Lasers Dragons And Keyboards

Alyssa Hazel is a writer and poet who enjoys exploring the weird, wonky, and wonderful through her work. Though she specializes in Odd Tales and Horror, she dabbles in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Her pieces have found homes in Bluestem, the Red Coyote, and the Dark River Review. Her six books include; The Twitching Light Trilogy, The Third Test, To Those Who Haunt You, and Among the Juniper Trees. Her latest release--as of the day of this recording!--is the Twitching Light Omnibus. We discuss the Twitching Light Omnibus, as well as her book coming out in July "The Beta Initiative", the sequel to "The Third Test." Alyssa offers advice for marketing for authors and how she works her strategy. She talks about the time and intentionality it takes.  We rabbit trail on how insidious the IRS is (they can find us in space!) And discuss her brainstorming techniques (you won't believe how she achieves it!) She recommends this YouTube channel for inspiration. Overall, we really enjoyed having Alyssa on and hope the best for her upcoming projects!   You can find out more about Alyssa and her upcoming works on her website.    ** Note: there was some issue with Aaron's audio and he couldn't be heard a chunk of the time. Not sure what was going on there... 

We talk to the always awesome Tosca Lee, discussing her latest book, The Long March Home, a fictionalized account of the Bataan Death March from WWII.  She discusses the difference in writing process as a solo author, working Ted Dekker, and writing with Marcus Brotherton.  Tosca discusses what's the most difficult thing for her to write, and you'll never guess what that is! Tosca and Liberty geek out about Midwest life. And who would Tosca sit down with for a monthly lunch?  You can find out more about Tosca at her website, ToscaLee.com . 

Today, we're talking to Lauren Brandenburg. We talk about Lauren's favorite book as a kid (The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards), her upcoming 10th book in the Gardener series, being the MC for Realm Makers, her hall of art on her website from her readers, and her guidance she offers to new writers. Lauren H. Brandenburg drinks hot cocoa every single morning and unashamedly has an alarm clock with bunny ears. She's a multi-award-winning author, including an American Christian Fiction Writers' Carol Award winner, Realm Award and Selah Award finalist, as well as a finalist for the People's Book Prize in the UK. Lauren writes to give young readers and grown-ups epic stories and cozy tales of fantastically lovely places to dwell. But most importantly, she's a wife and mother who loves our Heavenly Father so very much! She currently lives with her husband, Jamie, and their children in a lovely little town just south of Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her at LaurenHBrandenburg.com

It's our first solo episode in ...mutters...  Well, we're not exactly sure how long. But still! Aaron, Josh, and Liberty sit down to discuss what we're currently working on, our most recent projects, and among the rabbit trails, we also discuss the things we wish we knew when we first started publishing. Overall, for a free-wheeling show like ours, we managed to keep it on track. cough, cough uh-huh.  You can check out our personal projects on the following sites: Aaron: His website, AaronDeMott.com  Josh: X.com Liberty: Instagram and Substack

Today, we talk about the upcoming Realm Makers Expo, the outgrowth of the Realm Makers Writer's Conference. It's happening July 18 - 20, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  To find out more, check out RealmMakers.com . Find the RealmSphere here. Find out more about JJ Johnson's books here.

Today we have returning guest, Lindsay Franklin! Our longtime listeners might remember her from our VERY FIRST episode in 2016! We talk about her upcoming release, The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine. We discuss the starts of the character of Emlyn, which reach back to her first story as an adult writer. Other topics discussed: Coffee/tea/snacks! Writing male characters as a woman who is an INTJ. The most difficult scene to write in her book. AUDIOBOOKS! What questions Lindsay asks herself when starting a new project. Finding the source of your writers block. Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author of The Story Peddlerand ECPA best-selling author of Adored. By day, she wrangles chaos as Managing Editor of Enclave Publishing. By night, she spins whimsical tales fueled by hot drinks, rainy days, and the thunderous purrs of her spoiled cats. Lindsay lives among the misty evergreens of thePacific Northwest with her family. She is currently on a quest to discover the sparkliest nail polish on the planet. You can find out more about Lindsay and her work at LindsayAFranklin.com. Instagram.com/@Linzyafranklin 

