#DonLesser #CrystalSprings #RootstockPublishing #LiteraryFiction #DebutNovel #FoundFamily #LoveOfPlace #FriendshipStories #PioneerValley #WesternMassachusetts #BookInterview #AuthorInterview #IndiePublishing #SmallPressBooks #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by author Don Lesser to talk about his debut novel, Crystal Springs — a work of literary fiction set in Western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, and driven by the love of place, found family, and friendships that last longer than we expect.

At the center is Steven Bennett, an everyman trying to find his footing across a decades-long journey—while the past keeps pulling at his sleeve. As one early praise note puts it, “peril simmers beneath the surface,” and the book explores how a single decision can change a life’s trajectory in ways that don’t reveal themselves all at once.

We talk about building a novel that spans time without losing emotional focus, how the Pioneer Valley shapes the characters, and what it means to write about the long game of memory, regret, and loyalty.

Crystal Springs is published by Rootstock Publishing and is scheduled for May 5, 2026, with a launch event listed for May 13, 2026 at the North Amherst Library in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

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For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, Maureen Devlin, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

https://www.dieboldcomics.com/

https://www.maureendevlinauthor.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#JohnHolland #DieBoldComics #Zoop #ZoopComics #DigitalComics #IndieComics #ComicBooks #ComicsPodcast #ComicCreator #ComicsCommunity #SupportIndieComics #PDFComics #CrowdfundedComics #Backlist #Storycomic

John Holland is back on the show — and this time he’s doing something that’s both practical and pretty smart for readers: he’s launched The Die Bold Comics Digital Library on Zoop, a fundraising campaign that makes a big chunk of his catalog available as digital PDFs.

The campaign offers 13 comics + 3 trades (over 800 pages) spanning horror, science fiction, crime, fantasy, superhero, slice-of-life, comedy, and drama. Single issues are priced at $5, trades at $10, with bundles and a “tip jar” option if you want to toss in a little extra support.

We talk about why John chose Zoop for this run, how the digital-library approach changes the way readers can discover an indie creator’s backlist, and what it means to make comics that are already finished and ready to deliver as soon as the campaign ends.

If you’ve ever wanted a low-barrier way to explore a creator’s work — this is it.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

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Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

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For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

https://www.dieboldcomics.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#MelanieHill #JettCooper #MiddleGradeBooks #KidsLit #ActionAdventure #AviationBooks #FlyingStories #STEMReads #GriefInKidsBooks #ResilienceForKids #ComingOfAge #BookInterview #AuthorInterview #IndieBooks #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by author Melanie Hill to talk about her high-octane middle-grade novel Jett Cooper — an aviation adventure that puts you right in the cockpit, but still makes room for the heavy stuff: grief, fear, family pressure, and what it means to chase a dream when the adults around you are trying to keep you safe.

The story follows Jett Cooper, a kid who lives to fly. After his father’s accident, his grieving mother bans “everything flying,” right as the Blue Wolf Junior Air Competition and a scholarship opportunity come into view. Jett’s determined to compete anyway — which means facing rivals (including a former best friend), earning the respect of a tough team lead, and learning fast that gravity always wins and mistakes in the air come with real consequences.

Melanie also brings real authenticity to the conversation: she’s spent years around aviation, and she’s talked about the challenge of writing flying scenes so they stay fast and exciting without getting buried in technical detail.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

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For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

https://www.dieboldcomics.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#ErikaNicholsFrazer #ErikaFrazer #PSOV #PoetrySocietyOfVermont #CanYouSeeHerTheMoon #NoOneWillEverHearYou #FinishingLinePress #RootstockPublishing #VermontWriter #PoetryCommunity #ShortStoryCollection #Chapbook #IndiePublishing #WriterInterview #Storycomic

Erika Frazer is back on the show, and we’ve got new work to talk about.

Erika Nichols-Frazer is a Vermont writer, poet, and editor (including her role with The Mountain Troubadour, PSOV’s long-running poetry journal). This time, we’re focusing on what’s next: her forthcoming poetry chapbook Can you see her, the moon? (Finishing Line Press, June 2026) and her forthcoming story collection No One Will Ever Hear You (Rootstock Publishing, September 2026).

We talk about where these books came from, how her work moves between memoir, poetry, and fiction, and what changes when you’re writing poems versus building a set of stories. We also get into the behind-the-scenes life of a working writer in Vermont—community, literary ecosystems, and what keeps the work honest on the page.

If you love Vermont writers, small press publishing, and conversations that go beyond “what’s your book about” and into the real craft and real life of it, this one’s for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

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For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, John Holland, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

https://www.dieboldcomics.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#TheBoyInTheTree #JConwell #LittleRipples #RipplesMedia #PictureBook #ChildrensBooks #KidsLit #EmotionalIntelligence #SocialEmotionalLearning #ResilienceForKids #GrowthMindset #ParentingTools #ClassroomReadAloud #BookInterview #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m talking with J. Conwell about his picture book The Boy in the Tree: When Weak is Okay, published by Little Ripples, the new children’s imprint from Ripples Media.

It’s a simple premise with a big payoff: a boy gets stuck high in a tree, fear kicks in, and he has to learn something kids (and plenty of adults) wrestle with—asking for help isn’t failure; it’s courage. The story is built to support emotional intelligence, naming feelings, and reframing “weak” as a normal part of being human.

