Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!

Steve is back! This week Steve and Tananarive talk to horror writer Jonathan Janz -- high school teacher by day, horror writer by night -- who recently revealed his true identity after writing under a pseudonym. His novel CHILDREN OF THE DARK was recently reissued. On making his mark, why he loves horror, and balancing his work, family and writing life. LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, award-winning YA author Lamar Giles talks about writing YA horror aimed at Black boys -- his road from self-publication to fighting his way into mainstream publishing with FAKE ID and THE GETAWAY. His upcoming novel, RUIN ROAD, is a great read blending a demon's curse with true-life issues facing Black teens. On his secret to success and how he distinguishes YA horror from adult horror.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tananarive talks to award-winning author Alma Katsu (The Hunger, The Fervor, Red London) about her unique career both as a horror writer and her spy novels powered by her former career in national intelligence. On the challenges of straddling both genres and her rise to success...and how The Fervor drew upon her Japanese background in a horror novel set during the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.  LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve and Tananarive talk to actor LeVar Burton about his career spanning from 1977's adaptation of Alex Haley's ROOTS, where he played Kunta Kinte in an iconic role at the age of only 19, to the recent Star Trek: The Next Generation cast reunion where he reprised his role as Giordi La Forge for Star Trek: Picard. He also discusses Jeopardy and taking his fate in his own hands by creating his hit podcast "LeVar Burton Reads."LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Tananarive and Steve talk to #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill (The Black Phone, The Fireman, Strange Weather, NOS4A2) about how his first major success was followed by his life's darkest times, the power of horror and the horror community, and how he's balancing his life with new twins. He also talks about how much he loves Tananarive's novel The Reformatory! LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to award-winning author Victor LaValle and burgeoning writer Stephanie Malia Morris about their experiences with Shudder/AMC's Black Horror anthology film, Horror Noire. Steve, Tananarive ("The Lake" / "Fugue State") and Victor ("Daddy") adapted their own short stories for Horror Noire, and Stephanie was an author who got a dream call when she heard that her story, "Bride Before You," would be adapted for the screen. On adaptation, Horror Noire, and the future of Black Horror. LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, veteran television and comic writer Marc Bernardin (Star Trek: Picard, Castle Rock) discusses his journey from being a journalist to a television writer, how he started writing for Star Trek, his secrets to succeeding in Hollywood, the state of the industry - and his new Star Wars: Mace Windu comic! LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tananarive and Steve talk to poet and author Cynthia Pelayo, the first Latina Bram Stoker Award (2022) winner. The author of CRIME SCENE, CHILDREN OF CHICAGO and THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN talks about the challenges of growing up in inner city Chicago, balancing her growing popularity with being a wife and mother, and the support of the horror community. Her upcoming novel is FORGOTTEN SISTERS (3/19). LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does every writer get that every writer hates - but every writer needs? It's NOTES. Strong feedback is the most effective to grow as a writer, but getting feedback can also feel like getting your guts clawed out. How do writers know which notes to listen to and which notes to ignore? Why can't execs just leave our "perfects" scripts alone already? What kind of notes can do more harm than good? And which notes can take "good" writing and make it GREAT? Steve and Tananarive chop it up! LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to Shane Hawk, a horror author and co-editor of NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT, a bestselling Indigenous horror anthology with an introduction from Stephen Graham Jones. Hawk, who is of Cheyenne-Arapaho, Hidatsa and Citizen Potawatomi descent, is a history teacher by day and a horror writer by night. Hawk's literary contributions include his debut story collection Anoka, alongside short fiction featured in numerous anthologies.On Hawk's incredible journey from being a non-reader to transforming himself into an influential writer and literary community builder. LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices