🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes a man leaves presents at your door like a cat, except the present is the severed hand of the man who harassed you.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with author Victoria Mier to discuss Between the Rival Courts, an Arthurian fantasy filled with dangerous druid magic, rival spies, morally complicated characters, reincarnation, feminine rage, and a very different take on the legends of Camelot.Nyneve is a banished witch desperate to prove herself to the Druid clan that cast her out. Mordred is a changeling knight secretly spying on King Arthur’s court for the fair folk. When both find themselves embedded in Camelot on behalf of rival factions, their personal missions collide with broken alliances, looming war, dangerous magic, and the question of whether the people we love can always be saved.🗡️ What happens when a banished witch and a changeling knight are both secretly spying on Camelot?🖤 What if the villains of Arthurian legend were never as simple as the stories made them seem?🐈 And is it romantic if he leaves gifts at your door like a cat when the gift is a severed hand?If you love Arthurian legend, dangerous witches, morally gray knights, rival spies, feminine rage, reincarnation, knife-to-the-throat tension, complicated villains, dark fantasy, and characters who might leave you questioning exactly who you should be rooting for, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Victoria’s journey from journalism and antiquing back to the fiction and fantasy stories she always wanted to write.✨ Why writing characters who make readers feel deeply seen also requires an author to allow parts of themselves to be seen.✨ Victoria’s argument for writing the stories you wish existed instead of trying to predict what the market wants next.✨ Between the Rival Courts and its reimagining of Arthurian legend through banished witch Nyneve and changeling knight Mordred.✨ Two rival spies infiltrating Camelot while broken accords threaten to send humans, druids, and the fair folk toward war.✨ Questioning why characters like Mordred and Morgan le Fay became the villains of Arthurian legend and what might exist beneath the stories we inherited.✨ Why Victoria is unapologetically pro-discomfort and would rather make morally complicated characters worse than sanitize them for readers.✨ The knife-to-the-throat moment that made readers even more obsessed with Mordred than Victoria expected.✨ Reincarnation, past lives, and the hidden dialogue and imagery connecting this prequel to Victoria’s modern-day duology.✨ Why Victoria wants readers to finish the book with dread, suffer before earning their happy ending, and still recognize hope as something worth choosing.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Victoria Mier – @By_VictoriaMier✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where running away to join a magical carnival sounds like a great plan until your ex shows up.This week, hosts Sara and Bethany Amanda sit down with author Angela Montoya to discuss Carnaval Fantástico, a whimsical YA romantasy filled with magical performances, found family, childhood sweethearts, second-chance romance, runaway thieves, former spies, heartbreak, chaos, and one very memorable ostrich.Esmeralda is a runaway thief and ex-spy who has found safety hiding within Carnaval Fantástico, a magical traveling carnival she desperately doesn't want to leave. Her solution? Become the lead act in the big top show. The problem? Earning that coveted spot may require help from Ignacio, her childhood sweetheart and former love, who has suddenly reappeared in her life. What follows is a story Angela describes as equal parts whimsy, angst, darkness, and absolute chaos.🎪 What happens when a runaway thief decides the safest place to hide is a magical carnival?💔 What if becoming the star of the show means teaming up with the childhood sweetheart you left behind?✨ And exactly how does an ostrich fit into all of this?If you love magical carnivals, runaway thieves, childhood sweethearts, second chances, found family, whimsical fantasy, romantic angst, chaotic magic, secret pasts, Caraval-style atmosphere, and stories that will break your heart before putting it back together, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Angela's unexpected journey to writing after years of searching for the career that finally felt like the thing she was meant to do.✨ How Pitch Wars transformed Angela's writing, introduced her to her mentor, and helped build the community that carried her through querying and publication.✨ Why Angela loves revisions but considers getting through the first 50,000 words of a draft its own special form of torture.✨ Her biggest advice for aspiring authors: find your writing community, surround yourself with people who keep you going, and never underestimate the motivational power of spite.✨ Carnaval Fantástico, a magical traveling carnival hiding runaway thief and former spy Esmeralda from the life she left behind.✨ Esmeralda's desperate attempt to become the carnival's lead act and the inconvenient return of Ignacio, her childhood sweetheart and former love.✨ Found family, magical chaos, troublesome ostriches, accidental chickens, and the unpredictable characters lurking around every corner of the carnival.✨ Balancing whimsy and romance with darker themes, traumatic pasts, heartbreak, and characters learning how to trust other people again.✨ Why Angela continues centering Latine characters and culture in her fantasy worlds and writing the kinds of heroes she wanted her own daughter to see growing up.✨ What's next with The Immortal Undoing, Angela's epic fantasy featuring feathered serpents, Mexica and Mesoamerican lore, and her biggest fantasy world yet.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Angela Montoya – @AngelaMontoya_Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jacqueline White – @Jacwhite.author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where impossible choices, dangerous kingdoms, and unforgettable romances collide.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Teresa Diaz for a fantastic conversation with bestselling fantasy author Brigid Kemmerer about her Braided Fate series, including Warrior Princess Assassin and the highly anticipated sequel, Captive Traitor King.Brigid shares her journey from writing YA fantasy to adult romantasy, the realities of publishing over twenty books, and why every new novel is another chance to build your career. We also dive into writing multiple POVs, balancing creativity with the business of publishing, and the surprising inspiration behind one of romantasy's most compelling polyamorous love stories.Then we step into the world of Warrior Princess Assassin, a kingdom on the brink of collapse, a princess bound by duty, an assassin willing to betray everything for her, and the warrior king she never expected to love. With elemental magic, political intrigue, impossible choices, and three people who complete each other in unexpected ways, the Braided Fateseries is redefining what epic romantasy can be.👑 What if marrying your greatest enemy is the only way to save your kingdom?🗡️ What happens when the assassin sent to kill you is your closest friend?🔥 And can three hearts survive a war that's determined to tear them apart?If you love political fantasy, elemental magic, slow-burn romance, why choose, morally complex characters, and high-stakes royal intrigue, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Brigid's journey from bestselling YA author to adult romantasy.✨ The realities of traditional publishing, career longevity, and building lasting relationships in the industry.✨ Drafting versus revising, perfectionism, and why writing the first draft is still the hardest part.✨ Creating one of romantasy's most compelling why choose relationships by making every connection matter.✨ Writing three POV characters whose emotional journeys are equally important.✨ The inspiration behind Warrior Princess Assassin and the scene that sparked the entire trilogy.✨ Building a fantasy world driven by elemental magic, political alliances, and kingdoms on the edge of war.✨ Fan-favorite tropes including enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one horse, secret identity, hurt/comfort, and royal intrigue.✨ Everything readers need to remember before diving into Captive Traitor King.✨ New characters, bigger twists, more magic, and the emotional roller coaster waiting in book two.✨ A sneak peek at what's coming next in the Braided Fate series.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Brigid Kemmerer – @BrigidKemmerer✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Danielle Jensen – @DanielleLJensen✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the knight has to protect the prince and neither of them is happy about it.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author and composer Hayley Turner to discuss Light Guard, a romantic fantasy filled with sun magic, dark mages, forced proximity, forbidden romance, found family, and a gender-flipped bodyguard trope Hayley sums up perfectly: she's the guard, he's the prince, and they're both pissed about it.Corinne has spent her life training to become a Light Guard and expects her exceptional magical abilities to earn her a prestigious assignment protecting the kingdom's borders. Instead, she's ordered to become personal guard to Prince Aryel, a hedonistic royal who greets his devout new babysitter drunk, calls her “sunshine” just to annoy her, and makes scandalizing her his new favorite hobby. But with dark mages threatening Aryel's life and someone inside the castle potentially feeding information to the enemy, Corinne soon discovers that protecting the prince may force her to question everything she's been taught about duty, faith, friendship, and herself.☀️ What happens when the kingdom's most powerful light mage gets assigned to babysit an insufferable prince?⚔️ What if the bodyguard romance had her protecting him?🖤 And what happens when the people you've been taught to avoid become the first ones to accept you exactly as you are?If you love lady knights, sun magic, dark magic, forced proximity, grumpy/grumpy, forbidden romance, princes who love pushing buttons, found family, castle intrigue, hidden enemies, queer-normative fantasy worlds, and bodyguard romances with the roles deliciously reversed, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Hayley's lifelong love of storytelling and how The Count of Monte Cristo inspired the story that eventually became her debut novel.✨ Writing and staging an entire original opera for her master's thesis and how seeing an audience connect with her work gave her the confidence to publish.✨ Why Hayley describes her books as “fairy tales for adults” and the magic, darkness, comfort, and empathy she finds in fantastical stories.✨ Light Guard and its irresistible premise: she's the guard, he's the prince, and they're both pissed about it.✨ Corinne's sun magic, her unexpected assignment as the prince's personal guard, and their hilariously disastrous first meeting.✨ Dark mages, assassination threats, a possible informant inside the castle, and the danger lurking beyond the kingdom's magical barrier.✨ Flipping the traditional bodyguard romance by putting the woman in the armor and making the prince the one who needs protecting.✨ Corinne's journey toward autonomy as she begins questioning the strict religious sect that raised her and finds unconditional friendship outside its walls.✨ Writing meaningful OCD and queer representation into a romantasy world where characters are allowed to fully be themselves.✨ Composing an entire original soundtrack for Light Guard, including fantasy folk songs and the piano piece Ariel performs inside the book.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Hayley Turner – @HayleyTurnerAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Audrey Lynn – @AudreyLynnWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Leena Kazak – @LeenaKazakBooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

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🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the morally gray assassin is becoming good while the soft-hearted heroine might be headed in the opposite direction.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with author Samantha Nell to discuss Soulfire, the first book in the Godsfire series, a romantic fantasy filled with elemental magic, dream walking, reluctant allies-to-lovers, a mystery villain pulling the strings, and a magical fire gifted by the gods.At the heart of the story are Taryn, an assassin beginning to question the person he's become, and Airess, a half-Elven nobleman's daughter destined to marry an evil prince. When their paths collide, they're forced to flee together through a world where Fae command the elements, Elves wield light and shadow, and dreams can become something far more powerful.🔥 What happens when a morally gray assassin starts moving toward the light while the heroine begins moving toward the darkness?🌙 What if you could train your mind to walk through dreams and turn those experiences into magic?🖤 And can you uncover the villain when they're telling part of the story themselves?If you love elemental magic, dream walking, reluctant allies-to-lovers, assassins, morally gray characters, one bed, one horse, opposites attract, hidden villains, deadly magic, and characters whose moral arcs might be crossing in very unexpected ways, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Samantha's journey from writing Wattpad stories as a teenager to finally finishing and independently publishing her debut novel.✨ Creating the gorgeous Soulfire cover before the first draft was even finished and hiding story clues throughout its artwork.✨ Navigating indie publishing, building an author platform, and generating early buzz through character art and social media.✨ Taryn, an assassin questioning his morally gray past, and Airess, a half-Elven noblewoman facing an unwanted marriage to an evil prince.✨ Why Samantha chose reluctant allies-to-lovers instead of traditional enemies-to-lovers and how Taryn and Airess grow in very different directions.✨ Turning Samantha's real lucid dreaming experiences into the dream-walking magic of Soulfire.✨ The mystery villain POV that lets readers watch someone pull the strings without discovering their identity until later in the story.✨ The Godsfire behind the series and how each installment will explore a different magical fire gifted by the gods.✨ What's coming in Book Two, including new POVs, new worlds, political intrigue, more fighting, more magic, and more reveals.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Samantha Nell – @nellbooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where arranged marriages become political weapons, deadly magic refuses to stay controlled, and the feared warlord may be the safest person in the room.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Team Member Amara sit down with fantasy author Rebecca Robinson to discuss The Serpent and the Wolf, The Wicked and the Damned, and her Dark Inheritance trilogy. Rebecca shares her journey from high school administrator and lifelong writer to traditionally published author, including balancing deadlines with a full-time career and family. She opens up about finding peace in an imperfect work-life balance, writing at a sustainable pace, spending nine months on submission, and proving that authors can still rise from the traditional query slush pile.We also dive into The Serpent and the Wolf, where Vasa is married into a rival nation while fighting a deadly magic she cannot control. Her new husband needs a wife to secure his political future and offers to help her master her power in return. Rebecca discusses arranged marriage, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension, one-bed proximity, complicated political systems, found family, and writing enemies who oppose one another without treating each other cruelly. She also teases how The Wicked and the Damned forces Vasa to return to the place that harmed her and tests everything she learned about love, safety, and herself.🐺 What happens when the violent warlord from every whispered warning turns out to be a green flag?🔥 Can Vasa control the magic threatening her life without surrendering her freedom?👑 And can an arranged marriage survive when love collides with political ambition, trauma, and rival nations?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, arranged-marriage and slow-burn fans, lovers of political intrigue and found family, and anyone who wants enemies-to-lovers without cruelty between the central couple.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Rebecca’s life as an author, mother, high school activities director, and fearless home cook.✨ Planning proms, rallies, homecomings, and student events while building an author career.✨ Why writing 500 words a day can still produce a complete novel within a year.✨ Choosing financial stability while continuing to pursue writing as her greatest passion.✨ What happens during the year between turning in a manuscript and publication.✨ Why the second Dark Inheritance manuscript had to be divided into two books.✨ Querying traditionally and becoming a self-described “slush pile baby.”✨ Landing her dream agent while seven months pregnant.✨ Spending nine months on submission before selling the series to Saga Press.✨ Why indie success is rarely as sudden or effortless as it appears from the outside.✨ Vasa’s rage, trauma, uncontrolled magic, and arranged marriage into a rival nation.✨ Writing a democratic and oligarchic political system instead of another monarchy.✨ Building a fantasy map by throwing snacks onto poster board.✨ How salt, rivers, and geography shaped the world’s nations and political structures.✨ Writing enemies who genuinely oppose one another without emotional cruelty.✨ Arranged marriage, reluctant allies, slow-burn romance, and one-bed tension.✨ Why love from others can sometimes help someone begin learning to love themselves.✨ The egotistical new lord Rebecca had to rewrite because she found him far too attractive.✨ Green-flag heroes, toxic fictional men, dragons, audiobooks, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Rebecca Robinson – @RRobinsonWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the monster in the classics department isn't the professor who literally eats people.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author and medieval scholar Taylor Grothe to discuss Lethal Kiss, a dark academia horror romance blending Jennifer's Body energy, Nordic folklore, murder, monsters, queer romance, and one deeply sinister university.At the center of the story are two professors: Marcella, an ancient Nordic revenant hiding centuries of trauma and a need to feed, and Lacey, an autistic mortal professor desperately fighting for tenure in a system seemingly designed to keep her from succeeding. When they discover a body on the top floor of the classics department, they're dragged into the festering underbelly of their university, where some of the monsters are supernatural and some definitely aren't.🩸 What happens when one of your professors is literally an ancient monster?📚 What if the darkest part of dark academia isn't the supernatural horror at all?🖤 And can falling in love make horror even more terrifying?If you love dark academia, queer horror romance, ancient monsters, Nordic folklore, feminine rage, morally gray characters, murder, academic corruption, forbidden knowledge, literary horror, camp, gore, and romances between women who have absolutely been through it, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Taylor's journey from medieval scholarship and studying Arthuriana and Nordic saga to leaving academia and becoming a published author.✨ The realities of changing literary agents and why Taylor believes authors should remember that an agent is ultimately a business partner.✨ Moving from YA horror into adult fiction and why writing for adults had always been Taylor's long-term goal.✨ Lethal Kiss, a Jennifer's Body-meets-Ninth House dark academia horror romance about two professors, a dead body, and a university crawling with monsters.✨ Creating Marcella, an ancient Nordic revenant inspired by medieval saga and Beowulf, and Lacey, an autistic professor fighting for tenure while carrying religious trauma.✨ Using supernatural horror to explore the corruption, misogyny, elitism, and systemic problems Taylor encountered within academia.✨ Why Taylor believes romance doesn't soften horror but can actually make the horror more intense.✨ Going completely full throttle with gore, camp, unhinged winter formals, and a final showdown Taylor describes as “crazy bananas.”✨ The deeper themes of trauma, self-acceptance, and learning that what happened to us can shape us without having to define us.✨ What's next, including the gothic fantasy Monstrous Beautiful Things and a deeply unsettling spore-horror story filled with grief, mushrooms, and things that definitely should not be happening.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Taylor Grothe – @TaylorLGrothe✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Wanda Hellmund – @WandaHellmund✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Have tropes become more important than the actual story?Welcome to another episode of Off The Shelf, Mythic Mic's monthly segment where we dive into bookish trends, deep dives, hot takes, and all things fantasy!In this Off the Shelf episode, host Britt is joined by Mythic Mic team members Amara and Teresa Diaz to unpack the rise of trope-driven reading, BookTok marketing, microtropes, and the increasingly blurry line between using tropes to describe a book and using them to sell the entire story.From enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity to fated mates, slow burns, miscommunication, cinnamon-roll love interests, and shadow daddies, the conversation explores why readers gravitate toward familiar tropes and whether knowing them upfront helps or hurts the reading experience. The group also gets into whether trope lists can accidentally spoil a book, why the same trope can feel completely different depending on the writing, and whether authors are starting to feel pressure to build stories around whatever trope is currently trending.We’re asking:Have tropes become their own genre?Do trope lists help readers find books they’ll love or spoil too much of the story?Are authors feeling pressured to write toward popular tropes?Can the right book make you love a trope you normally hate?Along the way, Britt makes the case for “diet enemies-to-lovers,” Amara champions fated mates and cinnamon-roll heroes, Teresa defends the much-maligned miscommunication trope, and the group debates everything from Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City to Swordheart, Ashwalker, and Dungeon Crawler Carl.If you’ve ever picked up a book solely because it promised enemies-to-lovers, immediately rejected one because of a trope you hate, wondered whether happily-ever-after is technically a spoiler, or found yourself asking whether the trope is supporting the plot or becoming the entire plot, this episode is for you.CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes getting murdered is only the beginning of your villain origin story.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Amara sit down with author Matteo Franco to discuss The Undertow of Evelyn Graymore, the first book in the Hearts of the Drown series, a dark paranormal romance Matteo describes as The Little Mermaid in reverse meets Jennifer's Body with the paranormal vibes of Twilight.After Evelyn Graymore is murdered by a powerful billionaire and thrown into the Puget Sound, her rage summons an ancient ocean entity who offers her another chance at life with a catch. She's transformed into a siren who must feed on the darkness inside corrupt men's hearts while hunting down the man who killed her. There's just one more inconvenient rule: if she falls in love, the person she loves will die.🌊 What if The Little Mermaid came back from the dead looking for revenge?🩸 If a siren only kills terrible men, is she really the villain?🖤 And what happens when falling in love could literally kill the person you love?If you love sirens, feminine rage, morally gray heroines, revenge stories, forbidden romance, paranormal romance, horror, shadow daddies, golden retriever love interests, forced proximity, deadly bargains, and women who refuse to stay dead, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Matteo's journey from fine art and dreams of filmmaking to writing stories that blend horror, fantasy, and romance.✨ Why Matteo describes The Undertow of Evelyn Graymore as reverse Little Mermaid meets Jennifer's Body with darker Twilight vibes.✨ Writing feminine rage, morally complicated women, and a story that asks whether Evelyn is actually the villain at all.✨ Evelyn's murder, the ocean entity who answers her rage, and the Faustian bargain that transforms her into a siren hungry for the darkness inside corrupt men.✨ The forbidden romance at the heart of the story and the devastating rule that falling in love could kill the person Evelyn loves.✨ Siren lore, revenge, visceral horror, and Matteo's cinematic approach to creating an atmospheric world readers can see unfolding like a movie.✨ Building a massive reader community before publication and why Matteo believes readers connect with authors who feel like people rather than billboards.✨ The unexpected Instagram connection that led to Matteo signing with his literary agent without ever entering the traditional query trenches.✨ Why genre blending is opening new doors for readers who love romance and fantasy but might never normally pick up horror.✨ What's next, including Book Two of Hearts of the Drown, an upcoming gothic botanical horror romance, and even more psychological horror to come.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Matteo Franco – @Matteofrancoauthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where ancient legends are real, lost treasures are waiting to be found, and some tombs are better left undiscovered.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with author Natalia Hernandez to discuss The Lost Guardian, an Indiana Jones-meets-The Mummy adventure inspired by real Peruvian history, Incan mythology, ancient curses, deadly riddles, and the mystery surrounding the lost tomb of the last Incan emperor.Santiago is a timid, history-obsessed archaeology student who grew up listening to his grandfather's stories about ancient Incan legends. But when his grandfather dies, Santiago discovers that those stories were never just myths. He's the last in a long line of guardians sworn to protect the location of the tomb of Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor, whose legendary resting place may contain an unimaginable fortune in stolen gold and treasure. Now, Santiago must follow a trail of ancient clues to find the tomb before dangerous enemies reach it and unleash a devastating curse upon the world.Luckily, he's not alone. Enter Ali, a gun-wielding, martial-arts-trained adventurer who's much more comfortable with danger than Santiago. Together, they'll navigate ancient mysteries, uncover hidden history, and embark on a journey that challenges everything Santiago thought he knew about his family, his heritage, and himself.🏺 What if Indiana Jones met The Mummy in a treasure hunt inspired by real Incan history?💀 What happens when the last guardian of an ancient emperor's tomb discovers that the legends he's spent his life studying are real?⚔️ And what if the badass action hero is a woman, while the man she's protecting is a history-loving cinnamon roll?If you love Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Tomb Raider, Atlantis, archaeological adventures, ancient civilizations, lost treasures, deadly curses, historical mysteries, powerful heroines, cinnamon-roll heroes, and fantasy adventures inspired by real mythology, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Natalia's multicultural upbringing across Turkey, Romania, Poland, and Guatemala and how discovering her Latin American heritage shaped her storytelling.✨ How a vivid dream, a viral TikTok with 1.7 million views, and thousands of curious readers launched Natalia's career as an author.✨ Why Natalia chose independent publishing after encountering pressure to make her stories less queer and less Latin, and how that journey led to her traditional publishing debut.✨ The Lost Guardian and its Indiana Jones-meets-Atlantis adventure inspired by the real history of Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor.✨ The mystery of Atahualpa's lost tomb, the treasure stolen by Spanish conquistadors, and the ancient curse threatening to be unleashed.✨ Santiago, a gentle, nerdy archaeology student who discovers he's the last guardian of a secret passed down through generations.✨ Ali, the gun-wielding, martial-arts-trained heroine who flips traditional adventure-story gender roles and keeps Santiago alive.✨ Ancient riddles, hidden maps, Incan mythology, and the real historical artifacts and locations that inspired the book's puzzle-box mystery.✨ Natalia's research trip to Peru, including ancient aqueducts, stone forests, petroglyphs, and the history that helped bring the adventure to life.✨ The importance of authentic cultural representation, advocating for accurate character artwork, and refusing to water down identity for publishing.✨ What's coming next in the series, including a new adventure in the Peruvian Amazon featuring a fan-favorite professor Natalia affectionately calls "Indiana Juanis."CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Wanda Hellmund – @NataliaHernandezAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the child stolen by the fae grows up to become a little chaos bunny instead of an evil queen.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author Ann Aguirre to discuss The Hocus Pocus Handbook, a cozy fantasy romance filled with found family, grumpy/sunshine romance, he-falls-first pining, a road trip through Faerie, misfits challenging the powers that be, and one delightfully chaotic heroine.Thea is the mortal child on the other side of a changeling story: stolen from the human world and raised among the fae. Now an outsider with a unique place in the Winter Court, she's determined to help the wild fae and create a little well-intentioned trouble along the way. Enter Kerboros, her tightly controlled, isolated opposite, and a romance Ann designed to feel like a cup of warm tea on a cool fall day.🍂 What happens to the human child stolen away in a faerie changeling story?✨ What if love and found family are the only things standing between a heroine and her evil queen era?💕 And what happens when a chaos bunny meets the ultimate grump... who falls first?If you love cozy fantasy, faerie courts, found family, grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, pining, chaotic heroines, opposites attract, magical road trips, misfits, fall vibes, and stories that feel like a warm drink on a cold day, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Ann's childhood dream of becoming an author, including the unforgettable moment Shel Silverstein helped her realize writing could actually be a career.✨ Why Ann rejects “write what you know” and believes writers should give themselves permission to imagine beyond their own experiences.✨ The twenty-year journey from her first novel and rejection as a teenager to finally becoming a traditionally published author.✨ The Hocus Pocus Handbook and Ann's twist on changeling lore: what happens to the mortal child taken away and raised in Faerie?✨ Creating Thea, a chaotic-good outsider whose upbringing and adoptive father's love may have saved her from becoming an evil queen.✨ The grumpy/sunshine, he-falls-first romance between social chaos bunny Thea and tightly controlled, isolated Kerberos.✨ Discovering she'd chosen the completely wrong love interest and rewriting the entire first act once the characters set her straight.✨ Thea's tender relationship with her adoptive father and Ann's belief that the people we choose as family are every bit as real as the ones we're born into.✨ Building a completely original fae realm and exploring Thea's complicated role as both an outsider and someone valuable to the Winter Court.✨ Why Ann hopes readers finish the story feeling seen, safe, happier, and a little more restored than when they started.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Ann Aguirre – @Ann_Aguirre_Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where immortality can be murdered, prestigious universities conceal rotten foundations, and ambition may demand more than anyone should be willing to sacrifice.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy, science-fiction, and horror author Lynn D. Jung to discuss her dark-academia debut, Mothsblood!Lynn shares her long journey from a multilingual childhood storyteller to landing three agents, surviving multiple submission rounds, and finally receiving her first publishing deal. She opens up about navigating publishing during the COVID shutdown, pivoting from young adult to adult fiction, and why persistence matters even when your career does not resemble the six-figure success stories most often celebrated online.We also dive into Mothsblood, where ambitious alchemist Larkspur Lee attends an elite graduate school in Paris and ruthlessly pursues the ultimate goal of immortality until one of her supposedly immortal professors is murdered. Lynn discusses historically inspired alchemy, magical metals and runes, classism within prestigious institutions, financial inequality, messy healing, and the terrifying questions raised when the achievement Lark has sacrificed everything for proves far less permanent than she believed.⚗️ What happens when an immortal dies at a school built around the promise of eternal life?🩸 How far will Lark go to claim power in a system designed to keep outsiders beneath its elite?🦋 And what remains of her ambition when the future she is chasing may be another carefully constructed lie?This is a must-listen for dark-academia readers, murder-mystery lovers, ambitious and morally complicated heroine enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by alchemy, institutional power, and the dangerous pursuit of immortality.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Lynn’s life as a science educator, zoology graduate, traveler, and longtime writer.✨ Growing up as a multilingual learner and discovering storytelling in elementary school.✨ Cold-emailing agents with a childhood manuscript before learning querying etiquette.✨ Signing with three different agents before receiving a publishing deal.