Co-author and partner David Shadoin and I are pleased to announce the debut of our new podcast, Worlds Asunder.
From magic systems to shared worlds, fantasy to historical fiction, we’re interviewing a horde of brilliant authors and creators to get down to the nitty-gritty of world and character building.
With Book Career in a Year, our aim is to help turn storytellers into writers, writers into authors, and authors into success stories.
We hope you’ll join us every Tuesday for Worlds Asunder–where we break down worlds to give you the bricks to build your own.
Join us in interviewing Steve Ruskin, PhD! He writes thrillers with historical elements, science fiction, and nonfiction, and is here to give expert tips on research and genre writing.
Just what do you do with a PhD in the History of Science? Write novels–science fiction, urban fantasy, and thriller novels. Our guest today is Steve Ruskin, PhD. He’s the author of the nonfiction popular history novel America’s First Great Eclipse and countless academic writings, and also of the ExoRok Rebels science fiction series and Trina Piper magical thrillers.
Steve’s unique background in academics and fiction give him great insight to author resources, creativity, and bringing character-driven fiction to life.
In Part Two, We Discuss:
Painting targets around the points you want to hit in your plots
On-location research and alternatives
Detail writing, and using the five senses to set a scene
Worldbuilding and story development in someone else’s shared universe
Pulling story inspiration from history and integrating it into other genres
Huge thanks to Steve for coming over to record at our dining room table. We love being able to bring field specialists onto the show, and he’s no exception. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!
Join us in interviewing Steve Ruskin, PhD! He writes thrillers with historical elements, science fiction, and nonfiction, and is here to give expert tips on research and genre writing.
Just what do you do with a PhD in the History of Science? Write novels–science fiction, urban fantasy, and thriller novels. Our guest today is Steve Ruskin, PhD. He’s the author of the nonfiction popular history novel America’s First Great Eclipse and countless academic writings, and also of the ExoRok Rebels science fiction series and Trina Piper magical thrillers.
Steve’s unique background in academics and fiction give him great insight to author resources, creativity, and bringing character-driven fiction to life.
In Part One, We Discuss:
Worldbuilding in historical and popular history writings
Nonfiction worldbuilding and research
Writing character-driven nonfiction
Where to start historical research and how to reach out to professionals
“Secret histories”: Finding the balance between historical accuracy and fictional liberties
Maintaining a timeline and the differences between historical fiction and alternate history
Huge thanks to Steve for coming over to record at our dining room table. We love being able to bring field specialists onto the show, and he’s no exception. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!
Every novelist wants to see their writing on the silver screen. Too easy. Step one, convert your book into a screenplay… Today’s guest is James Fox. He’s been in the film industry for over 22 years and has worked just about every role you can imagine in the industry. We’ll discuss his unique entry point into novel writing. He wrote his first book, Sol Saga: Revolution after pitching the same series as a screenplay.
So what’s the difference between building a script and world for the screen vs the page? Join us as we dig into the details of screenwriting, writing characters, and even a little bit about pitching a show or movie.
In Part Two, We Discuss:
Character-driven vs plot-driven narratives
Why writing relatable characters bring audiences in and builds rapport
Character motivation
Character internalizations on the screen vs the page
Escapism as an author and a reader
Writing plots and character arcs that satisfy readers
Pitch decks and a few basic steps for writers interested in starting screenplays
We’re privileged to share a publishing company and friendship with James. When we found out he was also hosting a Book Career Network podcast, we knew we had to do a collaboration! Check out his show, Ink & Effort, that releases every Friday!
Every novelist wants to see their writing on the silver screen. Too easy. Step one, convert your book into a screenplay… Today’s guest is James Fox. He’s been in the film industry for over 22 years and has worked just about every role you can imagine in the industry. We’ll discuss his unique entry point into novel writing. He wrote his first book, Sol Saga: Revolution after pitching the same series as a screenplay.
So what’s the difference between building a script and world for the screen vs the page?
In Part One, We Discuss:
The main differences in screenplay and novel expectations
Expectation vs reality in writing your first novel
Working in a writers room vs co-writing vs solo writing experiences
Balancing creativity with more business-minded goals and benchmarks
Worldbuilding focus and motivating concepts for writing
In-depth research, handwavium, and their roles in science fiction
We’re privileged to share a publishing company and friendship with James. When we found out he was also hosting a Book Career Network podcast, we knew we had to do a collaboration! Check out his show, Ink & Effort, that releases every Friday!
