The Mythic Mic Podcast

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where worlds are built brick by brick, grief can shape entire galaxies, and stories dare to ask what it means to love something you can never hold onto again.

This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with fantasy romance legend Sarah A. Parker, the brilliant mind behind the Moonfall series, to dive into the phenomenon that is When the Moon Hatched—a story as emotionally devastating as it is breathtakingly immersive.

From the very first moment, this conversation pulls you deep into Sarah’s creative mind, where worlds are not just written, but lived in for years before ever making it onto the page. Sarah shares how When the Moon Hatched began not with characters or plot, but with a fully formed world that demanded to exist—a place she wandered through, shaped, and refined long before she felt ready to tell its story. 

We dive into the heart of When the Moon Hatched, where an assassin with fragmented memories crosses paths with a dragon-riding king grieving a love he cannot let go. What begins as tension and collision evolves into something far deeper—a story rooted in grief, longing, identity, and the quiet, devastating ways love reshapes us.

At the center of it all is one of the most unforgettable fantasy concepts in recent memory: dragons who, in death, rise into the sky and become moons. It's a concept born from Sarah’s own experience with loss, and one that gives the story its haunting emotional core.

Along the way, Sarah opens up about her writing process, from chaotic, “overly fluffy” first drafts to the meticulous refinement that shapes her signature lyrical prose. She shares why she avoids outside noise while writing, how she protects the integrity of her stories, and what it means to truly write for yourself before anyone else.

🌙 What does it mean to carry grief in a world that never stops turning?
🐉 How do you hold onto love when all you have left is memory?
⚔️ And what happens when two broken people collide in a story neither of them chose?

This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of deeply emotional storytelling, and anyone who wants a fantasy world they can truly disappear into.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Building an entire fantasy world over years before writing a single page.
✨ Writing as escape, and why readers feel that on every page.
✨ The origin of dragon moons and the grief behind the magic.
✨ Crafting Raeve and Kaan as opposites shaped by loss.
✨ Why When the Moon Hatched was the story Sarah had to tell. 
✨ Taking creative risks (and investing everything into one book). 
✨ Writing lyrical prose and learning when to cut it back. 
✨ The balance between worldbuilding and character connection. 
✨ Why Sarah avoids reading reviews while drafting. 
✨ Protecting your story from outside influence. 
✨ Book 2 expectations (and why readers need to prepare 👀). 
✨ Practical writing advice: beta readers, drafting fast, and trusting the process. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Sarah A. Parker – @Sarah.A.Parker.Author

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods fall, kingdoms fracture, and fantasy stories leave emotional wreckage in the very best way.

This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sarah Santillan sit down with fantasy author Laura A. Blake, author of The Shattered Sky Saga and The Forgotten Dawn, for an immersive, hilarious, and deeply honest conversation about epic fantasy, romantasy, publishing, heartbreak, and the stories that refuse to leave us alone.

If you love sprawling fantasy worlds, emotionally grounded characters, glacial slow burns, devastating endings, and lore so layered it feels ancient, this episode is absolutely for you.

Laura shares her unconventional journey to becoming an author—from studying religion and classical history, teaching at the university level, and navigating traumatic brain injuries and infertility, to ultimately finding her voice through fantasy romance. What began as fragments of a story inspired by firelight and drumming slowly evolved into The Forgotten Dawn, an epic romantasy that blends myth, mystery, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters.

We dive deep into the changing publishing landscape and the rise of indie fantasy authors, including why Laura chose independent publishing over traditional publishing, the realities of marketing as an author, and why indie fantasy is redefining the industry in real time.

But at the heart of this conversation is Laura’s storytelling itself: immersive worlds filled with forgotten gods, layered mythology, quiet heroines, emotional realism, and characters readers become fiercely attached to—sometimes at their own peril.

⚡ What happens when fantasy romance becomes as emotionally grounded as it is epic?
🔥 Why are readers craving quieter, more vulnerable heroines?
🩸 And how do you write characters readers love enough to mourn?

