Jo gets local—and real—with author Robert Howell in this surprising and heartfelt episode of What’s Kraken. From childhood storytelling to publishing paranormal thrillers, Robert shares how a single rejection letter helped shape his 50-year writing journey. They dive into the origin stories behind Blood Mansion and Blood Castle, the quirks of self-publishing, and the minefield of indie publishing contracts. Robert talks candidly about staying grounded through the highs and lows of book launches, the importance of research in fiction, and how his kids helped him re-enter the writing world. Plus, how a haunted-feeling property and a real-life “wind phone” inspired his creepiest books yet.

KEY MOMENTS:

• Opening riff – Jo’s playful intro: “Today… I could just touch your house if I want to, Robert!”
• Guest’s big insight – Robert on keeping his first rejection letter for 50 years to remember the next step will be better.
• Behind‑the‑scenes moment – How Robert’s idea for Blood Mansion came from visiting a creeped‑out empty property during his job in property‑management.
• Personal story – Transitioning from sci‑fi short stories as a teen to a young‑adult urban fantasy novel and then into self‑publishing.
• Why it matters – The broader takeaway: writing is a long game, publishing contracts matter, owning your rights counts—and dreams don’t expire.

👉 Books mentioned: Blood Mansion, Blood Castle, A Devil of a Time
👻 Themes: ghosts, witches, horror grounded in reality, self-doubt, perseverance, and writing as survival
🖊️ Find Robert at: storywriter.ca or @StoryWriter on all the socials
🌐 And don’t forget: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

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Jo chats with Matt Henderson of Loke Battle Mats about building portable, erasable battle-map books, why modular tools beat bulky map tubes, and turning “players derailed my prep” into a feature. Matt also teases Loke’s party-at-the-table card decks—Deck of Many Insults and Dumb Dares & Silly Sidequests—plus the new Dungeon Designer toolkit for instant encounters and solo play. He shares his one-line advice to younger him: bet on yourself—be your own boss and set your destiny.
👉 More from us: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell
💀 We are Amazon Affiliates. If you click or buy through any Amazon links we share, we may earn a commission.

• From wargame mats to erasable RPG map books you can throw in a bag.
• Why modular, two-book spreads beat single giant maps for fast session pivots.
• Built-in QR codes for matching digital maps (VTT/online play).
• Deck of Many Insults and Dumb Dares & Silly Sidequests: party energy inside the RPG.
• Dungeon Designer: scenery + encounter cards + mini guide = instant dungeons & solo-ready play.
• Design ethos: make tools they want as players/DMs; ship quickly, iterate.
• Advice to younger self: start your own thing—“put your money on you.”

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo sits down with Derek Chung from Nomnivore Games to talk accessibility, inclusivity, and why fun should always come first in game design. From the origins of the “Nomnivore” name to building games that double as therapeutic tools, Derek shares how titles like Emberwind, Snack Attack, and Nomaventure are breaking barriers and bringing players of all ages and abilities to the table.

👉 Explore more: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

💀 We are Amazon Affiliates. If you click or buy through any Amazon links we share, we may earn a commission.

• Origin story – How late-night MMO raids (and snacks) inspired Nomnivore.
• Design philosophy – Accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s the foundation.
• Games as therapy – Why Derek says “therapeutic,” not “therapy.”
• Catalog highlights – From Snack Attack to Emberwind, modular games for every player.
• Advice to his younger self – “Get more sleep now — you won’t later.”
• Why it matters – Games as community builders: no kid eats lunch alone.