Today with our 5th Season Debut, we have 4-time returning guest, H.L. (Heidi) Burke! We talk to her about the upcoming DOSA Files Anthology (Volume 2!) which our very own Aaron DeMott is a part of.  We also talk the RPG writing she's doing and the perils of doing a book launch just before Christmas.  Also : MUTANT CARIBOU!   H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she's written a lot of books, not just because she can't count very high.  Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.  Married to her high school crush, a now retired Marine, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cats, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).  Originally from Oregon, but currently living in a forest in West Virginia, she wilts without trees and doesn't mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after. You can find more about H.L. Burke's books at HLBurkeAuthor.com.

Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author. He has twelve speculative novels in print, along with two novellas, a handful of short stories, and a non-fiction book, FoxTales.  Kerry's novel A Star Curiously Singing won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe in a world under sharia law. It  is often mentioned on "Best of" lists.  Among his writings, Kerry's most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space. AViS was mentioned on the Tonight Show and in the Washington Post, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Newsweek called it "a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare."  Kerry is a refugee of the software industry. He spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits, first as one of the principal developers for the now mythical Fox Software, and then as one of Bill Gates's minions at Microsoft. He is a husband, a father, a technophile and a movie buff.   In this episode, we talk about his latest book, Rhats Free, set in the Takamo Universe--which was an education for us as the hosts because we weren't old enough to know about this.    The show kind of runs the gamut in topics as we talk writing, marketing, and Kerry's other creative pursuits. Learn more about Kerry at Nietz.com. 

Back in the day, Gretchen E K Engel enjoyed penning her English teacher's favorite essays as much as earning highest marks in physics. But science won over the arts, and Gretchen pursued a career as a chemical engineer. Her love of the written word was not neglected as she authored hundreds of technical documents including such riveting works as Spill Prevention, Controls and Countermeasure Plans and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans. She lives in Tucson with her husband, her daughter aka Young Realmie, and her extroverted tuxedo cat, plus a college-aged son across town. Ms. Engel enjoys playing tennis, biking, hiking, traveling, or lying on a pool float doing nothing. An environmental consultant by day and speculative fiction writer by night, Gretchen researches STEM characters in a professional setting and gets paid to do it. She has published short stories in anthologies and magazines. Her manuscript The Barber Surgeon won the ACFW Genesis Award for speculative fiction.   Havok Legendary Anthology: https://amzn.to/4frjSGM Stalk Gretchen on Instagram: Instagram.com/GretchenEKEngel    Join us on Twitch! Join us on Discord!

Today we interview Heidi Lynn Burke about her latest super hero book, Game On, and the anthology DOSA Files: Tales from the Supervillain Rehabilitation Files.   You can learn more about Heidi's work at: Heidi's Website

Today we interview Janeen Ippolito about her latest book release, Nobody's Hero, and Author Elevate author services. Learn more about Janeen at:  jiauthor.com  

Today we interview Laura VanArendonk Baugh about her Japanese history/fantasy book Only the Dead Face North, and other works. Learn more about Laura and her books at:  LauraVAB.com

I write with dogs wrapped around my feet. I get to wear sandals or bedroom slippers to work, and old, comfortable clothes. When the weather is fine I get to write on my back porch. I love summer. I write mysteries and fantasies because life is too short to be limited to one genre. I started getting published when I was 12, studied journalism at Northern Illinois University, then went to work as a news reporter…eventually for Scripps Howard, where I managed their Western Kentucky bureau. Getting itchy feet, I moved to Wisconsin and went to work for TSR, Inc., the then-producers of the Dungeons & Dragons game. I dipped my itchy feet into the fiction pool and wrote Dragonlance novels for several years. Now I'm back in Illinois, my land surrounded by train tracks that offer music to write by. And there are plenty of dogs in the neighborhood to provide an accompaniment. I am a recipient of the Faust, the grand master award of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, and the Illinois Author Project's Soon-to-be Famous Award. I've been on the USA Today's Bestseller list a few times … ah, I've never hit the Times. I've written more than forty SF, fantasy, mystery, and adventure novels (including a couple of ghosted projects), more short stories than I care to count, and I've edited magazines and anthologies.  When I'm writing I listen to classical guitar and 60s rock … depending on my subject matter. And at every good opportunity I toss tennis balls for my cadre of dogs. - Always hire a copy editor to make sure everything is caught. - How can you not afford an editor? - Read the manuscript backwards for editing purposes. - Buy ads - compare and contrast where is going to be best per novel. - Once a month newsletter for Jean!   THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY BROADCAST ON FEBRUARY 17, 2024 ON TWITCH.TV/LDK_PODCAST