This episode is a must-listen for epic fantasy lovers, romantasy readers, aspiring authors, and anyone fascinated by the rapidly evolving world of indie publishing.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✨ Laura’s winding journey from academia and teaching to becoming a full-time fantasy author.
✨ How traumatic brain injuries and life challenges reshaped her creative path.
✨ The moment romantasy “clicked” after reading Fourth Wing and Sarah J. Maas.
✨ Writing The Forgotten Dawn in an explosive creative sprint.
✨ Why immersive worldbuilding and slow-burn storytelling matter so much to her.
✨ Building fantasy worlds layered with forgotten lore, myth, and mystery.
✨ Creating quieter, more anxious heroines instead of invincible warriors.
✨ Writing emotionally grounded characters readers deeply connect with.
✨ Why side characters deserve rich arcs and meaningful relationships too.
✨ Multi-POV storytelling and expanding the scope of The Shattered Sky Saga.
✨ Breadcrumbs, hidden clues, and long-term planning across a four-book saga.
✨ The rise of indie fantasy publishing and how it’s reshaping the industry.
✨ The realities of querying, traditional publishing timelines, and indie marketing.
✨ Why authors should start marketing their books long before release day.
✨ Slow burn romance, fated mates, and Laura’s favorite fantasy tropes.
✨ Cliffhangers, emotional damage, and why no character is ever truly safe.

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Laura Blake – @LauraBlakeAuthor

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where memories can be stolen, destiny is never what it seems, and stories dare to ask who you really are when everything you thought you knew is a lie.

This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with breakout romantasy author LJ Claren to dive into her viral debut, The Silversmith, a story that has taken over BookTok with its intense romance, shocking twists, and a heroine whose journey is as emotional as it is unforgettable. LJ shares how she began writing as a teenager—not through journaling, but by channeling her emotions into fantasy worlds—and how The Silversmith has lived with her for years, evolving alongside her own life and experiences. 

We dive into the heart of The Silversmith, where Ary, a girl alone, starving, and stripped of her memories, is suddenly thrust into a world that claims she is the key to a prophecy. But nothing is simple. Not her past. Not her powers. And definitely not her connection to Smith, the mysterious, obsessive, and deeply conflicted man who seems to know far more about her than he’s willing to say.

What unfolds is a story driven by tension, yearning, and discovery. As Ary pieces together who she is, readers are right there with her, questioning everything, trusting nothing, and trying to unravel a truth that refuses to come easily.

We also explore LJ's unique publishing journey from indie release to traditional deal after a single post caught the attention of an agent, proving that sometimes the right story finds its way exactly where it’s meant to go.

⚔️ What does it mean to find yourself when your past has been taken from you?
🖤 How do you trust someone who clearly knows more than they should?
🔥 And what happens when the truth changes everything you thought you wanted?

This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of emotional slow-burn romance, and anyone who lives for that moment when a twist completely redefines the story.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✨ Writing as emotional release and why fantasy felt more powerful than journaling.
✨ Living with the same story and characters for years before publishing.
✨ The viral rise of The Silversmith and building a reader base from scratch. 
✨ Indie publishing → traditional deal: how one post changed everything. 
✨ Memory loss as both a plot device and emotional anchor. 
✨ The tension and yearning between Ary and Smith
✨ Writing intentional twists (and why some are meant to be seen coming 👀). 
✨ Found family and expanding worldbuilding in future books. 
✨ The emotional escalation coming in Book 2 (prepare yourselves 😭). 
✨ Balancing romance-first storytelling with expanding magic systems. 
✨ Advice for aspiring authors: don’t give up and don’t wait for perfect. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 LJ Claren – @LJClaren 

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where history is never as simple as we’re taught, power is tangled in politics and belief, and stories dare to ask what it really means to belong to a world shaped by conquest.

This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty, the brilliant mind behind The City of Brass and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Shannon reflects on her unconventional path to authorship—from writing fanfiction and short stories while working a day job to building one of the most celebrated fantasy series of the last decade—all while navigating imposter syndrome that didn’t disappear even after success arrived. 

