Realm Runners

In this episode, Tim Carter shares his journey from Hollywood to video games to indie fantasy writing, revealing behind-the-scenes stories from his work on Mortal Kombat Legacy and Sleeping Dogs. He discusses his creative process, the importance of humor in fantasy, and how his background influences his storytelling.His book Jester is currently a SPFBO finalist! Be sure to go grab a copy of that and his amazing debut, Majordomo!00:00 Introduction and guest background01:22 Working on audiobook narration during health crises03:22 Transition from video games to indie fiction04:50 Producing Mortal Kombat Legacy07:00 Background in Hollywood and film10:22 Writing style: humor and heavy themes12:20 Inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons campaigns20:20 Creating relatable characters from non-human races30:34 Reader engagement and highlights52:55 Unexpected reader reactions and highlights

In this episode, author M.H. Ayinde shares insights into her epic fantasy series, the creative process behind her book covers, and how her cultural background influences her storytelling. We explore themes of magic, colonialism, genre blending, and character development.Be sure to pick up both of her amazing books now!

A sci-fi romance about two people trying to live their lives while the universe quietly comes apart, Elliot Blake reveals the gritty, fast-moving story behind Into the Great and why he chose to build a love story inside a world of mining planets, border-town thieves, and unnerving alien visitors who say nothing and stare.Blake brings an unusually deep entertainment background to the page. He is the executive producer of Apple TV’s The Sisters Grimm, and the director and executive producer of the three-season Moriarty Audible Original, set in a twisted Sherlock Holmes universe. That mix of animation, audio drama, and screen storytelling shapes everything about how he writes, from pacing and POV to the way he grounds big ideas in sharp character work.We break down how Into the Great went from a shelved comic concept to a prose novella, including the challenge of adapting from script-style writing into past tense fiction. We also get into the influences that shaped the book’s atmosphere: the lived-in grit of Blade Runner, Alien, The Expanse, John Scalzi, and the Culture novels of Iain M. Banks. If you love science fiction that's character-driven, and emotionally alive, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Sheila Masterson joins us to discuss her latest works and the intricacies of writing dark romance. With a captivating mix of humor and seriousness, Sheila reveals the challenges and joys of creating complex characters in intense settings.Sheila shares her journey into the realm of dark romance, starting with her acclaimed book, The Poison Daughter. A story about a woman with a poison kiss, who lures unsuspecting men to their demise, until one night, things take an unexpected turn.Join us in exploring the full episode to hear more about Sheila's writing process and her exciting future projects. You won't want to miss it!

Have you ever wondered how to build stories that truly resonate with readers who see themselves in the pages? C.L. Clark reveals how writing characters from marginalized communities creates immersive, emotionally charged worlds that fans obsess over. In this episode, Clark shares the surprising origins of Fortune’s Wake, the process for writing tight, impactful novellas, and how fan reactions unexpectedly brought their work into the spotlight. Don't miss Fortune's Wake, coming from Grimdark Magazine on 8/24!

