🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the globetrotting, purple-haired powerhouse behind Smoke and Scar—the first book in the epic, trial-filled, banter-laced Shattered Crown series—Gretchen Powell Fox.

From a childhood spent around the world to crafting a realm torn apart by gods, magic, and political tension, Gretchen takes us deep into her creative process. What began as a “what if the girl was the overpowered one?” idea became a sweeping romantasy filled with deadly trials, elemental magic, and characters you’ll want to protect (and occasionally yell at).

🗝️ What if your greatest ally was raised to destroy you?
🔥 What if the only way to save someone was to enter the same deadly trials that once stole the love of your life?
🌑 And what if embracing your own darkness was the only path forward?

We dive into the world of Smoke and Scar, explore Gretchen’s love for flipping tropes on their head, and unpack the emotional heart beneath the magic, battles, and banter. This one’s for every fantasy reader who craves lush worldbuilding, slow-burn romance, and heroines who could definitely win in a tavern brawl.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Growing up across continents and how it shaped Gretchen’s storytelling voice
✨ The meandering path from her 2012 dystopian debut to Smoke and Scar
✨ The “overpowered fey heroine saves the guy” twist that sparked the book
✨ The Arcane Crucible: deadly trials designed to unite enemies
✨ Why Smoke and Scar is “LOTR meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night”
✨ Flipping romantasy tropes: shadow mommy + golden retriever knight energy
✨ How to keep writing when the self-doubt creeps in

📚 GIVEAWAY ALERT: We’re giving away a signed paperback of Smoke and Scar (U.S. only) and a paperback copy for our international listeners! We're also giving away a special edition of Smoke and Scar from Aurora Crate! Follow us on Instagram for entry details.

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Gretchen Powell Fox – IG: @gretchenpowellfox
🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland

✨ If this episode made you want to pick up a sword, enter a deadly trial, or befriend a shadow-wielding heroine, please rate & review The Mythic Mic—it helps more listeners join our epic quest!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Julie Johnson to talk about The Wind Weaver — the first book in her sweeping Reign of Remnants trilogy.

From bike rides to the tiny one-square-mile Massachusetts island where she grew up, to a scrappy self-published novel in college that paid off her loans, Julie walks us through a career built on persistence, creativity, and big, bold ideas. Windweaver is a war-scarred, elemental romantasy about prophecies, outlawed magic, and a heroine named Rhea who is literally taken by the wind. Expect lush worldbuilding, emotionally messy growth, and a trilogy that only gets bigger from here.

🌬️ What if the one lyric stuck in your head became the heart of your novel?
🌊 What if magic had been outlawed—and the only way to restore it was to reunite four scattered elemental beings?
🔥 And what if the parts of you that you fear most turned out to be your greatest strength?

We dive into the inspiration behind The Wind Weaver, Julie’s wild marketing stunts (think giant book covers at iconic locations), her unexpected Sunday Times #1 moment, the elemental system, and why book two raises the stakes even higher. If you love character-driven fantasy with elemental magic, complicated choices, and a heroine learning to own her darkness, this episode is for you.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Julie’s island-child upbringing and how the ocean shaped her imagination
✨ Writing her first novel in college, self-publishing in 2013, and paying off loans before graduation
✨ How agents found her and how foreign rights led to wider visibility
✨ Why magic was outlawed in Julie’s world—and the prophecy that could bring it back
✨ Marketing creativity: lugging a giant Wind Weaver cover around landmarks
✨ Writing craft: drafting in past tense, flipping to present for publication, and converting later drafts
✨ What Julie wants readers to feel: owning the parts of yourself that scare you (and how darkness can be strength)
✨ What to expect next

🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERT
We’re giving away a special edition copy of The Wind Weaver! Full entry details are on our Instagram — follow along so you don’t miss it.

📖 Follow Julie Johnson – IG: @author_julie
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod
🛒 Order Windweaver and explore the Reign of Remnants trilogy wherever books are sold.

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you want to feel the sea breeze, plot familial prophecies, or immediately dive into a new elemental world, leave us a review — it helps other readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the brilliant, multi-genre storytelling force behind Dawn of Onyx and the newly published If Not For My Baby—the one and only Kate Golden.

From fantasy realms filled with reformed demons and slayer academies to a heart-tugging, swoon-filled rockstar romance that’s already breaking hearts in the best way, Kate takes us deep into her writing journey. What started as a beachside book slump turned into a trilogy, a traditional publishing deal with Berkley, and now an emotional, music-infused contemporary romance that’s ready to steal the stage.

🗝️ What if the book you desperately wanted didn’t exist—so you wrote it yourself?
🎤 What if a single concert sparked an entire novel?
💔 And what if reclaiming your dream meant risking everything—including the safety of staying small?

