Realm Runners

Join us on Realm Runners as we sit down with acclaimed fantasy author John Gwynne. He shares a deeply personal look into his writing process, revealing how family is central to the heart and soul of his gripping narratives and intricate characters.

From his unique writing journey beginning as a family project, to the profound influence of films like 'Braveheart' and 'Lord of the Rings,' and even his sons' encouragement to join social media, it's fascinating to see how much authentic connections that shape his epic worlds.

Get ready for a heartfelt dive into the heart of an epic storyteller.

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#JohnGwynne #FantasyAuthor #WritingInspiration #FamilyInWriting #RealmRunners #AuthorInterview #EpicFantasy #WritingJourney

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:53 Family as a Central Theme in Gwynne's Books

03:58 Influence of Personal Life and Early Writing Days

06:47 Social Media and Public Engagement

08:54 Historical and Mythological Influences in Writing

11:58 Inspiration from Films like Braveheart

14:01 Character Development and Emotional Impact

17:06 Handling Character Deaths and Emotional Scenes

21:03 Writing Process and World-Building Techniques

27:11 Series Planning and Future Projects

36:08 Battle Scenes and POV Techniques

43:55 Personal Loss and Its Influence on Writing

54:02 Mythology, History, and Research in Storytelling

01:00:00 Adaption Possibilities and Future Opportunities

01:03:04 Closing Remarks and Appreciation

The Crown Price of Grimdark is back!

In this episode, Z.B. Steele shares insights on indie publishing, cover art, audiobook production, and navigating the industry with a brutally honest and humorous approach.

We discuss the nuances of character development, the importance of transparency in indie publishing, and the strategic use of novellas for fan engagement and marketing.

Along with insights on world-building, marketing strategies, and the surprising reader reactions that keep authors motivated, this is a follow up episode with a fan favorite you won't want to miss!

Join us as Marie Lu discusses her transition from writing YA to adult fantasy. She shares insights into her unique world-building process, detailing how influences like alchemy and gaming shape her intricate story settings.

We also explore her approach to character development, relationships, and the careful handling of mature themes. Listen in to understand how she crafts compelling characters and immersive worlds, engaging readers across different genres.

Finally, Marie touches on her strategies for series planning and offers a glimpse into her upcoming projects.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and guest background

02:01 Marie Lu's journey from YA to adult fantasy

04:04 Themes and depth in Red City

06:57 Structure and flashbacks in storytelling

10:04 Flipping tropes: magic school and ambition

15:00 Inspiration from London and alchemy

20:09 Magic system development and alchemy's role

24:47 Character relationships and emotional depth

30:06 Series planning and future projects

34:59 Influences from films, books, and personal experiences

39:58 World-building in London and contemporary gods

45:08 Gaming influences and system design

50:01 Writing process and multitasking on projects

54:52 Closing thoughts and appreciation

In this episode, Tad Williams shares insights from his four-decade career in fantasy and science fiction writing, discusses the importance of character-driven stories, and explores the challenges and joys of world-building and series continuity.

We also talk about his new book, The Splinted Sun, the massive series encompassing his Osten Ard universe, unexpected influences and more.

Don't miss out on this absolute legendary appearance by one of fantasy's best authors of all time!

In this episode, Tim Carter shares his journey from Hollywood to video games to indie fantasy writing, revealing behind-the-scenes stories from his work on Mortal Kombat Legacy and Sleeping Dogs. He discusses his creative process, the importance of humor in fantasy, and how his background influences his storytelling.

His book Jester is currently a SPFBO finalist! Be sure to go grab a copy of that and his amazing debut, Majordomo!

00:00 Introduction and guest background

01:22 Working on audiobook narration during health crises

03:22 Transition from video games to indie fiction

04:50 Producing Mortal Kombat Legacy

07:00 Background in Hollywood and film

10:22 Writing style: humor and heavy themes

12:20 Inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons campaigns

20:20 Creating relatable characters from non-human races

30:34 Reader engagement and highlights

52:55 Unexpected reader reactions and highlights

In this episode, author M.H. Ayinde shares insights into her epic fantasy series, the creative process behind her book covers, and how her cultural background influences her storytelling.