Cal Logan is back for round two, and it's the show's first return guest. His debut ShadowBane landed as one of Pete's picks for Indie Book of 2025, and the sequel, ShadowVein, closes out a very different kind of book two. Cal walks through the decision to pull back from book one's battle heavy structure and lean into political, character driven fantasy instead, a swing he knew was risky right after such a strong debut.We get into the covers, including the original concept Cal brought his artist that got scrapped for something stronger, and the color shift for book two that quietly sets up book three. Cal also breaks down how much of ShadowBane and ShadowVein pulls directly from real Japanese yokai folklore rather than invented mythology, why he chose feudal Japan over Western demon lore for the series' backbone, and the specific liberties he did and didn't feel comfortable taking with a culture that isn't his own.Plus how a planned single book split into a trilogy once the story kept growing past 700 pages, the advice Cal has for indie authors nervous to put themselves out there, and a first look at what's coming: a prequel novella covering the twins' early days, and a much bigger, war focused book three landing in 2028.===========================Connect with CalInstagram / TikTok: @cal_logan_author===========================Connect with Realm RunnersSubscribe: @realm_runnersFollow Realm Runners: instagram.com/realm_runnersFollow Pete: instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: instagram.com/bromantasy0:00 — Intro and welcome back to episode twelve with Cal Logan3:33 — Cal introduces Shadow Bane, Shadow Vein, and the Schism of Souls trilogy4:41 — Why book two pulls back from action into political, character-driven fantasy8:39 — Cover art process: the scrapped original concept and finding the right artist11:40 — Book two's color shift and what it sets up for book three27:35 — Splitting one massive manuscript into a trilogy29:29 — Grimdark influences and that eight-message death scene30:51 — How much of the demon mythology is real Japanese yokai folklore32:25 — Why feudal Japan instead of Western demon lore33:36 — Anime influences, Demon Slayer comps, and the Andy Palakin quote37:21 — Advice for indie authors: being unafraid and staying genuine online1:01:58 — The background mythology readers latched onto more than expected1:03:11 — Why nothing an indie author writes goes to waste1:04:51 — Book three update: war, mythology payoff, and a 2028 target1:07:02 — The prequel novella: the twins' early days before Shadow Bane1:08:26 — Wrap-up and where to find Cal

Pete has been dying to get Jesse Aragon on the show since he saw the cover of Demon Star back in January, and six months later the wait pays off. Jesse is a science fantasy author and full-time nurse whose debut, out July 28 from DAW, follows an exorcist and a demon-possessed warrior on a god-ruled, ruined planet, where the woman's son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon.We get into how that cover came together, down to Jesse sketching stick-figure poses on a work schedule and sending it to the artist as reference. Jesse walks through the wild road to this book: querying at 19, a shelved 180,000-word novel that died on submission, a second agent, and a leaner 109,000-word manuscript that DAW then asked to expand by 20 to 30 percent. We talk about writing morally compromised leads without losing reader investment, the deliberate choice to let a queer relationship be as messy and "problematic" as any straight one in the genre, and how years working trauma and emergency medicine feed directly into how Jesse writes violence: ugly, consequential, never just cool.Plus the exorcism horror movies and a half-remembered X-Files episode about a parasitic worm cult that Jesse didn't realize had shaped the whole book until a rewatch last year, the no-context text that delivered a Pierce Brown blurb, a second blurb from Rebecca Roanhorse that arrived the same way, and the advice Jesse has for anyone still years out from a book deal: the work still counts even when nobody's watching.Demon Star releases July 28 from DAW. Book two, a standalone set in the same universe, is already in progress.===========================Connect with JesseInstagram: @jva_writes===========================Connect with Realm RunnersSubscribe: @realm_runnersFollow Realm Runners: instagram.com/realm_runnersFollow Pete: instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: instagram.com/bromantasyTimestamps0:00 — Intro and welcome to episode eleven with Jesse Aragon1:02 — Jesse introduces Demon Star, out July 284:39 — The cover: working with artist Kieran Yanner and the stick-figure pose sketch7:42 — Commissioning character art before the book deal even existed10:20 — What DAW let Jesse do: expanding from a lean 109K to a longer, fuller book12:16 — Writing flashbacks that don't break immersion17:00 — Writing morally compromised leads without losing the reader20:04 — Committing to an unlikable character instead of softening her22:32 — How ER and nursing work shaped writing injury and trauma26:52 — Why violence should hurt on the page, not just look cool27:48 — Getting blurbed by Pierce Brown with zero context31:31 — Messy, complicated relationships and "problematic" queer representation35:26 — The horror side: exorcism movies, bugs, and a childhood love of possession stories38:06 — The X-Files parasite-cult episode that quietly inspired the whole book42:06 — Advice for aspiring authors: querying at 19, a book deal at 3049:38 — Book two: a standalone set in the same universe53:03 — What's surprised Jesse about early reader reactions59:15 — Where to find Jesse and wrap-up