Our phenomenal interview with none other than Gail Carriger. Foodie, archeologist, and cephalopod lover, check this episode out for this multi-genre, bestselling author’s tips on character development and cozy worldbuilding!
What do shoes, cephalopods, and tea have in common? They’re all some of today’s guest’s favorite things. We’re pleased to introduce the one and only Gail Carriger: multiple NYT bestselling author of urban fantasy, steampunk, supernatural, science fiction, and non-fiction. Gail’s background as an archaeologist has helped shape her worldbuilding, and her insights to crafting character and setting are uniquely insightful.
How do you write a hug, make readers laugh, and keep them tearing through the pages? What makes a long-running joke or a character feel like your best friend? Get ready to take notes as Gail’s gives us tips and tales ranging from witty banter in fiction, Firefly stories, and author business advice.
In Part Two, We Discuss:
Writers as fans and author behavior
The evolution of worldbuilding across a series, and using worldbuilding as a pacing tool
Using food in SFF genres
Giving new functions to existing forms in alternate history and steampunk: historical customs, fashion, and technology
The Heroine’s Journey
Building your worlds and stories around personal passions
Gail was such a phenomenal guest! We’re so grateful she gave us her time for this awesome interview. We had so much fun recording, and we hope you got as much out of this episode as we did.
Our phenomenal interview with none other than Gail Carriger. Foodie, archeologist, and cephalopod lover, check this episode out for this multi-genre, bestselling author’s tips on character development and cozy worldbuilding!
What do shoes, cephalopods, and tea have in common? They’re all some of today’s guest’s favorite things. We’re pleased to introduce the one and only Gail Carriger: multiple NYT bestselling author of urban fantasy, steampunk, supernatural, science fiction, and non-fiction. Gail’s background as an archaeologist has helped shape her worldbuilding, and her insights to crafting character and setting are uniquely insightful.
How do you write a hug, make readers laugh, and keep them tearing through the pages? What makes a long-running joke or a character feel like your best friend? Get ready to take notes as Gail’s gives us tips and tales ranging from witty banter in fiction, Firefly stories, and author business advice.
In Part One, We Discuss:
Objects in fiction: opportunities and implications for using the inanimate in both world and character development
Considerations for making realistic, unique changes to your world based on the injection of fantasy elements
Steampunk, paranormal romance, humor writing, and Gail’s inspiration for the Parasol Protectorate
Considerations for cross-genre writing, and why it’s a hard sell in the modern market
Setting as character
Creating a sense of comfort and familiarity for readers
Gail was such a phenomenal guest! We’re so grateful she gave us her time for this awesome interview. We had so much fun recording, and we hope you got as much out of this episode as we did.
Join us in our post-DragonCon-addled brains as we recap episode highlights, the best information our guests have shared, and give a few sneak peeks at our upcoming episodes!
Join your Worlds co-hosts as we recap the first ten episodes of Worlds Asunder! We’ll go over our incredible guests, the things we’ve learned, and the most important tidbits we hope our listeners take away from the great insights we’ve received over the last ten weeks. We’ll also give a sneak peek at future episodes and interviews.
Like the show? Have a topic or guest suggestion? Find us through our websites (or on Facebook) and let us know! Like, comment, subscribe wherever you listen or watch! We’ve had a blast recording these interviews and hope you’ll continue to join us in breaking down worlds to give you the bricks to build your own.
Pour a drink and join us in part two of our interview with Kevin Ikenberry, master of mixing spicy margaritas and author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing.
Whether you love it or you hate it, sometimes writing just requires research. All authors fall down the rabbit hole at some point, but some genres require it more than others. Alternate history is such a beast. This genre requires attention to detail and strategic decisions about changes to true events and historical figures. This leads us to a warren of worldbuilding questions. Where do you start? When do you bring in primary sources? When do you need a centuries-old map to find a forest that doesn’t exist in the 21st century? How did people really talk during the Revolutionary War, and does it matter?
We’re so pleased to introduce Kevin Ikenberry, science fiction, mil sci-fi, and alternate history writer. He’s the author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing and non-fiction The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure. Join us as we interview Ike about historical research, ripples in time, genre differences, and how he decides where to take liberties in his alternative history.
