The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Evelyn Ash

The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Evelyn Ash

What if the fae aren't the sparkling, helpful creatures we were promised in fairytales? This week, we are sitting down with the brilliant Evelyn to dissect her stunning debut novel, which pulls back the curtain on the darker side of folklore. As a fellow South African author, it was an absolute joy to connect with Evelyn over our shared roots, the calling of gothic romance, and the deeply personal pieces of ourselves we leave on the page. In This Episode, We Explore: * The Call of the Gothic Romance: Why Evelyn was drawn to the moody, atmospheric, and romantic world of gothic fiction for her very first book. * Mental Health & the Manuscript: A vulnerable conversation about how Evelyn’s personal mental health journey is reflected in her characters and narrative arcs. * Separating Faith from Fiction: How Evelyn navigates the boundary between her personal religious beliefs and the dark, magical stories she chooses to tell. * Empowered Women in Dark Places: A look at Evelyn's dedication to centering female empowerment within her storytelling, even when the world around her characters is grim. * The "Parents Don't Need to Know" Club: A relatable laugh about the things we write as adults that we still hope our parents never read. * Paving the Way with Content Warnings: Why content warnings are essential tools for managing reader expectations, not spoilers. We discuss how indie authors are leading the charge on this while traditional publishing lags behind. * The AI Threat to Creativity: A serious discussion on why artificial intelligence doesn't belong in creative spaces and the very real concerns indie authors face regarding the future of the industry. * Content Warnings: This episode includes minor discussions about grief, loss, the loss of a child, and suicide. * Spoiler Alert: We discuss major plot points for Verity by Colleen Hoover. Skip ahead if you haven't read it yet!

The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: R.Lynn Hanks

This week, we are sitting down with R. Lynn Hanks to discuss her debut novel, Gamma Raids, a friends-to-lovers romance set at a high-stakes space academy. If you think sci-fi is all cold tech and complex physics, think again. R. Lynn Hanks is here to introduce us to a whole new world of fiction, and remind us that Sci-fi can be sexy too. In This Episode, We Discuss: * The Rise of "RomantiSCI": She breaks down this exciting subgenre and explains why sci-fi doesn't have to be intimidating. (Pro-tip: If you can understand a magical fantasy system, you can easily understand a sci-fi world!) * Defending the Friends-to-Lovers Trope: Why has this classic trope faced a surge of hate recently? We unpack the awkward, high-stakes reality of risking a lifelong friendship for a shot at love, and why that emotional foundation is actually the ultimate relationship goal. * The Romance Spectrum: From the modern spicy pages of RomantiSCI back to the Jane Austen era—where a single, bare-handed touch was enough to cause a scandal. * Trope Fatigue vs. Real Connection: A much-needed reminder for authors to go back to creating content that helps readers connect with the heart of the story, rather than just listing marketing checkboxes. * Navigating the Industry: R. Lynn shares her brief stint with the querying trenches, how she realized the indie path was the perfect fit, and how she decided between the YA (Young Adult) and NA (New Adult) categories. * The Brutal Reality of Reviews: Managing expectations in the reader review space. While reader feedback is always valid, we discuss the reality that an author isn't going to rewrite a book that is already out in the world. * Crafting the Best Manuscript: The invaluable role of a trusted publishing team, how to work with sensitivity readers when resources seem scarce, and why finding your unique author community is the ultimate lifeline.

The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Kara Reynolds

What happens when the characters you created start making their own decisions? According to Kara, you basically just have to buckle up and enjoy the ride. She gets real about the "learn as you go" approach to publishing. Whether you’re an unpublished author or a dedicated reader, this conversation is a refreshing reminder that there is no single "right" way to build a creative life. Highlights from the Episode: * The "No Plan" Plan: We bond over our shared experience of jumping into the publishing world without a map and learning the hard way that sometimes, "doing" is the best form of research. * Reclaiming Your Journey: Breaking the unspoken rules of the industry. Kara reminds us that as authors, we hold the reins—you don’t have to follow a traditional path if it doesn't serve you. * Battling the Algorithm: Why it might be time to stop trying to "crack the code" and just start having fun again. * The "Romantasy" vs. "Romantic Fantasy" Debate: Kara explains why she’s careful with her marketing and the importance of being honest with readers about what’s actually between the covers. * The Road to Audio: Kara talks us through her journey into audiobook production and reveals a few "wishlist" narrators we’re all crossing our fingers for. * The Era of Delusion: Why we’re both leaning into big, "delusional" goals and reframing what success looks like outside of normal conventions.

The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Nicole Platania

If you live for deep lore, ancient mythology, and a heavy side of romance, you’ve likely already found a home in Nicole’s work. Nicole isn’t just writing books—she’s building an entire interconnected universe. In this episode, we chat about the heavy lifting required to construct a fantasy realm and how to protect your creativity in a world of instant feedback. Key Discussion Points: * The Architecture of Myth: Nicole shares her obsession with mythology and the intricate process of building a world where every series is interconnected. * Why "Romantasy"?: We dive into why Nicole chooses the romantic fantasy subgenre as her primary vehicle for storytelling. * The "Book Two" Pressure: The psychological hurdle of writing sequels when readers have already built their own theories. How do you stay true to your vision without psyching yourself out? * The Shadowhunter Influence: We nerd out over Cassandra Clare and how the Shadowhunters universe set the gold standard for expansive, interconnected series for both of us. * The Negativity Bias: Why the human brain is hardwired to fixate on one scathing review while ignoring fifty five-star ratings, and how Nicole manages the noise. * Sustainability & Boundaries: In an era of unprecedented author accessibility, Nicole explains why setting hard boundaries isn't just a choice—it's a requirement for mental health and a long-term writing career.

The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Bodysamantix

For so many of us, books have changed our life, and for Sam it’s no different. She spotted a unique oppurtunity and was able to bridge the gap between physical movement and the literary world. She didn’t just want to stay active; she wanted to make it fun. So, she took her passion for books and turned it into a business that keeps readers moving. * From Black Belts to Bookish Business: How Sam applies the discipline and "never-quit" mindset from her Karate days to the world of entrepreneurship. * The ACOTAR Effect: We discuss how Sarah J. Maas’s series serves as a gateway for so many of us, and briefly touch on that iconic Call Her Daddy interview. * Books as Connection: Reflecting on how 2020 shifted our worldview and why we are all still searching for the community and connection that only a good book can provide. * The Magic of Audiobooks: A look behind the curtain at the production process and the talented narrators who bring our favorite characters to life. * Mindf*cks and Superheroes: Why we both share a deep love for the Mindfck* series and the surprising parallels we found in The Boys TV series. * Content Warning: This episode contains a brief mention of eating disorders (ED). * Spoiler Alert: We discuss plot points for The Boys TV series. Listen with caution if you aren't caught up! In This Episode, We Explore:⚠️ Content & Spoiler Warnings