Books as Anti-Social Media with MC Joudrey

Steve Orlando on Writing Comics for Marvel and DC and Beyond

Jonathan welcomes acclaimed comics writer and editor SteveOrlando [https://www.instagram.com/the.steve.orlando] to talk about what really makes a great Big Two writer. They get into finding a character’s “core wound,” balancing decades of lore with a fresh take, managing dense event books without boring readers, and the real job of editors versus writers. Steve also shares insights on collaborating with artists,building a sustainable writing routine, breaking into Marvel and DC from indie comics, and how to stay motivated through years of rejection. Pick up The Eye Collector from Image Comics [https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/upcoming-cosmic-horror-series-the-eye-collector-a-kaleidoscopic-lovecraftian-thrill-ride-launching-this-june] at your local comic shop, or online [https://www.amazon.ca/Eye-Collector-1-Jonathan-Ball-ebook/dp/B0GX2Q92ZF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OBXZZ051FSEZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aRBoZYf54FqyH6ES0JhRc4kp3KpxY8uMA4X1OznzWB-jr5Q8tVgfzn2ZTtBQSmspdRCzrylnUfZewkJ-lDxL4s4FtZipnPJksL_SCWsI7qd1qYWXhbhOg8aIrlccMZGHFj8poHjG1xtEwBmhuF5SnXcaAC8okakdVr9jHQFNJQJ_VoP-2OZXaEuueKksqgJZFHP2JIxk7c6C3NnuphDMz1BRlvy0_uADyZ35MR2COiDJbU5Ggh2QSm3MwmKT1MGiMZ6u_sln1T9UVBYCK_RWe-7w_wH0bB6qMjK_Fp7Uhpk.T65J1T1QUTJe1JVLDwB3aivMcQKgys49Aae0hlwTW40&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+eye+collector&qid=1782829707&sprefix=the+eye+collector%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1]. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

David Jón Fuller on Bringing the Theatre into the Novel While Writing VENUE 13

In this episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Balltalks with novelist and actor David Jón Fuller about his new book Venue 13 (Turnstone Press) [https://www.amazon.ca/Venue-13-David-Fuller/dp/088801810X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=195GEAQ787JHP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TYn4jQLlIJUBEIDizqLEgSJGKNVMneKa_T4uAM63y_Q.H6EAFcNrgt6mh6D-kzuWv_YeORHHtYAmB7BLRnMsy_k&dib_tag=se&keywords=venue+13&qid=1775832974&s=books&sprefix=venue+13%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-1], a haunted-theatre novel set in Winnipeg’s summer festival scene. They discuss how David built the book like a five‑act play, blending prose, script formatting, stage directions, and monologues that break the fourth wall. The conversation ranges from pantsing vs. outlining, to character-first story design, to the nuts-and-bolts of revision with editors and critique partners. Find more of David’s work at https://www.davidjonfuller.com/ [https://www.davidjonfuller.com/] Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fictionat ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Books as Anti-Social Media with MC Joudrey

Jonathan welcomes publisher–author MC Joudrey to talk about Marmalade Parade, his experimental new novel from Guernica Editions. They dig into the realities of running an independent press, why Joudrey chose not to publish this book through his own At Bay Press, and the shifting landscape of self, indie, and hybrid publishing. Along the way, they explore the book’s unusual structure, its themes of memory, identity, and material possessions, and why demanding, formally inventive fiction still matters in an age of shrinking attention spans and social media “visual trash.” Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul on Kickstarting the Laundrymen 2 Comic Book

Jonathan welcomes back comic collaborators Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul to talk about their newest book - The Laundrymen 2: Blood of the Saucermen, which is still available through Kickstarter until March 2, 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radchenka/the-laundrymen-books-1-2/rewards [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radchenka/the-laundrymen-books-1-2/rewards] Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Antonio Michael Downing on the Art of the Novel and Sensuality in Prose

Jonathan welcomes author Antonio Michael Downing to talk about his latest novel Black Cherokee [https://a.co/d/7i190FB] and about how his writing career evolved from a love of music. Find more of Downing's work at https://www.antoniomichaeldowning.com/ [https://www.antoniomichaeldowning.com/] Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/jonathanball]. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@strangerfiction42]. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://stranger-fiction.square.site/].