The Story Blender

This week I chat with acclaimed author and radio personality, Chris Fabry. His 80+ novels have won numerous awards and sold to readers all over the world. We talk about his writing process, advice for storytellers at any stage in their journey, why it’s vital to get your stories out there, the importance of family storytelling, and hunting stories that might or might not be true. (Don’t worry, no real animals were harmed in the making of this podcast!) Give it a listen!

Acclaimed author and screenwriter Adam Hamdy joins me this week to talk about story, storytelling, and his latest thriller, DEADBEAT. We explore finding and losing your storytelling voice, giving your characters agency, how your character’s reaction is really a means of revelation, and whether or not you can have a character who is both the hero and a villain at the same time. Join us for a fascinating and interesting interview. Check it out!

This week I caught up with prolific author Josh Corin. He has written six Deadpool graphic novels for Marvel aComics and has a new twisty novel out called ASSUME NOTHING. We talk about why high stakes matter in a story, transgressions that characters make, writing about people you don’t understand, irony leading to resonance, and what it means to throw rocks at your protagonist. It’s a great conversation. Check it out!

This week, I caught up with long-time editor and author Tiffany Yates Martin. We discussed what it truly means to be successful as an author—who defines success and where your sense of fulfillment should come from. We delved into the ups and downs, the highlights, and the heartaches of writing, as well as her latest book,  The Intuitive Author: How to Grow & Sustain A Happier Writing Career. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation, only on The Story Blender!

This week I chat with Jonathan Rogers, acclaimed author and writing instructor, who has worked for decades helping authors improve their craft. Based in Nashville, he hosts a weekly podcast on the craft of writing. We talk about writing as a way of loving your readers, paying attention, writing on the surface, books that every author should read, and more. Bonus thought: Learn why writing doesn’t happen between your ears. Check it out!

This week I catch up with award-winning storyteller and folklore expert Linda Poland. She has traveled the world telling stories and was the Resident Storyteller for the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee, the unofficial capital of storytelling in the United States. Listen to her folksy wisdom on storytelling, how a report card inspired her 40 years later, and the one sentence that made all the difference to her as a storyteller. 

Exciting news! Bestselling author J.T. Ellison is joining Steven James on The Story Blender podcast! 🎙️✨ Dive deep into the craft of storytelling as they discuss the art of writing thrillers, character development, and the twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the masters of suspense! 

This week’s guest, Iain S. Thomas, is an international bestselling author, artist and technologist whose work focuses on the intersection of technology, culture and spirituality. His words appear everywhere, from fridge magnets to monuments and as tattoos on his millions of readers. He’s words have been quoted by everyone from Steven Spielberg and Harry Styles to Kim Kardashian and Arianna Huffington. He has dozens of local and international awards for his creativity, including the Columbian University’s Breakthroughs In Storytelling Award. Listen in as we chat about poetry, life, and everything in between. Check it out!

ANIKA PAVEL was born in Czechoslovakia. What was intended as a one-year stay in England turned her into a refugee when the Soviet Union invaded her homeland. She received a crash course in life that took her from sleeping in a telephone booth at the Victoria railway station in London to waitressing, to the lights of the fashion runway, and on to magazine covers, even a James Bond appearance. When the lights had dimmed, she returned to her first love, writing. Her work has been published in print, online and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She shares insights on her stories and encouragement for anyone who has a story of their own to tell. Check it out!

This week we celebrate the art of oral storytelling with one of the world’s leading voices on folk tales, the celebrated Irish storyteller, Liz Weir. She has told her stories to people of all ages on five continents. She has performed in pubs and prisons and hospital rooms. She worked on stages in the mighty Vanderbilt Hall of New York’s Grand Central Station and in London's Royal Albert Hall. Listen as she shares her passion for using stories to bring healing, and to build bridges. Liz shares one of the powerful stories that got her through the pandemic—a message of hope for anyone in need of encouragement. Check it out!