The Story Craft Cafe Podcast

Welcome to the 60-Day Novel Challenge Live Show. It’s your place to ask questions, get unstuck, and stay motivated throughout the 60-Day Novel Challenge! Each week during the challenge, we go live to: Answer your questions Troubleshoot common writing roadblocks Share tips to help you plan, draft, and finish your novel Highlight upcoming challenge events and writing sprints This week, we're looking at theme, Dabble's Plot Grid, and how to set ourselves up for writing success next month! Still need to join the challenge? It’s free! And if you sign up for a free trial of Dabble and connect it to your 60-Day project, we’ll extend your trial until the end of the challenge, all with no credit card required! Join the Challenge: https://www.dabbleu.com/ Dabble Free Trial: https://www.dabblewriter.com/ Let’s write that novel together! #AmWriting #60DayNovelChallenge #WritingCommunity #NaNoWriMo #DabbleWriter

Welcome to the 60-Day Novel Challenge Live Show. It’s your place to ask questions, get unstuck, and stay motivated throughout the 60-Day Novel Challenge! Each week during the challenge, we go live to: Answer your questions Troubleshoot common writing roadblocks Share tips to help you plan, draft, and finish your novel Highlight upcoming challenge events and writing sprints This week is all about conflicts. External conflict, internal conflict, and why these two things matter so dang much. Still need to join the challenge? It’s free! And if you sign up for a free trial of Dabble and connect it to your 60-Day project, we’ll extend your trial until the end of the challenge, all with no credit card required! Join the Challenge: https://www.dabbleu.com/ Dabble Free Trial: https://www.dabblewriter.com/ Let’s write that novel together! #AmWriting #60DayNovelChallenge #WritingCommunity #NaNoWriMo #DabbleWriter

As one of the fantasy genre's most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 30,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s most recent original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Czech, and French. Salvatore's first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet. His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computer science to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990. The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer's letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books. Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including "Adventure fantasy" and "Why young adults read fantasy." Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien. Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar. When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.

Welcome to the Thursday Live Q&A Show. It’s your place to ask questions, get unstuck, and stay motivated throughout the 60-Day Novel Challenge! Each week during the challenge, we go live to: Answer your questions Troubleshoot common writing roadblocks Share tips to help you plan, draft, and finish your novel Highlight upcoming challenge events and writing sprints This week, we're talking genre, plot brainstorming, and worldbuilding! Still need to join the challenge? It’s free! And if you sign up for a free trial of Dabble and connect it to your 60-Day project, we’ll extend your trial until the end of the challenge, all with no credit card required! Join the Challenge: https://www.dabbleu.com/ Dabble Free Trial: https://www.dabblewriter.com/ Let’s write that novel together! #AmWriting #60DayNovelChallenge #WritingCommunity #NaNoWriMo #DabbleWriter

Julie Artz helps status quo busting writers slay their doubt demons and get their stories reader-ready. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach and a sought-after writing instructor and speaker. She regularly contributes to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and is an instructor for AuthorsPublish. A consummate social justice minded story geek, Julie lives by an enchanted river in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, two naughty furry familiars, and two college-aged children who occasionally manifest. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@julieartz Substack: https://julieartz.substack.com Is Your Story Reader-Ready? Take the quiz to find out: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68599ba553e03200150eff41  This month, I'm running my FREE critique parnter matching service, CP Meet Cute. Join the fun at https://www.julieartz.com/cp-meet-cute by October 24 and get paired with like-minded writers before the year is out!

Chris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest. He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded. His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum.  When he’s not writing, editing, or working the dayjob, Chris loves exercising regularly, watching shows like Star Trek and Stranger Things, and reading his favorite authors. Those include Bernard Cornwell, Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Max Collins. He lives in Texas with his wife, son, and two dogs. (He’s a HUGE dog person, by the way.) Find out more about Chris and his writing through his newsletter. Sign up and get free stuff at https://chrispourteau.com/newsletter. Nick Cole is a former soldier and working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can be found writing books. Bronze Age Sword and Sorcery meets Military Fantasy in a lost world of long ago… Flying Ace Mason “Mace” Dickson was once a legend among fighter pilots. Now, in his middle years, that storied life is a distant memory—until NASA drafts Mace for a black book flight test. He’s transported to a strange world forgotten by time, where he wakes on the desert sands of a bloody battlefield. In this land, warfare isn’t fought from the skies at a distance. It’s vicious and hand-to-hand, and arcane spells can kill a man just as quickly as spear or sword. Mace is pressed into service as a slave for the Black Legion, a renowned company of mercenaries under the banner of the splendid Atlantian Army of the West, currently besieging the fabled City of Serpents. The Legion is the tip of the Atlantian spear aimed straight at the heart of the power-mad Thuman Evol, who marshals red sorcerers, armored war-dinosaurs, and a host of grim fighting men to oppose them. Out of his depth, Mace is trapped in a no-holds-barred contest of gritty grunt infantry, massive war machines, and strange sorcery, where the soldiers, NCOs, and battle captains of glorious Atlantis fight the enemy and sometimes one another for eternal honor, glory, and ultimate power. In this brutal world, ruthless circumstances force Mace to face at long last his inner demons. Inspiring him to persevere is the burning desire to return to his family for one more second chance at redeeming a life he once surrendered to fading glory and the bottle. But first he must survive the crucible of deadly magicks, backstabbing intrigues, and the utter savagery that is the lost world of Atlantea... First, Mace must live through hell...

