Writers of the Future Podcast

Tim Waggoner is a multi-award-winning dark fantasy and horror author with a spattering of media tie-ins, now totaling over 60 novels. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. We discuss what attracts people to horror and why he enjoys writing it, and his horror novel, “The World Turns Red.” Visit Tim at TimWaggoner.com

In this episode, Lisa Mangum, a veteran editor and author, shares her extensive experience in publishing. She has worked as an editor at Deseret Book since 1997, and became the editorial manager at Shadow Mountain in 2014. She has authored four bestselling YA novels—including the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello—plus short stories, novellas, and a craft book inspired by Supernatural. She also edits anthologies for WordFire Press and teaches at writing conferences, including her unique UVU writing weekends in Capitol Reef National Park. The discussion centers on her book “Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published.” emphasizing why even self-published or indie authors benefit from professional editing. Lisa explores key storytelling elements: the distinction between plot and story, various plot types, and narrative perspectives. She compares first-person, second-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient viewpoints, highlighting their relative strengths, challenges, and the genres where each thrives most effectively.

With over three million books published a year, how do you get your voice heard above the din of everyone else? Discovery remains one of the greatest challenges for both new and established writers. Whether it’s delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out eBooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. They are in the business of building author careers, no matter where an author is on their journey. Damon Courtney, creator of BookFunnel, discusses why it was built and how it has been used globally to help build successful author careers.

Carell Augustus is a professional photographer whose career has taken him around the world to shoot some of the biggest stars on the planet. His celebrity clients have included Viola Davis, Beverly Johnson, Mariah Carey, Elizabeth Banks, Pierce Bronson, Meghan Markle, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, and more. He is also an author. Carell spent 10 years making his dream project come true. That dream was to reimagine famous Hollywood movie roles with black actors, with his coffee table book, “Black Hollywood: Reimagining Iconic Movie Moments.” This interview not only covers how he pulled off such an amazing product, but also the inspiration and drive to make it happen … no matter what. An L. Ron Hubbard essay on photography was also discussed, and how it applies to successful photography. Learn more at www.carellaugustus.com

Mike Sheffield is a 35-year Senior Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman Space Systems and a former U.S. Air Force Electronic Warfare Specialist. A passionate sci-fi fan, Mike joined the Heinlein Society in 2001, chaired its blood drive committee until 2010, has led the scholarship committee since 2012, served on the board from 2006–2014, and was the fourth Chair and President for its final four years. He discusses his love for science fiction, the origins of Heinlein-inspired blood drives at conventions (starting 1999 NASFiC), participation tips, the Heinlein for Heroes veteran book program, connections between L. Ron Hubbard and Robert A. Heinlein, thoughts on Final Blackout and Battlefield Earth, his favorite Heinlein works, the Writers of the Future legacy, and a message for global listeners.

Missed-Fits: A Calendar of Fools Anthology is a celebration of stories that don’t fit as flash, short story, or novella lengths, yet are awesome stories. In the world of short fiction publishing, word count often dictates destiny: flash fiction thrives under 1,000 words, while traditional short stories typically land between 3,000 and 7,500 words to find welcoming markets. But what about the tales that fall into the awkward in-between—longer than flash yet too brief for many standard slots? These "misfit" stories, intriguing, powerful, and fully realized, often get overlooked simply because they don't match the expected lengths. Calendar of Fools, the small press founded by Writers of the Future alumni, aims to change that. Following the success of their previous anthology, Intergalactic Rejects—which gave rejected gems a second life—Missed-Fits provides a dedicated home for these literary oddities. This collection gathers brief, compelling visions from award-winning authors and emerging voices alike. The stories are fast reads that explore themes of incompatibility, things that are missing or out of place, and the beauty of narratives that don't quite belong. They prove that great storytelling isn't confined by arbitrary categories. This podcast episode announces the Kickstarter for this project. If it succeeds, an open call will invite submissions of these awkward-length tales to join with stories from established anchor writers. For readers, Missed-Fits offers a treasury of unique, otherwise-unpublished stories that slip between the cracks of conventional markets but deserve to be discovered. For writers, it's an invitation to embrace the unconventional lengths and let the story dictate its own size. Learn more by visiting www.kickstarter.com/projects/calendaroffools/missed-fits-a-calendar-of-fools-anthology

Writers of the Future first readers Leah Ning, Martin Shoemaker, Eric James Stone, and Coordinating Judge Jody Lynn Nye answer questions submitted by Contest entrants on what is looked for in stories submitted to the Contest. What excites them. What turns them off. What determines an Honorable Mention, Silver Honorable Mention, and Finalist. How stories are handled in genres that aren’t their favorite. And dozens of other questions.

