Sci-fi, fantasy, and writing--who could ask for more?

Author: aarondemott (Page 2 of 2)

LDK 31 & 32 – Kessie Carroll

We’re delighted to have contemporary fantasy author K.M. (aka Kessie) Carroll on our show this week! After we discuss the heat in Arizona (where Kessie lives), and Aaron gives Liberty a really hard time, we actually get down to the business of the day.10635985_758640150860816_7609897098840956548_n

In Episode 31

  • The Spacetime Legacy, Kessie’s urban fantasy series, and her wish to see it in a Manga form.
  • The origins of her series
  • Sacrificial cars
  • Superstition Mountains (super creepy stories!)
  • Arizona Vortexes (No,  not that kind…)
  • Classic Batman show from the 1960s…and her kids’ likely reaction to watching the show. (Hilarity ensues.)
  • Kessie’s Doctor (Who)
  • Writing with 5 kids (great advice for ALL of us parents.)
  • Scrivener for iOS (Which should be out by the time you can hear this! Yay!)
  • Discussing Jim Butcher (some of it got cut…if our listeners could be flies on the walls during our intermissions!)

5128npogaulIn Episode 32

  • Overly suggestive book titles for outlining (Take Off Your Pants)
  • Dealing with writer’s block, and why it may be happening.
  • Kessie’s ideal Chai latte, as well as hot chocolate
  • How a city might respond to a zombie apocalypse.
  • E-Reader News Today & Pixel of Ink going belly up. 🙁
  • A very unusual answer to our fandom question. 🙂
  • When readers read into your books deeper than you intended. Lots of funnies.
  • You’re allowed to write crap, just keep writing.

 

Links:

Episode 19 with Cindy Koepp

T51uuvdypjkl-_uy200_his week with Cindy Koepp…

Hi ho, Silver, away! We learn about the strange inspiration for “Like Herding the Wind”… Also, this book was apparently set in every location known to man (and some that weren’t) before the final draft.
We also learn that Cindy loves to write fight scenes… hmm….

What does a 1925 Ford have to do with Like Herding the Wind? You’ll have to listen to find out. Also, we get a new answer to “What’s your favorite superhero?”!!51nwjccmb5l-_sx322_bo1204203200_

Part 2:

Some people make it up as they go, some people take a few notes along the way, then there’s Cindy… take a listen to learn about her… detailed… process.

Cindy also talks about too many subplots, and what to do with those little rascals, and a lot more.

Things we talked about:

Episode 19 Audio

Episodes 10 & 11 with Ben Wolf

This week we interview Ben Wolf (who is, sadly, not an actual wolf). Ben doesn’t know81omtdtpkul-_ux250_ what he wants to be when he grows up, as he has authored vampire novels, children’s novels, and, of course, westerns. He’s also a flash-fiction magazine publisher, and a freelance editor.

Listen to Episode 10 here:

We got off on a rabbit trail faster then ever before (but hey, you interview a Wolf, you gotta expect them to chase rabbits.)

After that, we did eventually get around to discussing I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You (or, for short, IPAL (not to be confused with an Apple product.)) We also discuss his Christian Horror book, Blood for Blood. This naturally lead to a discussion of the differences between writing children books and novels.grow old

We also learn that Ben is terrified of sharks (makes sense, Wolves are land animals, and sharks live in the water…) and how that ties into IPAL (see pages 17 and 18.)

At some point here, Ben calls Aaron fabulously immature. (What? So I like kids books…) … and then you’ll never guess who Ben’s favorite superhero is…

Speaking of immature, who might wear a tutu??

Listen to episode 11 here:

In the second part, we have a rare moment of lucidity and discuss the differences between plotters and pantsers, and why all four of us are hybrid writers. Ben then gave some details 51dc9udyjbl-_sx318_bo1204203200_on his unique outlining/writing method.

Thankfully, the lucid moment passed, and we got kinda off-track again when talking about snacks, and why Ben is now sadly caffeine-free 🙁  (on that note, I’ve just run out of Skittles while typing these notes – Aaron) We then shift into familiar rabbit trial territory and Ben talks about making bets with his future fiancee (Aaron, Josh, and Liberty are all married, and caution Ben never to mention this in public… oops…)

Next, we, ah, well, it’s probably a good thing Ben’s not on with us on every episode, or we’d never make any sense…

Ben talks about his experiences using Kickstarter to fund IPAL, and what he’s learned from that. And, to wrap things up, we talk about why authors should never do their own book covers. (Well, unless you’re a graphic designer or something…)

Things we talked about:

Ben Wolf
I’d Punch a Lion In the Eye For You
Blood For Blood
ACFW Conferences
Ben Powell (author and illustrator for Ben’s children’s book)
Frank Peretti (The Oath)
Robert Liparulo
Tosca Lee
Ted Dekker
Randy Ingermanson (Writing Fiction for Dummies)
Chris Morris, CPA.

Episodes 8 & 9 with Jeff Gerke

This week we welcome novelist, publisher, and editor; the one and only Jeff Gerke.a1kntcyxqrl-_ux250_

In part one, we make a LOT of Star Wars references (is Jeff or Aaron the bigger fan?) We also come really close to getting Liberty to enter a giggle feedback loop. (Remember: breath in, giggle out. Without this advice, Liberty might have passed out!)

We even discuss some matters of actual importance, such as the frustrating and contradictory “Rules of Writing”, and more importantly, how, when, and why to ignore them. There’s even neuroscience behind it, not kidding! Yes, you too can use this technique to make your books as addictive as crack for the low monthly price of… free?? Yes, FREE! Check out the giveaway farther down on this post…

And Jeff continues our trend for authors who love Batman as their favorite superhero. Will we find someone who prefers another hero? You’ll have to come back for future episodes to find out…

41jp2lwgyel-_uy250_In part the second, Jeff talks about writers that are either plot first (typically plotting writers) and character first (pantser writers.)

We also talk more about freeing yourself from the rules of fiction (Aaron does interrupt with a rule that can’t be broken…) Jeff talks about his writing process, how it has evolved over the past 20 years, and how he keeps his writing flow going.

And, to the surprise of absolutely no one, we get off track and talk about Star Wars again! (and Lord of the Rings, and a few others…) But, to the surprise of all of us, there is a point to it! (Really, not kidding!) These stories, and chances are, a lot of other ones you love, all use the Hero’s Journey. Don’t know what that is? Want to know how it influenced Jeff as a writer? Listen to the podcast…

Still confused, want more? Don’t worry,  Jeff is available as a freelance editor and typesetter. Check out his website for details and pricing… do it… you know you want to…

Wait, you’re wanting the giveaway, right? Well click this handy-dandy link and all of the ways to enter will be displayed for you! Enter early, enter often, and share with your friends. 🙂

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links to things we discussed:
Jeff Gerke
The Irresistible Novel
Plot Vs. Character
The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction
Jung’s Archetypes
Joseph Campbell’s Hero With a Thousand Faces
Aristotle’s Rhetoric
Raymond Feist’s The Magician
Bernard Cornwell (Arthur Trilogy)
Nadine Brandes
Kerry Nietz
Jill Williamson
Mark Schooly
Sharon Hinck
Morgan Busse
John Otte
Steve Raza
Just B. Jordan

 

Links to the show:
EPISODE 8
EPISODE 9

Coming soon!

All sorts of cool sci-fi, fantasy, and writing stuff coming soon…

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