Host Aki, joined by co-host Seyi, welcomes author and publisher Zara Hoffman to the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast. Zara wrote and published her first novel at just sixteen, worked behind the scenes at a literary agency, and, before turning thirty, founded Inimitable Books, an independent publisher with Simon & Schuster distribution.

In this episode, Zara shares her journey from aspiring novelist, indie author, to literary agency staffer and publisher. She offers a candid look at today's publishing landscape, taking listeners through the life of a book: from author to literary agent to acquiring editor and the many teams within a publishing house that help bring a book to market. Zara also explains how Inimitable Books offers a fresh take on traditional publishing while recognizing the incredible work of publishers' marketing and publicity teams, whose creativity and persistence help books cut through the noise and reach readers.

Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing, self-publishing, or simply curious about how books make their way into readers' hands, this episode is packed with practical insights into the craft, business, and collaborative effort behind publishing.

https://zarahoffman.com

https://inimitablebooks.com/

Keywords: Zara Hoffman’s The Matchmakers, Becca Smith’s Grandma’s Little Secret, David A. Adler’s Cam Jansen Mysteries, Nancy Drew, Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Ann Brashares’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Wiley, The Belgrave Legacy, Star Trek fan video, persistence, perseverance, NYU Master’s in Publishing, Inimitable Books, Jane Friedman’s The Business of Being a Writer, Courtney Maum’s Before and After the Book Deal, Writing the Fiction Series by Writer's Digest

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Host Aki, joined by co-hosts Brian and Seyi, welcomes acclaimed memoirist Dawn Davies for an episode filled with laughter, wit, and the insight of a masterclass in narrative nonfiction. From her memoir Mothers of Sparta to her work-in-progress Birds of a Feather (working title), Dawn explores how to transform lived experience into compelling stories, drawing inspiration from literary greats including Kurt Vonnegut, Lauren Slater, and Paul Fussell.

The conversation delves into the challenge of organizing individual essays into a cohesive memoir, revealing how some pieces emerge in a single six-hour burst while others can take a decade before they're ready. Dawn reflects on the evolution of her writing and, looking back at Mothers of Sparta, jokes that she'd line edit the published edition with every writer's familiar teacher's note: "See me!"

Dawn also offers a candid look at publishing with one of the Big Five, sharing why the experience isn't always rainbows, and discusses how her prose and voice have evolved over the years. The conversation concludes with her more recent work in autopathography and the launch of Prestivus, her blind-submission literary press built on merit-based selection, where the writing stands on its own without bias for or against the author. Whether you're writing a memoir, personal essays, or narrative nonfiction, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on structure, voice, revision, and finding the courage to tell your own story.

Dawn Davies website

Prestivus

Keywords: Richard Brautigan, Paul Fussell, Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions, University of Florida, autopathography, Within Your Reach by the Replacements, John Irving, Shooter, Dennis Lehane, Florida International University, John Dufresne, Eckart, Writers in Paradise, Eckerd College, Madeleine Blais, James Frey, Million Little Pieces scandal, Lauren Slater, Michel de Montaigne, The Tralfamadorians, plotters vs pantsers, McSweeney’s, Béla Bartók, aphantasia, Amy Einhorn, Flatiron Publishing, George Saunders, Belle Burden’s memoir Strangers controversy, Colson Whitehead, Alan Moore’s Jerusalem, Howard Dully’s My Lobotomy, co-authored with Charles Fleming, Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, trama porn, Tina Yong's talk on the phenomenon of "trauma essays" in higher education, José Saramago’s Blindness, Lyn Barrett, Prestivus.

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Host Aki is joined by Al, Celeste, and Claude to welcome writer/actor David Charlton and director Matt Baker, the creative team behind the upcoming mystery short film If Two Were Dead. High school friends turned filmmaking collaborators, they share the decades-long journey from early creative dreams to independent film production. Look for that Bigfoot trailer that they made in their twenties!

Inspired by Benjamin Franklin's famous quote and adapted from a Hugh B. Cave story, If Two Were Dead follows an investigator who discovers a solved case may not be solved after all. David and Matt discuss writing, directing, adapting fiction for the screen, returning to indie filmmaking later in one's career, and the excitement of creating alongside lifelong friends.