✨ How COVID disrupted submissions and affected early-career literary agents.✨ Amicably leaving representation to pivot from YA into adult fiction.✨ Why querying newer agents with strong mentorship and industry connections can matter.✨ The persistence required when your publishing journey is not a rapid success story.✨ Creating a dark-academia fantasy inspired by Lynn’s experiences living near Paris.✨ Larkspur Lee, an ambitious alchemist determined to achieve immortality.✨ Entering an elite academic world dominated by wealthy legacies and powerful families.✨ Writing a woman of color forced to work harder in a deeply stratified institution.✨ Building a magic system from historical alchemy, Hermetic metals, and runes, including researching Isaac Newton’s secret alchemical writings and other primary sources.✨ The impossible murder of an immortal professor and why that death forces Lark to question the system and her own obsession with immortality.✨ Examining prestige, classism, racism, and sexism within academic institutions.✨ The difference between valuing an education and valuing the name printed on a degree.✨ Portraying healing as messy, nonlinear, and sometimes harmful to the people nearby.✨ Dreamlike scenes where reality, substances, magic, and nightmares begin to blur.✨ Lynn’s upcoming gothic fantasy about a death priestess infiltrating a noble house of necromancers.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Lynn D. Jung – @LynnDJung✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where desperate wishes cost years of your life, mirrors become gateways for demons, and the creature everyone fears may be far less monstrous than the holy man hunting him.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Team Member Britt sit down with fantasy author Charlotte B. Plumb to discuss her highly anticipated gothic romantasy debut, Reap and Sow. Charlotte shares how reading His Dark Materials at thirteen sparked her desire to make complete strangers cry through fiction, why her first queried manuscript received little interest, and how she found the perseverance to write another book instead of giving up. She also opens up about being laid off only days before receiving offers from Penguin Random House UK and Berkley XO and the surreal mix of joy, terror, and imposter syndrome that followed her breakout publishing deal.We also dive into Reap and Sow, set in the gothic city of Blackbridge, where anyone desperate enough can trade years of their life to a demon in exchange for their deepest desire. Eda Shaw and her brothers are indentured to one such demon and forced to recruit new people willing to make bargains. But when her brothers are arrested and a deal goes disastrously wrong, Eda must form a pact with Kit, another demon who may claim her heart along with her remaining years. Charlotte discusses Faustian bargains, reluctant allies, forced proximity, deceptive appearances, grim humor, and writing a demon who loves humanity opposite a human woman who has lost faith in it.🪞 How many years would you surrender to receive the one thing you desire most?🖤 Can Eda trust a demon who seems more human than the people surrounding her?⏳ And what happens when the bargain meant to save her family begins costing her far more than time?This is a must-listen for gothic romantasy readers, fans of dangerous bargains and morally gray demons, lovers of forced proximity and reluctant allies, and anyone who prefers their book boyfriends snarky, sinister, and slightly reminiscent of a wet angry cat.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Charlotte’s lifelong love of fantasy, role-playing games, and story-driven adventures.✨ Baldur’s Gate 3, Dragon Age, The Witcher, The Sims, and her predictable Astarion romance.✨ How His Dark Materials inspired her to pursue the “black art” of making readers cry.✨ Querying a manuscript that received almost no agent interest, and why market timing can matter as much as the quality of a manuscript.✨ Writing the next book instead of allowing rejection to end her career.✨ Becoming part of Berkley XO’s inaugural launch list.✨ The joy, terror, and imposter syndrome surrounding a major debut deal.✨ Creating memes, unboxing ARCs, and learning to appear on camera as an introverted author.✨ The Peaky Blinders question that sparked the idea for a criminal fantasy family.✨ Drawing visual inspiration from Edinburgh, Prague, Elizabethan England, and gothic architecture.✨ The creation of Blackbridge, where demons grant desires in exchange for years of human life.✨ Eda and her brothers’ indentured service recruiting people into dangerous pacts, and the deal that forces Eda into an alliance with the demon Kit.✨ Writing Eda as a jaded human who resents humanity.✨ Creating Kit as a demon who loves humanity and longs to imitate it.✨ A romantic dynamic built around two characters who unknowingly have something to teach each other.✨ Kit’s Howl, Spike, and Astarion DNA—and his wet-angry-cat appeal.✨ Why the demon is not the true monster of the story.✨ Balancing grim subject matter with snark, wit, and emotionally revealing humor.✨ Why humor can act as “cerebral foreplay” between romantic leads.✨ Tripp, Kit’s rude imp familiar and Charlotte’s scene-stealing favorite character.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Charlotte B. Plumb – @CharlotteBPlumb✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the best fantasy stories don't need heroes at all.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with V.E. Schwab to discuss Victorious, the long-awaited conclusion to the Villains trilogy, a series Victoria describes as Magneto and Professor X meets The Secret History and a toxic college bromance where superpowers definitely don't make you a superhero.From the book that helped save her writing career to the finale she waited eight years to be ready to write, Victoria takes us behind the scenes of Villains, her intensely precise creative process, and nearly two decades of building a career by refusing to stay in one lane.⚡ What if superpowers didn't make you a superhero?🖤 How do you end a series readers have spent more than a decade fighting for?✍️ And what happens when you realize you aren't the right version of yourself to write a story yet?If you love morally gray characters, superpowers, toxic friendships, villain stories, dark academia, complicated rivalries, obsessive characters, and fantasy that makes you question exactly who you're supposed to root for, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Victoria's journey from poetry to novels and why she believes you don't need to be published to take yourself seriously as a writer.✨ How a poetry background shaped her obsession with rhythm, precision, metaphor, and making every sentence earn its place.✨ Why Victoria spends months outlining before drafting and how she preserves the beauty of a first draft without relying on the dreaded “garbage draft.”✨ The realities of publishing even after nearly two decades in the industry, and why Victoria says no one ever truly figures the business out.✨ Why writers are the one truly original ingredient in their stories and the importance of writing for yourself instead of chasing trends.✨ The origin of Vicious, the canceled series and career uncertainty that pushed Victoria to stop writing what publishing wanted and create the story she wanted to read.✨ Victor, Eli, near-death experiences, manufactured superpowers, and Victoria's original experiment: could she write a book without heroes and still make readers root for someone?✨ Why Vicious was never an overnight success and how years of reader word-of-mouth transformed a small first print run into a fiercely loved trilogy.✨ Why Victoria waited eight years to write Victorious and how she knew she needed to become the right version of herself before she could finish the story.✨ Saying goodbye to Villains, writing the ending backward, and why Victorious feels like both the end of an era and a love letter to the readers who kept the series alive.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 VE Schwab – @VESchwab✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where cursed bloodlines hide beneath ordinary society, ghosts haunt college corridors, and one forbidden witch is about to become entangled with four dangerously broken heirs.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with bestselling indie and traditionally published author Lucy Smoke to discuss Hallowed Bones, the first installment in her Sons of Salem series. Lucy shares her nine-year journey from publishing a debut she later removed from circulation to building a full-time author career across multiple pen names, genres, and publishing paths. She opens up about stubbornness, rejection, one-star reviews, surviving unpredictable indie income, finding the right agent, and why fear should never be the deciding factor when choosing whether to pursue a creative dream.We also dive into Hallowed Bones, where Haven enters Ipswich College despite warnings to stay away from Ezra Bishop, Cameron Good, Lyle Corey, and Reyes Scott, the four cursed Sons of Salem. Lucy discusses combining The Covenant with Wednesday Addams energy, researching the Salem witch trials, interviewing practicing witches, Wiccans, and neo-pagans, and creating a hidden paranormal society filled with inherited magic, demons, blood contracts, ghosts, and other planes of existence. She also explains the immense challenge of crafting four distinct romances and character arcs while refusing to let why-choose storytelling be dismissed as “just spice.”🕯️ What happens when the witch everyone fears is more powerful than the four cursed heirs meant to contain her?🩸 Can Haven survive Ipswich College when ghosts, gods, and hidden bloodlines are closing in?🔥 And how do you fall for four different people without any of those romances or the men themselves feeling interchangeable?This is a must-listen for gothic paranormal readers, why-choose romance fans, lovers of Salem-inspired witch stories, and anyone who wants layered relationships, dangerous magic, and broken characters fighting toward a realistically messy happy ending.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Lucy’s real-life found family, friend-family vacations, and hunt for the perfect milkshake.✨ Pursuing writing despite being repeatedly encouraged to choose a more “practical” career.✨ Studying English literature, professional writing, and education before leaving the classroom path.✨ Why finishing and releasing an imperfect first book was essential to her growth.✨ Learning through failure, removing early books, and continuing without regret.✨ Why rejection letters and one-star reviews prove that a story made someone feel something.✨ Building a full-time indie career through experimentation, research, and stubborn persistence.✨ The financial highs and lows of treating authorship as a real business.✨ Finding her third agent after previous representation ended or became unhealthy.✨ Challenging academic attitudes that dismiss indie publishing and commercial fiction.✨ Why affordable books, Kindle Unlimited, libraries, and format accessibility matter to Lucy.✨ The origins of her Lucy Smoke and Lucinda Dark pen names.✨ Her introduction to why-choose romance through anime, manga, and reverse-harem stories.✨ Why writing four love interests means constructing four complete romantic arcs.✨ Exploring what makes someone fall in love with multiple people for entirely different reasons.✨ Helping bring why-choose romance from a niche category into mainstream traditional publishing.✨ Haven Wardwell and the four cursed heirs of the Sons of Salem.✨ Researching the political and economic motives behind accusations of witchcraft.✨ Interviewing witches, Wiccans, and neo-pagans while distinguishing their belief systems.✨ Deconstructing a rigid good-versus-evil worldview while creating the book’s magic.✨ A hidden paranormal society populated by witches, demons, werewolf-like beings, and ghosts.✨ Bloodline-based magic that manifests according to the individual rather than copying a parent’s ability.✨ The beloved aunt, the brutal cliffhanger, and why book two may reveal something even more shocking.✨ Reader Mafia, accidental branding, chaotic honesty, and Lucy’s infamous eyeliner.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Lucy Smoke – @AuthorLucySmoke✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where morally gray vampires, fated mates, touch-her-and-die heroes, and a little leather never go out of style.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with legendary paranormal romance author J.R. Ward to discuss Lover Enthroned, the newest installment in the iconic Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Her irresistible pitch? Hot nerd meets a queen. A literal queen.J.R. takes us behind the scenes of more than two decades of the Brotherhood, from getting fired by her first publisher to building a series that has spanned more than 20 books, bringing the vampires to the screen with Passionflix, and why showing up for the story remains at the heart of her writing process.🖤 What happens when the Black Dagger Brotherhood trades its usual alpha hero for a hot nerd?👑 What secrets are waiting when that hot nerd falls for a Shadow princess?🧛 And after more than two decades of vampires, fated mates, and morally gray heroes, how does J.R. Ward keep surprising us?If you love vampires, paranormal romance, fated mates, morally gray heroes, touch-her-and-die devotion, dark fantasy, powerful heroines, found family, and romances where love conquers all, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ J.R.'s journey from writer to lawyer and back to writer, and the unexpected encouragement that helped turn the stories in her head into a publishing career.✨ Why she describes herself as a “secretary” for her characters and how scenes arrive in her head out of order before becoming a finished book.✨ The perseverance behind her career, including getting fired by her first publisher and giving herself one more chance with the series that became Black Dagger Brotherhood.✨ Why readers have stayed obsessed with the Brotherhood for more than two decades: morally gray alpha males, fated mates, touch-her-and-die devotion, tattoos, fangs, leather, and plenty of darkness.✨ Lover Enthroned, J.R.'s “hot nerd meets a queen” romance between Alan and Shadow princess Denny, and why new readers can jump into the Brotherhood right here.✨ Bringing Black Dagger Brotherhood to the screen with Passionflix and why J.R. waited decades for an adaptation partner willing to stay true to the books.✨ Watching a story she never expected to find an audience become a decades-long series with an intensely loyal fandom and more stories still unfolding.✨ Denny's deliciously satisfying moment of vengeance, new insight into the Shadows, and J.R.'s love for the unexpected final pieces that reveal themselves while she's writing.✨ Why romance remains at the heart of everything J.R. writes and the enduring belief behind the Brotherhood: in the end, love conquers all.✨ Plus: J.R.'s favorite Brother, Vicious unexpectedly discovering fatherhood, ancient Dell laptops, terrible roommate options, and why the safest Black Dagger Brotherhood roommate might actually be a golden retriever.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 J.R. Ward – @Jrwardauthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Welcome to another episode of Banter & Books, the monthly Mythic Mic segment where host Amara and a special guest share spoiler-free reviews of the books they can't stop thinking about!In this episode, Amara is joined by bookstagrammer Kris West to talk fairy-tale villains, dystopian video-game worlds, fated mates, magical academies, hidden identities, devastating cliffhangers, and the wonderfully chaotic world of why choose fantasy.They dive into Blood of the Fairest by Morgan B. Lee, Codebound by Kendra Moreno, A Crown of Crimson and Crows by Tessa Hale, and Clash of Claws and Edge of Steel by Elizabeth Dear. They also revisit two indie favorites they cannot stop recommending: Veil of Ash by Fallon Hendrix and Rook of Ruin by Elle Youngish.Along the way, Amara and Kris make the case for giving why choose romance a chance, celebrate golden-retriever heroes, enemies-to-lovers tension, fated mates, groveling, powerful FMCs, and the beauty of having an entire “boy buffet” of love interests. They also discuss evil-queen fairy-tale retellings, LitRPG worlds with deadly levels and praying-mantis companions, sparkly purple snakes, brutal twists, tampered memories, and books that leave you staring at the wall wondering what just happened.Whether you already love why choose, have been curious but hesitant to try it, or simply want some wildly original indie fantasy recommendations to destroy your TBR, this spoiler-free episode is for you.BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEBlood of the Fairest by Morgan B. Lee (Check out our Mythic Mic interview with Morgan B. Lee here) Codebound by Kendra MorenoA Crown of Crimson and Crows by Tessa HaleClash of Claws by Elizabeth Dear (Check out our Mythic Mic interview with Elizabeth Dear here)Veil of Ash by Fallon HendrixRook of Ruin by Elle YoungishCONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sometimes the heroine doesn't defeat the villain. Sometimes she becomes one.This week, hosts Sara Santillan and Amara sit down with J.E. Caroline to discuss The Venom in Her Veins, a dark romantasy about a cursed fae woman fated to destroy the world and the dragon prince destined to kill her before she can.🐍 What if your favorite romantasy heroine became the villain and loved it?🐉 What happens when the man destined to kill you falls in love with you first?🖤 And just how far can grief, rage, and darkness push a heroine before there's no going back?If you love villain arcs, cursed heroines, dragon shifters, feminine rage, touch-her-and-die romance, slow burn, dark fantasy, deadly magic, morally gray characters, and heroes willing to burn the world for their girl, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Going from full-time motherhood and rediscovering reading to writing and independently publishing her debut novel.✨ The chaotic reality of indie publishing for the first time and what Jessica wishes she'd known before jumping in.✨ Why Jessica abandoned the traditional hero's journey and asked: what if the heroine became the villain instead?✨ Creating Verena, a cursed fae woman fated to destroy the world she's desperately trying to save.✨ Ronan, the dragon prince destined to kill Verena who makes the very inconvenient mistake of falling in love with her first.✨ Villain arcs, feminine rage, grief, trauma, and what happens when a character's moral balance is pushed too far.✨ Building a dark and beautiful world of fractured kingdoms, cursed forests, deadly monsters, hidden secrets, and inevitable betrayals.✨ The slow-burn romance, touch-her-and-die devotion, and a hero willing to burn the world for Verena or right alongside her.✨ The inspiration behind Verena's venomous curse and why viper imagery became central to her transformation.✨ What's coming next, including more trauma in Book Two, a dystopian romance, and a future prequel exploring the gods behind Verena's world.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 J.E. Caroline – @J.E.Caroline.Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where forbidden magic, ominous prophecies, and ruthless silver-haired warriors are exactly our kind of problem.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with Geneva Lee to discuss Harbinger, a dark, romantic slow-burn fantasy filled with star-powered magic, dangerous omens, political intrigue, forbidden attraction, and enough twists that almost everything is a spoiler.Geneva takes us behind the scenes of the fantasy world she's been dreaming about for fifteen years, including the astrology-inspired magic system, ancient beliefs about birds and omens, and the influences that helped shape a story she describes as a female-gaze Game of Thrones meets Divergent, Ladyhawke, and The Thorn Birds.🌙 What happens when an act of mercy awakens a magic that should never have been hers?🐦‍⬛ What if one woman is believed to be the omen that 500 years of peace is about to end?🔥 And how are we supposed to resist a ruthless, silver-haired warrior who has sworn his life to duty?If you love forbidden magic, celestial fantasy, ominous prophecies, ruthless and competent heroes, slow-burn romance, political intrigue, tortured MMCs, dangerous secrets, powerful heroines, and fantasy worlds where nothing is quite what it seems, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Geneva's fifteen-year publishing career, and how she got the push to finally write a novel while caring for a newborn and toddler.✨ The business side of being an author, from contracts and marketing to social media.✨ Geneva's biggest advice for aspiring and neurodivergent writers.✨ Why editing has become Geneva's favorite part of the writing process and how even after fifteen years of publishing, she still relies on the editorial process to make each story hit harder.✨ Creating Harbinger, a dark, ominous, romantic slow burn where almost every revelation is a spoiler, every answer seems to uncover another secret, and readers may want to question everything they think they know.✨ Building an astrology-inspired magic system where the stars themselves provide power and each noble bloodline draws its magic from a different constellation.✨ The ancient history behind the book's birds and omens, Geneva's fascination with augury, and why one seemingly small choice involving a raven-like bird may be far more important than readers initially realize.✨ Why Geneva loves tortured heroes who occasionally reveal the person they might have been before terrible things happened to them.✨ The deeper themes beneath Harbinger, including grief, fate, powerlessness, the choices we make versus the choices taken from us, and what it means to keep choosing to rise when hope feels impossible.✨ Expanding Harbinger from a planned trilogy into a series of at least five books, Geneva's refusal to rush the next installment, and why the infamous “Queen of Cliffhangers” has absolutely no intention of giving up her devastating endings.✨ Plus: sword fighting, sword yoga, future dagger-throwing ambitions, whether Geneva could survive her own fantasy world, the bloodline she'd choose for herself, why readers may need multiple boxes of tissues, and the Filthy Rich Vampires crossover that could cause absolute chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Geneva Lee – @Genevaleebooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where mythological worlds collide, romance blooms in the most dangerous places, and every monster has a story.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara sit down with bestselling fantasy author Olivia Wildenstein to celebrate The Ice Beyond, the first book in her breathtaking new Empress of Thorns series.Olivia shares her fascinating journey from self-publishing to hybrid publishing, the realities of navigating both indie and traditional publishing, and why perseverance—not overnight success—is the true secret to a writing career. We also dive into writing routines, perfectionism, character art, worldbuilding, and why some stories refuse to let go until they're told.Then we explore The Ice Beyond, an epic Norse-inspired fantasy filled with wolf shifters, vampires, Valkyries, dragons, forbidden romance, devastating secrets, morally gray characters, and a heroine whose entire identity is shattered when she discovers everything she's believed about herself is a lie.🐺 What happens when the family who raised you has been hiding the biggest secret of your life?❄️ Can love survive when it was forbidden from the very beginning?⚔️ And who are the real monsters in a world filled with gods, shifters, and ancient legends?If you love Viking-inspired fantasy, morally gray heroes, mythology, dangerous monsters, sweeping romance, love triangles, and immersive fantasy worlds, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Olivia's publishing journey from selling ten self-published copies to becoming a bestselling hybrid author.✨ The biggest differences between indie, traditional, and hybrid publishing, and why she now loves working in both worlds.✨ Why perseverance matters far more than chasing trends or overnight success.✨ Her writing process, perfectionism, self-editing habits, and why deadlines are both terrifying and essential.✨ Character art, visual storytelling, and how seeing a world helps bring fantasy to life.✨ Building The Ice Beyond from a simple vampire story into an expansive Norse-inspired fantasy universe.✨ Reimagining Norse mythology with wolf shifters, Valkyries, vampires, dragons, and unforgettable monsters.✨ Writing morally gray characters whose motivations remain a mystery until the very end.✨ Why Olivia loves heroines who grow, stumble, and make mistakes instead of having all the answers.✨ Forbidden romance, love triangles, and why readers secretly love emotional chaos.✨ Advice for aspiring fantasy authors on finding your audience while staying true to your creative vision.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Olivia Wildenstein – @Olives21✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ This episode includes candid conversations about infertility and fertility loss, premature menopause, ovarian removal, unsuccessful IVF, hysterectomy, pregnancy and childbirth complications, loss of reproductive choice, death and grief, abortion, medical trauma, depression, and religious fear surrounding death and the afterlife. Please listen with care.🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where heartbreak becomes a fatal curse, ancient towers preserve stories that empires could not erase, and healing begins when a woman finally chooses something entirely for herself.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with author Ova Ceren to discuss her Turkish fantasy novel, The Book of Heartbreak.Ova shares her journey from growing up under intense academic pressure in Turkey to spending nearly twenty years in mathematics, computer science, and the male-dominated technology industry. She opens up about entering premature menopause, learning that she could not have another child, and how the resulting grief and loss of identity inspired her to leave behind work she did not love and pursue writing for herself. Ova, Sara, and Bethany also have a deeply personal conversation about infertility, failed IVF, hysterectomy, pregnancy complications, reproductive healthcare, and the grief that can accompany losing the ability or the choice to expand a family.We also dive into The Book of Heartbreak, which follows seventeen-year-old Sare, a girl cursed to die whenever her heart breaks. After learning that her mother has died, Sare moves to Istanbul to live with her estranged grandfather and discovers that everything she believed about her family may be a lie. Ova discusses drawing inspiration from the thousand-year-old Byzantine myth of Istanbul’s Maiden’s Tower, writing heartbreak beyond romantic loss, creating a hopeful and humorous afterlife, and exploring identity, family wounds, religion, grief, and the memories that can make old pain feel suddenly new again.💔 How do you survive grief when a broken heart can literally kill you?🗼 What secrets connect Sare’s curse to Istanbul’s ancient Maiden’s Tower?✨ And can she reclaim her life when the deepest wounds come from the people she trusted most?This is a must-listen for urban-fantasy readers, lovers of mythology and magical Istanbul settings, anyone drawn to stories about complicated families, and readers seeking an emotional journey that honors grief while still making room for humor, hope, and healing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Ova’s life in Cambridge, cycling, traveling, cooking, and searching for creative inspiration.✨ Her ducks, chickens, allergic husband, and desire to give her son a life surrounded by animals.✨ Creating a private garden library inside a former artist’s studio.✨ Growing up in Turkey under intense pressure to perform academically, and entering computer science because she excelled at mathematics.✨ Premature menopause, ovarian removal, and being told she could not have another child.✨ Grieving the loss of a possibility even when she had not decided whether she wanted another baby.✨ Feeling dehumanized by clinical conversations about fertility and reproductive health, and why reproductive loss deserves emotional support.✨ Reclaiming identity after years of making choices for family, culture, and financial stability.✨ How writing The Book of Heartbreak helped Ova survive a dark period.✨ The structural similarities between editing fiction and debugging software.✨ Ova’s advice to remain patient and never compare one publishing journey with another.✨ Reimagining the Byzantine legend surrounding Istanbul’s Maiden’s Tower, and why the tower represents a piece of the city’s identity that history never erased.✨ Exploring heartbreak as an enduring wound rather than a purely romantic experience.✨ Creating a heroine who ultimately saves herself rather than relying on romance.✨ Bureaucratic angels, an imaginative afterlife, and comparisons to Good Omens.✨ Reimagining the afterlife as a hopeful space rather than one governed by shame and fear.✨ Why old heartbreaks can return through memories, music, scents, and unexpected reminders.✨ Choosing standalones so every book can explore a completely different world.✨ Ova’s next Ottoman-inspired dark fantasy about a magical library and dangerous books.✨ How religion, women’s autonomy, history, and identity continue to shape her fiction.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Ova Ceren – @ExcuseMyReading✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods wage impossible wars, monsters aren't always who they seem, and fantasy asks what happens when everything you've been taught is a lie.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling fantasy author Adalyn Grace to celebrate her stunning adult fantasy debut, The Wretched Divine.Adalyn shares her incredible publishing journey, from writing wolf role plays on Neopets and working on The Legend of Korra at Nickelodeon to becoming the bestselling author behind Belladonna. We also dive into the realities of modern publishing, balancing creativity with the business of being an author, social media burnout, AI's growing impact on artists, and why writing what you genuinely love matters more than chasing trends.Then we explore The Wretched Divine, an epic fantasy where a mortal knight becomes bound to both an angel and a demon in the middle of an ancient war. With an expansive magic system, unforgettable characters, anime-inspired action, and questions about morality, faith, and inherited beliefs, this is a fantasy that delivers both breathtaking spectacle and emotional depth.⚔️ What if heaven wasn't as righteous as you believed?😈 Can demons truly be monsters if the angels are just as dangerous?🪽 And what happens when saving the world means binding your soul to both?If you love epic fantasy, angels and demons, sprawling magic systems, anime-inspired storytelling, unforgettable twists, and fantasy that leads with worldbuilding while delivering incredible romance, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Adalyn's journey from Neopets role plays and The Legend of Korra to becoming a bestselling fantasy author.✨ How Pitch Wars shaped her career and helped transform her writing before landing her first publishing deal.✨ Writing All the Stars and Teeth in just three weeks while recovering from a serious accident.✨ Why The Wretched Divine became the most difficult, and ultimately most rewarding, book she's ever written.✨ The anime inspirations behind the novel.✨ Building a massive angel-and-demon magic system where humans gain extraordinary powers by binding their souls to celestial beings.✨ Why Adalyn intentionally wrote an epic fantasy that bridges romantasy readers into larger, more expansive fantasy worlds.✨ The themes of morality, inherited beliefs, religion, and questioning who truly deserves to be called a monster.✨ Her thoughts on romantasy, fantasy romance, YA versus adult publishing, and where she believes fantasy publishing is headed next.✨ AI, social media, fan expectations, and the growing pressures facing today's authors.✨ The shocking ending of The Wretched Divine and why readers won't stop talking about the final chapters.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Adalyn Grace – @AuthorAdalynGrace✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Have ARCs gone from a bookish perk to a part-time job?Welcome to another episode of Off The Shelf, our monthly segment where we dive into bookish trends, deep dives, hot takes, and all things fantasy!In this Off the Shelf episode, host Britt is joined by Mythic Mic team member Amara and special guest Megan to unpack the increasingly competitive world of advanced reader copies, publisher influencer programs, NetGalley, street teams, and the book reviewer hustle.From figuring out how to actually get physical ARCs to managing NetGalley ratios, follower counts, engagement, publisher emails, and the very real pressure to say yes to everything, the conversation explores what it takes to be an ARC reader today. The group also gets into the complicated side of street teams, including when supporting an author starts to feel like unpaid labor, what authors and readers owe each other, how to handle an ARC you didn’t enjoy, and why chasing every opportunity can quickly kill the thing that started it all: your love of reading.We’re asking:Do you really need thousands of followers to get ARCs?Are street teams a fun way to support authors or unpaid labor for readers?What should you do when you receive an ARC and hate the book?How do you chase bookish opportunities without burning yourself out?If you’ve ever wondered how people get those coveted physical ARCs, destroyed your NetGalley ratio by requesting everything in sight, joined one too many street teams, or simply wondered whether the ARC hustle is still worth it, this episode is for you.CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where surviving the apocalypse is hard enough without adding forbidden magic, trauma, and a found family you never expected to need.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with author K.L. Speer to discuss Bones and Fangs, a post-apocalyptic romantasy series where civilization has collapsed, magic shouldn't exist, and one woman possesses a healing power that could make her invaluable or turn her into something others will exploit.Kelsey also shares the incredible story behind Bones, from writing it simply because it was the story she wanted to tell to watching readers embrace its unconventional mix of dystopian fantasy, romance, and mental health representation, and eventually having the originally indie-published series picked up for traditional publication.