In this episode of Epic Realms, we're joined by three familiar faces and fantastic authors who have all been part of the Epic Realms Podcast family: Heather G. Harris, Talia Beckett, and Deborah Wilde, for a roundtable discussion all about urban fantasy!

We explore what makes urban fantasy unique and what separates it from other forms of speculative fiction. From favorite tropes to the ones we'd rather leave behind, we discuss what works, what doesn't, and what keeps readers coming back for more. We also talk about creating strong female characters, developing memorable supporting casts without letting them take over the story, and the challenges of bringing an urban fantasy world to life.

Our conversation dives into the craft of worldbuilding, including magic systems, the structure of urban fantasy, and the ways real-world religions, mythology, and folklore can influence the fictional worlds authors create.

We also put our guests' imaginations to work with a fun question: if Heather, Talia, and Deborah opened a bar where all their main characters could gather, what would it be called? What would be on the menu? And what might happen when all those characters ended up under one roof?

Finally, we catch up with our guests on their latest projects, upcoming releases, and where readers can find more of their work.

Whether you're an urban fantasy fan, a reader looking for your next favorite author, or a writer interested in the craft behind the stories, this episode offers plenty to explore.

Join us on Epic Realms for a conversation about the tropes, characters, worldbuilding, and creative ideas that make urban fantasy such a fascinating genre!

Tonight on Epic Realms, we’re joined by urban fantasy author Ben Schenkman for a conversation about writing, creativity, anxiety, mythology, and finding your way back to the stories you love.

Ben shares his journey from discovering a passion for writing at a young age, stepping away to pursue school, theater, and life, and eventually returning to writing later in life. Since then, he’s gone from publishing his first book in 2023 to releasing six books in just a few years.

We also talk openly about living with anxiety as an author, finding ways to cope, and the challenges that can come with balancing creativity and everyday life.

Of course, we dive into Ben’s urban fantasy books, including My Brother’s Keeper and his four-book The Devil You Know series. We discuss Jewish mythology and representation in urban fantasy, and what it means to bring Jewish religion, mythology, and traditions into the genre.

Ben also gives us an update on Arcane Awakenings, an urban fantasy anthology Kickstarter that has already reached its initial goal and is now working toward its first stretch goal.

If you love urban fantasy, mythology, supernatural fiction, independent authors, or behind-the-scenes conversations about writing, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Join us on Epic Realms for our conversation with Ben Schenkman! Ben Schenkman Website https://benschenkman.com/

Arcane Awakenings on Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arcaneawakenings/arcane-awakenings Check out his Amazon Author Page here https://amzn.to/3TRFy9w

Author and game designer Tiffany Rose Nickel joins Nick on Epic Realms to talk about her journey through tabletop RPGs, writing, game design, and streaming.

Tiffany discusses her Legends of Lemuria novels, the creation of One Page Dice Dungeons, her Resident Evil survival actual play RPG, and what she has learned from years of creating and running games. She also shares her philosophy on Game Mastering and why sometimes the best stories are the ones you never planned.

We also look ahead at Tiffany's upcoming projects and her continued work as an independent creator in the tabletop gaming community. https://www.trnickel.com/

This is a replay of the Legend and Lectures podcast with Host and Author Michelle Franklin. She invited me on to talk about the history of Tabletop Roleplaying Games. Where they came from, what things inspired what evolutions and also our usual shenanigans. Its a fun episode, Make sure to go check out Michelle Franklin and of course go Subscribe to Legends and Lectures. Legends and Lectures on Spotify Legends and Lectures on Youtube.

In this episode of Epic Realms, we sit down with legendary comic book writer and artist Phil Hester, whose acclaimed career spans decades and includes memorable work on Green Arrow, Swamp Thing, The Darkness, Wonder Woman, The Wretch, and countless other titles. Known for his dynamic storytelling and distinctive artistic style, Phil has become one of the most respected creators in modern comics.

We dive into Phil's journey from a kid who idolized comic books and the artists who created them to becoming one of the industry's most influential voices. He shares how his college experience helped shape both his artistic vision and his approach to storytelling, the lessons he's carried throughout his career, and what it was like meeting the heroes who inspired him before eventually becoming an inspiration for a new generation of creators.