Mirror Image Productions

Keywords: If Two Are Dead, Kenneth Lonergan, The Waverly Gallery, DM Jeff LaSala, The Hobbit, Bigfoot, Mt Saint Helens, Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, Aristophanes, Lysistrata, Shakespeare, Hugh B. Cave’s The Door Below, Killers Exit short story, aka, Hostage, Cave’s Murgunstrumm, Gary Gygax, Tampa Theater, Myakka River State Park, Jason Brownie, Dobby, and Chester & Arthur

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensedunder a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On this episode of NoNaMe Storytellers, Aki is joined by co-host Brian Petkash to welcome acclaimed author Julie Hensley, whose novel Five Oaks explores intergenerational family trauma through a braided narrative.

Julie takes us behind the scenes of how she discovered the right structure to tell this sweeping family story, explaining why the braided storytelling technique became essential to the novel and how she told this cross-generational story in the first person. If you've ever wondered how to tackle a complex family saga, this episode is packed with insights into both the creative and technical challenges of writing one.

We also explore Julie's beginnings as a writer, her acclaimed poetry, and her upcoming fall release: a novel told in poems. Along the way, she shares the conversations she had with her current agent about the direction of Five Oaks, and why she ultimately trusted her own instincts and stayed true to the story she wanted to tell.

The conversation also dives into the meaning of autofiction, the relationship between memory and storytelling, and Julie's advice to writers: write the book you want to read.

Whether you're an aspiring writer, an MFA student, or simply love beautifully crafted literary fiction, this episode offers a fascinating look at the art of structure, voice, perseverance, and storytelling. And after listening, be sure to pick up Five Oaks and any of Julie's books.

Keywords: Landfall, Viable, Five Oaks, Alligator Juniper, Laura Usselman, Lee Smith, Inception Film, family systems theory, polyphonic narrative, The Hambidge Center, Piggly Wiggly, Mona Simpson’s Anywhere But Here, R.D. Johnson, Southern Review, Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine, Wayne C. Booth, Daniel Mason's North Woods, Broadstone Books, Appalachian Noir, REM’s Nightswimmings, Silas House’s Dead Man Blues, Blue Grass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University, Bent Cedar Mountain: A Novel in Poems, Miranda Cowley Heller’s The Paper Palace, 

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

For this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki is joined by returning guest co-host Nicole Caron and author Cynthia Weiner for a journey back to the Upper East Side of the 1980s *

Drawing inspiration from the true-life story of Robert Chambers, the infamous "Preppy Killer," and the shocking events of 1986, Cynthia shares her unique perspective as someone who knew Chambers and many of the people in that social circle.

She discusses how real-life experiences, family, friends, and memories became the foundation for her acclaimed novel, A Gorgeous Excitement.

We explore the art of blending fact and fiction, the challenge of managing a cast of colorful characters with wonderfully preppy names, and Cynthia's experimentation with different narrative perspectives before discovering the perfect voice through her outsider protagonist.

Along the way, Cynthia shares her writing process from retreating to a small one-room studio to immerse herself in her work, to drafting both on a keyboard and by hand with an iPad and stylus.

Join us for a nostalgic exploration of one unforgettable summer and that uncertain moment before college. Cynthia shares her own advice to herself, which is to fully immerse yourself in stories through writing, reading, and listening to writing podcasts!

https://cynthiaweiner.com/

Keywords: Robert Chambers, Jennifer Levin, Preppy Killer, Madeleine L'Engle, Upper East Siders, Central Park Strangler, William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily, Dylan Landis's Normal People Don't Live Like This, Pop-Tarts, Matt Bell's Refuse to Be Done, Paula McClain, Amy Einhorn, Crown Publishing, Pure Prairie League's Amie song, Heather Sellers.

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Host Aki is joined by co-hosts Al, Anto, and Brian for a conversation with horror writer Chris Marrs about the creative path that led her from acting, dancing, painting, and writing to a lifelong love of horror.

Chris shares the pivotal moment that focused her creative ambitions, why horror captured her imagination as a teenager, and how she discovered that the genre's greatest stories often carry a message of hope amid darkness. The conversation comes full circle with her story, Shattered Woman in Stasis, appearing in Abandoned: Asylum, the upcoming anthology edited by James Chambers. In a fitting twist, Chris reflects on how an anthology she helped assemble years ago featured James's first published horror story.

We also explore her writing process, why outlines can sometimes constrain her creativity, and how stories often begin with a single powerful image before revealing themselves through discovery. Chris also discusses a private writers' group that helps members improve their craft through structured beta reading exchanges, providing feedback and accountability within agreed-upon timelines.

Listen for a conversation full of laughter of a bunch of introverts discussing horror, hope, and creativity.

