PODCAST · arts
UpperPen Podcast
by Dakota VanLinden
This podcast is focused on interviewing authors, narrators, and other creators in the book world. I love literature in all its forms and want to share that joy with you!
Episodes
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Why is there no magic in Robin Hood stories?! There is now!
Erynne Rivers joins UpperPen to talk about her debut book, Wench, which is out on October 13th in the US. We talked a lot about magic, environmentalism, and the dichotomy of living in two worlds. Wench is a fun take on the Robin Hood stories you grew up on. I cannot wait for more people to read...
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Rod Serling didn't think he was anyone special after The Twilight Zone
Alan Sepinwall joins UpperPen to talk about his new biography, Serling. Most people who have spent late nights unable to sleep know The Twilight Zone. It played at midnight or 2 in the morning, but it was worth staying up late for. The stories depicted in this half-hour anthology show, made me…
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Knowing the future would be a burden beyond comprehension
Becky Chambers joins UpperPen to talk about her newest book As You Wake, Break the Shell. We talk about the typical Becky Chambers things like the sapphic romance, humans in space, and spaceships, but we also go in to the structure of the novel. I enjoyed the book so much. Her prose is wonderful,...
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Read more short stories!
Jonathan Strahan joins UpperPen to talk about The Book of the Dead, a new anthology of popular writers....and maybe some you've never heard of. Short stories are how I "sample" authors. They are less of a commitment than an whole book, and often I find authors I follow like the internet stalker...
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When the Baby Dragons grow up, they race in Rider of Dragons
A.T. Qureshi joins UpperPen to talk about her new book Rider of Dragons which is part of the Baby Dragon Cafe universe! This is the F1 romance book of the romantasy world. This is such an awesome shift in the already established Baby Dragon world. This is the first sharp shift that I've seen from...
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Resurrections, Vampires, and Eldritch beings. Oh, my!
Marshall J. Moore joins UpperPen to talk about his book The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing. We talk about classic horror characters and how Moore reimagines them for this story. Igor for Union President! You can get a preorder of the book through Eagle Eye Books. Marshall J. Moore can be found...
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Cozy Horror comes to Singapore
Meihan Boey joins UpperPen to talk about her books The Formidable Miss Cassidy and The Enigmatic Madam Ingram (I have trouble saying "enigmatic" in the interview, sorry). These books explore Singapore in the late 1800s and early 1900s from the point of view of an outsider. This POV invites...
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What do you think Jeff Bazos would do with magic? Hoard it, or package it to sell at a premium?
Hannah Mathewson joins UpperPen to talk about her new novel The Age of Blood and Magic. It is a book exploring the "what if" of if tech oligarchs had exclusive access to magic. We talk about the main family in the story, young protagonists, and setting up how the world got magic in the first…
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The Palace Beneath the Sea, French Myths, Language Lessons, and Science
Lauren Wiesebron is back on UpperPen! She joined me to talk about her second novel, The Palace Beneath the Sea, which is based on French myths and helps me out with some language lessons for the difficult names.I really love both of Lauren's books. She is great at looking at folklore and myths…
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Every Book Girlies Dream Home!...
Today, Gryffin Murphy joined me on UpperPen to talk about her new cozy fantasy book Twig's Traveling Tomes. We talk about what we think "cozy" fantasy is, how you gain the readers trust when one of your main characters is a theif, and so much more! I loved this book so much that I preordered the...
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There are no wolves in Maine, says a normie that hasn't met their burly wolf...yet
This an extra episode! Laurie Gilmore joined UpperPen this week to talk about her new book Big Bad Wolf. We talked about reworking previously published books, spicy romance, and problematic relationships in books. Spoiler, no one wants a super possessive guy in real life. Big Bad Wolf is out...
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Some Dark Lords just want to be left alone. Same, Morfran. Same
S.B. West joins me on UpperPen to talk about her debut novel Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed. We talk about the characters and subverting expectations. The need for comedy in books about pretty awful things if you want to make the bad guy sympathetic. I loved this book so much! When I started reading...
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The roadtrip to Hell is about to start with Mackenzie Reed
Mackenzie Reed joins UpperPen to talk about her adult debut I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell. We talk about great titles, Debra from accounting needing to be exorcised, and a less angsty Supernatural roadtrip. The book comes out September 1st, 2026. You can find Mackenzie Reed on Instagram and...
