Writers Bleck

In this episode, Claribel Ortega returns to the Writer’s Bleck Podcast! Witchlings: The Sea Witch Prophecy, the final book in her beloved Witchlings series, and we're talking all about it. We'll discuss Claribel's challenges and emotions behind ending a five-book series, bringing longtime character arcs to their conclusion, and watching her young readers grow alongside the books. Plus,...

In this episode, Greg sits down with author journalist, editor, and fact finder extraordinaire Brian Boone (The Onion, Funny or Die) to talk about the latest project from his team, the 39th edition of Uncle John's All Knowing Bathroom Reader. They'll discuss what it takes to put together Uncle John’s All Knowing Bathroom Reader , how research has become more involved in a digital age, Bria...

This week, Greg sits down with bestselling author Lisa Gardner to discuss her latest novel, You’ll Be Sorry. They’ll discuss why Gardner decided to step away from her established series and characters in favor of something brand new, what goes into making a book’s setting feel just as real as its cast, and her thoughts on staying creatively inspired after 35 years as a professional novelist, the i...

This week, host Greg Nyikos is sitting down with author, literacy advocate, and did we forget to mention Super Bowl champion Malcolm Mitchell to talk about his latest picture book, My Super Duper Me. They'll discuss Malcom's difficult journey to discover a love of reading, how he draws inspiration from his own story to craft his characters, the footprint he wants to leave behind for his au...

This week, Greg sits down with author Tiffany Jackson to discuss her latest book, the middle-grade murder mystery; Ghost in the Night. They’ll also talk about her literary influences, what it’s like to follow up an award-winning work with something completely new, what she learned during her research trip to Savannah, Georgia, for Ghost in the Night, and so much more. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Okay, so we're technically on break, but I can't pass up a fun conversation. In this episode, we sat down with Gabrielle Wanek to chat about the latest entry in her urban fantasy epic, Songs of Ash & Dawn, Book 2. We'll dive into Gabrielle's long-term vision for a planned ten-book series, how she pieces together complex characters like a jigsaw puzzle, the importance of continu...

In this episode, it's the season finale gang, and our friend Kassidy Vangundy is returning to the podcast to talk about her upcoming horror anthology release, Cursed Images: Channel Surfing. They'll discuss what went into the latest entry in the Cursed Images series, Kassidy's recent YouTube milestone, the state of her mental health in 2026, and some exciting breaking news about an upc...

This week, Greg sits down with singer-songwriter Ken Bascue, to discuss Ken's lifelong journey through music, performance, and songwriting. They'll talk about how personal tragedy, faith, and perseverance shaped his creative voice, why authenticity matters more than perfection, and what inspired songs like Right to Love and No Place Left . From finding the courage to pursue his dreams later in lif...

Best-selling author and poet Aida Salazar joins Greg to discuss her new novel-in-verse, Stream. They'll explore how poetry became Aida's storytelling superpower, the inspiration behind writing stories in verse, the growing impact of screen addiction and social media on young people, and the importance of reconnecting with nature, culture, and authentic identity. Plus, Aida shares the perso...

This week on The Writer's Bleck Podcast, Greg sits down with author, television producer, and co-founder of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Meredith Walker, to discuss her new book, Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice: A Teen Girl's Guide to Unlearning the Rules . She'll share lessons from her career at Nick News and Saturday Night Live, explore the challenges facing teen girls in today&#3...

In this episode, Greg sits down with the best-selling author Veronica Roth to discuss her new dystopian fantasy, Seek the Traitor’s Son, as well as her upcoming turn to the Divergent series in The Sixth Faction. They'll discuss the different forms Seek the Traitor's Son took across its six years of development, blending sci-fi and fantasy, the pressure and negativity that came with the suc...

Greg sits down with Keala Kendall to talk about her new Hawaiian gothic thriller, That Which Feeds Us , a haunting story about family, folklore, colonialism, and the dark side of paradise. She'll share how homesickness and Hawaiian history shaped the novel, why gothic horror was the perfect genre for the story, and how Keala balances atmospheric horror with deeply personal themes. We also dive int...

In this episode, Greg interviews bestselling author, professor, activist, and cultural critic Brittney Cooper about her debut children’s book, Mama Says I'm Fine. Brittney discusses the emotional meaning behind the phrase “I’m fine,” the influence of her childhood and late mother on the story, themes of Black motherhood, empowerment, vulnerability, mental health, and emotional resilience, and so m...

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with actress and first-time author Sarah Amini to discuss her debut graphic novel, Mixed Feelings . Inspired by her own childhood, the book explores the chaos of growing up, navigating middle school, surviving puberty, and trying to figure out where you belong. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on YouTube:...

This week on the podcast, Greg sits down with middle-grade author Alyson Gerber to discuss her acclaimed series The Liar Society , a story of suspense and mystery, set at a New England boarding school where the lines between right and wrong blur and new friendships and alliances are put to the test. They'll also discuss how Alyson used her early novels as a form of self-therapy, helping naviga...

In this episode, Greg sits down with poet Victoria Lauren to talk about her poetry collections, Crescendo of Chaos and Promises of Poison, how she used poetry to overcome physical adversity, her upcoming romance novel, and so much more. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠ More From Greg...

Greg sits down with children’s and young adult author Jasmine Warga to talk about her new book, The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan . They dive into her approach to writing big emotions for young readers, the real-life animal program that inspired the story, and why connecting directly with her audience matters so much. Support us directly at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠ Find us...

Greg sits down with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray to talk about his debut novel, Burn the Water. They'll also talk about his time working on acclaimed projects such as Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games, selling his first script at only 19 years old, and how the 2023 WGA strikes influenced the creation of this book. Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod Find us...

This week, Greg sits down with best-selling author Deborah Goodrich Royce to talk about her new thriller, Best Boy. They'll also discuss how the unique perspective of Deborah's storied career in the entertainment industry influenced her when writing this novel, how she reinvented herself both personally and professionally over the course of her career, her tips for writing suspense, and so...

Greg sits down with writer, director, and YouTuber Stuart Hardy to talk about how he channels big emotions into his writing, maintaining his unique voice after more than a decade in the digital space, navigating through burnout, balancing distributing his projects across different platforms, and so much more. Thank you, Stu: https://www.youtube.com/@Stubagful Support us directly at: https://www.pa...

Greg sits down with novelist Steve Berry to talk about the Devil's Bible, the latest entry in his long-running Cotton Malone series. They'll also discuss his hands-on approach to researching the real-world legends that go into crafting his narratives, managing continuity after nearly two decades, and so much more. Support us directly at: https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod

How would you react to learning your family isn't what you thought? Greg sits down with Christine Kuehn and Mark Schiponi, the husband and wife team behind the true story, Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History of Pearl Harbor.

This week, Greg is flying solo. He’s locked himself in the office with the dog, a cup of coffee, and a pocket full of dreams in an attempt to write his very first children’s book, and he's bringing all of you along for the ride. This episode also marks the final episode of the podcastfor 2025. We’ll be back in February with brand-new episodes. Until then, be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok,...

In this episode, Greg is sitting down with the author of the acclaimed Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Shannon Messenger to talk about the long-awaited release of Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel, Part Two , what it’s been like revisiting the early days of Sophie Foster’s story in a whole new format, how she balances heart, spectacle, and an absolutely massive cast of characters afte...

In this episode, author Spencer Hixon, creator of A Sinister Love and Fate & Fortune , joins Greg to discuss how ADHD has shaped his writing journey, how he shifts his mindset between projects, and the unexpected emotional weight behind some of his most powerful scenes. They also explore what happens when a demon attempts to understand humanity exclusively through romance novels, and how that...