In this episode, we talked with J.J. Johnson, Jason Joyner, and Merrie Destafano about getting your Author Kickstarter going.  Quick points: Kickstarter for Authors FB group $500 is a good, solid number to shoot for Keep holidays in mind when planning when to run your campaign Backer update swaps w/other KS authors. Make sure you have your book and graphics complete before launching the campaign. Find out more about the authors at their websites: Merrie Destafano JJ Johnson Jason Joyner   THIS EPISODE ORIGINALLY AIRED ON JANUARY 27, 2024 ON TWITCH.TV/LDK_PODCAST

Pam Halter was a home-schooling mom for nine years, has been a children's book author since 1995, a freelance children's book editor since 2006, and was the children's book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023 when the publishing house closed. She's the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy novel published by Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, and Willoughby and Friends, a picture book series about friendship featuring Willoughby, who is a dragon. Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she's not writing, Pam enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.   You can find out more about Pam and Willoughby at PamHalter.com

Thomas Doscher is an author and retired Air Force journalist with a degree in history from the University of Maryland University College. During his Air Force career, Thomas wrote news and feature stories for the Air Force and joint military publications across 20 years and three deployments. Thomas retired from the Air Force in 2021 and now spends his time writing and being with his wife and two sons in Illinois. We had a delightful chat with author Thomas Doscher, primarily discussing his upcoming book in the Vixen War Bride series. Highlights included: Reading 'Blossoms in the Wind', cultural mixing, being a history nerd Having an epic troll in the book, matching tone of the book with the subplots. Upcoming projects! American Isakai Getting punched by wife for editing. 20 Books to 50K Don't sweat the marketing!   Be sure to check out Thomas's books on Amazon and Facebook.   THIS EPISODE WAS LIVESTREAMED ON TWITCH.TV/LDK_PODCAST ON AUGUST 12, 2023.

Paul Regnier is a speculative fiction author. He believes one of the closest things to magic on this earth is imagination. His favorite type of story is filled with adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments between characters. He likes to dream up worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and the supernatural. Sometimes they end up in a book. Paul is the writer of a new fantasy book called Bard Tidings, as well as the Luke and Bandit cozy mystery series, the Paranormia series, and the Space Drifters series. Paul lives in Treasure Valley, Idaho, with his wife and two children. You can learn more about Paul and his books at PaulJRegnier.com THIS EPISODE WAS LIVESTREAMED ON TWITCH.TV/LDK_PODCAST ON JULY 22, 2023.

We had the incomparable John Otte on the show this week!  John W. Otte is a husband, a father, a Lutheran pastor, and a big ol' geek. He graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a theatre major, and then from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. By night, he writes unusual stories of geeky grace. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and two boys.   On today's show, we discussed his recent forays into Kickstarter campaigns, both for his Drawn in Ash novel and forthcoming sequel, Drawn Through Blood. His influence to try the Kickstarter method? Novel Marketing Podcast (which is a great podcast for novelists! Check out this podcast about Kickstarting with Chris Fox, which we think is the episode John refers to in the episode.) We also hear about balancing his life as full-time Lutheran pastor and writing novels, and the challenges there.  Many shout outs today! John W. Otte  Novel Marketing Podcast John's editor, Megan Gerig One Year Adventure Novel All links to Amazon help us stay up and running! Whether you buy a book or a TV, help us stay in the black by using the links to make your next purchase on Amazon by using our affiliate link.

