We’ve interviewed hundreds of writers on The Writing Community Chat Show, but this one stands out, because our latest guest brings not only writing chops but serious filmmaking cred to the table.In this brand-new public episode, we sat down with Josh Mendoza, the award-winning filmmaker of What Still Remains and now the debut author of the sci-fi noir novel Shadow of the Eternal Watcher.You can now watch the full interview right here on YouTube:Trust us, this one’s worth your time.🎥 Who Is Josh Mendoza?Josh is a Stanford-educated storyteller with an MFA in Film and TV Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He’s best known for his post-apocalyptic feature film What Still Remains, which earned critical acclaim for its intimate, emotional take on survival and society.But now? He’s taken everything he learned in film and poured it into the written word.His new book, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher, blends noir detective fiction with mind-bending science fiction, delivering a story full of psychological depth, action, and philosophical intrigue.📖 About the BookDuster Raines has demons. Some haunt his dreams. Others? They show him a life he’s never lived, one of wealth, fame, and power. But when a missing person case leads to him being framed and hunted, Raines discovers he has the power to bend spacetime… and that his alternate self may be the one standing in his way.“It’s gritty, it’s smart, it’s cinematic.”💬 What We Talked About in the Interview:Our chat with Josh is split into three powerful rounds:🛣️ Round One: The Road to WritingHow Josh went from screenwriting to directing films, and ultimately to novel writing. The challenges, the crossovers, and why writing a book felt like returning home.📚 Round Two: Shadow of the Eternal WatcherA deep dive into the themes of identity, trauma, and alternate realities. Josh explains how the character of Duster Raines came to life and why the story feels so personal.🧠 Round Three: Community QuestionsWe hit Josh with our signature questions, plus a few wildcards from our amazing live audience.✨ Why You Should WatchThis is more than just an interview, it’s a rare peek behind the curtain of two worlds: independent film and modern publishing.Whether you’re:* A writer curious about storytelling from a director’s POV* A sci-fi reader looking for your next mind-bending book* Or just someone who loves listening to creative minds break down their craft…This episode delivers.❤️ Help Us Grow This ShowIf you loved this conversation, please:* Leave a comment on the video* Share the YouTube link with a fellow reader or writer* Become a free or paid subscriber here on Substack to support the show!Your support allows us to keep bringing on incredible guests like Josh, uncovering the stories behind the storytellers.Thanks for being here. And don’t forget, subscribe, share, and stay creative.👇 Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments, we read every one.
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