A Story Decades in the Making with Audrey DeBoer | Realm Runners S2 E2

Audrey DeBoer has been living with this story since she was a teenager. What started as a school assignment became Vispilio, a Robin Hood reimagining that reads less like a fairy tale and more like Game of Thrones with a bow and arrow. Lost princes, political betrayal, morally complicated characters who never act like you'd expect. This is the kind of indie book that makes you wonder how it doesn't have a hundred thousand readers yet.In this episode, Devin and Pete sit down with Audrey to talk about what it actually takes to carry a story for over a decade and finally put it in the world. The craft decisions, the indie publishing reality, and what's coming next. Militis, book two in the series, is on the horizon, and Audrey gives us a look at where Southborn goes from here.If you've been sleeping on Vispilio, this is your sign to go pick this up!Follow Audrey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audebo96/=============================Connect with Realm Runners=============================Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasyTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and episode overview02:40 - Elevator pitch for "Vespiglio" and its thematic influences03:43 - Robin Hood reimagining and political intrigue04:54 - The importance of marketing and audiobooks in indie publishing06:36 - Building complex characters and balancing narration perspectives11:03 - Overcoming unexpected obstacles of indie publishing13:28 - The power of community and IndieBookstagram for promotion16:20 - Local events and creative marketing ideas17:30 - The significance of audiobooks and distribution channels21:12 - How character motivations and backgrounds shape storytelling22:13 - Incorporating subtle twists and maintaining freshness in Robin Hood reinterpretations26:04 - Character analysis: Morally gray and morally complex figures27:24 - Exploring themes of destiny, trauma, and war through main characters33:15 - The role of themes and editor input in character development37:23 - Adelaide's role as a strategic, impactful secondary character41:08 - The choice of using amnesia as a plot device and inspirations from history43:39 - Effectiveness of dream sequences and visceral worldbuilding46:23 - Multiple POV storytelling and balancing action with introspection50:02 - Crafting compelling villains with depth, specifically Tanner53:22 - Sneak peek into "Miletus" and future series plans57:18 - Series scope: trilogy or beyond and world expansion58:51 - Final thoughts, connecting with Audrey, and upcoming releases59:41 - Closing remarks and appreciation for listenersSubscribe on YouTube: ⁨@realm_runners⁩ #realmrunners #bookpodcast #indiefantasy #debutauthor #fantasyauthors #writingcommunity