In Part Two, We Discuss:
Using worldbuilding to create conflict for your characters
Checking yourself and avoiding the research rabbit hole
How do changes impact the near-future in history? What about far-reaching futures?
The differences between alternate history and historical fiction
The most important things to get right–or not–when writing historical events
Organizational skills, tips, and K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Stupid
The story behind the iconic cover art of The Crossing
We can’t thank Ike enough–for his time or his margaritas. He’s as generous a host and mentor as he is an author, and we’re so grateful he was willing to share his experiences and expertise with our audience.
Pour a drink and join us in interviewing Kevin Ikenberry, master of mixing spicy margaritas and author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing.
Whether you love it or you hate it, sometimes writing just requires research. All authors fall down the rabbit hole at some point, but some genres require it more than others. Alternate history is such a beast. This genre requires attention to detail and strategic decisions about changes to true events and historical figures. This leads us to a warren of worldbuilding questions. Where do you start? When do you bring in primary sources? When do you need a centuries-old map to find a forest that doesn’t exist in the 21st century? How did people really talk during the Revolutionary War, and does it matter?
We’re so pleased to introduce Kevin Ikenberry, science fiction, mil sci-fi, and alternate history writer. He’s the author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing and non-fiction The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure. Join us as we interview Ike about historical research, ripples in time, genre differences, and how he decides where to take liberties in his alternative history.
In Part One, We Discuss:
The seed idea and origins of Kevin’s alternate history novel, The Crossing
Where to start when researching for alternate history and how to decide where to start
Vetting your sources
Alternate history considerations to set up your story: what changes can you make to history, and how do they impact your story? What happens if you insert modern characters into a historical setting, and how would historical figures react?
How to approach writing famous historical figures
Asking key questions to determine changes in history and creating realistic responses for your characters, both real and fabricated
“Ripples” in history: what happens when you inject interchangeable parts and speed up the Industrial Revolution?
Maps, terrain, and historical changes in geography
We can’t thank Ike enough–for his time or his margaritas. He’s as generous a host and mentor as he is an author, and we’re so grateful he was willing to share his experiences and expertise with our audience.
Join us in Part 2 of our interview with Clark Rowenson, AKA the Magic Engineer, author of the non-fiction “Restrictions May Apply: Building Limits for Your Magic System” and “The Magic Systems Blueprint: A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Building Magic Systems”.
Magic systems are the foundation of fantasy fiction. By design, removing magic from a core fantasy story means the world and the plot fall apart. From elemental manipulation, runes, wand work, and bending light into physical form, we’ve seen countless magic systems and spellcasters over centuries of fiction. As authors, how do we make our magic unique, believable, and captivating?
Enter Clark Rowenson, aka the Magic Engineer. Clark turned his background in the sciences to creating a practical, analytical system. His methods break down magic systems, design new ones, and strengthen existing ones.
Author of “The Magic Systems Blueprint: A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Building Magic Systems” and “Restrictions May Apply: Building Limits for Your Magic System”, Clark is an industry leader in magic systems. In addition to a wealth of free resources on his website, and his YouTube channel The Magic Engineer, Clark also offers one-on-one consultation services.
In Part Two, We Discuss:
H.Y. and Shady geeking out over Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer series
Starting with a magic system vs starting with characters or other story elements
“Seed crystals”: single points of reference and inspiration for magic and world development, and how to narrow down your starting points
An Uninvited Guest
Our favorite immersive world details
The Magic System Blueprint: how to break down and analyze your own systems
Hard vs. soft and rational vs irrational magic systems
Magic transference, prevalence, source, and flux
Naturalness, ease of use, reliability, and consistency
Use of perspective to view different aspects of magi
Join us in thanking Clark! We met Clark through the writing conference circuit, and he’s a great friend, writer, teacher, and all-around person. Magic systems are so nuanced and exciting, and Clark was on our short-list for Worlds Asunder while the podcast was in its pre-recording phase. We hope everyone has enjoyed this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
Join us in interviewing Clark Rowenson, AKA the Magic Engineer, author of the non-fiction “Restrictions May Apply: Building Limits for Your Magic System” and “The Magic Systems Blueprint: A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Building Magic Systems”.
