The Brewing Fiction Podcast

South African writer and small business owner Simone van Wyk joins me on the podcast to share her journey to becoming a writer. Once a professional photographer and now an animal decor artist, Simone balances her life between her small business, Pretty Dead Decor, her fiction writing, and time with her husband and four fur babies in a charming off-grid cabin nestled in the mountains of South Afric...

Join me as I chat with Gabi Coatsworth, an award-winning British-born writer who now calls the United States home. Gabi is a vibrant member of the Connecticut writing community, actively participating in several national writing associations and leading multiple groups for writers both in person and online. Her memoir,  Love’s Journey Home , published in May 2022 by Atmosphere Press, is also avail...

At just 18 years old, Shadonovic demonstrates remarkable maturity in both his writing ability and his journey as an author. He began writing at the tender age of six and, at 17, won first prize in the Fictionate.me contest in the non-adult category, where our co-host Heather served as a judge and curator for the anthology 'Unmoored: Worlds of Pure Chaos.' Since then, he has envisioned a wo...

Fred Gambino is a freelance concept artist who has worked on blockbuster films like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Thor: Ragnarok." More recently, he has ventured into writing and released his debut sci-fi novel, "Dark Shepherd." Join us as we discuss the connection between art and literature and what we feel is the impact of AI on the art and writing industries. And...

Violet Lively is a passionate author whose love for reading began with the Harry Potter series and Nora Roberts’ romance novels to name but a few. Her longer writing spans the fantasy romance genre, while her short stories delve into many elements: like ghosts, dragons, demons, elves, time travel, and witches. Violet was born and raised in Europe, and living in Hungary helps bring a unique cultura...

Today, we have a special guest joining us all the way from Dundee, Scotland. Hailing from the land of rolling hills and ancient castles, S.R. Malone is a talented writer who weaves intricate tales of science fiction and speculative fiction. When he’s not busy with his three children, or walking his dog, he is lost in a stack of books. And somehow he still finds time to pen his own stories. Stephen...

On today’s episode, I catch up with my old friend Brett Gosling. He has taken his love for creating worlds in Dungeons and Dragons from our university days and used his skills to embark on a fantasy writing journey. Listen to Brett talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with good people to stay on track. And if you love fantasy writing, you won't want to miss the excerpt from Brett’s up...

On today’s episode, Heather and I have the privilege of hosting the dynamic husband and wife writing duo known as DoubleBlind. Cat and Ry are enjoying tremendous success with their award-winning LitRPG adventure series 'Everyone’s a Catgirl'. Get to know this exciting and amazing duo as they share their writing journey. You can find DoubleBlind here: ⁠⁠DoubleBlind | Linktree ⁠,⁠ ⁠ DoubleBlind | Am...

This is part 2 of our conversation with Science Fiction and Fantasy writer, Hannah Greer. Stay tuned to hear how Hannah’s story, The Way the Stars Glow won publication in the short story collection titled ‘Unmoored: Worlds of Pure Chaos’ from Fictionate.me Publishing. We will also discuss the growth and power of flash fiction and drabble writing. Also, Hannah reads a piece of her brilliant storyte...

On today's episode, we welcome Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Hannah Greer. We will be delving into the details of Hannah’s writing journey and shedding light on her experiences along the way. We will also discuss the advantages of writing short fiction, a format that is becoming more popular in today's literary landscape. Also, you’ll hear of valuable resources where aspiring writers can subm...

Many of us love to get lost in a good novel, but have you considered the immense amount of effort, passion, and creativity behind these tales? Here on the podcast, we host a range of guests - from authors to editors, and other creatives, who work tirelessly to shape the literature you love. Join us as they share their rewarding, yet sometimes challenging journeys. Join authors Keith M. Leonard and...

'Estate Secrets,' the latest novel by John W. Goodland, is now available for order and download. This special episode of the podcast coincides with the release of his fourth novel. Following the release, John reflects on the challenges a writer may encounter on their journey to the final product that readers enjoy. In this episode, we explore the benefits of self-publishing as he sees them, his pr...

'Estate Secrets,' the latest novel by John W. Goodland, is now available for order and download. This special episode of the podcast coincides with the release of his fourth novel. John, a Newfoundland and Labrador author, shares his journey, his writing process, and how he achieves fulfillment through writing. He also discusses his perspective on the role of history in crafting historical fiction...

This week's episode continues our conversation with author, poet and editor Matthew Salinas. Matthew shares his experience navigating the publishing world, including how to watch for potential predatory publishers. Also, you will get the privilege of hearing an excerpt from Matthew’s story, and novel of the same name, 'As It Stands'. Follow his work: ⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matthew.salinas.942...

This week features author, poet and editor Matthew Salinas. In this episode, Matthew talks about some of his earliest inspirations, his experiences with self-publishing and traditional-publishing, and how he balances writing with other responsibilities. Follow his work: ⁠ https://www.facebook.com/matthew.salinas.942145 https://coalescencepublishing.com https://fairfieldscribes.com ⁠⁠⁠ Stop by the...

This is part 2 of our chat with Devon Oman from Dead Prairies Productions. In this episode, Devon talks about his latest movie GOREphers: Final Gnaw, his inclusion of Saskatchewan musicians in his movie soundtracks, and of his desire to donate all profits from his movies and merchandise to local non-profits. You can follow his work:  ⁠https://www.facebook.com/devon.oman⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/...

This week features filmmaker and self-proclaimed horror nerd Devon Oman from Dead Prairies Productions. In this episode, you'll hear what inspired him to start making low-budget films in 2012 and how his journey has progressed to their 16th movie GOREphers: Final Gnaw, set to be released on May 11, 2024. You can follow his work:  https://www.facebook.com/devon.oman https://www.facebook.com/deadpra...

Today we conclude our conversation with Alison McBain, the author of the literary marathon known as Author Versus AI. In this episode, you will get the inside scoop on how she plans to write 52 novels in 52 weeks starting on Global Book Day, April 23, 2024 and ending on Global Book Day one year later! Visit https://www.alisonmcbain.com to check out Alison's work. Follow her Author Versus AI jo...

This week features writer, editor, poet and artist Alison McBain. You'll hear about her first story from when she was very young and her journey to winning a publishing contract for her most recent book titled The New Empire . Follow her work: ⁠https://www.alisonmcbain.com⁠ and ⁠https://www.authorversusai.com⁠ . Stop by the podcast homepage to see what is brewing: ⁠https://keithmleonard.com/br...

Poet, Author and Editor H.R. Parker joins me to share her journey as a fiction writer. From poetry to flash fiction and now amid her first round of edits for her first novel, Heather has an inspiring story to share. Follow her work: https://linktr.ee/heather_r_parker and https://medium.com/@authorhrparker . Stop by the podcast homepage to see what is brewing: https://keithmleonard.com/brewing-fict...

Poet, Author and Editor H.R. Parker joins me to share her journey as a fiction writer. From poetry to flash fiction and now amid her first round of edits for her first novel, Heather has an inspiring story to share. Follow her work: https://linktr.ee/heather_r_parker and https://medium.com/@authorhrparker . Stop by the podcast homepage to see what's brewing: https://keithmleonard.com/brewing-f...

Calling all wordsmiths and bookworms! If you are a lover of fiction, the Brewing Fiction Podcastis your source for the inspirations, tools and techniques that script the stories you love. Our guests are the creators of your favorite genre, and they are here to share their journeys. They will tell the stories behind their stories. From the challenges to their successes, our guests will give you an...