Writers of the Future Podcast

With her thought-provoking novels, Nancy Kress, acclaimed science fiction author and winner of six Nebulas, two Hugos, a Sturgeon, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, blends cutting-edge science with profound human questions. In this episode, we dive into her celebrated works, starting with “Beggars in Spain,” a gripping exploration of bioengineering, and “Tomorrow’s Kin,” where complex scientific concepts challenge readers to expand their vocabulary and imagination. We discuss how Nancy masterfully weaves real science into her narratives, her approach to tackling humanity’s response to intelligent extraterrestrial life, and the craft of writing compelling science fiction that resonates with both heart and mind. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, this episode offers a fascinating look at what it takes to create authentic, thought-provoking sci-fi. https://nancykress.com/ PHOTO CREDIT: MARY GRACE LONG

Today’s guest is Wulf Moon, who many of you already know from any of our past three interviews since he was on as a Writer winner in Volume 35 back in 2019 with his short story “Super Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler.” Wulf Moon won his first writing award at the age of 15 and has now won over 60 awards in writing and 30 in public speaking. He remains one the biggest supporters and promoters of Writers of the Future. As you can deduce from the title of this episode, we discuss tools you can use to raise the bar of your storytelling to new lofty heights. You can find him at https://driftweave.com/

How do you weave short stories into a cohesive novel? In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back award-winning author Martin L. Shoemaker, a “Writers of the Future Volume 31” winner, to discuss his latest novel, “A Fine and Dangerous Season.” Martin shares his unique process of transforming a series of short stories, all written in October 2023, into a gripping, interconnected narrative. From his early success with “Unrefined” to co-authoring “How to Be a Dictator” with Kevin J. Anderson and his novel “Today I Am Carey,” Martin’s fourth appearance on our podcast dives deep into the art of storytelling. Learn practical techniques for blending short-form fiction into a novel-length masterpiece and get inspired by his creative journey. Learn more at https://shoemaker.space/.

Join us as Nev March, the first Indian-born winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Award for a First Crime Novel and 2024 NY Chapter chair, shares her journey into murder mystery. A departure from our usual SF&F, we explore new genres, as top authors recommend reading broadly.

Lydia Sherrer is a USA Today bestselling author and has published multiple novels, including “Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus,” a delightful urban fantasy with snarky humor. In this episode, we discuss writing urban fantasy fiction and how to add a bit of snark to make it even better. Learn more at www.lydiasherrer.com.

Nicole “N. V.” Haskell was a Writers of the Future winner in Volume 38 with her fantasy short story, “The Mystical Farrago.” Her recent novel, “The Malice of Moons and Mages,” is an epic fantasy novel, first in a series, where Nicole creates a world filled with magic but with special rules and laws. In this episode, we discuss how to world-build a magical realm and the importance of staying true to the system you have created. We also discuss Nicole’s special journey as an author, including her Writers of the Future win and subsequent workshop in Hollywood. Learn more about Nicole at nvhaskell.com.

Laurence O’Bryan is an author and the Founder of the International Dublin Writers’ Festival and BooksGoSocial. In this episode, we discuss how BooksGoSocial provides personalized book promotion with expert feedback, Amazon ad optimization, and extensive social media reach to boost sales. Galaxy Press uses this service, and we want to make this known to other creatives who want to realize more success in book sales. Learn more at bgsauthors.com/

Django Degree is the founder and CEO of Focus on Words, a book platform that gives authors full ownership of their work, royalties, and audience. He’s also the author of “I Hope You Wake Up” and “They Lied To You,” books that dive deep into truth, identity, and how we break free from the systems that shape us. His mission is clear: help authors reclaim their voice, rebuild broken systems, and eventually use the success of that work to fund a city for foster youth and orphans across the country.

Craig Martelle is an international bestselling author of thrillers and science fiction. His nonfiction book, Wit and Wisdom, provides incredible advice to authors. His first podcast interview was based on his thriller Ian Bragg Series. This interview is built around his book—a must-read for writers wishing to improve their game. He founded IASFA (Independent Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors), which we also discuss in this interview. If you are a science fiction or fantasy writer, this is a great group to join. Learn more here: https://iasfa.org/

Brittany “Bea” Jackson illustrated the New York Times bestselling picture books, “Parker Looks Up,” about America’s First Lady, and LeBron James’s “We Are Family,” and her own “Lilly’s Dream,” which she both wrote and illustrated. She is a former grand prize winner of the Illustrators of the Future Contest and was published in “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 24.” She has been a judge since 2021. We discuss how she developed her style as a self-taught artist, having begun as a fan fiction artist. We also discussed how she was discovered by a major publisher finding her through social pages. Visit www.beagifted.com/