Gemma Vale discusses her debut novel 'Daughter of the Night' and her unique writing process, self-editing, and immersive marketing strategies. She also shares insights on her social media journey and the challenges of self-publishing. We cover Gemma Vale's writing process, the unique aspects of her editing style, the inspiration behind her book's shadows as characters, and the psychological horror elements of her upcoming work. Gemma also discusses her decision to self-publish and her approach to character perspectives in her writing.===========================Connect with Gemma https://www.instagram.com/author.gemmavale/===========================Connect with Realm RunnersSubscribe: @realm_runnersFollow Realm Runners: instagram.com/realm_runnersFollow Pete: instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: instagram.com/bromantasyChapters00:00 Immersive Marketing Strategies30:14 Inspiration from Stephen King and Editing Style31:10 Unique Editing Process and Self-Publishing Decision32:27 Shadows as Characters in the Book33:31 Psychological Horror Elements and Character Perspectives

Fantasy Romance Month wraps up as Caty Rogan joins Devin and Pete to talk Kissed by the Gods, her recent traditional release with Requited and the first book in the Eternal Wars series. Caty writes feminine rage, winged war horses, and epic battles, and she made a believer out of Pete, a lifelong classic-fantasy reader who connected with this one harder than anything else in the genre lately.We get into the world her husband stress-tested down to the population math, why language "rules" in fantasy are mostly made up, and the Star Wars DNA running under the whole series. Caty cops to Riot and Lena being her grown-up Anakin and Ahsoka fix-it fic, walks through Lena's training arc as someone who already had the badass part and had to learn how not to kill people, and lands on the line that took a few drafts to earn... found and furious. Plus the pantser problem of fantasy, characters who refuse to do what you plotted, why duet audio is the only way, epigraphs she now regrets making this good, and the side couple that came to her the easiest. She also drops a strong rec on the way out.===========================Connect with Caty https://www.instagram.com/catyrogan/===========================Connect with Realm RunnersSubscribe: @realm_runnersFollow Realm Runners: instagram.com/realm_runnersFollow Pete: instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: instagram.com/bromantasyTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Katie Rogan02:00 - Katie’s background in fantasy and transition into romance05:00 - Making characters emotionally real and side characters memorable10:00 - Worldbuilding: Landmass, population, and logistics15:00 - Writing spicy scenes and audiobook experiences20:00 - Social media's role in publishing success25:00 - Developing her next project with a focus on character growth30:00 - Indie versus traditional publishing: benefits and industry shifts35:00 - Parenting, deadlines, and balancing creative life40:00 - Audience questions on favorite quotes, reader reactions, and favorite reads50:00 - Final book recommendations and upcoming projects58:00 - Closing thoughts and thank you to Katie Rogan

Fantasy Romance Month continues as Stacia Stark joins to break down We Who Will Die, the ancient Rome-inspired romantasy she originally pitched as gladiator meets Vampire Diaries. Stacia went indie first, built her readership on the Kingdom of Lies series, and We Who Will Die is her first fully trad book, sold to Avon as a trilogy off a few chapters and a synopsis.We get into why this is a book with trials and not a trials book, how Arvell's binding vow to kill the emperor in the first chapter gave Stacia a huge amount of rope to write into, and why a Taylor Jenkins Reed tennis novel quietly inspired one of the best training arcs in the genre. Stacia explains how she wrote real slow burn instead of miscommunication wearing a slow-burn costume, and walks through the sigil magic system where your power is literally stamped on your forehead, and a book two release date update you heard here first.A heads up: there are a couple of light first-chapter setups discussed, all flagged in the moment.

