Story Secrets

At the start of this year, I took a crazy leap: I began writing my first fantasy novel. I was scared — but some friendly fantasy writers encouraged me to just start writing, no matter how imperfect it would be. And wow, has it been a ride. Set in early medieval Ireland, my story asks: 👉 What if the miracles attributed to saints actually happened — through a kind of sacred storytelling magic? Inst...

I finally watched Twisters , the sequel to one of my guilty pleasures: the 90s classic Twister . And honestly? It left me feeling... underwhelmed. Just like the original, Twisters is a popcorn blockbuster full of tornado chases, cheesy accents, and implausible survival scenes. But while the first movie had this raw, thrilling energy (and that unforgettable roaring sound design), the sequel felt li...

There’s this one scene in Andor Season 2, Episode 2 that made me laugh out loud… and then immediately feel bad for laughing. It’s the moment when Cyril Karn, overwhelmed by his controlling mother, just collapses face down on the bed. Total shutdown. And yes—it has already become a meme. But what makes this scene so brilliant (and relatable) is what happens right before. Dedra, the ruthless Imperia...

The first three episodes of Andor Season 2 are out—and wow, they remind me why this show might just be the best Star Wars we’ve ever had on TV. What makes Andor stand out? It dares to slow down. It gives space for moments to breathe, for conversations to land, and for emotions to feel real—not rushed like in some of the movies. This season jumps forward in time toward the events of Rogue One . We’...

The other day I watched The Predator —not the classic one with Schwarzenegger, but the confusing 2018 sequel that somehow ended up in my Netflix queue. The film tries to tackle neurodiversity, with a young autistic boy at the heart of the story. Tries... and mostly fails. The kid is smart, often overwhelmed, and largely misunderstood by the adults around him. And yes, the film hints that his...

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, I'm ready to take the next step in my creative journey. For the past three months, I’ve been working hard on writing a fantasy novel – a project I’ve dreamed about for years but never dared to start. It’s been tough, but also incredibly rewarding. The truth is, writing can be a lonely process. I spend hours at my desk, conjuring up characters and stories on...

Have you ever wondered why some of your favorite movies feel so authentic, even when you know it’s all make-believe? Take Titanic , for example. Part of what made the acting feel so real was the genuine fear of the actors and extras filming scenes in massive water tanks, with entire sections of the ship tilting and throwing them into the water. Talk about dedication to realism! It’s stories like t...

Here on the Story Secrets podcast, I’ve reviewed movies, TV shows, books, and even video games. But this time, I’m diving into something I’ve never talked about before: a theatre play. And not just any play, but Shadowlands by William Nicholson. You might know this story from the movie adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins, but I haven’t seen the movie. Instead, I listened to an audio recording of t...

What if you could actually talk to ghosts? Not just in some spooky, fake haunted house on a Halloween night, but for real—crossing over into the world of spirits, building friendships with the dead? That’s the brilliant premise of City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab. And it’s more than just a cool ghost story; it’s a story about identity, friendship, and finding your place in the world. The book fol...

Yesterday, I experienced something truly amazing. I played the first stage of a VR game on my Quest 3, based on the legendary gaming franchise Assassin’s Creed . Now, I’ve played parts of previous games, but this was something else entirely. This was the first VR version of the game, called Assassin’s Creed Nexus , and it completely blew my mind. The franchise is known for its deep, history-inspir...

Wow. The Season 2 finale of Severance was nothing short of brilliant. Apple TV+ has done it again, delivering a masterpiece that feels like the best thing since Lost . But unlike many mystery-box shows, Severance gives you answers while keeping you hooked with even more questions. At the heart of this show is the creepy and mysterious Lumon corporation, where workers undergo a procedure to "sever"...

If you were addicted to ER back in the day like I was, you might want to check out The Pit . It’s a new medical drama starring Noah Wyle (Dr. Carter from ER ), and it has that same chaotic, high-intensity energy—but with a much darker, grittier edge. Set in the emergency room of a major city hospital—nicknamed The Pit because it feels like a war zone—this show dives deep into the brutal realities...

