For this episode of NoNaMe Storyteller, Aki is joined by co-hosts Brian Petkash and Joshua Scott for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation with Nicole Caron about her manuscript, The King of Oranges. Nicole traces her earliest forays into mystery writing and the inciting incident that transformed the project into a sweeping, multi-generational family saga. After more than fifteen years of work—over 140,000 words and nearly 60 chapters—she shares how moments of clarity arrived unexpectedly, including a breakthrough realization while washing dishes that helped her distill the story into a more focused and emotionally resonant form.

In a courageous and generous move, Nicole brings work in progress to share with the group, opening up a discussion around her current, unpublished manuscript. This allows for a rare, candid conversation about revision and evolution, as Brian Petkash reflects on the earlier versions of the work compared to its present form, noting shifts in voice, structure, and Nicole’s increasingly lyrical style. While The King of Oranges has always been a story about legacy, Nicole explains how her recent insights have deepened her focus on character interiority, sharpening the emotional core of the novel and clarifying what the story is truly about.

The conversation explores endurance, craft, revision, and the long relationship between a writer and a story that refuses to be rushed.

Keywords / References

Nicole discusses the formative role of writing communities and craft resources in shaping her work, including Wellstone Center in the Redwoods, Foreword Retreats (Chamonix and Arcachon), the Kauai Writers Retreat, the Miami Writers Institute, the San Miguel Writers Conference, and Writers in Paradise, as well as guidance and inspiration from authors and teachers such as Min Jin Lee, Carol Weston, Joshua Mohr (articulates concept of “plaracterization”), Christina Baker Kline, Paula McLain, Masha Hamilton, and Ethel Rohan (The Weight of Him). Craft touchstones include Story Genius by Lisa Cron, Consider This by Chuck Palahniuk, and Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell, alongside literary and cultural influences like Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwin Shaw, John O’Hara’s From the Terrace, and Adrienne Brodeur’s Little Monsters. The episode also touches on conversations with film producer David Kilpatrick and Nicole’s broader creative journey, with more information available at www.nicolecaron.com. Brian Petkash also mentions identifying the raison d'être of a piece à la mentor, Annie Liontas. Brian Wedlake shout-out. Multi-generational epic saga story.

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 Storyteller, host Aki is joined by The Strassler Siblings (Star Interns) and Alex Shiekman (Star Breach) to welcome Sean Wang, creator of Runners. Sean reflects on working on a story he’s carried for decades—one that began as a fun, Star Wars-inspired tale of alien smugglers and slowly evolved into a sweeping, accidental war. The conversation explores perseverance, trusting that a story is worth telling, mapping out a ten–graphic novel arc, and the frustration of not being able to create as fast as the story demands. Sean also speaks to the rare gift of patient readers who believe in the world of Runners and are willing to stay with it for the long haul. Where to find Sean Wang's Runners?

Runners Universe

Runners Webtoons

Runners Kickstarter Vol 3

Runners Story Wall

Runners Patreon

Sean Wang's Runners (DAVE School Fan Film)

2016 Feature - Runners Part 2

Runners Bad Goods Part One Dub

Keywords: David White (Mechazone), DAVE School, audio adaptation, The Tick, Meltdown, Star Wars, self-publishing, Bill Willingham Elementals, Rob Liefeld Youngbloods, Marshall Rogers, Crunchyroll, HolyMoly Media

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/

In this episode of NoNaMe Storyteller, Aki is joined by guest co-host Juli Booze-Jervis and cozy mystery author Wendy Kendall for a candid, inspiring conversation about finally giving yourself permission to write — even when life is already full.

When her youngest was about to graduate high school, Wendy hit a now-or-never moment that pushed her to finally start writing. What followed is a growing body of fiction built alongside a full-time project management career, marriage, and family. An unapologetic plotter, she breaks down how structure helped her succeed, from critique groups and writing classes to eventually teaching those classes herself.

We dig into the real-world research behind her stories — including a police ride-along that inspired her K-9 unit detective, a fashion-loving amateur sleuth born from Wendy’s passion for purses, and a trip to the ESSE Purse Museum & Store in Little Rock, Arkansas. Along the way, we talk cozy mysteries, world-building Bayside (series setting), and the creative communities that helped shape her career, from Pacific Northwest Writers Association to Hugo House, to mentors like Pam Binder and influences such as Lara Childs

Whether you’re a plotter, a pantser, or still waiting for “the right time,” this episode is a reminder that the clock is always ticking — and it might be time to start.

wendywritesbooks.com

Keywords: Cozy mysteries, plotters vs pantsers, world building, Bayside series, ESSE Purse Museum, Wild Rose Press, Harlequin Press, Hugo House, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and Robert Dugoni

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 the next episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki is joined by guest co-host Charlie Brown and guest commentators David Charlton and Erik Miller to explore what tabletop roleplaying games can teach writers about storytelling. From building compelling characters and shaping story structure to handling players (or characters) who refuse to follow the plot, the conversation digs into chaos, choice, and consequence.