NY Times and USA today best selling author Stacey McEwan joins Devin and Pete to kick off Fantasy Romance Month on Realm Runners, and it's a full hour of craft, chaos, and chicken-flavored chips. Stacey is the bestselling author of A Forbidden Alchemy (Peaky Blinders with magic) part of The Artisan series, published by Saga Press. She breaks down how the book came together from a genuinely unhinged first draft (dark academia war fiction steampunk romantasy was a real pitch), why she almost miscommunication-trapped herself into a corner, what it's actually like to get editor notes back when your entire brain is on the page, and where book three stands right now.A Forsaken Prophecy releases July 14 (AU/UK) and July 21 (US). Tour dates coming soon.===========================Connect with Stacey===========================Connect with Realm Runners Subscribe: ⁨@realm_runners⁩Follow Realm Runners: https://instagram.com/realm_runnersFollow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasyChapters:0:00 — Intro and Fantasy Romance Month1:30 — How Devin ended up with a signed copy of Ledge4:00 — Why Patrick works for readers regardless of gender7:30 — What makes romance land vs. what makes it die10:00 — Writing Nina's silence without it being a miscommunication cop-out13:30 — How the book actually came together: dark academia + war docs + nan's bodice rippers16:30 — The school arc that became its own book and then got cut18:45 — The editor notes reel: what it looks like on the outside vs. what it feels like on the inside21:15 — Coles vs. Woolies23:00 — Chicken-flavored chips and the cultural divide26:45 — Balancing writing, mothering, and touring (and the bargain she made with herself)31:20 — How teaching shaped her storytelling instincts35:00 — Student plot twists, reader DMs, and Raven Kennedy's lawyers37:00 — A Forsaken Prophecy updates and why book two was an absolute pain to write39:15 — AFV: the book three title tease41:00 — The Kindle highlights that surprised her43:15 — Readers obsessing over an air charmer that isn't coming45:30 — The gaslight fantasy world and how ANZAC tunnelers inspired the magic system49:30 — Writing real sibling dynamics (Patrick's brothers and the banter)52:00 — Tour dates, wrap-up, and the Stacia Stark teaser for next week

Thomas Clark Schecter joins Realm Runners to talk about The Shieldbreaker Saga, his epic dark fantasy series following 19-year-old Kareva as he leads the last of the Hodrir against the seemingly unstoppable Pohyor. Described by readers as the fantasy equivalent of 300, with the heart of Bernard Cornwell and the brutality of Abercrombie, The Shieldbreaker: Book One – The Last of the Etela is a lean, visceral, and emotionally devastating debut that proves you don't need 800 pages to build a world worth dying in.Tom breaks down how his background as an educator and history enthusiast shaped the tribal cultures, naming conventions, and military tactics in the book, why he opened with an epilogue that tells you the ending from page one (and why that was the right call), how his multi-POV battle sequences were designed to make readers feel the tide of war shift in real time, and where the Shieldbreaker Saga goes from here.📖 The Shieldbreaker, Book One: The Last of the Etela → https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236990876=========================== Connect with Thomas Schecter → https://ShieldbreakerSaga.com=========================== Connect with Realm Runners Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@realm_runners Follow Pete: / @pete_reviews_books_good Follow Devin: / @bromantasy00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction02:28 Book Cover Design and Aesthetic Choices05:24 The Writing Process and Series Development08:21 Influences and Inspirations for the Story11:07 Narrative Structure and Epilogue Discussion13:55 Character Development and Motivations16:42 Historical Context and Research19:23 Writing Style and POV Techniques22:14 Final Thoughts and Future Works31:40 Building Epic Battles and Character Depth33:36 The Emotional Impact of Character Connections35:44 Character-Driven Worldbuilding in Fantasy38:20 The Challenge of Expanding a Fantasy Universe40:25 Creating Rhythm and Pacing in Storytelling44:49 Themes of Identity in Times of Crisis47:11 Escapism vs. Realism in Fantasy Literature50:26 The Future of the Shield Breaker Saga

