Writers of the Future Podcast

In the beginning, there was no punctuation. Texts were written so that their letters ran together withnospacesorpunctuation and without any distinction between lowercase and capitals. It was up to the reader to discover where each word or sentence ended and the next began. Then, through orators and actors, marks were made to show pauses and stops and emphasis, and thus punctuation was born. Ian Randal Strock is the perfect guest for this topic. As a successful editor, author, and publisher, he has taken it upon himself to thoroughly research the history of punctuation and why it is so important to literature. In this interview, Ian discusses his book “Punctilious Punctuation,” and how bad punctuation is an immediate turn-off for an editor or reader. This leads to the importance of knowing the rules before breaking them. What is the solution for the current wave of language devaluing…especially as we witness on social media texting? The back cover copy says you will laugh and you will cringe, and this is certainly true. So, enjoy this very fun episode. BTW, ever wonder why commas and periods always must be inside quotation marks? Learn more at https://ianrandalstrock.com/

Ruby Lovell is an award-winning journalist, dynamic show host, and accomplished author whose career bridges the worlds of entertainment, media, and storytelling—making her the perfect guest for this podcast. Born in Sri Lanka, she has lived in the UK and the US and has traveled the world. We originally met at the Hollywood Christmas Parade, where Ruby was a media attendee. Ruby next attended and brilliantly covered that year's Writers of the Future Awards gala, creating a wonderful video segment on the event with her acclaimed series Right On LA! with Ruby Lovell. In this interview, we discuss her career as a journalist for the BBC and NTD News, her creation of a travel show sponsored by the BBC, and her transition into children’s book authorship.

Megan O'Russell is a YA author who transitioned from a successful career in theater to writing. We met on a panel at Dragon Con and agreed to do this podcast. We discuss her journey, the importance of storytelling, and the differences between traditional and indie publishing. Megan shares insights on empowering authors, navigating the editing process, and the significance of world-building in fantasy literature. We also explore the handling of romance and sexuality in YA, the supportive nature of the indie author community, and provide valuable advice for aspiring writers. Megan discusses her YA novel, “Ember and Stone,” which is a compelling example of YA romance and empowerment. Great examples of dealing with profanity without using profanity. Megan has set up a code to allow listeners to discover her fantastical worlds. All you need to do is go to https://meganorussell.com/discount/FUTURE50, add any ebook to your cart (no complete collections as they're already sold at a discount), and the code will be applied to each single ebook at checkout.

Jim Nettles is a well-established author of science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. However, in this interview, we delve into another aspect of Jim, as the founder of Author Essentials and Author Essentials Workshops. In this interview, we discuss his book, “Business Essentials for Writers”, and he shares his unique perspective on failure, emphasizing that not trying is the true failure. Additional topics include: - To be successful, though, you’ve got to understand how all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together. - The “myth of the starving artist.” - Four focuses: Mindset; strategy; Tactical Actions; Operational Actions - We discuss the various types of editors and why you might need them. We also clarify editors vs. beta readers - In the new world of self-publishing, why are editors still important - Publicity: obscurity is the enemy of the author Learn more at https://jamespnettles.com/

Bestselling fantasy author Katie Cross is one of the most comfortable authors I have ever read. “Miss Mabel’s School for Girls” is the first book in the Network Series. In this episode, Katie shares her journey as a writer, the inspiration behind her books, and the importance of engaging with readers. She discusses her unique approach to storytelling, character development, and the magic system in her works. Katie emphasizes the significance of mindset in overcoming challenges and the value of self-publishing. The conversation also explores the balance between family life and a writing career, as well as the impact of conventions on reader engagement. She can be found at https://katiecrossbooks.com/

Subrahmanian Seshadri, who goes by “Sesh,” is the CEO of Overleaf Books LLP and a member of the Educational Publishers Forum of the International Publishers Association, representing India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion. We discuss Writers and Illustrators of the Future and its importance to creative individuals in India. Sesh see's the value of the Contests for teh 213,000,000 middle school students. Both Contests are perfect fits for India, and we hope that new Indian voices will be discovered for the international stage.

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

Jeffrey Morris is a writer, director, and founder of FutureDude Entertainment, a production company that blends dazzling creativity with innovative storytelling. His goal … rekindling the human spirit through science fiction. He has produced an amazing documentary entitled THE EAGLE OBSESSION and is here in our Hollywood office as part of his screening tour. We discuss the purpose of the documentary: Reinspire that future that didn’t happen, addressing modern dystopia as a loss of hope after the Apollo program was halted once we walked on the moon. https://eagledocumentary.com/

Steven Heumann spent a decade in screenwriting for television. Novel writing is his second career, to the point of even creating his own publishing house to publish his novels. The storyline of his contemporary sci-fi novel, “Paper Heroes,” is an interesting one. On the surface, Steven presents middle-aged men living out their boyhood superhero dreams. However, underneath, he addresses ethical issues that can be safely discussed through SF&F, such as whether the end justifies the means, and the consequences of violating the basic agreements of mutual trust and honesty between marriage partners. Learn more at https://stevenheumannauthor.com/

Becca Lee Gardner is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet! In this episode, she shares her origin story of the Dragon Champion series, born from the ritual of bedtime tales spun for her children. This is the first time writing children’s books has been discussed on this podcast. We also cover how one deals with force and conflict in books written for children ages 5-12. It is quite different than adult books – which she also writes. Learn more about Becca at https:beccaleeg.com/