They also unpack how Game Masters must constantly consider their audience—often more immediately than writers do—while still steering the story toward meaningful character moments, a climactic boss battle, and a satisfying conclusion. Full disclosure: somewhere along the way, the discussion gleefully veers off into deep-cut D&D memories, favorite campaigns, and unapologetic nerd joy.

If you like the chaos, messiness, and occasional derailment of the creative process, you’ll enjoy this listen.

C.D. Brown's The Sunken Castle DnD module

Keywords: Dirty Magick Magazine, The Red Box, Advanced DnD, Dungeons & Dragons, 4e, 5e, Star Trek, Adventures, TTRPG, RPG,  Arkham Horror, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Frank Mentzer, Stranger Things, Jeff LaSala, The Silmarillion Primer, DM Jeff, Play by Post, Roll20, Kobayashi Maru, Al McDermid, Gary Gygax, Zork, Sword & Sorcery, Naked Steel, Tolkien, LARP, The End of the World: Zombie Apocalypse RPG, Dawn of the Dead, GURPS: Generic Universal RolePlaying System, GURPS Illuminati, TSR, Star Frontiers, Top Secret, Starjammer, Fantasy Flight Games, Call of Cthulhu, Caves of Chaos, Dragonlance, Tracy Hickman, DS9, Dominion War, Gamma Quadrant, Battlestar Galactica RPG, D&D Planescape, Githyanki, Agatha Christie, LoTR, Gaius Baltar, Lovecraft Country, Legolas, Galadriel, Fritz Leiber, Noir, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, World Building, Conan the Destroyer, Elric, David Mamet, Weightless Books, Yat's That, Escape from the Secret Lab

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/

In this supersized episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, host Aki is joined by co-host Celeste Cuilla to welcome her longtime friend and fellow New York–based actor Jodie Lynne McClintock, whose career spans theater, film, television, and gaming!

The conversation begins with how Jodie and Celeste first met years ago, performing Twelfth Night, before retracing Jodie’s early creative path as an art student at Tam O’Shanter, her college audition and subsequent scholarship to the discipline of stage work, the realities of a working actor’s life, and her appearances across the Law & Order franchise.

The episode takes a powerful turn as Jodie discusses the emotionally devastating film United 93, in which she portrays a real person whose final moments occurred on September 11th — and recounts an extraordinary, almost otherworldly connection she later experienced with the real-life family of the character she played.

Then comes the surprise second act: Grand Theft Auto V.

Jodie shares the story behind voicing Maude Eccles, the unforgettable bounty hunter in GTA V. A game that has sold over 220 million copies and continues to live on through YouTube clips.

The episode closes with a look forward, as Jodie discusses new creative chapters — exploring novel writing and playwriting, and how storytelling continues to evolve across mediums.

Find Jodie here: https://jodiemcclintock.com/

Keywords: Archduke, Darko Tresnjak, Rajiv Joseph, Delaware Theater Company, Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Scottish Play, Marlon Brando, Julius Caesar, John Gielgud, James Mason, Laurence Olivier, dramaturgy, Romeo & Juliet, A Christmas Carol, Tam O'Shanter, Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA), Joseph Fitzpatrick, Eliza Doolittle, Pygmalion, Westminster College, Man of La Mancha, Nell’s Plague Play, The City Artist's Fund, John Gromada, The Power of Film, Howard Suber, United 93, Grand Theft Auto (GTA), GTA V, GTA Online, Maude: The Bounty Hunter, OG, Bottom Dollar Bounties, Women of a Certain Age play. 

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/

This week on the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki and co-host Al McDermid (Frank Keegan Pulp Noir Series) sit down with acclaimed fantasy and weird-horror author John R. Fultz—creator of the Scaleborn Saga and the classic Shaper Trilogy. They're joined by guest co-hosts C.D. Brown (Midnight Brew, Vamp City) and Brian Petkash (Mistakes by the Lake) for a high-energy, deep-craft conversation about the evolution of modern fantasy.

