Realm Runners

Join us on Realm Runners as we sit down with acclaimed fantasy author John Gwynne. He shares a deeply personal look into his writing process, revealing how family is central to the heart and soul of his gripping narratives and intricate characters. From his unique writing journey beginning as a family project, to the profound influence of films like 'Braveheart' and 'Lord of the Rings,' and even h...

The Crown Price of Grimdark is back! In this episode, Z.B. Steele shares insights on indie publishing, cover art, audiobook production, and navigating the industry with a brutally honest and humorous approach. We discuss the nuances of character development, the importance of transparency in indie publishing, and the strategic use of novellas for fan engagement and marketing. Along with insights o...

Join us as Marie Lu discusses her transition from writing YA to adult fantasy. She shares insights into her unique world-building process, detailing how influences like alchemy and gaming shape her intricate story settings. We also explore her approach to character development, relationships, and the careful handling of mature themes. Listen in to understand how she crafts compelling characters an...

In this episode, Tad Williams shares insights from his four-decade career in fantasy and science fiction writing, discusses the importance of character-driven stories, and explores the challenges and joys of world-building and series continuity. We also talk about his new book, The Splinted Sun, the massive series encompassing his Osten Ard universe, unexpected influences and more. Don't miss out...

In this episode, Tim Carter shares his journey from Hollywood to video games to indie fantasy writing, revealing behind-the-scenes stories from his work on Mortal Kombat Legacy and Sleeping Dogs. He discusses his creative process, the importance of humor in fantasy, and how his background influences his storytelling. His book Jester is currently a SPFBO finalist! Be sure to go grab a copy of that...

In this episode, author M.H. Ayinde shares insights into her epic fantasy series, the creative process behind her book covers, and how her cultural background influences her storytelling. We explore themes of magic, colonialism, genre blending, and character development. Be sure to pick up both of her amazing books now!

A sci-fi romance about two people trying to live their lives while the universe quietly comes apart, Elliot Blake reveals the gritty, fast-moving story behind Into the Great and why he chose to build a love story inside a world of mining planets, border-town thieves, and unnerving alien visitors who say nothing and stare. Blake brings an unusually deep entertainment background to the page. He is t...

In this episode, Sheila Masterson joins us to discuss her latest works and the intricacies of writing dark romance. With a captivating mix of humor and seriousness, Sheila reveals the challenges and joys of creating complex characters in intense settings. Sheila shares her journey into the realm of dark romance, starting with her acclaimed book, The Poison Daughter . A story about a woman with a p...

Have you ever wondered how to build stories that truly resonate with readers who see themselves in the pages? C.L. Clark reveals how writing characters from marginalized communities creates immersive, emotionally charged worlds that fans obsess over. In this episode, Clark shares the surprising origins of Fortune’s Wake , the process for writing tight, impactful novellas, and how fan reactions une...

Cal Logan is back for round two, and it's the show's first return guest. His debut ShadowBane landed as one of Pete's picks for Indie Book of 2025, and the sequel, ShadowVein, closes out a very different kind of book two. Cal walks through the decision to pull back from book one's battle heavy structure and lean into political, character driven fantasy instead, a swing he knew was risky right afte...

Pete has been dying to get Jesse Aragon on the show since he saw the cover of Demon Star back in January, and six months later the wait pays off. Jesse is a science fantasy author and full-time nurse whose debut, out July 28 from DAW, follows an exorcist and a demon-possessed warrior on a god-ruled, ruined planet, where the woman's son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon. We get...

Gemma Vale discusses her debut novel 'Daughter of the Night' and her unique writing process, self-editing, and immersive marketing strategies. She also shares insights on her social media journey and the challenges of self-publishing. We cover Gemma Vale's writing process, the unique aspects of her editing style, the inspiration behind her book's shadows as characters, and the psychological horror...