We explore themes of magic, colonialism, genre blending, and character development.

Be sure to pick up both of her amazing books now!

A sci-fi romance about two people trying to live their lives while the universe quietly comes apart, Elliot Blake reveals the gritty, fast-moving story behind Into the Great and why he chose to build a love story inside a world of mining planets, border-town thieves, and unnerving alien visitors who say nothing and stare.

Blake brings an unusually deep entertainment background to the page. He is the executive producer of Apple TV’s The Sisters Grimm, and the director and executive producer of the three-season Moriarty Audible Original, set in a twisted Sherlock Holmes universe. That mix of animation, audio drama, and screen storytelling shapes everything about how he writes, from pacing and POV to the way he grounds big ideas in sharp character work.

We break down how Into the Great went from a shelved comic concept to a prose novella, including the challenge of adapting from script-style writing into past tense fiction. We also get into the influences that shaped the book’s atmosphere: the lived-in grit of Blade Runner, Alien, The Expanse, John Scalzi, and the Culture novels of Iain M. Banks.

If you love science fiction that's character-driven, and emotionally alive, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Sheila Masterson joins us to discuss her latest works and the intricacies of writing dark romance. With a captivating mix of humor and seriousness, Sheila reveals the challenges and joys of creating complex characters in intense settings.

Sheila shares her journey into the realm of dark romance, starting with her acclaimed book, The Poison Daughter. A story about a woman with a poison kiss, who lures unsuspecting men to their demise, until one night, things take an unexpected turn.

Join us in exploring the full episode to hear more about Sheila's writing process and her exciting future projects. You won't want to miss it!

Have you ever wondered how to build stories that truly resonate with readers who see themselves in the pages?

C.L. Clark reveals how writing characters from marginalized communities creates immersive, emotionally charged worlds that fans obsess over.

In this episode, Clark shares the surprising origins of Fortune’s Wake, the process for writing tight, impactful novellas, and how fan reactions unexpectedly brought their work into the spotlight.

Don't miss Fortune's Wake, coming from Grimdark Magazine on 8/24!

Cal Logan is back for round two, and it's the show's first return guest. His debut ShadowBane landed as one of Pete's picks for Indie Book of 2025, and the sequel, ShadowVein, closes out a very different kind of book two. Cal walks through the decision to pull back from book one's battle heavy structure and lean into political, character driven fantasy instead, a swing he knew was risky right after such a strong debut.

We get into the covers, including the original concept Cal brought his artist that got scrapped for something stronger, and the color shift for book two that quietly sets up book three. Cal also breaks down how much of ShadowBane and ShadowVein pulls directly from real Japanese yokai folklore rather than invented mythology, why he chose feudal Japan over Western demon lore for the series' backbone, and the specific liberties he did and didn't feel comfortable taking with a culture that isn't his own.

Plus how a planned single book split into a trilogy once the story kept growing past 700 pages, the advice Cal has for indie authors nervous to put themselves out there, and a first look at what's coming: a prequel novella covering the twins' early days, and a much bigger, war focused book three landing in 2028.

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Instagram / TikTok: @cal_logan_author

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0:00 — Intro and welcome back to episode twelve with Cal Logan

3:33 — Cal introduces Shadow Bane, Shadow Vein, and the Schism of Souls trilogy

4:41 — Why book two pulls back from action into political, character-driven fantasy

8:39 — Cover art process: the scrapped original concept and finding the right artist

11:40 — Book two's color shift and what it sets up for book three

27:35 — Splitting one massive manuscript into a trilogy

29:29 — Grimdark influences and that eight-message death scene

30:51 — How much of the demon mythology is real Japanese yokai folklore

32:25 — Why feudal Japan instead of Western demon lore

33:36 — Anime influences, Demon Slayer comps, and the Andy Palakin quote

37:21 — Advice for indie authors: being unafraid and staying genuine online

1:01:58 — The background mythology readers latched onto more than expected

1:03:11 — Why nothing an indie author writes goes to waste

1:04:51 — Book three update: war, mythology payoff, and a 2028 target

1:07:02 — The prequel novella: the twins' early days before Shadow Bane

1:08:26 — Wrap-up and where to find Cal