Writers of the Future Podcast

Multi-genre Canadian author, emergency room physician, and past winner from Volume 16, Dr. Melissa shares her incredible journey of balancing a demanding medical career and family life while publishing over 25 novels. Melissa dives deep into her creative process behind her medical crime series starring Dr. Hope Sze. She details her latest release, Killing Me Slothily, which brilliantly weaves the medical realities of a hospital emergency room with the dark supernatural terror of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. Listeners will get an inside look at how she utilizes real-world medical research, practical tools for overcoming low-productivity seasons, and advice from mentors like Dean Wesley Smith to keep her creative momentum going. Finally, she gives a sneak peek into her upcoming 2027 Jane Austen-inspired fantasy project, Sense and Sword Agility.

Discover how independent authors can navigate the massive hurdle of book discoverability in today's crowded market. In this episode, industry veteran Kimberly Fakih, a professional book reviewer with decades of experience at top trade publications like Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and School Library Journal, discusses the critical roadblocks indie authors face and why traditional gatekeeping limits new voices. Kimberly introduces her new initiative, Open Shelf Reviews, a service specifically designed to decentralize publishing control and put self-published authors, small presses, and illustrators back on the map. She explains how modern library acquisition policies strictly rely on trade reviews to justify purchases and defend against rising book censorship. Listeners will learn how to leverage constructive, professional critiques as an evergreen marketing tool to successfully pitch local bookstores and build their readerships.

Award-winning hard science fiction author and Volume 28 Contest winner William Ledbetter discusses his journey from the aerospace defense industry to becoming a celebrated storyteller. Ledbetter shares how his real-world work on aircraft and the International Space Station fueled his passion for space-based narratives, eventually leading to his Nebula Award-winning novelette The Long Fall Up and his gripping, AI-centric Level Five trilogy. The conversation explores the chilling, near-future realities of generative artificial intelligence, the intersection of human ego and technology, and the delicate process of blending factual science with creative fiction. Finally, Ledbetter shares his essential advice on patience, consistency, and building a professional routine to help aspiring writers survive the grueling publishing process. Learn more at http://www.williamledbetter.com/.

In this episode of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast, host John Goodwin interviews public historian, editor, and author Stuart Rosebrook live from the Western Writers of America Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Recently inducted as the president of the Western Writers of America and serving as Editor at Large for True West Magazine, Stuart shares indispensable industry insights gathered across decades of print media and historical research. The conversation addresses the biggest hurdle facing modern authors: discoverability. Stuart breaks down how authors must remain nimble by finding multiple ways to pitch a single story, utilizing Amazon’s categorical metadata tagging system to stand out, and building direct relationships with book reviewers. He also outlines the crucial elements of a historical manuscript, noting why writers must fight their publishers to include bibliographies and endnotes. Finally, the discussion dives into the exciting evolution of Western literature. Stuart explains how classic cowboy values are moving forward into modern regional mysteries and highlights the organization's groundbreaking new submission categories, including graphic novels and alternate Westerns—a blending of genres that encompasses sci-fi, horror, and fantasy variants.

What happens when you look past Hollywood mythology to uncover the true history of the American frontier? In this episode of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast recorded on-site at the WWA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, historical author, archivist, and Executive Director of the Western Writers of America (WWA), Kellen Cutsforth, dives deep into the realities behind famous historical icons, from the true setting of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral to Buffalo Bill Cody’s massive impact on global culture. Cutsforth shares his personal journey as an archivist, discussing how true history can read with the gripping pace of fiction. The episode highlights breaking news for authors: WWA's newly introduced Spur Award category for "Alternative Westerns," celebrating speculative fiction, weird westerns, and sci-fi mashups. Learn more about Kellen Cutsforth and the Western Writers of America at https://westernwriters.org/.