You can find her lurking on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.marrs.14 or Instagram as @hauntedmarrs.

Keywords: Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Angel McCoy, E.S. Magill, BoucherCon, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, Bat Eaters, Diavola, Slasher Films, Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th, John Carpenter's Halloween, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Bizarro, Splatter Punk, Extreme Horror, Lit Horror, Supernatural Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Zombie Horror, Vampire Horror, Monsters, psychiatric hospital, James Chambers, Shirley Jackson, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Ruth Stone, Abandoned: Asylum, Scrivener, Jason Ockert, Matt Bell, Professor Richard Immerman, Selectric typewriter, StokerCon, Imaginative Fiction Writers Association, Josh Malerman, Wrath James White, Brian Keene, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Riverview Asylum.

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Aki is joined by co-hosts Charlie and Anto for a fascinating conversation with award-winning horror author, editor, comic book writer, and anthology editor James Chambers.

Before becoming a Bram Stoker Award-winning author and editor, James pursued his dream of writing comics for major publishers, a path that led him to work on Leonard Nimoy's The Primortals and Gene Roddenberry's Lost Universe. James shares stories from those early days in comics, including the surreal experience of communicating with Leonard Nimoy by fax while helping bring these science fiction projects to life.

The conversation follows James's evolution from aspiring comic book writer to acclaimed horror storyteller, discussing his transition into short fiction, novellas, and the challenges of building a creative career one story at a time.

We also dive into his latest editorial project, Abandoned: Asylum, a forthcoming anthology from Raw Dog Screaming Press inspired by the eerie history of the abandoned St. Johnland Hospital. James discusses the origins of the project, the process of curating stories from an impressive lineup of horror authors, and how exploring the real-life abandoned grounds helped shape the anthology's atmosphere and themes. The collection is scheduled for release in Fall 2026 and features photography taken by James himself.

Whether you're interested in comics, horror fiction, anthology editing, or the realities of building a long-term writing career, this episode offers a wealth of insights from a creator who has successfully navigated every stage of the publishing world.

https://www.jameschambersonline.com/blog/

https://rawdogscreaming.com/book-deal-abandoned-asylum-anthology/

Keywords: Bernie Wrightson, Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, Jim Shooter, Defiant Comics, Valiant Comics, Tekno Comix, From Dusk Till Dawn, Fred Harper, Richard Clark, Trevor Von Eeden, The Girl Next Door, Joyce Carol Oates, Shadow House, Dan Brereton, Pat Broderick, Kirk Van Wormer, Strange Tales, Christopher Mills, Chinese hopping vampires, Weird Western, Corpse Fauna, The Dead Walk!, The Dead Walk Again!, novellas, short stories, Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Cemetery Dance Magazine, Horror Writers Association, Robert Masterson, April Grey, A New York State of Fright: Horror Stories from the Empire State, Girls Write Now, Hippocampus Press, Aeroflex Foundation, Under Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign, Beth W. Patterson, Unicorns vs. Clowns in Hell, Michael Bailey, Walrus Tales, Meet the Tuskersons, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Abandoned: Asylum, comic books, horror fiction, anthology editing, anthology editor, Leonard Nimoy,'sThe Primortals, Gene Roddenberry's Lost Universe, storytelling, publishing, independent comics.

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On this episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki is joined by co-hosts Anto and Charlie for a conversation with fantasy author Daniel W. Cochran about his journey into storytelling, worldbuilding, and developing his craft outside traditional writing programs.

Daniel shares how his love of fantasy began at an early age, inspired by Bilbo Baggins writing his adventures down in The Hobbit. Encouraged by his childhood best friend, fellow writer, and podcast guest Macaulay Christian (Children of Eternity), Daniel began creating his own fantasy worlds and stories inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, and tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.

Facing the massive challenge of building an expansive fantasy setting while also improving as a writer, Daniel made the decision to pause work on his larger novel and instead focus on writing novellas to hone his storytelling skills while continuing to develop his world. The result became his UnSung Heroes for Hire series.

Without formal writing training, Daniel shares how playing D&D helped shape his understanding of character, conflict, and collaborative storytelling, while Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube writing lectures became an important resource for learning story structure, character development, and fantasy world-building.