Our #IndieSummer journey comes to an end this week, but it's not a finish line that awaits us, this is just the beginning. Today Indie author powerhouse Craig Martelle joins us to talk about building a plan to launch your work into the world and to see the success that book deserves.  Craig is a million-selling author of science fiction (post-apocalyptic, military sci-fi, and space opera), thrillers, and non-fiction.  Craig retired from the Marine Corps after a long career in the military intelligence community, having worked with most of the U.S. Government's three-letter agencies. After a short stint with physical security, Craig went to law school, graduated summa cum laude, and went into business consulting. From intelligence, to the inner workings of company board rooms, to on-the-ground leadership, Craig has seen it firsthand.  His books are an extension of his experience, putting the trials and tribulations of a fast-paced world into your hands. Whether in Science Fiction, Thrillers, Fantasy, or even his Non-Fiction, you'll find consistent themes of justice and doing right by those who are counting on their leaders. Leadership is a service, not a crown to lord over others.  No matter where Craig went, he always had a book with him. Thanks to 21st Century technology, He now has thousands of books at his fingertips and with him wherever he goes. How many books would he have read on deployments had he not had to carry a physical book?  No one is encumbered like that now. Craig loves the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. He has been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, Craig aspires to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared him to. Through a bizarre series of events, Craig ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. He never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. He and his wife get to watch the northern lights from their driveway. Their dog has lots of room to run, just until temperatures reach fifty below zero. They have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer. It’s all part of the give and take of life. If they didn’t have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.

Chrystal Schleyer lives in South Carolina with her husband and children. Tucked away in a little black house on an old hay field, she happily lives in the middle of nowhere.  When not writing or reading, she can be found outside with her ever growing number of animals or scouring the shelves of the nearest thrift store.  A celebration at a turn-of-the-century manor takes a deadly twist, and everyone becomes a suspect. Twin brothers Easton and Weston are both in love with their childhood best friend Eloise. But headstrong Eloise prefers the younger brother, Wes, which is why she is heartbroken when, unexpectedly, Wes proposes to an heiress, and Eloise finds herself engaged to Easton—the twin she cannot stand. Then, during a week of celebration, Wes is poisoned. Murmurs of nightshade slip through the manor, and everyone seems to have a motive. Was it Della Drewitt—the heiress reluctant to marry Wes? Or did Easton decide killing his brother was the only way to secure Eloise’s affections? Or was it the housemaid Violet, Wes’s previous lover? As guests turn into suspects, attempts to kill Wes become more relentless than the storms churning the estate—who wants him dead, and why?

Jason Anspach joins us today to talk about the importance of your author newsletter. If you had nothing at your disposal but a newsletter filled with people that enjoy your work, could you build an indie author business? We'll talk about it with Jason.  JASON ANSPACH (1979- ) is the award-winning, Associated Press Best-selling author of Galaxy's Edge, Wayward Galaxy, and Forgotten Ruin. He is an American author raised in a military family (Go Army!) known for pulse-pounding military science fiction and adventurous space operas that deftly blend action, suspense, and comedy. Together with his wife, their seven (not a typo) children, and a border collie named Charlotte, Jason resides in Puyallup, Washington. He remains undefeated at arm wrestling against his entire family. Galaxy's Edge: www.InTheLegion.com Author website: www.JasonAnspach.com

Are you a plotter or a pantser? This is one of the biggest points of debate in the author community. Today we hear from Claire Fraise and get her personal insights into plotting, and how the Plot Grid helps her to envision her stories and keep them on track.  Claire Fraise is the author of five ghostly thrillers. She won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards and is active on her YouTube channel, where she records videos sharing resources and writing tips that helped her improve as a writer. Claire graduated with a B.A. in English from Tufts University and now lives in Montana with her fiancé and two dogs. When she’s not sitting behind a computer thinking about murder, you can find her camping in the backcountry, on the back of a horse, or teaching her undersocialized rescue Chihuahua not to bite people. Visit Dabblewriter.com to sign up for a 15 day free trial and try out the Plot Grid for yourself. 