We dive into the worlds that have captivated readers everywhere. First, the Daevabad Trilogy, a sweeping, political fantasy rooted in Islamic history and jinn mythology, where a con artist from Cairo is pulled into a hidden world of power, conflict, and centuries-old tensions. Shannon unpacks the heart of the series: how politics, religion, and identity collide, and what it means to inherit systems you didn’t create but are forced to navigate.

Then we turn to The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and its upcoming sequel, The Tapestry of Fate. This is a completely different kind of fantasy series, one that centers a middle-aged mother pulled back into a life of piracy, magic, and impossible choices. Shannon shares how writing Amina during the pandemic reshaped her perspective on storytelling, motherhood, and what it means to balance ambition with responsibility.

Along the way, we explore Shannon’s deep commitment to historical accuracy, her belief that writing is inherently political, and why fantasy has the power to challenge the narratives we’ve been taught about the past.

⚔️ What happens when history isn’t what you thought it was?
🌊 How do you balance who you are with who the world needs you to be?
🔥 And what does it mean to challenge a system that was never built for you?

This is a must-listen for fantasy readers who want more than escapism, aspiring authors navigating their own creative paths, and anyone who believes stories should make you think just as much as they make you feel.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 

✨ Shannon’s path from working-class background to bestselling fantasy author.
✨ Writing fanfiction, short stories, and discovering her voice.
✨ Imposter syndrome even after landing an agent and selling her books.
✨ The inspiration behind the Daevabad Trilogy and jinn mythology.
✨ How politics, religion, and conquest shape fantasy worlds.
✨ Why writing is always a political act.
✨ The importance of historical research and challenging your own assumptions.
✨ The creation of Amina al-Sirafi: a middle-aged mother in fantasy.
✨ The realities of balancing motherhood and creativity.
✨ Why fantasy rarely centers parents and why that needed to change.
✨ The inspiration behind The Tapestry of Fate and what’s next for Amina. 
✨ Tackling colonial narratives in adventure stories (yes, even mummies 👀). 
✨ Practical advice for aspiring authors: process, boundaries, and persistence. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Shannon Chakraborty – IG: @Sachakrabooks

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where power is stolen, emotions can be weaponized, and stories dare to ask what happens when the one thing that makes you human is the very thing that could destroy you.

This week, Host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy romance author Jillian Witt to dive into her Champions of Chaos series, including Jeweler of the Blessed and its sequel Trials of the Cursed. This is a series built on one of the most unique and haunting magic systems we’ve seen in fantasy. Jillian shares how her journey started not at a desk, but on long hikes through national parks—where the isolation, beauty, and sense of “anything could exist here” sparked the earliest ideas for her worlds. 

We dive into the heart of Jeweler of the Blessed, where magic is tied to emotion—literally. In this world, those with power don’t just wield magic, they take it, siphoning emotions from others through physical touch and channeling them into gemstones that fuel their abilities. It’s a system that feels both fascinating and deeply unsettling. At the center of it all is Amberlyn, a heroine who has spent her entire life hiding a dangerous secret: she is immune to this magic. In a world where emotions can be stolen, her survival depends on staying unnoticed until she’s forced into the very place she’s been trying to escape.

What unfolds is a story of identity, trust, and learning how to feel in a world where emotion itself is a liability. Add in a bodyguard she may or may not be able to trust, a missing uncle, and a kingdom built on imbalance, and the stakes quickly spiral.

💎 What happens when your emotions are no longer safe to feel?
⚔️ How do you trust someone in a world built on taking?
🔥 And what if the thing you’ve been hiding is the key to everything?

This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, fans of unique magic systems, and anyone who loves stories where emotion, power, and identity collide in unforgettable ways.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✨ Building a magic system inspired by (and darker than) mood rings.
✨ What happens when emotions are stolen and used as power.
✨ Amberlyn as a heroine forced to hide who she truly is.
✨ A bodyguard romance filled with tension, distrust, and slow-burn connection.
✨ The emotional and thematic core: identity, agency, and self-discovery.
✨ The balance between fear and vulnerability in a high-stakes world.
✨ Jillian’s writing process: discovery drafting, multiple revisions, and emotional beats.
✨ The realities of indie publishing and wearing every hat.
✨ Why readers are craving unique, high-concept fantasy systems.
✨ Trials of the Cursed and its emotional, character-driven take on trials. 
✨ Writing both darker fantasy and cozy romantasy as a creative balance. 
✨ Advice for aspiring authors: let the story evolve and give yourself grace. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Jillian Witt – @author.Jillianwitt

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where chaos rides alongside loyalty, monsters feel just as deeply as humans, and sometimes the stories that hurt the most are the ones that stay with you.

