The Fearless Storyteller

Dakota Krout is an author and publisher of bestselling GameLit fiction, a growing niche within the Science Fiction & Fantasy umbrella.

His company, Mountaindale Press, has helped nearly half of their authors replace their day job income with writing. 

In 2016, Dakota started writing and self-publishing without expectation. His primary goal was to have fun and cross an item off his bucket list. The market embraced his work, and with the help of his wife, he’s been reinvesting his time, energy, and earnings into growing a sustainable business for the long-term. 

Listen to learn more about Dakota’s journey, learning moments, and his goals for 2020 and beyond. 

Dakota Krout author website.Mountaindale Press.

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

Makana is an award-winning slack-key guitar player, singer/songwriter, and composer, based in Hawaii.

He’s performed for presidents and other world leaders and had his music featured on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack for The Descendants.

When we connected for this interview, Makana was in the midst of a joyful renewal as an artist and human being. 

Among the topics we discussed in this interview:

* His childhood mentorship with slack-key legend, Sonny Chillingsworth.

* Playing for a career since moving out at age 19 (over 20 years ago)

* The balance between honoring tradition and evolving an art form.

* The Big Lie in the music industry.

* The intersections of art, activism, and community.

* On Kuleana: why rights and responsibility are inseparable. 

* Why he values freedom over fame and turned down big traditional deals. 

* On psychological brand management and managing access to his work.

* How producing hundreds of songs over the past two years has helped him reclaim a sense of creative play and limitless possibility: “There are no boundaries to what I can create now.”

* What’s in Makana’s Artist Survival Kit.

* On what happens when you combine mastery of your craft with human connection and vulnerability. 

* The Business of Dreams: A Primer for the aspiring artist.

* Why most artists struggle.

* The importance of captivating an audience in the first fifteen seconds.

* What’s next: Consolidating control of his art, a full reset/relaunch of his online presence, and putting the final touches on a Broadway musical script.

To learn more about Makana, you can visit his website. 

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan? Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

Strix Beltran is a narrative designer for analog and digital games.

It was after reading Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower that today’s guest first felt permission to start writing the kinds of stories she could see herself inhabiting. 

At Pacifica, Strix earned a one-of-a-kind Master’s degree in Mythological Studies, where she gained a unique perspective on character. Now, she’s blending that expertise together with a passion for making people feel things via the games she helps create.

How does narrative design overlap with other forms of traditional storytelling? Let’s find out.

Visit Strix at her website. 

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

When NYC songwriter Matt Butler started 9th-grade at a new school, he was also gifted his first guitar. For a self-conscious kid needing validation and affirmation, music was the perfect remedy—a chance to feel, express, and communicate his internal experiences.

Matt started out playing punk rock, but by 2016, he’d come into his own as a singer/songwriter. He stumbled into a steady gig performing for incarcerated populations, and just a year later, he was named a ‘2017 Leader In Mental Health Awareness’ by The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI). 

Even as he was receiving accolades for his work supporting others with his music, Matt was quickly pushing himself to burn-out. As he eventually realized, to quote Carl Jung, “we need to resolve our own darkness before we can save the world.” 

So, what’s different for Matt in 2020—especially in the midst of a pandemic—and how have his perspectives on being a professional songwriter shifted? Let’s find out.

To learn more about today's guest, visit Matt Butler's website.

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

Jason Anspach considers himself a lifelong storyteller, but it was only five years ago that he made the decision to start putting his work out there. 

His first series covered its expenses and found a home with a small, niche audience. After that first taste of success, he reached a fork in the road, asking himself, “Do I keep writing as a side-hustle or reinvest myself in understanding the marketplace?”

Jason chose to start planning for success. And in 2017, his co-created Military Science Fiction franchise, Galaxy’s Edge, quickly developed a rabid, engaged community of readers. The income was enough for him to quit his day job, and he’s been working from home and spending quality time with his family ever since.

What can we learn from today’s guest about planning for success? Let’s find out.

Learn more about Jason Anspach at his website. 

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

As a book coach, speaker, and author of more than fifty non-fiction books, Honoree Corder understands the power of words.