Kevin J. Anderson is one of the rarest of creatives. As a writer, he started from the bottom and worked his way up to become an internationally bestselling author of over 190 books, 58 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He then became a publisher – Wordfire Press. Following this, he co-created the Superstars Writing Workshop. He is now also the director of a Publishing Graduate Program at Western Colorado University—the subject of this interview. Kevin has also been a Writers of the Future judge for over 25 years and a very trusted partner helping with the growth of the Contest.

Alan Smale is an astrophysicist and award-winning author (including “Writers of the Future Volume 13”) who recently retired from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center after decades of groundbreaking work. Holding a Bachelor’s in Physics and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Oxford University, Alan moved to the U.S. in the late 1980s to collaborate with NASA. Three years ago, Alan joined the podcast to discuss “Hot Moon,” the thrilling launch of his alternate-history Apollo Rising series. This interview celebrates the release of “Burning Night,” the conclusion to the trilogy. We discuss the series’ blend of meticulous historical accuracy and bold “what-if” speculation, vividly recreating the high-stakes tension of the U.S.-Soviet rivalry in the 1970s and 1980s—this time extended to a secret lunar battlefield. Alan also shares insights on L. Ron Hubbard’s 1948 short story “240,000 Miles Straight Up,” an eerily prescient tale of superpower conflict on the Moon. Whether you’re a space history buff, a Cold War enthusiast, or a fan of hard-SF alternate history, this episode explores how real science, real geopolitics, and imaginative fiction collide in one of the most ambitious near-future series in recent years. Learn more at www.alansmale.com.

Bob Boze Bell has been a friend for over a decade and has provided various features on western titles by L. Ron Hubbard in True West Magazine. His work has appeared in Arizona Highways, Playboy, National Lampoon, the Arizona Republic, and True West magazine. For ten years (2002-2012), he produced a video version of True West Moments, which aired on the Westerns Channel. In this episode, we discuss what makes a Western story different from other genres, along with the role of research in good storytelling. Bob was ahead of the curve in using social media to grow the popularity of True West Magazine, which we also cover. BBB can currently be seen on the series “Gunslingers,” which runs on the American Heroes Channel. Triple B is also the President and executive editor of True West magazine, positions he has held since 1999. He has written a dozen books on Old West characters, including Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Wild Bill Hickok, as well as a three-part series (so far) on Classic Gunfights, which appear in True West. Learn more about Bob and True West Magazine at blog.truewestmagazine.com/

Patrick Kidder is the editor-in-chief of Sally Port Magazine. Kidder shares his journey to becoming a full-time writer and publisher, inspired by gaps in family-friendly fantasy fiction. Together with his wife, he founded Forever Mountain Publishing and launched Sally Port Magazine—named after a castle’s side door—to provide an accessible entry point for diverse voices. The magazine specializes in clean fantasy stories suitable for all ages, emphasizing strong characters, layered narratives, and off-page handling of mature themes. Kidder discusses blind submissions, preferred lengths (5,000–9,000 words), themed issues, and his commitment to uplifting, hopeful tales without graphic content. The conversation also touches on editing practices, avoiding AI-generated work, and encouraging aspiring writers to submit to both Sally Port and the Writers of the Future Contest. Learn more at https://sallyportmagazine.com/

Christina Hess is the Department Head of Illustration at Ringling College of Art & Design. In this interview, we discuss the value of art school and the impact of AI on art. Christina is an illustrator known for blending historical and natural themes across a wide range of projects. Her portfolio includes everything from numismatic designs (the study of coins, tokens, medals, and paper money) to illustrated cookbooks, rendered in various media such as graphite, watercolor, oil, and digital. Two 2026 United States coins will feature designs by Christina. The new quarter showcases scientist Dr. Vera Rubin. She also designed a new $1 coin depicting Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui as part of the Native American $1 Coin Program. Christina’s illustrations have been featured in publications such as the Society of Illustrators West, Spectrum Fantastic Art, ImagineFX, and 3x3 Magazine. And if that’s not enough, she is a wonderful person, and her students at Ringling are extremely fortunate to have her! Learn more at www.christinahess.com/about

In the beginning, there was no punctuation. Texts were written so that their letters ran together withnospacesorpunctuation and without any distinction between lowercase and capitals. It was up to the reader to discover where each word or sentence ended and the next began. Then, through orators and actors, marks were made to show pauses and stops and emphasis, and thus punctuation was born. Ian Randal Strock is the perfect guest for this topic. As a successful editor, author, and publisher, he has taken it upon himself to thoroughly research the history of punctuation and why it is so important to literature. In this interview, Ian discusses his book “Punctilious Punctuation,” and how bad punctuation is an immediate turn-off for an editor or reader. This leads to the importance of knowing the rules before breaking them. What is the solution for the current wave of language devaluing…especially as we witness on social media texting? The back cover copy says you will laugh and you will cringe, and this is certainly true. So, enjoy this very fun episode. BTW, ever wonder why commas and periods always must be inside quotation marks? Learn more at https://ianrandalstrock.com/