For the second time, we had Cindy Koepp on, author of LitRPG novels and graphic novels, among other things! We had a blast learning about the process of turning a novel into a comic book, what it takes to do in-person events at comic-cons, and even a little bit about hooking. (Get your head out of the gutter! It's a legit thing!)  Originally from Michigan, Cindy Koepp combined a love of pedagogy and ecology into a 14-year career as an elementary science specialist. After teaching four-footers -- that's height, not leg count, she pursued a Master's in Adult Learning with a specialization in Performance Improvement. Her published works include science fiction novels, fantasy novels, a passel of short stories, and educator resources. When she isn't reading or writing, Cindy is currently working as a tech writer, hat collector, quilter, crafter, and weird joke teller. Find out where Cindy's going to be via her website and sign up for her newsletter at CKoepp.com.  Cindy's books can be purchased on Amazon too.

We got to hear quite a bit about how Heidi has jumped from many different genres to focus on Superhero Romance. It's a niche that she greatly enjoys and hasn't been able to find many clean examples of. From there, we moved on to favorite characters, what it's like to put yourself in the mind of who started out as a side character and suddenly needing to write a tale about them specifically, and how she researches. To the latter point: ex-marine husband! Snails were mentioned, of course.   We love having Heidi on! She's an absolute blast in person and on the show! Follow Heidi at: https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/ On Amazon: https://amzn.to/3J7cz93 

Today we had Kara Swanson, author of the Heirs of Neverland books, on the show! This SoCal native enjoys running the Authors Conservatory, the writers school she co-founded, and is hard at work at a new series focusing on the phoenix. www.authorconservatory.com www.theyoungwriter.com  www.instagram.com/karaswansonauthor www.karaswanson.com  

We are absolutely delighted to have back on our show Becky Dean! Becky, also known as B.L. Dean, is the author of her debut space opera novel, Rogue Pursuit, which released in March. In today's podcast, we discuss writing for two different major publishing houses, the differences between them, as well as how she came up with the ideas for Rogue Pursuit and its sequels (all coming out by June 2023.)  We last had Becky on for S4 E2 discussing her contemporary YA romance which is laced with tons of geeky references. Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. When she's not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows or Jane Austen adaptations, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. Though she's a proud Baylor grad and lives in Texas with her husband, she remains a Southern California girl at heart. You can find out more about her books at www.BeckyDeanWrites.com .

Under the guise of testing some borked settings, we reinterviewed our very own Aaron DeMott who just released his third novel, "Etherno 2: Catgirl Overload". We discuss everything from needing to do rants (look forward to updates from Patreon!) to the inspiration of his books to finding time to write while working full-time and raising four kids.  As one third of the LDK group, Aaron is hugely busy, and the fact he still wants to do the podcast is amazing in and of itself, so it was fun to just sit down and discuss his books for a change.  Also in the episode: some personal updates from all three of us. (Hint: two of us are married to each other now!) Check out Aaron's books at www.aarondemott.com .

We have with us Josh's aunt this episode, the amazing Dawn Shipman!  Dawn Shipman is an award-winning author whose fantasy stories bristle with believable characters fighting fierce battles in strange worlds. Teens of all ages will love these tales of soaring wonder, ferocious loyalty, and heart-stopping romance. Kingdom Lost, the first book in the Lost Stones of Argonia series, is her debut novel. We had a blast talking to Dawn and we know you'll love her too!  For more information about Dawn's books, check out her website at: https://dawnshipmanfiction.com/ 

This is a lost episode! The producer has no idea what we discussed, but it's with Josh Chadd. He's awesome. Listen, buy his books, you know the deal.  Joshua C Chadd's Website Find Joshua C. Chadd's books here

Today, we talk to Becky Dean, author of debut YA Romance novel Love and Other Great Expectations. Not our normal fare, but Becky is completely awesome and also about to release a series of Space Opera books in 2023!  Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. When she's not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows or Jane Austen adaptations, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. Though she's a proud Baylor grad and lives in Texas with her husband, she remains a Southern California girl at heart.  https://beckydeanwrites.com https://www.instagram.com/beckydeanwrites/  (Please note there was some technical issues with our recording for Becky's feed. Producer was unable to fix in post.) -- Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/ldk_podcast  