Fultz opens up about his early inspirations—J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard—and how his voice carved out a space between high fantasy’s mythic sweep and the raw, pulpy grit of low fantasy. He shares his journey from aspiring short-story writer to publishing in Weird Tales, including his connection with legendary editor Darrell Schweitzer, and reflects on the profound influence of Howard Andrew Jones, a pivotal mentor who helped fuel the new renaissance of sword-and-sorcery fiction.

https://www.fultzauthor.com/

We also highlight Fultz’s extensive body of work:

• A Few Odd Souls (2025, Jackanapes Press)

• The Scaleborn Saga: Immaculate Scoundrels (2024), Times Never Change (2024), We Laugh at Death (2025), Magnificent Exiles (2026)

• The Shaper Trilogy (Seven Princes, Seven Kings, Seven Sorcerers)

• His story collections: Worlds Beyond Worlds, Darker Than Weird, The Revelations of Zang• And decades of short fiction appearing in Year’s Best Weird Fiction, Weird Tales, Old Moon Quarterly, Lightspeed, Weirdbook, Black Gate, and more.

If you love fantasy worldbuilding, weird horror, pulp revival, or the craft of storytelling itself, this is a packed, energetic conversation with one of the genre’s most versatile voices.

Keywords: Jackanapes Press, Rankin/Bass The Hobbit, Tolkien, Godzilla, LoTR, Ralph Bakshi, Conan, Robert E. Howard, Pulp, The Executioner Mack Bolan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan, John Carter, Earth Abides, Post-apocalypse, Lovecraft, Michael Whalen, Poe, Thomas Lagotti, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Tanith Lee, Clark Ashton Smith, Ray Bradbury, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Stephen R. Donaldson, Conan the Barbarian '82, LadyHawke, Dragonslayer, The Sword and the Sorcerer, Deathstalker, John Boorman Excalibur, Alan Parsons, Howard Andrew Jones, Grimdark, Old Moon Quarterly, New Edge Sword & Sorcery, Baen Books, Star Trek books, Isacc Asimov, Harlan Ellison, Philip K. Dick, Robert Silverberg, Worlds of Wonder, Michael Moorcock, Elric of Melniboné, Fritz Leiber, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Weird Tales, Darrell Schweitzer, Black Gate Magazine, John O'Neill, Les Edwards, Worlds Beyond Worlds, Brian LeBlanc, DMR Books, Frank Frazetta, Michael Whelan, Darrell Sweet, Boris Vallejo, Dan Sauer, Victoria Martin, CONtraflow, Balticon, FenCon, World Fantasy Convention, San Diego Comic Con, Monsters, Madness and Magic, 1000 True Fans, Journey to the West, Wizard of Oz, Five Deadly Venoms, Lone Wolf & Wolf Cub, Hard Case Crime, DongWon Song, Orbit, en media res, Comanche Station, George RR Martin, Game of Thrones, Weightless Books, Jeff VanderMeer

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 the latest NoNaMe Storyteller Episode, author Ellen Rockmore joins Aki and co-host Brian Petkash to share the incredible, years-long journey behind her debut novel, The Given-Up Girl, from Sibylline Press. Ellen reveals how she wrote the book while raising three children, working full-time, and nearly giving up more than once—and why, when it came time for beta readers, her “curse” of having a wonderfully supportive husband meant she had to look elsewhere for honest feedback.

We explore the real constitutional-law question that inspired the story—a 1990s lawyer searching for the baby she surrendered two decades earlier—and the novel’s parallel timeline set at a women’s college in 1969–1970. Ellen discusses interviewing alumni from that era, researching the period, teaching expository writing at Dartmouth, and the joy of hearing early praise from readers. She also teases her next project: a courtroom drama involving shaken baby syndrome.

https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/ellen-b-rockmore

https://shop.sibyllinepress.com/products/the-given-up-girl-a-novel?

Listen on Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0FR3WWWTZ?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp

Keywords: Ellen Rockmore, The Given-Up Girl, Sibylline Press, debut novel, historical fiction, women’s colleges, 1969, 1970, constitutional law, adoption story, persistence, writing while parenting, Dartmouth, expository writing, beta readers, courtroom drama, shaken baby syndrome, The Girls That Went Away, Maggie Shipstead, Cathleen Schine, Allegra Goodman, Curtis Sittenfeld, Tantor Media.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/

Hosts Aki and Anto sit down with writer and Legal Project Manager Jason Pyrz, whose out-of-print cult novel Renaissance Spook began as therapy and accidentally turned into a bucket-list publishing moment. Jason unpacks the book’s wild mix of deadly squirrels, British absurdist humor, ghostly fatherhood, and high-level stakes, and shares how writing helped him through a difficult chapter. He also walks through his unlikely path from D1 volleyball to litigation attorney to Legal Project Manager—and how creativity kept him grounded throughout.

