In this podcast Wulf Moon, a mentor, and Brittany Rainsdon, mentee, discuss the value of a good mentor and how it differs from writing groups and beta-readers.

149. The Value of Mentors with Wulf Moon and Brittany Rainsdon

Ken Liu is a multiple Hugo Award-winning American author of science fiction and fantasy. His epic fantasy series, “The Dandelion Dynasty,” is the first work in the “silkpunk” genre, which he created.

AMC's "Pantheon" was created around the Singularity-based stories in “The Hidden Girl,” a collection of short stories by Ken.

His story, “The Paper Menagerie,” is the first piece of fiction to win three literary genre awards: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award.

Ken was a published finalist in 2003 with the story “Gossamer.” That was the year we had the event in Beverly Hills, and Chick Corea performed, plus three grandmasters of science fiction: Robert Silverberg, Fred Pohl, Hal Clement attended.

He also consults and speaks publicly on various subjects such as cryptocurrency, futurism, implications of new technologies (5G, GPT-3, nanomaterials, etc.), science fiction, virtual reality, and sustainable storytelling.

191. Ken Liu AMC Pantheon based on his stories in "The Hidden Girl"

Jim, Tamra, and Taylor Meskimen have recorded nearly 500 audiobooks, including "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39."  They discuss what makes this audiobook such a great listen for all age groups - Boomers to Gen Z - and how it has stories that appeal to everyone.
We discuss the importance of imagination and the value of audiobooks in contributing to developing imagination.

226. Jim, Tamra, Taylor Meskimen - Why listen to Writers of the Future 39 audiobook

I met up with Jim Butcher at the Superstars Writing Conference in Colorado Springs. He is the creator of The Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new series, the Cinder Spires. We talk about his journey to becoming a bestselling author and any backstories of the characters in his Dresden series.

Much more insight into why he is the incredible author that he is.

265. Jim Butcher Dresden Files and Writing Urban Fantasy

This episode features Jody Lynn Nye, and we discuss 40 years of Writers of the Future, its impact on the genre, and what she is looking for as the Coordinating Judge.

274. Jody Lynn Nye Coordinating Judge on 40 Years of Writers of the Future

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is our most recent Writer Contest judge.

Dean Wesley Smith, also a judge, has Mark by four decades, being the first person to be awarded by Writers of the Future in that very first year!

Together, these two have been at the forefront of the evolution of publishing, now known as indie publishing or self-publishing. 

Once frowned upon as vanity, self-publishing and indie publishing have proven to be the means for more and more authors to become million-dollar-a-year successful authors.

So you will do well to bend an attentive ear to this podcast and listen to what these gents have to say.

Mark Leslie Lefebvre: markleslie.ca/
Dean Wesley Smith: deanwesleysmith.com/

279. Indie and Self-Publishing is the Future Says Mark Leslie and Dean Wesley Smith

Orson Scott Card is the author of Ender's Game series and dozens of other novels. In this podcast we discuss his start as an author and how he developed the concept of "Ender's Game" and have it became the beloved book it is today.

Mr. Card has also been a Writers of the Future Contest Judge for over three decades.

Learn more about Orson Scott Card and his works at http://www.hatrack.com/

285. Orson Scott Card's Journey as an Author and the Creation of "Ender's Game"

Elliott Haimoff, is a biologist, primatologist and documentary filmmaker. In 1990 he founded Global Science Productions to develop and distribute educational television programs and news segments about space, biology, health, sports and nature. And now, over 200 documentaries with dozens of awards later, I am now interviewing him on one of several books he was written: SPACE PIONEERS: CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MEN OF APOLLO

We initially met several years back as we were releasing our Stories from the Golden Age. He would frequent our Saturday night live theatre. He also shot a documentary on Pulp Fiction, which heavily featured L. Ron Hubbard as one of the masters of Science Fiction’s Golden Age.

292. Elliott Haimoff Conversations with the Men of Apollo Space Program

I am here at the Tampa Convention Center attending the 2024 Tampa Comic Con with this week’s guest, James Rosone. We met up here last year at this convention and recorded a podcast interview which you can find as interview 247.

James Rosone is the Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of military thriller and science fiction. He's an Iraq War veteran who served 3.5 years in a combat zone as a military interrogator and contractor.

I completed his Monroe Doctrine series—all 9 volumes—and find near future military SF (I hope it’s SF) is the most chilling of any type of story I have read. I also read the first volume of his 11-volume Into the Stars series—not so near future.

