The World of Myth Bits Podcast

Tim invites listeners to explore what makes a truly great adventure and why the best stories leave us wanting more. Inspired by a Wonka-themed television competition and his experiences creating escape rooms for children and families at his local library, Tim examines the essential ingredients of memorable storytelling, including likable heroes, compelling villains, meaningful challenges, unexpected twists, and characters who sometimes refuse to follow the path their writers have planned. He shares some entertaining moments from a recent spooky wizard's forest escape room, where clever young adventurers tackled puzzles, competed for the fastest time, and demonstrated how real-life experiences can inspire fictional adventures. Along the way, Tim reminds writers that adventure is not limited to fantasy or science fiction, but can be found in every genre, and reflects on the challenge of connecting with readers and the dream of reaching audiences around the world.

Tim celebrates 22 years of The World of Myth Magazine with a journey through Issue 153, the September 2026 edition. This packed anniversary issue brings together fantasy, horror, science fiction, humor, children's literature, poetry, artwork, and reviews from familiar favorites and new contributors alike. Tim explores everything from Stephanie J. Bardy's continuing Chronicles of the Orchard Court and James Rumpel's conclusion to his Drone Revolt series to dark tales, time-traveling motorcycles, futuristic game shows, emotional poetry, and striking artwork, including Milo K. Rourke's retro cover piece. Tim also celebrates his own featured poem, Monster of My Dreams, while reminding listeners that after more than two decades, The World of Myth remains a place for creatives to publish, share their work, and be celebrated.

Tim sits down with author James Rumpel to talk about his newly released fantasy humor satire, Trial and Heir, a playful twist on classic fantasy filled with fourth-wall breaks, familiar tropes, dad jokes, bad puns, and the question of what happens when the supposed true heir turns out to be the wrong person. James shares the inspiration behind the book, his love of mixing humor with fantasy and science fiction, why he writes for the enjoyment rather than the paycheck, and the exciting news that he is already working on a sequel. The conversation also explores his years as a math teacher, the places and experiences that inspire his writing, his contributions to The World of Myth Magazine, and why supporting fellow writers and the creative community means so much to him.

The World of Myth Bits #391 - Swiss Cheese with a Slice of Tasty by JayZoModcast Podcast Network

Tim sits down with David K. Montoya for a candid look at the business behind independent publishing and the challenges facing micropublishers in 2026. They discuss the rise of self-publishing, how different generations approach creativity, the growing influence of AI, what success really means for a small publisher, and why adapting to a changing industry has become essential. Dave also talks about two new books coming from James Rumpel and Lisa H. Owens and closes with a call to creatives to do more than create: support one another, share the work, help it find readers, and give something back to the community that gives their work a platform.

In this episode, Tim dives into the August 2026 release of Issue 152 of The World of Myth Magazine. After congratulating Open Contract Challenge Speed Edition winner Devin Cross and offering heartfelt support to Stephanie J. Bardy during a difficult time, Tim explores another packed issue featuring reviews, artwork, nine poems, and stories spanning fantasy, horror, science fiction, action, children's literature, humor, and more. From the return of Stephanie's Chronicles of the Orchard Court to contributions from Kate McDonald Dunbar, Gabriella Balcom, Jim Bates, James Rumpel, Dawn DeBraal, Lisa H. Owens, and many others, Episode 389 celebrates the established voices and newcomers who continue to make The World of Myth a home for creativity.

Tim Law is joined by Bethany “Boo” for a fun conversation about what really makes horror work. From suspense, isolation, unsettling imagery, sound, lighting, and the fear of what you cannot see to the overuse of jump scares, Tim and Boo explore movies like The Black Phone, Bird Box, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and other horror favorites. Along the way, the conversation wanders into family adventures, mystery novels, a future trip to Japan, and plenty of laughs before returning to one simple conclusion: great horror is about building tension and making the audience feel uncomfortable long before the monster appears.

Tim gets personal about rejection, writer’s block, lost inspiration, and the small victories that keep a writer going. After facing a string of recent rejections, Tim talks about finding the right home for your work, including a story that went from rejection to becoming a featured anthology piece years later. He also looks at the people, fellow creatives, and furry companions who provide support when writing gets tough. Sometimes a closed door really does lead to the right open window.

In this episode, Tim celebrates his 200th episode as host with special guest David K. Montoya. They look back at Tim’s years behind the microphone, discuss the Open Contract Challenge, plans for The World of Myth Magazine, the future of The JayZoMon Dark Myth Company, LLC, and the importance of supporting independent creators. Dave also shares personal memories of his late friend Kyle D. Dobbs and the role Kyle played in the company’s early history. After 200 episodes, Tim answers the biggest question of all: Is he ready to stop? Not yet.

Tim reviews Issue 151 of The World of Myth Magazine, celebrating another outstanding collection of fiction, poetry, artwork, and reviews while reflecting on the magazine's growing creative community. He highlights the return of Stephanie J. Bardy with a brand new fantasy series, pays tribute to the late Kyle D. Dobbs and the issue dedicated to his memory, and showcases standout work from Ed Bickford, Kate McDonald Dunbar, Lisa H. Owens, Jim Bates, James Rumpel, Zoie M. Montoya, Gabriella Balcom, and many more. It is an emotional and inspiring episode that celebrates storytelling, creativity, and the lasting impact of the people behind The World of Myth.