This week, Co-Hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by returning guest Jackson Ford to talk about Sisters of the Lizard, the brutal, emotional, and relentless sequel to The Bone Raiders. And because Mythic Mic never does anything halfway, we’ve also brought in special guest, author Andy Peloquin, to keep Jackson on his toes and (maybe) make him answer for the pain he’s caused us all.

From the very first moment, this episode is exactly what you’d expect from a Jackson Ford return: chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep. Jackson opens up about writing Sisters of the Lizard without a strict roadmap, following curiosity wherever it leads, even when that path turns darker than expected. What began as an exploration of a “cool idea” evolved into a story that pushes its characters to their absolute limits emotionally, physically, and psychologically. 

And that’s exactly what makes this book hit so hard.

We dive into the core of the story: a tight-knit crew of raiders riding fire-breathing lizards, forced to survive in an unforgiving world where every decision has consequences. But this isn’t just about action. It’s about what happens after survival. The aftermath. The trauma. The relationships that don’t magically fix themselves just because the first battle is over.

This time, everything is messier. Nothing is clean. And the characters you thought you understood ... you don't. Expect emotional damage, expect character arcs that refuse to take the easy way out, and expect a story that keeps you in the mud with them every step of the way. 

⚔️ What does growth look like when healing isn’t linear?
🖤 How do you move forward when the past is still shaping you?
🔥 And what happens when survival is only the beginning?

This is a must-listen for fantasy readers who love gritty, character-driven stories, emotionally complex arcs, and worlds that feel as raw as they are immersive.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 

✨ Jackson’s return to Mythic Mic and what’s changed since book one.
✨ Writing a sequel that’s darker, more emotional, and more character-driven.
✨ Why curiosity, not planning, drives his storytelling.
✨ The evolution of characters from book one to book two.
✨ Trauma, healing, and surviving toxic relationships.
✨ Why growth isn’t clean and shouldn’t be.
✨ The chaotic, found-family dynamic of the raider crew.
✨ Writing morally messy characters you can’t help but love.
✨ The emotional impact of Sisters of the Lizard (and why it hurts so much 😭). 
✨ The role of lizards as more than just creatures. 
✨ Andy’s take on what makes this series stand out in fantasy. 
✨ The realities of writing, deadlines, and just “doing the thing." 
✨ Marketing a sequel vs a debut and what authors learn along the way. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
👤 Bethany Amanda – @bethanyinfantasyland
👤 Andy Peloquin – @Andypeloquinauthor
📚 Jackson Ford – @RealJacksonFord

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories evolve, genres collide, and we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build unforgettable worlds.

This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with returning powerhouse guest Nisha Tuli for a conversation that spans far beyond a single book. We dive  into the realities of a rapidly growing author career, the evolution of storytelling, and what happens when a romantasy powerhouse steps into the world of YA dystopian.

If you joined us in Season 1, you’ll remember Nisha from her romantasy series Artefacts of Ouranos and her rom-com Not Safe for Work. But this time, she’s back with something entirely different: Storm Breaker, a high-stakes YA dystopian set in a storm-ravaged future where survival is anything but guaranteed.

We get into the heart of Storm Breaker, a post-apocalyptic New Manhattan plagued by deadly storms, rigid class divisions, and a system built to maintain control. At the center is Poet Graves, a girl raised within the elite who begins to question everything she’s been taught when she discovers she has a power that could get her killed. 

But this episode isn’t just about the book—it’s about the shift.

