Author: aarondemott Page 1 of 2

This week, we talk with Deanna Fugett (not to be confused with Deanna Troi). We get right into it with a discussion about oddly named characters, and where some of these names come from (don’t ask…)

Next, because this is a speculative fiction show, we talk at length about Little House on the Prairie (Of course…) Liberty wasn’t around this week to steer us back on track… (because she spontaneously combusted… well, that’s our story, anyway…)

We eventually got back on track (kind of…), and learned that Josh loves depressing endings (Aaron can’t stand them…)

Who’s Deanna’s favorite super hero? Is it Green Arrow? Super Grover? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Does Deanna prefer Scrivener? Word? Pen? Crayon?

We also take a quick break to provide a public service announcement of things computers don’t like (such as hammers and crumbs…)

Lingo 101… We’re thinking of making this a regular feature…

And last, but not least, being eaten alive (metaphorically…)

Some of Deanna’s favorite authors:
– Liberty
– Aaron
– Josh (he’s almost done…)
– Lynn Austin, who writes historical fiction/romance. She has a really good series set in the Civil War (U.S. History, not Marvel, sadly) that does a good job of showing the conflict and motivation from both sides. (Also, if you like history, check out “Across Five Aprils”)

Deanna thinks critique groups are pretty darn important. We think so too!

Extrovert shadowing!

Listen:

Episode 54
Episode 55

Links:

• Deanna Fugett
• Ending Fear
• Scrivener!
• Divergent (Veronica Roth)

We were totally delighted to hang out with one of the forefathers of the awesome Realm Makers conference in these episodes, Kerry Nietz! Kerry, as he says, is a refugee from software engineering, and is the author of Amish Vampires in Space (as seen on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon!)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSiTIZW3WEo]

In Episode 45:

• Revisiting story worlds by writing Frayed.
• Threadbare, the main character, and why Kerry loves him.
• Throwing characters curve balls (No, not literally…)
• Liberty’s cold leads to a misinterpretation of one of our questions, and an interesting answer.
• Research into boxing!
• Kerry’s favorite superhero and the version he prefers!
• Usually, one’s superhero and one’s Captain have similar traits… Mr. Nietz is an exception…

In Episode 46:

• How Kerry structures his writing time so he can end his session in the middle of a scene.
• Oh, Scrivner, do we love thee? Let us count the ways…
• Kerry’s really good first drafts, and how he handles editing.
• Developing a thick skin! (Metaphorically…)
• Developing habits to overcome writer’s block (literally…)
• Mayans, mythology, and vampire gods – Oh My!
• Never stop writing-never surrender!
• The differences in traditional publishing versus self-publishing, at least from Kerry’s perspective.

Too lazy to type out the links while you’re listening? We’ve got you covered! (If they don’t work, it’s Liberty’s fault….)
Kerry Nietz
Frayed
Amish Vampires in Space
Mike Duran
Tosca Lee
Nadine Brandes (editing services)
Jeff Gerke (editing services)
Ray Bradbury (Hey, he won a Pulitzer! But not for what you’d think…)
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Michael Crighton

This week on the show, we have Celesta Thiessen, the author of the Super Seven series. She hails from Manitoba (I think she’s our first Canadian author!), and had a lot to share about her series and writing.

In Episode 41:

• Celesta’s favorite parts of writing the series.
• An impromptu author reading of her favorite scene from Two of a Kind!
• The science behind her superhero powers in her books.
• Celesta’s favorite superhero…and how he figures into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We spend some time analyzing the movie.
• Many bunny trails on the parts of the hosts…

In Episode 42:

• Celesta’s pantsing process. (We all agree it’s brave!)
• Aaron is amazed at the earliness at which Celesta writes.
• And Aaron also is really quick on puns and quips in this episode!
• We talk strange place names where we all live.
• Celesta’s unusual research methods.
• Self-editing and Celesta’s lengthy process (which includes her husband!)
• We get into a bit of a Mac vs. PC debate.
• Celesta’s long term goals!

Links!

Celesta Thiessen
The Super Seven
Salt Eden (Celeste’s new book for adults!)
The Physics of Superheroes
Kathy Tyers
Kerry NietzA Star Curiously Singing

Listen to Episode 41Listen to Episode 42
Listen to our Star Wars episodes Part 1 and Part 2

This week on LDK, we have a wonderful time talking with Laura VanArendonk Baugh (try saying that three times fast!) We managed to get a few details about ancient Japanese culture, of which, Laura seems to be a near-expert on.

In Episode 39

• Kitsune is a fox spirit, hence the foxes on the covers of her books.
• The folklore roots within her books, including some loose relation to Pokemon.
• Laura thinks our favorite character question is a mean question to ask!
• Kitsune-Tsuki was written in one sitting (!!!).
• Laura defines our superhero question in an interesting way.
• We introduce a new question!
• Aaron gives his opinion on what the best of the Star Trek movies is. (May or may not be what you expect!)

In Episode 40

• We nearly kill Aaron with Laura’s response to plotting  problems. Laura definitely had us in stitches with this one.
• We talk Scrivener, which we’re delighted to find she makes use of it, though not 100% of the time.
• Laura’s winning editing process.
• Laura’s reasons for eating chocolate!
• Training your subconscious.
• The non-coffee-drinking writers!
• Crazy research–and how it’s paid off in Laura’s life! (And don’t Google search the one thing she mentions!)
• Some of Laura’s marketing techniques (hint: a lot of it has to do with personality!)

Links!
Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Buy her books!
Dave Duncan (The Gilded Chain)
Susan Spann (Shenobi Mysteries)

Listen to Episode 39

Listen to Episode 40