Below is the archive of all episodes of SFF Addicts in order of publication (newest to oldest).
SFF Addicts is a weekly sci-fi, fantasy and writing craft podcast co-hosted by Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn, bringing you interviews and mini-masterclasses with your favorite SFF authors.
Support SFF Addicts on Patreon or check out our official merch store. Follow SFF Addicts on Instagram and Twitter for more updates. You can also follow co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn.
The podcast is available to download and stream via: Anchor | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Pocket Casts | Breaker
November 2024:
Ep. 132: Writing for IP with Peter F. Hamilton, Mike Chen & James L. Sutter (Masterclass Panel)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn for a masterclass panel on Writing for IP, featuring authors Peter F. Hamilton, Mike Chen and James L. Sutter. During the panel, Peter, Mike and James explore the intricacies of writing for intellectual properties, including how to get involved in IP, deadlines and contracts, the pressures of writing in an established universe, love of the IP vs. the realities of earnings, editors and author freedom, translating visual IPs to prose and vice versa, catering to existing fanbases, author voice, IP attachment and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 131: Writing Multiple POVs with Lavanya Lakshminarayan (Mini-Masterclass)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a mini-masterclass on Writing Multiple POVs with author Lavanya Lakshminarayan. During the episode, Lavanya unmasks the many faces of multiple points-of-view, including why you would write multiple POVs, how to choose the right POV characters and tenses, making character voices unique, connecting with characters (as readers and writers), structure and pacing in a multi-POV story, viewing the same scene from different perspectives and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 130: Lavanya Lakshminarayan talks Interstellar MegaChef, Food, Video Games & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with author Lavanya Lakshminarayan about her new novel Interstellar MegaChef, The Ten Percent Thief, working in the video game industry, storytelling and worldbuilding, cultural identity and imagined futures, VR and future technologies, blending culinary arts with space opera, food as cultural exchange and history, cooking TV shows, contrasting characters and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 129: Fictional Family Dynamics with Tasha Suri (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Fictional Family Dynamics with award-winning author Tasha Suri. During the episode, Tasha unpacks the complexities of family, exploring what makes family dynamics compelling, the role of family in her work, the key to successful fictional families, types of family dynamics, conveying individual and group character growth, external forces that can shape a family, romantic partnerships, marriage, found family and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
October 2024:
Ep. 128: Tasha Suri talks The Lotus Empire, Sapphic Fantasy, Anime & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author Tasha Suri about her new novel The Lotus Empire, completing The Burning Kingdoms trilogy, her love for anime, sapphic fantasy and the romantasy boom, South Asian/historical inspirations in her work, writing messy characters and multiple POVs, piquing readers’ curiosity, the shortcomings of academia, Dev Patel, knights and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 127: Convincing Details & Descriptions with Nghi Vo (Mini-Masterclass)
Join Adrian M. Gibson and guest co-host Greta Kelly as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Convincing Details & Descriptions with award-winning author Nghi Vo. During the episode, Nghi gets into the nitty gritty of details, exploring what details/descriptions can do for readers, how to approach details in your writing, delivering effective details, setting expectations for your descriptive style, description in short vs. long form fiction, surface detail vs. hyper detail, describing characters, character actions, world details, plausibility and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 126: Nghi Vo talks The City in Glass, Love, The Great Gatsby & More
Join Adrian M. Gibson and guest co-host Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning author Nghi Vo about her new novel The City in Glass, The Singing Hills Cycle (The Empress of Salt and Fortune and its sequels), Siren Queen and Hollywood history, The Chosen and the Beautiful and reimagining The Great Gatsby, cities and evocative settings, vibes vs. plot, angels, demons and love, change, character growth and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 125: Omniscient Narration & POV with Cat Rambo (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Omniscient Narration & POV with award-winning author Cat Rambo. During the episode, Cat lays out all there is to know about omniscient narration, exploring what it is and when to use it, the benefits and challenges of an omniscient POV, finding a narrative voice, how to transition between characters, internal vs. external characterization, experimenting with POV styles, the viability of omniscient stories with agents/editors and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 124: Cat Rambo talks Disco Space Opera, SFWA, Teaching & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author Cat Rambo about their new novel Rumor Has It, the Disco Space Opera series, writing in different formats and genres, working as an editor, teaching and paying it forward, SFWA and the SFF community, found family, subverting tropes, writing a long series, cooking, foodie culture (in space!) and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
September 2024:
Ep. 123: Modernity & Building Believable Futures with T. R. Napper (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Modernity & Building Believable Futures with award-winning author T. R. Napper. During the episode, Tim unpacks the complexities of modernity, exploring what modernity is, its relationships with hardboiled fiction and cyberpunk, confronting modernity in real life, relevancy and genre expectations, worldbuilding and crafting believable futures, thematic resonance, historical context fact vs. fiction and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 122: T. R. Napper talks The Escher Man, Cyberpunk, Memory & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author T. R. Napper about his new novel The Escher Man, living abroad and cultural immersion, balancing parenting and writing, cyberpunk and Australia, memory and technology, the creative process and philosophy, writing in the Aliens universe, trunked novels, unreliable narrators and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 121: Researching for Fantasy with Christian “Miles” Cameron (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Researching for Fantasy with author Christian “Miles” Cameron. During the episode, Miles takes a deep dive into research, exploring how research provides convincing surface details, methods for researching, balancing historical fact and creative freedom, lived research and reenactment, combat and swordfighting, systems and worldbuilding details, when to stop researching and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 120: Christian “Miles” Cameron talks Deep Black, Routine, History & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Christian “Miles” Cameron about his new novel Deep Black, what he’s learned after publishing 50(!!!) novels, writing both speculative fiction and historical fantasy, his daily routine and staying productive, how worldbuilding and plotting tie together, trade and economy in fiction, travel experiences, genre as a construct, tabletop RPGs and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
August 2024:
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn for a masterclass panel on Content Creation 101, featuring Evan Leikam from Book Reviews Kill, Mike from Mike’s Book Reviews and Kayla from Kay’s Hidden Shelf. During the panel, Evan, Mike and Kayla lay out the fundamentals for getting into content creation, including how they started, the big content platforms, editing software and recording equipment, content length on different platforms, algorithms and originality, connecting with your audience, monetization and advertising, reviewing books, receiving ARCs, relationships with publishers/authors and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 118: Writing as Collaboration with James S.A. Corey (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing as Collaboration with bestselling co-authors Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck (AKA James S.A. Corey). During the episode, Daniel and Ty team up to discuss collabs, exploring the importance of collaboration, screenwriting and TV/film adaptations, co-writing as negotiation, solo vs. collaborative writing, working with editors and writers rooms, critique partners, sensitivity readers and feedback, writing for Star Wars, DMing for D&D and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 117: James S.A. Corey talk The Mercy of Gods, The Expanse, Science & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling co-authors Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck (AKA James S.A. Corey) about their new novel The Mercy of Gods, The Expanse series, blending genres and authorial voice, history and posthumanism, technology and humanity’s future, Babylon and intelligence, space opera and cultural reference, co-writing, success and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 116: Writing from the End with Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing from the End with co-authors Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle. During the episode, Julia and Ken work back from the end, exploring endings that they love, how to plan your ending while leaving room for spontaneity, writing endings for sequels and series, managing subplots and side characters, effective foreshadowing, pacing and middles, character choices, emotional payoffs, ending anxiety and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
July 2024:
