Nerd Popping IV: The Search for Sci-Fi — Your Next Obsession Starts Here!

Faxing with Leonard Nimoy: James Chambers on Comics, Horror Writing, and the Making of Abandoned: Asylum

Aki is joined by co-hosts Charlie and Anto for a fascinating conversation with award-winning horror author, editor, comic book writer, and anthology editor James Chambers. Before becoming a Bram Stoker Award-winning author and editor, James pursued his dream of writing comics for major publishers, a path that led him to work on Leonard Nimoy's The Primortals and Gene Roddenberry's Lost Universe. James shares stories from those early days in comics, including the surreal experience of communicating with Leonard Nimoy by fax while helping bring these science fiction projects to life. The conversation follows James's evolution from aspiring comic book writer to acclaimed horror storyteller, discussing his transition into short fiction, novellas, and the challenges of building a creative career one story at a time. We also dive into his latest editorial project, Abandoned: Asylum, a forthcoming anthology from Raw Dog Screaming Press inspired by the eerie history of the abandoned St. Johnland Hospital. James discusses the origins of the project, the process of curating stories from an impressive lineup of horror authors, and how exploring the real-life abandoned grounds helped shape the anthology's atmosphere and themes. The collection is scheduled for release in Fall 2026 and features photography taken by James himself. Whether you're interested in comics, horror fiction, anthology editing, or the realities of building a long-term writing career, this episode offers a wealth of insights from a creator who has successfully navigated every stage of the publishing world. https://www.jameschambersonline.com/blog/ [https://www.jameschambersonline.com/blog/] https://rawdogscreaming.com/book-deal-abandoned-asylum-anthology/ [https://rawdogscreaming.com/book-deal-abandoned-asylum-anthology/] Keywords: Bernie Wrightson, Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, Jim Shooter, Defiant Comics, Valiant Comics, Tekno Comix, From Dusk Till Dawn, Fred Harper, Richard Clark, Trevor Von Eeden, The Girl Next Door, Joyce Carol Oates, Shadow House, Dan Brereton, Pat Broderick, Kirk Van Wormer, Strange Tales, Christopher Mills, Chinese hopping vampires, Weird Western, Corpse Fauna, The Dead Walk!, The Dead Walk Again!, novellas, short stories, Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Cemetery Dance Magazine, Horror Writers Association, Robert Masterson, April Grey, A New York State of Fright: Horror Stories from the Empire State, Girls Write Now, Hippocampus Press, Aeroflex Foundation, Under Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign, Beth W. Patterson, Unicorns vs. Clowns in Hell, Michael Bailey, Walrus Tales, Meet the Tuskersons, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Abandoned: Asylum, comic books, horror fiction, anthology editing, anthology editor, Leonard Nimoy,'sThe Primortals, Gene Roddenberry's Lost Universe, storytelling, publishing, independent comics. Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

From Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube Writing Lessons to Publishing Fantasy Novellas: Daniel W. Cochran on Honing His Stories

On this episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki is joined by co-hosts Anto and Charlie for a conversation with fantasy author Daniel W. Cochran about his journey into storytelling, worldbuilding, and developing his craft outside traditional writing programs. Daniel shares how his love of fantasy began at an early age, inspired by Bilbo Baggins writing his adventures down in The Hobbit. Encouraged by his childhood best friend, fellow writer, and podcast guest Macaulay Christian (Children of Eternity), Daniel began creating his own fantasy worlds and stories inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, and tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. Facing the massive challenge of building an expansive fantasy setting while also improving as a writer, Daniel made the decision to pause work on his larger novel and instead focus on writing novellas to hone his storytelling skills while continuing to develop his world. The result became his UnSung Heroes for Hire series. Without formal writing training, Daniel shares how playing D&D helped shape his understanding of character, conflict, and collaborative storytelling, while Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube writing lectures became an important resource for learning story structure, character development, and fantasy world-building. The episode explores learning by doing, the value of novella storytelling, fantasy influences, creative discipline, and how aspiring writers can develop their craft through persistence, curiosity, and passion for storytelling. https://danielwcochranauthor.com/ Patrick Troughton, Dr. Who, Gary Gygax, DnD, Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings, Macaulay Christian, Tolkien, Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Elder Scrolls, Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Cohen Brothers, Jay and Silent Bob, Jaime Cassanova, Maggie Fielder, In medias res, Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Quarter Moon, The Sith, Clone Wars, War of the Realms, WW2, Helm's Deep, Battlefield Earth, Fate's Stiletto, Vamp City, The Big Sleep, Red Harvest, Unsung Heroes: Sweet Deceit, Chewbacchus parade, Midnight Brew, The Dark Angel, Sunken Castle DnD module Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

From Graphic Novel to Webtoon: The Strasslers on Marketing Indie Comics and Building Star Interns

