The Fantasy Inn Podcast

Travis interviews author TJ Klune about Heartsong, his latest book from Tor Books, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea, his upcoming book in September 2024. This episode is spoiler free! TJ and Travis discuss writing romance, managing expectations of different audiences, and the importance of books as escapism and refuge. Want your message featured on the podcast? Find out more here. About TJ Klune: TJ K...

Travis interviews fantasy author Brian McClellan about In The Shadow Of Lightning, the first book of his new epic fantasy series from Tor Books. From the author of the acclaimed Powder Mage series comes an epic fantasy where magic is a finite resource—and it’s running out. This episode is spoiler free! Brian and Travis discuss the business lessons he learned through self-publishing, the sheer work...

Travis interviews science fiction author John Scalzi about The Kaiju Preservation Society , a standalone novel from Tor Books. It's a fast-paced, fun adventure full of giant monsters and a great way to escape from the world for a while. This episode is spoiler free! John and Travis discuss the difficulty of writing during lockdown, the historical context for kaiju films, and the value of books as...

Travis interviews author Vanessa Len about Only A Monster , her debut novel from HarperTeen. With the sweeping romance of Passenger and the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song , this standout YA contemporary fantasy novel is the first in a planned trilogy. This episode is spoiler free! Vanessa and Travis discuss discuss who society views as monsters, the trickiness of time travel, and how to wri...

Travis interviews author Peng Shepherd about The Cartographers , her latest standalone novel from William Morrow. From the critically acclaimed author of  The Book of M , the Cartographers is a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure a...

Travis interviews Lauren Panepinto, Creative Director of Orbit Books, about book design and more. Lauren and Travis discuss how a book cover gets made, how fonts and color theory attract a reader's eye, and the origin of the cloaked figure on so many fantasy covers. Want your message featured on the podcast? Find out more here. About Lauren Panepinto: After 15 years designing and art directing boo...

Let's talk about problematic books and our problematic reading habits. What could go wrong? Want your message featured on the podcast? Find out more here. Find Us Online: Blog Discord Twitter Instagram Support Us: Become a Patron Buy Us a Coffee Music: Intro: "The Legend of Iya" courtesy of https://philter.no Outro: "A Quest Unfolds" courtesy of https://philter.no This episode of The Fantasy Inn p...

Travis interviews author Fonda Lee about Jade Legacy , the third and final book in the award-winning Green Bone Saga trilogy from Orbit Books. The epic family saga of the Kaul siblings takes an intergenerational turn in this stunning conclusion to the series. This episode is spoiler free! Fonda and Travis discuss the nitty gritty of her worldbuilding process, how to craft an impactful action scene...

Travis interviews author Josiah Bancroft about The Fall of Babel , the fourth and final book in his highly acclaimed Books of Babel series published by Orbit Books. The secrets of the tower will finally be revealed! This episode is spoiler free! Josiah and Travis discuss the perils of social media, approaching prose with a poet's ear, and how the strongest characters often originate from their fla...

Travis interviews author Freya Marske about her debut fantasy novel, A Marvellous Light , which is available now from Tordotcom. Red White & Royal Blue meets Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, featuring an Edwardian England full of magic, contracts, and conspiracies. Freya and Travis discuss the best gins, building books around an emotional spin...

Travis interviews author Melissa Caruso about the second book in her Rooks and Ruin trilogy, The Quicksilver Court , which is available now from Orbit Books. Loyalties are tested and nations clash in this fresh epic fantasy book bursting with adventure, intrigue, ambition, and deadly magic. Melissa and Travis discuss the battle tactics of LARPing, writing settings as a character, and her tried and...

Travis interviews author John Gwynne about the first entry in his new Bloodsworn Saga from Orbit Books, The Shadow of the Gods . In a Norse-inspired world where the gods destroyed each other in a cataclysmic war, three warriors seek to shape the fate of the world. John and Travis discuss Viking reenactment, the pros and cons of various melee weapons, and the best way to escape from a suit of mail....