Ep. 115: Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle talk Blood Jade, Co-Writing, Sequels & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with authors Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle about their new novel Blood Jade, how they met in middle school, co-writing vs. solo writing, going from self-publishing to traditional, worldbuilding and mythology in The Phoenix Hoard, setting stories in San Francisco and Tokyo, creating characters that feels real, the challenges of writing sequels and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 114: Deep Worldbuilding with Paolo Bacigalupi (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Deep Worldbuilding with award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi. During the episode, Paolo delves deep into worldbuilding, laying out how to create immersive worlds, his worldbuilding process, deep vs. broad worldbuilding, keeping track of details, lived-in worlds, worldbuilding in YA and short stories, “stacking” world/plot/character and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 113: Paolo Bacigalupi talks Navola, The Windup Girl, Burnout & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi about his new novel Navola, his breakout hit The Windup Girl, Renaissance Italy, languages and cultural immersion, reading resonance and education, near-future settings and climate fiction, research and lived experience, transitioning into fantasy, burnout, discovery writing and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 112: Writing the Opposite Gender with Stephen Aryan (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing the Opposite Gender with author Stephen Aryan. During the episode, Stephen bridges the gap between genders, exploring the importance of writing outside your own gender, stereotypes and how men often write women badly, how to enjoy writing the opposite gender, the advantages of writing in SFF, how to research other genders, gender norms and little details, intent and power dynamics, awareness, biases, empathy and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 111: Stephen Aryan talks The Blood Dimmed Tide, Persia, Worldbuilding & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Stephen Aryan about his new novel The Blood Dimmed Tide, the world of The Coward, ideas and distraction, heroes and PTSD, Persian and Mongol history, research and accuracy, magic systems and weird shit, the publishing landscape, working a day-job and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
June 2024:
Ep. 110: Making Old Monsters New Again with Christopher Buehlman (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Making Old Monsters New Again with author Christopher Buehlman. During the episode, Christopher uncovers the mysteries of old monsters, exploring examples of classic monsters, human psychology and allegory, advantages of using classic monsters, monster films and why some monsters feel dated, approaches for different genres/monsters, researching monsters, atmosphere, setting and emotion, gore vs. psychological horror, new takes on old monsters and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 109: Christopher Buehlman talks The Daughter’s War, Atmosphere, Voice & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Christopher Buehlman about his new novel The Daughter’s War, The Blacktongue Thief, renaissance fairs, “Christoph the Insulter,” comedy and empathy, creating an engrossing atmosphere, writing a range of voices and tones, invention vs. research, trusting your characters and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 108: Creating Fictional Cultures with Rebecca Roanhorse (Mini-Masterclass)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a mini-masterclass on Creating Fictional Cultures with bestselling, award-winning author Rebecca Roanhorse. During the episode, Rebecca weaves a cultural tapestry, exploring why “culture” is important to human beings, approaches for creating a fictional culture, research and lived experience, details and sensory descriptors, characters in relation to culture, real world vs. secondary world cultures, cultural appropriation vs. inspiration and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 107: Rebecca Roanhorse talks Mirrored Heavens, Mesoamerica, Epic Fantasy & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with bestselling, award-winning author Rebecca Roanhorse about her new novel Mirrored Heavens, the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, Mesoamerican history, Native American representation, writing memorable characters, finishing an epic fantasy trilogy, writing for television and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
May 2024:
Ep. 106: Locked-Room Mysteries with Stuart Turton (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Locked-Room Mysteries with bestselling author Stuart Turton. During the episode, Stuart unlocks the mysteries of locked-room scenarios, including the appeal of them as readers and writers, key elements of locked-rooms, containing your setting and characters, using characters to control the mystery, tools for managing pacing and tension, keeping locked-room mysteries fresh and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 105: Stuart Turton talks The Last Murder at the End of the World, Research & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Stuart Turton about his new novel The Last Murder at the End of the World, his popular works The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water, writing a large cast of characters, history and research, theme and the role of the author, Agatha Christie, Aldi supermarkets, a spot of milk and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 104: Outlining Your Story with Veronica Roth (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Outlining Your Story with bestselling author Veronica Roth. During the episode, Veronica lays out some foundations for flexible outlines, including how she became an outliner, starting a new outline, characters/world/plot as a “soup,” outlining (and re-outlining) complex plots, how to pace using an outline, planning plot twists and foreshadowing, getting feedback during outlining, themes, flexibility and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 103: Veronica Roth talks When Among Crows, Slavic Folkore, Dystopias & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Veronica Roth about her new novella When Among Crows, Divergent and managing success, dystopias and surveillance, writing adult SFF vs. YA, The Witcher and Polish folklore, writing novellas and multiple POVs, shifts in the publishing industry, worldbuilding approaches and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
April 2024:
Ep. 102: Thieves & Rogues in SFF with James Logan (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Thieves & Rogues in SFF with author James Logan. During the episode, James dons his hood to discuss thieves, rogues and ne’er do wells, including why they’re fascinating to read and write, thieves and rogues in relation to setting, the relationship between world, characters and power dynamics, the act of negotiation, moral grayness, city settings, mood, humor and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 101: James Logan talks The Silverblood Promise, Editing, Debuts & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author/editor James Logan about his debut novel The Silverblood Promise, editing and working in publishing, Indiana Jones, Locke Lamora and inspirations, creating compelling main characters, the path to publication, launching a debut novel and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 100 LIVE Celebration (with J. S. Dewes, Genevieve Gornichec, Greta Kelly & Krystle Matar)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn for a LIVE CELEBRATION of the podcast’s 100th episode, featuring special guests J. S. Dewes, Genevieve Gornichec, Greta Kelly and Krystle Matar! During the episode, they answer questions from viewers and fans, chat about their experiences with the show, discuss highlights from the past one hundred episodes, talk about their writing and much more. Thank you all for supporting SFF Addicts—it wouldn’t be what it is without you.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 99: Swashbuckling Fantasy with Sebastien de Castell (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Swashbuckling Fantasy with author Sebastien de Castell. During the episode, Sebastien plays the daring hero by laying out the essentials of swashbuckling, including how he defines it, famous examples of swashbuckling (like The Three Musketeers and The Princess Bride), the interaction between swordplay, action and stakes, how to pace a swashbuckling story, applying humor to swashbuckling, heroes, villains, contrast and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 98: Sebastien de Castell talks Play of Shadows, Found Family, Banter & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Sebastien de Castell about his new novel Play of Shadows, his career trajectory and being a bard, channeling your experiences into writing, traveling, culture and language, writing witty dialogue and banter, found family, worldbuilding approaches, shared worlds and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
March 2024:
Ep. 97: Genre Mashups with Adrian M. Gibson (Mini-Masterclass)
Join host M.J. Kuhn as she delve into a mini-masterclass on Genre Mashups with her co-host/author Adrian M. Gibson. During the episode, Adrian picks apart the various aspects of genre mashups, including how he incorporated police procedurals and crime thrillers into Mushroom Blues, milieu and aesthetics as mashup elements, genre mashups vs. subgenres, meeting reader expectations in multiple genres at once, why authors shouldn’t force genres together and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 96: Adrian M. Gibson talks Mushroom Blues, Self-Publishing, Travel & More
Join host M.J. Kuhn as she chats with author(!!!) Adrian M. Gibson about his debut novel Mushroom Blues, why he chose self-publishing, what he’s learned from podcasting, writing Mushroom Blues and how it came to be, creating characters, the power of mushrooms, The Fungalverse interconnected universe, worldbuilding, travel, alienation and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 95: Circular Storytelling with Moses Ose Utomi (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Circular Storytelling with author Moses Ose Utomi. During the episode, Moses traces the circumference of circular storytelling, including what it is, how Moses approached it in The Forever Desert series, mythology and storytelling traditions, how to utilize circular storytelling in scenes vs. chapters vs. whole stories, managing characters, world and plot in a circular story, beginnings, endings and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 94: Moses Ose Utomi talks The Truth of the Aleke, Novellas, Anime & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Moses Ose Utomi about his new novella The Truth of the Aleke, his Nigerian heritage and storytelling traditions, why novellas are awesome, time jumps and playing with history, truth and lies, martial arts, action scenes, anime, manga and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