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"Don't save your best for last" - Constance Fay
Constance Fay is back on UpperPen to talk about her newest book: Havoc, book four in The Uncharted Hearts series. Last time we talked about sci-fi romance and adventure. This time we talked about what you do when there is no "next book deal". I was so sad when I heard that Bramble wasn't…
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The Jungle Book meets Goblins, Gargoyles, and a talking skull named Cornelius
Gareth Hanrahan joins UpperPen to discuss The Dungeon Book, a new fantasy novel inspired in part by Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. You might know Gareth Hanrahan's name from TTRPG games like The One Ring, Adventures in Middle-Earth, Trial of Cthulhu: Cthulhu City, and Arkham Detective Tales.…
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Robert Jackson Bennett on A Trade of Blood, Fantasy Mysteries, and Hideo Kojima
Author Robert Jackson Bennett joins UpperPen to discuss A Trade of Blood, the newest Ana and Din mystery, and why the series is fundamentally detective fiction set inside an extraordinary fantasy world. I love mystery stories and these books are that and some! Apparently I am not the only one,...
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Grace Viall on How an HR Job Inspired (Mostly) Human Resources
Debut author Grace Viall joins UpperPen to discuss her novel (Mostly) Human Resources, a fantasy adventure that blends cryptids, Appalachian folklore, slow-burn romance, and plenty of workplace humor.I loved this book so much! It has horror vibes, a cocky MMC, jackalopes, and an over responsible...
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From zombies to vampires to space horror to space horror with zombies: David Wellington 2
Author David Wellington returns to UpperPen to discuss Erebus 13, the thrilling conclusion to his Red Space trilogy. We explore the challenges of finishing a science fiction horror series, writing deeply flawed characters, and the collaborative process between authors and editors.If you want to…
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Sarah Beth Durst on The Sea of Charms and the Magic of Cozy Fantasy
Bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst joins UpperPen to discuss Sea of Charms, a cozy fantasy novel filled with memorable characters, imaginative magic, and immersive worldbuilding. I have loved all three of her books in this world and am so excited to pick up The Magical Cheese Emporium in…
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Chiara Bullen on The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance and Cozy Fantasy
Author Chiara Bullen joins UpperPen to discuss her debut novel, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance, a cozy fantasy filled with scholars, found family, subtle romance, and comforting food. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @ChiaraBullenAuthor.Show her some love by picking up The Inn at...
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Is Moss'd in Space the start of more cozy sci-fi?! Please say YES!
Author Rebecca Thorne joins UpperPen to discuss her newest novel, Moss'd in Space, the first book in a new cozy science fiction trilogy that combines found family, slow-burn romance, and the comforts of cozy storytelling with the wonder of space exploration.We also spent a goodly amount of time...
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Amy Archer on Nemesis Mine, Fake Rivalries, and Cliche Villains
Author Amy Archer joins UpperPen to discuss her debut fantasy novel, Nemesis Mine, a charming story about a villain who isn't particularly villainous and a hero who desperately needs a comeback. We talk about how Cyrus has plant magic and his relationship with Max, a hero who needs a comeback to...
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Frances White on The Bone Door, Dark Fantasy, and Hope in a Labyrinth
Author Frances White joins UpperPen to discuss her latest novel, The Bone Door. We explore writing dark fantasy through the eyes of a hopeful child, building a story within a labyrinth of interconnected worlds, and balancing horror with hope. You can find Frances White...
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Molly Tanzer on AI, Art, and And Side By Side They Wander
Author Molly Tanzer joins UpperPen to discuss her science fiction novella And Side By Side They Wander, exploring AI, selfishness, art, and what humanity means in speculative fiction. I found many parallels with Tanzer's novella and older science fiction literature. She seems to be asking similar...
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Shannon Chakraborty on The Tapestry of Fate, Amina al-Sirafi, and a 7-Figure Book Deal
Shannon Chakaraborty joined me for the second time to talk about The Tapestry of Fate, book two in The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. She is such a wonderfully talented writer. Shannon easily places me in time and gives enough (but not too many) details to fill out Amina's world. Her work is very...
