The World of Myth Bits Podcast

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.

Tim continues his Blast from the Past journey with a review of September 2022's Issue 111 of The World of Myth Magazine. He celebrates Kathy Sherban's third straight Member of the Month honor, reflects on the Open Contract Challenge, and explores another issue filled with fantasy, horror, action, humor, poetry, artwork, and reviews. Featuring standout work from Melissa Ridley Elms, Stephanie J. Bardy, Gabriella Balcom, Dawn DeBraal, David K. Montoya, Alan Ashley, and many more, this episode showcases another unforgettable chapter in the history of The World of Myth while marking Tim's own first appearance as host of The World of Myth Bits.

Tim continues his Blast from the Past series with a review of August 2022's Issue 110 of The World of Myth Magazine. Alongside updates on Myth Mart, the Open Contract Challenge, and Dark Myth's publishing efforts, Tim explores another issue packed with fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry, artwork, and reviews. He highlights standout work from Melissa Ridley Elms, Stephanie J. Bardy, Gabriella Balcom, Jim Bates, Kathy Sherban, Alan Ashley, and many more while celebrating the creativity and storytelling that made this era of The World of Myth such a memorable one.

Tim continues his Blast from the Past series with a review of July 2022's Issue 109 of The World of Myth Magazine. Along the way, he shares updates on Myth Mart, the Open Contract Challenge, and the return of book publishing before diving into another issue packed with fantasy, horror, poetry, artwork, reviews, and flash fiction. Tim highlights standout work from Jim Bates, Gabriella Balcom, Stephanie J. Bardy, David K. Montoya, Kathy Sherban, and many more while celebrating the creativity that kept The World of Myth growing long before its milestone 150th issue.

Tim celebrates the release of the landmark 150th issue of The World of Myth Magazine. Before diving into the massive collection of stories, poetry, artwork, and reviews, Tim honors the memory of longtime Dark Myth contributor Kyle D. Dobbs and reflects on his lasting impact on the company. He also shares updates on the Open Contract Challenge Speed Edition finalists before exploring an issue packed with returning favorites and exciting new voices. From fantasy and horror to science fiction, humor, and creative youth submissions, this milestone episode is both a celebration of 150 issues and a tribute to the writers, artists, editors, and readers who have helped build The World of Myth into the creative community it is today.

Tim returns to June 2022 with a Blast from the Past review of Issue 108 of The World of Myth Magazine. Along with updates on the Open Contract Challenge Speed Edition finalists and the upcoming milestone Issue 150, Tim explores another packed issue featuring standout work from Jim Bates, Gabriella Balcom, Stephanie J. Bardy, Dawn DeBraal, David K. Montoya, and many more. From fantasy and horror to poetry, artwork, and reviews, this episode celebrates another chapter in the magazine's history while looking ahead to an exciting future for Dark Myth.

Tim revisits May 2022 with a review of Issue 107 of The World of Myth Magazine. He covers Dark Myth updates, and standout work from Gabriella Balcom, Jim Bates, Stephanie J. Bardy, Dawn DeBraal, David K. Montoya, Lynn Phillips, and more. It is a nostalgic look at another packed issue as the magazine moves closer to its 150th milestone.

Tim welcomes the mysterious Myth Master back for a fun, nostalgic conversation about the character’s origins, his fan-favorite interviews, and his lasting place in The World of Myth. They also talk about creator support, the Open Contract Challenge, Issue 150, and the friendships built through the Dark Myth community. The episode celebrates creativity, connection, and one of the magazine’s most memorable personalities.

Tim takes a deep dive into Issue 149 of The World of Myth Magazine, celebrating a release filled with creativity, emotion, and honest reflection. Tim highlights Zoie M. Montoya’s featured poem “Lonely,” Crystal N. Ramos earning Member of the Month honors, and Connie Minutolo’s striking cover art while exploring standout fiction, poetry, artwork, and reviews from contributors across the magazine. He also shines a spotlight on Stephanie J. Bardy’s novel Eternally Bound, discusses the importance of David K. Montoya’s heartfelt commentary on the challenges facing independent publishing, and encourages listeners to help make the upcoming milestone Issue 150 the biggest yet. It is a thoughtful review that showcases the talent, passion, and community spirit that continue to define The World of Myth.