🦴 What happens when your greatest gift is also the thing that makes you a target?🖤 How do you learn to trust again when survival has taught you not to?🔥 And who can you become when surviving is no longer enough?If you love adult dystopian fantasy, post-apocalyptic worlds, romantasy, found family, rare magic, complicated heroines, emotional character arcs, survival stories, and enemies-to-lovers, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Kelsey's lifelong love of storytelling, the fantasy adventure she started writing at twelve, and how finally finishing Bones turned a story she'd written purely for herself into an unexpected publishing career.✨ The incredible indie-to-trad publishing journey that followed Bones.✨ Why Kelsey believes authors should write the stories they genuinely want to read instead of chasing whatever is currently selling.✨ Creating a survivalist post-apocalyptic world without zombies, where governments have disappeared, humanity survives inside scattered strongholds, raiders roam outside their walls, and magic is virtually nonexistent.✨ Building Bones as a heroine with a mysterious healing ability in a world without powers, and exploring what happens when something capable of saving people also makes its owner vulnerable to exploitation.✨ Writing a heroine shaped by trauma who doesn't magically become “fixed."✨ How a tabletop RPG first introduced Kelsey to the character of Bones.✨ The return of dystopian fiction for the generation that grew up reading The Hunger Games and Divergent, and why Kelsey believes adult readers are now searching for darker, more mature versions of the stories they loved growing up.✨ Expanding the story in Fangs with grief, complicated family dynamics, sibling reconciliation, deeper character development, and an ending Kelsey promises gets absolutely bananas.✨ Why readers should have Fangs ready immediately after Bones, Kelsey's unapologetic love of cliffhangers, and her warning that the ending of Book Three, Ashes, might actually take readers out.✨ Expanding what was originally planned as a trilogy into a four-book series, and the other stories already tempting Kelsey, including a 1930s paranormal romance and a pirate story that accidentally became much bigger than expected.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 KL Speer – @Author.KLSpeer✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where love stories can begin in the most unexpected places, fate sometimes needs a little luck, and the right person can change everything.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with author and poet Michael Tavon to discuss his contemporary romance, I Want to Be Where You Are, a raw, poetic, emotionally honest love story inspired by how he met his wife.Michael shares his journey from poetry to romance, including the life experiences that pushed him toward writing, the creative writing class that helped him build confidence, and the moment he walked out of an anatomy class to pursue writing more seriously. He opens up about being a Black male romance author in a genre often dominated by women, the challenges of being overlooked, and why he hopes readers focus on the heart of the story rather than assumptions about who is telling it.The conversation also dives into I Want to Be Where You Are, a romance about two writers connecting long-distance while their separate lives are falling apart. Based largely on Michael’s real-life relationship with his wife, the book follows two people learning how to heal, grow, and rebuild themselves before finally choosing love together.💫 What happens when two people meet at exactly the right wrong time?❤️ Can love be both fate and luck?✈️ And what does it take to leave behind everything familiar for the person who feels like home?Whether you love contemporary romance, poetic writing, real-life love stories, long-distance relationships, emotionally grounded happily ever afters, or stories about healing before love, this episode is heartfelt, honest, and deeply romantic.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Michael’s journey from poet to romance author.✨ How writing became an outlet during heartbreak, grief, and major life changes.✨ The creative writing class that helped Michael see himself as a writer.✨ Dropping out of college to pursue writing and the courage that choice required.✨ Being a Black male author writing romance and poetry.✨ The stigma around men writing romance and why sensitivity matters on the page.✨ Moving from poetry into contemporary romance.✨ Why Michael wants to write across romance, sports romance, and romantasy.✨ The music, dancing, and pop culture that fuel his creative process.✨ I Want to Be Where You Are and the real-life love story behind it.✨ The vulnerability of writing real people and real experiences into fiction.✨ Long-distance connection, healing, messy personal lives, and emotional timing.✨ Interracial love, family questions, cultural assumptions, and finding connection beyond difference.✨ Michael’s upcoming romance projects, including sports romance, forbidden love, and a dream-inspired story about healing after loss.🎶 Plus: 90s pop music, R&B, dancing as a creative ritual, celebrity trial rabbit holes, Nicholas Sparks vibes, poetry forms, This Is Us theme songs, and the pickup line Michael did not have prepared.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Michael Tavon – @AuthorMichaelTavon✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where ancient goddesses demand vengeance, warrior princesses enter trials designed to kill them, and the enemy making everything more difficult may become impossible to resist.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling romance and fantasy author Sariah Wilson to discuss her Eye of the Goddess series. Sariah shares the extraordinary path that led her to publishing, beginning with a neighborhood fundraiser for her autistic son’s therapies and a reporter who recognized her talent from a press release. She opens up about entering indie publishing, selling only a handful of copies, winning Amazon’s Kindle Scout program, and unexpectedly receiving her first two-book offer.We also dive into the deeply personal circumstances behind Sariah’s move from romantic comedy into romantasy. When a family medical emergency forced her family to take out a second loan on their home, Sariah promised that she would write the book that could pay it back. She drafted a 159,000-word fantasy in just thirty-nine days, received a preemptive publishing offer, and used the first installment to repay the remaining loan.At the heart of the conversation is the Eye of the Goddess series, inspired by the real history of the Locrian maidens. Following the Trojan War and the assault of Cassandra inside Athena’s temple, maidens from Locris were reportedly sent as tribute for approximately one thousand years and could be hunted before reaching sanctuary. Sariah reimagines that forgotten history through a princess who trains to survive the deadly gauntlet and retrieve something capable of saving her nation, only to have her unprepared sister selected alongside her and an enemy sailor complicating every step of the journey.⚔️ Can a warrior princess survive a ritual designed to punish generations of innocent women?🏛️ What happens when the sister she trained to protect is chosen for the deadly tribute beside her?🔥 And can she trust the enemy sailor standing between her, the goddess, and the salvation of her kingdom?This is a must-listen for Greek mythology lovers, romantasy readers, fans of warrior heroines and sisterhood, and anyone craving deadly trials, forgotten history, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension, and gods who refuse to remain in the background.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Sariah’s Southern California childhood and her obsession with 3D printing.✨ Meeting Adam Driver after manifesting the opportunity through a charity auction.✨ Writing for a regional publisher before pausing her career to expand her family.✨ Entering and becoming one of the first winners of Amazon’s Kindle Scout program, and building a decade-long relationship with Amazon Publishing.✨ Why traditional fantasy romances often left her craving more longing, tension, and emotional intimacy.✨ The family medical emergency that pushed her to finally write romantasy.✨ Receiving a preempt that allowed her family to repay its medical debt.✨ How imposter syndrome persists even after years of professional success.✨ The historical foundations of the Eye of the Goddess series, including the assault of Cassandra by Ajax the Lesser after the Trojan War and Athena’s demand that Locris send maidens to serve at her temple as recompense.✨ Crafting a story about a princess who deliberately trains to survive the goddess’s deadly gauntlet, and the devastating twist of her untrained sister being selected beside her.✨ An enemy sailor, a slow-burn romance, and escalating divine stakes.✨ Building an alternate ancient Greece filled with magic, dragons, gods, and goddesses.✨ The hospice reader whose message reminded Sariah exactly why she writes.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sariah Wilson – @SariahWilsonAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where deadly secrets, morally gray suspects, and murder mysteries are infinitely more fun when you add a little magic.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Megan Tromposch sit down with Mai Corland to discuss Verity Guild, a Heartless Hunter meets Knives Out romantasy murder mystery set in a world inspired by the ancient Roman Republic, where everyone has something to hide and no one is above suspicion.Mai also takes us behind the scenes of her journey from civil litigator to author, the books that didn't find immediate success before Five Broken Blades took off, and how her legal background unexpectedly shaped a fantasy story about truth, justice, institutional power, and what happens when the people making the laws are above them.⚖️ What does justice look like when the most powerful people in the room are above the law?🔪 How do you solve a murder when everyone has secrets and the suspects keep dying?🔥 And what happens when the investigator has every reason to suspect the woman he's falling for?If you love romantasy murder mysteries, ancient Rome-inspired fantasy, enemies-to-lovers, morally gray characters, unreliable narrators, political intrigue, deadly secrets, and closed-circle whodunits, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Mai's unconventional path from civil litigator to published author, and the family experience that finally pushed her to pursue writing.✨ Why Five Broken Blades wasn't actually Mai's first published novel, and how writing books that didn't immediately take off gave her a very different perspective for her debut.✨ The discovery-writing process that keeps Mai excited about creating new stories.✨ Mai's advice for aspiring authors to read widely both inside and outside their genres.✨ The inspiration behind Verity Guild, which Mai describes as Heartless Hunter meets Knives Out: a romantasy murder mystery that combines a closed-circle whodunit with fantasy, political intrigue, secrets, and romance.✨ Building a fantasy world inspired by the ancient Roman Republic, Mai's background studying ancient Roman art, and why the rigid class divisions and inequalities beneath an ostensibly representative political system fascinated her as a foundation for the story.✨ Moving from the six points of view in the Broken Blades trilogy to the much more intimate dual POV of Verity Guild.✨ Why Mai loves unreliable narrators, morally gray characters, and liars, and why the motivation behind a character's deception can be just as fascinating as the lie itself.✨ The central question that emerged while Mai was writing Verity Guild: What is justice when some people are above the law? And how far can someone's morals bend in the pursuit of it?✨ Why fantasy became the perfect space for Mai to explore corruption, inequality, justice, and truth without writing a traditional legal story.✨ An early tease of Mai's next fantasy, which she describes as Water Moon meets ACOTAR, featuring a demigod with a pawn shop that trades in love stories and a fae prince searching for his missing brother.✨ Plus: why law school ruins legal television, the goldfish who may secretly be a murderer or a cursed human, Mai and Bethany's spectacularly terrible altitude-related travel decisions, questionable amounts of cold foam, and the trope that wins every time: enemies-to-lovers.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Mai Corland – @Maicorland✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where hidden worlds, Celtic mythology, and suspiciously attractive strangers are waiting just beyond the veil.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with author Christine Drummond to discuss Kingdom of the Owl, a modern-day Outlander meets ACOTAR romantasy filled with portal magic, Celtic mythology, and enemies-to-lovers, where unsettling sleep hallucinations might be something far more dangerous than they appear.Christine also takes us behind the scenes of her journey from corporate marketer to  published author, including querying, switching agents, becoming the lead title for Gilded Wing, building a street team before publication, and why she believes authors don't need to go viral to build an audience.🦉 What if your hallucinations were actually another world calling to you?✨ What would really happen if an ordinary woman fell into a fantasy world?🔥 And can you trust the man you're supposed to hate when he may be the only person you can rely on?If you love portal fantasy, Celtic mythology, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed, one horse, immersive worlds, and ordinary heroines thrown into extraordinary circumstances, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Christine's journey from a fifteen-year career in marketing to finally giving herself permission to pursue the love of storytelling she'd carried since childhood.✨ Building visibility for a book years before publication and why Christine believes authors can start creating meaningful connections with readers long before they have a cover, release date, or finished product to sell.✨ How Christine built a street team before its members had even read Kingdom of the Owl.✨ Why authors don't necessarily need one massive viral moment to build an audience, and how consistency, community, relatability, and letting readers become invested in your journey can create momentum over time.✨ Christine's path through querying and submission, including switching agents and learning why finding an agent or editor who genuinely shares your vision matters more than simply saying yes to the first opportunity.✨ Becoming the lead title for Gilded Wing, City Owl Press's new collector-focused imprint, and discovering after signing her publishing deal that Kingdom of the Owl would help launch an immersive new publishing experience and Kickstarter campaign.✨ The real-life conversation that sparked Kingdom of the Owl and transformed the eerie experience of sleep hallucinations into the seed of an entirely new fantasy world.✨ Writing enemies-to-lovers through genuine fear, distrust, reluctant reliance, and attraction.✨ Building her fantasy world on a foundation of Celtic mythology.✨ Why Christine maintains a worldbuilding bible and how the realities of publishing can reshape even carefully planned series, sequels, character arcs, and endings.✨ The changing relationship between traditional and indie publishing, why hybrid authorship will likely become increasingly common, and what authors should consider when weighing distribution and industry reach against speed, royalties, and creative control.✨ Plus: Christine's upcoming contemporary holiday romance, why writers simultaneously want to accomplish absolutely everything and disappear beneath a heated blanket, and the rapid-fire questions every author should probably be slightly afraid to answer.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Christine Drummond – @ChristineDrummondWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where haunted opera houses, masked men, and enough questionable romantic decisions to keep us arguing for forty years collide.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Amara sit down with bestselling gothic fantasy author Erin A. Craig to discuss Our Strange Duet, her official reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera created in collaboration with Lloyd Webber Entertainment for the musical's 40th anniversary.For anyone who has spent years wondering what Christine was thinking, what happened during all those missing months, or whether a few murders should really disqualify the Phantom as a romantic option, this episode is for you.Before stepping beneath the Paris Opera House, Erin takes us backstage through her own incredible journey from professional stage manager to bestselling author. After spending fifteen years working in theater, musicals, and opera, Erin stepped away when her daughter was born and unexpectedly found herself returning to something she'd loved since childhood: writing. Her first attempt at publication earned roughly 180 rejections. Her next book became House of Salt and Sorrows.But Our Strange Duet brings Erin's story full circle. Long before she became an author, The Phantom of the Opera was the musical that made her fall in love with theater. She wrote Phantom fanfiction as a teenager, built a career backstage, and years later received the surreal opportunity to help introduce a new generation to the story that started it all.In Our Strange Duet, Christine Daaé finally takes center stage. The novel ventures into the spaces between the musical's iconic scenes: the months we never see, the relationships only hinted at onstage, and the thoughts and choices of the woman standing at the center of a story so often driven by what everyone else wants from her.And yes, we absolutely discuss the question Phantom fans have been fighting about for decades: Phantom or Raoul?🎭 What changes when The Phantom of the Opera is finally told entirely through Christine's eyes?🌹 What happened between the iconic scenes we've watched onstage for forty years?🎶 And can being mysterious, musical, and extremely good with candles make us overlook a few murders?If you love The Phantom of the Opera, gothic romance, haunted theaters, masked men, tragic love stories, musical theater, morally questionable romantic interests, and books that let you step deeper inside stories you've loved for years, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Erin's fifteen-year career as a professional stage manager and how working in theater and opera continues to shape the way she approaches dialogue, atmosphere, plotting, and character movement in her novels.✨ Falling in love with The Phantom of the Opera as a teenager, writing Phantom fanfiction, and ultimately choosing a career backstage because of the musical that would unexpectedly return to her life decades later.✨ The unpublished Peter Pan retelling that received roughly 180 rejections before Erin changed course and wrote the book that became her breakout debut, House of Salt and Sorrows.✨ How Our Strange Duet became the official YA reimagining commissioned through Lloyd Webber Entertainment to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera.✨ Why Erin and the creative team decided to tell the story exclusively through Christine Daaé's perspective and finally place her desires, fears, grief, ambitions, and choices at the center of the narrative.✨ Exploring everything the musical doesn't have time to show, including Christine's first encounter with the mysterious voice, her early lessons with the Angel of Music, the six months between Acts One and Two, and the relationships developing beyond the stage.✨ Expanding Christine and Raoul's history to show the teenage summer romance that came before the musical so readers can finally understand why Christine chose Raoul.✨ Taking iconic characters like Carlotta and Piangi beyond their roles onstage and giving readers a deeper look at the personalities, vulnerabilities, and relationships Christine encounters inside the Opera Populaire.✨ The lyrics, references, and Easter eggs hidden throughout the novel for longtime Phantom fans while still making the story completely accessible to readers encountering the Opera Ghost for the first time.✨ Plus: Team Phantom versus Team Raoul, overlooking murder in the name of fictional romance, the unparalleled appeal of a man surrounded by candles, justice for Carlotta, Erin's favorite Phantom songs, and the romantic option Christine probably should have chosen all along: herself.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Erin Craig – @Penchant4Words✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where outlawed witches, hidden identities, and forbidden love make going to war significantly more complicated.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut fantasy author Bethan Croome to discuss Reign, a dark, British folklore-inspired romantic fantasy filled with secret magic, medieval politics, dangerous creatures, slow-burn romance, and a heroine who disguises herself as a man only to accidentally get conscripted into a war.Before diving into Reign, Bethan shares the unconventional road to her debut, from studying English literature and creative writing and earning a master's degree in writing to walking away from an early agent opportunity that didn't feel right.Then we enter a kingdom where magic is outlawed and being a witch could cost you everything. Inspired by British history, folklore, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and the darker corners of Britain's past, Reign blends medieval and Tudor atmosphere with court politics, magical creatures, hidden identities, and enemies-to-lovers.🗡️ What happens when a secret witch disguises herself as a man and accidentally gets sent to war?✨ How do you fight for a kingdom that has outlawed what you are?🖤 And what happens when forbidden love becomes even more dangerous because no one knows who you really are?If you love secret witches, women disguised as men, British folklore, medieval and Tudor-inspired fantasy, forbidden magic, and deliciously slow-burn romance, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Bethan's journey from studying creative writing and working in theatre to pursuing her dream of becoming a novelist.✨ Why she walked away from an early opportunity with an agent even though she feared another opportunity might never come. And why she now considers it one of the best decisions she made.✨ Finding her eventual literary agent through Instagram and writing Reign in roughly four months.✨ Why Bethan chose Cosmo Reads and Sourcebooks for her debut, and the surreal experience of publishing through an imprint connected to a magazine she grew up reading.✨ Creating Reign's showstopping deluxe edition, from the mood boards and visual references Bethan provided to the pink sprayed edges destined for fantasy readers' bookshelves.✨ The impossible choice at the heart of Reign: fight for the kingdom that outlawed her magic or turn against it and help set magic free.✨ Why Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, rather than Mulan, originally inspired Reign.✨ Building a fantasy world from British history, folklore, mythology, medieval and Tudor influences, and the castles, libraries, manuscripts, and historical places Bethan loves exploring.✨ Why British folklore's gruesome, macabre stories helped shape the darker and more melancholic atmosphere of Reign.✨ Bethan's biggest advice for aspiring authors: stop jumping to the next shiny idea, finish the book, and be brave enough to put your work into the world.✨ Plus: learning how to polish swords for research, the ideal amount of spice in romantasy, why Bethan would choose time travel as her magical power, and a mutual appreciation for the greatest song in Mulan.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Bethan Croome – @BethFiit ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where books become works of art, printers develop personalities, and missing out on one special edition can inspire an entire business.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with Sheree, the artist and owner behind Perfectly Edged, to discuss sprayed edges, collector editions, and building one of the most recognizable businesses in the bookish community. Sheree shares how her search for a Fourth Wing special edition led her to experiment with spraying her own books, and how encouragement from a lifelong friend convinced her to begin selling them. She opens up about moving from hand-sprayed edges to professional printing, teaching herself digital design, growing through social media, and reaching the point where her husband left his job to join the business full time.We also dive into the work behind every Perfectly Edged design, from creating artwork and running test prints to wrapping, clamping, printing, and preparing books for customers. Sheree discusses commissions, preorder planning, discounted seconds, artist collaborations, rep applications, and the challenges of choosing titles that will support the time and expense required. She also shares her dreams of creating a full publisher special edition and perhaps opening her own bookshop one day.🎨 How does a single edge design move from an idea to a finished collector’s book?📚 What does it take for an artist-led business to thrive in an increasingly crowded special-edition market?✨ And how did one missed copy of Fourth Wing help launch Perfectly Edged?This is a must-listen for special-edition collectors, Bookstagrammers, indie authors, aspiring bookish entrepreneurs, and anyone fascinated by the art and business behind beautiful books.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How missing out on a Fourth Wing special edition inspired Perfectly Edged.✨ Learning to hand-spray books and turning a hobby into a business.✨ Moving from manual spraying to professional edge printing.✨ The artwork, testing, wrapping, clamping, and printing behind each design.✨ Why creating a single custom book can take several hours.✨ What happens to books with misprints, scratches, or imperfect edges.✨ How authors can commission artwork or printed edges for their books.✨ Using preorders and batch printing to manage inventory and turnaround times.✨ Choosing which popular, traditional, and indie titles to feature.✨ Janet, the enormous printer responsible for the company’s edges and headaches.✨ Collaborating with artists, including the Hurricane Wars project with Bluelyboo.✨ What Sheree considers when selecting Perfectly Edged representatives.✨ Social media growth, changing algorithms, and building customer loyalty.✨ The cost and risk involved in producing a complete special edition.✨ Sheree’s dreams of working directly with a publisher and opening a bookshop.✨ Balancing art, business ownership, motherhood, marathon training, and writing.✨ Throne of Glass ambitions, favorite designs, licensing challenges, and rapid-fire questions.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Perfectly Edged – @PerfectlyEdged✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where cursed kingdoms, deadly enemies, and enough sexual tension to make murder complicated collide.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Stacey Marie Brown to discuss her newest fantasy, White Raven, a dark, Viking-inspired adventure packed with lost magic, forced proximity, found family, deadly secrets, and two enemies who genuinely might kill each other before they ever admit they want each other.Stacey takes us behind her fourteen-year writing career, from leaving her retail job after being told to choose between work and her first author event to building a career that now spans urban fantasy, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and high fantasy. We talk about following creative obsession instead of staying neatly in one genre, why success is an ever-moving target, and the advice she gives writers who are still trying to figure out exactly how they're “supposed” to write.Then we enter the world of White Raven, where a centuries-old curse has stripped the land of its magic and fractured the realm into eternal day, night, and dusk. As a deadly Shadow Rift slowly consumes what's left, Wrennlyn, the White Raven, is believed to possess the blood capable of restoring the magic everyone desperately wants to control.Unfortunately for her, the Night King wants that power too.🖤 What if your blood was the only thing capable of restoring magic to a dying world?⚔️ What happens when you're kidnapped by the enemy you've been taught to fear your entire life?🔥 And how do you fall for someone when you're still seriously considering killing them?If you love true enemies-to-lovers, Viking-inspired fantasy, forced proximity, found family, cursed kingdoms, morally complicated characters, deadly journeys, vicious banter, and cliffhangers designed to make you suffer, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How Stacey chooses what genre to write next, and why creative obsession will always win over staying safely in one publishing lane.✨ Using contemporary romance as a creative “refresh button” when the magic, worldbuilding, and action of fantasy start leading toward burnout.✨ Stacey's fourteen-year career and the author event that forced her to choose between her retail job and writing.✨ Why success remains an ever-moving target, even after building a long-term writing career, and why authors don't need massive platforms or viral fame for their work to matter.✨ Building a Viking-inspired world fractured by a 199-year-old curse into realms of eternal day, night, and dusk, and the Shadow Rift slowly draining the life from the land.✨ Writing true enemies-to-lovers where the characters don't simply exchange insults before giving in to attraction.✨ Exploring prejudice, inherited hatred, and what happens when Wrennlyn discovers the people she was taught to fear have families, children, struggles, and humanity just like her own.✨ Stacey's signature balance of darkness and humor, including Munch, a tiny root creature with an unfortunate habit of eating clothing, and Fluffy, the decidedly unfriendly undead horse.✨ Why Stacey embraces being a “cliffhanger queen,” what readers lose when they wait for an entire series to release before starting it, and the joy of theorizing together while waiting for the next book.✨ Pantsing, following the muse, letting characters derail your plans, and why trying to force herself into someone else's writing process only leads to writer's block.✨ Plus: fictional men who would be terrible real-life boyfriends, the characters Stacey would never invite to holiday dinner, and possibly the most unexpected author Google search we've ever heard on The Mythic Mic.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Stacey Marie Brown – @StaceyMarieBrown✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast! This week, host Bethany Amanda and co-host Amara are joined by book influencer and content creator Jaimee Johnson, known as ThtGrlReads, for an unfiltered conversation about Bookstagram, brutally honest reviews, paid partnerships, viral content, and the books actually worth the hype.Jaimee takes us behind the account to talk about how a lifelong love of reading turned into a massive online platform, why she never planned on becoming a full-time creator, and what readers don't always see behind the polished world of book influencing. From the loneliness and cliques that can exist behind the scenes to the assumption that paid reviews can't possibly be genuine, Jaimee gets candid about what it actually means to turn talking about books into a career.Then we get into the books. Jaimee shares the reads she thinks deserve WAY more attention, her current God-tier favorites, why Zodiac Academy will always have a special place on her shelf, what makes a good bully romance, and why romantasy desperately needs to stop following the same blueprint. We also talk reading slumps, emotional damage, why she prefers going into books completely blind, and the kind of plot twist capable of making her physically put a book down and recover.And if you've ever wondered how to actually grow a bookish social media account, Jaimee is sharing the strategy behind the chaos: say something worth reacting to, hook people immediately, stop sanding off the weird parts of your personality, and give people a reason to remember you, not just the book you're holding.📚 Can a paid book review still be completely honest?🔥 Are viral romantasy books starting to follow the exact same formula?👀 And is the secret to growing online simply being weird enough that people can't scroll away?If you love unfiltered book opinions, underrated romantasy recommendations, Bookstagram drama, chaotic reading habits, controversial takes, and finding out what really happens behind the scenes of a major bookish platform, you don't want to miss this episode.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How Jaimee went from lifelong fantasy reader and fitness creator to building ThtGrlReads and making book content her primary career.✨ Why some of her earliest viral content came from creating the recommendation videos she wished already existed. ✨ What readers don't see about influencer culture, including loneliness, creator cliques, follower counts, and the weirdness of realizing someone only wants to make content with you because you have the biggest platform.✨ The assumption that paid partnerships mean dishonest reviews and Jaimee's rule that she reads a book first, turns down partnerships for books she doesn't like, and only promotes books she can genuinely recommend.✨ Her advice for aspiring creators: find gaps in existing content, develop something you're known for, have an opinion people can actually debate, and never waste the first five seconds of a video.✨ Why the parts of yourself you're tempted to edit out because they're “too weird” might actually be exactly what makes people want to follow you.✨ Jaimee's chaotic approach to choosing her next read: recommendations, author pitches, pretty covers, viral emotional damage, or simply seeing someone crying on the internet.✨ The underrated romantasy books and series she thinks deserve more attention, including Dominion, the Flame Cursed Fae trilogy, and the Bewitched series.✨ Her God-tier reads, from Zodiac Academy and Anathema to Kissed by the Gods, The Bone Season, and more.✨ Why “why choose” works better for her when the relationships are surrounded by a genuinely deep fantasy story and why spice without enough story or buildup can kill the payoff.