February 2024:
Ep. 93: War in Speculative Fiction with Premee Mohamed (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on War in Speculative Fiction with award-winning author Premee Mohamed. During the episode, Premee unveils the shadowy nature of war, including how she incorporated it into her new novel The Siege of Burning Grass, good and bad examples of war in media, realism when depicting war in SFF settings, civilians and the costs of war, humanizing combatants on both sides, intimate perspectives of war, the importance of change and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 92: Premee Mohamed talks The Butcher of the Forest, Science, Nature & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author Premee Mohamed about her new novella The Butcher of the Forest, working as a scientist vs. writing fiction, the power of horror and blending genres, colonialism and tackling weighty themes, science as inspiration, climate change, novellas, fairy tales and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 91: Connecting World & Character with Robert Jackson Bennett (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Connecting World & Character with bestselling author Robert Jackson Bennett. During the episode, Robert connects the dots between character and worldbuilding, including the intersections of world, character and theme, different ways to start your stories, worlds as distinct characters, how world dynamics can inform character behavior, character perspectives and description, mood, dialogue, Die Hard and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 90: Robert Jackson Bennett talks The Tainted Cup, Murder Mysteries & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Robert Jackson Bennett about his new novel The Tainted Cup, murder mysteries, Foundryside and magic systems, atmosphere, voice and the uncanny, tackling big themes through SFF, plot structure, twists, Warhammer 40k and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
January 2024:
Ep. 89: Starting Out in Self-Publishing with Andy Peloquin (Mini-Masterclass)
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 87: Chloe Gong talks Foul Heart Huntsman, Immortal Longings, Shakespeare & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Chloe Gong about her Secret Shanghai historical fantasy series, her adult debut Immortal Longings, what “success” means, Shakespeare and remixing classic stories, writing YA vs. adult SFF, aesthetics and atmosphere in film and fiction, Chinese history, magic systems, genre blending and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 85: Ken Liu talks The Dandelion Dynasty, Modernity, Symbolism & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning, bestselling author Ken Liu about his epic fantasy series The Dandelion Dynasty, the works of Philip K. Dick and Ursula K. Le Guin, writing and persistence, how technology plays into our lives, writing short stories vs. novels, the relationship between history, modernity and language, how symbolism plays into the creative process, Frankenstein, photography and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
December 2023:
Ep. 84: End of Year Special (with Ryan Cahill & R.R. Virdi)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they close out 2023 in style with fellow authors and friends of the show Ryan Cahill and R.R. Virdi. During the final episode of the year, they chat about how life has been, how writing compares to other forms of art and creativity, writing as a grind (that we love), experiences in publishing, self-pub vs. trad pub vs. hybrid, shifting writing processes, motivation and dedication, community and friendship, imposter syndrome and hurdles, our hopes for 2024, small wins and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 83: Our Favorite Reads of 2023 (with The Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they reminisce on the year that was with podcasters Dylan Marsh and Charles M.C. (co-hosts of The Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast). During the panel they share their top picks for favorite SFF reads of the year (3 each for a total of 12), reflect on the ups and downs 2023, offer some honorable mentions, talk about hikes, make surprise book announcements, split “assets” in a hypothetical “divorce” and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
November 2023:
Ep. 81: Kevin Hearne talks A Curse of Krakens, Folklore, Passion Projects & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Kevin Hearne about his new novel A Curse of Krakens, The Iron Druid Chronicles, The Seven Kennings trilogy and passion projects, writing and teaching, urban fantasy, vampires and genre blending, folklore and mythology, friendship, community, tacos and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 79: Jim Butcher talks The Olympian Affair, The Dresden Files, Mentors, Cats & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Jim Butcher about his new novel The Olympian Affair, The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera series, teaching his son James J. Butcher everything he knows, a dream Dresden anime, Lois Bujold and The Vorkosigan Saga, writing cats and animal POVs, cherished mentors, paying it forward, blending genres, weightlifting and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
October 2023:
Ep. 77: Ed McDonald talks Traitor of Redwinter, Swords, Tattoos & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Ed McDonald about his new novel Traitor of Redwinter, the Raven’s Mark series, practicing sword fighting and HEMA, studying history, advice about publishing and the writing community, writing a female protagonist, believing in yourself, tattoos, mice and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 75: Greta Kelly talks The Queen of Days, Family, Time, Heists & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Greta Kelly about her new novel The Queen of Days, the Warrior Witch Duology, her experiences in traditional publishing, Doctor Who and the concept of time, creating a unique magic system, why heists are awesome, writing compelling characters and godlike beings, biological and found families, parenting, The Lord of the Rings, D&D and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 73: Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey talk The Dead Take the A Train, New York City, Horror & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey about their new novel The Dead Take the A Train, how they got into publishing, storytelling trends and the weird nature of the internet, writing for video games and comic books, the beauty of horror and the human psyche, New York City’s deep history and the experiences it offers, music journalism, stealing cars, busking, tattoos and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
September 2023:
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 71: Josiah Bancroft talks The Hexologists, The Books of Babel, Secrets, Lies & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Josiah Bancroft about his new novel The Hexologists, his fan-favorite series The Books of Babel, SPFBO and lessons from publishing, fancy words that no one understands, happily married couples who do it, fantastical worldbuilding and social commentary, satire and tropes, royal families, secrets of the heart, lies (or truthbending) and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 69: Michael J. Sullivan talks The Rise and Fall, Shared Worlds, Publishing & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan about his new novel Esrahaddon, The Rise and Fall trilogy, writing multiple series in the shared world of Elan, his publishing journey from The Riyria Revelations until today, comparing self-publishing and traditional publishing, writing great dialogue, evolving writing processes, career highlights, wikis and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
August 2023:
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 unravels 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.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 67: Aparna Verma talks The Phoenix King, Complex Characters, Pokémon & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Aparna Verma about her debut novel The Phoenix King, her love of Pokémon (and Charizard), bridging the gap between Indian and American cultures, her writing journey from self-pub to traditional publishing, how The Boy with Fire evolved into The Phoenix King, approaches to writing complex and captivating characters, science fantasy, why fire is awesome and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 66: Real Cultures as Inspiration with Gabriela Romero Lacruz (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Real Cultures as Inspiration with author Gabriela Romero Lacruz. During the episode, Gabriela unpacks different facets of culture, including what culture means, countercultures, SFF as a reflection of our world, immersive worldbuilding, pulling from real cultures vs. creating your own, research, cultural appropriation and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 65: Gabriela Romero Lacruz talks The Sun and the Void, Venezuela, Art & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Gabriela Romero Lacruz about her debut novel The Sun and the Void, her love of anime, how she got started writing fan fiction, growing up in Venezuela, learning English as a second language, writing compelling characters and family drama, creating fantasy races and magic systems, making visual art as The Moonborn and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 64: Norse Mythology & Culture with Genevieve Gornichec (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Norse Mythology & Culture with author Genevieve Gornichec. During the episode, Genevieve unravels the tapestry of Norse culture, including the essentials of Norse history, the popularity of Norse-inspired fantasy, vikings and gods, stereotypes and pet peeves, portrayals of women, balancing history with fantasy, how to approach researching Norse culture and mythology, the Norse living history community and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
July 2023:
Ep. 63: LAUNCH PARTY for The Weaver and the Witch Queen & Thick As Thieves
Join host Adrian M. Gibson for a special book launch episode, celebrating the publications of Genevieve Gornichec‘s The Weaver and the Witch Queen and M.J. Kuhn‘s Thick as Thieves! During this raucous episode, M.J. and Genevieve talk about their new books, big inspirations, comparing debut experiences vs. second books, reviews, community, dream projects and more. Plus, PARTY GAMES!