We're BACK! And we've got Travis W. Inman with us, discussing his newest book, Chrome World.  Travis W. Inman grew up in the ranch country of West Texas and worked as a cowboy for his first 20 years. Travis graduated from seminary in Dallas, Texas, and later served a year in the mission field in Mexico and South America. Upon his return home, he married Sarah, his wife of more than 25 years. They have two children whom they successfully home schooled. Over the years, Travis has applied his skills to a variety of fields, ranging from marketing and real estate to criminal justice and law enforcement. Travis served in the United States Army where he overcame a devastating hip injury and was able to walk again despite the odds. Writing is a life-long passion for Travis. His short stories and poems have been selected for publication in a variety of newspapers and on Internet sites. Travis' writing includes children's literature, action adventure, short stories, one act plays, love stories, westerns, sci-fi, thrillers, and drama. Travis and Sarah Inman currently reside in Northern Virginia. Visit Travis online: https://www.traviswinman.com/ Travis's Amazon page

We're back in the saddle again with award winning author Steve Rzasa! Check out our chat as we discuss the life a librarian, cool cover designs, and working with a collaborator. 

In our "lost episodes" files, we interview UF and Paranormal Romance author, Amy Brock McNew. 

Due to a Midwestern snowstorm, Liberty was unable to join Aaron & Josh in this spectacular interview with sci-fi legend, Nick Cole. A former soldier and actor, Nick shares insights into his writing process, tabletop gaming, indie publishing, and who you should pay attention to in this world where everybody is a guru in the indie-sphere. 

We sat down and discussed Jason Joyner's debut novel, Launch. As well as what led to the creation of the Realm Makers Consortium in 2015, and how great it is to be a part of a writing community that shares bonds in areas of both spiritual and fandom. Be sure to check out the stream on Twitch.tv/LDK_Podcast for great interaction on the chat! Where to Find Jason + other links: Jason Joyner Launch LDK on Twitch LDK on Patreon

We sat down with J.J. Johnson, author of  Iggy & Oz: The Plastic Dinos of Doom this week on LDK! We discussed the challenges of writing for middle grade, giant snot blobs, and insights into marketing from a marketing professional. Oh, and there was laughter. A. Lot. Of. Laughter. (But what else do you expect from us?)  Links: J.J. Johnson Iggy & Oz on Amazon LDK on Twitch.tv LDK on Patreon After Atlantis Gaming on Twitch.tvJosh's book on Amazon Aaron's books on Amazon Liberty's latest book on Amazon

We're excited to be re-launching the podcast! And today, we did a test run of our new recording setup. Be sure to join us on Twitch.tv/LDK_Podcast for future episodes!

We were delighted to have with us NYT bestselling author, Ed Greenwood, on this week's episode of the show! For those not in the know, Mr. Greenwood is the creator of The Forgotten Realms. Note to listeners: we had not only our producer missing, but the guys had to jury-rig a setup to record. Mr. Greenwood joined us over the phone, which was not what we had planned—but we were delighted to have him despite our technical difficulties. (Liberty's hair may or may not be more grey after editing...) Also, for our listeners with sensitive ears, there is some mild swearing in this episode. The guys mostly let Mr. Greenwood talk, and as such, we think this is an episode best listened to rather than trying to sum it up. But we do get a history lesson on publishing and research. My word, do we have it easy nowadays. Everything in a home exists to support bookshelves. ~ Ed Greenwood   Links: Ed Greenwood The Edverse Ed on Twitter

We've got some great insight into intellectual property law with attorney Steve Fairchild. It may sound boring, but as authors, it's important we understand at least a little bit about the law. We start things out with an overview of what's encompassed in intellectual property, and then it really gets fun! In Episode 76: How biology degrees relates to intellectual property How Steve gets his clients Can you use the term "lightsaber™" in your book? Does I.P. law translate to other countries? Finding an I.P. attorney...and do you need one? What's the difference between an I.P. attorney and an agent? When does copyright exist? Do you need to file your copyright with the copyright office? What happens when your work has been pirated? Can I.P. law be funny? How Steven actually informed an episode of Suits--and how they got it wrong! What Steven finds frustrating in fiction about the law Bunny trails! Do I need to copyright my idea formally with the copyright office? Fair use law Steve's advice on courtroom scenes Steve's favorite movies about legal stuff Links: Steven R Fairchild author Steven R Fairchild, attorney Living Ashes Turkish Star Wars Redshirts by John Scalzi Godzilla scene from Austin Powers: Goldmember Erin Brokovich Joy

