spaces, and emerging media

If you enjoy conversations about creativity, craft, and the people shaping the performing arts, this episode is for you.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words, we’re pulling back the curtain on a real book-in-progress and the collaboration between two of our authors that brought it to life.

One author handed over a full story outline. The other took that skeleton and began weaving flesh, breath, and momentum into it. And then the four of us sat down together and did what creatives do best: we followed the threads. We tugged at ideas. We asked “what if?” We explored alternate paths the story could take, and watched how one spark leads to another until suddenly you’re holding something richer, stronger, and more alive than where you started.

This episode isn’t just about collaboration—it’s about the flow of story. The way narrative shifts when different minds touch it. The way a book becomes a book because people are willing to play, question, reshape, and imagine together.

If you’ve ever wondered how stories evolve behind the scenes, or how authors work together to build something bigger than either could create alone, pull up a chair. You’re in the room with us for this one.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words, we dig into one of the biggest conversations happening in the writing world right now: AI‑generated manuscripts—and why Crimson Crow Press does not accept them.

According to our official submission guidelines, “AI‑generated work (manuscripts must be entirely human‑authored)” and in this episode, we explain exactly why. Human writing is messy, emotional, imperfect, and alive. We want to see your messy—your voice, your fingerprints, your humanity.

We also share several exciting updates from behind the scenes at Crimson Crow Press:

• Our website is currently undergoing a full overhaul
• We are actively accepting manuscripts 
• We’ve already had a wave of interested authors reaching out 
• We’re planning future workshops to support struggling writers 
• We are finishing up submissions for our upcoming Crimson Crow Press Anthology, which will be going to press in September 
• And yes… a lot is happening very quickly, and we’re keeping up 

If you’re an author ready to submit your work, please read our full guidelines and send your manuscript through our official submission portal:

Submit your manuscript: https://crimsoncrowpress.com/author-submission-guidelines/

Visit our website: https://crimsoncrowpress.com

Be sure to catch up on past episodes of In Other Words Podcast today!


A Production of Crimson Crow Press

On this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Pam, Jan, Val, and Karen sit down with Dawn Parks—an elementary teacher, marathon‑training runner, avid baker, and middle‑grade author who came out publicly as transgender in 2025, becoming one of the only openly trans elementary teachers in Iowa.

With nearly 30 years in the classroom, Dawn has witnessed firsthand the challenges today’s kids face. That experience shapes her writing: honest, compassionate middle‑grade fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. She has published three novels so far, including her newest release—her first featuring a queer protagonist.

In this conversation, Dawn shares what it was like to come out publicly as a teacher, how running and biking help her navigate life, why she loves baking pies, and how writing stories for young readers has become a powerful way to support kids who are searching for belonging, identity, and hope.

It’s a warm, thoughtful, deeply human episode about authenticity, resilience, and the importance of writing about real life situations in children’s literature.

Watch, listen, and join the conversation.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Jan, Val, Karen, and Pam sit down with two extraordinary leaders from the Des Moines Pride Center: longtime LGBTQIA+ advocate Rick Miller and Pride Center President Sarah High.

Rick has spent nearly 50 years shaping and preserving Iowa’s queer history. From his first Pride Week in 1976 to his leadership in organizations like the Gay Coalition of Des Moines and the Gay & Lesbian Resource Center, Rick’s work has helped define LGBTQIA+ community life in the Midwest. This year, he was honored with the opening of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library, a 4,000‑book collection dedicated to queer literature, archives, and community storytelling.

Joining him is Sarah High, a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and President of the Des Moines Pride Center. Sarah brings deep experience in mental health, addiction recovery, and crisis response through her work with the Central Iowa VA and UnityPoint Eyerly Ball. Her leadership reflects a commitment to building safe, affirming, and resilient spaces for LGBTQ+ Iowans.

Together, Rick and Sarah share powerful insights into:

• The creation and impact of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library
• The importance of preserving queer history in Iowa
• Mental health and crisis needs within LGBTQ+ communities
• The mission and future of the Des Moines Pride Center
• What gives them hope as advocates and community leaders

This is a heartfelt, inspiring conversation about identity, resilience, and the people doing the work to keep community alive.

Subscribe to In Other Words Podcast for more conversations with creatives, community leaders, and storytellers.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Psychic medium Kristi Campbell of Tulsa, Oklahoma joins In Other Words for a powerful, grounded conversation about intuition, mediumship, and what it really means to live with psychic abilities in everyday life. Kristi shares how she first recognized her gifts, how she learned to trust them, and why her work centers compassion, clarity, and emotional healing.

We explore the realities of connecting with loved ones who’ve passed, the responsibility that comes with mediumship, and the ways intuition shows up for all of us — even when we don’t recognize it. This episode is honest, human, and full of the kind of insight that lingers long after the conversation ends.

If you’re curious about psychic development, spiritual connection, or the unseen threads that shape our lives, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Catch more of Kristi on her website at www.kindredinsights.com

Listen, subscribe, and share if this conversation resonates.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press

They call him the Rock n’ Roll Ghost Hunter — and for good reason. With nearly 50 years of paranormal investigation behind him, Keith Age has built a reputation as one of the field’s most grounded, evidence‑driven researchers. Known for cutting through myth and speculation, he approaches hauntings through history, environment, and verifiable evidence, earning respect from skeptics and believers alike. Keith is the host of the Booth Brothers’ acclaimed Spooked documentary series (Christopher Saint Booth & Philip Adrian Booth), and his work has appeared in 40+ television shows across major networks. In 1996, he founded the Louisville Ghost Hunters, one of the region’s longest‑running investigative teams and a cornerstone of Midwestern paranormal research. Now, Keith is entering a new era with Bourbon Spirits, a series blending Kentucky heritage, historic locations, and the lingering mysteries woven into the Bluegrass State’s past. Five decades in, his mission remains unchanged: Strip away the myths. Follow the facts. Let the evidence speak. In this episode, we talk about: His nearly 50‑year journey in paranormal investigation Why he rejects metaphysical explanations in favor of grounded research Behind‑the‑scenes stories from his documentaries The founding and evolution of the Louisville Ghost Hunters His upcoming series Bourbon Spirits What still keeps him chasing the unexplained after all these years If you love paranormal history, documentary filmmaking, or no‑nonsense investigation, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

A Production of Crimson Crow Press