James Stuart Kinsey: Crime Scenes to Fantasy Kingdoms

James Stuart Kinsey: Crime Scenes to Fantasy Kingdoms

What happens when thirty-two years of walking into crime scenes collides with a lifelong love of Tolkien, Zelazny, and Edgar Rice Burroughs? You get James Stuart Kinsey — retired forensics investigator, Navy submariner, and the world-builder behind the Gifts of Olmith fantasy series. In this 58th episode of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, host Mookie Spitz sits down with Kinsey to unpack the sprawling world he's spent years constructing: a heroic-fantasy setting populated by humans, elves, and dwarves, anchored by his debut novel Strand of Hope and expanding through companion short fiction like The Emperor's Bath. They trace Kinsey's literary DNA back to a small Texas town with a population of 100, a childhood spent devouring Burroughs' Tarzan and John Carter novels, and the fateful day a high school teacher handed him a copy of The Hobbit — the book that cracked his imagination wide open. But the real heart of the conversation is what Kinsey brings to fantasy that most world-builders can't: three decades on the front lines of crime scene investigation. He and Mookie dig into how confronting the darkest corners of human behavior — and choosing to see even the worst offenders as people who made bad choices — shaped the moral complexity, empathy, and psychological depth in his characters. It's a conversation about how fiction becomes a container for hard-won truths, why fantasy functions as an escape valve for people who've seen too much, and why "the mighty fall and are replaced" isn't just a plot beat but a worldview. Along the way: the influence of Michael Moorcock and Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber on multiverse storytelling, the self-publishing calculus for authors who don't want to wait, the case for human-authored fiction in an AI-saturated market, and why Kinsey's real audience is seven grandkids who'll someday say "my granddad wrote this." Join James and Mookie for a heartfelt conversation about world-building, mortality, memory, and why the best fantasy is built on things that actually happened. The Guest James Stuart Kinsey writes muscular fantasy with a heart. His heroic tales of courage, sacrifice, and hope leave room for wit, warmth, and quieter moments of wonder. Drawing on a lifetime of real-world experience in military service and criminal investigation, Kinsey grounds his stories in human struggle, moral consequence, and hard-won truth, even when the tone turns lighter or more reflective. Influenced by the classic traditions of heroic fantasy, his work blends visceral action with emotional depth, valuing honor over nihilism and meaning over empty spectacle. Whether epic or intimate, Kinsey crafts fantasy meant to entertain, resonate, and linger with the reader. HIs Work https://www.bloodandlightmedia.com/ [https://www.bloodandlightmedia.com/] Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Jef & Mindy on the Liberating Power of Comedy, Creativity, and The Ridiculous

What if the biggest obstacle to living a more creative, fulfilled life isn't talent or opportunity—but the fear of looking ridiculous? Mookie sits down with Jef & Mindy, the married co-creators of The Ridiculous, to explore a science-fiction comedy universe that grew out of an unexpected place: the competitive fitness industry. After spending decades helping people transform their bodies, they came to an uncomfortable realization. Looking better didn't necessarily make people happier. Confidence built on appearance alone often collapsed under pressure, leaving the deeper questions of identity, purpose, and fulfillment unanswered. That realization sent them in an entirely different direction. Instead of writing another self-help book, they built The Ridiculous: a fast-moving science-fiction comedy inspired by the spirit of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but with a fundamentally different destination. Rather than using absurdity to argue that nothing matters, The Ridiculous uses absurdity to remind readers that they're free to try, fail, laugh, create, and grow. What emerges during the conversation is something far more ambitious than a trilogy of novels. Jef & Mindy are telling a story and building an ecosystem around it. The books are only the starting point. Readers can participate in community experiments, contribute artwork, audition for audiobook roles, compose original music, submit stories, collaborate with other creators, and help shape future installments of the franchise. Instead of drawing a hard line between creator and audience, they're intentionally dissolving it. Underlying the entire project is a patented behavioral framework they call the Value Reinforcement System. Rather than rewarding people for perfection, it encourages participation, experimentation, and personal growth. Members are invited to complete real-world challenges, share their experiences online, inspire others to do the same, and receive recognition through a growing community built around positive reinforcement. The goal goes beyond simply entertaining people for a few hours, and also creates an environment that nudges them toward becoming more curious, creative, connected, and confident. Mookie and his guests also discuss how The Ridiculous extends beyond books into what could become an animated