We also discuss his work on Green Arrow and Swamp Thing, the importance of creator-owned comics, and how they provide future generations with an ever-growing variety of stories, ideas, and creative voices to learn from and be inspired by. Finally, we explore The Quiet Place comic series, including the behind-the-scenes story of working with the studio and the fight to secure permission to expand the hit film franchise into comics.

All this and much more with the one and only Phil Hester.

Award-winning author, novelist, and video game columnist Sarah Maria Griffin joins Epic Realms for a thoughtful conversation about writing, creativity, gaming, and the stories that shape us.

Sarah shares what it was like growing up knowing she wanted to be a writer, despite a world that didn't always see it as a practical dream. She recalls submitting her first novel to a publisher at just 11 years old with her father's help, reflects on the unexpected ways her family supported her creative journey, and discusses the lessons she's carried with her throughout her career.

We also explore her experiences in college and graduate school, her early days publishing poetry, and the mixed emotions that come with seeing your work in print before you feel truly ready. Sarah opens up about finding her voice as an author and the path that led to publishing multiple novels.

As a newspaper columnist covering video games, Sarah discusses how gaming has evolved into a mature art form with its own history, culture, and generations of creators. We also talk about challenging outdated stereotypes about who plays games, the titles and stories that inspire her, and her love of tabletop role-playing games.

Finally, Sarah takes us behind the scenes of her latest novel, Strange Is Light, sharing its inspirations, how it differs from her previous work, and why it may be her most personal book yet.

If you love books, storytelling, role-playing games, or video game culture, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

This week on Epic Realms, we sit down with author and game designer Erik Scott de Bie for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond tabletop RPGs.

We discuss Erik's recent trip to Nepal, how travel fuels his creativity, and the unique experience of exploring the world at 6'7". We also take an unexpected detour into his backyard chicken flock, including the comic book-inspired names and personalities that have make them memorable members of the family.

On the gaming and writing side, we dive into Tales of Basil & Moebius, revisit Yorick and Spitz's adventures across time and worlds, explore his work in Cobalt City, and discuss his Batman-inspired hero from Infernal. Erik also shares what's new with the Dungeon Scrawlers Twitch channel, including their recent Abomination Vaults campaign and the exciting announcement of his upcoming novel based on the adventure path, along with the unique challenge of adapting every room, encounter, and story beat into a novel.

We wrap things up with an exciting look at Realmsbound, the ambitious new Forgotten Realms project led by Ed Greenwood and an incredible team of legendary creators.

Whether you're a fan of fantasy novels, tabletop RPGs, Forgotten Realms, or simply enjoy listening to two longtime friends share stories, insights, and plenty of laughs, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Don't forget to Go Vote for Epic Realms in the Crit Awards https://www.critawards.org/

On this episode of the Epic Realms Podcast, we're joined by author, game designer, and RPG historian Shannon Appelcline for an in-depth conversation about his life, career, and passion for tabletop roleplaying games.

Shannon shares how his journey into Dungeons & Dragons began after spotting an advertisement in a comic book, convincing his father to buy the game, and diving into the rulebooks before running his very first adventure. From growing up alongside D&D and discovering a love of writing at an early age to earning a computer science degree that proved valuable mainly for its access to libraries and the early internet, Shannon reflects on the experiences that shaped his career.

We explore his path through the tabletop RPG industry, from cataloging every issue of Dragon Magazine to writing for roleplaying games and serving as the longtime steward of RPG.net. Shannon also takes us behind the scenes of his landmark Designers & Dragons series, discussing the years of research that went into documenting the history of the RPG industry and why it's so important to preserve the stories of the countless creators whose contributions often go unnoticed.

The conversation also covers his latest project, Designers & Dragons: Origins, fresh from a successful BackerKit campaign, where he continues to uncover the roots of the hobby. Along the way, we discuss his meticulous research process, the influential figures who helped shape tabletop gaming, and the importance of giving credit to the many people who built the industry behind the scenes.

Finally, Shannon gives us a look at what's next, including his upcoming work for Call of Cthulhu, his Losing Sanity project, and his exciting Free Trader Beowulf project.

Whether you're a lifelong tabletop gamer, a student of RPG history, or simply fascinated by the people behind the games we love, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Shannon Appelcline's Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/designersanddragons Designers and Dragons Origins - https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins

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