Writers of the Future Podcast

Marc Scott Zicree has written for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sliders, Babylon 5, Smurfs, He-Man, Real Ghostbusters, and much more. But the reason I invited him to this podcast is that Marc Scott Zicree is the author of the most comprehensive book on the original series, "The Twilight Zone Companion." A TV series I enjoyed as a child but had no idea of what went into the series that made it so entertaining or its impact on so many people! And I still remember those chilling opening and closing monologs by Rod Serling. We discuss how Rod Serling created this series as a result of being censored for attempting to discuss current social issues on programming he was writing. Find his book, "The Twilight Zone Companion" wherever books are sold.

S.M. Stirling writes in multiple genres and has over 10 NYT bestsellers. In this interview, we discuss writing alternate history, the need for research, and how to do this research. His latest novel, "To Turn the Tide" addresses the last successful period of the Roman Empire before the Germanic tribes invaded and sacked it. We discuss Type A invention and Type B invention which plays a key part of the novel. We also discuss two of L. Ron Hubbard's favorite books, "Typewriter in the Sky" and "Slaves of Sleep." Learn more at smstirling.com/books/to-turn-the-tide/

I am here at the Tampa Convention Center attending the 2024 Tampa Comic Con with this week’s guest, James Rosone. We met up here last year at this convention and recorded a podcast interview which you can find as interview 247. James Rosone is the Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of military thriller and science fiction. He's an Iraq War veteran who served 3.5 years in a combat zone as a military interrogator and contractor. I completed his Monroe Doctrine series—all 9 volumes—and find near future military SF (I hope it’s SF) is the most chilling of any type of story I have read. I also read the first volume of his 11-volume Into the Stars series—not so near future. In this interview, we discussed how he arrived at writing in the genre he chose, what his process has been as a self-published author to become a top 100 Amazon author—close to making 7 figures a year—and how he does his research for the technology he uses in his novels. https://frontlinepublishinginc.com/

Elliott Haimoff, is a biologist, primatologist and documentary filmmaker. In 1990 he founded Global Science Productions to develop and distribute educational television programs and news segments about space, biology, health, sports and nature. And now, over 200 documentaries with dozens of awards later, I am now interviewing him on one of several books he was written: SPACE PIONEERS: CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MEN OF APOLLO We initially met several years back as we were releasing our Stories from the Golden Age. He would frequent our Saturday night live theatre. He also shot a documentary on Pulp Fiction, which heavily featured L. Ron Hubbard as one of the masters of Science Fiction’s Golden Age.

Anthony Goff is the President of Blackstone Publishing. I met Anthony when we shared spots on the Audio Publishers Assn Board of Directors in the early 2010s when he was the audio publisher at Hachette. He has been involved in publishing and the growth of the audiobook industry for three decades and is very knowledgeable about its history and growth and what's in store in the future. We also discuss how to get your book published as an audiobook—what to do and what not to do.

Meghna Pant is recognized as one of India’s best writers by several international and national publications. And she is the first female to ever write a war novel in India. She is an author, feminist, journalist and speaker and has won a variety of awards for her contribution to literature, gender issues, and journalism. In 2012, she won the Muse India National Literary Awards' Young Writer Award for her debut novel "One-and-a-Half Wife." I met her perhaps 15 years ago in Los Angeles. We’ve been friends on social media. When I saw a post about the book we will be discussing, I reached to invite her as a guest to this podcast. And I am very happy I did. I hope you are as well. https://www.meghnapant.com/

Jim, Tamra, and Taylor Meskimen along with British actor Victoria Summer, recorded the "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40" audiobook. Listen as they discuss how they create the voices that bring these stories to life. We also discuss the value of art in creating a safe space to experience life outside our comfort zone.

2024 Writers of the Future Workshop instructors, Jody Lynn Nye and Robert J. Sawyer, discuss how they can't give back very readily but can pay forward. We discuss what Jody and Rob along with the other judges do to pay forward. Because these winners are the writers we will be reading in the future.

Melody Groves has written 12 Western novels and 5 non-fiction books of the Old West. We originally met in 2009 at a Western Writers of America Conference where she was incharge of Public Relations. She has since gone on to become President of Western Writers of America and Homestead Foundation. I read a very light-hearted Western tale “She Was Sheriff” in preparation for this interview. The story tagline "All She Wanted Was a Gold Band—What She Got Was a Tin Star." We discuss the current growth of the Western genre and comparisons between it and the SF genre. The Western Horse Opera preceded Science Fiction Space Opera. Gold Winner, 2023 Will Rogers Medallion Award, "Billy's Mom" Spur Winner, 2023, WWA, "Before Billy the Kid" 6X Winner, 2021 NM/AZ Book Awards Winner, 2018 National Press Women Award Winner, 2018 New Mexico Press Women Awards https://melodygroves.com/

Shahid Mamoud and Lezli Robyn, Publisher and Editor of Galaxy's Edge Anthology (formerly Magazine), discuss editors and their role and value in creating the best possible story...and a whole lot more! Learn more at www.galaxysedge.com/