C. William Phillips (https://www.instagram.com/words_with_will) spent 14 years writing his debut, a crime thriller that reads like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos writers got into a fistfight in a parking lot and bleed all over the pages. Then he pivoted to epic fantasy and somehow made that look easy too.In this episode, Will breaks down the wild journey from What Blood Remembers to The Ash Remains, including how unemployment finally forced him to finish a book he'd been carrying since he was 18, why he's a proud pantser which led to adding his best character (Sen) completely by accident, and how he built a dragon bond system that actually costs something.We also get into: why Will writes unapologetically even when beta readers tell him he'll lose people, what the Malazan book club and The Crippled Pod(https://open.spotify.com/show/1UDpA2dZNhRY0ay3Md4XVY) did to his TBR, and why epic fantasy always felt like home even when he was writing neo-Western crime fiction.Pre-order The Ash Remains (ebook $5 before release): https://amzn.to/43aZTHK *Find Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/words_with_will===========================Connect with Realm RunnersFollow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_goodFollow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasySubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/‪@realm_runners‬0:00 - Introduction3:18 - Writing What Blood Remembers for 14 Years6:50 - Why Unemployment Finished the Book10:05 - Sprayed Edges & Indie Publishing with Mayor Golden Bookshelf12:30 - Pivoting to Epic Fantasy with The Ash Remains15:30 - Character Work Across Both Books16:20 - Pantser vs. Plotter (He Pantsed Sen Entirely)19:30 - Does He Know How the Series Ends?21:00 - Book Length & Chapter Structure27:20 - Chapter Formatting & the Malazan Influence30:50 - What Makes These Dragons Different34:10 - The Dragon Bond Training Room (No Spoilers)36:40 - Working on Book Two39:00 - Future Projects: Space Opera, Short Stories & a What Blood Remembers Novella41:10 - The Malazan Book Club Podcast Origin Story46:00 - What Malazan Did to His TBR50:00 - Writing Unapologetically (Even When Beta Readers Push Back)55:00 - Action Scenes & Accessibility in Epic Fantasy1:08:00 - Sen's Book Two Scoop1:11:30 - Closing & Where to Find Will#realmrunners #bookpodcast #epicfantasy #indieauthor #fantasyauthors #dragonriders #writingcommunity*Disclaimer: Affiliate links support Realm Runners at no extra cost to you

Most authors talk about writing. Jackson Ford (https://www.instagram.com/realjacksonford) proves it’s about living. In this episode, Jackson shares the real story behind his groundbreaking series The Bone Raiders, including how he dove headfirst into Mongolian culture, defying stereotypes to create a richly authentic world, nothing like the typical fantasy setting. You’ll discover the surprising reasons he chose to focus on female characters, why empathy guides his storytelling, and how to craft relationships that don’t just entertain but emotionally wreck your readers in the best way.We break down Jackson’s unconventional approach to world-building, revealing how he uses "what if" questions instead of tropes to naturally develop compelling characters and settings. Plus, how his background in journalism fuels his obsession with getting details right, and why he believes every writer has a responsibility to portray diverse perspectives authentically.Whether you’re an aspiring author or avid reader this episode unlocks the secret to genuine storytelling: one rooted in respect, research, and raw emotion. Perfect for anyone ready to challenge conventions, elevate their craft, or understand the mind of a storyteller who refuses to follow the crowd. =============================Connect with Realm Runners=============================Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasySubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/‪@realm_runners‬ 0:00 - Introduction3:18 - Release Day Experience5:19 - The Broken Binding7:13 - Transition to Fantasy13:24 - World-Building Approach20:14 - Writing Female Characters32:15 - Mentorship Program38:08 - The Business of Publishing49:31 - Upcoming Projects54:15 - Personal Stories1:00:04 - Closing Remarks#realmrunners #bookpodcast #indiefantasy #debutauthor #fantasyauthors #writingcommunity