✨ Whether romantasy is becoming too formulaic, why readers deserve more than the same story in a different package, and the kinds of ambitious fantasy twists Jaimee wants authors to take more chances on.✨ Plus: bully romance, controversial book opinions, a 36-pound watermelon, and why Jaimee insists she's not actually mean.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jaimee Johnson – @ThtGrlReads✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where humans dare to cross into the fae realm, ancient gods shape the fate of kingdoms, and epic fantasy reminds us why we fell in love with the genre in the first place.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Malarie Weber to discuss her sweeping romantasy series, The Lies of Mortals and its highly anticipated sequel, The Edge of Darkness.Malarie shares how a vivid dream sparked the opening scene of her debut novel, why becoming a Bookstagram influencer unexpectedly prepared her for self-publishing, and how she built a thriving author career by writing the kind of epic fantasy she always wished she could find on bookstore shelves. We also discuss indie publishing, designing gorgeous special editions, writing massive fantasy novels, and why helping aspiring authors has become one of her greatest passions.Then we dive into The Lies of Mortals, where twenty-nine-year-old warrior Auren finds herself hunted by a prince and forced to flee into the fae realm, a place no human has entered in a thousand years. There she comes face-to-face with Niall, the ruthless High Lord of Shadows, ancient gods, witches, wraiths, and a world filled with dangerous magic, political intrigue, and unforgettable found family.We also preview The Edge of Darkness, where the story expands into five points of view, multiple romances, devastating revelations, and an all-out war that changes everything readers thought they knew about this world.⚔️ What happens when the only way to survive is crossing into the realm you've feared your entire life?🖤 Can a human warrior trust the ruthless High Lord sworn to protect his people?✨ And what secrets are waiting beneath the shadows of an ancient fae kingdom?If you love epic fantasy, mature protagonists, sprawling worlds, unforgettable side characters, political intrigue, and romantasy with serious Lord of the Rings vibes, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How a single dream became the foundation for The Lies of Mortals and eventually grew into an epic fantasy trilogy.✨ Malarie's transition from Bookstagram influencer to bestselling indie fantasy author, and how building an online community helped launch her writing career.✨ The realities of self-publishing.✨ Why she intentionally wrote mature protagonists in their late twenties and thirties instead of following the typical YA romantasy formula.✨ Creating Niall, the mysterious Shadow High Lord, and the supporting characters readers have completely fallen in love with.✨ Why epic fantasy deserves room to breathe, and why she embraced writing 700- and 800-page novels instead of cutting the story short.✨ What readers can expect from The Edge of Darkness, including five POVs, three romances, massive character reveals, heartbreaking twists, and war on an epic scale.✨ Balancing multiple projects, planning long fantasy series, and knowing the ending years before writing the final pages.✨ Practical advice for aspiring indie authors on building confidence, finding supportive communities, and creating stories they'll be proud of for years to come.✨ Why writing the book you desperately want to read is still the best creative advice she can give.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Malarie Weber – @ABookshelfofMagic✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where enchanted libraries hide dangerous bargains, sentient books offer forbidden power, and entering the woods may change the course of magic forever.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy author Analeigh Sbrana to discuss the Lords of the Wilds Duology, including Lore of the Wilds and Lore of the Tides.Analeigh shares her unconventional journey from Bookstagrammer and aspiring indie author to landing an agent through a viral cover reveal and sending her book to auction only two weeks later. She opens up about querying for a year and a half, investing her own savings into publishing, building a passionate reader community, and using her experience in the bookish space to approach marketing and special editions with an indie-author mindset.We also dive into Lore of the Wilds, where a human woman enters a cursed Fae library, discovers a sentient grimoire, and makes a bargain that transforms her into the world’s first witch. Analeigh discusses writing a soft, whimsical Black heroine, the temptation and consequences of magical power, and expanding the sequel from familiar forests into ships, siren kingdoms, underwater libraries, and dangerous new betrayals.📚 What would you sacrifice for the power to protect your community?✨ Can Lore control the magic she fought so hard to obtain?🌊 And what happens when the safety of the forest gives way to treacherous seas and an underwater kingdom?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of cursed libraries and ruthless Fae, Bookstagrammers dreaming of publication, and anyone eager for soft Black heroines centered in magical adventures.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Analeigh’s journey from childhood storyteller and fanfiction writer to published author.✨ Returning to writing after photography school, motherhood, and a creative break.✨ Funding Lore of the Wilds with savings from her Bookstagram preset business.✨ The viral cover reveal that caught the attention of her future agent.✨ Going from indie preparations to representation and a publishing auction in two weeks.✨ Why indie authors should give themselves enough time to market their books.✨ Building newsletters, ARC teams, preorders, and reader communities early.✨ Transitioning from Bookstagrammer to author without losing her love for the bookish space.✨ How Analeigh secured multiple special editions for her books.✨ A human woman, a Dark Fae lord, an abandoned enchanted library, and the sentient grimoire that transforms Lore into the world’s first witch.✨ Writing Lore as a soft, whimsical Black heroine who embraces vulnerability.✨ Why visible representation and character art mattered for the original cover.✨ The sacrifices Lore makes for magic and the danger of beginning to enjoy her power.✨ Moving from forests and libraries into ships, oceans, sirens, and underwater kingdoms.✨ The challenges of writing a sequel in a completely unfamiliar setting.✨ Analeigh’s upcoming dark-academia epic fantasy, Heir of Prophecy.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Analeigh Sbrana – @AnaleighSbrana✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Welcome back to Banter & Books, the monthly Mythic Mic segment where Amara and a special guest share spoiler-free reviews of the books they cannot stop thinking about!This month, Amara is joined by Mythic Mic Team Member Teresa Diaz to talk alien death games, dystopian assassins, masked men, murderous berserkers, found family, comfort reads, and the very real problem of owning more books than you could possibly read.They dive into Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Heart of the Raven Prince by Parker Garner, Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe, and Blood Bound by J.A. Good. They also revisit two favorites with A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas and Beast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz.Along the way, Teresa explains why Dungeon Crawler Carl finally convinced her to take the plunge into LitRPG, Amara makes a bold comparison between Heart of the Raven Prince and some of her favorite recent fantasy reads, and the two investigate the increasingly undeniable appeal of mysterious masked men. They also talk enemies-to-lovers with actual enemies, unusual magic systems, female villains, morally questionable assassins, audiobook performances worth obsessing over, and why sometimes a great book does not need romance to completely consume you.Whether you are hunting for your next five-star fantasy, curious about the dystopian books dividing readers, or simply need someone to validate your completely unreasonable TBR, this spoiler-free episode is for you.BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEDungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Heart of the Raven Prince by Parker Garner Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe Blood Bound by J.A. GoodA Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. MaasBeast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz (Check out our interview with Crystal Seitz (Ep. 87) here!)CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Teresa Diaz – @PrettyPageswithT👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fairy tales get a fresh twist, cozy romantasy meets unforgettable adventure, and even the kindest heroes can steal your heart.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy romance author Vanessa Rasanen to discuss her enchanting Immortal Reveries series, including Until the Stars Fall and Once the Skies Fade.Vanessa shares her inspiring journey from engineer to full-time author, how Bookstagram helped launch her publishing career, and why writing became the creative outlet she'd been chasing all along. We also have an honest conversation about indie publishing, social media burnout, balancing motherhood with writing, and why building a sustainable creative career is often much messier than it looks online.Then we dive into Until the Stars Fall, a cozy romantasy inspired by the classic film Sabrina. When a human servant who's secretly loved a carefree fae prince for years gets caught in a royal political alliance, she's unexpectedly swept into a fake engagement with his responsible older brother. What begins as a convenient arrangement slowly becomes a heartfelt romance filled with banter, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of magical chaos.We also preview Once the Skies Fade, where the series takes a darker turn with a grieving Shadow Queen, deadly trials, anxiety-fueled shadow magic, and one of the greenest flag MMCs you'll ever meet.✨ What if the prince you're meant to protect is the wrong brother?🖤 Can a queen haunted by grief learn to love again?⚔️ And what happens when fairy tale romance collides with deadly magic and impossible choices?If you love cozy romantasy, fake dating, fae royalty, interconnected standalones, green-flag heroes, magical kingdoms, and romances that balance warmth with emotional depth, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Vanessa's journey from engineering to becoming a full-time fantasy romance author, and how one indie author inspired her to finally publish her first novel.✨ Why she believes aspiring authors should embrace research, learn the publishing process themselves, and avoid shortcuts that promise overnight success.✨ The inspiration behind Until the Stars Fall, including its surprising roots in the classic film Sabrina and Vanessa's desire to create a comforting, fairy tale–inspired romantasy.✨ Why interconnected standalones allow readers to revisit beloved characters while continually expanding the world through new kingdoms, romances, and magical conflicts.✨ Once the Skies Fade and its emotionally richer story featuring a grieving Shadow Queen, anxiety-driven shadow magic, deadly tournaments, and a role reversal where the heroine becomes the feared protector.✨ Creating Matthias, one of romantasy's rare green-flag heroes.✨ What's coming next for the Immortal Reveries series, including dragon shifters, cursed princesses, Sleeping Beauty inspiration, and even more interconnected romances.✨ Vanessa's candid advice about balancing creativity, family life, mental health, and building a writing career that can survive the inevitable highs and lows of publishing.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Vanessa Rasanen – @VanessaRasanenAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 MK Lobb – @Mk_Lobb✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Louisa Carmody – @LouisaCarmodyBooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where prophecies are taken dangerously literally, magical amulets can burn the wrong person alive, and the hero destined to save the world may be someone everyone overlooks.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Rep Teresa Diaz sit down with bestselling fantasy author Alyssa Day to discuss Nobody’s Quest, the first installment in The Nobody Chronicles. Alyssa shares her journey from high-stakes trial lawyer to full-time author, writing everything from romantic comedy and paranormal mysteries to bestselling Atlantis romances. She opens up about publishing fantasy romance before “romantasy” had a name, persevering through the unpredictable publishing industry, and why aspiring authors should protect their creativity, ignore trends, and write the stories they genuinely love.We also dive into Nobody’s Quest, where indentured library servant Soli is chosen for a deadly mission after a sorceress interprets the prophecy “nobody can defeat the goddess of war” literally. Alongside a kingdomless prince and a complicated found family, Soli must cross a dying continent, survive monsters and betrayals, and free an imprisoned goddess before war destroys everyone. Alyssa also discusses writing a heroine with depression who is never magically cured but still gets to become the hero of an epic fantasy adventure.📚 What happens when a lifelong servant discovers that everything she learned from books may help save the world?🔥 Can Soli survive an amulet that kills anyone it refuses to accept?⚔️ And how do you complete a quest when nearly everyone beside you is hiding the truth?This is a must-listen for epic fantasy and romantasy readers, found-family fans, lovers of dangerous quests and complicated princes, and anyone who has longed to see a heroine with mental illness save the world without needing to be “fixed” first.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Alyssa’s journey from trial lawyer to bestselling fantasy author.✨ Growing up around the world, military-family life, and rescuing an army of dogs.✨ Writing across romantic comedy, paranormal mystery, fantasy romance, and YA.✨ Creating fantasy romance before the publishing industry embraced romantasy.✨ The Atlantis-inspired Warriors of Poseidon series and its return in audio.✨ Why fantasy has always remained Alyssa’s creative home.✨ Her advice to aspiring authors on perseverance and protecting vulnerable early drafts.✨ Why writers do not need to write every day or follow publishing trends.✨ Soli, an indentured library servant dismissed as a “nobody.”✨ A prophecy interpreted literally and an amulet that can burn its bearer alive.✨ Two warring goddesses, a dying country, and an approaching army of monsters.✨ Prince Caelan, his destroyed kingdom, and the mystery behind his shifting personality.✨ A thief, sorceress, desert warrior, Sylvan warrior, and soldiers forming an unlikely family.✨ Using Soli’s reading and knowledge as her greatest source of strength.✨ Writing depression as part of a heroine’s life rather than the entire story.✨ Why Soli will never receive a magical cure and why that representation matters.✨ Found family, one-horse proximity, zombie-apocalypse plans, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Alyssa Day – @AuthorAlyssaDay✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where forbidden magic can get you killed, giant birds choose their riders, and sometimes the girl everyone tried to protect is ready to protect them back.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic team member Amara for a fun and heartfelt conversation with author KJ Altair about Feathers of Ash and Hope, the first book in the Flameborn series. Feathers of Ash and Hope is a romantasy filled with military academy trials, bird bonding, forbidden magic, hidden identities, and sacrifice.KJ shares her journey from medical school and trauma surgery training to becoming a self-published fantasy romance author. She opens up about burnout, long hospital shifts, motherhood, the pandemic, and the life-changing moment that made her reconsider how she wanted to spend her time. After stepping away from an unsustainable schedule, she found her way back to stories, first through bedtime tales for her children and then through the book that became Feathers of Ash and Hope. The conversation also dives into the Flameborn series, including why this book will appeal to Mulan lovers and how hope can be found even in the most unlikely places. 🪽 What happens when a girl immune to magic lives in a kingdom that executes people like her?🔥 Can joining a deadly military academy help Ara hide her curse and protect her family?⚔️ And what happens when the centurion watching her every move becomes the person she cannot stay away from?If you love Mulan energy, bonding trials, and dual POV stories, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ KJ's path from medical school and trauma surgery training to writing romantasy.✨ Learning self-publishing from scratch and gaining new respect for every published book.✨ Advice for aspiring authors, including not comparing a messy first draft to a polished finished book.✨ Feathers of Ash and Hope as Mulan meets Fourth Wing with giant birds and Roman Empire inspiration.✨ Dual POV, military academy dynamics, bird bonding, forbidden attraction, and rule-breaking tension in this high-stakes romantasy.✨ Realistic injuries, medical details, and why KJ only had to research bird anatomy.✨ Hope, loss, death, sacrifice, and honoring loved ones by living fully.✨ Book two secrets, political intrigue, manipulation, and the consequences of hidden truths.✨ Book three themes of trauma, healing, family, found family, and what people risk for love.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 JK Altair – @KJAltair✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where tragic lovers get another chance, corrupt families turn romance into war, and happily ever after is always worth fighting for.This week, Mythic Mic Team Member Amara sits down with bestselling romance author Emily McIntire to discuss Burning Daylight, Forsaking Midnight, and her interconnected Defying the Stars series. Emily shares the unusual psychic reading that finally convinced her to write her first novel, her journey from indie publishing to becoming a hybrid author with Bloom Books, and why every author must treat their career like a business. She also opens up about protecting creative control, finding an agent who will truly advocate for you, and using music to uncover the emotional heart of every story.We also dive into Burning Daylight, a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling where secret heir Roman Montgomery falls for Juliet Callaway before either realizes they belong to Rosebrook Falls’ most bitterly opposed families. Emily discusses forbidden romance, slow-burn tension, small-town corruption, and rewriting tragic love stories so they finally receive their happily ever afters. She also teases Forsaking Midnight, her darker Lancelot and Guinevere retelling filled with cage fighting, forced proximity, moral grayness, betrayal, and devastating yearning.⭐ Can Roman and Juliet choose each other without losing everything their families control?🥀 What happens when the person you hate becomes the only one capable of protecting you?🖤 And how much pain must a tragic love story survive before it earns a different ending?This is a must-listen for forbidden-romance readers, retelling lovers, slow-burn and angst enthusiasts, and anyone who believes even literature’s most doomed couples deserve a happily ever after.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Emily’s life as a reader, musician, bird watcher, and self-described hermit.✨ How songwriting shaped the emotional core of her novels.✨ The psychic readings that pushed her to finally write her first book.✨ Learning indie publishing through research, experimentation, and persistence.✨ Treating an author career like a business and continually studying the industry.✨ Moving into traditional publishing while preserving creative and financial control.✨ Emily’s hybrid partnership with Bloom Books.✨ Why authors need trustworthy agents, contract guidance, and strong boundaries.✨ Writing across genres while always placing an epic love story at the center.✨ The creation of Rosebrook Falls and the Defying the Stars series.✨ Reimagining tragic romances and giving them happily ever afters.✨ Roman Montgomery, Juliet Callaway, and two feuding founding families.✨ The Rosebrook Rag, corrupt small-town politics, and scandalous reader-submitted gossip.✨ Flawed characters learning to love themselves before fully accepting love.✨ Why small gestures and emotional intimacy make romance feel earned.✨ Slow-burn tension, forbidden desire, and spice rooted in character growth.✨ Forsaking Midnight as a modern Lancelot and Guinevere retelling.✨ Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare, iconic ’90s adaptations, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 Emily McIntire – @itsemilymcintire✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where political marriages end in bloodshed, enemies make dangerously tempting allies, and some oaths are sealed with knives instead of kisses.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with acclaimed fantasy author Nia Davenport to discuss her dark standalone romantasy, Our Vicious Oaths.Nia shares her unconventional path from studying biology and teaching for seven years to building a career across science fantasy, YA, romance, and dark fantasy. She opens up about teaching herself to write full-length novels, surviving shelved manuscripts and publishing rejection, and why BIPOC and queer authors should never question whether their voices belong in fantasy.We also dive into Our Vicious Oaths, where dragon-riding warrior princess Kadesha refuses to become a political pawn and spends the night before her wedding with a mysterious stranger. The next day, she discovers he is an enemy Fae king who engineered their meeting and the slaughter that destroys both courts. Nia discusses Black Fae, knives-to-throat enemies-to-lovers tension, unapologetically powerful heroines, and the political bargain that leaves Kadesha and Malachi plotting to kill their mutual enemy before turning on each other.🐉 What happens when the stranger from your one-night stand destroys your wedding the next morning?👑 Can a warrior princess protect her kingdom without surrendering her freedom?🗡️ And what if the enemy whose heart you plan to carve out becomes the one person who truly sees you?This is a must-listen for dark romantasy readers, enemies-to-lovers fans, lovers of political intrigue and Black fantasy, and anyone who supports women’s rights—and women’s wrongs.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How anime, Sailor Moon, theater, and oral storytelling shaped Nia’s writing.✨ Moving from biology and teaching into a full-time publishing career.✨ Writing several practice novels before finding her voice and process.✨ Querying too early and receiving a full request within forty-eight hours.✨ Shelved manuscripts, systemic publishing barriers, and refusing to stop.✨ How The Blood Trials launched Nia’s traditional publishing career.✨ Writing across adult fantasy, YA thrillers, romantic comedies, and dark romantasy.✨ Why writers should consume widely and trust the stories they most want to tell.✨ The importance of BIPOC and queer voices in speculative fiction.✨ Kadesha’s fight to become her father’s heir instead of his political pawn.✨ A one-night stand, an enemy Fae king, and wedding-day carnage.✨ Knives-to-throat tension, political bargains, mutual vengeance, and catching feelings.✨ Creating Black Fae courts infused with Black American culture.✨ Writing bold heroines who own their power, sexuality, brilliance, and mistakes.✨ Why Our Vicious Oaths became a standalone instead of a longer series.✨ The realities of traditional publishing, author marketing, and Nia’s interest in going hybrid.✨ Gilded Veins, murderous vampire families, and Nia’s upcoming dark romantasy.✨ Favorite princesses, alternate titles, sacred promises, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Nia Davenport – @Nia.Davenport✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where feminine rage, morally gray heroines, and men who absolutely should have known better take center stage.This week, host Sara Santillan is joined by co-host Teresa Diaz for a conversation with author Sheila Masterson about The Poison Daughter, her standalone enemies-to-lovers romantasy featuring a vigilante heroine with a poisonous kiss and the one man who somehow survives it.Sheila takes us behind her journey from writing during lockdown to self-publishing seven books and becoming a hybrid author whose work is now reaching readers around the world. We talk about the realities of indie and traditional publishing, maintaining creative control, foreign rights, special editions, and why authors should define what success means to them before everyone else starts defining it for them.Then we dive into The Poison Daughter, where Harlow uses her deadly kiss to deliver justice to men who deserve it until she kisses Henry and he doesn't die. Sheila breaks down the feminine rage behind Harlow's story, creating enemies who genuinely hate each other, monstrous women, chronic pain representation, and a claustrophobic fantasy world surrounded by terrifying vampires.💋 What happens when the man you're supposed to kill survives your poisonous kiss?🖤 How far can feminine rage go before the heroine becomes the monster?⚔️ And what happens when the person you hate most becomes the one person capable of seeing every part of you?If you love vicious heroines, true enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, feminine rage, morally gray justice, terrifying vampires, and romances where falling in love requires terrifying vulnerability, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Sheila's unconventional journey from writing for herself during lockdown to self-publishing seven books and entering the traditional publishing world.✨ Becoming a hybrid author, retaining creative control, navigating foreign rights, and bringing The Poison Daughter to readers across multiple languages and territories.✨ Why aspiring authors should define their own values and version of success before allowing publishing trends, viral success stories, or other people's goals to dictate their careers.✨ The inspiration behind The Poison Daughter and Sheila's desire to write a heroine who refuses to quietly absorb the harm and bad behavior women are so often expected to endure.✨ Creating Harlow: a vigilante, serial killer, poison-kissing heroine who is allowed to be angry, difficult, monstrous, and deeply human.✨ Why the best enemies-to-lovers romances need more than inherited family feuds and how Harlow and Henry develop very personal reasons to hate each other.✨ Building a claustrophobic city surrounded by a vampire-infested forest, rising rebellion, magical class divisions, and vampires that are far more horrifying than seductive.✨ Writing chronic pain as part of a heroine's life without allowing it to become her defining characteristic and exploring the vulnerability of falling in love when sometimes you need another person more than you want to admit.✨ Why The Poison Daughter may be connecting so strongly with readers looking for feminine rage, accountability, standalone fantasy, and a romance built around accepting rather than trying to fix another person.✨ What's coming next from Sheila, including more dark gothic romantasy, twisted fairy tales, Greek mythology, and the interconnected standalones of her Fable Song series.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sheila Masterson – @SheilaReadsandWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Has book marketing become just as important as the book itself?Welcome to the second episode of Off The Shelf, a new monthly segment where we dive into bookish trends, deep dives, hot takes, and all things fantasy! In this Off the Shelf episode, Britt, Bethany, and Amara unpack how BookTok, Bookstagram, special editions, influencer hype, preorder culture, and collector FOMO are reshaping the way books are discovered, bought, and even published.From authors being expected to build platforms before release to readers choosing books based on sprayed edges and character art, the conversation explores where smart marketing ends and the hype machine begins. The group also digs into what authors can actually learn from today’s market, including the value of street teams, smaller influencers, preorder strategy, and finding ways to stand out without chasing every trend.We’re asking:Has hype become more important than the story?What actually makes readers buy a book?Are special editions helping authors or sometimes hurting them?What marketing tactics are worth authors’ time and money?If you’re an author trying to build buzz, a reader drowning in special editions, or simply fascinated by how publishing is changing, this episode is for you.CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where sirens have wings instead of tails, blood bonds offer dangerous freedom, and some kings are more than willing to be ruined.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Rep Teresa sit down with fantasy author Kalie Cassidy to discuss her bestselling Siren Mage series and its highly anticipated second installment. Kalie shares her journey from professional stage actor and dialect coach to debut novelist, including the seven years she spent teaching herself how to write, revise, and position a novel for traditional publishing. She opens up about landing an agent during romantasy’s rise, and why resilience matters more than any single success in an unpredictable publishing career.We also dive into the story of Imogen, a winged siren forced to hide in a kingdom that hunts her kind, and Theodore, the neighboring king whose blood bond helps her escape. Kalie discusses Greek mythology, gothic atmosphere, autonomy, belonging, and flipping the traditional siren archetype by creating a man entirely willing to be ruined. She also teases Theodore’s expanded point of view, deeper politics and lore, painful separation, maximum yearning, and the difficult path toward a hard-earned happily ever after in book two.🪽 What happens when the creature everyone fears is the person who finally makes a king question his crown?🩸 Can Imogen and Theodore overcome the kingdoms, secrets, and impossible odds keeping them apart?👑 And what if being ruined by a siren is the first step toward becoming free?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, mythology lovers, fans of gothic atmosphere and dangerous heroines, and anyone who believes yearning is enough to earn immediate book-boyfriend status.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Kalie’s career as a stage actor, acting teacher, and dialect coach.✨ How theater training shaped her character-driven approach to fiction.✨ Beginning her first novel in a phone notes app while caring for a newborn.✨ Spending seven years learning how to draft, revise, and understand publishing.✨ Aging the series from YA to adult romantic fantasy.✨ Landing an agent and selling quickly as romantasy began its rapid rise.✨ Why publishing is not a meritocracy and success never guarantees the next success.✨ Focusing on craft instead of unstable sales, rankings, and moving career goals.✨ Why resilience is one of the most important qualities an author can possess.✨ Imogen, a siren hiding in a kingdom determined to destroy her kind.✨ The blood bond that connects her to Theodore and offers her a chance to escape.✨ Returning sirens to their winged roots in Greek mythology.✨ Blending gothic dread, historical romance, and traditional fantasy.✨ Theodore’s complicated relationship with kingship, duty, and autonomy.✨ A hero who is completely willing to be ruined by the woman he loves.✨ Adding Theodore’s point of view as the world, politics, and mythology expand.✨ Sustaining romantic tension through separation, impossibility, and maximum pain.✨ The pressure of writing a sequel under contract and on a shortened deadline.✨ Kalie’s Frankenstein and The Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired next project.✨ Dark fairy tales, pathetic yearning men, therapy bills, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Kalie Cassidy – @KalieCassidyBooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fairy tales are twisted, curses linger for generations, and sometimes the greatest act of rebellion is choosing kindness.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author A.R. Schilling to discuss Not Another Happily Ever After, a hauntingly beautiful fairy tale inspired by Corpse Bride, Tim Burton, classic folklore, and every happily-ever-after you've ever been told to expect.A.R. shares her unique journey from wildlife conservation to writing fiction, why she intentionally writes stories that celebrate the beauty of our own world, and the publishing lessons she learned after a difficult debut. We also have an incredibly candid conversation about protecting your work, overcoming setbacks, and why perseverance matters far more than perfection.Then we dive into the unforgettable world of Not Another Happily Ever After. Meet Sunday, a princess whose body has been sacrificed piece by piece to satisfy an ancient curse, yet somehow refuses to die. Sent to marry the prince she despises to save her kingdom, she instead embarks on a dangerous journey through a cursed fairy tale world alongside Frog, a painfully shy masked knight hiding far more than his face.Filled with ghostly companions, enchanted forests, deadly rose mazes, quirky dragons, fairy tale kingdoms, heartbreaking found family, and one of the most charming casts of characters we've seen all year, this story blends whimsical adventure with emotional depth in all the best ways.🖤 What if happily ever after was never the ending?🌹 Can kindness break a curse that sacrifice never could?✨ And what happens when the knight beneath the mask is hiding the one truth that could change everything?If you love fractured fairy tales, unforgettable romance, Tim Burton aesthetics, whimsical magic, and stories that make you laugh, cry, and immediately need book two, this is an episode you won't want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ A.R.'s journey from wildlife conservation and journalism to becoming a fantasy author.✨ Why she writes stories that encourage readers to rediscover the beauty of the real world through fiction.✨ The lessons she learned from her debut, navigating publishing setbacks, and why perseverance matters more than immediate success.