In this episode, host Alexandria Quinn Love takes you just outside the door of the Seven Curses tavern, where our protagonist, Evandar, faces his first real confrontation. We explore how a tense standoff with two dangerous mercenaries reveals a character's true skill and history without a single sword being drawn.

Alexandria breaks down the scene from Flame and Shadows Keeper, analyzing how tension is built through posture, dialogue, and positioning. Discover the three crucial things a single, swift action can tell us about Evandar's speed, strength, and experience, and why restraint is often more menacing than aggression. This is a deep dive into showing, not telling, and establishing a character as a master of violence who uses it as sparingly as possible.

Every book holds two stories: the one on the page, and the one behind it. Welcome to "The Storm Kin Series: The Author's Cut," the official podcast where author Alexandria Quinn Love pulls back the curtain on the creation of her epic fantasy series. If you've ever wondered about the hidden details, the authorial choices, and the inspirations that shape a narrative, this is the podcast for you.

In this inaugural episode, "The Seven Curses (An Introduction)," we begin where the series does. After a reading of the opening of Book One, "Flame and Shadows Keeper," Alexandria delves into the craft of storytelling. We explore how the relentless, icy rain of Aldgate Court mirrors the internal turmoil of our protagonist, Evandar. Learn how seemingly small details—from a fishmonger selling "strangely scaled eels" to guards in "ill-fitting boiled leather"—are intentionally placed to build a rich, textured world without resorting to exposition.

Join us as we analyze how a character's simple action of pulling his hood lower can speak volumes about his state of mind, and how the first glimpse of magic—an eerie, pulsing witchlight—sets the tone for a world where magic is as gritty as the city streets. This episode lays the foundation, establishing a weary hero, a grim setting, and a subtle, ominous system of magic that will propel the entire saga.

If you love deep dives into the craft of writing and the secrets behind your favorite stories, you won't want to miss this.

Find out what happens next in Storm Kin-Legacy of Flame and Shadows , available wherever books are sold. For more information and links, visit https://www.HearthstonePress.com.