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 62: The Hero’s/Heroine’s Journey with R.R. Virdi (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on The Hero’s/Heroine’s Journey with author R.R. Virdi. During the episode, Ronnie explores the complexities of the monomyth, including its origins/development across human history, oral storytelling traditions, creation myths and language, Joseph Campbell’s theory of the monomyth, the heroine’s journey and the work of Maureen Murdock, individualism vs. society and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 61: R.R. Virdi talks The First Binding, Storytelling, Urban Fantasy & More
Join co-hosts AdrianM.Gibson and M.J.Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author R.R.Virdiabout his acclaimed novel The First Binding, how Jim Butcher and The Dresden Files inspired him, starting out in self-publishing and how that compares to traditional publishing, the power of stories across time, writing as work (even though we love it), genre bullshit, mythology, Star Wars and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 60: Science in Fantasy with Kritika H. Rao (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Science in Fantasy with author Kritika H. Rao. During the episode, Kritika hypothesizes about the role of science, including how she incorporated science into her debut novel, balancing science with philosophy and esotericism, how science can affect character, plot, language and worldbuilding, science tropes and stereotypes, the work of Michael Crichton and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
June 2023:
Ep. 59: Kritika H. Rao talks The Surviving Sky, Hinduism, Thrillers & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Kritika H. Rao about her debut novel The Surviving Sky, her South Asian heritage and upbringing, the fluidity of genres, Hinduism and philosophy, writing a married couple, incorporating mystery and fast pacing into her book, humanity’s connection with nature, thrillers, survival, Jurassic Park and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 58: Writing Action Scenes with Alexander Darwin (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing Action Scenes with author/martial artist Alexander Darwin. During the episode, Alexander tackles the ins and outs of action, including why action scenes are integral to stories, action in TV/film vs. fiction, writing believable action scenes, using pacing to control action and narrative, how action can drive plot, character and worldbuilding, dialogue as action and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 57: Alexander Darwin talks The Combat Codes, Martial Arts, Publishing & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Alexander Darwin about his debut novel The Combat Codes, mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, starting his writing career in self-publishing, transitioning to the traditional publishing world, comparing the different sides of publishing, lessons and advice from his writing journey, video games, JRPGs, Studio Ghibli movies and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 56: Worldbuilding 101 with Martha Wells (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Worldbuilding 101 with bestselling author Martha Wells. During the episode, Martha unravels the intricacies of worldbuilding, including what it means, why well-crafted worlds are important for stories, first steps for worldbuilding, research vs. creativity, keeping track of details, how to convey information through description, avoiding infodumping, drawing maps, naming shit and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
May 2023:
Ep. 55: Martha Wells talks Witch King, The Murderbot Diaries, Hard Lessons & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning/bestselling author Martha Wells about her new novel Witch King, her acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries series, hard lessons from her decades-long publishing career, re-releasing old works (and confronting her younger self’s writing), writing both science fiction and fantasy, demons, The Untamed, Mr. Snuffleupagus and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 54: Aliens & First Contact with Christopher Paolini (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Aliens & First Contact with bestselling author Christopher Paolini. During the episode, Christopher explores the mysteries of aliens, including why humans are fascinated by them, why first contact makes for fantastic story fuel, creating species and environments, science and our understanding of reality, alien tropes, reader emotions, empathetic aliens and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 53: Christopher Paolini talks Fractal Noise, Eragon, the Power of Story & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini about his new novels Fractal Noise and Murtagh, publishing Eragon/The Inheritance Cycle books and growing up at the same time, imposter syndrome and burnout, advice for young writers, the power of story, comparing science fiction and fantasy, creating the Fractalverse, solving time travel, the impact of dreams and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 52: Revision & Rewriting with Sue Burke (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Revision & Rewriting with author and translator Sue Burke. During the episode, Sue breaks down the nitty gritty of revision, including why it’s an important part of the writing process, approaches to first drafts, tools for revision and rewriting, how to keep track of characters and scenes, killing your darlings and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 51: Sue Burke talks Dual Memory, Semiosis, Plant Consciousness & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with sci-fi author, journalist and translator Sue Burke about her new novel Dual Memory, her books Semiosis and Immunity Index, plant consciousness, pandemics, translation, doubt and anxiety as an author, artists vs. artificial intelligence, tulip mania and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
April 2023:
Ep. 50: Animal Companions with Andrea Stewart (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Animal Companions with fantasy author Andrea Stewart. During the episode, Andrea explores the furry foundations of animal companions, including why they’re so well suited for SFF, using real animals vs. creating new creatures, what animal companions can bring to a story and its characters, writing from the POV of animals, anthropomorphism, empathy and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 49: Andrea Stewart talks The Bone Shard War, Querying, Parenthood & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with fantasy author Andrea Stewart about her new book The Bone Shard War, wrapping up The Drowning Empire series, finding a balance between writing and family, struggling in the querying trenches, her new series The Gods Below, why she loves trilogies, the validation of getting an agent, giant ground sloths and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 48: Morally Gray Characters with Fonda Lee (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Morally Gray Characters with award-winning SFF author Fonda Lee. During the episode, Fonda shares her “problematic faves” and untangles the moral complexity that we often find in fictional stories, including what draws us to morally gray characters, what compels authors to write them, stories that lend themselves well to moral grayness, the fine line between morally gray and evil, incorporating moral frameworks into worldbuilding and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 47: Fonda Lee talks Untethered Sky, Green Bones, Falcons & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning SFF author Fonda Lee about her new novella Untethered Sky, her series The Green Bone Saga, writing both sci-fi and fantasy, TV adaptations, the corporate vs. publishing worlds, falconry, manticores, worldbuilding and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
March 2023:
Ep. 46: Video Game Writing with J.S. Dewes (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Video Game Writing with author/game writer J.S. Dewes. During the episode, Jenny explores the ins and outs of game writing: video games as a storytelling medium, writing novels vs. games, what can make video game stories memorable, working on a development team, the importance of characters, choice and gameplay for player immersion and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 45: J.S. Dewes talks Rubicon, Military Sci-Fi, Fan Fiction & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with sci-fi author J.S. Dewes about her new book Rubicon, its inspirations and how it (almost) broke her, The Divide series, military science fiction, films and screenwriting, fan fiction, video games, her evolving writing process and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 44: Post-Apocalyptic Fiction with Chuck Wendig (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Post-Apocalyptic Fiction with author Chuck Wendig. During the episode, Chuck digs into some fundamentals of the genre: what attracts people to apocalyptic narratives, how writers can tap into larger societal fears (like AI and nuclear war), fungi and fungal pandemics, the importance of hope in dire circumstances, creating believable characters in apocalyptic scenarios and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 43: Chuck Wendig talks Wayward, Hallucinations, Horror & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Chuck Wending about his book Wanderers and its new sequel Wayward, his evolving writing process, his love of horror and writing in different genres, forging meaningful friendships in the writing community, being kind to yourself, hallucinations, fungi, parenting and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
February 2023:
Ep. 42: Writing Beginnings with Chelsea Abdullah (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing Beginnings with author Chelsea Abdullah. During the episode, Chelsea shares her takes on the intricacies of openings: why beginnings are so important (for both readers and agents/editors), balancing character and worldbuilding in an opening chapter, the pros and cons of prologues, kick-ass first lines, writing beginnings for multiple POV characters and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 41: Chelsea Abdullah talks The Stardust Thief, Folklore, Discovery Writing & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Chelsea Abdullah about how she got into writing, her debut novel The Stardust Thief, folklore inspirations and 1001 Nights, discovery writing and (not) planning things, writing The Ashfire King on contract, reverse outlining and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 40: Audiobook Narration with Travis Baldree (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Audiobook Narration with author/narrator Travis Baldree. During the episode, Travis lays out everything there is to know (and hear) about narration: the appeal of narrating and listening to books, the exploding popularity of audiobooks, narrating Will Wight’s Cradle series, his recording equipment and preparation process, what it’s like working with authors, costs and methods for hiring a narrator and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 39: Travis Baldree talks Legends & Lattes, Publishing, Writing a Sequel & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author/audiobook narrator Travis Baldree about what inspired him to start writing, working in the video game industry, the origins of Legends & Lattes, comparing/contrasting self-publishing and traditional publishing, writing his first sequel and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
January 2023:
Ep. 38: Discovery Writing with H.M. Long (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass with author H.M. Long, where she explores the process of Discovery Writing. During the episode, Hannah explains the concept of discovery writing, how it became her go-to writing approach, the benefits of discovery writing for workflow, plot and worldbuilding, spontaneity in storytelling, editing while drafting, potential challenges and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 37: H.M. Long talks Barrow of Winter, Dark Water Daughter, Writing as Therapy & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author H.M. Long about her origins in SFF and reading, why she started writing, the many books she wrote before getting published, the origins of Hall of Smoke, how she expanded that book into a series, her new books Barrow of Winter and Dark Water Daughter, plus pirates, salamanders and much more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 36: Being a Debut Author with M.J. Kuhn (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn for the very first SFF Addicts mini-masterclass, where M.J. lays out the good, bad and ugly of Being a Debut Author. During the episode, she delves into the many books she wrote before getting published, why she chose traditional publishing, querying agents and putting books on submission, working with editors and cover designers, the difficult road to book two, marketing, challenges, bright moments and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 35: M.J. Kuhn talks Among Thieves, Video Games, Redwall & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and his new co-host M.J. Kuhn as they chat about M.J.’s writing career: how she got into writing fiction, her debut novel Among Thieves, Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, Mass Effect, Assassin’s Creed and video game inspirations, character-driven narratives, morally grey characters, writing multiple POVs and more.