✨ Protecting your work as an author—from finding trustworthy collaborators to overcoming plagiarism and publishing scams.✨ Building a career across multiple genres and why ADHD has become one of her greatest creative strengths.✨ Designing the stunning Tim Burton-inspired cover and hiding story clues and symbolism throughout the artwork.✨ Creating Sunday, a heroine who has literally sacrificed pieces of herself for her kingdom while refusing to lose her compassion.✨ The heartbreaking romance between Sunday and Frog, the painfully shy masked knight whose greatest secret could change everything.✨ Building a fairy tale world full of cursed forests, enchanted kingdoms, ghostly companions, quirky dragons, deadly rose mazes, and unforgettable magical creatures.✨ Why found family, kindness, hope, and seeing beauty in broken places became the emotional heart of the novel.✨ What's next for Sunday, Frog, and the fairy tale world waiting in Book Two.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 A.R. Schilling – @a.r.schilling✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Lily Crozier – @LilyCantStopReading✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods wage war, morally gray heroes steal the spotlight, and every choice comes with a price.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Carissa Broadbent to celebrate The Lion and the Deathless Dark, the highly anticipated continuation of the Crowns of Nyaxia saga.Carissa opens up about her remarkable publishing journey from self-publishing books that sold just a handful of copies to building one of fantasy's biggest indie success stories before becoming a bestselling hybrid author. We discuss the realities of indie publishing, the pressure of traditional publishing, why slow career growth can be a strength, and the lessons she wishes every aspiring author knew before publishing their debut.Then we dive deep into The Lion and the Deathless Dark, where readers return to Nyaxia a decade after the events of The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk. The world is at war. The gods are no longer distant figures but active players reshaping civilization. And one of the series' most infamous antagonists—Septimus—finally steps into the role of romantic lead alongside the fierce, sword-wielding bounty hunter Kyrene.We explore why Carissa always planned for Septimus to have his own story, how she approached writing a romance between two deeply morally compromised characters, what it means to rebuild a fantasy world ten years after everything changed, and why every book she writes begins with a question she's trying to answer herself.⚔️ What happens when the villain becomes the hero of his own story?🩸 Can two morally gray people ever become the heroes their world needs?🌑 And what if saving the world means questioning everything you believed about justice, power, and redemption?Whether you're a longtime Crowns of Nyaxia fan or discovering Carissa's books for the first time, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights, publishing wisdom, and an unforgettable look inside one of romantasy's biggest worlds.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Carissa's journey from writing stories online as a teenager to becoming a bestselling hybrid author.✨ Why she chose self-publishing first, how she built a full-time writing career, and the reality behind "overnight success."✨ The surprising story behind Daughter of No Worlds, including its slow-burn launch and why selling just 40 copies in its first month didn't stop it from changing her life.✨ Practical advice for aspiring authors on finishing books.✨ How the Crowns of Nyaxia universe grew into an interconnected eight-book saga spanning multiple vampire houses, gods, timelines, and romances.✨ Returning to Nyaxia ten years later and completely reshaping the world through war, evolving magic systems, and shifting political alliances.✨ Why Septimus was always destined to become a romantic lead and why Carissa believes readers have misunderstood him from the very beginning.✨ Building the dynamic between Septimus and Kyrene, two characters who both see themselves as morally compromised and question whether they're worthy of love or redemption.✨ Carissa's philosophy that every novel begins with a question she's personally trying to answer, from hope during impossible times to whether anyone can truly become a hero.✨ The challenges of balancing multiple POV characters, interconnected duologies, and standalone novels while bringing an enormous fantasy universe toward its conclusion.✨ What's next after Crowns of Nyaxia and why Carissa already has an entirely new fantasy world waiting to be explored.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Carissa Broadbent – @CarissaBroadbentBooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where dreams can devour your soul, villains hide behind crumbling masks, and falling asleep may be the most dangerous thing you do.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with fantasy author Logan Karlie to discuss the Shadow Weavers Duology, including Dream by the Shadows and its highly anticipated finale, Cursed by the Dawn!Logan shares her journey from high school English teacher and lifelong perfectionist to indie author and traditionally published success. She opens up about writing chapters late at night while teaching and raising two young children, refusing to give up on the story she had carried since high school, and why there is no countdown clock on achieving your dreams.We also dive into Dream by the Shadows, where Esmer enters a haunted dream world to avenge her family and becomes trapped with the Shadowbringer, the masked Prince of Darkness blamed for cursing her kingdom. Logan discusses soul-devouring dreams, forced proximity, fractured masks, and the Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and Labyrinth inspirations behind the series. She also teases escalating trials, dream gods, devastating twists, and a world-ending race against time in Cursed by the Dawn.🌙 What happens when the villain you were taught to fear is the only person who can help save your kingdom?🖤 Can Esmer and the Shadowbringer escape the dream world before it claims their souls?🎭 And what truth is waiting beneath the mask?This is a must-listen for dark fantasy readers, lovers of haunted castles and masked love interests, Beauty and the Beast fans, and anyone who wants romance tangled with horror, mystery, and dangerous dreams.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Logan’s journey from English teacher to full-time fantasy author.✨ Overcoming perfectionism and the fear of sharing your writing.✨ Why there is no deadline for achieving your creative dreams.✨ Self-publishing Dream by the Shadows after a year of querying.✨ How social media led to an agent and major UK and US publishing deals.✨ Leaving teaching after receiving an offer from her dream publisher.✨ Esmer, the Shadowbringer, and a kingdom where dreams can consume your soul.✨ The real dream that inspired the masked Prince of Darkness.✨ Transforming the story from a contemporary portal fantasy into a haunted secondary world.✨ Blending romance, horror, mystery, and hopeful YA storytelling.✨ Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and Labyrinth influences.✨ Forced proximity, enemies-to-allies tension, and the appeal of a mysterious mask.✨ Trials, dream gods, higher stakes, and the end of the world in Cursed by the Dawn.✨ Why book two contains more romance, action, twists, and emotional devastation.✨ Logan’s upcoming vampire standalone and its dangerous love triangle.✨ Favorite characters, perfect plot-twist placement, masked men, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Logan Karlie – @AuthorLoganKarlie✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where royal bargains come with deadly consequences, dancers make unexpectedly brilliant spies, and the most dangerous person at court may also be the one holding your heart.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Team Member Britt sit down with bestselling fantasy author Brittney Arena to discuss her debut novel, A Dance of Lies, and its highly anticipated sequel, To Dance with Death.Brittney shares how reading and writing helped her survive two years of being bedbound with undiagnosed chronic illnesses, and how that experience inspired Vasalie, a former royal dancer whose body no longer works as it once did. She also opens up about writing chronically ill heroines who are allowed to be clever, flawed, romantic, and centered in sweeping fantasy adventures rather than reduced to stories of pity or inspiration.We also dive into Vasalie’s transformation from the king’s prized dancer to his imprisoned enemy, and the deadly bargain that forces her to become his spy. Brittney discusses political intrigue, morally complicated choices, multiple potential love interests, and the agonizing slow burn at the heart of the duology. She also teases the underworld, death magic, second-chance romance, and emotional healing awaiting readers in To Dance with Death.💃 What happens when the king who destroyed your life becomes your only path to freedom?🗡️ Can a dancer survive a royal court where everyone is hiding something?🖤 And what if the person you are destined to love is the one you initially trust the least?This is a must-listen for fantasy romance readers, lovers of political intrigue, chronic illness and disability representation, agonizing slow burns, and stories that break your heart before carefully putting it back together.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How chronic illness and two years of being bedbound led Brittney back to books, and how A Dance of Lies was part of her grief and healing process.✨ Creating a chronically ill heroine who survives through intelligence, artistry, and determination.✨ Why disabled characters deserve adventure, romance, whimsy, and morally complicated choices.✨ Brittney’s love of drafting and allowing characters to disrupt her carefully planned stories.✨ Spending two years on submission before the book finally found its publishing home.✨ How FairyLoot interest sparked UK and US publishing auctions.✨ Vasalie’s journey from royal dancer and prisoner to reluctant spy.✨ Murder accusations, deadly bargains, political schemes, and dangerous betrayals.✨ Multiple love interests and discovering the true romantic direction while drafting.✨ The willow-tree scene that changed everything.✨ Why To Dance with Death places romance at the center of the story.✨ Hate-to-love banter, second chances, yearning, waterfalls, and an earned love story.✨ Exploring the underworld, death magic, and whether the gods are real.✨ Brittney’s upcoming dream-world romantasy, Prince of Night.✨ Unhinged love interests, K-dramas, impossible book questions, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Brittney Arena – @Brittney.Arena✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where alternate realities hide deadly secrets, skin-to-skin contact can unleash dangerous magic, and sometimes the murder you are solving is your own.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic Team Member Amara sit down with bestselling indie fantasy romance author Eva Chase to discuss her newest why-choose urban fantasy, Bloom and Blood!Eva shares her journey from telling stories before she could write to building a decade-long indie publishing career. She opens up about writing four to five books each year, choosing which ideas are ready to become full series, and why connecting with the right readers matters more than trying to create a book everyone will love.We also dive into Bloom and Blood, where struggling outcast Elodie is pulled into a parallel reality and forced to impersonate her wealthy, privileged other self—who has just been murdered. To uncover the truth, she must survive a brutal magic academy, investigate her own death, and avoid four men who do not realize they are her fated mates. Eva discusses the alternate-universe inspiration behind the story, the dangerous magic activated through fated-mate bonds, and why everyone at the academy wears gloves to prevent accidental skin-to-skin contact. She also teases deeper mysteries, growing relationships, and more alternate realities to come.🩸 What happens when the murder you are investigating is your own?✨ Can you become someone new without escaping the choices of your past?🧤 And how do you avoid your fated mates when one touch could change everything?This is a must-listen for why-choose romance readers, magic-academy fans, murder-mystery lovers, and anyone obsessed with parallel universes, second chances, and dangerously complicated bonds.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Eva’s decade-long indie publishing career and lifelong love of storytelling.✨ Why "why choose" is a relationship structure rather than a genre.✨ Creating different heroes and found-family dynamics within one romance.✨ Writing four to five books each year while avoiding burnout.✨ Letting go of perfectionism and focusing on the emotions readers remember.✨ Elodie’s journey into a parallel reality where her other self has been murdered.✨ Academy rivals, a magical-mafia heir, a resentful professor, and a lost best friend.✨ Fated-mate bonds activated through skin-to-skin contact.✨ Gloves, graduation balls, and dangerous magical powers known as glims.✨ Second chances, identity, past mistakes, and whether fate can be changed.✨ What readers can expect from the expanding mystery in book two.✨ Eva’s ideal harem size, supernatural research, special editions, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Eva Chase – @AuthorEvaChase✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fated mates are complicated, monster legacies come with curses, and sometimes rejecting four powerful men only makes them more obsessed.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by team member Amara for a wildly fun conversation with author Morgan B. Lee about Blood Oath, the first book in the Cursed Legacies series, a why choose paranormal academy romance filled with monster descendants, fated bonds, secret missions, deadly cinnamon rolls, and one heroine determined not to fall for the men the gods chose for her.Morgan shares her journey as a lifelong writer, from writing stories as a kid to publishing under a pen name, stepping away after a brutal review, and eventually returning with the spite, resilience, and determination that helped Blood Oath become a reader-favorite series. She opens up about failure, bad reviews, imposter syndrome, special editions, and why publishing your book is survivable even when the fear feels huge.The conversation also dives into Everbound University, where descendants of monsters train, form bonds, and work to break the curses placed on them by the gods. When Maven arrives with a secret mission and every intention of staying invisible, the gods match her with the four most powerful men at the school. Her solution? Reject them. Their solution? Become even more obsessed.🖤 What happens when a black cat heroine rejects the bond the gods chose for her?🔥 Can four powerful men who barely get along work together for the woman they all need?💀 And why is everyone obsessed with the nightmare prince who gives finger bouquets?Whether you love why choose romance, paranormal academies, fated mates, monster descendants, obsessed men, dark humor, rejected bonds, or morally questionable fictional stalking, this episode is packed with chaos, honesty, and so many reasons to start Blood Oath.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Morgan’s lifelong love of writing and storytelling.✨ Publishing under a pen name, facing a devastating review, and finding the courage to write again.✨ Why bad reviews are survivable and why every beloved book has critics.✨ Going from a difficult publishing experience to a bestselling why choose series.✨ Morgan’s advice for writers, including keeping lists of ideas that spark excitement.✨ Blood Oath, Everbound University, and the Cursed Legacies series.✨ Monster descendants, divine curses, fated mates, and rejected bonds.✨ Maven’s secret mission and why she cannot afford to be matched with the school’s most powerful men.✨ Why Crypt became the fan favorite nightmare prince.✨ Writing obsessed men, stalkery fictional romance, and why it works in fantasy.✨ Character dynamics, black cat FMC energy, and men who need her even when she rejects them.✨ Writing non-linearly, cutting slow scenes, and rewriting beginnings again and again.✨ Reader expectations, bold DMs, and why not all happily ever afters need to look the same.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Morgan B. Lee – @Miss_Morgan__Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where murdered kings make dangerously charming love interests, magical bonds come with deadly consequences, and the ghost haunting you may also be trying to steal your soul.This week, host Bethany Amanda and Mythic Mic rep Teresa Diaz sit down with Cortney L. Winn, author of the bestselling fantasy romance Vesselless and its highly anticipated sequel, Merciless. Cortney takes us behind the scenes of her extraordinary journey from writing her first novel as part of a personal bucket-list challenge to unexpectedly publishing Vesselless on Kindle Unlimited and landing a traditional publishing deal with Harper Voyager only seven months later. She opens up about the bizarre circumstances that pushed her to publish before she was ready, how strong reader support attracted foreign publishing interest, and why indie authors are transforming the traditional publishing landscape.We also dive into the gloriously original premise behind Vesselless: a reluctant heiress who can see spirits, a murdered king trapped between life and death, and a magical bond that turns the creature granting her power into her dangerous and devastatingly charming love interest.Cortney reveals why she describes the book as “spicy Casper,” how Fourth Wing helped inspire her spirit-bond magic system, and why the entire series was constructed around one pivotal sacrifice at the end of book one. She also teases a darker, twist-filled sequel that begins the instant Vesselless ends, and apparently leaves no reader’s predictions, emotions, or hairline intact.👻 What happens when the ghost sent to steal your soul becomes the person you cannot let go?👑 Can an heiress trust the murdered king whose throne was stolen by her own father?🖤 And what if the greatest heroes really do have a little darkness inside them?This is a must-listen for fantasy romance readers, ghost-boyfriend enthusiasts, aspiring authors, special-edition collectors, and anyone desperate to know what comes next after the ending of Vesselless.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Cortney’s journey from serial hobby collector to bestselling fantasy romance author.✨ How a bucket-list challenge (and one very specific Google search) led her to write her first novel.✨ Publishing Vesselless on Kindle Unlimited with almost no launch preparation.✨ The unexpected path from indie publishing to a Harper Voyager book deal.✨ How foreign-rights interest helped Cortney find her literary agent.✨ Why indie authors are changing traditional publishing expectations and negotiations.✨ Working with book boxes and the special editions readers have gone feral over.✨ Cortney’s advice for aspiring authors on consistency, self-belief, and becoming comfortable with discomfort.✨ Writing at four in the morning while balancing school, motherhood, wedding cakes, and a newborn.✨ The inspiration behind Vesselless and its spirit-bond magic system.✨ Why ghosts won out over zombies as Cortney’s supernatural love interest of choice.✨ What readers can expect from the darker and more unpredictable Merciless.✨ Why Cortney describes book two as one enormous plot twist.✨ Ghost beliefs, delayed banter comebacks, tattoo-worthy quotes, and rapid-fire chaos.Plus, Bethany and Teresa reveal an upcoming giveaway with Moonlight Book Box featuring its highly coveted special edition of Vesselless. So keep an eye on The Mythic Mic Podcast’s social media pages for details!CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Cortney Winn – @CortneyLWinn✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where death is hereditary, gods walk among us, and the greatest battle is deciding who you want to become.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Teresa for an unforgettable conversation with bestselling author S.A. Barnes about her addictive dark academia romantasy, Death's Daughter.Stacey shares her fascinating publishing journey from writing a terrible first novel and landing her first book deal with Disney to becoming one of today's leading voices in science fiction horror before making the leap into romantasy. We also discuss working in a high school library, writing across multiple genres, and what it's like seeing Death's Daughter transformed into one of FairyLoot's most stunning special editions.Then we dive into Death's Daughter, a fresh urban fantasy where Jocasta is trying to live a normal college life except she's also the daughter of Death. When her estranged father unexpectedly names her his successor, she's thrust into a dangerous supernatural world of rival deities, impossible choices, forbidden attraction, and the terrifying question of whether she can escape the legacy she was born into.We also discuss morally gray magic, urban fantasy, supernatural romance, messy characters, chosen family, and why Stacey believes readers deserve stories that are both thrilling and deeply human.💀 What if Death named you his heir?🖤 Can you outrun the darkness that's part of who you are?✨ And what happens when choosing your future means defying the gods themselves?This episode is perfect for readers who love dark academia, urban fantasy, mythology, supernatural romance, morally gray heroines, and stories with Buffy and Supernatural vibes.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Stacey's publishing journey from YA to horror to romantasy.✨ Working in a high school library and inspiring young readers.✨ The inspiration behind Death's Daughter.✨ Building a supernatural world hidden inside our own.✨ The daughter of Death trying to reject her destiny.✨ Magic, mythology, and dangerous family legacies.✨ Why urban fantasy deserves a comeback.✨ Behind the scenes of FairyLoot's gorgeous special edition.✨ Writing across horror, fantasy, and romance.✨ What readers can expect from book two.✨ The future of the Death's Daughter series.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚S.A. Barnes  – @AuthorStaceyKade✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Welcome to the first episode of Banter & Books, a new monthly Mythic Mic segment where Amara and a special guest share spoiler-free reviews of the books they cannot stop thinking about!For the inaugural episode, Amara is joined by fellow Mythic Mic team member Britt to discuss dragon bonds, sassy skeletons, morally questionable angels and demons, magical murder investigations, workplace comedy in a villain’s lair, and the books capable of breaking even the most stubborn reading slump.They dive into Ashwalker by S.M. Gaither, Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar, The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace, and This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara. They also revisit two unforgettable favorites: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer and Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent.Along the way, Amara and Britt debate whether Ashwalker delivers what they wanted from Fourth Wing, celebrate golden-retriever angels and Ben Barnes-coded love interests, compare never-ending TBRs, and determine which books earned five stars, five flames, a plethora of feathers, or simply immaculate vibes.Whether you are deciding which fantasy book to pick up next or just want to listen to two friends enthusiastically add to each other’s TBRs, this spoiler-free episode is for you.BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEAshwalker by S.M. Gaither (Check out our interview with S.M. Gaither here)Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar (Check out our interview with Shiloh Briar here)The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace (Our interview with Adalyn Grace drops September 16th so stay tuned!) This Monster of Mine by Shalini AbeysekaraAssistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole MaehrerDaughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent (Our interview with Carissa Broadbent drops August 5th so stay tuned!) CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gardens can become portals, beetles can steal the entire show, and sometimes grief blooms into something magical.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author J.K. Ross to discuss A Throne in Bloom, a whimsical and heartfelt romantasy filled with portal magic, living plants, bee rides, found family, a fallen fae prince, and one very unforgettable bejeweled beetle named Peeble.J.K. shares how her lifelong love of storytelling began in childhood, continued through journalism, and eventually led her to writing fiction after the loss of her grandmother. She opens up about how A Throne in Bloom was written in honor of her grandmother, whose own magical garden helped inspire the world of the book. What began as a deeply personal story of grief became an unexpected publishing journey, complete with a street team, reader excitement, and a series that grew into something far bigger than she originally imagined.The conversation also dives into J.K.’s fast and unusual querying experience for her new project, Stygian Academy, a dark gothic fantasy featuring phoenix shifters on a volcanic island academy. J.K. discusses researching agents, writing a bold query letter from the voice of her character, and approaching publishing with confidence, business sense, and a willingness to do things her own way.🌸 What happens when a girl inherits her grandmother’s house and falls through a portal into a magical garden realm?🪲 Can a sassy beetle sidekick become the most important person in the room?🌿 And what if saving the realm from rot means discovering this may not be the first timeline where everything went wrong?Whether you love portal fantasy, whimsical romantasy, magical companions, found family, fallen fae princes, reader-driven chaos, or books that feel like Thumbelina, Alice in Wonderland, Ferngully, and Epic all collided in the best way, this episode is full of heart, humor, and wildly creative worldbuilding.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Growing up in Arkansas and building a creative life rooted in family, travel, and imagination.✨ Journalism, TV production, and writing other people’s stories before turning to fiction.✨ Writing A Throne in Bloom as a tribute to her grandmother, and how grief, memory, and a real-life garden inspired the magical garden realm.✨ J.K.’s whirlwind querying experience and signing with an agent in three weeks.✨ Stygian Academy, phoenix shifters, volcanic islands, and writing something completely different.✨ Why being an author is part writing and part business.✨ Developing thick skin, handling criticism, and refusing to give away your energy.✨ J.K.’s visual writing process, world bibles, magic systems, politics, religion, and character planning.✨ Inviting readers and street team members into the creative process.✨ Portal fantasy, living foliage, magical bees, rot spreading through the realm, and multiverse timelines.✨ Found family, grumpy sunshine, morally gray fae, sassy sidekicks, and chaos-making characters.✨ Dr. Pepper addiction, warm soda memories, and the unexpected details readers latch onto.✨ J.K.’s next creative obsession, including a pirate mermaid series designed to feel different from everything else.🪲 Plus: European travel, African safari dreams, character art addiction, Dungeon Crawler Carl inspiration, plants versus zombies, Dr. Pepper memes, Peeble stickers, and why sometimes the sidekick you add on a whim becomes the soul of the story.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 JK Ross – @AuthorJKRoss✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where rom-com chaos comes with real estate disputes, fake marriages come with health insurance, and sometimes the most ethically flexible person in town is someone’s grandmother.This week, Mythic Mic officially introduces two new co-hosts to the team, Amara and Britt, who are stepping behind the mic for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation with author Ellie Palmer about her upcoming romantic comedy, Married with Benefits.Ellie shares her journey from recovering theater kid to romance author, including how playwriting helped shape her love of dialogue, banter, vulnerability, and messy characters who still deserve their happy endings. She also opens up about writing Four Weekends and a Funeral while recovering from her own mastectomy, finding her voice in contemporary romance, and building stories that balance comedy, grief, vulnerability, and hope.The conversation also dives into Married with Benefits, a small-town marriage-of-convenience rom-com about a scrappy sculpture artist with chronic migraines, bad health insurance, a million jobs, and a cabin she thought she owned. When the land around her house is willed to a handsome architect she immediately clashes with, the two strike a very practical deal: he gets access to the property, and she gets health insurance through marriage. What could possibly go wrong?💍 What happens when a marriage of convenience is less about scandal and more about surviving the American healthcare system?🏡 Can two people share a cabin, a property dispute, and a whole lot of tension without falling for each other?🔥 And what if the kooky grandmother stealing the show is the most ethically flexible person in town?Whether you love small-town rom-coms, marriage of convenience, chronic illness representation, messy heroines, electric banter, HGTV-worthy renovations, or side characters who deserve their own fan club, this episode is full of heart, humor, and so many reasons to add Married with Benefits to your TBR.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Ellie’s journey from theater kid to romance author.✨ Why vulnerability, performance, and storytelling are deeply connected.✨ Writing rom-coms inspired by 90s and 2000s romantic comedy chaos.✨ Messy characters, hijinks, and why romance promises a happy ending.✨ Ellie’s path to publication and writing Four Weekends and a Funeral.✨ Writing breast cancer gene mutation representation and post-mastectomy recovery.✨ Working with Putnam and finding the right publishing fit.✨ Married with Benefits and its modern marriage-of-convenience twist.✨ Chronic migraines, underinsurance, and the reality behind the health insurance plot.✨ Kooky grandmothers, ethical flexibility, card shark energy, and light kleptomania.✨ Writing chronic illness representation with care, research, and sensitivity readers.✨ HGTV inspiration, Tiny House Hunters, cabin renovations, and hidden Easter eggs across Ellie’s books.✨ What Ellie is working on next, including a travel-inspired rom-com with Before Sunrise vibes.🏡 Plus: Bravo love, 90 Day Fiancé chaos, crochet fails, audiobook narrator admiration, theater kid energy, Patty LuPone dream casting, and why “ethically flexible” might be the new morally gray.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit📚 Ellie Palmer  – @ElliePalmerWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

