Episode 37: Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2 - The Return of Gabrielle Wanek - Author Interview

Episode 37: Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2 - The Return of Gabrielle Wanek - Author Interview

A fantasy saga that was supposed to be three books somehow grows into ten, and it’s not because the author can’t let go, it’s because the world keeps demanding the parts that make it feel true. We’re joined by returning guest Gabrielle Wanick to celebrate the upcoming release of The Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2 (July 14), and to get very honest about what it takes to plan long-form epic fantasy without collapsing under plot holes, pacing problems, or abandoned threads.  Then we go behind the curtain on the production side of modern publishing: why the audiobook happened sooner than planned, how you sort through a massive list of narrator auditions, and what it feels like when a performer like Melissa Redmond adds a new layer of creativity to your text. We also get into revision realities, including cutting chapters, redistributing key scenes, and rewriting major parts of the series when a character no longer works. Add in myth-inspired worldbuilding, a runic magic system that functions like technology, and cover art by Zelda Devon with hidden spoiler details, and you’ve got plenty to chew on.  Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ [https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665] Gabrielle Wanek, author Songs of Ash And Dawn Sign up for three free chapters of Book1 and 2: www.songsofashanddawn.com [http://www.songsofashanddawn.com/] Melissa Redmond - Narrator of Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 1 [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Melissa+Redmond&i=audible&ref=dp_byline_sr_audible_2] Music  Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 36: Drew Harrison - Author Interviews

I’m joined by Drew Harrison, author of Men Of The Mountain, to talk about how his background in journalism shaped his fiction, why he researches details most readers will never double-check, and how sci fi can act like a warning system when technology moves faster than our culture can adapt.  We get into craft and influence in a practical way: how reading Stephen King, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe Abercrombie left fingerprints on Drew’s style, why first-person narration can shrink the distance between reader and character, and how he builds authenticity by keeping his protagonists human, insecure, and pressured by responsibility. Drew also explains why Men Of The Mountain starts with one genre flavor and then reveals a deeper sci fi core, using the clash between tribal life and advanced technology to make familiar concepts feel uncanny again.  Then we zoom out to cyberpunk themes that are suddenly not-so-fictional: AI manipulation, misinformation, and the creeping sense that we’re building systems we don’t fully understand. Drew argues bleak worlds need optimism to stay readable, and that hope is what turns dystopian storytelling into something more than despair. We also talk audiobooks: the joy of hearing a narrator bring lines to life, the challenge of letting go of control, and the best advice for authors who want to adapt their books to audio.  If you enjoy author interviews, science fiction writing, cyberpunk ideas, and grounded worldbuilding, subscribe, share this with a reader friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. 'Men of The Mountain' Early Review Signups:  https://forms.gle/dBNywczwCG72HXt9A [https://forms.gle/dBNywczwCG72HXt9A] Drew Harrison's Links:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Drew-Harrison/author/B09PJWGGF2?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Drew-Harrison/author/B09PJWGGF2?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true] https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22160775.Drew_Harrison [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22160775.Drew_Harrison] https://drewharrisonbooks.wixsite.com/home [https://drewharrisonbooks.wixsite.com/home] Sip Java Co, where much of MotM was written: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wKgL7y6tqvFXz3mg6 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/wKgL7y6tqvFXz3mg6] Well's Coffee, which does the on-site roasting: https://maps.app.goo.gl/c1VYu9isiD3YYvsJA [https://maps.app.goo.gl/c1VYu9isiD3YYvsJA] Drew's Events:  Read it Write it, June 20: https://www.facebook.com/ReadItWriteBookFestival/ [https://www.facebook.com/ReadItWriteBookFestival/] Shelf Life Space, June 27:  https://www.instagram.com/shelflifespace/ [https://www.instagram.com/shelflifespace/] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 35: 'Warforged' - R.C.Hannah

Today we share a full chapter from the 'Warforged' Audio book, written by R.C. Hannah, and performed by me! We follow the story of a plucky human fighter pilot named Crash, as he and the Black Geese Squadron are dropped from Faster Than Light travel into the frying pan.  Thanks for checking out the episode! If you liked it, please consider purchasing the full audiobook on audible; it helps both R.C. and me! Audible link:  https://www.audible.com/pd/Warforged-Audiobook/B0GP3D5CHC?srsltid=AfmBOopaiGnbvWL5YNDDBL5MGI9iRl-r1c5IB75j_WIDTwuky5PP6Wwk [https://www.audible.com/pd/Warforged-Audiobook/B0GP3D5CHC?srsltid=AfmBOopaiGnbvWL5YNDDBL5MGI9iRl-r1c5IB75j_WIDTwuky5PP6Wwk] R.C. Hannah's Links:  https://www.rchannah.com/ [https://www.rchannah.com/] https://www.instagram.com/r.c.hannah/ [https://www.instagram.com/r.c.hannah/] Death and Red Trilliums:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213913099-death-red-trilliums [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213913099-death-red-trilliums] Stranded Season 9: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248241938-stranded [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248241938-stranded] Content Warnings:  Mild Language Space Violence Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 34: R.C. Hannah - Author Interviews

A goat-eyed spacefaring civilization, an unexpectedly lovable AI orb, and a romance that never asks you to wade through spice just to get to the heart of the story. That’s the energy we bring to this chat with Canada-based sci-fi and fantasy author R.C. Hannah as we celebrate the Warforged audiobook release and dig into what makes plot-first LGBTQ romance so satisfying when it’s done with care.  We also get real about the indie publishing side, including cover art and the growing problem of undisclosed AI art. R.C. shares a simple safeguard for authors: ask for step-by-step progress so you can see the work evolve. You’ll also hear what’s next for him, where to find his books and socials, and a fun final question that ends with a very specific fictional treat. Subscribe, share the show with a reader who loves LGBTQ sci-fi and fantasy, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Warforged: Audiobook on Audible [https://www.audible.com/pd/Warforged-Audiobook/B0GP3D5CHC?srsltid=AfmBOopaiGnbvWL5YNDDBL5MGI9iRl-r1c5IB75j_WIDTwuky5PP6Wwk] GoodReads: [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233252371-warforged] Death and Red Trilliums:  Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213913099-death-red-trilliums] Stranded Season 9:  Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248241938-stranded] R.C.’s Links:  https://www.rchannah.com/ [https://www.rchannah.com/] https://www.instagram.com/r.c.hannah/ [https://www.instagram.com/r.c.hannah/] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 33: The Men of the Mountain - Drew Harrison

Today's episode is a chapter read from Drew Harrison's The Men of the Mountain, a sci-fi/fantasy novel released March 2026, and will be released as an audiobook in the next month or so. Please enjoy this chapter, and please consider signing up below to be an early reviewer for The Men of the Mountain Audiobook.  Content Warnings:  No Content Warnings for this Episode Early Review Signups:  https://forms.gle/dBNywczwCG72HXt9A [https://forms.gle/dBNywczwCG72HXt9A] Drew Harrison's Links:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Drew-Harrison/author/B09PJWGGF2?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Drew-Harrison/author/B09PJWGGF2?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true] https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22160775.Drew_Harrison [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22160775.Drew_Harrison] https://drewharrisonbooks.wixsite.com/home [https://drewharrisonbooks.wixsite.com/home] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]