Tim takes a break from magazine reviews and opens the vault on his own work, sharing a selection of stories, poems, and excerpts that originally appeared in the landmark 20th anniversary Issue 129 of The World of Myth Magazine. Along the way, he reflects on the current challenges facing Dark Myth, encourages creators to help make Issue 150 the biggest issue yet, and discusses the importance of supporting independent publishing through submissions, readership, and MythMart. From science fiction and fantasy to horror and crime fiction, this episode offers listeners a personal look into Tim’s creative process while celebrating the imagination, community, and storytelling that have helped keep The World of Myth thriving for more than two decades.

Tim continues the Blast from the Past series with a deep dive into the oversized March and April 2022 Issue 106 of The World of Myth Magazine. This packed double issue features a huge mix of drabbles, fantasy, horror, poetry, reviews, and artwork, with Tim spotlighting standout contributions from Gabriella Balcom, Jim Bates, Dawn DeBraal, Stephanie J. Bardy, Lisa H. Owens, Kate McDonald Dunbar, and many more. He also reflects on the early days of the Open Contract Challenge, the growth of MythMart, and the push toward the upcoming milestone Issue 150. With dark humor, emotional poetry, eerie horror, and thoughtful commentary all woven together, this episode captures both the chaotic energy and creative passion that defined this era of The World of Myth.

Tim takes a break from reviewing old magazine issues and instead delivers a deeply personal episode about life, creativity, family, grief, and reflection. Recorded around Mother’s Day in Australia, Tim opens up about missing his late mother and mother in law, celebrating his wife Heidi, and navigating the emotional weight that comes with the season. He also shares updates on the Open Contract Challenge, recent writing successes, local author events, family milestones, travel adventures, and the continued growth of Heidi’s home cooking business, The Purple Kitchen. From blind date books and historical carriage rides to British crime dramas and creative burnout, this episode feels less like a review show and more like a heartfelt check in from a friend trying to balance creativity with the chaos of everyday life.

Tim reviews the April 2026 Autism Awareness issue of The World of Myth Magazine, Issue 148. He highlights Crystal N. Ramos earning another Member of the Month win, Sultana Raza’s featured poem “Music of the Universe,” and Idris Yusuf’s stunning sci fi inspired cover art “Synthetic Reflection.” Tim also explores standout fiction, poetry, and artwork from contributors including Gabriella Balcom, Jim Bates, Dawn DeBraal, Lisa H. Owens, Peggy Gerber, and many more, while reflecting on creativity, honesty, community support, and the importance of giving creators a platform to be heard. From dark horror and thoughtful sci fi to humor and personal poetry, this episode captures the wide range of voices and imagination driving The World of Myth toward its upcoming 150th issue milestone.

Tim heads back to February 2022 for a full review of Issue 105 of The World of Myth Magazine. This Valentine themed issue blends romance, heartbreak, horror, fantasy, humor, and poetry into one massive creative collection. Tim highlights Jenna Sparks being named Member of the Month, Jacqueline Bartley’s featured fantasy story “An Unexpected Meeting,” and standout contributions from Gabriella Balcom, Stephanie J. Bardy, Dawn DeBraal, Jim Bates, David K. Montoya, and many new contributors joining the magazine for the first time. Along the way, he reflects on the family atmosphere surrounding the publication, the emotional themes woven throughout the issue, and the balance between sweetness and darkness that defined this era of The World of Myth Magazine.

Tim heads into January 2022 with a full review of Issue 104 of The World of Myth Magazine. Kicking off a new year, this issue brings a strong mix of fresh contributors and returning favorites across drabbles, fantasy, horror, sci fi, poetry, and artwork. Tim highlights Jim Bates’ featured story “Dragonfly,” Ed Bickford’s striking “Cyber Priest” cover, and standout work from Gabriella Balcom, Stephanie J. Bardy, Dawn DeBraal, and David K. Montoya. Along the way, he reflects on the magazine’s growth, the balance between new voices and familiar names, and the creative momentum that continues to build with each issue. It is another detailed archive review that captures the energy of a new year and the evolving Dark Myth community.