This episode is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TBRCon is back for its third edition with TBRCon2023, FanFiAddict’s all-virtual sci-fi/fantasy/horror convention, streaming live from January 22-29! Check out this quick announcement for more details.
This announcement is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
New Co-Host, New Format, Patreon & Merch Store!
Some big changes are coming to SFF Addicts podcast! Tune in to hear about our new co-host and format, as well as the launch of our Patreon and merchandise store.
This announcement is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
December 2022:
Ep. 34: What We’re Excited to Read in 2023 (with Fiction Fans Podcast & Connor M. Caplan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson, author Connor M. Caplan and podcasters Sara Carothers and Lilly Ellison (co-hosts of Fiction Fans podcast) as they look ahead at the year to come. During the panel they lay out some reading habits they’d like to change, share a few books from their TBR piles that they want to read ASAP, discuss their most anticipated upcoming 2023 releases, rave about Terry Pratchett/Discworld, The Princess Switch movies and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Jonathan Nevair for a chat about his new book Stellar Instinct, his art history and academic backgrounds, secondary worlds and space opera, hopeful science fiction, writing thrillers, James Bond and secret agents, compelling villains, pacing, action and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 33: Our Favorite Reads of 2022 (with Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and podcasters Dylan Marsh and Charles M.C. (co-hosts of Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast) as they reminisce on the year that was. During the panel they share their top picks for favorite SFF reads of the year (3 each for a total of 9), reflect on their reading habits in 2022, offer some honorable mentions, officially dub Adrian the ‘Bad Boy of SFF’ and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Aliette de Bodard
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author Aliette de Bodard for a chat about her new book The Red Scholar’s Wake, books in translation, Vietnamese history and language, her Universe of Xuya series, worldbuilding, childbirth, sentient spaceships, sapphic romance, family, food as memory and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
November 2022:
Ep. 32: Robots & AI (with Daniel H. Wilson, Ada Hoffmann, Emma Mieko Candon & I. S. Lee)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Daniel H. Wilson, Ada Hoffmann, Emma Mieko Candon and I. S. Lee as they program the virtual realities of robots and artificial intelligence. During the panel they discuss why robots & AI are so captivating, the dialogue between science and sci-fi, humanist thinking, debates around intelligence and consciousness, transhumanism and posthumanism, creation and gods, nature vs. technology and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Zelda Knight
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning editors/authors Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki and Zelda Knight for a chat about their new anthology Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, as well as the evolution and meaning of the anthology’s title, the story selection process, offering a platform for new African and diaspora authors, storytelling traditions, community building and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 31: Nautical Fantasy (with Andrea Stewart, RJ Barker & Joshua Phillip Johnson)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Andrea Stewart, RJ Barker and Joshua Phillip Johnson as they sail the high seas of nautical fantasy. During the panel they discuss why the ocean is so captivating (and terrifying), why it blends well with fantasy stories, nautical worldbuilding, character development, maritime battles, magic systems, deep sea creatures and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TV Club: House of the Dragon S01 Review (with Miltos Yerolemou, M.J. Kuhn & Liam Quane)
W̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶s̶ Dragons are coming! Join host Adrian M. Gibson and actor Miltos Yerolemou (aka Syrio Forel in Game of Thrones), as well as authors M.J. Kuhn and Liam Quane, as they review season one of House of the Dragon. During the panel they discuss their personal relationships with Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, Miltos’ experiences acting on Game of Thrones, first impressions of House of the Dragon, its character portrayals, time jumps, actor changes and dialogue, as well as hopes for season two and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author and editor Lavie Tidhar for a chat about his new releases Neom and The Best of World SF Vol. 2, growing up in Israel, writing about the Middle East, international sci-fi, tackling challenging themes with humor, robots and Asimov’s ‘Three Laws of Robotics’, L. Ron Hubbard, messiahs and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Robert Jackson Bennett, Leslye Penelope, M.J. Kuhn and Jonathan Nevair as they crack open heists and capers. During the panel they discuss why heists and capers are so damn cool, the fundamental elements of heists, incorporating heist narratives into sci-fi and fantasy worlds, character building, dream heist teams, tropes, “competency porn” and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
October 2022:
Fly, you fools! Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors P. Djèlí Clark (aka the Disgruntled Haradrim), Connor M. Caplan and Fiction Fans podcast co-host Sara Carothers as they review season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. During the panel they discuss their personal relationships with the LOTR franchise, its status as a pop culture phenomenon, first impressions of the new show, its characters, narratives, pacing and visuals, hopes for season two, the big reveal of who is Sauron(!) and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Mary Robinette Kowal
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal for a chat about her new novel The Spare Man, her Glamourist Histories and The Lady Astronaut series, the modern space race, building off of Dashiell Hammett’s book The Thin Man (and its movie adaptations), what makes a good mystery, committed couples, compelling characters, dogs, puppeteering and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Mary Robinette Kowal, Sylvain Neuvel, Nia “N. E.” Davenport, James Kennedy and Jane Gilmartin as they unpack the structure and suspense of sci-fi thrillers. During the panel they discuss the essential elements of thrillers, melding thrillers with science fiction, willful transgressions and inciting incidents, pacing and tension, reader expectations, worldbuilding, character decisions and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 28: Memorable Characters in SFF (with Fiction Fans & Connor M. Caplan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and friends of the show Sara Carothers and Lilly Ellison (co-hosts of Fiction Fans podcast) and author Connor M. Caplan as they explore what makes fictional characters so memorable. During the panel they discuss the difference between ‘favorite’ and ‘memorable’ characters, the waxing and waning popularity of character-driven stories and more. Plus, they each share their top three picks for most memorable characters in SFF, for a total of twelve.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
September 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and self-pub author Luke Tarzian for a chat about his new novelette A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell, Luke’s art background and book/cover design work, mental health and grief, the self-publishing community, balancing satire and emotion, writing as therapy and much more. Of course, as is always the case with Luke, things get pretty naughty by the end.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 27: Gods & Mythologies (with Chelsea Abdullah, Dyrk Ashton, Zamil Akhtar & Gabriela Houston)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Chelsea Abdullah, Dyrk Ashton, Zamil Akhtar and Gabriela Houston as they delve into the ancient mysteries of gods, mythologies and folklore. During the panel they discuss mythology as a concept, how culture and curiosity brought mythology into their lives, incorporating gods, mythologies and folklore into their stories, the power of narratives and storytelling traditions, researching and respecting mythological traditions, weird creatures and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Interview: SPSFC 1 Finalists (feat. Hugh Howey & Duncan Swan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors/SPSFC founders Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan, along with SPSFC 1 finalists Patrice Fitzgerald, T. A. Bruno, Cameron Coral, G. M. Nair, Ben Roberts, Jack Lyster and KT Belt, for a chat about the first year of the competition, lessons learned and how they’ll apply that to SPSFC 2, book pitches from the finalists, thoughts on the self-published sci-fi community, advice for future entrants and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Malka Older, T. R. Napper, Lincoln Michel and Craig Lea Gordon as they decode the (virtual) realities of cyberpunk’s past, present and future. During the panel they discuss what attracts them to cyberpunk, the genre’s origins in noir, the contrast between cities and apocalyptic landscapes, worn out cyberpunk tropes and aesthetics, big themes like biotech and transhumanism, memory and reality, information and AI, as well as how the genre can be resuscitated in the 21st-century and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
August 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and bestselling author Claire North for a chat about her new book Ithaca, her young career beginnings, pen names and passing on your creativity to readers, the power of stories, history, mythology, badass women wielding weapons and much more. And, of course, writing a story about Ithaca, you may wonder, has Claire ever visited the island of Ithaca?