We dive into the world of If Not For My Baby, explore the fantasy roots that shaped Kate’s storytelling voice, and unpack what it means to let go of the path you thought you had to follow in order to chase the one you really want. This episode is for every book lover who’s ever felt stuck, scared, or ready for a second chance.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How A Court of Thorns and Roses (and a really bad book slump) launched Kate’s writing career
✨ Why she wrote her first book purely for herself—and what happened next
✨ How A Dawn of Onyx went from indie darling to a Berkley-trad deal trilogy
✨ What inspired If Not For My Baby—and why this rockstar romance hits deep
✨ Chronic illness, invisible battles, and why stories like Clementine’s matter
✨ Letting go of dreams, rediscovering them, and falling hard when you least expect it
✨ Writing fantasy vs. contemporary: dragons, demons, and...tour buses?
✨ The Buffy-core dark academia fantasy coming next in Half City
✨ Legos, panic attacks, and the killer tangerine (don’t worry—we explain)
✨ A rapid-fire round that includes book hoards, Beauty and the Beast libraries, and stuck-in-an-elevator fears 😱

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Kate Golden – IG: @kategoldenauthor
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🛒 Order If Not For My Baby and the full Sacred Stones series wherever books are sold.

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode hit you in the feels, gave you dream-chasing chills, or made you swoon over poetic Irish rockstars, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to the Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the powerhouse behind Trial of the Sun Queen and Not Safe for Work—the one and only Nisha J. Tuli.

From deadly trials to rom-coms and polar bears (yes, really), Nisha shares the winding, inspiring journey that led her from engineering school to the fantasy shelves of thousands. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a thriving author career, balance creativity with market demands, or keep writing even when the odds feel stacked against you—this is your episode.

🗝️ What if your first book didn’t sell … and your second didn’t either? 💥 What if you made your own success while publishing said no? 🔥 And what if a South Asian fantasy heroine took back her power one page at a time?

We go behind the scenes of Nisha’s bestselling series, explore why enemies to lovers and morally gray women resonate so deeply, and talk about how female friendships, internalized misogyny, and hard-won autonomy shape her unforgettable heroines. Bonus? We get a sneak peek at Nisha’s dystopian YA with Red Tower’s new imprint—and her spicy new rom-com Not Safe for Work.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How Nisha went from engineering and burned-out tourism marketer to full-time bestselling author.
✨ What indie publishing taught her about grit, growth, and knowing your market.
✨ The art of balancing creativity with strategy—and why your first book probably won’t be the one.
✨ Why Trial of the Sun Queen is The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games with dragons and soul.
✨ Complex women, fierce loyalty, and the politics of writing heroines.
✨ How switching genres made space for her contemporary debut.
✨ What happens when you put a confident female engineer in a room with her nemesis—and there’s only one bed 😏
✨ Sisterhood, villains, soap theft, and PowerPoint-worthy rage.
✨ A rapid-fire round that involves half-naked men, evil Instagram takeovers, and polar bear lodges. 🐾

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Nisha J. Tuli – @nishajtwrites
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
🛒 Order Trial of the Sun Queen, Heart of Night and Fire, Cursed Captors Series, and Not Safe for Work wherever books are sold

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode left you feeling inspired (or mildly obsessed with dragons and ragey PowerPoints), leave us a review—it helps the magic reach more mythic ears.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by author Rachel Fallon, whose romantasy series The Star Queen Chronicles (which includes Of Darkness and Ruination and its just-released sequel Of Light and Freedom) will sweep you into a world of elemental magic, chosen ones, dark fates, and the healing power of hope.

🌑 What if your magic was tied to destruction?
☀️ What if freedom meant burning everything down to start again?
🖤 And what if finding yourself meant facing your worst nightmares—and still choosing love?

Rachel gives us the inside scoop on how her powerful, slow-burn series took shape, the mental health themes woven throughout her characters’ arcs, and what it means to write fantasy that embraces both ruination and redemption. We also dive into tropes (hello, grumpy/sunshine and enemies to reluctant allies!), character trauma, writing dual POVs, and her writing process.

Oh, and did we mention… there’s a GIVEAWAY you don’t want to miss? 👀

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How Rachel’s dark and hopeful fantasy world was shaped by themes of mental health and recovery.
✨ The meaning behind the book titles—and how light and dark are more connected than we think.
✨ Tropes we love: reluctant heroes, elemental magic, forced proximity, and the battle between fate and free will.
✨ How Rachel's chaotic writing brain actually helps her build emotional plot arcs.
✨ The reader reactions that have blown her away—and what’s next on her publishing path.
✨ Plus, an impromptu playlist discussion and a rapid-fire round with fun chaos ⚔️🎶

🌟 ENTER THE “OF DARKNESS AND RUINATION” GIVEAWAY 🌟
To celebrate this episode, Mythic Mic and Rachel Fallon have teamed up to give away a book box fit for a chosen one:

📚 A signed copy of Of Darkness and Ruination
📖 Bookmarks
🎁 Art prints and stickers

📅 Giveaway ends May 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT
HOW TO ENTER: Follow @BethanyinFantasyland on Instagram for full entry details!

CONNECT WITH US:
📖 Follow Rachel Fallon – @rachelfallonauthor
🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland

🛍️ Order Of Darkness and Ruination and Of Light and Freedom on Amazon (or wherever books with magic and mayhem are sold!)

