Dennys Ilic is a genuinely beautiful person who has, for the past 18 years, pursued his passion as a professional photographer. He is also a celebrated Leica photographer.

He has become internationally renowned as an editorial portrait photographer, best known for his edgy and soulful images. 

He has worked with clients including A-list actors Daniel Radcliffe, Jason Momoa, Halle Berry, Charlie Hunnam, Viola Davis, Keanu Reeves, Glenn Close, Ryan Reynolds, Cindy Crawford, Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Karl Urban, Edward James Olmos, Rosario Dawson, Lawrence Fishburne, Mary McDonnell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Hart, Lou Diamond Philips, as well as Joel Silver, David S. Goyer, and Peter Jackson, to name a few. 

Dennys has been instrumental in publishing five successful hard-cover photographic art books and is in preparation for creating the Star Trek Discovery Coffee-Table Book. Today, we will talk about MEN OF SCIENCE FICTION.

See his work at https://leicagalleryla.com/gallery-view/dennys-ilic/

301. Dennys Ilic World Class Celebrity Photographer Creating Photographic Art Books

Scott won the Writers of the Future Contest in volume 28 with his story “Insect Sculptor.” He is the Founder of NewMyths eZine, one of only a few online magazines that continue to pay writers, poets, and artists for their contributions.

He was a guest on this podcast on episode 57 in early 2020, just before the pandemic hit.

In this interview, we discuss writing with multiple first-person points of view as well as his new YA novel, “Memories of Lucinda Eco,” which demonstrates this technique.

You can find “Memories of Lucinda Eco” at www.amazon.com/Memories-Lucinda-…nes/dp/1939354269

And you can find Scott here: www.scotttbarnes.com/about-me

304. Scott T. Barnes: Writing with Multiple 1st Person Points of View

Elise Stephens credits much of her storytelling influence to a lifelong love of theater and childhood globetrotting. Her work focuses on themes of family, memory, and finding hope after a devastating loss.
 
I originally met her when she won the Writers of the Future competition in 2018 with her short story “Untrained Luck” appearing in Writers of the Future Vol 35.

When I learned of her book, “Forecast,” her invitation to this podcast was assured.

Her fiction prose is so easy to read and her sense of character is so authentic. Her’s was a book I greedily devoured.

Learn more about Elise at www.elisestephens.com/

307. Elise Stephens the Amazing Use of Metaphors and Similes in Storytelling

Adam Schomer is a filmmaker who created “Selling Superman,” which is the basis of this podcast interview.

He is president of i2i Productions and goes to extreme lengths to follow stories that empower.

His documentaries include award winners: “The Highest Pass,” “The Polygon,” “One Little Pill,” “Women of the White Buffalo,” and the documentary I watched, “Selling Superman,” about a family whose father collected comics … tens of thousands and including Issue #1 of Superman valued somewhere between $3-4M!

Check out the documentary at https://www.sellingsuperman.com/

309. Adam Schomer Selling Superman: The Role of Comics in Pop Culture

Victoria Sutherland created Foreword Reviews Magazine in 1998. Since its inception, Foreword Reviews has never strayed from its mission to help booksellers and librarians discover great books from indie presses. Authors may not know that librarians need a trade review to order books, which is what Foreword Reviews is. 

They include 100–125 reviews per bi-monthly issue.

Anyone listening to this podcast will receive a 15% discount for any Foreword service using discount code “WOTF" at www.ForewordReviews.com.

311. Victoria Sutherland Publisher of Foreword Reviews on Value of Trade Reviews for Authors

David Hankins was a “Writers of the Future Volume 39” winner in 2023 with his short story “Death and the Taxman.” In this interview, we discuss science fiction comedy vs. satire and its value to the overall genre.

He has since gone on to create a series based on his short story. The first was appropriately titled “Death and the Taxman,” and the second, now releasing, “Death and the Dragon.” 

He was a guest earlier as a winner and you can hear him in episodes 238 and 239 with fellow winners following the awards gala.

Learn more about David at davidhankins.com/

312. David Hankins on Writing SF Humor and “Death and the Dragon”

Dave Butler, pen name DJ Butler, and David Afsharirad have created a new publisher, Ark Press. Dave Butler was a guest on episode 246, discussing navigating right and wrong in storytelling.

Ark Press mission is to provide stories where humans win in the end.

In this episode, we discuss a new press called Ark Press and an exciting writing competition—America 2076—to be published in 2026. That’s why it's speculative fiction.

Learn more at https://x.com/ark_press

318. Announcing Ark Press Where Humans Win in the End

Django Degree is the founder and CEO of Focus on Words, a book platform that gives authors full ownership of their work, royalties, and audience. He’s also the author of “I Hope You Wake Up” and “They Lied To You,” books that dive deep into truth, identity, and how we break free from the systems that shape us.

His mission is clear: help authors reclaim their voice, rebuild broken systems, and eventually use the success of that work to fund a city for foster youth and orphans across the country.

338. Django Degree Empowering Authors with Ownership and Royalties of their Wor

Nicole “N. V.” Haskell was a Writers of the Future winner in Volume 38 with her fantasy short story, “The Mystical Farrago.” Her recent novel, “The Malice of Moons and Mages,” is an epic fantasy novel, first in a series, where Nicole creates a world filled with magic but with special rules and laws. In this episode, we discuss how to world-build a magical realm and the importance of staying true to the system you have created.

We also discuss Nicole’s special journey as an author, including her Writers of the Future win and subsequent workshop in Hollywood.

Learn more about Nicole at nvhaskell.com.

340. N. V. Haskell How to Create Magic Systems

Discover the visionary world of Jean Henri Gaston Giraud—also known as Gir but better known as Moebius, a master of cosmic comics—in this podcast episode. Join us for an interview with his children, Nausicaa and Raphael, as they discuss the enduring legacy of their father, a trailblazer whose surreal artistry reshaped science fiction. We met at the France Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair and recorded at the Galaxy Press booth discussing his legacy as well as their own stories with their father.

Moebius co-founded Heavy Metal Magazine and served as a founding judge for Illustrators of the Future, even illustrating Jo Beverly's story in Writers of the Future Vol. 4. His seminal "The Long Tomorrow" ignited Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, with Scott later confessing, "You see it everywhere... you can't get away from it." George Lucas hailed Moebius's "sheer beauty" in designs for Willow, while Hayao Miyazaki, a lifelong friend, credits Arzach's "awesome sense of space" for inspiring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind—echoed in the name of Giraud's own daughter.

Visit https://www.moebius.fr/ and
 https://www.instagram.com/moebius_production/?hl=en

352. A Continuing Legacy for Legendary French Artist Moebius

Providing writing and illustrating tips and advice from Contest Judges, Winners and industry professionals for writers and artists, along with needed inspiration to keep on going! Based on the world-famous Writers of the Future Contest created in 1983 by L. Ron Hubbard.

New tracks tagged #L. Ron Hubbard