Creative Dynamos

In episode 36 of Creative Dynamos, fantasy author Brian Rathbone discusses his path from horse training and a 35-year technology career to self-publishing, including mentally developing stories for years before writing after a 2005 layoff. He recounts early mistakes like an expensive print run with no distribution, later success selling eBooks via MobiPocket (before Amazon acquired it), and setbacks from Amazon’s 2016 algorithm and...

In episode 35 of Creative Dynamos, I talk with author Eric Swett, discussing the value of local writer communities for sharing advice on writing, marketing, and events. Swett traces his path from D&D dungeon mastering to fiction, shifting from formulaic fantasy to a post-apocalyptic serial and a daily 100-word exercise that became his first published book. He describes his Armageddon Angels series, featuring Justin—an angel who...

I interview horror author Jake Bible, a Bram Stoker–nominated novelist, co-chair of the North Carolina Horror Writers Association chapter, and a primary story writer for Dr. NoSleep podcast studios. Bible shares his writing history (first short-story sale in 2006/2007), his output (about 65 novels and roughly 250 short works), and how he began writing for Dr. NoSleep after responding to a freelancer ad in May 2024, now averaging 3–...

In episode 33 of Creative Dynamos, I interview James Alan McGettigan, a talented filmmaker and author. We discuss his early inspirations, both in writing and filmmaking, his journey from creating fan fiction to developing his own unique fantasy and sci-fi series called The Dust Cosmos, and the challenges of writing across multiple genres. He also shares his experiences with filmmaking, the intricacies of writing screenplays versus ...

In episode 32 of the Creative Dynamos Podcast, I chat with author Angela Sylvain about her journey into writing, her inspirations, and her work. Angela shares how she transitioned from reading voraciously to writing in her mid-thirties, inspired by a coworker. She discusses her initial foray into young adult paranormal novels and how she honed her skills with short stories, leading to over 60 published. The conversation delves into...

In episode 31 of Creative Dynamos, I interview author Andrew K. Clark. Andrew discusses his journey as a writer, starting from high school, and elaborates on his works 'Where Dark Things Grow' and 'Where Dark Things Rise.' He delves into the influence of his Appalachian roots, the importance of authentic voice in storytelling, and discusses the balance between maintaining character depth and engaging readers in horr...

In this episode of Creative Dynamos, I talk with my longtime friend and mentor, Matt Selznick. We cover the gamut, from Matt's extensive writing journey. From writing short stories in his childhood to creating immersive fantasy worlds like the Shapers World and the Sovereign Era, Matt has done it all. Matt provides insights into his self-publishing experiences and the early days of podcasting fiction. Our conversation delves in...

On this episode, I talk with the aptly named Kathleen Marple Kalb about her cozy mystery writing, her MASSIVE number of series, why she uses pen names, and her experience as a traditionally published author who's dabbled in and is seriously considering more indie publishing. Website: https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathleen-Marple-Kalb-1082949845220373/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kath...

Jacci Turner and I talk about her newest YA fantasy series, The Tree Singer series. Fifteen-year-old Mayten loves training as a tree singer, an esteemed position among her clan. But when she feels pain coming from the trees, she finds herself on an unexpected quest, one so dangerous she might never return home. Now Mayten must use her unfinished training to face betrayal, fear, and a deadly foe. Is she a match for the ancient evil ...