For most of the genre's history, fantasy books were usually set in analogs of medieval England. Today's episode explores why it might be a good idea to write about different types of worlds, and how you can do it. Enjoy!If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Dyrk Ashton: paternusbooks.comGareth Hanrahan: garhanrahan.comMichael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arthur C. Clark award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, Shadows of the Apt, The Doors of Eden) joins the Wizards, Warriors, and Words team to share his secrets for writing fantasy and sci-fi animals.If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Michael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newsflash: there's a lot of words in a book. How are you going to write them all, while keeping your sanity? In today's episode, we talk routines, motivation, and word counts. Enjoy!If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Gareth Hanrahan: garhanrahan.comMichael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Books have words, and a lot of those are contained within dialogue. In today's episode, our hosts share some surprising tips for crafting engaging dialogue. Enjoy!If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Dyrk Ashton: paternusbooks.comMichael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking all about gods and monsters ... and who better to join us than Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer and The Shadow Saint! Gareth is well known for his innovative exploration of gods in fantasy. Our regular host, Dyrk Ashton, isn't too shabby either, thanks to his experience writing the epic urban fantasy Paternus trilogy, which sees hundreds of gods fight for supremacy in the modern day. Enjoy!If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Gareth Hanrahan: garhanrahan.com Dyrk Ashton: paternusbooks.comMichael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read The Thunder Heist here: http://bit.ly/ThunderHeistIn today's bonus episode, Jed Herne reads from his new pirate fantasy book, The Thunder Heist (Twisted Seas #1). "From the very beginning, it’s clear that you’re going to get a very clever plot, coupled with action-packed, non-stop pacing. The first chapter alone destroyed me in terms of how frantic it was, it felt like a finale and a blockbuster finale at that. If chapter one is a hook, then Herne’s writing style is the line, and together they just pull you through the story with relentless energy." - Bookends & BagendsBlurb:A relentless thief. An impossible heist.Meet Kef Cutmark. Pirate, monster-slayer, scourge of the Twisted Seas.After a lifetime of running from her past, she’s returned to Zorith – a tangled jungle of a thousand boats, all lashed together to make a floating city-ship. Zorith is powered by a device that draws energy from lightning. Mysterious, unique, and locked in an unbreachable tower, it’s the envy of Zorith’s rivals.And Kef? She’s here to steal it.If she can take the device and cripple Zorith, maybe she’ll find justice for all the hurt the city has caused her. But with an unreliable thieving crew, hunters closing in, and her past bearing down upon her, failure looks more likely. And if she fails, she’ll never find peace again.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab your copy here: https://jedherne.com/thunderJed's pirate fantasy novel, The Thunder Heist, has just released! “The Thunder Heist is a high-octane adventure that starts off full throttle and doesn’t let up. As the title might suggest, this is a heist story, and one with a unique target: a lightning tower in the heart of a floating city. There are plenty of twists along the way to keep things interesting and the plot moves along at a good clip making for a fun, fast read.” – BookNest.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many readers, magic is what draws them to fantasy. Our hosts share their unique perspectives on what it takes to craft interesting, unique, and suspensful magic systems that add a layer of richness to a fantasy world.If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editingFor more about our hosts and our books:Dyrk Ashton: paternusbooks.comMichael R. Fletcher: michaelrfletcher.comRob J. Hayes: robjhayes.co.ukJed Herne: jedherne.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're joined by fantasy author RJ Barker (Author of The Bone Ships and The Wounded Kingdom series) for a Q&A about his writing process. Enjoy!If you're interested in having Jed Herne edit your book, he'd love to work with you. Apply for book editing here: https://www.jedherne.com/editing--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get the Black Stone Heart audiobook for free with a 30 day free audible trial: www.audibletrial.com/words (By using this link, it helps support the show - thank you!)In this bonus episode, Michael R. Fletcher reads the opening of his grimdark fantasy story, Black Stone Heart. Enjoy!Blurb:A broken man, Khraen awakens alone and lost. His stone heart has been shattered, littered across the world. With each piece, he regains some small shard of the man he once was.He follows the trail, fragment by fragment, remembering his terrible past.There was a woman.There was a sword.There was an end to sorrow.Khraen walks the obsidian path.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wizardswarriorswords/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.