Ruby Lovell is an award-winning journalist, dynamic show host, and accomplished author whose career bridges the worlds of entertainment, media, and storytelling—making her the perfect guest for this podcast. Born in Sri Lanka, she has lived in the UK and the US and has traveled the world. We originally met at the Hollywood Christmas Parade, where Ruby was a media attendee. Ruby next attended and brilliantly covered that year's Writers of the Future Awards gala, creating a wonderful video segment on the event with her acclaimed series Right On LA! with Ruby Lovell. In this interview, we discuss her career as a journalist for the BBC and NTD News, her creation of a travel show sponsored by the BBC, and her transition into children’s book authorship.

Megan O'Russell is a YA author who transitioned from a successful career in theater to writing. We met on a panel at Dragon Con and agreed to do this podcast. We discuss her journey, the importance of storytelling, and the differences between traditional and indie publishing. Megan shares insights on empowering authors, navigating the editing process, and the significance of world-building in fantasy literature. We also explore the handling of romance and sexuality in YA, the supportive nature of the indie author community, and provide valuable advice for aspiring writers. Megan discusses her YA novel, “Ember and Stone,” which is a compelling example of YA romance and empowerment. Great examples of dealing with profanity without using profanity. Megan has set up a code to allow listeners to discover her fantastical worlds. All you need to do is go to https://meganorussell.com/discount/FUTURE50, add any ebook to your cart (no complete collections as they're already sold at a discount), and the code will be applied to each single ebook at checkout.

Jim Nettles is a well-established author of science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. However, in this interview, we delve into another aspect of Jim, as the founder of Author Essentials and Author Essentials Workshops. In this interview, we discuss his book, “Business Essentials for Writers”, and he shares his unique perspective on failure, emphasizing that not trying is the true failure. Additional topics include: - To be successful, though, you’ve got to understand how all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together. - The “myth of the starving artist.” - Four focuses: Mindset; strategy; Tactical Actions; Operational Actions - We discuss the various types of editors and why you might need them. We also clarify editors vs. beta readers - In the new world of self-publishing, why are editors still important - Publicity: obscurity is the enemy of the author Learn more at https://jamespnettles.com/

Bestselling fantasy author Katie Cross is one of the most comfortable authors I have ever read. “Miss Mabel’s School for Girls” is the first book in the Network Series. In this episode, Katie shares her journey as a writer, the inspiration behind her books, and the importance of engaging with readers. She discusses her unique approach to storytelling, character development, and the magic system in her works. Katie emphasizes the significance of mindset in overcoming challenges and the value of self-publishing. The conversation also explores the balance between family life and a writing career, as well as the impact of conventions on reader engagement. She can be found at https://katiecrossbooks.com/

Subrahmanian Seshadri, who goes by “Sesh,” is the CEO of Overleaf Books LLP and a member of the Educational Publishers Forum of the International Publishers Association, representing India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion. We discuss Writers and Illustrators of the Future and its importance to creative individuals in India. Sesh see's the value of the Contests for teh 213,000,000 middle school students. Both Contests are perfect fits for India, and we hope that new Indian voices will be discovered for the international stage.

Discover the visionary world of Jean Henri Gaston Giraud—also known as Gir but better known as Moebius, a master of cosmic comics—in this podcast episode. Join us for an interview with his children, Nausicaa and Raphael, as they discuss the enduring legacy of their father, a trailblazer whose surreal artistry reshaped science fiction. We met at the France Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair and recorded at the Galaxy Press booth discussing his legacy as well as their own stories with their father. Moebius co-founded Heavy Metal Magazine and served as a founding judge for Illustrators of the Future, even illustrating Jo Beverly's story in Writers of the Future Vol. 4. His seminal "The Long Tomorrow" ignited Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, with Scott later confessing, "You see it everywhere... you can't get away from it." George Lucas hailed Moebius's "sheer beauty" in designs for Willow, while Hayao Miyazaki, a lifelong friend, credits Arzach's "awesome sense of space" for inspiring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind—echoed in the name of Giraud's own daughter. Visit https://www.moebius.fr/ and https://www.instagram.com/moebius_production/?hl=en

Jeffrey Morris is a writer, director, and founder of FutureDude Entertainment, a production company that blends dazzling creativity with innovative storytelling. His goal … rekindling the human spirit through science fiction. He has produced an amazing documentary entitled THE EAGLE OBSESSION and is here in our Hollywood office as part of his screening tour. We discuss the purpose of the documentary: Reinspire that future that didn’t happen, addressing modern dystopia as a loss of hope after the Apollo program was halted once we walked on the moon. https://eagledocumentary.com/