We sit down with physics teacher by day, thriller author by night, Kayla--K.M.--Dailey this episode. K.M. is the winner of our flash short story contest with Laura VanArendonk Baugh to write a short story featuring Samwise Gamgee (LOTR) and River Song (Doctor Who.) K.M.'s story had us in stitches, and we're sure you'll see why we picked the story as our winner. We talk about our Harry Potter houses, Kayla's inspiration for the short story, Christmas trees out of books, Liberty admits to having lower standards in her reading, the ever-present need for more bookcases, Harry Dresden, the new doctor on Doctor Who and Kayla's and Liberty's concerns about the direction, Doctor Who indoctrination (no pun intended!), Kayla's goal of 100 rejections in 2018 (!!!), Captain America...or Captain Jack Sparrow? Find out more about Kayla on her YouTube channel. Kayla's book recommendations: Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card The Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket The Three Body Problem - Cixin Liu   For a transcript of K.M. Dailey's short story, visit our website at: LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com

This week we have hopeless romantic, H.L. (Heidi) Burke on the show. She's totally obsessed with dragons, but we know a few people who also are, so we won't hold it against her.   In episode 74: The evolution of a pantser to a plotter Guess which of Heidi's offspring might be a future Bond villain! Lyrics in music? Yes or no? The adventures of being a military wife Why Heidi doesn't think she's a very deep person. Working with an editor when you've been self-published first How Sarah picks her release dates Aaron warns new authors about vanity presses Who is Theodore??   As always, check our website for full show notes! LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com      

This week we have hopeless romantic, H.L. (Heidi) Burke on the show. She's totally obsessed with dragons, but we know a few people who also are, so we won't hold it against her. In episode 73: We discuss the Eros & Psyche myth again (see Laura VAB's recent episode for more E&P!) as H.L.'s book, Coiled, is based on the myth. Heidi's desire to go "aww" while writing. How we have to release our books to the world and they become a part of the world instead of ours. Myths are out of copyright—we can plagiarize them! Can snakes get sea sick? Star Trek rants! Re-reading on Goodreads Myers Briggs analysis of characters For more notes and links to other shows, please visit LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com

We have Andrew Winch on this week, who is the executive editor with Splickety Publishing group where he's worked with a whole host of authors including Jerry B. Jenkins, Tosca Lee, and Robert Liparulo. He's a full time physical therapist when he's not running around with Ben Wolf. In this episode: Google is a wonderful thing. ;) Who is Ben Wolflichman? Wrangling flaming pigs Gothic horror / steampunk Weird stuff submitted to Splickety (hint: did you guess frog erotica?) Andrew's love of creepy stuff Don't edit your voice out of your story!!! Is writing flash fiction a perfectionist's game? What 3 tips would Andrew give to improve your writing? Why you should read women's fiction. You have to write a great story. Supporting characters Andrew wants to know more about! For additional show notes, visit LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com

In this episode, we sit down with E. Stephen Burnett, who, along with Ben Wolf (see episodes 10 & 11), is the co-founder of the forthcoming e-magazine, Lorehaven. Stephen is a former print journalist who now helps run SpeculativeFaith.com and other faith-based websites that focus on fiction--including Lorehaven. He hails from Texas. In this episode: What Lorehaven is--and what it won't be. What is a flash review? Stephen's favorite version of Star Trek. Lorehaven's goal to create book clubs. The broader content goals of Lorehaven. Who should everyone be reading? What is Stephen watching? Wonder Woman? Anime?  Find all our show notes, links to previous episodes, and links to books discussed on our website: LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com

On this episode, we have Paul Smith, friend of previous guests, CW Briar and Jon Brhel. He's author of Jason and the Draconauts! Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master's degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999. A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul's writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel.   In Episode 70: The pitfalls of pantsing The guys give Liberty a hard time for ditching her outline Liberty keeps bringing up Scrivener... Bluetooth keyboards! Why reading out loud is an important editing tool. Paul's techniques for battling writer's block and why he hates frustration. Paul's thoughts on conventions and selling books on them. Whether FB ads are worth the paper they're printed on... Including fandom quotes in our books! What do your books teach you in the course of the writing? Get words on paper   Links! Paul D Smith (on Goodreads) Jason and the Draconauts The Council of Ancients Ready Player One (audiobook link) Brandon Sanderson Redshirts by John Scalzi (on audiobook!) Scrivener (again!) The Hobbit The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code Angels & Demons   As always, you can find complete show notes at LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com.

