Speculate

Welcome to a special episode of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  This week we’re proud to present our first video, an hour long compilation of interviews, critique sessions and readings that made up part of the Wellspring Workshop held this past June in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  We hope you enjoy the video, and hope even more that you spread the word about our show (audio and video!) to others; we’ll be back next week with a discussion of the Hugo nominees.

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Welcome to Episode 20 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we wrap up our series of shows on Aliette de Bodard’s Harbinger of the Storm with a discussion of some of the writing techniques she utilizes in the book…and some suggestions about how aspiring writers can put similar techniques to use in their own fiction.  If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check back for a special video episode of Speculate! next week, when you’ll get an inside look at the recently concluded Wellspring Workshop from the participants themselves; until then, thanks as always for listening, and please continue to spread the word about the show!

P.S. We’ll be at Gen Con this coming weekend in Indianapolis, one of the largest fantasy and science fiction gaming conventions in the world, participating as always in the Writers’ Symposium, a writing track specifically for aspiring authors (and the readers who love them).  If you’re in the area, please stop by and speak to us about the show, or whatever else is on your mind!

Hello again, and welcome to Episode 19 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we continue our series of shows on the work of Aliette de Bodard by interviewing the author herself about Harbinger of the Storm, covering topics from Aztec culture to the ways mysteries and thrillers can enhance speculative fiction…and whether she sees herself writing such fiction in French in the future.  If you enjoy what you hear, make sure you read more of Aliette’s work–and don’t forget to check back next week, when we’ll conclude this series with a discussion of the writing techniques used in the novel.  As always, thanks for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome back for Episode 18 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  Recently back from Wellspring Workshop, in this episode we begin a series of shows on the work of Nebula, Hugo and Campbell nominee Aliette de Bodard, focusing in particular on her book Harbinger of the Storm.  If you like what you hear, make sure to check back next week for our interview of the author herself…and as always, thanks for continuing to listen to (and spread the word about) the show!

Welcome to Episode 17 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we talk about Wellspring, an invite only novel writing workshop being held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and involving eleven speculative fiction authors (including your humble hosts Greg and Brad!), along with a more extended conversation about workshop models, MFA programs, and courses in speculative fiction.  If you like what you hear, make sure you check back in the next couple of weeks for some video of the workshop and interviews with the participants; until then, thanks as always for listening and continuing to spread the word!

After a brief hiatus, we’re back with Episode 16 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we talk to New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson about the conclusion of his epic fantasy trilogy Terra Incognita, his tie-in work in universes from Star Wars to Star Trek to Dune, and his writing process (spoiler: it involves hiking and a voice recorder!).  We even get the chance to chat about music and how he managed to get some of the most important people in progressive rock to record two companion CDs for Terra Incognita…Greg admits to being just a trifle envious about this.  If you enjoy the interview, don’t forget to stop back next week when we’ll talk about writing workshops and classes (and the pros and cons of each).  As usual, thanks for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Welcome to Episode 15 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we wrap up our look at Eclipse Four, Night Shade Books’ newest anthology, with a discussion of some of the writing techniques demonstrated in some representative stories by Michael Swanwick, James Patrick Kelly and Andy Duncan.  If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll start a series of one-off shows featuring interviews with publicists, artists and authors; until then, thanks as always for listening, and please continue to spread the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 14 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we talk to two luminaries of speculative fiction, James Patrick Kelly and Michael Swanwick, about their stories for Night Shade Books‘ new anthology Eclipse Four, their careers in science fiction and fantasy and what they’re working on for the near future.  We even get them to dole out some advice to aspiring writers (the much too quick summary: learn and be confident in what you’ve learned).  If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check in again next week when we’ll wrap up the Eclipse Four series by talking about some of the writing techniques involved in the some of the anthology’s finest stories.  As always, thanks for continuing to spread the word about the show!

Welcome back for Episode 13 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we interview editor extraordinaire Jonathan Strahan on his editing career, his philosophy on constructing an anthology and his work with Night Shade Books‘ newest story collection, Eclipse Four.  We even get a chance to talk to him about podcasting, which we hope isn’t too crazily meta for the show!  If you like what you hear, remember to check back next week when we’ll interview James Patrick Kelly and Michael Swanwick on their respective stories for Eclipse Four.  As usual, thanks for listening to (and spreading the word about) the show!

Hi all,

Welcome back for Episode 12 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we start a new sequence of discussion/interview/discussion shows on the new anthology from publisher Night Shade Books and editor Jonathan Strahan, Eclipse Four, concentrating in particular on stories by Michael Swanwick, James Patrick Kelly, Andy Duncan and Kij Johnson.  If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll interview Mr. Strahan himself to get his take on the anthology.  And as always, thanks for spreading the word about the show!