Magic systems are the foundation of fantasy fiction. By design, removing magic from a core fantasy story means the world and the plot fall apart. From elemental manipulation, runes, wand work, and bending light into physical form, we’ve seen countless magic systems and spellcasters over centuries of fiction. As authors, how do we make our magic unique, believable, and captivating?
Enter Clark Rowenson, aka the Magic Engineer. Clark turned his background in the sciences to creating a practical, analytical system. His methods break down magic systems, design new ones, and strengthen existing ones.
Author of “The Magic Systems Blueprint: A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Building Magic Systems” and “Restrictions May Apply: Building Limits for Your Magic System”, Clark is an industry leader in magic systems. In addition to a wealth of free resources on his website, and his YouTube channel The Magic Engineer, Clark also offers one-on-one consultation services.
In Part One, We Discuss:
Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”
Clark’s background in engineering and chemistry
The integration of magic in storytelling and making stories dependent on magic and fantasy themes
Getting started: finding intersections in worldbuilding and deciding on which core elements to include and how to connect them
Implications of magic in the larger world: how does magic change or impact your characters lives, social and government structure, and environment?
Getting through the weeds: the art of presenting new terminology and concepts, and how to determine what to include in your manuscript and what’s a side quest
Uses of magic to highlight and contrast different aspects of society, and how to get it to enhance
Join us in thanking Clark! We met Clark through the writing conference circuit, and he’s a great friend, writer, teacher, and all-around person. Magic systems are so nuanced and exciting, and Clark was on our short-list for Worlds Asunder while the podcast was in its pre-recording phase. We hope everyone has enjoyed this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The fantasy we all know and love falls under a vast umbrella of subgenres and niche markets. Enter urban fantasy: magic and wonder that happens right out your front door. This subgenre layers classic fantasy tropes like magic and mythical creatures onto real-world settings you’re probably already familiar with.
We had the privilege to interview Jon R. Osborne, science fiction and fantasy author and creator of the urban fantasy series the Milesian Accords. Jon has such a great mind for worldbuilding, he literally wrote the book on it.
In Part One, We Discuss:
The necessity of different approaches in worldbuilding for Science Fiction vs Urban Fantasy
Real-world inspiration for Urban Fantasy: how to balance reality and fiction. Where do you take your creative liberties?
Jon’s novella, Worldbuilding for Novices, from CKP’s Quillcraft Press
Historical research for mythology and folklore, and the differences between the two
Special considerations for shared world sandboxes
Paladins of Valor, and the first contributing short story to the Milesian Accords
Enormous Thanks to Jon R. Osborne! The Milesian Accords are near and dear to Shady and H.Y.’s hearts since “Oz” opened up his universe to new authors. We’ve been so fortunate to have him as a mentor, editor, and friend in our writing careers. We’re seriously excited to share his series and non-fiction with you to aid your author journeys.
Featuring Jon R. Osborne, game master, science fiction and fantasy author. Oz is the founder of the Milesian Accords, now a shared world urban fantasy series, and author of Worldbuilding for Novices.
The fantasy we all know and love falls under a vast umbrella of subgenres and niche markets. Enter urban fantasy: magic and wonder that happens right out your front door. This subgenre layers classic fantasy tropes like magic and mythical creatures onto real-world settings you’re probably already familiar with.
We had the privilege to interview Jon R. Osborne, science fiction and fantasy author and creator of the urban fantasy series the Milesian Accords. Jon has such a great mind for worldbuilding, he literally wrote the book on it.
In Part One, We Discuss:
The necessity of different approaches in worldbuilding for Science Fiction vs Urban Fantasy
Real-world inspiration for Urban Fantasy: how to balance reality and fiction. Where do you take your creative liberties?
Jon’s novella, Worldbuilding for Novices, from CKP’s Quillcraft Press
Historical research for mythology and folklore, and the differences between the two
Special considerations for shared world sandboxes
Paladins of Valor, and the first contributing short story to the Milesian Accords
Enormous Thanks to Jon R. Osborne! The Milesian Accords are near and dear to Shady and H.Y.’s hearts since “Oz” opened up his universe to new authors. We’ve been so fortunate to have him as a mentor, editor, and friend in our writing careers. We’re seriously excited to share his series and non-fiction with you to aid your author journeys.