series, graphic novels, games, streaming content, live events, and an expanding creative platform. Instead of following the traditional publishing model—write a book, sell a book, repeat—Jef & Mindy are embracing a participatory model where readers become collaborators, collaborators become contributors, and contributors help shape the evolution of the universe itself. Jef & Mindy share an optimistic philosophy wrapped inside science fiction, comedy, behavioral psychology, and collaborative storytelling. At its heart, The Ridiculous argues that growth rarely looks graceful while it's happening—and that perhaps the most ridiculous thing of all is allowing the fear of embarrassment to keep us from becoming who we're capable of being. Jef & Mindy Jef & Mindy are known for building transformation-driven communities, gamified experiences, international events, media platforms, and brand collaborations that turned participation into identity, and identity into belonging. For more than three decades, they built fitness, wellness, media, and live-event brands that brought people together around confidence, transformation, personal growth, recognition, and community. Through FAME World Tour, WNSO, Body Proud, international events, expos, speaking, publishing, television, magazines, and brand activations, they helped create movements where people did more than attend, they participated, transformed, and became part of something larger. Their work has evolved from physical transformation into emotional, mental, social, and creative transformation. The Ridiculous carries that same foundation into a books-first absurdist sci-fi comedy franchise built around laughter, perspective, participation, and possibility, where people laugh first, think deeper, and do something remarkable with it. The Ridiculous Website: www.DoRidiculous.com [http://www.doridiculous.com/]  About us: https://doridiculous.com/about-us/ [https://doridiculous.com/about-us/]  Amazon Book Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Ridiculous-comedy-curiosity-perspective-enjoying-ebook/dp/B0FK37DJ2G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/Ridiculous-comedy-curiosity-perspective-enjoying-ebook/dp/B0FK37DJ2G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0] Dean Grey, the behavioural scientist, who formed the baseline to the value reinforcement system: https://www.deangrey.org/ [https://www.deangrey.org/] Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Cedar Sanderson: Prolific Pulp Pantser

What do gardening, balloon animals, pulp fiction, Japanese manga, military science fiction, homeschooling, cover design, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and peeing basset hounds have in common? Cedar Sanderson, obviously. In this lively and often hilarious episode, Cedar joins Mookie Spitz for a sprawling conversation that begins with flowers and parenting and somehow winds its way through publishing, illustration, pulp fiction, education, storytelling, creativity, and the peculiar neuroses that drive writers to spend years inventing people who don't exist. Cedar shares her winding journey from entertainer, face painter, and balloon twister to scientist, entrepreneur, illustrator, publisher, and prolific author. Along the way, she explains why kids are the toughest audience on Earth, how writing a story for her daughter launched her fiction career, and why characters often refuse to follow their author's instructions. The conversation quickly enters the kind of nerdy territory both participants clearly enjoy. Mookie and Cedar debate pantsing versus plotting, discuss the strange alchemy of creativity, and compare notes on the ways writers trick themselves into actually finishing books. Cedar talks about her fascination with pulp fiction and classic adventure storytelling, while Mookie defends his self-imposed obsession with writing entire novels in rigid three-line blocks like some sort of literary Lego set assembled by an ADHD mad scientist. They also tackle bigger questions. Has modern publishing become too safe? Why do so many contemporary books feel interchangeable? Are readers being fed diluted versions of stories that were once richer, stranger, and more ambitious? Cedar argues that many writers no longer read deeply enough, while Mookie ironically wonders whether entire genres have become victims of their own formulas. The discussion veers into cover design, independent publishing, doing one's own art, storytelling in video games, the collapse of critical thinking, the value of constraints in creative work, and why writing "important messages" into fiction usually produces unreadable garbage. Somewhere in the middle, they also manage to talk about Cedar's books. She discusses her most popular Pixie Noir, newly released fantasy detective novella Child of Crows and the origins of Tanager's Fledglings, a surprisingly intimate science fiction adventure that begins with a young man, a starship, and a basset hound demonstrating a stubborn refusal to be housebroken on a starship.  