Writers Bleck

This week, Greg sits down with bestselling author Lisa Gardner to discuss her latest novel, You’ll Be Sorry. They’ll discuss why Gardner decided to step away from her established series and characters in favor of something brand new, what goes into making a book’s setting feel just as real as its cast, and her thoughts on staying creatively inspired after 35 years as a professional novelist, the inspiration behind her "Kill A Friend, Maim A Buddy Sweepstakes," and so much more.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdgMore From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠⁠

This week, host Greg Nyikos is sitting down with author, literacy advocate, and did we forget to mention Super Bowl champion Malcolm Mitchell to talk about his latest picture book, My Super Duper Me. They'll discuss Malcom's difficult journey to discover a love of reading, how he draws inspiration from his own story to craft his characters, the footprint he wants to leave behind for his audience, and so much more.00:00 – Intro02:26 – Interview with Malcolm MitchellSupport us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdgMore From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠⁠

This week, Greg sits down with author Tiffany Jackson to discuss her latest book, the middle-grade murder mystery; Ghost in the Night. They’ll also talk about her literary influences, what it’s like to follow up an award-winning work with something completely new, what she learned during her research trip to Savannah, Georgia, for Ghost in the Night, and so much more.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdgMore From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠⁠

Okay, so we're technically on break, but I can't pass up a fun conversation. In this episode, we sat down with Gabrielle Wanek to chat about the latest entry in her urban fantasy epic, Songs of Ash & Dawn, Book 2. We'll dive into Gabrielle's long-term vision for a planned ten-book series, how she pieces together complex characters like a jigsaw puzzle, the importance of continuity in sprawling fantasy worlds, and so much more.Find the book: https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, it's the season finale gang, and our friend Kassidy Vangundy is returning to the podcast to talk about her upcoming horror anthology release, Cursed Images: Channel Surfing. They'll discuss what went into the latest entry in the Cursed Images series, Kassidy's recent YouTube milestone, the state of her mental health in 2026, and some exciting breaking news about an upcoming book tour. Plus, Greg takes a moment to reflect on an incredible second season, the writers who inspired him along the way, and what's next for both the podcast and his own writing journey.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

This week, Greg sits down with singer-songwriter Ken Bascue, to discuss Ken's lifelong journey through music, performance, and songwriting. They'll talk about how personal tragedy, faith, and perseverance shaped his creative voice, why authenticity matters more than perfection, and what inspired songs like Right to Love and No Place Left. From finding the courage to pursue his dreams later in life to the power of music to heal, connect, and tell deeply personal stories, this is a conversation about resilience, creativity, and never giving up on the life you're meant to live.

Best-selling author and poet Aida Salazar joins Greg to discuss her new novel-in-verse, Stream. They'll explore how poetry became Aida's storytelling superpower, the inspiration behind writing stories in verse, the growing impact of screen addiction and social media on young people, and the importance of reconnecting with nature, culture, and authentic identity. Plus, Aida shares the personal experiences that shaped Stream, her approach to writing for middle-grade readers, and the powerful message she hopes readers take away from the book.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

This week on The Writer's Bleck Podcast, Greg sits down with author, television producer, and co-founder of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Meredith Walker, to discuss her new book, Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice: A Teen Girl's Guide to Unlearning the Rules. She'll share lessons from her career at Nick News and Saturday Night Live, explore the challenges facing teen girls in today's online world, and offer practical advice on confidence, identity, and navigating adolescence with authenticity.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

In this episode, Greg sits down with the best-selling author Veronica Roth to discuss her new dystopian fantasy, Seek the Traitor’s Son, as well as her upcoming turn to the Divergent series in The Sixth Faction. They'll discuss the different forms Seek the Traitor's Son took across its six years of development, blending sci-fi and fantasy, the pressure and negativity that came with the success of Divergent, and how she rediscovered creative freedom after years of trying to “prove herself” as a writer. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

Greg sits down with Keala Kendall to talk about her new Hawaiian gothic thriller, That Which Feeds Us, a haunting story about family, folklore, colonialism, and the dark side of paradise.She'll share how homesickness and Hawaiian history shaped the novel, why gothic horror was the perfect genre for the story, and how Keala balances atmospheric horror with deeply personal themes. We also dive into her work writing for Disney’s Twisted Tales imprint, including How Far I'll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind, adapting established characters, and bringing authentic cultural perspectives into major IPs.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠

In this episode, Greg interviews bestselling author, professor, activist, and cultural critic Brittney Cooper about her debut children’s book, Mama Says I'm Fine. Brittney discusses the emotional meaning behind the phrase “I’m fine,” the influence of her childhood and late mother on the story, themes of Black motherhood, empowerment, vulnerability, mental health, and emotional resilience, and so much more.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with actress and first-time author Sarah Amini to discuss her debut graphic novel, Mixed Feelings. Inspired by her own childhood, the book explores the chaos of growing up, navigating middle school, surviving puberty, and trying to figure out where you belong.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with middle-grade author Alyson Gerber to discuss her acclaimed series The Liar Society, a story of suspense and mystery, set at a New England boarding school where the lines between right and wrong blur and new friendships and alliances are put to the test. They'll also discuss how Alyson used her early novels as a form of self-therapy, helping navigate negative self-talk and much more.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠

In this episode, Greg sits down with poet Victoria Lauren to talk about her poetry collections, Crescendo of Chaos and Promises of Poison, how she used poetry to overcome physical adversity, her upcoming romance novel, and so much more.Support us directly at: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠More From Greg: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

Greg sits down with children’s and young adult author Jasmine Warga to talk about her new book, The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan. They dive into her approach to writing big emotions for young readers, the real-life animal program that inspired the story, and why connecting directly with her audience matters so much.Support us directly at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠More From Greg: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

Greg sits down with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray to talk about his debut novel, Burn the Water. They'll also talk about his time working on acclaimed projects such as Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games, selling his first script at only 19 years old, and how the 2023 WGA strikes influenced the creation of this book.Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPodFind us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdgMore From Greg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg

This week, Greg sits down with best-selling author Deborah Goodrich Royce to talk about her new thriller, Best Boy. They'll also discuss how the unique perspective of Deborah's storied career in the entertainment industry influenced her when writing this novel, how she reinvented herself both personally and professionally over the course of her career, her tips for writing suspense, and so much more.Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPodFind us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WritersBleckPodMore From Greg: https://www.youtube.com/@LegoMyGregO

Greg sits down with writer, director, and YouTuber Stuart Hardy to talk about how he channels big emotions into his writing, maintaining his unique voice after more than a decade in the digital space, navigating through burnout, balancing distributing his projects across different platforms, and so much more.Thank you, Stu: https://www.youtube.com/@StubagfulSupport us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPodFind us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WritersBleckPodMore From Greg: https://www.youtube.com/@LegoMyGregO

Greg sits down with novelist Steve Berry to talk about the Devil's Bible, the latest entry in his long-running Cotton Malone series. They'll also discuss his hands-on approach to researching the real-world legends that go into crafting his narratives, managing continuity after nearly two decades, and so much more.Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod

How would you react to learning your family isn't what you thought? Greg sits down with Christine Kuehn and Mark Schiponi, the husband and wife team behind the true story, Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History of Pearl Harbor.

This week, Greg is flying solo. He’s locked himself in the office with the dog, a cup of coffee, and a pocket full of dreams in an attempt to write his very first children’s book, and he's bringing all of you along for the ride.This episode also marks the final episode of the podcastfor 2025. We’ll be back in February with brand-new episodes.Until then, be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @WritersBleckPod. You can also find us on Patreon at patreon.com/writersbleckpod, where the video version of the podcast will begin rolling out in early January.

In this episode, Greg is sitting down with the author of the acclaimed Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Shannon Messenger to talk about the long-awaited release of Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel, Part Two, what it’s been like revisiting the early days of Sophie Foster’s story in a whole new format, how she balances heart, spectacle, and an absolutely massive cast of characters after more than a decade in this world, and so much more.Shannon's Website: https://shannonmessenger.com/Writer's Bleck will be off the air next week. We're going bi-weekly for just a short stretch here with the holiday season and everything going on. I’m also getting over being sick, and we don’t quite have the backlog we’d normally like. It’s just a busy time of year, so we’re taking a brief breather—and then we’ll be back in full swing at the start of the new year.

In this episode, author Spencer Hixon, creator of A Sinister Love and Fate & Fortune, joins Greg to discuss how ADHD has shaped his writing journey, how he shifts his mindset between projects, and the unexpected emotional weight behind some of his most powerful scenes. They also explore what happens when a demon attempts to understand humanity exclusively through romance novels, and how that premise helped shape his unique worldbuilding approach.

Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in helping people understand their emotions and communicate with greater clarity and confidence. In this episode, Greg sits down with Dr. Chloe to discuss her new book, Can I Say That?: Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly. Together, they explore the relationship between free expression and mental health, the pressures of cancel culture, and how to move through anxiety when you’re trying to create.

Nash Falls is the latest thrilling release from award-winning author David Baldacci. In this episode, Greg sits down with David to discuss this new series, the mission and impact of his nonprofit, the Wish You Well Foundation, adapting his projects for the big screen, and using literacy to battle racism.

