Brick Cave Turns 20! Summer Reading, Hugo Nominees, and History Lessons from Henry VIII (Part 3 of 4)

Brick Cave Turns 20! Writing Projects, Worldcon, and What's Next for Brick Cave Media (Part 4 of 4)

Part 4 concludes this special Brick Cave Media Podcast conversation with hosts Sharon Skinner and Bruce Davislooking ahead to future writing projects, author events, and community appearances. Bruce shares updates on his current work-in-progress, Windfall Profit, discussing how darker noir influences have shaped the story and hinting at major developments for several familiar characters. He also talks about contributing short stories for Brick Cave Media's 20th Anniversary celebration and the challenge of balancing deadlines with new creative ideas. Sharon discusses her own writing progress following a productive trip to Prescott Valley and reflects on the value of dedicated writing time for moving projects forward. The hosts also preview several upcoming events, including: * Books & Barbecue at Bookmaze * The Mall Crawl Book Fair * Worldcon 2026 in Anaheim, California * Bruce's anticipated "Murder and Mayhem" presentation * Library Writer-in-Residence opportunities * Future educational workshops for writers and readers A discussion of Bruce's popular crime, science, and investigative presentations highlights the value of real-world expertise in helping authors create believable stories. Sharon shares how lessons from one of Bruce's recent presentations directly helped her provide stronger editorial feedback to a writer she was coaching. The episode wraps up with a look toward future creative projects, including possible new stories in the Magic Law universe, the challenges of writing magical children and twins, and the continued growth of Brick Cave Media's literary community. Key Topics * Windfall Profit * Writing Process * Short Story Writing * Brick Cave 20th Anniversary * Worldcon 2026 * Books & Barbecue * Mall Crawl Book Fair * Writer in Residence Programs * Author Events * Writing Workshops * Crime and Forensics Research * Independent Publishing About Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is the author of numerous books and a number of short stories, including the Tavara Tinker Series. Her most recent title, The Exile's Gift, is available now from Brick Cave Media. She is online at https://sharonskinner.com or https://bookcoachingbysharon.com About Bruce Davis Bruce Davis is the author of many books and several short pieces of fiction. He writes science fiction, fantasy and non fiction. His most recent title, Silver Magic, is currently available from Brick Cave Media. He is online at https://brucecdavis.com About Brick Cave Media® Brick Cave Media is a 21st century book publisher blending traditional publishing acumen with tried and true relationship building to create books that are professionally crafted, fun to read, and impactful to our communities. Books and stories are available online at https://brickcave.media The Brick Cave Membership Community is called the BC Book Club, and you can join at http://bcbookclub.com. Promotional Links Links to books referenced in the Podcast may provide commissions to Brick Cave Media. So if you hear about a book, and want to support the podcast, buy it via the enclosed links.

Brick Cave Turns 20! Summer Reading, Hugo Nominees, and History Lessons from Henry VIII (Part 3 of 4)