Part writing workshop, part publishing insider discussion, part cultural critique, and part two smartasses wandering down fascinating rabbit holes, this episode is a reminder that today's storytelling is too often faked by formulas, focus groups, and committees. the good stuff instead created by curious people willing to follow strange ideas wherever they lead. And occasionally by people who spend twenty years collecting pulp novels and arguing about paragraph lengths. The Guest Cedar Sanderson is a multifaceted creator whose work spans both the literary and visual arts. She is celebrated for her engaging storytelling and her ability to captivate audiences with her vibrant imagery and thoughtful narratives. Her work not only entertains but also invites readers and viewers into worlds where science meets magic, and the mundane becomes extraordinary.  Her books, such as "Pixie Noir" and "Tanager’s Fledglings," showcase her unique blend of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery, often infused with a touch of humor and deep human insight. Her art, varying from traditional sumi-e painting to digital creations, reflects a love for both the whimsical and the scientific, with influences from her passion for history, infectious disease, and food anthropology. Known for her eclectic career that includes roles as diverse as balloon twister, face painter, and scientist, Cedar has channeled her wide range of experiences into her writing and art. Her Books Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B006WFPHO6/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=791bea51-daf6-4774-b8a4-5bd37d025620&ccs_id=a99405c7-1870-452d-9e0c-570c30b8569c] Her Website https://www.cedarwrites.com/ [https://www.cedarwrites.com/] Her Substack https://cedarlila.substack.com/ [https://cedarlila.substack.com/] Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Debbie Bishop on Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Never Waiting for Permission

Stepping into the 55th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Debbie Bishop has spent decades doing what most creators only talk about doing: building her own path. Author, comic book creator, publisher, entrepreneur, marketer, filmmaker, podcaster, and now AI-powered platform builder, Debbie joins Mookie for a wide-ranging conversation that spans fantasy fiction, Hollywood, independent publishing, emerging technology, and the future of creativity itself. The discussion begins with Debbie's new novel, Pillywiggin Awakening, a dark fantasy adventure that blends magic, technology, history, and human resilience into a story designed for readers who love immersive worlds and larger-than-life heroes. From there, the conversation expands into Debbie's remarkable career, from acting and entertainment marketing to publishing comic books, launching companies, working with legendary figures like Ray Harryhausen, and developing intellectual property across multiple mediums. Along the way, Debbie shares stories about creating comics decades ahead of technological trends, researching ancient civilizations and Atlantis, predicting AI-driven futures in her fiction, and collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment and consumer products. She also discusses her latest venture, CreatorStage.show, an ambitious new platform designed to help independent creators take control of their audiences, content, and revenue streams in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape. Mookie and Debbie dive deep into artificial intelligence, the promise and limitations of large language models, the future of data centers, creator economics, entrepreneurship, publishing, networking, and why human creativity still matters in an age of algorithms. They explore the tension between technological progress and personal sovereignty, debate whether AI will empower or marginalize creators, and examine how science fiction often serves as a surprisingly accurate preview of tomorrow's headlines. At its heart, their conversation is about self-determination. Debbie's philosophy is simple: if the system won't give you an opportunity, build your own. Whether you're a writer, artist, entrepreneur, filmmaker, or anyone trying to create something meaningful in a noisy world, her journey offers equal parts inspiration, practical wisdom, and hard-earned perspective. Debbie Bishop proves that creativity goes beyond imagination to include persistence, adaptability, and having the courage to create your own future. The Guest Award-winning author Debbie Bishop is a multi-genre storyteller, creative director, entertainment executive, and CEO of Angelgate Entertainment. Her newest book, “PILLYWIGGIN Awakening: The Complete Story Arc (Books 1–2),” is an epic fantasy adventure about hidden fae, imprisoned boys facing impossible odds, and the courage it takes to awaken, survive, and become your own hero. Rooted in her lifelong interest in fantasy, metaphysics, technology, and cinematic storytelling, Bishop’s work explores the power people discover when they stop waiting to be rescued. With nearly three decades in entertainment, Bishop has built five companies and worked with major studios including Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal. A former model and actress who moved behind the camera, she became a creative strategist whose digital campaigns have generated more than 2 billion views for the music industry.  Today, Bishop continues to expand her universe through new media, author-focused programming, and conversations about the future of technology. She recently hosted the AI & Human Roundtable podcast series, leads another storyteller-driven series, and is preparing to showcase original content and amplify creative voices. Find Her https://www.instagram.com/debbiebishop [https://www.instagram.com/debbiebishop] https://creatorstage.show/about-pillywiggin-awakening [https://creatorstage.show/about-pillywiggin-awakening] https://www.debbiebishop.com/ [https://www.debbiebishop.com/] https://www.youtube.com/@by.storytellers [https://www.youtube.com/@by.storytellers] Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Leanna Renee Hieber: Gothic Storyteller and Haunted History Tour Guide

