Blue Byron Books

Sophia Vidergar joins the show to discuss her upcoming young adult fantasy novel. Sophia explores the intricacies of her unique magic systems—ranging from spirit-bonded natural magic to man-made mechanical inventions—and shares the literary influences that shaped her creative journey, including works by Sarah J. Maas and Rick Riordan. The conversation delves into the essential balance between crea...

Saylor Knight joins the Blue Byron Books Podcast to discuss her journey from writing lyrics in her notes app to publishing her first poetry collection. The conversation explores creativity, books, music, artistic inspiration, discipline, intuition, and the role storytelling plays in helping people feel seen. Along the way, Saylor shares her favorite books, concert experiences, creative routines, a...

In this episode, the conversation drifts through New York apartments, used bookstores, museum memories, and the emotional weight that books and music carry through different periods of life. Arshia reflects on growing up loving stories, shifting away from the pre-med track, and finding meaning through creativity, film, literature, and design. The two discuss favorite books including Interior China...

In this episode of Blue Byron Books, we sit down with Audrey Scott to explore what it means to truly understand yourself—through solitude, storytelling, and creative practice. From solo camping in Yosemite to the deeper philosophical questions of identity, control, and self-expression, Audrey reflects on how moments of isolation can reconnect us to who we are beneath external expectations. The con...

Timothy Hayden II returns to the Blue Byron Books podcast to discuss the release of his fifth book, A Mind Left Unchecked. What begins as a conversation about Chicago winters and California “cold” quickly becomes a deep dive into writing, discipline and creative obsession. Timothy opens up about discovering writing while struggling with depression in 2018, how his time in prison shaped his mindset...

In this episode, the Blue Byron Books Podcast visits with Preston Rowley for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, identity, and what it really means to be an artist. From growing up with an innate need to create to questioning the difference between writers, artists, and modern-day “content creators,” Preston reflects on how creativity functions as both an outlet and a compulsion. The discus...

In this episode of the Blue Byron Books Podcast, Rich is joined by Nadia Josephine Prescott from Saint Lucia, for a thoughtful conversation on writing, creativity, and the inner world of a storyteller. Nadia shares how books became her form of escapism from a young age, shaping her identity and creative voice. Together, they dive into the tactile beauty of writing by hand versus digital notes, the...

Chris Bouck joins the show from Denver in this episode to explore the creative process and the power of art to help people feel understood. The conversation ranges from early influences like “Frankenstein” and childhood books to poetry, liminal imagery, and how music and literature shape the way we experience emotion. Chris shares insights into his creative process, the role of solitude and discip...

Rich talks with Rachel Beronia to discuss creativity in all its forms, from books and short stories to horror films, video games, and visual art. She reflects on her childhood reading journey, influential works like The Catcher in the Rye and Ray Bradbury’s The Veldt, and her unique habit of reading the last page of a book first. Throughout the episode, Rachel explores a recurring theme she finds...

In this episode of the Blue Byron Books podcast, aspiring writer Fortune Accime-Tobias shares how childhood cartoons like “Gravity Falls” and character-driven stories like “Charlotte's Web” shaped his creative voice. We explore visual storytelling, emotional writing, sibling bonds as a recurring theme, and how shows like “Breaking Bad” influence his cinematic approach to narrative. Fortune also di...

Timothy Hayden II joins Rich to discuss prison, handwritten letters, philosophy, and the discipline required to become a published author. From five years of correspondence behind bars to co-authoring the Two Views, One Vision series, Timothy shares how vulnerability, persistence, and creative humility shaped his growth. Together, they reflect on editing, self-growth, leadership, and what it means...

Writer and novelist Mariana Narváez joins Rich Hebron to discuss poetry, novels, heartbreak, therapy, and the bravery required to publish your work. From writing a novel in her iPhone notes to creating children’s books for her nieces, Mariana shares how lived experience, patience, and curiosity shape meaningful storytelling. Recorded in Mexico City, set under jacaranda trees and sipping coffee. Gu...

Founder and CEO Rich Hebron traces the origin of Blue Byron Books—from a self-published memoir and a logo drawn on receipt paper to a fast-moving, collaborative publishing house that released nearly 50 books in a single year. Rich reflects on early creative influences, Chicago’s artistic scene, the impact of COVID, and the shift from traditional publishing to building something entirely his own. A...