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TV Club: The Sandman S01 Review (Bonus Episode)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Connor M. Caplan and Liam Quane, as well as FanFiAddict’s Eleni Argyró, as they review season one of The Sandman. During the panel they discuss their first introductions to The Sandman comic books, first impressions of the new show, character portrayals and the overarching narrative, their highlights from season one and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 25: History & Fantasy (with Claire North, Rebecca Roanhorse, Ed McDonald & Vaishnavi Patel)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Claire North, Rebecca Roanhorse, Ed McDonald and Vaishnavi Patel as they delve deep into antiquity, exploring the intersection of history and fantasy. During the panel they discuss what fascinates each of them about history, why fantasy and history play so well together, how history can apply to worldbuilding, character and plot, the freedom of secondary worlds versus the rich lore of mythological retellings, how fictional stories can highlight obscured histories and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and speculative fiction author Victor Manibo for a chat about his debut novel The Sleepless, hyperinsomnia as a story concept, his law career, writing a queer Filipino protagonist, capitalism, pharmaceutical companies, corporate media, pandemics, hopes for the future of humanity and much more. They also touch on the inevitable question: would Victor choose to be sleepless?
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author Tasha Suri for a chat about her love of history, the importance of research in worldbuilding (and when to ignore it), writing as part of the South Asian diaspora, sapphic romances, magic systems, her new book The Oleander Sword and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 24: One-Year Anniversary Extravaganza!
Join host Adrian M. Gibson for a special SFF Addicts one-year anniversary extravaganza (streamed live on YouTube), where he reminisces on the past year of podcasting, chats with friends and catches up with past guest authors like Kevin Hearne, Delilah S. Dawson, Anthony Ryan, K.S. Villoso, Andrea Stewart, Dyrk Ashton, Michael R. Fletcher, Krystle Matar, Ryan Cahill, Matt Kressel and more. Plus, three LIVE READINGS, from authors Connor M. Caplan, Tori Gross and Adrian M. Gibson himself.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author Sam J. Miller for a chat about community and the Clarion workshop, tattoos, queer history, genre-bending, comparing narrative forms (novel, novella, short story, etc.) to dating and relationships, his new releases Boys, Beasts & Men and Kid Wolf & Kraken Boy and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
July 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors/hosts of Wizards, Warriors & Words podcast Jed Herne, Dyrk Ashton, Michael R. Fletcher and Rob J. Hayes for a special crossover episode focused on SFF podcasting. Utter chaos ensues as they discuss the origins of both WWW and SFF Addicts, the ins and outs of running a podcast, what podcasting has given them personally and as writers, advice on getting started with your own podcast, ordering alcohol on Amazon UK, making beeswax candles, fanboying, fame, stinky musicians, “proposing” to William Gibson and much more. Come, laugh hysterically during this sentimental shit show of an episode, embrace the numerous tangents, and go get yourself a Jed.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TV Club: Obi-Wan Kenobi Review (with J.S. Dewes, J. Dianne Dotson & Patricia A. Jackson)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors J.S. Dewes, J. Dianne Dotson and Patricia A. Jackson as they discuss and review the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, the new Star Wars TV show starring everyone’s favorite Jedi Master. During the panel they discuss their relationships with the Obi-Wan character, first impressions after seeing the show, character portrayals and storylines, hopes for a potential second season, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Inquisitors and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Interview: SOLAR Creators Chris Porter & Jenny Curtis
Join FanFiAddict’s Frasier Armitage and Chris Porter and Jenny Curtis, creators and directors of the sci-fi audiodrama SOLAR starring Stephanie Beatriz, Helen Hunt, Alan Cumming and Jonathan Bangs,for a chat about their hit new show. They delve into the inspiration behind and creation of the audiodrama, the recording process and working with the voice actors, the importance of music and audio design and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 22: Queerness & Gender in SFF (with C. L. Clark, Ryka Aoki, Khan Wong & Al Hess)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors C. L. Clark, Ryka Aoki, Khan Wong and Al Hess as they explore the intersection of queerness, gender and sexuality in sci-fi and fantasy. During the panel they discuss what queerness means to each of the participants, their personal journeys with sexuality and gender, why sci-fi and fantasy are so well-suited for queer stories, the supportive nature of the SFF community, sensitivity readers, romance and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel (AUDIO ONLY).
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Becky Chambers for a chat about fictional comfort foods, her journey writing the Wayfarers series, transitioning to the Monk & Robot novellas, tea, video games, hopeful science fiction and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
June 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Alex Jennings for a chat about his new novel The Ballad of Perilous Graves, his long journey towards publication, participating in Clarion West, meeting his literary idols, New Orleans and jazz culture, the magic of music and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Robert Jackson Bennett
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Robert Jackson Bennett for a chat about The Divine Cities and The Founders Trilogy, how he got into writing, infusing history, politics and religion into his fictional worlds, creating interesting magic systems, cyberpunk-as-fantasy, wrapping up another trilogy and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Samit Basu for a chat about his new novel The City Inside, how he got into writing, screenwriting and filmmaking, comic books and superheroes, surveillance and technology, the current state of South Asian fantasy and science fiction, representing India and New Delhi in his work and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
May 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Nicholas Eames, J. S. Dewes, Austin Grossman, Ciel Pierlot and Ron Walters as they take a deep dive into the virtual worlds of video games. During the panel they discuss the intersection between video games and SFF, the creative feedback loop between gaming and writing, incorporating games into book narratives, book-to-game adaptations and vice versa, developing and writing for video games and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Anthony Ryan, Krystle Matar, Michael R. Fletcher, Jessica Moon and Ben Galley as they compare and contrast traditional, indie and self-publishing. During the panel they discuss the viability of each publishing avenue, misconceptions about them, finding an agent, cover art and design, the editing process, distribution and marketing and much more. DISCLAIMER: This discussion is specifically about fantasy and sci-fi publishing.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Adrian Tchaikovsky for a chat about his long writing journey, the galactic worldbuilding, politics and characters of The Final Architecture series, his personal history with biology and zoology, creating strange alien races and writing empathetic aliens, the contrast between writing fantasy and science fiction, how he approaches research and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 19: Martial Arts in SFF (with Fonda Lee, K. S. Villoso, Alexander Darwin & Sam Hawke)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Fonda Lee, K. S. Villoso, Alexander Darwin and Sam Hawke as they grapple with the topic of martial arts in sci-fi and fantasy. During the panel they discuss incorporating martial arts into fictional stories, what it can add to pacing, characters and worldbuilding, the spiritual and holistic sides of combat sports, the growing mainstream popularity of martial arts and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
April 2022:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author/actor Luke Arnold for a chat about his new book One Foot in the Fade, worldbuilding, characters and more in The Fetch Phillips Archives, Raymond Chandler and other noir influences, morally grey characters (and worlds), balancing acting and writing and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 18: Our Favorite Fantasy Books & Seris (and Why We Love Them)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict book bloggers Tori Gross, Benny, Naty and Sean for a new FanFiAddict family panel, where they share their favorite fantasy books and series. During the panel they each share two of their top picks for fantasy books or series (for a total of ten), as well as reflecting on what the fantasy genre means to them, the current state of the genre and what their hopes are for its future.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Live Playthrough: Siege of Treboulain (with Jed Herne)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s Tori Gross and Connor M. Caplan as they play the beginning of Siege of Treboulain live with author Jed Herne. They had a great time experiencing the game together, crafting a consistent main character and making decisions as a team (with the occasional inconsistent decision to throw gasoline on the fire). Jed also answered some questions about the game’s worldbuilding, character progression and more.