Nisha opens up about what it’s like to pivot genres, sell a book on proposal, and build an entirely new world from scratch. We also go behind the scenes of publishing in a way most authors never get to see: from writing multiple books before they ever hit shelves, to having a project picked up for TV development before it’s even released. And of course, we zoom out into the bigger picture: why dystopian is making a comeback, how today’s world is shaping the stories being told, and what it means to write for a generation navigating truth, power, and information in entirely new ways.

⚡ What does it look like to reinvent yourself as a writer?
🌩️ Why is dystopian fiction hitting differently right now?
🔥 And how do you balance creative instinct with the realities of the publishing industry?

This is a must-listen for writers, readers, and anyone curious about what’s really happening behind the scenes of today’s biggest books.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✨ Transitioning from romantasy to YA dystopian.
✨ The world of Storm Breaker: storm systems, class divides, and a dangerous future. 
✨ Building a dystopian heroine who starts inside the system—not outside it. 
✨ Writing and selling a book on proposal (and why it’s terrifying). 
✨ How Nisha’s writing process has evolved with experience and confidence. 
✨ Why saying no becomes just as important as saying yes. 
✨ The behind-the-scenes timeline of publishing (and why books aren’t written in the order you think). 
✨ Developing a TV adaptation before a book is even released. 
✨ Why dystopian fiction is making a major comeback right now. 
✨ Writing political and social commentary into YA in a way that resonates. 
✨ The challenges of worldbuilding a completely new system from the ground up.

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Nisha J. Tuli – @NishaJTWrites

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where monsters lurk just beyond the veil, power is earned in blood and steel, and stories dare to ask what happens when the most dangerous secret is the one you carry inside yourself.

This week, Co-Host Sara Santillan is joined by Mythic Mic rep Amara for a wildly fun, high-energy, and completely addictive conversation with paranormal romance author Elizabeth Dear, diving into her viral series Shifter Guardians Academy and the first book, Clash of Claws.

From the very beginning, this episode is packed with laughter, chaos, and deep dives into one of the most bingeable subgenres in fantasy right now: shifter romance. Elizabeth shares how her journey into writing started with a simple “what if I tried?” during the pandemic, quickly turning into a full-blown career spanning over a dozen books. 

We dive into the world of Clash of Claws, where humans live unaware of the monsters around them and the shifters who fight to keep them safe. At the center is Avery, a powerful and tightly guarded heroine who enters a brutal Guardian training program hiding one dangerous truth: her beast.

What unfolds is a story filled with deadly trials, monstrous wraiths, and a system that was never built for someone like her to succeed. As Avery fights to prove she belongs, she’s forced into close proximity with the most powerful quad in the program—four men who challenge her, underestimate her, and ultimately make a mistake they’ll have to answer for.

With a mix of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and reverse harem dynamics, this series delivers action, tension, and emotional payoff in equal measure with a cliffhanger that has readers demanding the next book.

🐺 What happens when your power makes you a threat instead of an asset?
⚔️ How do you prove yourself in a system designed to exclude you?
🩸 And what if the people you start to trust are the ones who hurt you most?

This is a must-listen for fans of shifter romance, academy settings, strong heroines with secrets, and stories that blend action, romance, and just the right amount of chaos.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 

✨ Writing during the pandemic and turning “what if” into a full author career. 
✨ The rise of shifter romance and why it’s dominating Bookstagram. 
✨ What defines a shifter story (and why it’s so addictive). 
✨ Building a world of “variety shifters,” from wolves to mythics. 
✨ Why female shifters are rare and feared in this world. 
✨ The Guardian training program and brutal academy dynamics. 
✨ A quad of powerful male leads (including a professor 👀). 
✨ Reverse harem / why choose dynamics and pack bonding. 
✨ THAT cliffhanger ending (and the grovel we’re all waiting for). 
✨ Designing obstacle courses and sword combat for realism. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
👤 Amara (Mythic Mic Rep) – @Bored_Military_Wife
📚 Elizabeth Dear – @ElizabethDearWrites

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fate is never simple, power comes at a cost, and stories dare to ask what you’re willing to sacrifice to become who you were meant to be.