We all love a widespread, far-reaching fantasy universe that we as readers can get completely absorbed in. The only thing better than a great fantasy series is a whole collection of them that deep-dive into an immersive world. But how do you keep track of a timeline that spans over a thousand years? Where do you start when your cast of characters stretches into the hundreds?
We’re so pleased to release this interview with Katie Cross, author of more than 50 novels in her award-winning Alkarra universe. Katie drives down to the bedrock and gives us an inside look at her own spreadsheets and world bible. Join us and get practical tips and tools to keep your worlds organized. Bonus author mental health checks included 😉
In Part Two, We Discuss:
Avoiding the urge for perfection and focusing on moving forward
Drafting processes and tips to make your writing more efficient
Thanks again to Katie! Getting such a detailed look behind the curtain of this kind of world tracking and story management is a rare opportunity. We’re honored she agreed to hang out with us.
Katie’s Book Recommendations for Great Worldbuilding!
Featuring the one and only Katie Cross! Join us in taking a behind-the-scenes look at Katie’s organizational and creative processes, including an exclusive look at the world bible for her Alkarra series (50+ books and growing!).
We all love a widespread, far-reaching fantasy universe that we as readers can get completely absorbed in. The only thing better than a great fantasy series is a whole collection of them that deep-dive into an immersive world. But how do you keep track of a timeline that spans over a thousand years? Where do you start when your cast of characters stretches into the hundreds?
We’re so pleased to release this interview with Katie Cross, author of more than 50 novels in her award-winning Alkarra universe. Katie drives down to the bedrock and gives us an inside look at her own spreadsheets and world bible. Join us and get practical tips and tools to keep your worlds organized. Bonus author mental health checks included 😉
In Part 1, We Discuss:
Pepsi (please sponsor us! Its the only pop Shady drinks)
Building and maintaining a detailed world bible
Multi-generational timelines and maintaining continuity
Author mindsets and how to approach your work
Choosing which details to track, and how
Writing what you love and how it helps improve your fiction
An exclusive, detailed look at Katie’s world bible for Alkarra (the power of spreadsheets!)
Thanks again to Katie! Getting such a detailed look behind the curtain of this kind of world tracking and story management is a rare opportunity. We’re honored she agreed to hang out with us.
From Marvel to Star Wars, shared universe content is taking over the world. We interviewed Chris Kennedy, publisher, author, and one of the co-founders of the Four Horseman Universe (4HU). Today Chris Kennedy Publishing is made up of six imprints that publish everything from non-fiction to military fiction to fantasy.
From CKP’s Seventh Seal Press, the Four Horseman Universe is an action-packed, sweeping military science fiction series. It all started in 2016 with Cartwright’s Cavaliers by Mark Wandrey. Now the 4HU has expanded to 8 different series, approaching 100 titles from over 50 authors. Its dedicated fan club has 25 companies across the country.
In Part 2, We Discuss:
Advantages of shared worlds and co-writing: stepping out of the author cave and working with others to ping-pong ideas and build your writing community
The worldbuilding process: how much is done in advance of writing your novel, and how does this vary from author to author?
The iceberg approach: how to determine which worldbuilding details are going to further your story
Joining a shared world as a new author: where do you start?
The editing process: how developmental editing looks different in a shared world
From Marvel to Star Wars, shared universe content is taking over the world. We interviewed Chris Kennedy, publisher, author, and one of the co-founders of the Four Horseman Universe (4HU). Today Chris Kennedy Publishing is made up of six imprints that publish everything from non-fiction to military fiction to fantasy.
From CKP’s Seventh Seal Press, the Four Horseman Universe is an action-packed, sweeping military science fiction series. It all started in 2016 with Cartwright’s Cavaliers by Mark Wandrey. Now the 4HU has expanded to 8 different series, approaching 100 titles from over 50 authors. Its dedicated fan club has 25 companies across the country.
In Part 1, We Discuss:
The starting seeds of a massive shared universe: how do authors hatch a plan that spans such a widespread, beloved series?
Submitting and participating in anthologies: how short stories help new authors get involved in established universes
Worldbuilding continuity across space: dozens of alien races, countless planets, and mercenary companies means you need a good bible and even better continuity editors
Real-world inspiration for military science fiction and future tech
Suspension of disbelief: research and reality vs the “rule of cool” in far-future science fiction