Fantasy Romance Month wraps up as Caty Rogan joins Devin and Pete to talk Kissed by the Gods, her recent traditional release with Requited and the first book in the Eternal Wars series. Caty writes feminine rage, winged war horses, and epic battles, and she made a believer out of Pete, a lifelong classic-fantasy reader who connected with this one harder than anything else in the genre lately. We g...

Fantasy Romance Month continues as Stacia Stark joins to break down We Who Will Die, the ancient Rome-inspired romantasy she originally pitched as gladiator meets Vampire Diaries. Stacia went indie first, built her readership on the Kingdom of Lies series, and We Who Will Die is her first fully trad book, sold to Avon as a trilogy off a few chapters and a synopsis. We get into why this is a book w...

NY Times and USA today best selling author Stacey McEwan joins Devin and Pete to kick off Fantasy Romance Month on Realm Runners, and it's a full hour of craft, chaos, and chicken-flavored chips. Stacey is the bestselling author of A Forbidden Alchemy (Peaky Blinders with magic) part of The Artisan series, published by Saga Press. She breaks down how the book came together from a genuinely unhinge...

Thomas Clark Schecter joins Realm Runners to talk about The Shieldbreaker Saga , his epic dark fantasy series following 19-year-old Kareva as he leads the last of the Hodrir against the seemingly unstoppable Pohyor. Described by readers as the fantasy equivalent of 300, with the heart of Bernard Cornwell and the brutality of Abercrombie, The Shieldbreaker: Book One – The Last of the Etela is a lea...

C. William Phillips ( https://www.instagram.com/words_with_will ) spent 14 years writing his debut, a crime thriller that reads like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos writers got into a fistfight in a parking lot and bleed all over the pages. Then he pivoted to epic fantasy and somehow made that look easy too. In this episode, Will breaks down the wild journey from What Blood Remembers to The Ash Rema...

Most authors talk about writing. Jackson Ford ( https://www.instagram.com/realjacksonford ) proves it’s about living. In this episode, Jackson shares the real story behind his groundbreaking series The Bone Raiders, including how he dove headfirst into Mongolian culture, defying stereotypes to create a richly authentic world, nothing like the typical fantasy setting. You’ll discover the surprising...

Aaron Hall joins Pete and Devin to close out April, and this conversation goes everywhere. We dig into what makes The Legend of Uh work and hint, it's not just the jokes! We also talk about how a personal pizza video accidentally launched a social media explosion, why parody fantasy fails when it's all gag and no emotional core, and whether Aaron's next project should be a sci-fi parody or a grimd...

Audrey DeBoer has been living with this story since she was a teenager. What started as a school assignment became Vispilio, a Robin Hood reimagining that reads less like a fairy tale and more like Game of Thrones with a bow and arrow. Lost princes, political betrayal, morally complicated characters who never act like you'd expect. This is the kind of indie book that makes you wonder how it doesn'...

Miles Lyon wrote his debut novel The Price of Fear without a roadmap, while he somehow landed a Jeff Brown cover along the way. We talk about what it actually takes to get a book finished, why editors matter more than most new authors want to admit, how luck fits into the indie publishing equation, and what Miles has coming next. If you've ever thought about writing a book or you're deep in a debu...

No guest this week. Just Pete and Devin. Before Season 2 gets going, they sit down to talk about where Realm Runners is headed: who the first guests are, what the show looks like with Devin as a full co-host, and everything else that makes this feel like a real new chapter. Consider this the introductions before the run begins. ============================= Connect with Realm Runners =============...

Join Pete with special guest-host Devin (Bromantasy) as they talk with Bill Adams, about his new book Death Show Colossus! The kickstarter for it begins on 2/9/26, and has some incredible cool things to go along with it! Don't miss out on that, and keep an eye out for Realm Runners return in April!

Join Pete as he talks with Rob J Hayes, author of the amazing new book Hammerfall, along with so many others about inspiration behind it, the God Eater Saga, music, martial arts films and more!

Join Pete as he talks with TJ Cooper about his debut novel, A Shadows Vendetta, punk rock, Batman and more!