Liv Constantine is the pseudonym of Lynne Constantine, an Edgar® Award-nominated, New York Times and internationally bestselling author. She is the co-author of The Last Mrs. Parrish, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, and her critically acclaimed books have been praised by the Washington Post, USA Today, the Sunday Times, People magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others, with more than two million copies sold worldwide. Her work has been translated into twenty-nine languages, is available in thirty-four countries, and is in development for both television and film. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with her Labrador and golden retriever, reading a good book or binge-watching the latest limited series.

Nick Cole has built a rabid fan base that eagerly await new releases from him. He and his partner pioneered a successful business plan that allows them to embrace the Amazon ecosystem while also maintaining independence from the corporate world and sell direct to their readers. Nick Cole is a former soldier and working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can be found writing books. Nick's Book The Old Man and the Wasteland was an Amazon Bestseller and #1 in Science Fiction.  In 2016 Nick's book CTRL ALT Revolt won the Dragon Award for Best Apocalyptic novel. In 2018 Nick and his co-author, Jason Anspach, won the Dragon Award for The Savage Wars. Best MilScfi. The Galaxy’s Edge Series and the Forgotten Ruin books have sold millions of copies.

Josh Hayes continues our #IndieSummer campaign with a chat about formatting and page layout for Indie Authors. Presentation matters, and how you present your work can have a tremendous impact on how people experience your work.  A retired police officer, Josh Hayes is the author of the Valor Trilogy, the Tranquility series w/ Devon C Ford, Stryker’s War (Galaxy’s Edge), and The Terra Nova Chronicles w/ Richard Fox, along with numerous short stories. His debut solo novel, Edge of Valor, was a finalist for the 2020 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel. Ever since he watched his first Star Trek episode (TNG not OS), Josh has loved science fiction. Watching it, reading it, and writing it. He grew up a military brat, affording him the opportunity to meet several different types of people, in multiple states and foreign countries. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force and served for six years, before leaving military life to work in law enforcement. During his time with the Wichita Police Department, Josh served as a patrol officer, bicycle unit, community policing officer, and was an assistant bomb technician on the Bomb Squad. His experiences in both his military life and police life have given him unique glimpses into the lives of people around him and it shows through in the characters he creates.  Josh is also the creator and president of Keystroke Medium, a popular YouTube show and podcast focused on the craft of writing. For the best author interviews, news, and craft discussion on the internet today, visit www.keystrokemedium.com or subscribe to their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium.  When Josh is not writing, he spends his time with his four children and his wife, Jamie.  You can find out more about Josh and his writing at www.joshhayeswriter.com and join his fan club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/joshhayes

This week we turn to jacket copy as we work our way through the #IndieSummer checklist. You've got a great book. Check. You've gotten an eye catching cover. Check. Now let's explore writing that jacket copy that will entice readers to click that buy button on your book.

Jeff Brown has worked as a  science fiction and fantasy illustrator and cover designer since 2013. Jeff has designed covers for Tor, Scholastic, Penguin, Bloomsbury and many more. He has worked on projects such as Eragon, The Devils, The Three-Body Problem, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Riftwar, The Lies of Locke Lamora, and The Dragonbone Chair. Jeff has been a Dragon Award finalist in 2023 and 2024 for Best Illustrative Book Cover

Kicking off our #IndieSummer campaign is Michelle Hazen. Michelle Hazen is a nomad with a writing problem. Years ago, she and her husband ducked out of the 9 to 5 world and moved into their truck to become desert tortoise biologists. She found her voice with the support of the online fanfiction community, and once she started typing, she never looked back. As a result, she has written most of her books in odd places, including a bus in Thailand, an off-the-grid cabin in the Sawtooth Mountains, a golf cart in a sandstorm, a rental car during a heat wave in the Mohave Desert and a beach in Honduras. These days, she works as a freelance editor and writing coach with Sanctuary Editorial mostly based out of Idaho, but thanks to the wonders of Wi-Fi, she and her husband are still soaking up inspiration while they travel the country and work along the way. She’s currently addicted to Shadow and Bone, rock climbing, and Tillamook cheese. Michelle is double-agented, so for rights inquiries for romance, psychological suspense, or for her self-published novels, please contact Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. For fantasy novels and associated rights, contact Naomi Davis of BookEnds Literary. Find her on Instagram at MichelleHazenAuthor, on Facebook at Michelle Hazen, or follow her on Twitter @michellehazen.

