Lasers Dragons And Keyboards

This week on the show, we have Celesta Thiessen, the author of the Super Seven series. She hails from Manitoba (I think she's our first Canadian author!), and had a lot to share about her series and writing.

In Episode 41:

• Celesta's favorite parts of writing the series.
• An impromptu author reading of her favorite scene from Two of a Kind!
• The science behind her superhero powers in her books.
• Celesta's favorite superhero...and how he figures into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We spend some time analyzing the movie.
• Many bunny trails on the parts of the hosts...

Links!

Celesta Thiessen The Super Seven Salt Eden (Celeste's new book for adults!) The Physics of Superheroes Kathy Tyers Kerry Nietz

This week on LDK, we have a wonderful time talking with Laura VanArendonk Baugh (try saying that three times fast!) We managed to get a few details about ancient Japanese culture, of which, Laura seems to be a near-expert on.

In Episode 40

• We nearly kill Aaron with Laura's response to plotting problems. Laura definitely had us in stitches with this one.
• We talk Scrivener, which we're delighted to find she makes use of it, though not 100% of the time.
• Laura's winning editing process.
• Laura's reasons for eating chocolate!
• Training your subconscious.
• The non-coffee-drinking writers!
• Crazy research--and how it's paid off in Laura's life! (And don't Google search the one thing she mentions!)
• Some of Laura's marketing techniques (hint: a lot of it has to do with personality!)

Links! Laura VanArendonk Baugh Buy her books! Dave Duncan (The Gilded Chain) Susan Spann (Shenobi Mysteries)

This week on LDK, we have a wonderful time talking with Laura VanArendonk Baugh (try saying that three times fast!) We managed to get a few details about ancient Japanese culture, of which, Laura seems to be a near-expert on.

In Episode 39

• Kitsune is a fox spirit, hence the foxes on the covers of her books.
• The folklore roots within her books, including some loose relation to Pokemon.
• Laura thinks our favorite character question is a mean question to ask!
• Kitsune-Tsuki was written in one sitting (!!!).
• Laura defines our superhero question in an interesting way.
• We introduce a new question!
• Aaron gives his opinion on what the best of the Star Trek movies is. (May or may not be what you expect!)

Links! Laura VanArendonk Baugh Buy her books! Dave Duncan (The Gilded Chain) Susan Spann (Shenobi Mysteries)

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jill Williamson, Nadine Brandes, Lauren Brandenburg, and Katie Grace to discuss writing from a young author point of view.

You'll notice that we have fewer laugh tracks because we all had our microphones muted! Also, we had 7 people on a chat, so some of us had some technical issues. :( Sorry about that!)

Some of the topics we discussed were:

• Challenges that young writers face, from their own perspective.
• Challenges for mentors to young writers.
• Who mentors the mentors?
• Creative people versus non-creative people.
• Making time for writing and editing.
• Different writing software--and tools and apps!
• Character arcs of favorite superheroes.

There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting. -- Robert Graves

Books you have to read (besides our own): The Lunar Chronicles

This week on the show, we have Randy Streu, who is the producer of Beyond the Rim, a sci-fi and horror audio drama/podcast.

In Episode 36

• Randy discusses how he got into radio drama, with its roots coming from college.
• We discuss PEG...and how she ties to one of our hosts.
• Why writing for radio is good for lazy writers!
• Social commentary in writing.
• The gruesome research for Shoo, Fly, the first production for Beyond the Rim. Aaron & Randy Streu

Listen to Episode 1 of Beyond the Rim Here!

In Episode 37

• Too lazy to plot.
• Music selections for the horror writer.
• Ommwriter.
• Writing flash fiction.
• Staying fully immersed and how it can be difficult.
• How to adapt a story for audio.
• Randy's unique way of dealing with writer's block. "Books I Didn't Write."
• The differences and similarities between marketing an audio drama versus a book.
• The problems of not being able to pick a favorite movie (or book).
• Write it anyway, even if you think no one wants to hear what you have to say.

Links!

Randy Streu A Flame in the Dark Productions The Tick (TV show) Master & Commander (books by Patrick O'Brian & movie) J-Pod (Douglass Coupland) Ted Dekker Frank Peretti Stephen Lawhead The Audio Drama Podcast Microserfs by Douglas Coupland Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries (with John Gielgud) The Thing on the Fourble Board - Episode from "Quiet, Please!" The Death Robbery (with Boris Karloff) - Episode from "Lights Out" The Peoria Plague We're Alive by Kc Wayland Campfire Radio Theater Tales from the Museum ( DarkerProjects.com )

This week on the show, we have Randy Streu, who is the producer of Beyond the Rim, a sci-fi and horror audio drama/podcast.

In Episode 36

• Randy discusses how he got into radio drama, with its roots coming from college.
• We discuss PEG...and how she ties to one of our hosts.
• Why writing for radio is good for lazy writers!
• Social commentary in writing.
• The gruesome research for Shoo, Fly, the first production for Beyond the Rim. Aaron & Randy Streu

Listen to Episode 1 of Beyond the Rim Here!

