S.2 Ep. 55: What if Katniss Was From the Capital? Nisha Tuli on Her New YA Dystopian Novel Storm Breaker
S.2 Ep. 55: What if Katniss Was From the Capital? Nisha Tuli on Her New YA Dystopian Novel Storm Breaker  
Podcast: The Mythic Mic Podcast
Published On: Mon May 04 2026
Description: 🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories evolve, genres collide, and we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build unforgettable worlds.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with returning powerhouse guest Nisha Tuli for a conversation that spans far beyond a single book. We dive  into the realities of a rapidly growing author career, the evolution of storytelling, and what happens when a romantasy powerhouse steps into the world of YA dystopian.If you joined us in Season 1, you’ll remember Nisha from her romantasy series Artefacts of Ouranos and her rom-com Not Safe for Work. But this time, she’s back with something entirely different: Storm Breaker, a high-stakes YA dystopian set in a storm-ravaged future where survival is anything but guaranteed.We get into the heart of Storm Breaker, a post-apocalyptic New Manhattan plagued by deadly storms, rigid class divisions, and a system built to maintain control. At the center is Poet Graves, a girl raised within the elite who begins to question everything she’s been taught when she discovers she has a power that could get her killed. But this episode isn’t just about the book—it’s about the shift.Nisha opens up about what it’s like to pivot genres, sell a book on proposal, and build an entirely new world from scratch. We also go behind the scenes of publishing in a way most authors never get to see: from writing multiple books before they ever hit shelves, to having a project picked up for TV development before it’s even released. And of course, we zoom out into the bigger picture: why dystopian is making a comeback, how today’s world is shaping the stories being told, and what it means to write for a generation navigating truth, power, and information in entirely new ways.⚡ What does it look like to reinvent yourself as a writer?🌩️ Why is dystopian fiction hitting differently right now?🔥 And how do you balance creative instinct with the realities of the publishing industry?This is a must-listen for writers, readers, and anyone curious about what’s really happening behind the scenes of today’s biggest books.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Transitioning from romantasy to YA dystopian. ✨ The world of Storm Breaker: storm systems, class divides, and a dangerous future. ✨ Building a dystopian heroine who starts inside the system—not outside it. ✨ Writing and selling a book on proposal (and why it’s terrifying). ✨ How Nisha’s writing process has evolved with experience and confidence. ✨ Why saying no becomes just as important as saying yes. ✨ The behind-the-scenes timeline of publishing (and why books aren’t written in the order you think). ✨ Developing a TV adaptation before a book is even released. ✨ Why dystopian fiction is making a major comeback right now. ✨ Writing political and social commentary into YA in a way that resonates. ✨ The challenges of worldbuilding a completely new system from the ground up.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Nisha J. Tuli – @NishaJTWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.