📖 Download a free copy here: Renaissance Spook PDF

Keyword List: Renaissance Spook, Jason Pyrz, RAIDERS!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, deadly squirrels, Monty Python humor, British comedy influences, Hitchhiker's Guide, Douglas Adams, ghost protagonists, genre-bending fiction, out-of-print novels, Italian Renaissance themes, rebirth motifs, spy fiction, supernatural action, writing as therapy, creative resilience, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Zero 7, Noah MacMillan, "defenestrate", Terry Pratchett, indie publishing, small press publishing, the unexpected journey to getting published, bucket-list goals, Legal Project Management, litigation attorneys, D1 volleyball backgrounds, career reinvention, speculative fiction, father–daughter storytelling, cult novels, and the writer’s personal journey.

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/

Host Aki Liao (Frank Keegan Pulp Noir Series) reunites with Mark Smylie (Artesia), David Petersen (MouseGuard), and David Rodriguez (BattleMex, Blizzard Entertainment), joined by co-host Brian Petkash (Mistakes by the Lake), for an Archaia alumni roundtable, taking a deep dive into expanding creative IPs across comics and games. They discuss worldbuilding, tabletop RPGs versus video games, and other tangential topics.

For BattleMex pre-launch Kickstarter page: https://battlemex.th3rdworld.com/

Keywords: Archaia Studios Press, MouseGuard, Artesia, BattleMex, Blizzard Entertainment, Mark Smylie, David Petersen, David Rodriguez, Brian Petkash, Aki Liao, Frank Keegan Mystery Series, The Gossamyr Saga, Bill Willingham, mythic fiction, Sid Meier's Pirates!, The Game of Life, RuneQuest, Burning Wheel, Luke Crane, Chaosium, Fusion, One Ring, Middle Earth, Song of Ice and Fire, Kickstarter, Backerkit, LaunchBoom, Steve Connelly, worldbuilding, writing craft, comic book creation, IP development, game design, tabletop games, video games, storytelling, expanding universes, creative process, story structure, character building, indie comics reunion, John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981), Arthurian fantasy, and mastering the craft of worldbuilding.

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/

This episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast brings together two generations of indie comic creators — where new voices meet seasoned veterans in a galaxy of collaboration, creativity, and laughter.

Host Aki is joined by:
🌟 Jonah and Amanda Strassler, the sibling duo behind the indie graphic novel Star Interns — rising stars in the comics scene
🚀 Alex Sheikman and Those Turners (Hal & Renée), the veteran creative team behind Star Breach, an upcoming epic space-opera graphic novel

Together, they explore the art (and occasional chaos) of working as creative teams in the indie comics world, where self-publishing is the norm and imagination has no limits. Expect lively discussion on how ideas spark, how feedback (and the “feedback sandwich”) really works, and how collaboration keeps creators grounded and inspired.

Along the way, they share the influences that shaped their storytelling — from Teen Titans (Geoff Johns), Mad Magazine, Archie Comics, Jeff Smith’s Bone, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, X-Men, Saga, The Dark Crystal, Cowboy Bebop (Keiko Nobumoto), Azumanga Daioh (Kiyohiko Azuma), Blambot, Robotika, and more.

With plenty of laughs (and maybe a Zombie Santa Claus cameo), this conversation celebrates what makes indie storytelling so vibrant — the freedom to build worlds, share ideas, and create something unforgettable together.

For the Strassler Sibling's Star Interns comic, see https://www.holymolymedia.org/shop-1?Category=Comics

For Renée's Zombies, see https://www.marsneedswriters.com/blog-o-rama/a-bad-day-for-the-elf-on-the-shelf

Keywords: Star Breach, Star Interns, indie comics, self-publishing, creative collaboration, making comics, graphic novels, worldbuilding, storytelling podcast, writing partners, manga influence, space opera, Jeff Smith's Bone, Mad Magazine, Archie Comics, Teen Titans Geoff Johns, X-Men, Saga, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, The Dark Crystal, Cowboy Bebop, Azumanga Daioh, Keiko Nobumoto, Kiyohiko Azuma, Blambot, Robotika, "Zombie Santa Claus", onomatopoeia, bagel sandwiches, Those Turners, Alex Sheikman, indie creators, Holy Moly Media, Garden State Comic Fest, Garden State Anime Fest, From Pencil to Pixel, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, The Connection in Summit, NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast.

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/