Join Jo on What's Kraken as we dive deep with thriller author John Bukowski, who made the fascinating transition from veterinarian to bestselling writer. Discover how his medical background fuels his techno-thrillers, including "Project Suicide" - a gripping tale about an Alzheimer's cure turned assassination weapon. John shares invaluable insights about the publishing world, from navigating traditional publishers to avoiding vanity presses, plus the brutal reality of rejection in the writing industry. We explore his research process, the importance of professional editing, and why starting your writing career at any age is possible. Whether you're an aspiring author or thriller fan, this conversation is packed with practical advice about contracts, beta readers, and building a sustainable writing career. John's latest releases include "The Peeper" and upcoming "Bad Pennies.

• John's transition from veterinarian to thriller writer
• How medical training enhances thriller writing authenticity
• "Project Suicide" - Medical techno-thriller about weaponized Alzheimer's cure
• Publishing industry realities: rejection, contracts, and publisher relationships
• The importance of professional editing and beta readers
• Research balance in fiction writing
• Starting a writing career at any age
• Current and upcoming book releases

John Bukowski - Thriller Author

• Website: thrillerjohnb.net
• Amazon Author Page: jbukowskiauthor.com
• Latest Release: "The Peeper" (May 2025)
• Upcoming: "Bad Pennies" sequel

Host: Jo Szewczyk
All Empty Hell Links: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell
What's Kraken Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon

Join Jo as he sits down with Dan Henk, tattoo artist, author, and creator of the upcoming anthology "The Joke is on Mankind." Dan shares his incredible journey from being a blue mohawk punk rocker getting beaten up by nazi skinheads in 1980s Virginia to becoming a successful tattoo shop owner in Long Beach, New York.

We dive deep into Dan's unique approach to his anthology - offering original illustrations worth $300-500 to every contributor instead of payment, his experiences interviewing with DC Comics and Penguin Books, and wild stories from the punk scene including nights at CBGB's and the 930 Club. Dan also discusses the evolution of tattoo culture from counterculture to mainstream, shares advice about persistence in creative fields, and reveals why "no" doesn't always mean never.

Whether you're interested in horror anthologies, tattoo artistry, punk rock history, or the creative process, this episode delivers authentic stories and hard-earned wisdom from someone who's lived it all.

Jo interviews comedian Shawn Wickens about his upcoming performance at the Atlanta Fringe Festival (May 30-June 7, 2025). Shawn shares his journey from improv to stand-up, and how a stoned revelation led to his unique show "Secret Time Travel Meeting." Discover how Fringe Festivals have taken Shawn from New York to international stages. Learn about the lottery system for festival selection, audience interaction techniques, and how Shawn created merchandise before developing his show. This conversation offers insights into live theater, comedy development, and the spontaneity that makes performances special.

00:01 - Introduction and Atlanta Fringe Festival announcement 00:36 - Explanation of Fringe Festivals worldwide 01:50 - Shawn's journey from improv to theater 03:32 - Experiences at Regina Fringe Festival 04:59 - "Secret Time Travel Meeting" show concept 05:37 - International Fringe Festival experiences 07:45 - First joke development story 10:04 - Performing for different audience types 12:48 - Story about a challenging private show 15:13 - Value of improv training for live performance 16:35 - Audience interaction techniques 17:32 - Origin of Time Machine Blueprints 19:09 - Creating merchandise before the show 21:27 - Philosophy on performing and travel 23:53 - Interactive elements (costumes, NDAs) 25:37 - Game shows as performance inspiration 28:30 - Advice: "Fear less, enjoy more" 30:26 - Upcoming shows and future plans

• Shawn performs "Secret Time Travel Meeting" at Atlanta Fringe Festival (May 30-June 7)
• Show combines comedy with time travel discussions from a stoner's perspective
• Fringe Festivals use lottery systems, making them accessible to performers
• Shawn has performed internationally in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia
• Show encourages audience participation and costume-wearing
• Created timemachineblueprints.com and published a book before developing the show
• Improv background helped develop resilience in live performance

Shawn Wickens began with improv in New York (2004) before transitioning to stand-up. Creator of "Secret Time Travel Meeting" performed at Fringe Festivals worldwide. Owner of timemachineblueprints.com and author of the same-named book.

• Atlanta Fringe Festival (May 30-June 7, 2025)
• Time Machine Blueprints book on Amazon
• Instagram: @timemachinestoned
• Upcoming shows in New York, Rochester, Harrisburg, and potentially Estonia