Hosts Aki welcomes back Amanda and Jonah Strassler to the NoNaMe Storytellers podcast to discuss the continuing evolution of their indie comic series Star Interns. The Strassler siblings dive into their efforts to expand the audience for their epic space opera by converting their physical graphic novel into a webtoon format using Clip Studio Paint [https://www.clipstudio.net/en/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. The conversation explores the realities of marketing independent comics, building a creative business, and finding new ways to connect with readers through webtoons, local comic shops, conventions, and pop-up art events. Amanda and Jonah share how meeting fans and fellow creators has helped strengthen both their storytelling community and their creative process. The episode also covers the transition of Star Interns from black-and-white artwork into full color for the upcoming second graphic novel, revisits highlights from their previous discussion with artist Sean Wang about crafting an epic space opera, and explores how the duo continues learning new creative skills between issues. From experimenting with digital illustration techniques to navigating the business side of indie publishing, this episode is a candid look at the challenges and rewards of modern comic storytelling. https://www.holymolymedia.org/ [https://www.holymolymedia.org/shop-1] The Webtoon! [https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/star-interns/list?title_no=1145471] Keywords: Tower of God, CrunchyRoll, Solo Leveling, Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer, Alex Sheikman, Those Turners, Sean Wang, Avatar the Last Air Bender, The Expanse, Indie Comics, Marketing, Tidewater Comic Con, Garden State Comic Fest, comic book shops Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Getting Paid to Learn: The Art and Business of Horror with Craig DiLouie

On this episode of the NoNaMe Storytellers Podcast, host Aki is joined by co-hosts Anto and Charlie as they welcome horror master Craig DiLouie back to the show to talk about the craft, business, and discipline behind building a successful career in modern horror fiction. Known for balancing literary depth with commercial storytelling, Craig discusses what publishers like Hachette are looking for in today’s market, how he became one of horror publishing’s most dependable voices, and the collaborative relationship he’s built with his editor Bradley. The conversation also explores Craig’s self-described identity as a “commercial writer,” constantly searching for compelling concepts, memorable hooks, and stories that connect with readers. Along the way, the crew dives into organization, productivity, and the realities of generating a consistent volume of creative work while sustaining a long-term writing career. Craig also gives listeners a preview of his upcoming slasher duology, beginning with The Summer Fun Massacre and continuing this fall with The Yule Day Slaughter, Book Two of Slasher Season. ⁠From horror publishing and storytelling craft to deadlines, creative process, and the business side of writing, this is an inside look at what it really means to make a living telling scary stories.⁠ https://craigdilouie.com/ [https://craigdilouie.com/] Keywords: Bradley Englert, Vivalde, Slaugher, Final Girl, Found footage horror, Episode Thirteen, Hachette, Summer Fun Massacre, Yule Day Slaughter, Haunting of Hill House, Treatment, Logline, bumbling deputy, flash fiction, short story, stable writer, Stephen Graham Jones, 25 word premise, elevator pitch, John Truby's Anatomy of Story, pantsing vs plotting, character arc, inciting event, call to action, synopsis, scriptments, screen stories, how to sell your work, comparables, slush pile, The Children of Red Peak, Jonestown Massacre, the familiar with a twist, Marvel Zombies, Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49, Nabokov, Dostoevsky, Garrett Michael Brown (Narrator), Elizabeth Cappuccino (Narrator), work-for-hire, Peter Klein, Thundar the Barbarian, Simon & Schuster, Star Trek, Peter David, Hulk, Alien, Titan Books, Suffer the Children, Cabin in the Woods, Jaime Lee Curtis, Roy Scheider, Scream, Jamie Kennedy, How to Direct a Horror Movie and Survive, WW2 fiction, Generation Kill, Woody Harrelson, True Detective, hard-boiled, page turner, thriller, opening and closing images, Save the Cat, Larry Brooks's Story Engineering, Libbie Hawker's Take Off Your Pants!, murder board, R. C. Bray, Armor Series, The Fog, survival horror, Hammer Horror, Friday the 13th, Italian Giallo Horror, H. Rider Haggard's She, Warren Zevon, Brian De Palma, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Naked Steel reviews Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Where Scripts Really Work (or Don’t): Inside the Table Read with Seyi River

A script is just the beginning—what happens when actors bring it to life is where the story really begins. In this episode of The NoNaMe Storytellers Podcast, Aki is joined by co-host Celeste Cuilla and guest co-host Claude Choukrane for a collaborative deep dive with writer-director Seyi River. At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: the story changes in the room. From screenplay to performance, the group explores how storytelling evolves when actors step into a script—bringing new layers, unexpected choices, and emotional truth that can transform characters beyond what was originally written. Celeste and Claude share how they build backstories, interpret dialogue, and discover meaning between the lines, while Seyi reflects on the experience of watching his work shift through live readings and actor collaboration. The discussion also unpacks the writer-director process—developing scripts through feedback, working with trusted creative circles, and even staging readings with actors in front of audiences to test what truly lands. From printing out pages and annotating by hand, to rewriting for clarity, rhythm, and authentic humor, this episode is a look at storytelling as an evolving, collaborative process—where the best moments often emerge once the work leaves the page. https://www.seyiriver.com/ Keywords: The Waverly Gallery, Kenneth Lonergan, Shakerbridge Theater, Manchester by the Sea, Margaret, Barry White, Stravinsky, Brahms, Boston Symphony, Rock Nativity Musical, Screenwriting, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Being John Malkovich, Fox and His Friends, The Marriage of Maria Braun, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, Andrei Tarkovsky, autodidact, Dummies Guides, Zanna, Don't!, Richard Linklater, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Aaron Sorkin, Rolling Stones, U2, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood, Kaliswa Brewster, On the Waterfront, Rod Steiger, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Blade Trinity, Chinatown, Actors Access, director cameo tradition, Strangers on a Train, First Born Son, Catherine Bruins, Cozy Mysteries Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/] Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/