On this episode, we have Paul Smith, friend of previous guests, CW Briar and Jon Brhel. He's author of Jason and the Draconauts! Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master's degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999. A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul's writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel. In Episode 69: Writing for your kids Creating dragons! Who's going to argue with a dragon? D&D's influence in Paul's writing How to NOT plagiarise Aaron wants to read a story about Captain America riding a dragon Does the TARDIS have a loading bay? Black Ops Helicopters Sean Connery thoughts on conventions and selling books on them. Whether FB ads are worth the paper they're printed on... Including fandom quotes in our books! What do your books teach you in the course of the writing? Get words on paper   Links! Paul D Smith (on Goodreads) Jason and the Draconauts The Council of Ancients Ready Player One (audiobook link) Brandon Sanderson Redshirts by John Scalzi (on audiobook!) Scrivener (again!) The Hobbit The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code Angels & Demons

This week, we have Kristen Stieffel, author of the debut novel, Alara's Call. Kristen Stieffel is a freelance writer and editor specializing in science fiction and fantasy. She's the associate editor of Havok, a flash fiction magazine focused on the speculative genres. Kristen provides author mentoring and a full range of editorial services in multiple genres for both the general market and the Christian submarket. Kristen is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Christian Editor Connection and is a Word Weavers International mentor.   In Episode 68: Plotting! Pantsing! Who knows?! Start with the end in mind. He said WHAT?! Writing out of order. How do you K.O. a piece of paper? All hail the wonders of Scrivener! How MCs can change in the course of the book. Hurricane brain Write through the crap! Snacking! Tea! Bollywood! Classical Crossover music Kristen's longest trip for a writer's conference. Why do people complain about book prices? Gotta have the big parts in your novel first. Kristen's Facebook Party (9/21/2017) You can find all our episodes & show notes at LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com.

This week, we have Kristen Stieffel, author of the debut novel, Alara's Call. Kristen Stieffel is a freelance writer and editor specializing in science fiction and fantasy. She's the associate editor of Havok, a flash fiction magazine focused on the speculative genres. Kristen provides author mentoring and a full range of editorial services in multiple genres for both the general market and the Christian submarket. Kristen is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Christian Editor Connection and is a Word Weavers International mentor. In Episode 67: Kristen's impetus for writing Alara's Call. How President Dwight Eisenhower factors in to Kristen's book. Kristen admits how long it took to write the book. How her setting was designed to fit the story. Mentor characters yelling at the main character's father! How long does it take to cremate a horse? (Aaron isn't telling PETA.) We get into an argument about Kristen's favorite spec fic quote. Aaron refrains from going full über-nerd! (We're all grateful.) Kristen's Facebook Party (9/21/2017) You can find all our show notes at LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com.

We sat down with the delightful Sarah White, author of Halayda, but Josh couldn't join us. So it was up to Liberty to rein in Aaron! Or does he have to rein her in? Hmmm... Sarah Delena White writes epic fantasy, steampunk, and reworkings of mythology with complex characters, rich world-building, and a fine balance of poetry and snark. When she's not writing or editing, she can be found making jewelry, singing Irish ballads, drinking tea, and working a variety of odd jobs. She occasionally remembers to eat and sleep, because those things are apparently important. She can be bribed with dark chocolate. Halayda is her debut novel. In Episode 66: Normally, we have rabbit trails. But this week, we have rabbit AND chicken trails! (That sounds worse than it is...) Plotting v pantsing ... and having a point she's working toward Deleted/bonus scenes! Sarah's use of a certain social media platform in her research The necessity of the right brand of Earl Grey tea. Twitter Hashtag Games! Irish folklore & ARROW  For links to discussed topics, please be sure to visit our website: LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com  