Welcome to the first episode of Off The Shelf, a new monthly segment where we dive into bookish trends, deep dives, hot takes, and all things fantasy! In this first episode, Mythic Mic cohosts Britt, Sara Santillan, and Amara discuss whether all romantasy is starting to blend together and what authors can do to set themselves apart and entice readers to pick up their books. CONNECT WITH THE MYTHIC MIC TEAM🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt – @BrittBooksit👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where enchanted rosebushes lead to other realms, cursed princes come in groups of four, and sometimes the villain wants to join the love story too.This week, host Sara Santillan and Mythic Mic rep Teresa Diaz sit down with sister writing duo Elizabeth Helen to discuss their bestselling fantasy romance series, Beasts of the Briar.Elizabeth and Helen share their journey from aspiring teenage authors and early traditional publishing attempts to building a devoted indie readership and becoming successful hybrid authors. They reveal how writing a why-choose Beauty and the Beast retelling purely for fun changed their careers, and why embracing their humor, passions, and strangest ideas helped the series connect with so many readers.We also dive into the world of Beasts of the Briar, where bookstore employee Rosalina O’Connell travels through an enchanted rosebush and becomes trapped with four cursed Fae princes. The sisters discuss creating a relatable heroine, balancing multiple romances and character arcs, and adding unexpected twists to beloved tropes, including “who did this to you?” times four, one-horse and one-bath scenes, and boyfriends who may also fall for each other.Elizabeth Helen also takes us inside the darkness awaiting readers in Stolen by Shadows, teases the emotional seventh and final book, and introduces Her Dark Empire, their upcoming epic romantasy inspired by Dune and Revenge of the Sith, featuring rival chosen ones, living storms, and a princess who might actually agree to join the dark side.🌹 What happens when the woman searching for four princes’ fated mates begins falling for them herself?👑 Can a villain consumed by darkness still become part of the family he desperately wants?🖤 And why choose one Fae prince when an entire enchanted court is waiting?This is a must-listen for why-choose romance readers, Beauty and the Beast fans, lovers of sprawling fantasy series, and anyone who believes epic fantasy could always use more kissing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Elizabeth and Helen’s twelve-year journey through traditional, indie, and hybrid publishing.✨ Writing books as sisters and maintaining one cohesive storytelling voice.✨ How Dungeons & Dragons influenced their characters, villains, and collaborative process.✨ Why writing Beasts of the Briar without expectations helped the series find its audience.✨ Creating Rosalina as a relatable heroine rather than a traditional fantasy warrior.✨ Four cursed Fae princes, six magical realms, and a seven-book romance.✨ Why-choose relationships, MM romance, and the many dynamics within the central group.✨ Putting unexpected twists on popular tropes.✨ The surprisingly complicated logistics of writing multi-character spicy scenes.✨ Their best advice for aspiring authors: be too stubborn to quit.✨ What awaits Rosalina, Caspian, and the princes in Stolen by Shadows.✨ The emotions and fairytale inspiration behind the seventh and final book.✨ Her Dark Empire, fallen chosen ones, living storms, and joining the dark side.✨ Favorite princes, fairytales they want to retell, current reads, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Elizabeth Helen  – @Author.Elizabeth.Helen✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where firefighters bring the heat, love stories can still surprise you in your 30s, and sometimes the hardest rescues are the ones happening inside your own heart.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author and editor Sarah Waterman to discuss Knocked Down, book two in her Station 8 series, a sexy and emotional firefighter romance about trauma, friendship, healing, wedding chaos, and two people learning whether love can survive the weight they both carry.Sarah shares her lifelong relationship with writing, from creating stories as a child to using words as an outlet for grief, anxiety, fear, and everything too complicated to say out loud. She also opens up about founding A3W Editorial, leaving corporate burnout behind, becoming a freelance editor, and turning a sudden layoff into the momentum she needed to create Fix the Right Thing First, her editing craft guide for writers.The conversation also dives into Knocked Down, which follows Wren and Jason, two longtime friends caught in the emotional orbit of a wedding while navigating the feelings they have tried not to name. Jason is a firefighter, former Marine, and man living with PTSD who believes he is too broken to deserve Wren. Wren, meanwhile, has to decide how to love someone who is hurting without losing herself in the process.🚒 What happens when the best man and maid of honor have years of unresolved feelings between them?❤️ Can love be healing without becoming the only thing that saves someone?🔥 And what if the most powerful romance is the one that feels painfully, beautifully real?Whether you love sexy firefighters, adult romance, friends-to-lovers tension, found family, emotional healing, wedding proximity, or stories about characters in their 30s who still have big, messy, meaningful lives ahead of them, this episode is heartfelt, honest, and deeply relatable.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Using writing as an outlet for grief, anxiety, fear, and emotional processing.✨ Building A3W Editorial and becoming a developmental and copy editor.✨ Turning social media writing advice into Fix the Right Thing First.✨ Publishing quickly, doing the cover and formatting herself, and proving she could do it.✨ Why Sarah is honest about not “doing it all” and the importance of support systems.✨ How her husband became her business partner, beta reader, editor, and biggest support.✨ Advice for aspiring authors, including finding your people and building writing community.✨ The Station 8 series and the firefighter romance world Sarah created.✨ Under Fire, the viral rescue premise, and the start of the series.✨ Knocked Down, Wren, Jason, and the emotional arc of book two.✨ Writing characters in their 30s with real lives, careers, grief, and baggage.✨ Researching trauma, invisible wounds, and the reality that PTSD does not always look the same.✨ Writing adult communication, avoiding caricatures, and making the romance feel real.✨ Why millennial authors are bringing older protagonists into the spotlight.✨ Future Station 8 books, Hannah’s story, possible spin-offs, and familiar faces to come.🚒 Plus: Midwest life, Cape Cod dreams, soccer mom surprises, editing indie authors, writing groups, sexy firefighters, kitchen dramas, biker gang stories, and why romance in your 30s deserves just as much heat, heart, and happily ever after.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚Sarah Waterman  – @sarahwatermanbooks and @a3w_editorial✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where beautiful books become works of art, fandom turns into careers, and every special edition tells a story long before you open the first page.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by co-host Amara for a behind-the-scenes conversation with Max, co-founder of Faentasy Designs, to uncover how some of the most stunning special edition books come to life.Max shares how a lifelong love of fandom, fantasy, and commissioned artwork evolved into one of the fastest-growing special edition companies in the book community. We dive into everything from choosing the right books and collaborating with authors to working with artists, designing covers filled with hidden Easter eggs, and why passion for the source material matters more than following trends.We also discuss the realities of running a special edition business, why Faentasy Designs chose a non-subscription model, the explosion of Bookstagram and BookTok, the future of collector editions, and why supporting human artists will always be at the heart of everything they create.📚 What does it actually take to create a special edition book?🎨 How do artists hide story clues inside every design?✨ And why are special editions becoming just as collectible as the stories themselves?This episode is perfect for readers who love special editions, sprayed edges, book art, collecting, fantasy, and getting an exclusive look behind the curtain of the publishing world.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How Faentasy Designs got its start.✨ Turning fandom into a business.✨ Choosing which books become special editions.✨ Working directly with authors and artists.✨ Designing covers filled with hidden Easter eggs.✨ The complete special edition production process.✨ Why Faentasy Designs refuses to use generative AI.✨ The rise of BookTok, Bookstagram, and collector culture.✨ Why non-subscription models benefit readers.✨ Plushies, standees, and bookish merchandise.✨ Upcoming special editions and future projects.✨ Advice for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Faentasy Designs  – @Faentasydesigns✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where dragon empires rule, ancient Rome burns, and love is powerful enough to change history.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by co-host Amara for an unforgettable conversation with New York Times bestselling author Juliette Cross about Firebird, the first novel in her epic Fire That Binds trilogy.Juliette shares her remarkable publishing journey from balancing twenty-nine years as a teacher while writing at night, to building a devoted indie readership, to becoming a New York Times bestseller after one email changed everything. We also discuss the evolution of romantasy, why she believes indie publishing has transformed the industry, and how readers have shaped her career.Then we dive into Firebird and Bloodsinger, a breathtaking romantasy that reimagines Ancient Rome as an empire ruled by dragon shifters. Juliette reveals the inspiration behind the series, why each Bahari sister gets her own love story, the themes of freedom, resistance, feminine rage, and forbidden love woven throughout the trilogy, and what readers can expect from the explosive finale.We also chat about gorgeous special editions, dragons, found family, whiskey, pets, writing unforgettable romances, and Juliette's inspiring initiative to bring romance novels to women in correctional facilities.🐉 What if Ancient Rome had been ruled by dragon shifters?🔥 What happens when forbidden love threatens an empire built on fear?⚔️ And can love truly become the spark that brings down a kingdom?This episode is perfect for readers who love dragon romantasy, fated mates, forbidden romance, powerful heroines, historical fantasy, political intrigue, and richly imagined worlds.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Juliette's journey from teacher to New York Times bestselling author.✨ Building a readership through indie publishing.✨ Why hybrid publishing changed her career.✨ The inspiration behind Firebird.✨ Dragons, Ancient Rome, and epic worldbuilding.✨ Forbidden romance and fated mates.✨ Why each sister has her own story.✨ Feminine rage, rebellion, and freedom.✨ Gorgeous special editions and cover design.✨ The changing landscape of romantasy.✨ Supporting women through the power of books.✨ What's coming next in the Fire That Binds trilogy.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Juliette Cross – @JulietteCrossAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where dragons aren't heroes, kingdoms rise from ashes, and the greatest bond can begin with hatred.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by co-hosts Amara and Britt for an epic conversation with bestselling fantasy author S.M. Gaither about her newest romantasy trilogy, Ashwalker.Stephanie shares her fifteen-year publishing journey, from traditional publishing to becoming one of indie fantasy's biggest success stories, and how persistence, adaptability, and believing in yourself carried her through every twist and turn. We also dive into her lifelong love of video games, why RPGs shaped the way she tells stories, and the inspiration behind one of this year's most unique dragon fantasies.At the heart of Ashwalker is Arowyn, a young woman whose life was destroyed by dragons. She has every reason to hate them, until one impossible encounter leaves her magically bonded to the very creature she wants dead. Forced into the dangerous court of a dragon-controlling king, Arowyn finds herself caught between old hatred, dangerous alliances, and a destiny she never wanted.We also discuss dragon magic, unforgettable side characters, found family, gorgeous special editions, writing emotionally satisfying character arcs, and why Stephanie believes every story deserves exactly the number of books it needs.🐉 What if the dragon you hate refuses to leave your side?⚔️ What happens when your greatest enemy becomes your only chance at survival?🔥 And can a kingdom built on dragons ever escape the fire that created it?This episode is perfect for readers who love dragons, epic romantasy, reluctant magical bonds, unforgettable found family, slow-burn romance, and richly built fantasy worlds.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Stephanie's fifteen-year publishing journey, including both traditional and indie success.✨ How video games inspired her storytelling.✨ The world and magic behind Ashwalker.✨ Writing a heroine who hates dragons.✨ Dragon bonds, kingdoms, and political intrigue.✨ Why Arowyn's scars shape every part of her journey.✨ The terrifying king with surprisingly soft edges.✨ Friendship, found family, and unforgettable side characters.✨ Gorgeous special editions and commissioned artwork.✨ Expanding the trilogy in book two.✨ What readers can expect next from the Ashwalker series.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 S.M. Gaither – @AuthorSMGaither✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where dragon eggs hide in graves, forbidden bonds can get you killed, and love triangles are best when they hurt just a little.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Amara for a fiery conversation with author Courtney Whims about her debut romantasy, Flames and Fallacies, the first book in a dragon rider series filled with forbidden magic, elemental dragons, prophecy, found family, plot twists, cliffhangers, and one very messy love triangle.Courtney shares how her love of dragons began with childhood favorites like Pokémon, Neopets, Eragon, and the dream of one day riding a dragon herself. She opens up about how reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flame sparked her desire for even more dragon rider stories, eventually inspiring her to write the exact book she wanted to read. What started as a “maybe five strangers will read this” dream has grown into a debut readers are discovering, recommending, and going feral over online.The conversation also dives into Courtney’s creative process as both author and artist. Not only did she write Flames and Fallacies, but she also created her own covers, maps, character art, special editions, overlays, sprayed edges, and more, making the series feel completely and unmistakably hers.🐉 What happens when dragons are illegal, dragon riders are dead, and one girl finds an egg buried in her father’s grave?🔥 Can Kat protect a hatchling that could get her executed?💔 And what happens when two very different men pull out completely different sides of her heart?Whether you love dragon rider fantasy, elemental magic, dangerous kingdoms, plot twists, he-trains-her tension, found family, spicy romantasy, or love triangles that make you choose a team and suffer, this episode is packed with magic, chaos, and so many reasons to add Flames and Fallacies to your TBR.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Courtney’s journey from graphic designer and illustrator to self-published author.✨ Writing the dragon rider book she wanted to read.✨ Creating her own covers, maps, character art, overlays, and special editions.✨ Self-publishing, imposter syndrome, and learning as she went.✨ Why aspiring authors should write the book for themselves first.✨ The kitten-sized dragon hatchling who changes everything.✨ Elemental dragons, including fire, earth, air, and water dragons.✨ The larger magic system and hierarchy that unfolds more deeply in books two and three.✨ Plot twists, breadcrumbs, foreshadowing, and Courtney’s love of emotionally damaging cliffhangers.✨ Book two teasers, including more dragons, more answers, and even more questions.✨ Future special editions and the possibility of a completed-series set.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 Courtney Whims – @CourtneyWhims✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where monsters aren't always the villains, rage can become your greatest strength, and ancient mythology hides beneath the surface of the modern world.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down for an unforgettable conversation with fantasy author Crystal Seitz about her YA fantasy thriller, Beast Becomes Her.Crystal shares her decade-long publishing journey, from countless revisions and rejections to finally selling her novels, why timing matters just as much as talent, and how stubbornness became her greatest superpower. We also dive into her lifelong love of Norse mythology, anime, and storytelling, and how those passions shaped one of the most unique fantasy worlds you'll read this year.At the heart of Beast Becomes Her is Edith, a teenage berserker sent to a hidden magical academy to learn how to control her terrifying new powers. But when she witnesses a murder on just her second night, she becomes the prime suspect and must uncover the real killer before she becomes the next victim.We explore the novel's powerful themes of feminine rage, toxic masculinity, identity, and learning to embrace every part of yourself, even the emotions you've been taught to suppress. Crystal also discusses why YA continues to resonate with readers of every age and what makes standalone fantasy novels so satisfying.⚡ What if your greatest strength is the emotion you've spent your entire life hiding?🩸 What happens when a magical academy becomes the scene of a murder?🔥 And what if embracing your rage is the only way to survive?This episode is perfect for readers who love magical schools, murder mysteries, Norse mythology, YA fantasy, emotionally layered characters, and stories that challenge the expectations placed on both girls and boys.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Crystal's ten-year journey to publication.✨ Querying, Pitch Wars, and navigating traditional publishing.✨ Why timing can matter as much as talent.✨ The inspiration behind Beast Becomes Her.✨ Why this book is Wednesday meets Norse mythology.✨ Berserkers, magical academies, and murder mysteries.✨ Exploring feminine rage through fantasy.✨ Challenging toxic masculinity through dual POVs.✨ Why YA continues to resonate with adult readers.✨ Writing emotionally cathartic scenes.✨ Standalone fantasies versus series.✨ Crystal's upcoming dystopian fantasy project.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Crystal Seitz  – @Crystalswriting✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods demand sacrifice, hunters don't always follow the rules, and sometimes one day's head start changes everything.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Amara for a fun, fast-paced, and tension-filled conversation with romantasy author Elayna R. Gallea about Given and Hunted, the first two books in The Given Chronicles.Elayna shares her journey from indie author to hybrid author, opening up about creative control, author communities, selling two series at the same time, and why she loves writing bingeable romantasy filled with enemies-to-lovers tension, vampires, and strong heroines.We dive into Given, a darkly addictive romantasy where Ren discovers that being gods-blessed is not the honor she was promised. When she learns she is meant to be sacrificed, she runs, and after saving the injured hunter sent to capture her, he grants her one day’s head start before the chase begins.But Given is only the beginning.Elayna teases how Hunted expands the world, deepens the stakes, and turns the chase into a slow-burn love letter to yearning. We talk about forbidden attraction, bonded familiars, touch-her-and-die energy, possessive MMCs, and why Ren and Gabriel’s story only gets more intense as the series continues.⚡ What happens when the girl marked by the gods refuses to be sacrificed?🖤 Can you fall for the hunter sent to drag you back?🔥 And what if one day’s mercy becomes the beginning of everything?This episode is perfect for romantasy readers who love enemies-to-lovers, deadly gods, dangerous hunters, bonded familiars, slow-burn romance, and stories you can devour in one sitting.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Elayna's journey as an indie and hybrid author.✨ Selling two series at the same time and navigating trad publishing.✨ Why author community matters for aspiring writers.✨ The inspiration behind Given and its stunning cover.✨ A Thanksgiving-themed romantasy with human sacrifice.✨ Ren, Gabriel, and the hunter x hunted dynamic.✨ One day's head start and the chase that changes everything.✨ Slow-burn romance, forbidden attraction, and yearning.✨ Bonded familiars, panthers, wolves, eagles, and magical animal companions.✨ Why Hunted turns up the tension and expands the world.✨ Book three, Blessed, and what comes next for The Given Chronicles.✨ Elayna's upcoming post-apocalyptic vampire romantasy, The Marriage Games.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Elayna Gallea  – @AuthorElaynaRGallea✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where revenge burns bright, monsters wait in the jungle, and some princess stories are made for the girls with jagged edges.This week, host Sara Santillan is joined by Amara for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply emotional conversation with author Nicolette Elzie about We Were Meant to Burn, the first book in the Ashes in Ruin saga, a romantasy inspired by Anastasia, Mexican mythology, betrayal, survival, revenge, and the kind of slow burn romance that loves the heroine in all her sharp, broken, stubborn pieces.Nicolette shares the reality of balancing writing with work, family, motherhood, marketing, social media, and the endless pressure to do more. She opens up about setting big goals, giving yourself grace, finding small pockets of writing time, and learning that sometimes the dream survives because you keep showing up, even if it is in your car during martial arts class with a laptop and a little bit of chaos.The conversation also dives into Nicolette’s journey from writing scary stories as a child to publishing the Ozero Curse series and finally returning to the story that became We Were Meant to Burn, a book she carried with her for nearly ten years. She discusses how horror, dark romance, trauma healing, cultural mythology, and the need to feel seen all shaped the heart of her stories.🔥 What if Anastasia came back stabby, furious, and ready for revenge?🌿 What happens when the jungle is filled with creatures pulled from nightmare and mythology?🖤 And what does it mean to be loved not despite your jagged pieces, but with them?Whether you love revenge fantasy, slow burn romance, dark emotional journeys, mythology-inspired worlds, dangerous jungles, brutal openings, special editions, or heroines who refuse to be controlled, this episode is intimate, funny, and full of heart.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Nicolette’s life as a full-time worker, mom, indie author, and chronic list-maker.✨ Hitting major Kindle Unlimited page-read milestones and the burnout that can follow.✨ Why horror and dark romance can feel cathartic, healing, and strangely safe.✨ Growing up as a military brat and writing her first full-length novel by hand on a cross-country road trip.✨ Starting We Were Meant to Burn in 2014 and carrying the story through years of drafts, healing, and growth.✨ Choosing indie publishing and releasing the Ozero Curse series.✨ Writing stories for readers who want to feel seen, safe, and emotionally understood.✨ We Were Meant to Burn as “Anastasia, but make her stabby and hell-bent on revenge.”✨ Mexican and Japanese cultural influences, family stories, food, mythology, and horror-based folklore.✨ Why food, family gatherings, Tejano music, tacos, rice, beans, and memory matter in Nicolette’s work.✨ The brutal opening scene and why it took more than 50 attempts to find the right beginning.✨ Breaking writing “rules” without carving the heart and soul out of the story.✨ Upcoming book events, indie bookstores, special editions, and the Ozero Curse omnibus announcement.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 Nicolette Elzie – @AuthorNicoletteElzie✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where monsters aren't always the villains, dragons rule hidden realms, and sometimes Beauty is the Beast.This week, host Sara Santillan and Mythic Mic Rep Megan sit down with New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost to celebrate her highly anticipated romantasy, A Curse of Beasts and Magic.Jeaniene takes us behind the scenes of her newest fantasy world, where an ER nurse has spent the last decade hiding the monstrous curse living inside her, until one encounter thrusts her into a secret world of dragons, fae, powerful sorcerers, and a dangerously alluring monster hunter who may be the only person capable of saving her.We discuss why the novel accidentally became a reverse Beauty and the Beast retelling with The Witcher vibes, creating monsters that are both terrifying and sympathetic, building magical worlds beyond our own, and writing the irresistible tension between two people who have every reason to stay apart.Jeaniene also shares her journey from dozens of publishing rejections to becoming a bestselling author, offers invaluable advice for aspiring writers, talks about the importance of human audiobook narrators, and gives listeners an exciting preview of book two, A Storm of Dragons and Sorcery.⚔️ What happens when the monster needs someone even deadlier to protect her?🐉 Why are dragons, fae realms, and cursed magic only the beginning of this story?❤️ And what if Beauty is the one everyone should fear?This episode is a must-listen for romantasy fans who love morally gray heroes, dangerous magic, unforgettable creatures, and epic fantasy romance.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Jeaniene's journey from rejection to bestselling author.✨ Why one "yes" can change your entire career.✨ Building the world of A Curse of Beasts and Magic.✨ Writing monsters, dragons, fae, and magical realms.✨ Creating a heroine with a literal beast inside her.✨ Morally gray heroes and irresistible romantic tension.✨ Why Brendan became an unexpected fan favorite.✨ Writing humor alongside heartbreak and horror.✨ The future of the series and A Storm of Dragons and Sorcery.✨ Audiobooks, AI, and protecting human narrators.✨ Jeaniene's advice for aspiring fantasy authors.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Jeaniene Frost  – @Jfrostauthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where labyrinths hide impossible choices, memories can't be trusted, and kindness may be the greatest weapon of all.This week, hosts Sara Santillan and Amara sit down with fantasy author Frances White to discuss her haunting standalone fantasy horror novel, The Bone Door.Frances shares the inspiration behind her escape-room-inspired fantasy, where seven children awaken inside a mysterious labyrinth with no memories of who they are or how they got there. To escape, they must survive impossible trials, uncover the truth about themselves, and confront horrors far darker than the monsters lurking in the maze.We also dive into writing child protagonists for an adult audience, balancing horror with humor, exploring trauma, identity, and found family, and why kindness—not strength—is the true superpower at the heart of the novel. Along the way, Frances shares her seven-year journey to publication, her love of cosplay and video games, and why stubbornness may be the most important trait an aspiring author can have.⚔️ What if your greatest weapon wasn't magic but kindness?🦴 Who are you when your memories are gone?🖤 And what if escaping the labyrinth means confronting the person you used to be?This episode is perfect for readers who love fantasy horror, dark mysteries, found family, emotional storytelling, and unforgettable characters.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ The inspiration behind The Bone Door.✨ Fantasy horror through the eyes of children.✨ Escape rooms, labyrinths, and impossible trials.✨ Writing memory loss without confusing readers.✨ Trauma, identity, and choosing who you become.✨ Why kindness is Hop's greatest strength.✨ Creating authentic queer and body-positive representation.✨ Frances' seven-year journey to traditional publishing.✨ The realities of publishing and handling rejection.✨ Cosplay, gaming, and creative inspiration.✨ Why standalones are Frances' favorite stories to write.✨ Her next novel: Gay Bridgerton meets Squid Game.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Frances White  – @FrancisWhiteAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where vampires cannot lie, bargains always have teeth, and sometimes the monster you were warned about is the only one willing to save you.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with romantasy author Vasilisa Drake to discuss A Bargain So Bloody, the first book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series, a slow-burn vampire romantasy filled with magical prisons, blood bargains, trauma, monstrous devotion, deadly cliffhangers, and one vampire who absolutely falls first.Vasilisa shares her journey from contemporary romance to romantasy, including how she found her true creative home in fated mates, fangs, shifters, vampires, and fantasy worlds where “touch her and die” can be extremely literal. She opens up about starting as an indie author, learning the business side of publishing book by book, launching A Bargain So Bloody with ARC readers and a street team, and eventually becoming a hybrid author after the book was picked up by Scarlett Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.🩸 What happens when a desperate witch frees a chained vampire to escape a magical prison?🗝️ Can a bargain save her life if the vampire never promised to let her go?🔥 And what if the monster killing everyone in her path is somehow still gentler than the people who called themselves good?Whether you love vampires, slow-burn romance, morally gray love interests, magical prisons, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, trauma healing, blood bargains, or cliffhangers that make readers immediately demand book two, this episode is packed with craft insight, publishing wisdom, and deliciously bloody chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Vasilisa’s path from contemporary romance to romantasy.✨ Why vampires, fated mates, shifters, fangs, and fantasy romance became her creative home.✨ The difference between possessive romance in contemporary settings versus fantasy worlds.✨ Starting as an indie author and learning publishing through trial, error, covers, blurbs, formatting, and Kindle Unlimited.✨ ARC teams, influencer outreach, street teams, and the vulnerability of asking readers for support.✨ The differences between indie and traditional publishing timelines.✨ Advice for authors, including asking for feedback and building a generous creative community.✨ Believing in your book, writing for joy, and letting yourself have fun with the story.✨ Vampires who cannot lie, prison breaks, body counts, and deals with dangerous loopholes.✨ Writing a true slow burn and letting trust build through danger, rescue, and emotional repair.✨ Cliffhangers, reader reactions, and why Vasilisa insists “nothing bad really happened.”✨ A Magic So Deadly, book two teasers, including a carriage scene, a dangerous bet, and an even rougher ending.✨ Writing character goals, balancing romance with external stakes, and letting characters go off the rails.✨ Breadcrumbs, reverse breadcrumbs, mystery reveals, and how reader reactions can shape future payoffs without changing the heart of the story.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚Vasilisa Drake  – @Vasilisadrakebooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where dead princesses have dangerous doubles, arranged marriages are never what they seem, and sometimes the girl sent to save the rebellion would rather burn the entire kingdom down.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda, Sara Santillan, and Amara sit down with author Alexis Calder to discuss Silk & Iron, the first book in the Vow of Death series (and its upcoming sequel, Lace & Poison), a romantasy filled with rebellion, royal deception, bodyguard tension, an immortal king, and one heroine with absolutely nothing left to lose.Alexis shares her journey from art teacher and lifelong storyteller to indie author and traditionally published author, including how her upcoming Red Tower release, Six Bullets and a Crown, came to be. She opens up about the differences between indie and traditional publishing, submitting on proposal, switching between wildly different fantasy worlds, deadlines, creative momentum, and why authors need friends who understand the stage of the publishing journey they are in.The conversation also dives into Silk & Iron, where the heroine loses her family to an oppressive regime and is sent undercover to impersonate a dead princess promised to the enemy prince. Her mission is supposed to be gathering intel on how to kill an immortal king, but the heroine has other plans. Angry, grieving, and untrained, she enters a royal court built on secrets while trying to survive a role she was never meant to play.👑 What happens when the princess is dead and the imposter wants revenge?🗡️ Can a girl with no training take down an immortal king?🔥 And what if the person she falls for is not the prince she is supposed to marry, but the bodyguard watching her every move?Whether you love fake princesses, undercover rebellion plots, slow-burn bodyguard romance, dangerous courts, morally complicated choices, or heroines who begin with grief and rage, this episode is full of twists, publishing insight, and bookish chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Alexis’s path from art major and high school art teacher to author.✨ Why you do not need permission or a PhD to write a book.✨ The creative shift from visual art to storytelling.✨ Indie publishing, traditional publishing, and the process behind Six Bullets and a Crown.✨ Working with Red Tower and learning the slower pace of traditional publishing.✨ Submitting on proposal versus submitting a completed manuscript.✨ How traditional publishing contracts can impact indie publishing timelines.✨ Why author friends at the same stage of the journey matter.✨ Finishing the first draft and why you cannot edit a book that does not exist yet.✨ The Vow of Death series and what's coming next.✨ Bodyguard romance, slow burn tension, and a love story that does not follow the expected prince path.✨ Book two teasers, shifting character arcs, a more hopeful emotional journey, and the villain readers have not fully met yet.🗡️ Plus: travel talk, Colorado adventures, reality TV hot messes, writing books that refuse to behave, cliffhanger reactions, author chaos, and the line Alexis would absolutely turn into a tattoo.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Alexis Calder – @AuthorAlexisCalder✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where cursed magic, academic rivalries, and enchanted forests collide in one of the most charming fantasy romances you'll read this year.This week, host Sara Santillan and Mythic Mic Rep Megan sit down with fantasy author Maiga Doocy to discuss her acclaimed debut novel, Sorcery and Small Magics, a whimsical queer fantasy filled with dangerous curses, magical monsters, reluctant allies, and a romance that unfolds one spell at a time.Maiga shares her journey from writing short stories and participating in Pitch Wars to landing a publishing deal and seeing Sorcery and Small Magics become a stunning special edition beloved by fantasy readers. We also dive into her lifelong love of fantasy, growing up dreaming of magical worlds, and how those early inspirations helped shape the enchanting world of Leo and Grimm.For readers new to the series, Sorcery and Small Magics follows Leovander Loveage, a chaotic sorcerer with a knack for small magics, and Sebastian Grimm, his studious academic rival. When a forbidden curse binds them together, the two are forced to journey into the mysterious Unquiet Wood in search of a cure. Along the way, they encounter magical creatures, dangerous secrets, and perhaps something neither of them expected: each other.Maiga also teases what's ahead for Leo and Grimm in the next installment, discusses writing queer fantasy that feels authentic, and shares why writing the story that excites you is always the best path forward.This episode is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, queer romance, magical academia, enchanted forests, and stories filled with heart, humor, and a little bit of chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Maiga's path from aspiring writer to published author.✨ The impact of Pitch Wars and the writing community.✨ Building the world of Sorcery and Small Magics.✨ Leovander and Sebastian's complicated rivalry.✨ Academic rivals, curses, and reluctant alliances.✨ Writing queer fantasy and authentic representation.✨ Creating a two-part magic system built on collaboration.✨ How Dungeons & Dragons inspired parts of the story.✨ The beautiful FairyLoot edition and special edition publishing.✨ Why personal stakes can be more powerful than world-ending ones.✨ What readers can expect from the next book in the trilogy.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Maiga Doocy – @MaigaDoocy✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where captive brides come with secret agendas, sisters are worth burning kingdoms for, and sometimes the quiet princess is the most dangerous one in the room.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic team member Amara for a fun, honest, and wildly inspiring conversation with bestselling author Addie Thorley about Burn the Kingdom Down, a YA romantasy murder mystery filled with revenge, sisterhood, plant magic, political tension, enemies-to-lovers banter, feminine rage, and one princess determined to uncover the truth.Addie shares her long and winding path to publication, from writing in a dental office between patient check-ins to surviving years of rejections, multiple agents, unsold books, pandemic delays, motherhood, and the terrifying choice to bet on herself and the stories she believed in. She opens up about writing many books before her debut, leaving an agent who did not share her vision, finding the right creative partner, and the surreal experience of seeing Burn the Kingdom Down become a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.The conversation also dives into Burn the Kingdom Down, where Princess Indira lives in a kingdom of farmers and carries the rare ability to grow a magical plant that sustains her people’s economy. When her older sister is sent to a neighboring kingdom as a captive bride and dies under mysterious circumstances, Indira takes her place, marries the same prince, and enters enemy territory determined to find out who killed her sister.👑 What happens when a princess becomes a bride to investigate a murder?🌿 Can plant magic save a kingdom caught in a political chokehold?🔥 And what if the enemy prince is not nearly as terrible as she expected?Whether you love revenge stories, sister bonds, morally gray love interests, murder mysteries, enemies-to-lovers tension, banter, plant magic, or heroines who learn to stop living in someone else’s shadow, this episode is full of heart, honesty, and so many reasons to add Burn the Kingdom Down to your TBR.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Writing in unexpected places, including a dental office and the LA Fitness parking lot.✨ Why carving out writing time often means getting creative with the margins of real life.✨ Addie’s long path to publication, including Pitch Wars, querying, agents, submission, and the terrifying courage of walking away when a creative relationship is not the right fit.✨ Writing Burn the Kingdom Down during the pandemic and navigating deadlines while raising tiny children.✨ Addie’s advice for aspiring authors, including separating the art of writing from the business of publishing.✨ Getting your butt in the chair and shoveling sand so you can later build castles.✨ Burn the Kingdom Down as a YA romantasy murder mystery mashup.✨ Feminine rage, revenge, sisterhood, political secrets, and a heroine ready to burn the kingdom down.✨ Plant-based magic, pandemic plant obsessions, and building a kingdom of farmers.✨ Writing fantasy for readers who may not think they like fantasy.✨ Layering murder mystery clues, red herrings, twists, and reveals into a romantasy world.✨ Indira’s journey from living in her sister’s shadow to trusting her own voice.✨ The possibility of bonus content, deleted epilogues, and future stories in the Burn the Kingdom Down world.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 Addie Thorley – @AddieThorley✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fairy tales get twisted, labyrinths hide more than just monsters, and sometimes the most dangerous thing you can do is discover what you actually want.This week, Co-Host Sara Santillan sits down with author Shaylin Gandhi to talk about her upcoming romantasy Hunted by the Fae King’s Shadow. This is a lush, seductive, and subversive story inspired by Labyrinth, where a proper princess is forced into a world that challenges everything she thought she knew about herself.From the very beginning, this conversation blends honesty, humor, and the reality of building a writing career—from dreaming of being an author at five years old to navigating rejection, losing an agent, and ultimately landing a traditional publishing deal. Shaylin shares what it actually takes to survive the industry and why stubbornness might be one of the most important traits a writer can have. We dive into the heart of Hunted by the Fae King’s Shadow, where a princess is given an impossible choice: marry the fae king or survive his labyrinth. But this isn’t just a story about survival—it’s about transformation. As she navigates the labyrinth, hunted and tested at every turn, she begins to question the life she’s been told to want and whether the version of herself she’s been performing is who she truly is.We also explore Shaylin’s broader work, from emotionally intense romantasy like Once Charmed, Twice Cursed and The Nightmare Bride to her perspective on writing flawed, complex heroines who challenge expectations instead of fitting neatly inside them.🌹 What happens when the life you’ve been taught to want isn’t actually yours?🗝️ What do you do when desire and duty collide?🖤 And who are you when no one is there to tell you who to be?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of dark fairytale retellings, and anyone who wants stories that feel as emotionally real as they are magical.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Shaylin’s journey from medicine to full-time author. ✨ Getting dropped by an agent and coming back stronger. ✨ Why rejection eventually stops hurting (and starts helping). ✨ Hunted by the Fae King’s Shadow and its Labyrinth-inspired premise. ✨ The emotional core: identity, desire, and self-permission. ✨ Writing flawed heroines with deeply rooted misbeliefs. ✨ The Immortal Hunters collection and “hunt or be hunted” theme. ✨ Why romantasy is such a powerful space for women’s stories. ✨ Sexy goblins, fan art (!!), and the moment you know a character works. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Shaylin Ghandi – @AuthorShaylinGandhi✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where marriage trials are never simple, shadow daddies come with complications, and sometimes the shadows have a mind of their own.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with writing duo Anna Applegate and Helen Domico to discuss their romantasy series, Blooms of Darkness, a darkly addictive story filled with marriage trials, fae politics, enemies to lovers to enemies, found family, mental health representation, and sentient shadows that may just steal the entire show.Anna and Helen share how they went from college friends to co-authors, reconnecting through the bookish world and eventually deciding to write a series together. They open up about their chaotic co-writing process, how they blend their voices into one seamless story, and why writing with your best friend can bring back the joy, excitement, and creative spark of storytelling.The conversation also dives into Blooms of Darkness, which the authors pitch as ACOTAR meets The Bachelorette, with marriage trials told from the perspective of the woman whose hand is being fought for. Anna and Helen discuss the high-stakes world, the heroine's lack of magic, the darkness spreading through the world, the suitors competing for power, and the found family that becomes just as important as the romance.🌑 What happens when a princess without magic must marry someone powerful enough to protect the throne?🔥 Can a marriage competition survive fae politics, dangerous suitors, and enemies-to-lovers tension?🖤 And what if the shadow daddy’s shadows are just as obsessed as he is?Whether you love romantasy, forced proximity, morally gray love interests, fantasy politics, found family, or shadows that deserve their own point of view, this episode is chaotic, hilarious, and absolutely made for your TBR.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ How Anna and Helen met, reconnected, and became co-authors.✨ Writing a book with your best friend and embracing creative chaos.✨ Their color-coded co-writing process and how they blend two voices into one.✨ The “why not?” mindset that shaped their publishing journey.✨ Building a street team, connecting with Bookstagrammers, and finding community.✨ The business side of indie publishing, contracts, taxes, LLCs, and all the unexpected details.✨ The Everheart Book Box special edition of Blooms of Darkness.✨ How Blooms of Darkness became ACOTAR meets The Bachelorette.✨ Enemies to lovers to enemies, platonic friendships, found family, mental health rep, and morally gray shadow daddies.✨ The sentient shadows in book two and why they became characters of their own.✨ Writing bonus scenes, shadow point of view, and deliciously unhinged romantasy moments.✨ What readers can expect from the full trilogy and the authors’ upcoming work.🌑 Plus: bar brainstorming sessions, criminal justice chaos, special edition book love, shadow play art, magical weapons, rapid-fire madness, and why every author duo needs one cautious planner and one “why not?” friend.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Anna Applegate & Helen Domico – @AuthorAnnaApplegate and @AuthorHelenDomico✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where first loves deserve second chances, high school drama is never truly left behind, and sometimes the greatest adventure begins with a roll of the dice.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling YA romance author Kristy Boyce for a nostalgic, hilarious, and delightfully nerdy conversation about Rolls and Rivalry, the newest installment in her beloved Quest for Love series. If you love rivals-to-lovers romance, marching band chaos, Dungeons & Dragons, and stories filled with heart, humor, and geeky joy, this episode is for you.Kristy shares her journey from childhood Barbie fanfiction writer to traditionally published author, opening up about the long road to publication, finding the right agent, and building a career writing the kinds of stories she wished she'd had growing up. As a social psychology professor, she also discusses how her fascination with identity, relationships, and personal growth naturally finds its way into her books.We dive into Rolls and Rivalry, a YA rom-com centered on Hazel, a competitive color guard captain determined to make her senior year unforgettable. When her former childhood friend Max joins marching band and immediately turns everything into a competition, old feelings and unresolved tensions quickly resurface. What follows is a rivals-to-lovers story packed with marching band antics, D&D adventures, and plenty of emotional growth.⚡ What happens when your biggest rival is also your first friend?🩸 Can competition bring two people together instead of tearing them apart?🔥 And what if the perfect campaign isn't the one happening at the game table?This is a must-listen for YA romance readers, D&D fans, marching band kids, and anyone who still believes first love stories never go out of style.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Kristy's journey from aspiring writer to bestselling author.✨ Balancing writing, teaching, and family life.✨ The inspiration behind Rolls and Rivalry.✨ Marching band, color guard, and bringing personal experiences into fiction.✨ Why Dungeons & Dragons continues to connect readers and writers.✨ Rivals-to-lovers romance and childhood friends reconnecting.✨ Writing clean YA romance and slow-burn relationships.✨ The growing popularity of gaming culture in books.✨ Behind-the-scenes realities of traditional publishing.✨ Barnes & Noble exclusives and seeing your books in stores.✨ The Quest for Love series and its interconnected standalones.✨ What's coming next from Kristy.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Kristy Boyce – @Kristylboyce✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where Vikings meet pirates, found family can save you, and some magic systems are stitched together bone by bone.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling fantasy romance author LJ Andrews for a conversation about writing, resilience, mythology, special editions, and her dark romantasy duology, Broken Souls and Bones.LJ shares her long road to becoming a full-time author, from writing as a way to escape postpartum depression to publishing her first book in 2016, reaching her first 50 readers, taking a pandemic-era step back, and finally finding the series and strategy that helped her career take off. She opens up about learning reader expectations, studying the market, embracing romantasy, and building the kind of worlds readers now see everywhere from bookstores to BookTok.The conversation also dives into Broken Souls and Bones, LJ’s dark, Norse-inspired romantasy world filled with soul magic, blood magic, bone magic, a hidden Melder, a silent warrior who communicates through sign language, bodyguard tension, found family, and three major twists that readers still have not fully guessed.🦴 What happens when the king wants to use your magic to build an unbeatable army?🖤 Can forced proximity work when the person protecting you is also the one who stole you from your life?⚔️ And what if the magic that makes you powerful also pulls you into the shadow world?Whether you love Norse mythology, morally gray characters, dark magic, bodyguard romance, found family, special editions, or complete duologies with high stakes and no cliffhanger, this episode is packed with inspiration, honesty, and so much bookish chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ LJ’s journey from early writing dreams to becoming a full-time author.✨ Writing through postpartum depression and using stories as an escape.✨ Why LJ was not an overnight success and what changed in her career.✨ Going from 50 readers to bookshelves, special editions, and a thriving reader community.✨ How studying genre, covers, reader expectations, and the market helped shift her author path.✨ Norse mythology, fairy tale inspiration, pirates, Vikings, and the worlds behind LJ’s books.✨ The Broken Kingdoms, The Ever Seas, and the darker magic of Broken Souls and Bones.✨ A mute bodyguard, sign language representation, and writing banter without spoken dialogue.✨ Found family, forced proximity, bodyguard tension, and characters who refuse to stay side characters.✨ The challenge of marketing book two when book one has major spoilers.✨ The completed Broken Souls and Bones duology and the possibility of future spin-offs.✨ Special editions, book boxes, direct stores, warehouses, and the behind-the-scenes side of being an author.✨ LJ’s upcoming dystopian project and why dystopian romance may be making a major comeback.✨ Imposter syndrome, comparison, and why the story inside you may be exactly what someone else needs.🐔 Plus: chickens, warehouses, elder millennial marketing struggles, Holly Black love, spicy book two scenes, and why sometimes the characters start telling the author what the story really is.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 LJ Andrews – @AuthorLJAndrews✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where love can be dangerous, monsters are never simple, and some inheritances come with blood, thorns, and a legacy you never asked for.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with author Lindsey A. Hart to discuss her gothic fantasy debut, The Thorns We Inherit, a dark, lyrical story filled with magic, monsters, trauma, devotion, and one girl’s desperate mission to save her brother.Lindsey shares the journey behind writing and self-publishing her debut, from choosing herself creatively after years of writing privately to building a readership, finding early readers, and learning the many moving pieces of indie publishing. She opens up about balancing motherhood, work, writing, and the realities of making time for a dream when life is already full.The conversation also dives into the lush, symbolic world of The Thorns We Inherit, including Lindsey’s love of gothic fantasy, lyrical prose, vampires, dangerous monsters, and stories where love is not limited to romance alone. Lindsey discusses Aurelia’s journey through a dark, magic-ridden city, the deadly legacy tied to her bloodline, and the emotional heart of a trilogy centered on inherited trauma, devotion, power, and survival.🩸 What happens when saving the person you love means risking yourself?🌹 Can a story be romantic even when romance is only one piece of the love story?🖤 And what if the monster is just as beautiful as he is dangerous?Whether you love gothic fantasy, lyrical prose, vampires, dark magic, complicated characters, or heroines who have spent their lives saving everyone else, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Lindsey’s journey from writing in her notes app to publishing her debut novel.✨ Balancing motherhood, work, creativity, and the dream of becoming an author.✨ The importance of finding early readers and building a supportive book community.✨ Gothic fantasy, symbolism, and the beauty of writing in layers.✨ Why The Thorns We Inherit is a love story in more ways than one.✨ Aurelia’s quest to save her brother and survive the magic tied to her bloodline.✨ Haunted warriors, beautiful monsters, and vampires inspired by mythology.✨ The role of inherited trauma, legacy, devotion, and self-discovery in the series.✨ Indie publishing, agents, creative control, and the possibility of a hybrid author path.✨ Lindsey’s upcoming projects, including dark academia, gothic fantasy, and steampunk-inspired worlds.🦇 Plus: hot vampires, gothic romance, Howl’s Moving Castle vibes, dark academia professors, rapid-fire chaos, and why sometimes a story can become a safe place for readers to process grief.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Lindsay A. Hart – @AuthorLindseyAHart✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where murder can be romantic, gardens may be hiding more than flowers, and sometimes the man who comes to kill you severely underestimates who he's dealing with.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling author Brynne Weaver for a wildly fun conversation about dark comedy, serial killer romance, self-publishing, traditional publishing, adaptation dreams, and her newest dark rom-com, Tourist Season.Brynne shares her journey from forensic archaeology student to hybrid publishing powerhouse. She opens up about writing every day, self-publishing her early books, learning the business side of publishing through data, marketing, algorithms, ARC teams, and social media, and the explosive rise of Butcher & Blackbird after readers on TikTok discovered it and word of mouth took over.The conversation also dives into Brynne’s transition from indie success to traditional publishing, including how foreign rights interest led her to an agent, how Butcher & Blackbird was picked up and reprinted at record speed, and why her self-publishing background gave her the confidence to advocate for herself, ask questions, and think about publishing as both a creative and business endeavor. We also dive into her latest book, Tourist Season. 🪴 What happens when a man comes to a seaside town on vacation to kill the woman he blames for his brother’s death?🖤 Can two murderers find love when they are both keeping very dangerous secrets?🐦 And what if the town’s most chaotic witness is a talking raven raised by a serial killer gardener?Whether you love dark rom-coms, vigilante serial killers, small-town secrets, or revenge plots, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Brynne’s life outside writing, including horses, motorcycles, lacrosse mom energy, and life outside Chicago.✨ Her background in forensic archaeology and how science, research, and dead body details influence her work.✨ Writing as a lifelong outlet and committing to writing every single day.✨ Why fear should not stop you from putting your work into the world.✨ The power of failure, persistence, and asking how fast you would fail if you knew success was coming.✨ Brynne’s path from self-publishing to becoming a hybrid author.✨ Learning the business of publishing through data, marketing, Amazon algorithms, ARC teams, and reader behavior.✨ How Butcher & Blackbird exploded through BookTok and word of mouth.✨ Foreign rights, agent offers, six-figure deals, and choosing a publisher that could move fast.✨ Why self-publishing can help authors learn to advocate for themselves.✨ A behind-the-scenes look at Tourist Season, including Harper, Nolan, and the seaside town where bad tourists don't always make it home.✨ Serial killers as a lens for morality, tension, secrets, and emotional extremes.✨ The Tourist Season cliffhanger and how it sets up Harvest Season.✨ New characters, sleuth seekers, higher stakes, domestic tension, secrets, consequences, and chaos in book two.✨ Book three, secret upcoming projects, and why Brynne always has more stories in motion.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill📚 Brynne Weaver – @Brynne_Weaver✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where ambition is never a flaw, love triangles are never simple, and sometimes the book that seemed to end your career becomes the story that changes everything.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with author Jennifer Iacopelli for a wildly fun and deeply inspiring conversation about sports romance, publishing perseverance, Netflix adaptations, and her upcoming release, Wildcard, part of the Match Point series.Jennifer shares the long, twisty journey behind her career, from writing fanfiction and publishing with a small digital press to self-publishing, traditional publishing, pen names, pandemic releases, and the surreal experience of seeing Finding Her Edge become a Netflix series. She opens up about the highs, lows, and unexpected second chances of publishing, including how a book she once thought had killed her career became the story that helped revive it.The conversation also dives into Wildcard and the Match Point series, where elite tennis, complicated friendships, ambitious women, and messy romance collide. Jennifer discusses writing three points of view, crafting love stories around Grand Slam tournaments, and why she is so passionate about telling stories where women are allowed to want everything: the trophy, the career, the love story, and the life they refuse to apologize for.🎾 What happens when ambition, romance, and professional stakes collide?🔥 Can a love triangle ever have an obvious answer?✨ And what if the story you thought was over is only just beginning?Whether you love sports romance, Netflix adaptations, publishing comeback stories, D&D chaos, or heroines who refuse to shrink themselves, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and so many reasons to add Wildcard to your TBR.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Jennifer’s journey from fanfiction to publishing.✨ Writing ambitious young women and the people who love them for it.✨ The long road from small press publishing to self-publishing and traditional publishing.✨ How Finding Her Edge became a Netflix series.✨ Why a so-called career setback turned into a career-making moment.✨ What it’s like writing book two while the TV writers’ room works on season two.✨ The Match Point series, Game Set Match, and the release of Wildcard.✨ Tennis romance, Wimbledon, forced proximity, and complicated friend groups.✨ Why ambition should be celebrated, especially in female characters.✨ Writing sports, love triangles, and relationships where career goals are never the problem.✨ Dungeons & Dragons, accidental storytelling magic, and learning to follow where the story wants to go.✨ Jennifer’s publishing advice for aspiring authors who feel discouraged.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jennifer Iacopelli – @JenniferCarolyn✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where special editions fill every shelf, indie authors deserve the spotlight, and sometimes the perfect reading companion has four paws and a wagging tail.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Amara sit down with Barbara, founder and CEO of GildedTail, to discuss the launch of one of the most unique new book boxes coming to the bookish community.Created for readers who love beautiful books and adore their pets, GildedTail combines exclusive special editions from indie authors with themed reader merchandise and pet products inspired by each featured story. Barbara shares the unexpected journey that led her from leaving an unfulfilling career to building a company centered around two of her biggest passions: books and animals.From designing custom special editions and working directly with indie authors to creating pet-themed merchandise and building a thriving waitlist before launch, Barbara gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring a book box from dream to reality.📚 What goes into creating a truly unforgettable special edition?🐾 How do you build a book box that includes both readers and their pets?✨ And why are indie authors at the heart of everything GildedTail does?Whether you're a special edition collector, an indie author, a devoted pet parent, or all three, this episode is packed with insight, excitement, and plenty of bookish chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ The story behind the creation of GildedTail.✨ Why Barbara left her previous career to pursue her dream.✨ Combining a love of books and pets into one subscription box.✨ Supporting indie authors through exclusive special editions.✨ What goes into designing custom covers, sprayed edges, and collectible editions.✨ The process of selecting books, artists, and merchandise for each box.✨ How Gilded Tail plans to continue special edition series beyond the subscription.✨ Monthly boxes, pet customization options, and reader merchandise.✨ Building a company with the support of family, friends, and a passionate team.✨ Upcoming launches, convention plans, ambassador opportunities, and an exclusive Mythic Mic giveaway.🐶 Plus: Lord of the Rings obsessions, pet adoption stories, collector struggles, and why every book lover deserves a reading buddy curled up beside them.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Amara – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 GildedTail – @GildedTail✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where peace treaties never stay intact, first love comes with devastating consequences, and some betrayals change everything.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with fantasy legend Rachel Schneider to discuss all things related to Metal Slinger and Light Wielder! Rachel shares her journey as an indie author, the unexpected success of Metal Slinger, and what it has been like watching readers react to one of the most talked-about endings in recent fantasy romance. Rachel opens up about how she crafted the now-infamous ending of Metal Slinger, carefully balancing foreshadowing, character motivations, and emotional impact to create a twist that completely reshapes how readers view the story. And as we learn, that emotional fallout only grows in Light Wielder, which picks up four years later with war on the horizon and former allies standing on opposite sides.⚡ What happens when the person you love has been keeping secrets all along?🩸 Can a relationship survive when loyalty and duty collide?🔥 And what if the truth changes everything you thought you knew?This is a must-listen for fantasy romance readers, lovers of shocking twists, and anyone still recovering from the ending of Metal Slinger.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ The inspiration behind Metal Slinger and Light Wielder.✨ Writing one of fantasy romance's most talked-about cliffhangers.✨ Why Metal Slinger is ultimately a story about perspective.✨ Reluctant allies, forced proximity, and unforgettable romance tropes.✨ Political unrest, war, and escalating stakes in book two.✨ The challenges of writing sequels after a viral debut.✨ Why readers may want to reread Metal Slinger before Light Wielder.✨ Rachel's writing journey and advice for aspiring authors.✨ Book boyfriends, hockey fandom, and rapid-fire chaos.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Rachel Schneider – @RachelSchneiderAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where witches don't stay hidden for long, dark magic comes with a price, and sometimes the family that saves you is the one you never expected to find.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy romance author A. M. Dunnewin for a magical, emotional, and delightfully witchy conversation about Mirror of Shadows, her contribution to the ambitious multi-author fantasy project, Seven Legends of the Shattered Empire. If you love hidden identities, found family, slow-burn romance, and heroines embracing their power, this episode is for you.A.M. shares her journey as an indie fantasy author and the inspiration behind Lenora Briar, a witch whose life shatters when her fiancé murders her father in an attempt to steal her magic. Forced to flee, Lenora hides among strangers, disguising herself as a human governess while concealing the very thing that could get her killed. We dive into witchcraft, found family, feminine rage, morally gray characters, and the kind of slow-burn romance that keeps readers turning pages long into the night. We also discuss the unique challenge of writing within a shared fantasy world alongside six other authors and what readers can expect from the larger Shattered Empire series.⚡ How long can a witch hide who she really is?🩸 What happens when the family you find becomes more important than the one you lost?🔥 And what if embracing your power is the only way to save the people you love?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, witchy fantasy lovers, and fans of emotional stories filled with magic, healing, and unforgettable characters.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ The inspiration behind Mirror of Shadows.✨ Building Lenora's journey from hunted witch to powerful heroine.✨ Hidden identities, found family, and healing through connection.✨ A magic system where power leaves permanent scars.✨ Writing extreme slow-burn romance.✨ Feminine rage and women reclaiming their power.✨ Creating lovable child characters readers adore.✨ Collaborating in the shared world of Seven Legends of the Shattered Empire.✨ The realities of indie publishing and writing multiple projects.✨ Ashley's upcoming books and future plans for the series.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 A.M. Dunnewin – @AMDunnewin✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where death is rarely the end, healing is never linear, and sometimes the darkest stories carry the most hope.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Megan for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation with fantasy author Shiloh Briar about her novel, Hopeless Necromantic. If you love necromancers, morally gray heroes, found family, devastating emotional damage, and slow burns that move at glacial speed, this episode is for you.Shiloh shares the long journey behind bringing Hopeless Necromantic into the world. What began as a dark fantasy about death magic evolved into something much deeper: a story about grief, depression, healing, and finding hope even when life feels impossible.At the center of the novel is Sikras, a necromancer struggling beneath the weight of profound loss and depression. While the book features plenty of necromancy, monsters, and dark magic, its emotional core lies in watching a character slowly learn how to keep moving forward after unimaginable heartbreak. We dive into the inspirations behind the book, including Shiloh's own experiences with grief and mental health, and discuss the challenge of writing difficult emotional scenes that still leave readers with hope. We also discuss the book's glacially slow-burn romance, fan-favorite side characters, and upcoming books in the series.⚡ What happens when a necromancer can raise the dead but can't heal himself?🩸 How do you write a fantasy about grief without losing hope?🔥 And what if the most powerful magic in the story is learning to keep going?This is a must-listen for dark fantasy readers, necromancer lovers, fans of emotionally devastating character arcs, and anyone who believes even the darkest stories deserve a little hope.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ The inspiration behind Hopeless Necromantic and its deeply personal themes.✨ Writing depression, grief, and healing through the lens of fantasy.✨ Found family, dark humor, and a slow burn that moves at glacial speed.✨ Morally gray MMCs and why readers can't get enough of them.✨ Researching human decomposition, anatomy, and death magic.✨ The emotional scenes that still make Shiloh cry while writing.✨ Fan art, tattoos, and reader reactions that have left a lasting impact.✨ Upcoming books, future romances, and what readers can expect next.✨ Building a fantasy universe that will continue expanding beyond the main trilogy.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Mythic Mic Rep Megan – @Megans.Bookish.Corner📚 Shiloh Briar – @Shiloh.Briar✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where treasure is never just treasure, pirates don't always play by the rules, and the sky is only the beginning of the adventure.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy romance author Megan Elisabeth for a fun, heartfelt, and surprisingly emotional conversation about her debut novel, Bound by the Sky. If you've ever wished Treasure Planet had more romance, more female characters, and a crew of morally questionable sky pirates, this episode is for you.Megan shares her journey from lifelong writer and accidental screenwriting minor to published author, opening up about everything from battling imposter syndrome to finding readers who connected deeply with her story. We also talk about the realities of indie publishing, protecting your creative joy, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is keep showing up.Then we dive into Bound by the Sky, a fantasy adventure filled with flying pirate ships, floating mountains, legendary treasure, and a romance that develops in the middle of impossible choices. At the center of the story is Amaya, a sheltered socialite whose life is turned upside down when she's abducted by sky pirates because of a mysterious necklace she never realized was important. Soon she finds herself caught between rival pirate factions, a legendary treasure hunt, and a Sky Lord named Will who may be the only person she can trust.⚡ What happens when a treasure hunt could change the fate of an entire world?🩸 How do you fall for a pirate when you're not sure where his moral line is?