Have you seen the first episode of Wheel of Time Season 3? Amazon dropped three episodes at once, and I’ve watched the first one—and wow, they have seriously stepped up their game. For those unfamiliar, Wheel of Time is one of the most famous fantasy book series out there. Robert Jordan started it, crafting an epic world where history repeats itself in cycles, and where magic is woven—literally—by...

There’s a new series on Netflix that’s suddenly blowing up, even though it wasn’t really advertised. No big promotional campaign, no flashy trailers—just word of mouth making it explode in popularity. And after watching the first episode, I totally get why. It’s called Adolescence , and at first glance, it sounds like a typical crime drama. A 15-year-old boy is arrested for a brutal murder, and we...

Most of what people think they know about St. Patrick isn’t actually true. He wasn’t Irish . He probably  didn’t chase snakes out of Ireland . And he definitely didn’t invent green beer (sorry, folks). But here’s something even more surprising: we have a firsthand account of his life, written by St. Patrick himself. It's called The Confessio , and it’s not just an old historical text—it’s a r...

Okay, confession time. I did not expect to get emotionally invested in a book about warrior cats. But Into the Wild pulled me in fast. At first, I thought, "Oh, this will be a fun, light read." And then suddenly, I was knee-deep in clan politics, betrayals, and existential questions about loyalty. This book is way smarter than it looks. And today, I want to dive into exactly why it works so well....

I was a library kid. My happy place was a quiet corner, surrounded by books, far from the constant noise of home—my dad’s bagpipes, my brother’s piano practice, and the general chaos of family life. Yet despite my love for books, there was a long period when I barely read at all. What happened? School. In the Netherlands, we were forced to read “real” literature for every language we studied—Dutch...

I can’t stop talking about Severance . It’s rare for a show to capture my imagination the way this one does. Every episode is like a puzzle piece, and the internet is buzzing with speculation, theories, and analysis. It reminds me of the Lost era when fans would dissect every frame for hidden clues. What makes Severance so special? A Thriving Fan Community – Unlike toxic fandoms that seem to hate...

If you grew up with Star Wars , you probably had that one toy that defined your childhood. Maybe it was a lightsaber, an action figure, or a model of the Millennium Falcon. For me, those early Star Wars toys were more than just collectibles—they were how we kept the magic alive between movies. Back then, you couldn’t just rewatch Star Wars whenever you wanted. No VHS, no streaming, no DVDs. If you...

Over the weekend, I dived into a fascinating series of lectures on The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce. If you're not familiar with his work, he's written extensively about the deeper layers of Tolkien's stories, especially their Catholic themes. But this lecture series really opened my eyes to something I hadn’t fully appreciated before: the role of grace and providence in Bilbo’s adventure. A lot of peo...

Did you know that an Irish saint from the early Middle Ages helped inspire both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? His name was St. Brendan the Navigator , and his legendary voyage to a mysterious land echoes through some of the greatest fantasy stories ever written. I’ve been diving deep into early medieval Irish history while writing my own fantasy novel, and the story of St. Brendan has captivated...

The idea of making a deal with the devil has been explored in countless stories, but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab does something truly unique with it. This book surprised me—in the best way possible. The story follows Addie, a young woman in 1714 France who, in a desperate moment, makes a bargain with a mysterious figure named Luc (short for Lucifer, naturally). She asks fo...

What if there was a global reset button for time? A way to roll back history whenever humanity faced disaster—whether it be a world war, a pandemic, or some other catastrophe? That’s the premise of The Lazarus Project , a sci-fi series I recently started watching, and let me tell you—it’s fascinating . The story follows George, an ordinary guy who suddenly realizes he’s trapped in a time loop. But...

I finally read Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb—the book that everyone on BookTok and BookTube seems to love. And I went in with high expectations. A fantasy classic? Deep characters? A compelling story? Count me in. And then… well, let’s just say my experience was very different from the glowing reviews I had read. Here’s the gist: The story follows Fitz, a royal bastard trained as an assassin...