This live playthrough is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Jed Herne for a chat about his new epic fantasy interactive fiction game Siege of Treboulain, his previous novels, the challenges (and benefits) of writing an interactive fiction game versus a novel, how he got started in podcasting, the beginnings of Wizards, Warriors & Words and what his hopes are for the podcast’s future, finding a good creative/life balance and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Chris Panatier for a chat about his new novel Stringers, his first novel The Phlebotomist, the biology of blood, string theory and quantum entanglement, research wormholes, humor and effective uses of footnotes in fiction, bug sex, art, tattoos, metal bands and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 17: Writing Sequels (with Gareth L. Powell, Andrea Stewart, Dan Fitzgerald & E. G. Radcliff)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Gareth L. Powell, Andrea Stewart, Dan Fitzgerald and E. G. Radcliff as they crack open the mysteries of writing sequels. During the panel they discuss what sequels can offer a story and its characters, what goes into planning a series, misconceptions about the dreaded “sophomore slump,” series-related pitfalls, transitioning from one series to another and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
March 2022:
Author Chat: Nia “N. E.” Davenport
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Nia “N. E.” Davenport for a chat about her debut novel The Blood Trials, breaking into the SFF market, incorporating geopolitics, race and magic into her fictional world, writing an ass-kicking female protagonist, delivering tense, powerful action scenes and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Gareth L. Powell for a chat about his new book Stars and Bones, its timely themes, the mentorship of Diana Wynne Jones and Helen Dunmore, paying it forward with a “field guide” on writing, the appeal of writing space opera and accessible sci-fi, social media and mental health and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Evan Winter, Ryan Cahill, Quenby Olson, Brian Naslund and Kerstin Espinosa Rosero as they delve into the mysterious and magical world of dragons. During the panel they discuss their personal histories with dragons, fresh and modern representations of the creature, dragon tropes and motifs and much more. There was also a solid twenty minutes or so towards the end where each panelist offers up amazing writing advice for the aspiring and working authors out there. Side note: this panel was beautiful chaos, featuring many mic drops, dick jokes (just the words, not actual jokes), crotch biting references and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Krystle Matar for a chat about her writing journey, Legacy of the Brightwash, themes of parenting, identity, corrupt institutions and colonization, the self-published fantasy community, their shared loves of both Anthony Bourdain and Michael Pollan and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 15: Cities as Characters (with Fonda Lee, Gareth Hanrahan, Jadie Jang & Peter Hartog)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Fonda Lee, Gareth Hanrahan, Jadie Jang and Peter Hartog as they explore the urban sprawl of fictional cities. During the panel they discuss the distinctive character of both fictional and real-world cities, how to use a setting to enhance worldbuilding, character and plot, creating fictional cities from scratch compared to representing real cities, city-related tropes, worldbuidling advice for writers and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Daniel Abraham for a chat about his eleven-year journey co-writing The Expanse books with Ty Franck and working on the TV adaptation, saying goodbye to that series, creating the world of The Kithamar Trilogy and writing the first book, Age of Ash, the theme of grief, characters that come out of nowhere, challenging preconceptions of ‘epic fantasy’ and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
February 2022:
TV Club: The Book of Boba Fett S01 Review (Bonus Episode)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors Gareth L. Powell, J. S. Dewes and J. Dianne Dotson as they discuss and review season one of The Book of Boba Fett, the new Star Wars TV series centered on the infamous bounty hunter. During the panel they discuss their relationships with Boba Fett, first impressions of the show, narrative and pacing, how it ties in with The Mandalorian, Din Djarin and Grogu, Tatooine fatigue, the future of Star Wars on the small screen and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 14: Humor & Satire in SFF (with Nicholas Eames, Josiah Bancroft, Delilah Dawson & Kevin Hearne)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Nicholas Eames, Josiah Bancroft, Delilah Dawson and Kevin Hearne as they have a good laugh about humor and satire in sci-fi and fantasy. During the panel many jokes are made (of course) as they explore the various ways humor and satire can be utilized in a story, from providing tension relief and dealing with trauma to writing humorous characters and scenes, as well as workshopping jokes, the challenges of written humor and much more. Also, Delilah and Kevin share their experiences co-writing The Tales of Pell series together, and let’s just say a fair bit of alcohol was involved.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 13: Space Ooopera (with Adrian Tchaikovsky, J. S. Dewes & Jonathan Nevair)
After a couple of weeks of TBRCon2022 craziness, SFF Addicts is back to its regularly scheduled programming with a new numbered episode! Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Adrian Tchaikovsky, J. S. Dewes and Jonathan Nevair as they explore the wonders of space opera in a galaxy far, far away. During the panel they discuss the (often confusing) fundamentals and origins of space opera, aliens vs. the human experience, the shifting perspectives of the genre, subversion of outdated genre conventions, mythology and history as a framework for modern sci-fi stories and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TBRCon 2022: Morally Grey Characters (with Joe Abercrombie, Richard K. Morgan, Luke Arnold & More)
Morally Grey Characters is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Joe Abercrombie, Richard K. Morgan, Luke Arnold, Stephen Aryan and Jeremy Szal. Moderated by FanFiAddict and TBRCon founder David Walters.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TBRCon 2022: Parenting in SFF (with Gabriela Houston, Caroline Hardaker, Ron Walters & More)
Parenting in SFF is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Gabriela Houston, Caroline Hardaker, Ron Walters, Dan Hanks and Alex Thomson. Moderated by our very own host Adrian M. Gibson.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Writing Accessible Sci-Fi is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Adrian Tchaikovsky, Xueting C. Ni, Gareth L. Powell, Louise Carey and Jonathan Nevair. Moderated by author Christian “Miles” Cameron.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Norse-Inspired Fantasy is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring TL Greylock, Thilde Kold Holdt, Timandra Whitecastle, Ryan Cahill, Genevieve Gornichec & D.W. Ross. Moderated by Beth Tabler.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
January 2022:
TBRCon 2022: Fantasy Around the World (with Evan Winter, Fonda Lee, K.S. Villoso, C.L. Clark & More)
Fantasy Around the World is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Fonda Lee, K.S. Villoso, C.L. Clark and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki. Moderated by author Evan Winter.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Cinematic Storytelling is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Hugh Howey, J. S. Dewes, Gareth Hanrahan, Brian Naslund and Patricia A. Jackson. Moderated by our very own host Adrian M. Gibson.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
The Modern Horror Renaissance is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Lee Murray, Ellen Datlow, Eric Larocca, Christina Sng & Andy Davidson. Moderated by Sadie Hartmann.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
The Past, Present & Future of Grimdark is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Richard Nell, Adrian Selby, Ben Galley, Anna Smith Spark & Peter McLean. Moderated by Beth Tabler.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-wining author T. R. Napper for a chat about the birth and progression of the cyberpunk genre, punk aesthetics, Vietnamese history, Southeast Asia as a setting, memory and PTSD, immigration and identity, his short story collection Neon Leviathan, his new debut novel 36 Streets and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TV Club: The Wheel of Time S01 Review (Bonus Episode)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guests P. Djèlí Clark, Patricia A. Jackson, Sara Carothers (Fiction Fans podcast) and Benjamin (Literature & Lofi) as they discuss and review season one of The Wheel of Time, the new TV adaptation of the fantasy book series by Robert Jordan. During the panel they discuss and critique the on-screen portrayals of their favorite WoT characters, analyze the overarching narratives of the show and its many changes, explore its flaws and successes, share their hopes for the next season and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Do you ever judge a book by its cover? Join host Adrian M. Gibson and sci-fi and fantasy cover artists Daniel Dociu, Alyssa Winans, Felix Ortiz and Priscilla Kim, as well as self-pub author and cover artist/designer Luke Tarzian, as they delve into the visual side of the books we read and love. During the panel, they discuss commissions and the step-by-step of a cover art project, working with publishers, artistic mediums, tattoos, the video game industry vs. publishing, book design and typography, promoting yourself as a cover artist and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
December 2021:
Ep. 11: What We’re Excited to Read in 2022
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and Fiction Fans podcast co-hosts Sara Carothers and Lilly Ellison, along with FanFiAddict’s Connor M. Caplan and Arun (aka Bender), for our last episode of 2021. This time, we’re looking ahead to 2022 to discuss the books that we’re excited to read in the coming year (whether it’s a published book that’s already on our TBR lists or something new that is being released in 2022), as well as what we’d like to see more of in the SFF sphere in the future. We also delve a bit into the past and think back on our reading habits and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 10: Our Favorite Reads of 2021
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s David Walters, Tori Gross, Eleni Argyró, Connor M. Caplan and Arun (aka Bender) for our final FanFiAddict family panel of the year. During the episode, we reflect on the past year and share some of our favorite sci-fi, fantasy and horror books that we read throughout 2021. It was a great time, full of lots of jokes and gushing about the authors and books we adore, and we hope that you come out of it with a bunch of books to add to your TBR.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award winning author Fonda Lee for a chat about The Godfather, Dune and Hong Kong action films, her early career, what she’s learned from publishing books, martial arts, building a fictional world from scratch, writing compelling and complex characters, the release of Jade Legacy, saying goodbye to The Green Bone Saga series and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
November 2021:
Ep. 9: Detectives & Noir in SFF (with Dan Stout, Patricia A. Jackson & Dale Lucas)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Dan Stout, Patricia A. Jackson and Dale Lucas for a chat about detectives and noir in science fiction and fantasy. During the panel, they discuss noir, detectives, police procedurals and blending genres, what those genres can offer in terms of setting, characters and narrative, incorporating noir into fictional worlds, using real world influences to enhance stories, noir tropes and much, much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award winning author Jeff Noon for a chat about theater, the Manchester punk and rave scene, surrealism and genre-bending, psychedelics and drugs, cyberpunk, The Nyquist Mysteries series and much more.