Links!

Randy Streu A Flame in the Dark Productions The Tick (TV show) Master & Commander (books by Patrick O'Brian & movie) J-Pod (Douglass Coupland) Ted Dekker Frank Peretti Stephen Lawhead

In this week's (bonus!) episode of the show, Josh and Liberty pick Aaron's brain on what happened in Philadelphia at Realm Makers 2016. For anyone who hasn't been, the camaraderie is amazing, and you immediately feel like you've found your tribe.

This year, Aaron got to hear sessions from Thomas Locke, Tosca Lee, and Kathy Tyers, among others. Aaron shares some of his notes from Tosca's sessions on characterization (these are really good!) Josh and Liberty wished we were in this session alongside him!

We decide that for 2017, we need a cloning machine. There's too many sessions that we want to go to! (But we're pretty sure that's part of the plan since the founders do sell recordings!)

Creativity is one of the rarest gifts. We have our creativity to honor God with, and that's who we are, no matter what our day job is. Love it and know you're meant to do that. -- Tom Black

Realm Makers 2017 is at the Atlantis Casino & Resort in Reno, NV July 27 - 29. You need to be there! Registration opens in the spring (usually in late March or April 1.)

This week on the show, we're lacking Josh, but we have the wonderful Mary Ruth Pursselley on with us! Aaron and Liberty have trouble getting into a good rhythm without Josh, so there's a bit of back and forth as those two try to get going.

Mary Ruth is the author of epic fantasy novel, Song of the Wren Falcon, and a lover of hot tea.

In Episode 34:

• Confessions of a full-on pantser!
• Chaotic first drafts and how they inform you in the future when you look back.
• Binge-watching My Little Pony.
• Having friends to help with problems in your book.
• The benefits of having neighbors far away when you're a fantasy novelist.
• Useful ideas on how to overcome writer's block.
• Mary Ruth's Earl Grey snobbery. ;)
• The crazy things Mary Ruth has Googled and her new favorite word.
• Mary Ruth's profound advice to new authors (not what you'd expect!)

Links:

Mary Ruth Pursselley Song of the Wren Falcon Raphael Sabitini (Captain Blood, The Seahawk, Scar Moonshade) Patrick W. Carr (listen to his interviews: Part 1 & Part 2) J.R.R. Tolkien L.M. Montgomery (Emily of New Moon) Mary Ruth on Instagram Mary Ruth on Facebook

As always, you can find us at our website.

This week on the show, we're lacking Josh, but we have the wonderful Mary Ruth Pursselley on with us! Aaron and Liberty have trouble getting into a good rhythm without Josh, so there's a bit of back and forth as those two try to get going.

Mary Ruth is the author of epic fantasy novel, Song of the Wren Falcon, and a lover of hot tea.

In Episode 33:

• Mastering subtext--or at least faking it when your readers pick up on something you didn't necessarily intend.
• Rewriting and redrafting multiple times on your first novel.
• Doing a redemption theme well. (Aaron kinda geeks out about this!)
• Embarrassing ways to be discovered while figuring out choreography for a sword fight by ones brother.
• Interesting medical stuff researched.
• Aaron talks Mary Ruth out of her favorite superhero, then proceeds to tease both the women about Tom Hiddleston.
• Early childhood crushes.
• Mary Ruth's boyfriend had to twist her arm to be in a relationship by watching a particular movie.
• Mary Ruth shares some bitterness towards the hosts for forcing her to join Facebook. ;)

Links:

Mary Ruth Pursselley Song of the Wren Falcon Raphael Sabitini (Captain Blood, The Seahawk, Scar Moonshade) Patrick W. Carr (listen to his interviews: Part 1 & Part 2) J.R.R. Tolkien L.M. Montgomery (Emily of New Moon)

We're delighted to have contemporary fantasy author K.M. (aka Kessie) Carroll on our show this week! After we discuss the heat in Arizona (where Kessie lives), and Aaron gives Liberty a really hard time, we actually get down to the business of the day.

• Overly suggestive book titles for outlining (Take Off Your Pants)
• Dealing with writer's block, and why it may be happening.
• Kessie's ideal Chai latte, as well as hot chocolate
• How a city might respond to a zombie apocalypse.
• E-Reader News Today & Pixel of Ink going belly up. :(
• A very unusual answer to our fandom question. :)
• When readers read into your books deeper than you intended. Lots of funnies.
• You're allowed to write crap, just keep writing.

Links:

• K.M. Carroll
• The Spacetime Legacy
• Magic Weaver (latest in her series)
• Diana Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle)
• Sara Prineas
• Elizabeth Goudge
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Larry Correia (Monster Hunter's International)
• Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw)
• Heartstriker Series by Rachel Aaron
• Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker
• Bookzio
• Story Cartel
• Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula
• The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones