The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory

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]

B.K. Gibson Debuts with Freedom's Vow

Ben and Karen Gibson have been quietly building an entire fantasy universe for years — not one book, not two, but an entire pipeline of stories forged through late-night collaboration, technical day jobs, parenting chaos, RPG design, and a shared obsession with speculative fiction. In the 53rd episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie chats with the married writing duo behind Freedom’s Vow, the debut novel helping to launch Selene Press into fantasy territory. Mookie encourages Ben and Karen to unpack the heartfelt and surprisingly functional mechanics of co-authoring as a married couple: outlining together, poking holes in each other’s logic, splitting scenes, revising each other’s prose, and learning how trust matters more than ego when building stories collaboratively. Along the way they talk about publishing, LibertyCon, developmental editing with Cannon’s John Holmes, the realities of indie and small press publishing, and why they intentionally waited years before activating their fiction. At the center of the discussion is Freedom’s Vow, an epic fantasy steeped in Hellenistic and Greek-inspired mythology. The novel follows Arete, a magically gifted Shepherd, and Philon, a soldier whose city was shattered by the terrifying powers wielded by her kind. Avoiding bloated lore dumps and endless spell mechanics, the Gibsons focus on character, emotional tension, and the dangerous relationship forming between two people trapped between war, slavery, fear, and destiny. Mookie digs into why the book feels more human and grounded than much of modern fantasy — and the couple reveal how readers are already demanding more time with the characters after only book one. The episode also spirals into a wildly entertaining tour through the Gibsons’ unpublished backlog: military sci-fi involving battered reservists fleeing annihilation aboard a logistics ship; underground middle-grade adventures inspired by Jules Verne; and a gloriously insane post-apocalyptic novel where America counter-invades Hell itself after demons emerge from portals at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Yes, that conversation eventually includes nuclear weapons, Tennessee militias, and “sniping the Devil in the face.” Other topics include: * Why most writers never finish a novel — and why the Gibsons kept writing anyway * The danger of vanity presses and publishing scams * Social media, AI slop, and why genuine human connection still matters * The overlap between tabletop RPG audiences and fantasy readers * Why unfinished fantasy series frustrate readers * The difference between writing for money versus writing because you have stories clawing to get out * How technical careers in chemistry and physics unexpectedly fuel their speculative fiction * Why “Southern geekery” might be its own literary expertise If you love fantasy rooted in myth, collaborative creativity, indie publishing war stories, or hearing two deeply nerdy and genuinely likable people talk shop with Mookie at full velocity, given them a listen. And if Freedom’s Vow is only the beginning, Ben and Karen Gibson may have enough stories waiting in the wings to keep readers and publishers busy for years. The Guests B.K. Gibson is the pen name for Ben and Karen Gibson, a married co-writing couple, who've turned their lifelong love of stories into worlds of imagination they delight to share with others. They live in the beautiful city of Huntsville, Alabama, working in science and engineering while raising three rambunctious and curious children. We hope you'll love joining us in the stories we tell.  Their Books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FYHSYNLF/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=c625d7ba-5011-4e23-9dbd-6d65cd418092&ccs_id=b5472c35-84cf-42a8-acd5-c7abaf889f02] Their Free Novella [https://www.bkgibson.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]

D. Scott Allen Goes Skyborne with The Aerie Protocol

Scott Allen has spent years voicing other people’s stories — grimdark warriors, space captains, assassins, at least one traumatized wizard — and now he’s finally thrown his own brain into the ring with The Aerie Protocol. So he's excited to join Mookie Spitz to talk about his flight from audiobook narrator to author, and how one stubborn sci-fi idea refused to leave him alone for years: What if there were hidden cities floating above the clouds… and humanity never noticed? What starts as a conversation about speculative fiction quickly mutates into a full-blown discussion about creativity, self-doubt, AI, storytelling, audiobook disasters, and why every indie creator is basically juggling chainsaws while pretending they have a business plan. Scott breaks down the emotional core of The Aerie Protocol: a war photographer who realizes he’s spent his entire life hiding behind the lens instead of actually participating in the world. Mookie, naturally, turns this into a philosophical rant about identity, passivity, modern life, and why some people document existence while others decide to kick the damn door open and live. The two also go deep into the absolute chaos of audiobook production. Failed multi-cast experiments. Voice actors who can’t sync emotionally. Audio levels from hell. AI narration that sounds like a sedated GPS app reading your grocery list. Scott explains why human performance still matters, why reading prose out loud exposes weak writing instantly, and why narrating your own novel is psychologically brutal when you’ve spent years safely performing other people’s work instead of exposing your own. The two also let loose a ton of real-world creative shop talk: beta readers, editing, balancing day jobs with art, talking story ideas into your phone like a lunatic at stoplights, and the modern reality that writers are now expected to also be marketers, podcasters, editors, social media goblins, and algorithm whisperers simultaneously. Give them a listen if you love science fiction, audiobooks, storytelling, creativity, or listening to two guys enthusiastically spiral into existential discussions about art and technology while occasionally bullying each other into finishing projects. And yes — Mookie repeatedly pressures Scott to stop overthinking things and record the damn audiobook already. Because if a professional narrator won’t narrate his own sci-fi novel, civilization may already be toast. The Guest Storytelling has always been part of my life, even if it hasn’t always been on the page. Over the years, I’ve written short stories and explored ideas quietly, while building a career in voiceover and audiobook narration. Bringing other people’s stories to life gave me a deeper understanding of what makes a story connect.  Now, I’m stepping into a new role as an author, sharing my own work and continuing that lifelong connection to storytelling in a new way. I hope you enjoy the work. His New Novel [https://www.amazon.com/Aerie-Protocol-Skyborne-Saga/dp/B0H1YVK38F/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p2kdhx9Bc0N4a85pBHNV1Q.A40RjcEDirLpQfTW_neoE6v6Tkr94Rg645C9uOXOHH8] His Prior Podcast [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2549048/episodes/18084607] 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]

Sam Robb Brings A Sense of Murder to Selene Press

Sam Robb steps into The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory to talk with Mookie about his new fantasy novel A Sense of Murder, the launch of Selene Press as the fantasy extension of Cannon Publishing, and how he somehow managed to bounce between Raconteur Press, pulp anthologies, military sci-fi circles, fantasy storytelling, political campaigning, and indie author chaos without losing his sanity.  Mookie is eager to hear about the rise of Sam's “Alpha Mercs” writing crew, convention culture, collaborating with illustrator Cedar Sanderson, and why the best science fiction and fantasy still lives or dies on character rather than lore dumps and endless maps of imaginary kingdoms. The conversation also veers into his libertarian background — including Sam's surreal 2020 run for president as a Libertarian candidate — and how ideas about freedom, authority, government power, and individual responsibility quietly shape his fiction without turning it into preachy propaganda. They chatter about the changing landscape of modern sci-fi and fantasy, why entertainment comes first, how indie creators are building communities outside the corporate machine, and why readers are starving for stories that trust them to think for themselves. From there they can't help but get inside sports: “pantsing” versus outlining, building believable characters, surviving the grind of indie publishing, balancing creativity with self-promotion, and the strange reality that modern authors are expected to be writers, marketers, convention hustlers, podcasters, and fan-magnets all at once. Toss in riffs on Star Trek, Andy Weir, pulp fiction storytelling, the daily grind, politics, and the joy of making weird stuff with your friends, and you get one of the most wide-ranging and unexpectedly thoughtful episodes you'll likely hear in a while.  The Guest Sam Robb grew up in Pittsburgh preferring books to football — a choice that, in hindsight, explains a lot. He attended Carnegie Mellon on a Navy ROTC scholarship, married the most amazing woman in the world, and promptly shipped out to the Pacific Fleet. After helping decommission the USS WABASH, he returned to Pittsburgh, decided people were overrated, and retreated into software development. Then he ran for President as a Libertarian. He describes this period as "instructive." These days, Sam channels his restless curiosity into SF/F, prowling Pittsburgh's back alleys with a camera and an overactive imagination. His flash fiction collection One October Night, his urban fantasy novel Sigils, and his dark fantasy novel A Sense of Murder prove that graffiti, old buildings, and questionable life choices make excellent creative fuel. He lives with his wife, three daughters, and several quadrupeds who remain unimpressed by his publishing credits. Find him at samrobbwrites.com [http://samrobbwrites.com/]. His Books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07QJCG3BD/about?ccs_id=a2853dc9-98b9-426b-8d27-fb626562a41c] 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]

Marc Neuffer: From Naval Nuclear Engineer to Starship Captain

Mookie's Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory launches its 50th episode with fellow anthology contributor, former naval engineer, and prolific author Marc Neuffer.  They met through the 2026 SciFi Anthology, going strong for six years since Marc proposed the idea to the Science Fiction Novelists FB group. Mookie points out that he's had half the contributors from this installment on his podcast, with Marc joking there's still time to get the rest of them. Born into the "science" of scifi, Marc grew up in Huntsville, Alabama during the Apollo era surrounded by rocket engineers and space-race optimism, later serving as a nuclear propulsion engineer. Later in life he discovered an aptitude and appetite for writing, since publishing dozens of novels, short stories, and guidebooks on craft.  Hitting it off from the start, Marc and Mookie talk Heinlein, Asimov, Kubrick, Andy Weir, hard science fiction, AI, artificial gravity, indie publishing scams, bookstore nostalgia, and the weirdly addictive joy of locking yourself in a room for twelve hours and disappearing into a fictional world. But the real fun starts when they joust: Mookie champions instinct, improvisation, and throwing characters into crisis to see what happens. Marc counters with psychology, authenticity, immersive setting, and his belief that most modern writing “rules” have been flattened into useless workshop clichés. The two spar over “show don’t tell,” ideological fiction, Star Trek versus Star Wars science, modern clickbait science journalism, and whether writers ruin stories the second they start preaching at readers instead of following their characters honestly. The fun part is that neither guy completely gives ground, but both clearly enjoy the friction and wind up sharpening each other’s perspectives along the way. The episode also gets unexpectedly personal at times, with Marc reflecting on aging, creativity, engineering discipline, and why he doesn't care about chasing literary fame or bestseller lists. He’d rather write stories he loves, help younger writers avoid bad advice, and keep exploring ideas that fascinate him. Mookie, meanwhile, keeps dragging the discussion away from abstract writing theory and back toward character, emotion, imagination, and storytelling as lived experience. If you like science fiction conversations with humor, blunt opinions, nerd arguments, creative philosophy, old-school engineering brainpower, and two writers poking holes in each other’s ideas while still clearly enjoying the hell out of the conversation, Episode 50 of SFFF is your morning cup of joe.  The Guest Marc is a retired naval engineer who has found his geographic center in rural America. He spent more than 20 years roaming the world with the U.S. Navy, visiting dozens of countries in Europe, Down Under, the Eastern Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean. He has lived in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Saratoga Springs, NY, and Huntsville Alabama. After selling his business, he took up the piano and started writing multi-genre fiction novels. In addition to his ten published novels, and five non-fiction works, Marc's shorter works have been published in Scientific Barbarian Magazine, Frontier Tales, Science Fiction Novelists Anthologies 1-6, and as dramatic narrated stories by Untold-Tales. His Books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07S7M48J4/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=937f74ac-23f7-4b1d-af2e-4cec25514ee6&ccs_id=e35f6a34-1da6-4ebe-956d-939235f50a93] 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]