Aaron Hall joins Pete and Devin to close out April, and this conversation goes everywhere. We dig into what makes The Legend of Uh work and hint, it's not just the jokes! We also talk about how a personal pizza video accidentally launched a social media explosion, why parody fantasy fails when it's all gag and no emotional core, and whether Aaron's next project should be a sci-fi parody or a grimdark political epic fantasy. He also teases a caveman cookbook that somehow has a fantasy adventure threaded through it, drops some thoughts on Brandon Sanderson's underground lair, and talks about what it actually feels like to go from nobody to getting recognized at a bookstore.The Second Legend of U is available for preorder and released on 4/27! Check out everything from Aaron at https://aaronnhall.com/ !=============================Connect with Realm Runners=============================Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasySubscribe on YouTube: /  @realm_runners  Chapters:(00:00) - Intro and reflections on April’s achievements(01:19) - Aaron’s praise for indie author community and "The Legend of" series(02:37) - Discussing "The Legend of Up" and its humor(04:07) - Brandon Sanderson’s prolific writing and book size(04:58) - Brandon’s resources and underground home tour(05:37) - The wealth of successful authors and their real lives(06:48) - Indie marketing challenges and successes(08:10) - Building an author brand with social content(10:44) - The balancing act of parody and meaningful storytelling(12:19) - Flipping stereotypes for emotional depth(13:55) - The unexpected popularity of side characters(15:47) - Impactful character moments and connection with readers(16:32) - Making audiobooks available for free on YouTube(17:43) - The reasoning behind YouTube audiobook strategy(19:03) - Challenges with Spotify and other platforms(21:07) - The importance of quick editing for social media(32:28) - Insights into attention span and short-form content(33:17) - The value of rapid shifts in social videos(34:37) - Content planning and engagement strategies(39:31) - Future projects including sci-fi, prequels, and series ideas(44:39) - Debating themes of lighthearted versus grimdark stories(45:49) - Creating a trilogy structure with thematic covers(47:03) - The rise of especially popular genres like sci-fi and romance(50:18) - Challenges in genre switching and audience expectations(52:21) - Parodies in romance and sci-fi with humorous concepts(66:31) - Viral videos: the power of one hit to transform an author’s following(67:23) - The thrill and humbling reality of reader recognition(68:04) - Connecting authentically with fans and meeting influential authors(69:03) - Final thoughts and the excitement of future projects#realmrunners #bookpodcast #indiefantasy #debutauthor #fantasyauthors #writingcommunity

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

Miles Lyon wrote his debut novel The Price of Fear without a roadmap, while he somehow landed a Jeff Brown cover along the way. We talk about what it actually takes to get a book finished, why editors matter more than most new authors want to admit, how luck fits into the indie publishing equation, and what Miles has coming next.If you've ever thought about writing a book or you're deep in a debut and wondering if you're doing it right, you're gonna wanna check this out!=============================Connect with Realm Runners=============================Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasySubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@realm_runners #RealmRunners #FantasyBooks #BookPodcast #IndieFantasyChapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format05:29 Cover Art and Design16:31 Influences on the Book21:42 The Impact of Timing and Book Releases30:37 Balancing World-Building and Character Focus37:43 The Process of Writing First Drafts47:47 The Magic System55:10 The Journey to Traditional Publishing

No guest this week. Just Pete and Devin.Before Season 2 gets going, they sit down to talk about where Realm Runners is headed: who the first guests are, what the show looks like with Devin as a full co-host, and everything else that makes this feel like a real new chapter.Consider this the introductions before the run begins.=============================Connect with Realm Runners=============================Follow Pete:   / pete_reviews_books_good  Follow Devin:   / bromantasy  Follow Realm Runners:   / realm_runners  Subscribe on YouTube:    / @realm_runners  #RealmRunners #FantasyBooks #BookPodcast #IndieFantasyChapters00:00 Setting Up the Stream06:07 Co-Hosting and Instagram Followers16:26 Michelin Star System and Goodreads Ratings25:52 Book Reviews and Audiobook Experience30:57 Exploring Indie Scene and Book Reviews36:33 Unique Storytelling and Book Descriptions43:28 Reader and Writer Perspectives52:36 Guest Announcement and Podcast Plans

Join Pete with special guest-host Devin (Bromantasy) as they talk with Bill Adams, about his new book Death Show Colossus! The kickstarter for it begins on 2/9/26, and has some incredible cool things to go along with it! Don't miss out on that, and keep an eye out for Realm Runners return in April!

Join Pete as he talks with Rob J Hayes, author of the amazing new book Hammerfall, along with so many others about inspiration behind it, the God Eater Saga, music, martial arts films and more!

Join Pete as he talks with TJ Cooper about his debut novel, A Shadows Vendetta, punk rock, Batman and more!

Join Pete for the first show of 2026, with Thomas Howard Riley!

Join Pete as he talks with Michael Michel about his Dreams of Dust and Steel series, his influences beyond the pages, why The Wire and Dark are two of the best shows ever, and much more!

