The Writers Bleck Podcast

In this episode, Greg sits down with the best-selling author Veronica Roth to discuss her new dystopian fantasy, Seek the Traitor’s Son, as well as her upcoming turn to the Divergent series in The Sixth Faction. They'll discuss the different forms Seek the Traitor's Son took across its six years of development, blending sci-fi and fantasy, the pressure and negativity that came with the success of Divergent, and how she rediscovered creative freedom after years of trying to “prove herself” as a writer.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

Greg sits down with Keala Kendall to talk about her new Hawaiian gothic thriller, That Which Feeds Us, a haunting story about family, folklore, colonialism, and the dark side of paradise.

She'll share how homesickness and Hawaiian history shaped the novel, why gothic horror was the perfect genre for the story, and how Keala balances atmospheric horror with deeply personal themes. We also dive into her work writing for Disney’s Twisted Tales imprint, including How Far I'll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind, adapting established characters, and bringing authentic cultural perspectives into major IPs.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

In this episode, Greg interviews bestselling author, professor, activist, and cultural critic Brittney Cooper about her debut children’s book, Mama Says I'm Fine. Brittney discusses the emotional meaning behind the phrase “I’m fine,” the influence of her childhood and late mother on the story, themes of Black motherhood, empowerment, vulnerability, mental health, and emotional resilience, and so much more.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with actress and first-time author Sarah Amini to discuss her debut graphic novel, Mixed Feelings. Inspired by her own childhood, the book explores the chaos of growing up, navigating middle school, surviving puberty, and trying to figure out where you belong.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with middle-grade author Alyson Gerber to discuss her acclaimed series The Liar Society, a story of suspense and mystery, set at a New England boarding school where the lines between right and wrong blur and new friendships and alliances are put to the test. They'll also discuss how Alyson used her early novels as a form of self-therapy, helping navigate negative self-talk and much more.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with middle-grade author Alyson Gerber to discuss her acclaimed series The Liar Society, a story of suspense and mystery, set at a New England boarding school where the lines between right and wrong blur and new friendships and alliances are put to the test. Alison also opens up about how her early novels served as a form of self-therapy, helping her navigate negative self-talk and much more.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

In this episode, Greg sits down with poet Victoria Lauren to talk about her poetry collections, Crescendo of Chaos and Promises of Poison, how she used poetry to overcome physical adversity, her upcoming romance novel, and so much more.

Support us directly at: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠

More From Greg: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

Greg sits down with children’s and young adult author Jasmine Warga to talk about her new book, The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan. They dive into her approach to writing big emotions for young readers, the real-life animal program that inspired the story, and why connecting directly with her audience matters so much.

Support us directly at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠

More From Greg: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

Greg sits down with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray to talk about his debut novel, Burn the Water. They'll also talk about his time working on acclaimed projects such as Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games, selling his first script at only 19 years old, and how the 2023 WGA strikes influenced the creation of this book.

Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod

Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg

More From Greg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

This week, Greg sits down with best-selling author Deborah Goodrich Royce to talk about her new thriller, Best Boy. They'll also discuss how the unique perspective of Deborah's storied career in the entertainment industry influenced her when writing this novel, how she reinvented herself both personally and professionally over the course of her career, her tips for writing suspense, and so much more.

Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod

Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WritersBleckPod

More From Greg: https://www.youtube.com/@LegoMyGregO