The episode explores learning by doing, the value of novella storytelling, fantasy influences, creative discipline, and how aspiring writers can develop their craft through persistence, curiosity, and passion for storytelling.

https://danielwcochranauthor.com/

Patrick Troughton, Dr. Who, Gary Gygax, DnD, Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings, Macaulay Christian, Tolkien, Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Elder Scrolls, Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Cohen Brothers, Jay and Silent Bob, Jaime Cassanova, Maggie Fielder, In medias res, Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Quarter Moon, The Sith, Clone Wars, War of the Realms, WW2, Helm's Deep, Battlefield Earth, Fate's Stiletto, Vamp City, The Big Sleep, Red Harvest, Unsung Heroes: Sweet Deceit, Chewbacchus parade, Midnight Brew, The Dark Angel, Sunken Castle DnD module

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Hosts Aki welcomes back Amanda and Jonah Strassler to the NoNaMe Storytellers podcast to discuss the continuing evolution of their indie comic series Star Interns. The Strassler siblings dive into their efforts to expand the audience for their epic space opera by converting their physical graphic novel into a webtoon format using Clip Studio Paint.

The conversation explores the realities of marketing independent comics, building a creative business, and finding new ways to connect with readers through webtoons, local comic shops, conventions, and pop-up art events. Amanda and Jonah share how meeting fans and fellow creators has helped strengthen both their storytelling community and their creative process.

The episode also covers the transition of Star Interns from black-and-white artwork into full color for the upcoming second graphic novel, revisits highlights from their previous discussion with artist Sean Wang about crafting an epic space opera, and explores how the duo continues learning new creative skills between issues. From experimenting with digital illustration techniques to navigating the business side of indie publishing, this episode is a candid look at the challenges and rewards of modern comic storytelling.

https://www.holymolymedia.org/

The Webtoon!

Keywords: Tower of God, CrunchyRoll, Solo Leveling, Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer, Alex Sheikman, Those Turners, Sean Wang, Avatar the Last Air Bender, The Expanse, Indie Comics, Marketing, Tidewater Comic Con, Garden State Comic Fest, comic book shops

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On this episode of the NoNaMe Storytellers Podcast, host Aki is joined by co-hosts Anto and Charlie as they welcome horror master Craig DiLouie back to the show to talk about the craft, business, and discipline behind building a successful career in modern horror fiction.

Known for balancing literary depth with commercial storytelling, Craig discusses what publishers like Hachette are looking for in today’s market, how he became one of horror publishing’s most dependable voices, and the collaborative relationship he’s built with his editor Bradley. The conversation also explores Craig’s self-described identity as a “commercial writer,” constantly searching for compelling concepts, memorable hooks, and stories that connect with readers.

Along the way, the crew dives into organization, productivity, and the realities of generating a consistent volume of creative work while sustaining a long-term writing career. Craig also gives listeners a preview of his upcoming slasher duology, beginning with The Summer Fun Massacre and continuing this fall with The Yule Day Slaughter, Book Two of Slasher Season.

⁠From horror publishing and storytelling craft to deadlines, creative process, and the business side of writing, this is an inside look at what it really means to make a living telling scary stories.⁠

https://craigdilouie.com/

Keywords: Bradley Englert, Vivalde, Slaugher, Final Girl, Found footage horror, Episode Thirteen, Hachette, Summer Fun Massacre, Yule Day Slaughter, Haunting of Hill House, Treatment, Logline, bumbling deputy, flash fiction, short story, stable writer, Stephen Graham Jones, 25 word premise, elevator pitch, John Truby's Anatomy of Story, pantsing vs plotting, character arc, inciting event, call to action, synopsis, scriptments, screen stories, how to sell your work, comparables, slush pile, The Children of Red Peak, Jonestown Massacre, the familiar with a twist, Marvel Zombies, Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49, Nabokov, Dostoevsky, Garrett Michael Brown (Narrator), Elizabeth Cappuccino (Narrator), work-for-hire, Peter Klein, Thundar the Barbarian, Simon & Schuster, Star Trek, Peter David, Hulk, Alien, Titan Books, Suffer the Children, Cabin in the Woods, Jaime Lee Curtis, Roy Scheider, Scream, Jamie Kennedy, How to Direct a Horror Movie and Survive, WW2 fiction, Generation Kill, Woody Harrelson, True Detective, hard-boiled, page turner, thriller, opening and closing images, Save the Cat, Larry Brooks's Story Engineering, Libbie Hawker's Take Off Your Pants!, murder board, R. C. Bray, Armor Series, The Fog, survival horror, Hammer Horror, Friday the 13th, Italian Giallo Horror, H. Rider Haggard's She, Warren Zevon, Brian De Palma, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Naked Steel reviews

Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241

Artist: http://incompetech.com/