STORYBEAST

By STORYBEAST

A podcast for story lovers, Storybeast explores how we weave tales and why we love them. Co-hosts Ghabiba Weston and C. Shack chat with each other and legendary guests about different elements of vari... more

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FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 87 episodes available.

STORYBEAST episodes:

December 12, 2024Episode #86: 'Tis the (end of a half) season! Romantasy Summit highlights and teasers for upcoming Legendaries
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this final episode of Season 4 Part 1, the Beasts:
recount the highlights of the Storybeast virtual conference, 'Romantasy Summit 2024'

share some of their takeaways (one of those may or may not be how to scoop out an eyeball)

share resources non-attendees can access

feel cool because they can now do an Anakin sword spin

recommend a show which they feel is a great study in characterisation

give some hints for who to expect in our Legendary line-up for Season 4 Part 2

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!

A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.

As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.

Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
36min
December 05, 2024Episode #85: Legendary Thea Guanzon on the Hurricane Wars, Monsoon Rising, and Reylo
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Thea Guanzon.
Thea Guanzon is a New York Times, USA Today, Indie List, Sunday Times, and global bestselling author from the Philippines. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with a specialization in International Politics and a minor in Peace Studies. When she’s not writing, she likes to travel, fangirl over villains, play Dungeons & Dragons, annoy her cats, and drink iced coffee. She currently resides in Metro Manila.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Thea's author journey

Inspiration for the Hurricane Wars

Reylo as the third pillar of civilization

delicious food

and what to expect from Monsoon Rising (out December 10)

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 3min
November 28, 2024Episode #84: On the lead up to Storybeast’s Romantasy conference and the sharing of secrets
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode:
Courtney shares her take on essential Romantasy ingredients.

you'll hear about what to expect from Romantasy Summit's sword yoga guided break

Ghabiba shares a fun sword fact

you'll hear about a gift from ⁠WeaponUp ⁠from Romantasy Summit attendees

the Beasts announce a Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale for Romantasy Summit

Courtney has Lie Pie

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠welcome page ⁠or jump straight into ⁠the course offerings⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching. Registration closes December 4th, 2024.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠subscribe to our newsletter.⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
26min
November 21, 2024Episode #83: Emily Varga on feminine rage and her debut, For She is Wrath
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Emily Varga.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Emily's publication journey

Feminine Rage

Tropes and characters in For She is Wrath

Advice on managing life as an author

And lots of swords
A special note on our winter conference:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠⁠welcome page⁠⁠ or jump straight into ⁠⁠our course offerings⁠⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 2min
November 14, 2024Episode #82: On challenges: the good, the tough, the internal, the external
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this episode
Ghabiba has feelings (who would've guessed)

the beasts discuss facing challenges in your pj's
the world is on fire: the outside challenge

how do I create in times like this? the inside challenge
you'll hear about craft challenges that can help you step outside your comfort zone and expand your talent

Gabi reveals a secret future legendary whose wisdom has been instrumental in helping her break out of her writing comfort zone

Courtney talks about getting past the "graveyard of beginnings"

Ghabiba shares more about her short stories and touches on tapping into "the you outside of writing" to lend context and flavor to your characters and themes

Courtney plays the audience and Ghabiba gives you a micro-documentary on a snake from Africa

the beasts discuss finding ways to challenge yourself within a genre and interpret conventions with intention

Ghabiba talks about using physical changes within a story to represent themes, esp. helpful in short form fiction where a lot of what you want to convey is implied

Courtney talks about when real world challenges spill into your writing space

the beasts discuss finding YOUR internal character motivations and staying challenged

Courtney shares book recs in the spirit of short stories and ARCANE!

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our welcome page or jump straight into the course offerings to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.

Save your seat today.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter.

Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!

A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.

As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.

Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
47min
November 08, 2024Episode #81: Clare Sager on Intuition, Poison, and What's Next
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Clare Sager.
Clare Sager writes fantasy stories with adventure, intrigue, darkness, and a heaping spoonful of steamy romance. Her favourite tropes include enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and tricky fae bargains that just might be more trouble than they’re worth.
She lives in Nottingham, Robin Hood country, so it’s no surprise she writes about characters who don’t always play by the rules.
In this episode, you'll hear:
About dealing with burnout

Love for Becca Syme and her Better Faster Academy

Shout outs to Charlie's Book Recs' substack

How Clare's method of relaxing impacts her stories

Clare hint at what's next for her in the writing world

Bonding over poison
A special note on our winter conference:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠welcome page⁠ or jump straight into ⁠our course offerings⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h
October 31, 2024Episode #80: Our top three listener questions answered
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this episode:
Ghabiba flies solo and says nice things about Courtney

It's Courtney's birthday and she has a gift for you!

you get a reminder of the Lit for Lebanon auction and some Very Cool Things you can bid on until 2 November.