✨ If this episode sparked something inside you, don’t forget to rate & review! Every share helps this podcast reach more romantasy readers and brings more magic (and giveaways!) to your feed.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by USA Today bestselling author Kate King, whose new romantasy A Thorn in Every Heart is a lush, emotional portal fantasy where Beauty and the Beast collides with Anastasia. If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping into a snowy realm of curses, secrets, bodyguard romance, and self-discovery—this is your moment.

🗝️ What if your one-night stand didn’t end with regret… but with a kidnapping to a cursed fairytale realm? 🌹 What if Belle was your grandmother—and the real story wasn’t the one in the storybooks? ❄️ And what if rediscovering yourself meant stepping into the cold, cursed dark… and falling in love?

Kate takes us behind the scenes of her enchanting new series, The Enchanted Legacies, and opens up about what it means to start over at 30, why she intentionally wrote a fantasy for women who grew up on portal stories, and how character art (including the spicy kind!) adds a whole new layer to the reading experience. We also geek out over libraries, Libba Bray, and the YA fantasy books that shaped us.

Oh, and did we mention there’s a magical GIVEAWAY? Stay tuned. 👀

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Why A Thorn in Every Heart is the grown-up fantasy you didn’t know you needed
✨ How Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia inspired Kate’s icy, star-lit fantasy world
✨ The magical elements behind Alix and Daemon's slow-burn, bodyguard romance
✨ Why the heroine being almost 30 matters—and what it says about the future of the genre
✨ Tropes galore: one bed, one horse, “touch her and die,” secret identities, found family, and more
✨ The surprise of reader fandom and the real hustle behind indie author life
✨ How genre boundaries in publishing are changing—and what it means for authors
✨ Spicy character art, winter vibes, and fairy tales with a twist
✨ A rapid-fire round that includes a cat sidekick named Sushi 🐱

🌟 ENTER THE “THORN IN EVERY HEART” GIVEAWAY 🌟
To celebrate this dreamy episode, Mythic Mic is hosting a special giveaway that includes:

📚 A sprayed edge paperback of A Thorn in Every Heart
✍️ A signed bookplate
👜 A fairytale-themed tote bag
📖 Bookmarks + magical Beauty and the Beast-inspired merch

📅 Giveaway ends April 11, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT

HOW TO ENTER: Follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram for details.

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Kate King – @katekingauthor
🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @MythicMicPod and @BethanyinFantasyland
🛍️ Order A Thorn in Every Heart on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Thorn-Every-Heart-Enchanted-Legacies-ebook/dp/B0DNNDGMST) or Barnes and Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thorn-in-every-heart-kate-king/1146578948)

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode cast a spell on you, leave us a review—it helps bring more magic (and more giveaways!) to your ears.

Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda takes you beyond the veil of sleep into a realm where reality fractures, magic lingers, and a single dream can change everything. Joining us is Rowyn Adelaide, author of Of Withering Dreams, a dark romantasy debut filled with secret realms, forgotten memories, and a love that defies time. If you love haunting dream realms, powerful magic, and romance with a touch of darkness, this is an episode you cannot miss!

🌙 What happens when an entire world is forced into six months of magical sleep?
💀 What secrets lie in a dream realm that no one remembers?
🔥 And how does one woman’s forbidden power change everything?

Rowyn gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her mesmerizing world, where an entire kingdom is forced into seasonal sleep—and their stolen time may not be as empty as they believe. She dives into the inspiration behind her dream realm, spills details about her characters (including a fan-favorite who swears too much and stabs first, asks questions later), and gives us a glimpse into what’s next.

Oh, and did we mention there’s a giveaway? Stay tuned. 👀

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How a totally random tailgating event sparked the idea for Of Withering Dreams (yes, really!)
✨ The eerie law that forces an entire population into hibernation
✨ Magic, portals, and the unexpected science behind Rowyn’s fantasy world
✨ The tension, secrets, and swoon-worthy moments of the book’s romance
✨ How Rowyn’s background in social work influenced her themes of resilience and found family
✨ The struggles (and triumphs) of indie publishing—and why it’s like having three jobs at once
✨ Her advice for aspiring authors (including how to break through writer’s block)
✨ And of course… a round of rapid-fire questions

🔥 ENTER THE WITHERING DREAMS GIVEAWAY 🔥

To celebrate this epic episode, Rowyn is giving away an exclusive ebook copy of Of Withering Dreams, which includes a bonus epilogue from one of the male character's POV.

HOW TO ENTER: For entry details, visit https://mythicmic.com or follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram.

📅 Giveaway ends March 25, 2025.

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Rowyn Adelaide – @AuthorRowynAdelaide
🎙 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @MythicMicPodcast and @BethanyinFantasyland
📚 Grab your copies of Of Withering Dreams – https://www.amazon.com/Withering-Dreams-Fantasy-Romance-Embered-ebook/dp/B0DKVF1TX7

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If you loved this episode, leave us a review—it helps bring more magic (and mischief) to your ears!