The 54th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory has Mookie talking ghosts, gothic fiction, generational trauma, creativity, labor politics, and the thin membrane between the living and the dead with acclaimed author, actress, and haunted history guide Leanna Renee Hieber. Leanna’s work lives in the shadowy crossroads between gaslamp fantasy, horror, romance, historical fiction, paranormal mystery, and social commentary — which means trying to pin her to a single genre is like trying to handcuff fog. From Victorian ghost precincts and spectral detectives to haunted mansions, robber barons, labor uprisings, and vengeance-driven spirits, her fiction blends lush gothic atmosphere with sharp cultural critique and a wicked sense of humor. The conversation quickly spirals beyond ghost stories and into Leanna's lifelong fascination with the paranormal, childhood experiences she still cannot rationally explain, and why she believes science and the supernatural are not mutually exclusive. Drawing from her work leading haunted tours through New York City, she explains how certain places seem charged by tragedy, memory, suffering, and emotional residue: from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to the lingering psychic weight of old brownstones, forgotten streets, and hidden atrocities. Mookie adds his own uncanny experiences: seeing his father’s ghost after death, sensing overwhelming energy inside Dachau, and living through bizarre moments in a Park Slope brownstone that felt less like coincidence and more like reality itself tearing at the seams. Together, they explore the provocative possibility that consciousness, memory, grief, and history may operate on levels modern society doesn't understand. Going beyond paranormal speculation, they offer an unapologetic defense for storytelling with boldness and bravado. Leanna breaks down her evolution from actress and theater performer to bestselling gothic novelist, discussing how she balances performance, prose, narration, and historical research while building a career that refuses to fit neatly into publishing categories. She talks about the challenge and liberation of writing “five genres in a trench coat,” embracing gothic excess, and refusing to flatten her voice into something market-safe. The discussion also turns into a broader critique of modern fiction culture itself: workshop orthodoxy, “show don’t tell” dogma, hyper-cinematic prose, sanitized storytelling, and the growing fear many writers seem to have of directly expressing ideas, values, or moral outrage through narrative. Mookie argues modern genre fiction has become over-engineered and emotionally declawed, while Leanna explains how gothic fiction has always used atmosphere, metaphor, horror, and heightened emotion to smuggle dangerous truths into the reader’s bloodstream. Part ghost story, philosophical debate, art gothic literary salon, and rant against modern creative conformity, join Leanna and Mookie for one of the strangest, smartest, and most emotionally layered conversations you'll hear on either side of the veil.  The Guest Leanna Renee Hieber is a professional actress, playwright, ghost tour guide and an award-winning, bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction for Tor, Union Square & Co. and Kensington Books. A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America’s Ghosts, co-authored with Andrea Janes, was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction and their follow-up, America’s Most Gothic: Haunted History Stranger than Fiction, was an Instant USA Today Bestseller and is also a Bram Stoker Award nominee. Her Gothic novel Ravenfield Hall is forthcoming early 2027 from Union Square & Co / Hachette. A 4-time Prism award winner, three of which went to her Gothic Strangely Beautiful saga and a Daphne du Maurier finalist for Darker Still, Leanna’s novels have received translations into multiple languages and her short stories have been featured in notable anthologies such as Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells while her non-fiction essays have appeared in Apex Magazine, The Deadlands, Haunted Magazine and more. A guide with New York’s Boroughs of the Dead, founded by Andrea Janes, Leanna also tours one-woman shows she has crafted from historic texts starring interesting figures in women’s history. Featured in film and television on shows like Mysteries at the Museum and Beyond the Unknown discussing Victorian Spiritualism, Leanna lives in New York and lectures around the country on Gothic and paranormal themes as they intersect with women’s history. Her Work Website: https://leannareneehieber.com [https://leannareneehieber.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/leannareneehieber [https://instagram.com/leannareneehieber] FB: https://facebook.com/lrhieber [https://facebook.com/lrhieber] Etsy: https://torchandarrow.etsy.com [https://torchandarrow.etsy.com/]   Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]