This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Rachel Sandpiper to dive into one of the most buzzed-about indie fantasy books taking over social media: To Touch a Silent Fury. 

Rachel shares how writing started not as a lifelong dream, but as an escape—a way out of a career that didn’t feel right. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something much bigger, fueled by persistence, smart strategy, and a deep understanding of the indie publishing space. 

We dive into the world of To Touch a Silent Fury, an epic fantasy layered with romance, political tension, and one of the most unique magic systems in the genre. The story follows Tani, a moon-touched woman bound to a fate she didn’t choose: marry the victor of a deadly tournament to unlock her magic. Alongside her is Lang, a dragon prince caught between duty and defiance, whose path collides with hers in ways neither of them can control.

What unfolds is a story of agency, belonging, and survival where both characters are navigating systems that were never built for them, trying to carve out power in a world determined to limit it.

🌙 What happens when your fate is decided for you and you don’t want it?
💍 Can a forced bond become something real or something dangerous?
🐉 And what if the power you’re meant to claim comes with a cost you’re not ready to pay?

This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, epic fantasy lovers, and anyone obsessed with slow burn tension, forced proximity, and stories that balance emotional depth with high-stakes worldbuilding.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 

✨ Writing as an “escape hatch” from a career that didn’t fit. 
✨ Why Rachel chose self-publishing and how she made it work. 
✨ The reality of indie publishing (and why it’s a marathon, not a sprint). 
✨ The power of ARC campaigns and word-of-mouth marketing. 
✨ Building a magic system tied to the five senses. 
✨ Crafting Tani as a complex, underestimated heroine. 
✨ Lang as the dragon prince readers can’t get enough of. 
✨ Agency, belonging, and navigating systems stacked against you. 
✨ The challenges of control in the self-publishing process. 
✨ What’s next: a romantic fantasy murder mystery 👀

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
📚 Rachel Sandpiper – @Rasandpiper

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods are not untouchable, love and loss reshape everything, and stories dare to ask what happens when even immortals can fall.

This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Kate Asher for a wildly fun, fast-paced, and emotionally charged conversation about her Greek mythology–inspired series, Crown of Olympus and Blood of Olympus. If you love deadly trials, complicated gods, and stories that will make you laugh one minute and spiral the next, this episode is for you.

Kate shares how her writing journey started with a single, bold New Year’s resolution—write a book—and just four months later, she had a finished manuscript. From there, everything moved fast: self-publishing, building a loyal readership, and creating a world that flips traditional Greek mythology on its head. 

We dive into the heart of the series, where gods are not distant figures—they are flawed, powerful, and very much involved in the lives of their children. At the center is Nyssa, daughter of Hades and Persephone, who is forced into brutal trials to compete for the crown of Olympus. What begins as survival quickly becomes something deeper: a story about grief, identity, and learning how to live after loss.

Kate brings a fresh, modern voice to mythology, blending humor, heartbreak, and high-stakes tension into a story that feels both epic and deeply human. And yes, this is a world where even gods can die, so no one is safe.

⚡ What happens when the gods aren’t immortal after all?
🩸 How do you keep going after losing someone you love?
🔥 And what if the trials meant to crown you are designed to break you instead?

This is a must-listen for Greek mythology lovers, romantasy readers, and anyone who craves high-stakes stories with emotional depth and unforgettable characters.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 

✨ Writing a full fantasy novel in just four months (yes, really). 
✨ Choosing self-publishing for creative freedom and control.
✨ Reimagining Greek mythology with a modern, irreverent twist. 
✨ The inspiration behind deadly trials for the crown of Olympus. 
✨ Building Nyssa as a complex, evolving heroine. 
✨ Exploring grief, loss, and identity across the series. 
✨ Why humor makes the emotional moments hit harder. 
✨ Writing dual perspectives and layered character arcs. 
✨ Fan-favorite side characters who completely steal the show. 
✨ Cliffhangers, emotional damage, and leaving readers wanting more. 
✨ Expanding the series into multiple books and spin-offs. 
✨ Balancing indie publishing with future traditional opportunities. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
📚 Kate Asher – @KateAsherAuthor

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.