Speculate

Welcome to Episode 90 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers, and Fans. In this episode, we sit down for a chat with a fellow podcaster. Among many, many other things, Tom Merritt is the co-host, along with Veronica Belmont, of Sword & Laser, the massively successful science fiction and fantasy podcast and vidcast. In this episode, we chat with Tom about the origins of Sword & Laser, its rise in popularity, and the Kickstarter they’re now running for the upcoming season. We also chat about some of Tom’s other endeavors, like his budding writing and singing careers. Singing, you say? Well, you’ll just have to listen in to find out more about that…

Tune in in the coming weeks when we have friend of the show, Patrick Rothfuss, by to talk about his new book: The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Dark of Deep Below, and Mike Selinker, author and creator of The Maze of Games.

Welcome to Episode 89 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we conclude our quadtych of shows on the work of Scott Lynch with a discussion of some of the writing techniques used in his novel The Lies of Locke Lamora, considering things like patience in writing, creating “connective tissue” within a novel, the importance of apparently insignificant details, how to portray the art of the negotiation and other writing-oriented concepts.  If you like what you see and hear, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll be interviewing Tom Merritt, co-founder and co-host of the Sword and Laser podcast.  Until then, thanks as always for listening, and please continue to spread the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 88 of Speculate!  The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Scott Lynch, specifically The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Gentleman Bastard Sequence to which it belongs, by talking to the author himself.

This was such an enjoyable interview, ranging from Scott’s many influences, to his thoughts on “standard” medieval fantasy, to his approach towards writing both individual books and the larger series of which they are a part, that we went a bit longer than normal. So we decided to stretch out the goodness a bit by splitting the interview into two parts; if you like what you hear, make sure to check back next week for the third installment of our triptych, where we focus on writing technique inspired by our read of The Lies of Locke Lamora.

Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 87 of Speculate!  The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Scott Lynch, specifically The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Gentleman Bastard Sequence to which it belongs, by talking to the author himself.  This was such an enjoyable interview, ranging from Scott’s many influences, to his thoughts on “standard” medieval fantasy, to his approach towards writing both individual books and the larger series of which they are a part, that we went a bit longer than normal.  So we decided to stretch out the goodness a bit by splitting the interview into two parts; if you like what you hear, make sure to check back next week for the conclusion of the interview.  Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 86 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we begin a new triptych of shows on the work of Scott Lynch, focusing on his hit series The Gentleman Bastard Sequence and more specifically his breakout debut novel The Lies of Locke Lamora.  A fascinating fusion of Ocean’s Eleven, the worlds of Fritz Leiber and Robert Asprin and many others, this book created quite a splash when it was first published in 2006–and as the third book in the series, The Republic of Thieves, has just come out, we thought it would be a good chance to look back at what started it all.  Suffice to say we now understand what all the fuss was about!  If you enjoy the conversation, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll interview Scott about both this book and the series as a whole.  Until then, thanks as always for listening, and please continue to spread the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 85 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we talk to D.B. Jackson (the urban fantasy pen name of epic fantasist David B. Coe) about his Thieftaker Chronicles series and his latest book Thieves’ Quarry, setting the new standard for “tricorn punk” (a term which we think needs to be copyrighted stat!).  We talk about pen names, subgenres, conventions, and how an academic background can be valuable for a speculative fiction author–a subject which Greg particularly enjoys!  David has an interesting perspective on a long and varied career, and we were glad to get the chance to speak to him here; if you enjoyed the interview too, remember to check back in two weeks when we’ll begin our next triptych on the work of Scott Lynch.  Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 84 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode, the second of two taped live at LoneStarCon, we talk to Campbell nominee and speculative fiction author Chuck Wendig about his new book Under The Empyrean Sky (the world’s first “cornpunk” novel), his writing process, and the best ways to establish and maintain an online persona, along with what drives him to help others in the science fiction and fantasy community.  Chuck is always entertaining and fun to talk to, and we’re fairly confident that our analysis of his “hobo armies” is the most in depth of its kind (if not, we’d like to see where else it’s shown up!).  If you like what you hear, please check back next week for one more interview, this one with David B. Coe / D.B. Jackson.  Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 83 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode, the first of two taped live at LoneStarCon, we talk to veteran speculative fiction author Martha Wells about her experience in workshopping at Worldcon (Greg and Martha have been paired for the past three years as pro writers in the Worldcon Writers’ Workshops), her new book with Angry Robot‘s YA imprint Strange Chemistry, Emilie and the Hollow World, and her perspective on the changing fortunes of Night Shade Books.  We also touch on her new Star Wars book Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge, and the differences between writing an original series and one set in another iconic world.  If you like what you hear, please check back next week for our second Worldcon interview, this one with Angry Robot author Chuck Wendig.  Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 82 of Speculate! In this episode, Greg and Brad complete their triptych of shows on Lauren Beukes by discussing writing technique, using The Shining Girls as our inspiration. We talk about specificity, of “going with your gut,” of the balance between protagonist and antagonist, and the promises books make. Don’t forget to tune in in the coming weeks when we talk to author D.B. Jackson about the latest installment in his Thieftaker Chronicles.

Welcome to Episode 81 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Lauren Beukes, specifically The Shining Girls, by talking to the journalist, screenwriter and author who uses her diverse background and experiences to inform her writing–and infuse it with passion and empathy, as this often powerful conversation suggests.  We learn something about the challenges incumbent in writing a book about a serial killer and the role fantasy plays in Lauren’s fiction, along with a frank discussion about how justice denied in real life can often be upheld in fiction–and how that can set an example for what real life should be.  All in all, this is one of the more intriguing interviews we’ve had the chance to do, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check back next week for our final show in the triptych, a discussion of some of the specific writing techniques used in The Shining Girls.  Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!