The Once & Future Podcast

Wherein I talk with legendary anthology editor Ellen Datlow about editing, the marketplace, tropes, why you should join a writing organization, women in horror fiction, Omni Magazine, and the importance of William Gibson in both our lives. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and fantasy author Jonathan Maberry about switching coasts, The Walking Dead, writing for Marvel, finally doing his own comics line, his various creeptastic series of novels for both adults and young adults, including his latest Joe Ledger novel, Predator One. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with fantasy author Peter V. Brett about The Skull Throne, the latest book in his Demon Cycle series, writing, comics, and Dungeons & Dragons.. then we fight to the death for the title PROFESSIONAL NERD… as you do. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with author Cherie Priest about Lizzie Borden taking on Lovecraftian monsters in a Dracula-ish fashion, how she challenged the steampunkers by daring to set a series in America (and with zombies to boot!), writing for a video game, and overall horror/fantasy writerly goodness. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with fantasy author Sam Sykes about his latest book The City Stained Red, his cursed youth, twisting tropes and using humor in traditional genre fiction, 200-page battle scenes, tinker gnomes, our different approaches to writing, and games!

Wherein I talk with author Marjorie Liu about urban fantasy, paranormal romance, writing for Marvel on a metric ton of X-Men titles, and her upcoming creator-owned series with Image. Plus how an East Asian Languages and Cultures/Biomedical Ethics student became a lawyer/writer! Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with military fantasy author Myke Cole about Doctor Who, how military life is a perfect writer’s boot camp, using misery as a writing tool, creating magic systems, fantastic writing advice, why Captain America is his hero, and of course trigger discipline.

Wherein I talk with zombie combat expert Roger Ma about how everyone talks about a zombie survival, how I would most definitely die, what TV shows and movies get right and wrong, and basically everything you need to know to survive your next undead encounter…plus coloring and activities to help you prepare!

Wherein I talk with paranormal romance author Larissa Ione about the highs and lows of conventions, life as a USA Today and New York Times bestseller writer of the Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series, writing and her heavy fantasy roots, love of Star Trek and the fact that we should be besties.

A BONUS CHRISTMAS EPISODE THAT WAS A HOLIDAY MIRACLE IN THE MAKING! Despite many obstacles, this week I talk with Queen on the Urban Fantasy Throne Laurell K. Hamilton about her long career in a genre she helped to create (after hundreds of rejections) including her Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and Mary Gentry series. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

Wherein I talk with Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum actress/author/director Amber Benson (pictured above with your host of hosts) about her new book The Witches of Echo Park, the ups and downs of the writing life, directing, fandom, and tentacle porn… far too much tentacle porn.

Wherin I turn cussmaster author Chuck Wending into my personal writing therapist and we discuss the ins and outs of writing, his career, tradition AND self publishing, and general nerdery. Oh, and toddlers... ever the toddlers.

A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE wherein I discuss Patrick Rothfuss’ Worldbuilders charity and what you can do to be a part of the awesomeness that is Heifer International, including an interview from the early years of Worldbuilders. Sponsor: Smirk & Dagger Games. Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast over on iTunes, Rate it and please tell your friends about us. It really does help.

A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE wherein The Once & Future Podcast forms a recording Voltron with fellow podcasters/writers Brad Beaulieu and Greg Wilson of Speculate and Patrick Hester of SF Signal. We cover everything from podcasting to writing and everything in between! Our show likes to think of itself as the lion torso of this awesomeness!

Wherein I talk with the King of Urban Fantasy Jim Butcher about Gen Con, the Dresden Files, why he writes, planning out a 23 book series, author bucket lists, fandom, writing steampunk, how he writes, D&D, and we answer a butt ton of fan questions!