Join Pete as he talks with Andrew Watson, author of the fantastic Shadowbinders series about his new novella, the other entries in the saga and much more!

Join Pete with N.A. Betts, who's 3rd book releases TODAY! This was a huge chat, about influences, football, his military career, and so much more.

Join Pete as he talks with Thomas J Devens, author of The Scroungers which is now available on audiobook! We talk about influences from other places besides books, the indie writing scene, and how his stories all come together in an incredibly unique way!

Join Pete as he talks with N.C. Scrimgeour about her new book, Tides of Torment, Scottish folklore, what influenced her series and so much more!

Join Pete as talks with Katee Stein about her new book, Skysworn! Along with her influences, what tv shows are the best out, how she created such a unique world and more!

Join Pete as he talks with author Nick Snape, about his new book A Queen in Blood, the influences behind his arcanepunk series, The Prodigy and much more!

On a very special episode, join Pete and guest co-host Bill Adams with Jay Kristoff! The longest talk yet, covering his writing process, influences behind each of his series', the EPIC conclusion in Empire of the Dawn, and what heavy metal band he'd want to see the most! This is an episode you don't want to skip!

Join Pete as he talks with S.A. Klopfenstein about his new book, "Children of the Gods", his influences behind such a unique story, some hobbies we wouldn't expect, and why the Broncos will murder the Jets this week!

Join Pete as he talks with the Queen of Grimdark herself, Anna Smith Spark!

Join Pete as he talks with Cal Logan, author of the incredible book "ShadowBane" about what inspired the background of the book, how to keep characters engaging, what makes the plotlines so challenging to piece together, and what swear word he's happy to reclaim from overseas!

Join Pete as he talks with Mosha Winter, author of the amazing new book "The Winds of War," his influences, what comes next and more!

Join Pete as he talks with R.A. Sandpiper about her new book, To Touch a Silent Fury, the inspirations behind it, some behind the scenes looks into the next steps and more!

Join Pete as he talks with Justin Lee Anderson, fresh off his release of "The Damned King," Book 3 of The Eidyn Saga about how experiences in the real world inspired the stories, which characters are fan favorites, the thematic elements that make the series so deep to dive into and so much more!

Join Pete as he talks with Chance Dillon about his incredible debut, "Mercy: Tears of the Fallen," what comes next, what made him throw readers into the deep end right off the bat, and, as a bonus, what reality shows are worth watching.

Join Pete as he talks with Tim about, in his words, "fantasy, lizards, and quite possibly the meaning of life!" Oh, also his new novella! Whatever happens, it's bound to be fun.

Join Pete as he talks with bestselling author Anthony Ryan, about his new books "The Feeding" and "Born of an Iron Storm," his previous works, the indie/trad publishing routes, history and more!

Join Pete as he speaks with Trinity Cunningham, author of The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone series about her writing process, the next book in the trilogy, favorite movies and more!

Join Pete as talks with Secret Scribes members Bill and Alex about their upcoming anthology, the inspiration behind the stories, how the project got put together and what comes next for this insanely talented group of authors!

Join Pete on this episode of Realm Runners, as he talks with Michael R Fletcher, about writing the most grimdark book of all time, upcoming projects, fantasy hot takes, his favorite concerts and more!

Join Pete on this episode of Realm Runners, as he talks with Dave Lawson about his new novella "Pawns of Havoc," how to create the perfect amount of snark to dark ratio, influences from life that made it to the page, and DRAGON PORN!

Join Pete on this episode of Realm Runners, talking with Kane Williams about his new book "Perils of the Past," the influence of action movies, how to create creatures that are just as dangerous as people and so much more!

G.J. Terral joins Pete to talk Bloodless, the completed Binding Tenets trilogy, video games, the indie community, and whether Sleep Token is worth your time.

Janelle Schiecke joins Pete to talk her horror debut The Clatter Man, favorite scary movies, staying original when everything is a remake, and whether Sleep Token is sad music.

The first one. Pete sits down with Z.B. Steele, author of Whispers of the Storm and Prince of Grimdark, for the episode that started Realm Runners.