The Brick Cave Reading Challenge continues as hosts Sharon Skinner and Bruce Davis trade book recommendations and discuss what they've been reading lately. Sharon reflects on several recent reads, including the middle-grade historical novel Where Only Storms Grow, which explores life during the Dust Bowl through the eyes of twins navigating both personal and environmental challenges. She also discusses Sisters in the Wind, a mystery steeped in Native culture that expands on characters and themes introduced in Firekeeper's Daughter. The hosts then issue a new Reading Challenge: * Bruce recommends Snake Eater, a contemporary fantasy rooted in Arizona landscapes, Native mythology, and personal growth. * Sharon recommends Shallow Graves by Richard "Ray" Fysh, a nonfiction exploration of forensic investigations and major criminal cases in the United Kingdom. Bruce also shares his experience reading The King's Pleasure, a deep dive into the court of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The discussion explores Tudor politics, the evolution of state government, royal extravagance, and modern theories about Henry VIII's physical and psychological decline. The episode concludes with a conversation about children's literature, including the wordless picture book trilogy Journey, Quest, and Return, as well as the humorous Bruce the Bear books, before turning toward summer reading plans and Hugo Award nominees. Key Topics * Brick Cave Reading Challenge * T. Kingfisher * Snake Eater * Historical Nonfiction * Forensic Science * Tudor England * Henry VIII * Hugo Award Nominees * Children's Literature * Picture Books * Summer Reading * Book Recommendations About Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is the author of numerous books and a number of short stories, including the Tavara Tinker Series. Her most recent title, The Exile's Gift, is available now from Brick Cave Media. She is online at https://sharonskinner.com or https://bookcoachingbysharon.com About Bruce Davis Bruce Davis is the author of many books and several short pieces of fiction. He writes science fiction, fantasy and non fiction. His most recent title, Silver Magic, is currently available from Brick Cave Media. He is online at https://brucecdavis.com About Brick Cave Media® Brick Cave Media is a 21st century book publisher blending traditional publishing acumen with tried and true relationship building to create books that are professionally crafted, fun to read, and impactful to our communities. Books and stories are available online at https://brickcave.media The Brick Cave Membership Community is called the BC Book Club, and you can join at http://bcbookclub.com. Promotional Links Links to books referenced in the Podcast may provide commissions to Brick Cave Media. So if you hear about a book, and want to support the podcast, buy it via the enclosed links.

Brick Cave Turns 20! Shroud, Dragonfly Gambit, and The Wizard's Cat (Part 2 of 4)

The Brick Cave Reading Challenge continues as hosts Sharon Skinner and Bruce Davis take a deeper look at several recent reads and award nominees. The conversation begins with a return to The Wizard's Butler and its sequel, discussing why quiet, character-driven fantasy can be just as compelling as epic world-saving adventures. The hosts reflect on Nathan Lowell's storytelling style, relatable protagonists, and the appeal of personal-stakes narratives. Bruce then reviews Shroud, a hard science fiction survival story set on a hostile moon where communication, biology, and intelligence function in radically different ways. The discussion covers corporate dystopias, extreme environments, alien hive minds, and the challenges of first contact. Sharon shares her thoughts on The Dragonfly Gambit, examining complex characters whose motivations remain compelling even when they are not traditionally likable. She also discusses Where Only Storms Grow, a middle-grade historical novel set during the Dust Bowl that explores the experiences of families who chose to stay and endure one of America's most challenging eras. Throughout the episode, the hosts compare reading experiences across fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction while continuing their journey through this year's award nominees and reading challenge selections. Key Topics * Brick Cave Reading Challenge * Science Fiction Reviews * Cozy Fantasy * Hard Science Fiction * Adrian Tchaikovsky * Nathan Lowell * Award-Nominated Books * Alien First Contact Stories * Historical Fiction * Dust Bowl Literature * Character-Driven Fiction * Book Recommendations About Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is the author of numerous books and a number of short stories, including the Tavara Tinker Series. Her most recent title, The Exile's Gift, is available now from Brick Cave Media. She is online at https://sharonskinner.com or https://bookcoachingbysharon.com About Bruce Davis Bruce Davis is the author of many books and several short pieces of fiction. He writes science fiction, fantasy and non fiction. His most recent title, Silver Magic, is currently available from Brick Cave Media. He is online at https://brucecdavis.com About Brick Cave Media® Brick Cave Media is a 21st century book publisher blending traditional publishing acumen with tried and true relationship building to create books that are professionally crafted, fun to read, and impactful to our communities. Books and stories are available online at https://brickcave.media The Brick Cave Membership Community is called the BC Book Club, and you can join at http://bcbookclub.com. Promotional Links Links to books referenced in the Podcast may provide commissions to Brick Cave Media. So if you hear about a book, and want to support the podcast, buy it via the enclosed links.

