The Story Blender

If you’ve ever thought about writing a screenplay and don’t know where to start, you’re going to love this week’s episode of The Story Blender. Listen as I chat with Bob Saenz, a screeenwriter, author, and film writing instructor on secrets to humor, horror, characterization, and tons of inside tips to writing for Hollywood (which, you’ll soon learn doesn’t even exist…) Keep your pen handy to take notes as Bob shares valuable insights from his screenwriting career and his book THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS, a no-nonsense guide to the craft and business of screenwriting. Check it out!

Listen as I chat with world-renowned artist and motivational speaker, Joe Castillo. He has performed his sandart stories in front of Pope Francis, presidents, kings and in 28 countries. Learn what he looks for in a story, how he connects with audiences world wide and some of the mentors that have encouraged him along the way. 

Check him out at https://joecastillo.com

Listen as I chat with novelist Emily Bleeker as we talk about improv (and what writers can learn from it), honesty in fiction, slipping into the skin of your characters, the important of telling yourself that you’re a writer, showing compassion to yourself and the drawbacks and rewards of reading your reviews. We also discuss her latest book WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES.

Check her out at https://emilybleeker.com/

In this episode, I caught up with acclaimed author, Carol Van Den Hende. Carol’s mission is unlocking optimism as a writer, speaker, strategist, Board member and Climate Reality Leader. Listen as we chat about writing tips and her latest book, Always Orchid. 

You check her out at https://carolvandenhende.com

Listen to my conversation with international bestselling author Tess Gerritsen as we discuss the weapons at our disposal (that you might include in a story without planning to), writing without an outline, surprising yourself, the importance of writing yourself into a corner, emotional bridges into stories, the centrality of conflict, and what to do if you’re a chicken farmer and you find a body in your driveway. Give it a listen and check out her new book THE SPY COAST.

https://www.tessgerritsen.com/

Listen as I chat with best-selling international best-selling author, Karen Dionne, about her breakout novel, The Marsh King’s Daughter, the differences between the major motion picture, and her story writing tips, perseverance, and the joys of writing in Michigan.

You can check her out at https://karen-dionne.com/

Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 45 books, including the long-running Lucy Kincaid series. She is currently writing the Quinn & Costa FBI and the Angelhart PI series; North of Nowhere is her first stand-alone thriller. Allison lives in Arizona with her husband and her youngest two of five children. She loves cats, hiking, baseball, classic movies, and -- of course -- reading. You can check her out at allisonbrennan.com.

Join Steven James as he talks with siblings Boyd and Beth Morrison on this episode of The Story Blender. They chat about the Black Plague, writing gripping historical thrillers, creating stories that entrain as well as inform readers, the ins and outs of collaboration, and the importance of finishing your novel and striving for brilliance rather than perfection. 

You don't want to miss this one!

#thestoryblender #readstevenjames

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of New York Times bestseller I LET YOU GO, and Sunday Times bestsellers I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE, AFTER THE END, HOSTAGE and THE LAST PARTY. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Her latest novel is A GAME OF LIES, the second in a crime series featuring Welsh Detective Morgan.

Join Steven James and Clare Macintosh on this episode of The Story Blender podcast.

I had the chance to chat with Former judge and award-winning legal thriller author, Martin Clark, about writing legal thrillers, coming up with intriguing moral dilemmas for your characters to face, fly fishing in Montana and Tennessee, trusting in the justice system, the songwriting of Robert Earl Keen, and the provocative ending to his latest thriller, THE PLINKO BOUNCE.

You’ll also hear about Martin’s choice of the best collection of short stories ever (the choice might surprise you!).

Give it a listen!