Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn for a TBRCon2024 LIVE crossover episode with The Fantasy & Sci-Fi Fanatic’s Podcast. During the episode, they delve into a mini-masterclass on Getting Started in Self-Publishing with author Andy Peloquin and podcaster Daniel Coolbaugh, exploring the essentials of self-publishing, being an entrepreneur, approaching cover art and design, finding editors, the importance of readers and community, paying it forward, marketing and advertising, book launches and more.
Masterclass
SFF Addicts Ep. 88: Writing Romance with Chloe Gong (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing Romance with bestselling author Chloe Gong. During the episode, Chloe unravels the enticing yarn of romance, including the appeal of romance in stories, the exploding popularity of the ‘romantasy’ genre, good (and bad) romantic chemistry, healthy vs. toxic relationships, expectations and tropes, Chloe’s favorite romance books and authors, romance as main plot vs. subplot, spice in romance and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 86: Tech-Fi & Technology As Story with Ken Liu (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Tech-Fi & Technology As Story with award-winning author Ken Liu. During the episode, Ken decodes the intricacies of technology fiction, including what tech-fi means, the uses of technology in fantasy, how technology and stories shape us and expresses our values, personifying technology, new technologies, A.I. and fear mongering, imagining positive impacts of future tech and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 82: Working Through Grief with Kevin Hearne (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Working Through Grief with bestselling author Kevin Hearne. During the episode, Kevin unpacks the weighty burdens of grief, including how it fits into the human experience, reading and writing as therapy, incorporating the theme of grief into fantasy worlds (like The Seven Kennings trilogy), putting yourself in the mindset of grieving characters, music as a writing aid, grief and writer’s block, readers, healing and community, things that make us happy and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 80: Impactful Scenes & Sequels with Jim Butcher (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Impactful Scenes & Sequels with bestselling author Jim Butcher. During the episode, Jim dissects the nitty gritty of writing effective scenes and sequels, including the potent scene-sequel dynamic, the building blocks of scenes (emotion/reason/review/decision), transitions between scenes and books, creating believable worlds, adding new characters to a series, keeping characters and stakes fresh, planting seeds, character progression and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 78: Supernatural Magic with Ed McDonald (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Supernatural Magic with author Ed McDonald. During the episode, Ed explores the strange nature of the occult, including supernatural beliefs, history, folklore and mythology, hard and soft magic systems, magic as a part of worldbuilding/plot/character, research and lived experience, strange supernatural creatures, the ritual of storytelling and magic and more.
Review: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Synopsis J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings but those who thought these two wonderful adventures marked the height of his imagination have many more delights to come. The Silmarillion represents the source of Tolkien’s later work and follows the events of the First Age of Middle Earth. […]
SFF Addicts Ep. 76: Plotting 101 with Greta Kelly (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Plotting 101 with author Greta Kelly. During the episode, Greta plots out the essentials for outlining a novel, including what plotting and outlining are, how it can help stimulate your creativity and focus, evolving plotting processes, planning character and story arcs, tools/methods/software for plotting, going from outline to first draft to edits, helpful writing resources and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 74: Co-Writing A Novel with Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey (Mini-Masterclass)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a mini-masterclass on Co-Writing A Novel with authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. During the episode, Cassandra and Richard tackle the chaotic business of writing with another person, including how they co-wrote The Dead Take the A Train, why you might consider (or not) co-writing a novel, merging writing styles and authorial voices, dealing with the challenges of evolving co-writing processes, deadlines and editors, co-writing virtually, collaborative ideation and storytelling, avoiding ego, trusting your partner and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 72: Writing Mysteries with Josiah Bancroft & Adrian M. Gibson (Mini-Masterclass)
Join host M.J. Kuhn as she delves into a mini-masterclass on Writing Mysteries with author Josiah Bancroft and (surprise!) our very own Adrian M. Gibson. During the episode, Josiah and Adrian investigate the clues of writing a mystery, including why we love a good mystery, the evolution of the genre, essentials like setting, atmosphere, hooks and capable protagonists, how to pace a mystery and dish out clues, cohesion and mysteries going off the rails, genre blending a mystery with SFF and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 70: Building a Dedicated Fanbase with Robin & Michael J. Sullivan (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Building a Dedicated Fanbase with author Michael J. Sullivan and his wife/business manager Robin. During the episode, Michael and Robin lay out the realities of writing and building an audience, including steps to becoming a well-earning author, selling directly to readers, Kickstarter and crowdfunding, growing a career and community, the importance of series for fan investment, comparing traditional and self-publishing, Goodreads, Royal Road, social media, reviews and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 68: Plot Twists with Aparna Verma (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Plot Twists with author Aparna Verma. During the episode, Aparna deconstructs plot twists, including why we love them so much, what makes a plot twist great, how plot twists work in fiction vs. TV or film, the essential trifecta of set-up, misdirection and reveal, ways in which plot twists can fall flat, tropes, favorite plot twists and more.