This interview is also available on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel (audio only).
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Andrea Stewart for a chat about her wild, long journey to get published, the origins of The Bone Shard Daughter, her new novel The Bone Shard Emperor, writing sequels and planning a trilogy, worldbuilding, morally grey characters, family expectations, painting and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
TV Club: Y: The Last Man S01 Review (Bonus Episode)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guests Sara Carothers and Lilly Ellison, fellow podcasters and hosts of the Fiction Fans podcast, as they discuss and review season one of Y: The Last Man, the new TV adaptation of the comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. During the panel they delve into initial impressions, character portrayals and arcs, the BIG apocalyptic event, political and cultural themes, the show’s unfortunate cancellation and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 8: The SFF We Read as Kids
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s Tori Gross, Tom Harnett and Eleni Argyró for another FanFiAddict family panel. This time, we take a trip down nostalgia lane and explore the science fiction, fantasy and horror that we read as kids. During the panel, we discuss early SFF origins and exposure, how SFF helped us personally growing up, potential stigma or shame surrounding reading and nerd culture, looking back on childhood favorites as adults and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Film Club: Dune Review (Bonus Episode)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Matt Kressel, Patricia A. Jackson, Cody Sisco, Tiffany Trent and Liam Quane as they discuss and review Dune: Part One, the new film adaptation of the famous Frank Herbert novel. During the panel they delve into first reactions, characters and actor portrayals, ecology and environment on Arrakis, music, costumes, cinematography and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Josiah Bancroft for a chat about the release of his latest novel The Fall of Babel, writing (and finishing) a four-book series, the origins of The Books of Babel, self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, SPFBO, writing believable characters, approaches to humor and satire and much more. (Also, jokes aplenty.)
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 7: Food in Fantasy (with Andrea Stewart, Krystle Matar & Angela Boord)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s Tom Harnett as they chat with fantasy authors Andrea Stewart, Krystle Matar and Angela Boord about food in fantasy. During the panel they dish on food, family and culture, incorporating food into fictional worldbuilding, food tropes and pet peeves in fantasy and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
October 2021:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author Alison Stine for a chat about her journey as a writer, the origins of her novels Road Out of Winter and Trashlands, how climate change plays into her fiction, parenting, characters and community, trash, tattooing and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 6: Climate Change & Cli-Fi (with Sam J. Miller, Claire North, Matthew Kressel & Premee Mohamed)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Sam J. Miller, Claire North, Matthew Kressel and Premee Mohamed as they discuss climate change and climate fiction. During the panel they explore using climate change in fictional worldbuilding, channeling anxiety through optimism, challenges related with climate change and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 5: Music in SFF (with Sebastien de Castell, Anthony Ryan & Juliet Marillier)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s David Walters as they dive into music in SFF with authors Sebastien de Castell, Anthony Ryan and Juliet Marillier. During the panel they discuss their personal histories with music, the rhythm of writing, how music plays into combat and action scenes, the musical aspects of worldbuilding and more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
September 2021:
Join FanFiAddict’s Tori Gross as she chats with self-published fantasy author and cover artist/book designer Luke Tarzian about various aspects of writing, the effects of mental health on writing, Twitter hijinks, Luke’s latest and upcoming projects and much more.
Ep. 4: YA vs. Adult SFF (Is There A Difference?)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s Tori Gross, Paige Harris and Justin Gross for our very first FanFiAddict family panel, where we delve into YA vs. Adult SFF. As we each come from different backgrounds and have different experiences with YA, we wanted to know if there really is a difference between the two. Where do the lines blur? Are genre classifications even useful? What does YA offer that Adult SFF doesn’t? During the panel, we discuss all of that and more, including SFF and contemporary YA, queer representation and diversity, misconceptions about YA and our hopes for the future of the genre.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: P. Djèlí Clark (Part Two)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with award winning fantasy author Phenderson Djèlí Clark, where they geek out about history and take a deep dive into his novel A Master of Djinn: how he built the world, incorporating magic and history, how the novel reflects our own world and much more. This is Part Two of a two-part interview.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: P. Djèlí Clark (Part One)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with award winning fantasy author Phenderson Djèlí Clark about his childhood, his writing journey, publishing, campy ’80s nostalgia, creative inspiration and much more. This is Part One of a two-part interview. This is Part One of a two-part interview.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 3: Indie Publishing & Bookselling (with The Broken Binding)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict’s David Walters and Justin Gross as they dig into indie publishing and bookselling with Matt, founder of The Broken Binding. During the panel they discuss the founding of The Broken Binding, the magic of book collecting and special editions, traditional booksellers, the importance of community in SFF, the audiobook and eBook markets, the future of The Broken Binding and much more.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
August 2021:
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with urban fantasy author Dan Stout about Chris McGrath’s amazing book covers, Dan’s experiences in publishing, the craft of writing, plus deep dives into various aspects of his series The Carter Archives and much more.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Ep. 2: Self-Publishing & SPSFC (with Hugh Howey & Duncan Swan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and his co-host Manny Henri as they dig into self-publishing and SPSFC (the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition) with authors Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan. During the panel they discuss Hugh and Duncan’s work, their experiences in self-publishing, how it compares to traditional publishing, and explore the past and present of the self-pub market. They also chat about SPSFC, how Hugh and Duncan founded the competition and where they hope it will go in the future.
This panel is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Nicholas Eames (Part Two)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with fantasy author Nicholas Eames about writing craft and creativity, the positive trends in SFF and where the genres are going, music, video games, and much more. This is Part Two of a two-part interview.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Author Chat: Nicholas Eames (Part One)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with fantasy author Nicholas Eames about his life and upbringing, early SFF influences and nerd culture, working in restaurants, editing and working with publishers, why he no longer wears cargo shorts, and much more. This is Part One of a two-part interview.
This interview is also available in video on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel.
Welcome to SFF Addicts, a new podcast from the book blog FanFiAddict.com! In our first ever episode, join host Adrian M. Gibson as he lays out the goals for SFF Addicts, what you can expect from future episodes, and what inspired him to start the show. We appreciate you listening and can’t wait for you to hear what we have in store!