My guest this week is an author, editor, and publishing professional who has written more than 50 books and coached hundreds of authors on how to put together book proposals. Terry Whalin and I talk about the importance of details, gripping openings, showing instead of telling, looking at the bigger picture, giving readers a reason to flip the page, and The 11th Myth. Check it out!
Ep. 40-2025: Chris Riley
This week, Chris Riley, the author of the classic screenwriting book The Hollywood Standard, joins me on The Story Blender. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how to keep viewers and readers from leaving the dream, when to focus on our shared humanity in the stories we tell, why stories are a gift that we give to our audiences, what a story actually is, and what is more important, story or structure. Check it out and have a pen ready to take notes!
Ep. 39-2025: Yannick Murphy
Don’t miss this week’s conversation with novelist Yannick Murphy. We examine whether or not there is such a thing as talent, how a story is like a mirror, and how to write in a way that makes the reader feel like you are their best friend. Learn to observe what has gone unnoticed, bring a sense of presence to the page, and invite in the turbulence. Give it a listen!
Ep. 38-2025: Daniel Church
This week on The Story Blender, I chat with horror writer, Daniel Church. We talk about folk horror, the importance of atmosphere in scary stories, what frightened him as a child (you might be surprised when you hear what it was!). You'll also catch some of his recommendations for movies and other authors who write stories that will bring a chill to your bones. He has a new book out just in time for Halloween called THE SOUND OF THE DARK. Give it a listen. With the lights on…
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 37-2025: Jennifer Fawcett
This week, Jennifer Fawcett joins me to talk about how playwriting and novel writing intersect and inform each other. We explore what a scene is and why scenes in plays are longer than they often are in novels. We also talk about the importance of surprise, the difference between motivation and intention and her latest thriller Keep This For Me. Give it a listen!
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 36-2025: Jerome Charyn
This week I talk with acclaimed author Jerome Charyn, who has been a professional writer for 70 years. We explore the music of sentences, the lyrical landscape of New York City, looking for magic in the stories we write and tell, the importance of the first and last sentence, and how every sentence in Hamlet destroys you. Check it out!
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 35-2025: Victoria Dowd
This week, crime writer Victoria Dowd joins me to discuss the art of the red herring, how to plant clues in plain sight in a way that no one will notice, locked room mysteries, and coming up with (almost!) impossible crimes. We also discuss her latest historical mystery, Death in the Aviary. Check it out!
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 34-2025: Carol VanDenHende
This week on The Story Blender I talk with award-winning author Carol VanDenHende about the extraordinary and unexpected power of letter writing. We dive into how stories can bridge differences, the freedom that comes from accepting that you are enough, what 5-year-olds can teach us about narrative theory, and how to use stories as a force for good. Give it a listen, and check out her Orchid trilogy for some powerful, poignant novels.
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 33-2025: Brent Weeks
This week on The Story Blender podcast I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brent Weeks—New York Times bestselling author of The Night Angel Trilogy and The Lightbringer Series.
We talked about building complex worlds that feel alive, the discipline it takes to write sweeping multi-book sagas, and how he balances the demands of storytelling with the surprises his characters throw at him along the way. We also discussed the importance of being a whole person while still giving your all to the stories you tell.
If you’ve ever wondered how to weave together epic-scope storytelling with intimate character moments—or what it takes to sustain a fantasy series over years—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.
Just curious what’s your favorite epic fantasy world you’ve gotten lost in?
Transcription available on request.
Ep. 32-2025: Kathleen Antrim & D.P. Lyle
This week on The Story Blender, I caught up with bestselling authors Kathleen Antrim & D.P. Lyle at Killer Nashville, one of the country’s premier crime-writing conferences.
We chat about crime writing, mysteries, thrillers, and twists. Both of them have taught writing seminars throughout the country and founded Outliers University, an online school for anyone serious about improving their writing craft. Check it out.
Transcription available on request.