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Martha Wells on Murderbot, AI, and the Apple TV Adaptation
Martha Wells is one of the best science fiction writers of the 21st century! I pick up every Murderbot book she writes, even the short stories you can find on Tor.com. She is such a wonderful writer. I was lucky enough to get to talk with her about the 8th Murderbot Diaries book, Platform Decay....
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How Free D&D Rules Become a Novel: Death Has Joined the Party Explained
Authors Rachel Aaron and Travis Bach join UpperPen to discuss Death Has Joined the Party, a LitRPG novel inspired by free DnD rules, imaginative dungeon design, reality show storytelling, and working with your significant other. Book description: Welcome, sentient races one and all, to the...
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Kiersten White on The Fox and the Devil, Dracula, and Queer Horror
Author Kiersten White joins UpperPen to discuss The Fox and the Devil, exploring its nonlinear structure, inspiration from Dracula, the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, and the evolving space for queer horror. YouTube: https://youtu.be/mWshT6KCeP8 UpperPen.com
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Hugo Winner John Chu on Family, Identity, and The Subtle Art of Folding Space
Hugo Award-winning author John Chu joins UpperPen to discuss The Subtle Art of Folding Space, a "science-fiction" novel about a Taiwanese-American family trying to prevent the collapse of the universe while navigating complex family relationships. Sort of. John Chu has an interesting take on how…
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The Geomagician: Mary Anning, Magic, and 1800s England with Jennifer Mandula
Author Jennifer Mandula joined UpperPen to discuss The Geomagician, a novel inspired by Mary Anning, exploring magic in 1820s England, science and religion in the 19th century, and the overlooked contributions of women (Mary specifically) in history. I loved this book so much and hope you enjoy...
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S.L. Rowland has successfully broken into LitRPG and Cozy Fantasy!
Author S. L. Rowland joins UpperPen to discuss his shift from LitRPG (Sentenced to Troll) to cozy fantasy (Tales of Aedrea), the rise of cozy fantasy as a genre, and the realities of Kickstarter publishing, and attending book conventions.Did you know he also sells his books on his website...
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Nicole Glover on The Starseekers, NASA, and Hidden Figures Inspiration
Author Nicole Glover joins UpperPen to discuss The Starseekers, exploring NASA, the influence of Hidden Figures, the history of African Americans in public television, and how magic intersects with real-world history.I found that this book literally combined my favorite topics! Nicole basically...
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Interactive LitRPG with The Longwinded One
Author The Longwinded One joins UpperPen to discuss Get Trucked, his LitRPG reverse-isekai novel on Royal Road, and the companion app Endr, which lets readers see the in-world app used to isekai characters. The app is out now on the Google App Store and iOS. Get Trucked is still being released on...
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From Mickey 7 to After the Fall: Edward Ashton on Dark Comedy & Power
Author Edward Ashton joins UpperPen to discuss his new novel After the Fall, exploring love and power imbalance, personal storytelling, and the influence of Kurt Vonnegut’s dark comedy on his work.
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If You Could Live in a Book… Kate Quinn on The Astral Library
Author Kate Quinn joins UpperPen to discuss The Astral Library, magical libraries as sanctuaries, choosing books to live inside, costume design, and the craft of building safe havens for lost and lonely characters. The Astral Library is in stores everywhere February 17th, 2026!
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The Vanishing Bookstore: Salem, Witches, and Mystery with Helen Phifer
Author Helen Phifer joins UpperPen to discuss her upcoming novel The Vanishing Bookstore, exploring Salem, Massachusetts, witches and womanhood, mystery pacing, and the craft behind a powerful, violent opening.
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Inside Akira Kurosawa’s Mind: Translating Long Take with Anne McKnight
Translator Anne McKnight joins UpperPen to discuss Long Take, a collection of interviews and writings from Akira Kurosawa. We explore Kurosawa’s films, his childhood influences, the challenges of translation, and his work as a wartime propagandist filmmaker.