We sat down with the delightful Sarah White, author of Halayda, but Josh couldn't join us. So it was up to Liberty to rein in Aaron! Or does he have to rein her in? Hmmm... Sarah Delena White writes epic fantasy, steampunk, and reworkings of mythology with complex characters, rich world-building, and a fine balance of poetry and snark. When she's not writing or editing, she can be found making jewelry, singing Irish ballads, drinking tea, and working a variety of odd jobs. She occasionally remembers to eat and sleep, because those things are apparently important. She can be bribed with dark chocolate. Halayda is her debut novel. In Episode 65: Sarah keeps very busy! Halayda's unique blend of subgenres and unique beginnings Yes, this is a kissing book! Sarah's research into Scottish & Irish faeries More questionable search histories! Aaron's rabbit trail about the difference between the Russian space program and NASA Liberty's rabbit trail about Apollo 13 Short word counts vs. long word counts!  For additional links and notes, be sure to visit: LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com

This week, we talk with Deanna Fugett (not to be confused with Deanna Troi). We get right into it with a discussion about oddly named characters, and where some of these names come from (don't ask...) Next, because this is a speculative fiction show, we talk at length about Little House on the Prairie (Of course...) Liberty wasn't around this week to steer us back on track... (because she spontaneously combusted... well, that's our story, anyway...) We eventually got back on track (kind of...), and learned that Josh loves depressing endings (Aaron can't stand them...) Who's Deanna's favorite super hero? Is it Green Arrow? Super Grover? You'll have to listen to find out. Does Deanna prefer Scrivener? Word? Pen? Crayon? We also take a quick break to provide a public service announcement of things computers don't like (such as hammers and crumbs...) Lingo 101... We're thinking of making this a regular feature... And last, but not least, being eaten alive (metaphorically...) Some of Deanna's favorite authors: - Liberty - Aaron - Josh (he's almost done...) - Lynn Austin, who writes historical fiction/romance. She has a really good series set in the Civil War (U.S. History, not Marvel, sadly) that does a good job of showing the conflict and motivation from both sides. (Also, if you like history, check out "Across Five Aprils") Deanna thinks critique groups are pretty darn important. We think so too! Extrovert shadowing! As always, get full show notes at LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com.

After a way-too-long hiatus from publishing, we're finally getting back into the swing of things! On this episode of the show, recorded WAAAAAY back in the spring (we won't bring up Liberty's scheduling/production issues), we have with us the one and only Avily Jerome. We know Avily from the Realm Maker's conference, where she sometimes body-doubles President Donald Trump. But she's also an amazingly talented author who wrote The Heir. As you'll find out, Avily likes to laugh as much as we do, and her snarky brand of humor was a great fit with your hosts' funny bones. In Episode 64: Plotting or pantsing...and how her research affects this. Steve Irwin...Mermaid Hunter... Crazy NaNo+ word counts Avily and her organizational methods My Evil Mermaid How Avily deals with writer's block Dealing with people who don't like what you write. Develop a thick skin. Darkside Cookies As always, visit LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com for our full show notes and access to our back episodes!

After a way-too-long hiatus from publishing, we're finally getting back into the swing of things! On this episode of the show, recorded WAAAAAY back in the spring (we won't bring up Liberty's scheduling/production issues), we have with us the one and only Avily Jerome. We know Avily from the Realm Maker's conference, where she sometimes body-doubles President Donald Trump. But she's also an amazingly talented author who wrote The Heir. As you'll find out, Avily likes to laugh as much as we do, and her snarky brand of humor was a great fit with your hosts' funny bones. In Episode 63: Avily's book, The Heir, and her serial The Amulet Saga. Avily's favorite character, and that character's role. Josh's TBR list grows to over 2,000. How people in Avily's life have responded to her art. Christians don't have to write strictly Christian characters. Changing settings and how they change the story. Avily's favorite scenes in books. As always, find more detailed show notes as well as links to things discussed at LasersDragonsAndKeyboards.com .