Travis interviews author Joe Abercrombie about the final book in his Age of Madness trilogy from Orbit Books, The Wisdom of Crowds . Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution... Joe and Travis discuss how he developed his unique writing voice, the nonfiction books he used to research the Age of Madness, and how to mo...

Travis interviews author Xiran Jay Zhao about their debut novel, Iron Widow . Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this science fantasy reimagining of the only female emperor in Chinese history. Iron Widow releases September 21 from Penguin Teen! Xiran and Travis discuss the book's anime inspiration, Chinese history and mythology, and Batman's dietary preferences. Xiran Jay Zhao Recommends: Th...

Travis interviews author C.S. Pacat about the first book in her new fantasy trilogy, Dark Rise . From the acclaimed author of the Captive Prince series comes a tale of heroes and villains being reborn to continue an ancient magical war. Cat and Travis discuss writing queernormative worlds, pushing back against and reimagining the classics, and the story behind the infamous Captive Prince announcem...

Travis interviews author Cameron Johnston about his latest fantasy novel, The Maleficent Seven . This standalone fantasy from Angry Robot features a team up of seven deadly villains and shows that when you're all out of heroes, all that's left are the villains. Cameron and Travis discuss blacksmithing, the impact of writing groups, and the art and joy of writing villains. Meet Our Sponsor: Fenrir...

Travis interviews author and podcaster Lauren Shippen about her third Bright Sessions novel, Some Faraway Place . This standalone story from Tor Teen features Rose, who has her humdrum life flipped upside down when she starts to travel into dreams. Lauren and Travis discuss the joys of fanfiction, the power of online communities, and how to craft an emotional story that readers can find comfort in...

Travis interviews author Shelley Parker-Chan about their debut novel, She Who Became the Sun , the first book of The Radiant Emperor duology from Tor Books. Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in this bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Shelley and Travis discuss crafting hyperemotional stories, tackling complex gender feels, and the importanc...

Travis Interviews author Claire North about Notes from the Burning Age , a standalone climate thriller from Orbit Books. From one of the most imaginative writers of her generation comes an extraordinary vision of the future, which puts dystopian fiction in a new light. Claire and Travis discuss using your phone for self-defense, writing nonlinear emotional character arcs, and how we can each live...

Travis interviews author Megan E. O'Keefe about Catalyst Gate , the thrilling conclusion to The Protectorate space opera trilogy from Orbit Books. The universe is under threat and an ancient alien intelligence threatens to bring humanity down unless Major Sanda Greeve and her crew can stop it. Megan and Travis discuss fractal plotting, the creeping social impact of artificial intelligence, and the...

Travis interviews author Tasha Suri about The Jasmine Throne , the first book in her now Burning Kingdoms trilogy from Orbit Books. This epic fantasy features a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne and a priestess searching for her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire. Tasha and Travis discuss what makes a compelling romance, drawing widely on history...

We like to discuss morally grey characters all the time, but all have a slightly different definition for what "morally grey" even means. So what exactly does it mean? And what are some examples of grey morality done well? Want us to read your message on the podcast? Find out more here. Things Mentioned: Sistersong by Lucy Holland The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson My Unce Napoleon by Ir...

Travis interviews author Suyi Davies Okungbowa about Son of the Storm , the first book in his new Nameless Republic trilogy from Orbit Books. This epic fantasy is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa. Suyi and Travis discuss how writers can apply strategic project culture to their work, how distinct story engines...

Travis interviews author Victoria Aveyard about Realm Breaker , the first book in her new series from HarperTeen. This epic fantasy begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword? Victoria and Travis discuss how she builds new worlds, ways to apply screenwriting techniques to writing novels, and the pressure of following up the massively successful Red...

Travis interviews author Gabriela Houston about her debut novel, The Second Bell . This standalone fantasy novel from Angry Robot follows a young striga fighting to harness the power of her second heart, while her mother sacrifices everything to stop her. Gabriela and Travis discuss Slavic folklore, the portrayal of women in fantasy, and how to make time for writing when time for yourself is hard...