Brick Cave Turns 20! Audiobook Updates, Call Me Creative, and the Reading Challenge (Part 1 of 4)

In Part 1 of this four-part Brick Cave Media Podcast episode, hosts Sharon Skinner and Bruce Davis kick off a conversation about one of the biggest milestones in company history—Brick Cave Media's 20th anniversary [https://brickcave.media/index.php/news-blogs/232-brick-cave-media-celebrates-20-years-of-independent-storytelling]. Topics include: * The upcoming Magic Law audiobook Kickstarter campaign * Bringing narrator Nicholas Selker back for the remaining Magic Law novels * The release of the long-awaited Call Me Creative interview series * New hardback editions of Brick Cave books * Welcoming poet Carol Edwards to the Brick Cave family * Audiobook updates for The Last Incarnation and Blood From a Rose * Anniversary celebrations and special events planned throughout the year * The Brick Cave Reading Challenge Sharon and Bruce also share their thoughts on two recent reading challenge selections: * The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest * The Wizard's Butler Join the conversation as they explore character-driven storytelling, cozy fantasy, emotional stakes, and what makes these books memorable reads. Key Topics * Brick Cave Media 20th Anniversary * Magic Law Audiobook Kickstarter * Call Me Creative Series * Audiobook Production * Independent Publishing * Reading Challenge * Fantasy Books * Cozy Fantasy * Author Discussions * Brick Cave Community About Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is the author of numerous books and a number of short stories, including the Tavara Tinker Series. Her most recent title, The Exile's Gift, is available now from Brick Cave Media. She is online at https://sharonskinner.com [https://sharonskinner.com] or https://bookcoachingbysharon.com [https://sharonskinner.com] About Bruce Davis Bruce Davis is the author of many books and several short pieces of fiction. He writes science fiction, fantasy and non fiction. His most recent title, Silver Magic, is currently available from Brick Cave Media. He is online at https://brucecdavis.com [https://brucecdavis.com] About Brick Cave Media® Brick Cave Media is a 21st century book publisher blending traditional publishing acumen with tried and true relationship building to create books that are professionally crafted, fun to read, and impactful to our communities. Books and stories are available online at https://brickcave.media [https://brickcave.media] The Brick Cave Membership Community is called the BC Book Club, and you can join at http://bcbookclub.com [http://bcbookclub.com]. Promotional Links Links to books referenced in the Podcast may provide commissions to Brick Cave Media. So if you hear about a book, and want to support the podcast, buy it via the enclosed links.

History Doesn't Repeat, But It Sure Does Rhyme, Part 3 of 3

Welcome to The Brick Cave Podcast! In this episode, Sharon and Bruce dive into recent reads and personal writing journeys. They discuss the intriguing history of psychiatry and thoughts on a recommended book, share their enthusiasm for T. Kingfisher's Nine Goblins, and swap recommendations for future reads. The conversation shifts to their own works-in-progress, the challenges and rewards of writing sequels, and the creative possibilities of graphic novels. Whether you’re here for thoughtful book discussions or a peek behind the curtain at the writing process, this episode is packed with insight, laughter, and inspiration for readers and writers alike. About Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is the author of numerous books and a number of short stories, including the Tavara Tinker Series. Her most recent title, The Exile's Gift, is available now from Brick Cave Media. She is online at https://sharonskinner.com or https://bookcoachingbysharon.com About Bruce Davis Bruce Davis is the author of many books and several short pieces of fiction. He writes science fiction, fantasy and non fiction. His most recent title, Silver Magic, is currently available from Brick Cave Media. He is online at https://brucecdavis.com About Brick Cave Media® Brick Cave Media is a 21st century book publisher blending traditional publishing acumen with tried and true relationship building to create books that are professionally crafted, fun to read, and impactful to our communities. Books and stories are available online at https://brickcave.media The Brick Cave Membership Community is called the BC Book Club, and you can join at http://bcbookclub.com. Promotional Links Links to books referenced in the Podcast may provide commissions to Brick Cave Media. So if you hear about a book, and want to support the podcast, buy it via the enclosed links.