She didn’t start out planning to write books. She was hustling to build a sustainable coaching business, when a mentor figure told her—and I’m paraphrasing—“You have to write a book if you want to differentiate yourself and stand out.” 

That message resonated with Honoree and fifteen-plus years later, she’s enjoyed a lot of unexpected successes along the way. Here are a couple highlights: Her Single Mom series has sold over 500K copies and she’s collaborated on several Miracle Morning books with Hal Elrod.

But for Honoree, success isn’t about the sales. It’s about fulfillment—and lately—it’s especially about the fun. 

To learn more about Honoree, visit her website. 

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

In 2012, Jonathan Yanez quit his job, cashed in his 401K, and decided to go-for-broke as a full-time independent author.

Now, he’s a bestselling SF&F author with a sizable backlist. In conventional narrative, it’s tempting to only talk about the success, but in this interview, Jonathan busts the myths of the overnight success and talks about the hard times and failures, too. In his own words, he’s made “every mistake imaginable.” And yet, he’s come out ahead. 

If you’re looking for the inspiration to “get it done,” look no further than today’s episode of The Fearless Storyteller. 

To learn more about Jonathan, visit his website.

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

Spring Clean for Authors

Are you ready to minimize Overwhelm and maximize your capacity to do your best work?

In April 2020, I’ll be offering Spring Clean For Authors, a four-week online support group to help you declutter your personal and professional lives.

You can show your interest by pre-RSVP’ing today. Just visit ethanfreckleton.com/declutter

How do we make the most of an unexpected transition like we're dealing with right now as schools close and we're in lock-down?

If you're looking for ideas, I invite you to join me for an Imperfect Take on the subject, which is one I've spent a number of years thinking about (I even wrote a book about it).

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

 

After three books, Alexandra Monir had established herself as a “mid-list author,” which was a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, she’d established herself with a YA paranormal audience. On the other, her career could’ve easily stopped growing at that point. 

Despite being told that science fiction stories in space weren’t a great market, she persisted with writing her story, THE FINAL SIX. As luck would have it, by the time the manuscript was ready, space stories were making a comeback and her book was acquired by HarperCollins and Sony Pictures in two major pre-emptive deals. 

What has Alexandra learned from her journey? Be sure to find out on this week’s episode of The Fearless Storyteller. 

Where to find Alexandra:

Official website

IG: @alexandramonir

Twitter: @TimelessAlex

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton

Spring Clean for Authors

Are you ready to minimize Overwhelm and maximize your capacity to do your best work?

In April 2020, I’ll be offering Spring Clean For Authors, a four-week online support group to help you declutter your personal and professional lives.

You can show your interest by pre-RSVP’ing today. Just visit ethanfreckleton.com/declutter

Phoenix Williams is a bestselling and award-nominated author of paranormal and erotic romance novels. In 2012, she was preparing to graduate from law school when she realized that she didn’t want to be a lawyer. So, she found herself pivoting to her first love—books—and began writing and independently publishing her stories. Three years later, she was picked up by a publisher and her career has since taken off. 

But after a while, a busy writing and promotion schedule had Phoenix on the brink of complete burn-out. As some Internet gurus are fond of saying, “you’ve got to grind til your heart stops.” She finally gave herself permission to take a vacation and one month turned into a year away from writing. 

What did Phoenix do to get back on track? Be sure to listen to today’s episode of The Fearless Storyteller!

Find her books on Amazon. 

Spring Clean for Authors

Are you ready to minimize Overwhelm and maximize your capacity to do your best work? 

In April 2020, I’ll be offering Spring Clean For Authors, a four-week online support group to help you declutter your personal and professional lives.

You can show your interest by pre-RSVP’ing today. Just visit ethanfreckleton.com/declutter

About The Fearless Storyteller:

Intro Song: “Unlimited Love” (instrumental version) by Ethan Freckleton & Lucas Clebsch

Follow along on Facebook with The Fearless Storyteller community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/380936465875726/

Wondering if you might be a fit to work with Ethan?

Schedule a 10-15 minute chat to find out! https://calendly.com/ethanfreckleton/15min

Are you finding this podcast to be a valuable resource? Learn how to support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ethanfreckleton