Many writers struggle with resistance—procrastination, perfectionism, writer’s block. Instead of writing, you find yourself scrolling social media, cleaning the kitchen, or calling your mom. You listen to a podcast and tell yourself, Hey, this is still productive, but deep down, you wish you were making your own art. Maybe you run an errand—something necessary, but not urgent—knowing you could have written instead. It feels like you're constantly avoiding the page, and you can’t help but wonder, Why is it so hard to just sit down and write? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And here’s the good news: your resistance isn’t a personal failing! You're not "lazy" or "unmotivated." What you're facing can be explained by brain science. In this workshop, you’ll learn the neuroscience behind resistance and discover simple, effective strategies to overcome it. I’ll introduce you to what I call “write or flight” and show you how to rewire your brain so that resistance stops standing in your way. You'll learn about the different parts of the brain and how to work with them when resistance pops up so you can finally reach your writing goals. The key isn’t willpower: it’s understanding how your brain works and using that knowledge to your advantage. Monica Hay is a writing coach who helps writers overcome resistance and finish their manuscripts (without getting stuck in revision traps). With a Master’s in Publishing from Portland State University and a Bachelor’s from UC Berkeley, she often jokes that she’s a recovering academic. She has worked at two literary agencies and served as the Director’s Assistant for WriteOnCon, an online children’s publishing conference. Her work has been featured in the Perfect Your Process and Writing Brave summits, as well as on multiple podcasts. Blending her background in social work and book publishing, Monica focuses on creative recovery and mastering the inner game of writing. She's passionate about helping writers embrace the "mess" of the writing process, and her famous catchphrase is "no mess, no magic." She currently lives in Amsterdam with her husband and two cats. ----------------- Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it’s the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started.  Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Word Sprints, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content.  On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Office Hours, Premium Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops.  Happy writing!

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the author of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mysteries, which began with The Murder of Mr. Wickham. She is also the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy, and the Constellation trilogy. In addition, she’s written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline She and her husband, Paul, live in Turin, Italy, under the benevolent rule of a small dog named Peaches. The fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's Jane Austen sequel series, THE RUSHWORTH FAMILY PLOT finds amateur sleuths Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney caught up in the whirlwind of the London Season—and in a murderous scheme involving the family of Edmund and Fanny Bertram Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other perfectly; it's a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, has led their parents to deem the pair unsuited to wed. Now, with the Season approaching, Juliet's grandfather, General Tilney, has sent her to London with a new wardrobe and orders to prove herself worthy of someone better than the snobby Darcys. Meanwhile, Jonathan has been forced to accept an invitation to stay in town with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund's brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to and undesiring of female attention outside of Juliet's, Jonathan is at risk of being ensnared by Caroline Bingley's previously rebuffed plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of Pemberley. But when Mr. Rushworth, the former husband of Edmund's sister Maria, is discovered dead in his home, Jonathan and Juliet find themselves with problems far weightier than the marriage market. In one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria abandoned her new husband in favor of the notorious rake Henry Crawford, and when he wouldn't marry her, was forced to flee to the continent in disgrace. Now Maria is back, accompanied by a daughter she claims Mr. Rushworth fathered after their divorce—and who he wrote into his will just before his death. To spare Edmund and Fanny further social shame, Jonathan and Juliet must unmask a killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth family fortune claims another victim.

KILL YOUR DARLINGS (William Morrow; June 10, 2025) is New York Times bestselling author PETER SWANSON’s most ambitious novel yet. The book marries an evergreen hook—a terrible secret unravels a marriage—to a one-of-a-kind structure: this is a thriller told in reverse. Swanson—a “master of suspense” (Crimereads) who specializes in psychological thrillers that subvert expectations—“never disappoints” (NPR). Critics call his novels “ingenious” and “devious” (New York Times Book Review), “inventive” (Wall Street Journal), “complex, twist-filled” (the Associated Press), and “so ruthlessly clever it’s criminal” (Entertainment Weekly).  If you haven’t yet jumped on the Peter Swanson bandwagon, now is the time. KILL YOUR DARLINGS is poised to be the breakout thriller of the summer. A terrible act binds a husband and wife to one another forever. But when the marriage goes south, how far will each of them go to protect their secrets? Smart, unique, and unnerving, KILL YOUR DARLINGS is the latest incredible read from Peter Swanson.

In this episode we talk with New York Times Bestseller Jayne Ann Krentz about her long career in publishing, the importance of genre, meeting reader expectations, mixing popular genres, and so much more. With over 50 New York Times bestsellers, Krentz is one of the forerunners of paranormal romance. She writes romantic thrillers, futuristic suspense, and historical mysteries under the Krentz, Castle, and Amanda Quick names, respectively, and her Harmony novels have been praised for their “seamless synthesis of futuristic suspense, magical settings, and scintillating romance” (Booklist, starred review).