We also talk about why Little Ripples exists, and why books about resilience, stewardship, and social-emotional learning are landing so strongly right now.

Book details: 34 pages, illustrated by Jeff Dehut, published by Ripples Media.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

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https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#MelissaAddey #ALLi #AllianceOfIndependentAuthors #IndieAuthorBookstore #IndieAuthorMonth #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #AuthorCommunity #BookDiscovery #IndiePublishing #AuthorMarketing #PublishingIndustry #AuthorBusiness #WritingCommunity #Storycomic

Melissa Addey is back on the show, and this time we’re talking about something that matters to every indie author trying to get discovered: the new Indie Author Bookstore from the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

ALLi describes the Indie Author Bookstore as a “living showcase” of ALLi members’ books, letting readers browse by genre, theme, and season and then buy direct from the author’s preferred retailer, with an emphasis on ethical, professional self-publishing.

Melissa walks us through why ALLi built it, what “soft launch” really looks like behind the scenes, and how this kind of infrastructure can help indie books stand out in a crowded marketplace. We also get into the bigger picture: what the data says about self-publishing right now, what authors should be paying attention to in 2026, and how indie authors can use discovery tools, metadata, and positioning to make their work easier to find.

If you’re an author, a reader who loves finding hidden gems, or someone curious about where publishing is going next, this is a great one.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#RainbowKite #KellyBennett #PictureBook #ChildrensBooks #KidsLit #ReadAloud #Imagination #CreativePlay #SelfExpression #ClassroomBooks #LibraryBooks #KMBrown #YoungDragonsPress #BookInterview #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by children’s author Kelly Bennett to talk about her picture book Rainbow Kite—a playful story about imagination, self-expression, and what can happen when one brave kid’s “why not?” gives everyone else permission to try.

The book follows Lulu, who doesn’t plan on going outside—until a plain, slightly ragged kite shows up and basically dares Lulu to follow it. As Lulu chases the kite through the neighborhood, the game turns into something bigger: other kids start watching, then joining in, and suddenly the whole block feels a little more open, a little more creative, and a lot more free.

We talk about writing for picture-book rhythm, how a simple “runaway kite” premise becomes a story about confidence and belonging, and what Kelly hopes families and classrooms take from it. Rainbow Kite is published by Young Dragons Press and illustrated by K.M. Brown.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#DaveBaker #PunknHeads #TopShelfProductions #GraphicNovel #IndieComics #ComicsPodcast #NicoleGoux #PunkRockStories #HorrorPunk #BandDrama #ComingOfAge #QueerStories #ComicCreators #BookTalk #Storycomic

Dave Baker is back on the show with a new graphic novel from Top Shelf: Punk’n Heads, co-created with Nicole Goux. It lands April 7, 2026, and it’s a raucous, heartfelt story about making art, making mistakes, and trying to figure yourself out while the volume is turned way up.

The book follows Hannah Lipsky, an art-school dropout reeling from a breakup who finds herself living in a flophouse and getting pulled into singing for a campy horror-punk band—costumes included. From there it’s band dynamics, creative ambition, relationship mess, and that early-adulthood feeling of “I have no idea what I’m doing… but I’m doing it anyway.”

We talk about building a full-length graphic novel (216 pages), how Dave and Nicole shaped the tone, what punk lets you say that other genres don’t, and what Dave hopes readers walk away with when the last chord hits.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#DVSM #GaryHodges #IndieComics #GraphicNovel #SciFiHorror #HorrorComics #SciFiComics #FoundFootageHorror #DocumentaryStyle #Worldbuilding #ComicCreator #IndieCreator #GraphicNovelSeries #ComicsInterview #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by indie comic creator Gary Hodges, who’s been making comics for about 8 years and is building a seriously cool graphic novel series called DvsM.

DvsM is a character-focused sci-fi/horror story told through eyewitness accounts of a highly classified war that supposedly took place from the 1970s into the early 2000s. Each installment shows the conflict from a different vantage point — a soldier, a scientist, a “man in black,” and more — so the series reads like an in-world documentary. Gary describes it as “if Ken Burns did a documentary on War of the Worlds,” and once you hear him explain the structure, you’ll get why that’s the perfect comparison.

We talk about building tension through testimony, how you keep a big secret-war mythology coherent across multiple perspectives, and what it takes to keep an indie series moving over years — from story planning to art decisions to connecting with readers.

If you like sci-fi horror, faux-documentary storytelling, and indie comics with real ambition, you’re going to have fun with this one.

Find Gary online:

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

On this episode, I’m joined by children’s book author Maureen Devlin, creator of the Backer & Backer series — a set of books built around one of the best questions kids ask: “How did that get here?”

Each story starts with something familiar — an apple, a warm hat, a bouncy ball, a kid-made picture, even a puppy — and then goes “backer and backer” to explore the origin of everyday things in a way that’s playful, clear, and genuinely educational for young readers.

We talk about what inspired the series (including reading with her twin daughters), how she builds curiosity into the rhythm of a read-aloud, and why she’s so intentional about mixing fun with real-world facts.

We also highlight the illustrator, Nancy D. Conde, whose whimsical artwork helps make the “how it’s made / where it comes from” journey feel like an adventure instead of a lesson.

If you’ve got a curious kid (or you’re raising one who asks “why?” 400 times a day), this episode is for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!