Jacci Turner and I talk about her newest YA fantasy series, The Tree Singer series. Fifteen-year-old Mayten loves training as a tree singer, an esteemed position among her clan. But when she feels pain coming from the trees, she finds herself on an unexpected quest, one so dangerous she might never return home. Now Mayten must use her unfinished training to face betrayal, fear, and a deadly foe. Is she a match for the ancient evil attacking her trees or will the entire kingdom fall to ruin?We also talk about how our spirituality informs our choices as writers, and what it means to be a progressive Christian voice in that space. Jacci gives me some insight into her non-fiction work and her work in leading retreats.https://linktr.ee/Jacciturner

I took some time (more time than anticipated) to talk with author Matthew J. Gleason about their love of pulpy fiction, dirty pictures, sexy horror, and all things weird and wonderful. They were very patient with me (as you'll see), and this episode was a lot of fun!

In episode 16 of Creative Dynamos, I sit down with longtime friend and steampunk comedy adventure author Doc Coleman. We reminisce about our 15-year friendship, including our shared history at Balcon, and discuss Doc's writing journey, which began in 2009. Doc shares insights into his steampunk world and characters, particularly Professor Harmonious Crackle and Miss Titania Bang. We delve into the appeal of steampunk, its retro-futuristic elements, and the genre's blend of science fiction and fantasy with a Victorian-era twist. Doc reveals his writing process, involving both planned and spontaneous elements, and his approach to creating self-contained, episodic novels that new readers can enjoy at any point in the series. We also discuss the challenges of researching historical settings and Doc's future projects, including his newest book and audiobook endeavors. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the unique world of steampunk adventures.00:00 Introduction and Reunion01:24 Doc Coleman's Writing Journey03:28 The Fun in Storytelling08:31 Defining Steampunk11:12 The Punk Element in Steampunk15:22 Creating Iconic Characters19:49 Mystery and Discovery in Writing21:24 Overcoming Writer's Block with Creative Solutions23:33 Crafting Open-Ended Series with Self-Contained Adventures31:35 Balancing Research and Creativity in Writing38:46 Exploring Future Plans and Audio Book Production44:49 Where to Find More of Doc Coleman's Work