In this interview, we discussed how he arrived at writing in the genre he chose, what his process has been as a self-published author to become a top 100 Amazon author—close to making 7 figures a year—and how he does his research for the technology he uses in his novels.

https://frontlinepublishinginc.com/

293. James Rosone Researching Hi-Tech Near-Future Sci-Fi

S.M. Stirling writes in multiple genres and has over 10 NYT bestsellers. In this interview, we discuss writing alternate history, the need for research, and how to do this research.

His latest novel, "To Turn the Tide" addresses the last successful period of the Roman Empire before the Germanic tribes invaded and sacked it.

We discuss Type A invention and Type B invention which plays a key part of the novel.

We also discuss two of L. Ron Hubbard's favorite books, "Typewriter in the Sky" and "Slaves of Sleep."

Learn more at smstirling.com/books/to-turn-the-tide/

294 S.M. Stirling Researching Time Travel Alternate History

Jessica Brawner is an author of fiction and nonfiction, spanning topics from topical books on improving social interactions to urban fantasy and steampunk tales. She has experience in both traditional publishing and self-publishing but prefers the latter.

We met through a common friend, now her husband, Steven L. Sears, who has been a guest on this podcast.

She recently released her latest novel, “Tattoos on Dead Tree Flesh,” which I thoroughly enjoyed and am anxious to discuss. What a title! (Pay attention and you will have an ah-ha moment when you realize what it means!)

www.jessicabrawner.com

296. Jessica Brawner Tattoos on Dead Tree Flesh

Ian Randal Strock was assistant editor at Analog and Asimov for half a dozen years in between a long career as an editor, author, and publisher. He is now the owner, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Gray Rabbit Publications, LLC, and its speculative fiction imprint, Fantastic Books.

In this interview, we discuss the history of short fiction magazines, going back to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. We also discuss the importance of short fiction to a writer’s career and discovery.

AND, a delightful new release by Ian hitting the shelves December 3, 2024, titled, "Wandering Through Time."

Learn more about Ian at https://ianrandalstrock.com/

297. Ian Randal Strock: The Importance of Short Fiction

We recorded this podcast at the Writers of the Future panel at FanX Salt Lake 2024 with an amazing list of panelists.

Beginning with me as the moderator, it included S.M. Stirling, Larry Niven, Rebecca Moesta, Kevin J. Anderson, Darci Stone, and Eric James Stone.

And as promised in the promotion for the panel, a recently discovered video interview with Ray Bradbury from the very first Writers of the Future Gala in 1985 was played. While you can listen to his interview on this podcast, you can go to the Writers of the Future YouTube page on the playlist Advice From a Master: Ray Bradbury. https://youtu.be/7KLWpR0lohI?feature=shared

So, here we are at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.

298. FanX Salt Lake 2024 Writers of the Future Panel

Joe Davis competed for the US in the winter sliding sport of Skeleton at the Olympic Park (1999-2003).

For the last few years, he has enjoyed sharing the stories and history of Park City and Utah in general as an Anchor and Reporter for the NBC affiliate KSL and as the former Host of the Mountain Morning Show on PCTV (Park City Television). In addition, he proudly continues serving as a Public Affairs Broadcast Journalist for the United States Air Force.

Joe Davis is a long-term supporter of Writers of the Future having done dozens of interviews with me, Contest winners, and judges.

In this interview, we discuss how to do a successful interview. What is important to provide? What should you not do?

299. Joe Davis: Tips on Doing Successful Interviews

Angelique Fawns has published multiple short stories in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and DreamForge Anvil. She has also published several dark fantasy compendiums titled MYTHICAL MONSTERS. 

I read several of her short stories in BOOK 3 OF THE HORROR LIGHT SERIES and found them perfect for entertaining Halloween reads.

She also compiled a publication listing all short story markets titled THE GUIDE OF ALL GUIDES, which we will discuss.

Learn more at www.Fawns.ca

300. Angelique Fawns Spooky tales for all ages plus a book of all short story markets

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

This interview was recorded at the Frankfurt Bookfair in Frankfurt, Germany.

Cory Verner created Christian Audio as a solution to having something good to listen to on his daily 3-hour commute from San Diego to Orange County in California. He grew his company to the point where he was ready to move on and sold it to Recorded Books, at which point he decided to create his new company, ONE Audiobooks. He also has Verity Audio Productions, specializing in Spanish, and works with other audiobook publishers. 

We discuss the value of audiobooks with a good message, not preaching, but like PG or PG 13-type stories.

He also created Zoundy.com, a site that allows authors to create and use an audiobook as a free giveaway to build reviews for their books, which can be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

NOTE: We used the term “SaaS” in the interview, which means “Software as a Service.”

We also discuss the growth of the audiobook industry and the models used to discover audiobooks. 

Visit oneaudiobooks.com/

302. Cory Verner Pioneer in Digital Download Audiobooks and Creator of Christian Audio

Jason Kelly, the CEO of Sounded, an audiobook company, was interviewed at the Frankfurt Bookfair. We addressed the fact that AI audiobooks are now a reality. In fact, Audible created 40,000 AI audiobooks last year using synthetic voices.

We discuss how AI (synthetic voices) can be set up to not violate narrator rights and how it works. We also discuss how companies violate copyright laws by using a clone model (a celebrity voice synthesized by AI), and, thus, the authors need to know what they are getting into. 

If you are an author wanting to get your book created as an audiobook but have a very limited budget, then perhaps Sounded is a resource for you. https://www.sounded.com/


303. Jason Kelly of Sounded Discusses the Ethics of AI Voice Narration

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

Sean is the President of Dreamscape Media.

He is also the President of the Audio Publishers Association.

We met in Frankfurt recently at the Book Fair and finalized this interview.

Audiobook growth kept the publishing industry growing during the pandemic, so I am very excited to speak with Sean about the growth of audiobooks as an industry. We also discuss the growth of AI generated audiobooks in the industry as a viable solution for books that would not otherwise ever be made as an audiobook.

305. Sean McManus President of Dreamscape on Growth of Audiobooks

Myke was a Writers of the Future Contest winner in volume 19 with his story “Blood and Horses.” 

He is an American author of fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction. His series includes the Shadow Ops, Reawakening, and Sacred Throne. His career also involves television, and he has appeared on the CBS reality show Hunted and the Discovery Channel series Contact.

Myke Cole is a fire/rescue responder in New York’s Hudson Valley. He has spent a long career in the military, intelligence, and law enforcement.

When I reached out to him, he told me he was more about writing nonfiction these days. So today, we discuss his most recent publication, “Steel Lobsters: Crown, Commonwealth, and the Last Knights in England.”

Steel Lobsters covers the complete history of England’s last knights, from the seeds of their creation in Hesilrige’s experience as a young cavalry officer to their final defeat at Roundway Down in July 1643.

306. Myke Cole Discusses Writing Historical Fiction vs Non-Fiction

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

Andrea Fleck-Nisbet is the CEO of IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Assn), which is growing rapidly. After this interview with Andrea, it is no wonder why. She is a significant force of nature and, from my perspective, a major reason for this growth. 

In this interview, we discuss Indie publishing as well as author publishing. (She corrected me when I used the term self-publishing.)

We discuss IBPA, its importance to the future of publishing, and its importance to authors and indie publishers.

Learn more at www.ibpa-online.org/

308. Andrea Fleck-Nisbet CEO Independent Book Publishers Assn on the Future of Publishing

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

Steve Smith is the President and Publisher of Sky Turtle Press/Oasis Family Media. He began his publishing career in 1984.
Throughout the 1990s, he was active in licensing entertainment industry properties for publishing projects, working with Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, and Sony Pictures.
This interview discusses the importance of family-friendly content and the evolution of print books to audiobooks.

310. Steve Smith Publisher of Oasis Family Media Discusses Importance of Family Values

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”

Douglas Richards was a guest earlier in episode 211. In it, we discuss the blur between science and science fiction and the theme will continue in this episode. His most recent book, “The Breakthrough Effect,” was written as ChatGPT made its official appearance and so is very relevant.

313. Douglas E. Richards Discusses the Blur Between Science and Science Fiction

Scot Noel was a guest earlier, which you can listen to on episode 210. Scot was a Writers of the Future Volume 6 winner in 2010 and has since gone on to write more SF and created DreamForge, now in its fourth year. He has also spent quite some time working in computer science, specifically AI, and likens it to the parable of the two blind men describing an elephant, which we discuss in this interview.

314. Scot Noel Publisher of DreamForge Magazine Discussing AI in Publishing

An interview on Writers and Illustrators of the Future with the Contest Director, Joni Labaqui

1. Interview with Contest Director, Joni Labaqui

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.

Writers & Illustrators of the Future Podcast

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