This week, Greg sits down with the creative minds behind The Galvorn Saga, Mikel Melwasul and David Tullis, to dive into Book One: Paragon Exordium. They discuss the journey of bringing an epic story to life, what’s ahead in Book Two, the art of collaboration, what gets left on the cutting-room floor, handling rejection, producing and self-publishing their audiobook, and so much more.Check out the Galvorn Saga: https://www.melwasul.com/

This week, the dynamic duo of ADHD reunite! Greg and Taylor talk about writing while unmedicated, being awkward in public, the ethical implementation of AI in art and writing, the 2000s pop punk renaissance, and their thoughts on Taylor Swift's new album. Buckle in, gang, this week's conversation has more than a few detours along the way.

This week, in a special bonus release just in time for Halloween, Sandra Magsamen joins the podcast to talk about her latest children’s book, Silly Witch. She also discusses some of her most meaningful projects, her philosophy of living artfully with love and kindness, and her family’s surprising connection to the invention of the Ouija board.

This week, Greg sits down with author Olivie Blake to discuss her latest novel, Girl Dinner, her runaway success with The Atlas Six trilogy, the transition from independent publishing to working with major publishers, growing an online audience, and going viral on TikTok.

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with children's author & illustrator Christy Mandin, to talk about the latest entry in her Millie Fleur series, Millie Fleur Saves The Night, the real-world history behind her upcoming children's book Bittersweet, her struggles as an illustrator with aphantasia, changing publishers to accommodate different projects, and sharing messages of environmental kindness with children.

In this episode, Greg sits down with journalist and author David Phillips to talk about how he turned writing about his passions into a career, how the current state of media is affecting the evolution of journalism, and how he turned a series of Facebook essays that turned into his book Goodnight to the Peoples: Ten Years With two Dogs.

In this episode, Greg sits down with New York Times bestselling young adult author Claribel Ortega to chat about her acclaimed YA series, Witchlings, how her career as a journalist prepared her to be an author, how she manages her self-care routine to prevent burnout, and so much more.

In this episode, Greg sits down with YA horror author Ryan La Sala to talk about his latest work, Dead of Summer, plus the upcoming big screen adaptation of his novel The Honeys, how spite motivated him to write about acceptance, and so much more.

In this episode, Greg and Taylor sit down with horror author Kassidy VanGundy to talk about her inspirations as a horror writer, networking with other creatives, and navigating depression as a writer.Kassidy: https://kassidyvangundy.com/Taylor: https://www.taylornoellethomas.com/Greg: https://linktr.ee/gregnyikos

In this episode, Greg and Taylor talk about recovering from burnout following a grueling few years. They also discuss starting over, AI, what they're reading, and James Gunn's Superman.

The Writer's Bleck Podcast! September 2023 edition! This month, the conversation gets spicy as Greg & Taylor discuss the differences between smut and romance, Taylor's recent trip to Italy, Greg's health problems, and they answer the age-old question: What exactly is a lymphatic drainage massage?Get the video podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y23avMfgz4gWelcome to the Writers Bleck Podcast, the podcast for writers who cannot write. In each episode Greg and Taylor talk about the ins and outs of writing as they work towards their goals of being true blue professional writers, or in Greg's case, just finishing something. Join them on their adventures as they battle ADHD, the ins and outs of their mental health, and raging sitcom addictions.

The Writer's Bleck Podcast rides again, now on a monthly basis! This month, Greg & Taylor discuss their reading recommendations, thoughts on the upcoming Star Wars sequel project, and general feelings on the state of Uber. Check out the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/FQ5xUCyldfs Welcome to the Writers Bleck Podcast, the podcast for writers who cannot write. In each episode Greg and Taylor talk about the ins and outs of writing as they work towards their goals of being true blue professional writers, or in Greg's case, just finishing something. Join them on their adventures as they battle ADHD, the ins and outs of their mental health, and raging sitcom addictions.

And we are back in business! This week Greg and Taylor discuss the merits of writing fan fiction, turning fan fiction into original pieces, and the doors that fan fiction can open. Also; Greg gets Covid, the duo debut a new segment, and will Writers Bleck do a live show?

In this episode of Writers Bleck, Greg and Taylor discuss what makes a good adaptation as well as what projects they'd like to take to the screen. And then once the ADHD takes the wheel Animal Crossing, the streaming wars, and Doctor Who speak take center stage. Enjoy!

Congratulations everyone, we made it to episode 2. In this episode Greg & Taylor talk about how to not cross a line with their writing while staying true to the story, how the line has changed over the past several decades, and the benefits of mushroom risotto is.

Welcome to the Writers Bleck podcast, the podcast for writers who cannot write. In this inaugural episode get to know Greg and Taylor as they let their collective ADHD take the wheel.