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From Book One to Book Two: Raising the Stakes in The Breaking Annwn
Author The Longwinded One and narrator Chris Tucci discuss The Breaking Annwn (Book 2 of The Four Treasures Saga), exploring tonal shifts in LitRPG series, writing with friends, and producing a multi-narrator audiobook. In this episode, author The Longwinded One and narrator Chris Tucci talk…
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The Werewolf of Whitechapel: History, Murder, and Myth with author Suzannah Rowntree
Author Suzannah Rowntree joins UpperPen to discuss The Werewolf of Whitechapel. In this episode, Rowntree talks about her novel The Werewolf of Whitechapel, a dark reimagining of Victorian England that blends history, horror, and social critique. We also discuss how historical fiction can...
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Inside Mothra: Translating The Luminous Fairies with Jeffrey Angles
In this episode, acclaimed translator, poet, and scholar Jeffrey Angles takes us inside his translation of The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Shin’ichirō Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, and Yoshie Hotta, offering deep insight into the origins of the film, the cultural landscape of Japan in the early...
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What are editors looking for?!
Editor R.B. Wood of Ruadán Books joins UpperPen to discuss how to submit your fiction, what kinds of stories editors are looking for, how to stand out from the slush pile, and how writers can explore cities—and themselves—through storytelling.
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Inside The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2025 with John Joseph Adams
Editor John Joseph Adams joins UpperPen to discuss curating The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2025 anthology, how stories make it through the slush pile, and what editors really look for in great speculative fiction. Welcome to UpperPen, where we explore the craft of writing, editing…
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Interview with Brooke Fast author of To Cage a Wild Bird
In the city of Dividium, the law is simple: commit a crime, and your punishment is a life sentence in Endlock. Raven Thorne is Dividium’s most notorious bounty hunter, living on the edge of society. But when her younger brother, Jed, is sentenced to Endlock, Raven will do anything to save…
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Interview with Serra Swift about her debut novel Kill the Beast
Writing is the only interesting thing about Serra, aside from some other very interesting things that she would prefer to keep a secret. When she’s between projects, she likes to hang out with her husband (they’ve been together for over 20 years now and are very good at hanging out) and their...
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Cait Jacobs author of The Princess Knight
Cait (they/them) grew up somewhere between the many farms and beaches of the North Fork of Long Island, NY. There, they found escape through the fictional worlds of books. Their love of literature inspired them to found BookTok and The Bookington Book Club. When they aren’t writing or scrolling…
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Interview with Courtney Floyd author of Higher Magic
Courtney Floyd grew up in New Mexico, where she learned to write between tarantula turf wars and apocalyptic dust storms. She currently lives at the bottom of a haunted mountain in the woods of Vermont with her partner and pets. Her debut fantasy novel, Higher Magic, comes out with MIRA Books on...
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Interview with LitRPG author Harmon Cooper
Writer of over seventy-five fantasy books, Harmon Cooper lives with his wife in New England. His series include, but are not limited to, Pilgrim, War Priest, Cowboy Necromancer, The Feedback Loop, Proxima Legends, Monster Hunt NYC, and The World According to Dragons.He’s probably writing his next...
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Interview with Devoney Looser author of Wild for Austen
Devoney Looser is a writer and professor at Arizona State University. She also goes by Stone Cold Jane Austen, especially on roller skates. Wild for Austen takes a deep dive into who Jane Austen was, but also how her stories- mild and tame as they may seem today- were pushing boundaries and...
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Interview with Lindsey Pogue author of The Savage North Chronicles
Lindsey Pogue is a genre-bending survival romance author, best known for her soul-stirring Savage North Chronicles. With a master’s in history and a passion for apocalyptic landscapes, Lindsey weaves epic adventures where humanity shines brightest in the darkest of times. Her weather-ravaged…
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Interview with author Seanan McGuire aka Mira Grant
Seanan McGuire is a prolific author who has written in many genres, but by far my favorite have been her horror novels. Overgrowth released in April 2025 and feels simultaniously timeless and timely. Check out the October Daye books if you are into urban fairy tales!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does UpperPen Podcast have?
UpperPen Podcast currently has 74 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is UpperPen Podcast about?
This podcast is focused on interviewing authors, narrators, and other creators in the book world. I love literature in all its forms and want to share that joy with you!
How often does UpperPen Podcast release new episodes?
UpperPen Podcast has 74 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to UpperPen Podcast?
You can listen to UpperPen Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts UpperPen Podcast?
UpperPen Podcast is created and hosted by Dakota VanLinden.
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