Ballads of Beyond

Henry, Viktorya and Kala pursue Clive back to Henry’s mirror room, but time is speeding up and the group is split up by another of Wolf's Fractures. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss avoiding the misunderstanding trope and when to have a villain monologue (and how to get around it).

Kala drags Henry and Viktorya out of time to escape from Wolf and his nefarious machine to steal time. But when Wolf pulls them back, a newly-retrieved villain is brought with them from beyond the edge of time. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing cinematically (or not), showing Henry’s character arc, and pacing romantic arcs.

Henry steals a vehicle off the dead world and finds Viktorya, Wolf and a mysterious new world-hopper back on Viktorya’s world. Henry is rage-baited into forgetting who the real villain is, to Wolf’s advantage. Later, Beks and Debbie unpack writing charismatic villains and the arguably much more unlikeable side characters.

Viktorya and Henry enter an old Remembrance burial ground in a race to find the commission first. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss Debbie’s continuity error, and they give a masterclass in worldbuilding, including finding inspiration, creating superstitions and understanding the depth of a culture.

Henry and Kala finally catch up with Viktorya and confront her about the theft of the mirror. But when Kala steals said mirror, she accidentally transports them to a dark, dead world… the remnants of an old Remembrance graveyard. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss the characters’ fears, solve an unanswered problem from last episode, and share the creepiest villain they’ve ever read.  Don't forget to check out our Patreon for the insightful discussion about the Chinchilla Melon Festival (Beks' life was changed). 

Strap in for a WORLD-HOPPING EXTRAVANAGANZA as Henry chases the Will-o-the-Wisp across worlds, and uncovers an unsettling conspiracy along the way…  Later, Debbie and Beks discuss showing a sensation a character would have no word for (Victorian jet-lag) and writing a believable passage of time. (P.S. Don't miss our best blooper: Debbie's dog makes a silent but unmissable cameo. Only on ⁠Patreon⁠.)

Henry heads to the Athenaeum library on the hunt for the Will-o-the-Wisp and Kala is bored. Then, Beks and Debbie discuss writing dialogue (and how it’s changed over time), creating the right level of noticeability in your extras, and they ask good questions, like, why’d they make him naked??   As advertised in the episode, you can buy Debbie’s sci-fi novel, An Experiment in Time and Memory, at IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

In this most STUPIT of episodes, Henry is on trial at the Atheneum for the kidnapping of a child. Complete with intergalactic bureaucracy, an ARCHIVE cameo and a twist worthy of any courtroom drama. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss naming characters (and the Athenaeum), using that as an excuse to procrastinate plotting, and writing to a prescriptive genre.

Henry tries to win his parents’ approval of his business endeavours, but, unfortunately, his brother Clive is there. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss Victorian dinner society, family dynamics, and giving characters friends and family.

Henry only wants to go to dinner and convince his family that everything is perfect, preferably without being arrested by the intergalactic police. His compromised KIDNEY points, lost mirror and the child he's found are working against that. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing realistic children and the petty things that make us feel morally superior to strangers.

Meet Kala, a young girl from an island world who has the miserable luck of being an orphan. And then meet the world-hopping, time-travelling thief who accidentally kidnaps her. After the story, Beks and Debbie discuss their techniques for showing world-building, and look at what's the same and what's different for this season.  If you're plotting to steal Beks' deleted scenes (and more!) world-hop over to our Patreon. 

That's right, we're back! With a brand new world-hopping, family-finding story about a Victorian gentleman thief and his new wayward ward.  Episodes one, two and three will release on February 27, 2026 (or a week earlier for our Patreon supporters!). Are you ready to enter the mirrors?

Daer and Evenn return to the manor where it all began, to reunite with their parents. Beks and Debbie wrap up loose ends, share their opinions on writing endings, and the panic-inducing amnesia of multitasking projects. (Season final.) 

Tip and Evenn are working hard to bring Daer (and Ozan) home. And there’s a KISS. And Beks and Debbie discuss rise and fall in tension, and writing wholesome and selfless romantic epiphanies (when you’ve never had a romantic epiphany 🥲). 

Daer meets a long-lost father in another world, while Tip and Evenn struggle to get him back before the paths between worlds close for good. Beks and Debbie discuss enemies to lovers and Daer's character arc.

Haftan, Evenn, Tip and SPUD are world-hopping, where they meet a certain mysterious woman and her baby, and find some answers they’d rather not have discovered. Debbie and Beks discuss deus ex machina, plotting vs pantsing, and co-authoring. Note: you're not crazy; this is episode 13. Please understand that Debbie is a musician and therefore cannot count above 12.

We see Tip’s Level Up from his own perspective, and Haftan takes advantage of the situation in his usual fashion. Beks and Debbie solve a plot hole and share some of the struggles of writing time travel.

As Daer dies (there’s a countdown), he and Evenn share a moment. Debbie and Beks discuss Daer’s arc and how to kill characters well.

Haftan is trying to break Tip, and Evenn and Daer have a sneak-peek into the immediate future… and the consequences of failure. Beks and Debbie discuss building stakes and breaking characters.

Haftan's eyes are on the Cavern, and the Battle of Puca is beginning. With a conspicuously absent Daer and Evenn (and Spud), Tip must face his history with the Cavern alone. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss their favourite villains... and those they relate to.

Daer and Evenn go through the Cavern and out the other side... followed by an unwelcome visitor. Beks and Debbie share some of the beloved scenes they've deleted for a good story, and some they locked away forever. You are all invited to join our Killed Darlings Memorial Service in the comments. Share the scenes you've deleted and light a candle in their memory. Tea and scones served at 4.

Daer and Evenn are going back to the Cavern, but not before a Stern Word from a sleep-deprived Tip. And Debbie and Beks share their technique for making sure the middle of your story-cake is fully cooked.

We deep-dive into Daer's childhood, and then the truth accidentally... falls out of Evenn's mouth. Oops. Beks and Debbie analyse the romance and chemistry between the two (hidden though it may be at this moment).

Evenn follows banshee-Daer all the way to a mysterious Cavern (oooh, I wonder if that's important). Debbie and Beks discuss the unintuitive ways the three main characters fit together, and the subtle objectification of characters in books. Don't forget to show us your fan-art of Evenn's visions! The ship, the baby, the god, the mirrors, and the roads... What are you imagining? What are your theories?

Evenn's face-to-face with her first banshee, and that's not even the worst fight she's going to have today. Beks and Debbie also discuss the varying confidence of different beginners, and how long it takes to master a craft.

Evenn and her new travelling companions are sent off on a dangerous mission (already). Debbie and Bekah talk about character backgrounds that were accidentally not expounded on.

Our heroine is given a once in a lifetime chance to escape and see the world, and we explore the magic system. Bekah and Debbie discuss the beauty of simplicity in writing.

We are given an introduction to our world and setting through a stolen woman and her secret daughter. (Awkward discussion ensues because we’re still learning how to podcast.)

Welcome travellers, bards and other passers-by, to The Cavern at the Edge of Time! Settle in for a story of time-travel and world-hopping, bards and banshees, love, loss and family. But before we begin Evenn's story, we'll introduce ourselves and our mission.