Ghabiba answers the top three questions from you, our lovely listeners!

you'll hear about the common denominator of your success

you'll hear about the ins and outs of handling feedback

you'll hear how to start a podcast

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠⁠⁠welcome page ⁠⁠⁠or jump straight into ⁠⁠⁠the course offerings⁠⁠⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
Don't forget to ⁠⁠⁠save your seat today⁠⁠⁠.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
12min
October 24, 2024Episode #79: "The Family that Slays Together, Stays Together", Cecy Robson on the birth of Bloodguard
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Cecy Robson.
Cecy Robson is an international and award-winning author who is published with Penguin, Random House, and now Entangled Publishing’s new imprint, Red Tower Books. As an immigrant of El Salvador with proud Nahua Pipil indigenous heritage, Cecy became the first college graduate in her family and has worked as a registered nurse for twenty-three years. In her free time, Cecy creates magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure. You can find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.
In this episode, you'll hear:
about beautiful book covers

the ways in which Cecy will hurt you with her books

the amazing story behind the birth of BLOODGUARD

some Aragorn appreciation (to no one's surprise)

about Romantasy drawing on Romance series conventions and what to expect next from the BLOODGUARD world

about Cecy's fun way of making sure her fight scenes work

about the time Cecy went to get a tissue and got an agent instead

about the power of kindness in the writing community

Courtney and Cecy bond over their collection of medieval weaponry

how "the family that slays together stays together"

Cecy's method writing approach: how to use the power of music and visualization as inspiration for deepening character and emotion

Cecy bringing feelings into snacks--and we're here for it!

about the legality of carrying swords in North Carolina

Cecy proclaiming Courtney and Ghabiba her forever besties

Cecy offers two of her books as gifts to our listeners! Check out our Instagram for more on how to enter.
Storybeast is a proud supporter of the Lit for Lebanon auction, where we're offering four full passes to Romantasy Summit to raise funds for Threads of Peace. To bid, check out 32auctions.com/l4l
A special note on our winter conference:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our welcome page or jump straight into our course offerings to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 17min
October 17, 2024Episode #78: Myths, Retellings, and History as Story Scaffolding + Fangirling Over City of Brass For Life
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Courtney's reading streak and the duo's love for City of Brass by Shannon Chakraborty

Myths, fairytales, and history to give story a grounded element, as well as favorite retellings

Courtney talks out loud about her worldbuilding spiderweb process with examples

Ghabiba compliments Courtney's brain

The pair talk about brain fatigue

The snack chat devolves into bickering, but Courtney shares this recipe (probably again)

Opportunities to donate to the Lit for Lebanon auction

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠⁠⁠welcome page ⁠⁠⁠or jump straight into ⁠⁠⁠the course offerings⁠⁠⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
Don't forget to ⁠⁠⁠save your seat today⁠⁠⁠.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
45min
October 10, 2024Episode #77: K.A. Linde on gorgeous books, sweeping retellings, and nerding out with story easter eggs
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary K.A. Linde.
K.A. Linde is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wren in the Holly Library. She is prolific in both romance and fantasy and loves the blend of the two.
She has a Masters degree in political science and bachelors in philosophy from the University of Georgia. In her previous life, she was a head campaign worker for a presidential campaign and the coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.

In this episode, you'll hear:
Gabi getting an idea for a new job

the beasts fangirling with KA Linde over puppies and ATLA

about the gorgeous THE WREN IN THE HOLLY LIBRARY map

about K.A. Linde's process for exploring setting and history

us all nerding out over easter eggs in THE WREN IN THE HOLLY LIBRARY

K.A. Linde's approach to writing politics in fantasy

about magic: writing it, reading it, getting excited about it

about retellings and making them their own as a writer

K.A. Linde's gasp-worthy writing journey and her process for releasing up to 6 books a year

A special note and a gift for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠welcome page ⁠or jump straight into ⁠the course offerings⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For $30 off your purchase, use our code BEBRAVE30 at checkout. This code is valid through October 13th. Don't wait, ⁠save your seat today⁠.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
46min

FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 87 episodes available.

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