🔥 And what if the greatest discovery isn't the treasure at all, but who you're capable of becoming?This is a must-listen for fantasy romance readers, Treasure Planet fans, pirate lovers, and anyone who enjoys adventure stories with heart, humor, and just enough emotional damage.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Megan's journey from fanfiction writer to published author.✨ How screenwriting shaped her dialogue and worldbuilding.✨ Battling imposter syndrome and navigating social anxiety as an author.✨ Why Bound by the Sky is "Treasure Planet with romance."✨ Flying pirate ships, floating mountains, and legendary treasure hunts.✨ Building Amaya's character arc from sheltered socialite to heroine.✨ Morally gray pirates and exploring whether violence is ever justified.✨ The "touch her and die" trope and what happens when you take it seriously.✨ Reader reactions to THAT ending.✨ Why readers are already demanding a Mouse spin-off.✨ Megan's plans for future books in the series.✨ The importance of continuing to write, even through difficult seasons.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Megan G Elisabeth – @megwritesalot✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where rage can be a weapon, love can be a rebellion, and stories dare to ask what happens when a woman refuses to stay silent.This week, Host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Britt for a high-energy, laugh-filled, and deeply emotional conversation with Caty Rogan, author of Kissed by the Gods—the viral romantasy sensation blending feminine rage, brutal trials, and a hero who falls first and falls hard. Caty shares how her journey to becoming an author started with a single decision to finally write the story she’d been holding onto, and how that leap turned into a breakout indie success that was ultimately picked up for traditional publishing. We dive into the heart of Kissed by the Gods, a story that follows Leina, a girl from an oppressed class forced into an elite warrior system that was never meant for her. Armed with a scythe—a weapon symbolizing both her oppression and her resistance—Leina must fight to survive, carve out her place, and challenge the very systems that seek to break her. Alongside her is Ryot, a hero who defies expectations by falling fast, hard, and unapologetically. Their dynamic brings a refreshing twist to romantasy tropes, delivering slow-burn tension without relying on traditional enemies-to-lovers conflict.What unfolds is a story fueled by grief, rage, and resilience—one that doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight behind its characters, but instead uses it to drive every choice, every fight, and every moment of growth.🔥 What does it mean to carry rage instead of bury it?⚔️ How do you fight a system that was never built for you to win?🩸 And what happens when grief becomes the very thing that gives you strength?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, fans of powerful female leads, and anyone who wants a story that hits just as hard emotionally as it does on the battlefield.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Caty’s journey from journalism to published fantasy author. ✨ Writing Kissed by the Gods while navigating major life changes. ✨ How real-life grief shaped Leina’s emotional arc. ✨ Feminine rage as a driving force in fantasy. ✨ Building a world inspired by travel, mythology, and Star Wars. ✨ Why Leina’s scythe is more than just a weapon. ✨ The magic system and warrior bonds (including iconic weapons 👀). ✨ Ryot as a “he falls first” love interest (we LOVE to see it). ✨ The power of indie author communities and reader word-of-mouth. ✨ Going from indie success to a traditional publishing deal. ✨ Why small Bookstagram accounts are more powerful than you think. ✨ What to expect from Book 2, including emotional devastation 😭CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Britt (Mythic Mic Rep) – @BrittBooksIt📚 Caty Rogan – @CatyRogan✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where trust is never simple, betrayal always has a story behind it, and sometimes the most dangerous person to face is the one you once loved.This week, Co-Host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy author Tori Bovalino, the mind behind The Second Death of Locke, to dive into her upcoming release, The Thief and the Traitor Bride. This is a high-stakes fantasy filled with espionage, fractured love, and a relationship that’s already broken before the story even begins.Tori reflects on her journey from always knowing she would be a writer to navigating an industry that doesn’t always make that path easy. From querying as a teenager to nearly walking away from writing entirely, she shares the turning points that brought her back to the page and why choosing to keep going changed everything. We dive into the heart of The Thief and the Traitor Bride, a standalone set in the same world as Locke, where every location carries its own magic system and every choice carries consequences. At the center is Eleanor “Nor” Gordon, a respected wine trader and a spy. When her shipments start getting intercepted, what begins as a mission to catch a thief quickly turns into something far more complicated because the thief is her estranged husband and he was banished for treason.As Nor and Caspian are forced back into each other’s orbit, the story unravels into something deeper: questions of loyalty, identity, and what it really means to choose between a person and a place.Along the way, Tori unpacks her love of interconnected standalones, her obsession with building layered magic systems across an entire world, and the sheer chaos of writing a 170,000-word fantasy while trying to make every piece fit together.⚔️ What does betrayal look like when you understand why it happened?🖤 Can trust be rebuilt once it’s been completely broken?🔥 And when forced to choose do you pick love, or loyalty?This is a must-listen for fantasy readers who love political intrigue, emotionally complex relationships, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Tori's writing journey, including querying young and almost giving up entirely. ✨ Why writing is something you don’t walk away from (even when you try). ✨ Building a fantasy world where every place has its own magic system. ✨ Writing interconnected standalones vs traditional series. ✨ The concept behind The Thief and the Traitor Bride. ✨ An estranged marriage at the center of a fantasy story. ✨ Nor as a spy, wine trader, and deeply layered heroine. ✨ Caspian as a banished husband with secrets of his own. ✨ Espionage, political intrigue, and stolen information hidden in plain sight. ✨ The challenge of balancing multiple magic systems in one story. ✨ Why pacing, structure, and emotional payoff matter more than anything. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Tori Bovalino – @ToriBovalino✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fantasy gets a little dangerous, romance gets a little unhinged, and sometimes one love interest just isn’t enough.This week, Co-Hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by the wildly fun, bold, and genre-pushing author Jade Presley to talk about The Neverlist and its sequel The King’s List. This is a series that’s redefining romantasy with one of the most talked-about tropes in the space right now: why choose.Jade takes us back to the very beginning of her journey, writing stories in second grade and deciding, with zero backup plan, that she would become an author. And she did. But not without rejection, tough feedback, and years of refining her craft. What makes Jade stand out isn’t just her success—it’s her refusal to let anyone tell her what kind of stories “won’t work.” And that’s exactly what led to The Neverlist.We dive deep into the story of Rylee, a girl from the lower class who sneaks into a royal world she despises only to be chosen as a potential mate for FOUR princes she never wanted. What unfolds is a story packed with tension, emotional growth, power dynamics, and yes, a romance that refuses to make her choose. But this episode isn’t just about the premise. It’s about why this story works. We talk about why the why choose trope is exploding right now and why it still feels  satisfying, the intentionality behind building four distinct love arcs that actually serve the heroine, and breaking away from toxic masculinity and creating emotionally intelligent, supportive love interests. We also get into the sequel, The King’s List, where stakes are higher, trust is fractured, and Riley is forced to step fully into her power after a devastating cliffhanger that changes everything.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Jade’s journey from lifelong writer to bestselling author. ✨ Rejection, resilience, and building confidence in your voice. ✨ Why she chose to write under a pen name. ✨ The rise of the why choose / reverse harem genre. ✨ Writing four distinct romantic arcs (without it feeling chaotic). ✨ Creating emotionally secure, non-toxic male characters. ✨ The shocking ending of The Neverlist and what it sets up. ✨ What to expect in The King’s List: trust, power, and self-worth. ✨ Advice for aspiring authors: don’t let anyone steal your joy. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jade Presley – IG: @JadePresleyAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where enemies don’t stay enemies for long, power comes with impossible choices, and stories dare to explore what happens when love and identity collide.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Arcadia Rayne, a scientist-by-day, storyteller-by-night whose books are taking over romantasy spaces with unforgettable characters, addictive tropes, and layered emotional depth.Arcadia’s journey to authorship wasn’t linear—it started with a single idea she couldn’t shake, one that lived in her head for years before finally making its way onto the page. What followed was a leap into indie publishing, a deep dive into mastering craft, and the building of a fiercely loyal readership that continues to grow. In this episode, we dive into both of Arcadia’s series: The Fatebreaker Trilogy and The House of Hyrax. While one leans into romance-forward storytelling filled with tension, trials, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, the other delivers a sweeping, plot-driven epic fantasy layered with political intrigue, identity, and power.At the heart of both stories are characters searching for who they are in worlds that try to define them first. Whether it’s an assassin forced into deadly trials for a prince she was meant to kill, or a girl with no memories navigating a kingdom that expects her to rule, Arcadia’s stories are driven by one powerful question: who do you become when everything is taken from you?⚔️ What happens when your enemy is the only person who truly understands you?👑 How do you define power when you’ve been taught the wrong version of it?🔥 And what does it take to rebuild yourself when you don’t recognize who you’ve become?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, enemies-to-lovers fans, and readers who crave stories that balance emotional depth with high-stakes storytelling.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Being a scientist by day and fantasy author by night. ✨ Writing two books a year while balancing a full-time career. ✨ The origin of Fatebreaker: “What if Cinderella was sent to kill the prince?”✨ The difference between romantasy and fantasy romance (and why it matters). ✨ Building two completely different series for different types of readers. ✨ Indie publishing, creative control, and evolving into a hybrid author. ✨ Why authenticity is the key to building a loyal reader base. ✨ Marketing strategies that actually work (and how to find your hook). ✨ The importance of content warnings and reader trust. ✨ Studying craft: structure, tropes, and leveling up your writing. ✨ The power of enemies-to-lovers (and why it always hits). ✨ Found family, slow burn tension, and emotionally grounded romance. ✨ Writing healthy relationships in romantasy. ✨ Exploring real-life themes like grief, identity, and self-worth through fantasy. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Arcadia Rayne – @ArcadiaRayne✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fairy tales are never simple, monsters can still be loved, and stories dare to ask what it truly means to choose someone again and again.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling fantasy author Roshani Chokshi for a whimsical, emotional, and deeply thought-provoking conversation about her stunning fantasy novel The Swan’s Daughter. If you love enchanted castles, strange fairy tale magic, monstrous brides, and stories layered with heartbreak and hope, this episode is for you.Roshani shares how The Swan’s Daughter became a space for her to explore fairy tales in their strangest and most emotional forms—where swans lay eggs, castles breathe, the dead return as trees, and love is never as straightforward as happily ever after. What unfolds is a story that feels both surreal and deeply human, balancing whimsical fantasy with questions about grief, identity, choice, and what we owe the people we love. Roshani also shares how her own experiences with infertility and IVF quietly shaped the emotional core of the story, particularly its fascination with unconventional births, inherited grief, and the many ways people create family.  ⚡ What happens when fairy tales stop protecting their characters from pain?🩸 How do you love someone when love itself becomes complicated and dangerous?🔥 And what if the strangest magic in the world is simply choosing each other anyway?This is a must-listen for readers who love lyrical fantasy, folklore-inspired worlds, emotionally layered fairy tales, and stories that feel both enchanting and unsettling in equal measure.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Reimagining fairy tales through a darker, more emotional lens.✨ Building whimsical fantasy worlds filled with unsettling magic.✨ Why love in The Swan’s Daughter is an active choice, not destiny.✨ Talking castles, swan people, monstrous brides, and living trees.✨ Exploring grief, survival, and inherited pain through fantasy.✨ The emotional inspiration behind unconventional births and family dynamics.✨ How infertility and IVF influenced the deeper themes of the novel.✨ Why open-ended questions can make stories more powerful.✨ Creating immersive worldbuilding that constantly surprises readers.✨ The strange beauty and emotional honesty hidden inside old fairy tales.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @bethanyinfantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Roshani Chokshi – @RoshaniChokshi✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where worlds are built brick by brick, grief can shape entire galaxies, and stories dare to ask what it means to love something you can never hold onto again.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with fantasy romance legend Sarah A. Parker, the brilliant mind behind the Moonfall series, to dive into the phenomenon that is When the Moon Hatched—a story as emotionally devastating as it is breathtakingly immersive.From the very first moment, this conversation pulls you deep into Sarah’s creative mind, where worlds are not just written, but lived in for years before ever making it onto the page. Sarah shares how When the Moon Hatched began not with characters or plot, but with a fully formed world that demanded to exist—a place she wandered through, shaped, and refined long before she felt ready to tell its story. We dive into the heart of When the Moon Hatched, where an assassin with fragmented memories crosses paths with a dragon-riding king grieving a love he cannot let go. What begins as tension and collision evolves into something far deeper—a story rooted in grief, longing, identity, and the quiet, devastating ways love reshapes us.At the center of it all is one of the most unforgettable fantasy concepts in recent memory: dragons who, in death, rise into the sky and become moons. It's a concept born from Sarah’s own experience with loss, and one that gives the story its haunting emotional core.Along the way, Sarah opens up about her writing process, from chaotic, “overly fluffy” first drafts to the meticulous refinement that shapes her signature lyrical prose. She shares why she avoids outside noise while writing, how she protects the integrity of her stories, and what it means to truly write for yourself before anyone else.🌙 What does it mean to carry grief in a world that never stops turning?🐉 How do you hold onto love when all you have left is memory?⚔️ And what happens when two broken people collide in a story neither of them chose?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of deeply emotional storytelling, and anyone who wants a fantasy world they can truly disappear into.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Building an entire fantasy world over years before writing a single page. ✨ Writing as escape, and why readers feel that on every page. ✨ The origin of dragon moons and the grief behind the magic. ✨ Crafting Raeve and Kaan as opposites shaped by loss. ✨ Why When the Moon Hatched was the story Sarah had to tell. ✨ Taking creative risks (and investing everything into one book). ✨ Writing lyrical prose and learning when to cut it back. ✨ The balance between worldbuilding and character connection. ✨ Why Sarah avoids reading reviews while drafting. ✨ Protecting your story from outside influence. ✨ Book 2 expectations (and why readers need to prepare 👀). ✨ Practical writing advice: beta readers, drafting fast, and trusting the process. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sarah A. Parker – @Sarah.A.Parker.Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods fall, kingdoms fracture, and fantasy stories leave emotional wreckage in the very best way.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sarah Santillan sit down with fantasy author Laura A. Blake, author of The Shattered Sky Saga and The Forgotten Dawn, for an immersive, hilarious, and deeply honest conversation about epic fantasy, romantasy, publishing, heartbreak, and the stories that refuse to leave us alone.If you love sprawling fantasy worlds, emotionally grounded characters, glacial slow burns, devastating endings, and lore so layered it feels ancient, this episode is absolutely for you.Laura shares her unconventional journey to becoming an author—from studying religion and classical history, teaching at the university level, and navigating traumatic brain injuries and infertility, to ultimately finding her voice through fantasy romance. What began as fragments of a story inspired by firelight and drumming slowly evolved into The Forgotten Dawn, an epic romantasy that blends myth, mystery, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters.We dive deep into the changing publishing landscape and the rise of indie fantasy authors, including why Laura chose independent publishing over traditional publishing, the realities of marketing as an author, and why indie fantasy is redefining the industry in real time.But at the heart of this conversation is Laura’s storytelling itself: immersive worlds filled with forgotten gods, layered mythology, quiet heroines, emotional realism, and characters readers become fiercely attached to—sometimes at their own peril.⚡ What happens when fantasy romance becomes as emotionally grounded as it is epic?🔥 Why are readers craving quieter, more vulnerable heroines?🩸 And how do you write characters readers love enough to mourn?This episode is a must-listen for epic fantasy lovers, romantasy readers, aspiring authors, and anyone fascinated by the rapidly evolving world of indie publishing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Laura’s winding journey from academia and teaching to becoming a full-time fantasy author.✨ How traumatic brain injuries and life challenges reshaped her creative path.✨ The moment romantasy “clicked” after reading Fourth Wing and Sarah J. Maas.✨ Writing The Forgotten Dawn in an explosive creative sprint.✨ Why immersive worldbuilding and slow-burn storytelling matter so much to her.✨ Building fantasy worlds layered with forgotten lore, myth, and mystery.✨ Creating quieter, more anxious heroines instead of invincible warriors.✨ Writing emotionally grounded characters readers deeply connect with.✨ Why side characters deserve rich arcs and meaningful relationships too.✨ Multi-POV storytelling and expanding the scope of The Shattered Sky Saga.✨ Breadcrumbs, hidden clues, and long-term planning across a four-book saga.✨ The rise of indie fantasy publishing and how it’s reshaping the industry.✨ The realities of querying, traditional publishing timelines, and indie marketing.✨ Why authors should start marketing their books long before release day.✨ Slow burn romance, fated mates, and Laura’s favorite fantasy tropes.✨ Cliffhangers, emotional damage, and why no character is ever truly safe.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Laura Blake – @LauraBlakeAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where memories can be stolen, destiny is never what it seems, and stories dare to ask who you really are when everything you thought you knew is a lie.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with breakout romantasy author LJ Claren to dive into her viral debut, The Silversmith, a story that has taken over BookTok with its intense romance, shocking twists, and a heroine whose journey is as emotional as it is unforgettable. LJ shares how she began writing as a teenager—not through journaling, but by channeling her emotions into fantasy worlds—and how The Silversmith has lived with her for years, evolving alongside her own life and experiences. We dive into the heart of The Silversmith, where Ary, a girl alone, starving, and stripped of her memories, is suddenly thrust into a world that claims she is the key to a prophecy. But nothing is simple. Not her past. Not her powers. And definitely not her connection to Smith, the mysterious, obsessive, and deeply conflicted man who seems to know far more about her than he’s willing to say.What unfolds is a story driven by tension, yearning, and discovery. As Ary pieces together who she is, readers are right there with her, questioning everything, trusting nothing, and trying to unravel a truth that refuses to come easily.We also explore LJ's unique publishing journey from indie release to traditional deal after a single post caught the attention of an agent, proving that sometimes the right story finds its way exactly where it’s meant to go.⚔️ What does it mean to find yourself when your past has been taken from you?🖤 How do you trust someone who clearly knows more than they should?🔥 And what happens when the truth changes everything you thought you wanted?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, lovers of emotional slow-burn romance, and anyone who lives for that moment when a twist completely redefines the story.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Writing as emotional release and why fantasy felt more powerful than journaling. ✨ Living with the same story and characters for years before publishing. ✨ The viral rise of The Silversmith and building a reader base from scratch. ✨ Indie publishing → traditional deal: how one post changed everything. ✨ Memory loss as both a plot device and emotional anchor. ✨ The tension and yearning between Ary and Smith✨ Writing intentional twists (and why some are meant to be seen coming 👀). ✨ Found family and expanding worldbuilding in future books. ✨ The emotional escalation coming in Book 2 (prepare yourselves 😭). ✨ Balancing romance-first storytelling with expanding magic systems. ✨ Advice for aspiring authors: don’t give up and don’t wait for perfect. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 LJ Claren – @LJClaren ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where history is never as simple as we’re taught, power is tangled in politics and belief, and stories dare to ask what it really means to belong to a world shaped by conquest.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty, the brilliant mind behind The City of Brass and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Shannon reflects on her unconventional path to authorship—from writing fanfiction and short stories while working a day job to building one of the most celebrated fantasy series of the last decade—all while navigating imposter syndrome that didn’t disappear even after success arrived. We dive into the worlds that have captivated readers everywhere. First, the Daevabad Trilogy, a sweeping, political fantasy rooted in Islamic history and jinn mythology, where a con artist from Cairo is pulled into a hidden world of power, conflict, and centuries-old tensions. Shannon unpacks the heart of the series: how politics, religion, and identity collide, and what it means to inherit systems you didn’t create but are forced to navigate.Then we turn to The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and its upcoming sequel, The Tapestry of Fate. This is a completely different kind of fantasy series, one that centers a middle-aged mother pulled back into a life of piracy, magic, and impossible choices. Shannon shares how writing Amina during the pandemic reshaped her perspective on storytelling, motherhood, and what it means to balance ambition with responsibility.Along the way, we explore Shannon’s deep commitment to historical accuracy, her belief that writing is inherently political, and why fantasy has the power to challenge the narratives we’ve been taught about the past.⚔️ What happens when history isn’t what you thought it was?🌊 How do you balance who you are with who the world needs you to be?🔥 And what does it mean to challenge a system that was never built for you?This is a must-listen for fantasy readers who want more than escapism, aspiring authors navigating their own creative paths, and anyone who believes stories should make you think just as much as they make you feel.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Shannon’s path from working-class background to bestselling fantasy author.✨ Writing fanfiction, short stories, and discovering her voice.✨ Imposter syndrome even after landing an agent and selling her books. ✨ The inspiration behind the Daevabad Trilogy and jinn mythology. ✨ How politics, religion, and conquest shape fantasy worlds. ✨ Why writing is always a political act. ✨ The importance of historical research and challenging your own assumptions. ✨ The creation of Amina al-Sirafi: a middle-aged mother in fantasy. ✨ The realities of balancing motherhood and creativity. ✨ Why fantasy rarely centers parents and why that needed to change. ✨ The inspiration behind The Tapestry of Fate and what’s next for Amina. ✨ Tackling colonial narratives in adventure stories (yes, even mummies 👀). ✨ Practical advice for aspiring authors: process, boundaries, and persistence. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Shannon Chakraborty – IG: @Sachakrabooks✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where power is stolen, emotions can be weaponized, and stories dare to ask what happens when the one thing that makes you human is the very thing that could destroy you.This week, Host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy romance author Jillian Witt to dive into her Champions of Chaos series, including Jeweler of the Blessed and its sequel Trials of the Cursed. This is a series built on one of the most unique and haunting magic systems we’ve seen in fantasy. Jillian shares how her journey started not at a desk, but on long hikes through national parks—where the isolation, beauty, and sense of “anything could exist here” sparked the earliest ideas for her worlds. We dive into the heart of Jeweler of the Blessed, where magic is tied to emotion—literally. In this world, those with power don’t just wield magic, they take it, siphoning emotions from others through physical touch and channeling them into gemstones that fuel their abilities. It’s a system that feels both fascinating and deeply unsettling. At the center of it all is Amberlyn, a heroine who has spent her entire life hiding a dangerous secret: she is immune to this magic. In a world where emotions can be stolen, her survival depends on staying unnoticed until she’s forced into the very place she’s been trying to escape.What unfolds is a story of identity, trust, and learning how to feel in a world where emotion itself is a liability. Add in a bodyguard she may or may not be able to trust, a missing uncle, and a kingdom built on imbalance, and the stakes quickly spiral.💎 What happens when your emotions are no longer safe to feel?⚔️ How do you trust someone in a world built on taking?🔥 And what if the thing you’ve been hiding is the key to everything?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, fans of unique magic systems, and anyone who loves stories where emotion, power, and identity collide in unforgettable ways.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Building a magic system inspired by (and darker than) mood rings. ✨ What happens when emotions are stolen and used as power. ✨ Amberlyn as a heroine forced to hide who she truly is. ✨ A bodyguard romance filled with tension, distrust, and slow-burn connection. ✨ The emotional and thematic core: identity, agency, and self-discovery. ✨ The balance between fear and vulnerability in a high-stakes world. ✨ Jillian’s writing process: discovery drafting, multiple revisions, and emotional beats. ✨ The realities of indie publishing and wearing every hat. ✨ Why readers are craving unique, high-concept fantasy systems. ✨ Trials of the Cursed and its emotional, character-driven take on trials. ✨ Writing both darker fantasy and cozy romantasy as a creative balance. ✨ Advice for aspiring authors: let the story evolve and give yourself grace. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jillian Witt – @author.Jillianwitt✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where chaos rides alongside loyalty, monsters feel just as deeply as humans, and sometimes the stories that hurt the most are the ones that stay with you.This week, Co-Hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by returning guest Jackson Ford to talk about Sisters of the Lizard, the brutal, emotional, and relentless sequel to The Bone Raiders. And because Mythic Mic never does anything halfway, we’ve also brought in special guest, author Andy Peloquin, to keep Jackson on his toes and (maybe) make him answer for the pain he’s caused us all.From the very first moment, this episode is exactly what you’d expect from a Jackson Ford return: chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep. Jackson opens up about writing Sisters of the Lizard without a strict roadmap, following curiosity wherever it leads, even when that path turns darker than expected. What began as an exploration of a “cool idea” evolved into a story that pushes its characters to their absolute limits emotionally, physically, and psychologically. And that’s exactly what makes this book hit so hard.We dive into the core of the story: a tight-knit crew of raiders riding fire-breathing lizards, forced to survive in an unforgiving world where every decision has consequences. But this isn’t just about action. It’s about what happens after survival. The aftermath. The trauma. The relationships that don’t magically fix themselves just because the first battle is over.This time, everything is messier. Nothing is clean. And the characters you thought you understood ... you don't. Expect emotional damage, expect character arcs that refuse to take the easy way out, and expect a story that keeps you in the mud with them every step of the way. ⚔️ What does growth look like when healing isn’t linear?🖤 How do you move forward when the past is still shaping you?🔥 And what happens when survival is only the beginning?This is a must-listen for fantasy readers who love gritty, character-driven stories, emotionally complex arcs, and worlds that feel as raw as they are immersive.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Jackson’s return to Mythic Mic and what’s changed since book one. ✨ Writing a sequel that’s darker, more emotional, and more character-driven. ✨ Why curiosity, not planning, drives his storytelling. ✨ The evolution of characters from book one to book two. ✨ Trauma, healing, and surviving toxic relationships. ✨ Why growth isn’t clean and shouldn’t be. ✨ The chaotic, found-family dynamic of the raider crew. ✨ Writing morally messy characters you can’t help but love. ✨ The emotional impact of Sisters of the Lizard (and why it hurts so much 😭). ✨ The role of lizards as more than just creatures. ✨ Andy’s take on what makes this series stand out in fantasy. ✨ The realities of writing, deadlines, and just “doing the thing." ✨ Marketing a sequel vs a debut and what authors learn along the way. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Bethany Amanda – @bethanyinfantasyland👤 Andy Peloquin – @Andypeloquinauthor📚 Jackson Ford – @RealJacksonFord✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ 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.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where monsters lurk just beyond the veil, power is earned in blood and steel, and stories dare to ask what happens when the most dangerous secret is the one you carry inside yourself.This week, Co-Host Sara Santillan is joined by Mythic Mic rep Amara for a wildly fun, high-energy, and completely addictive conversation with paranormal romance author Elizabeth Dear, diving into her viral series Shifter Guardians Academy and the first book, Clash of Claws.From the very beginning, this episode is packed with laughter, chaos, and deep dives into one of the most bingeable subgenres in fantasy right now: shifter romance. Elizabeth shares how her journey into writing started with a simple “what if I tried?” during the pandemic, quickly turning into a full-blown career spanning over a dozen books. We dive into the world of Clash of Claws, where humans live unaware of the monsters around them and the shifters who fight to keep them safe. At the center is Avery, a powerful and tightly guarded heroine who enters a brutal Guardian training program hiding one dangerous truth: her beast.What unfolds is a story filled with deadly trials, monstrous wraiths, and a system that was never built for someone like her to succeed. As Avery fights to prove she belongs, she’s forced into close proximity with the most powerful quad in the program—four men who challenge her, underestimate her, and ultimately make a mistake they’ll have to answer for.With a mix of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and reverse harem dynamics, this series delivers action, tension, and emotional payoff in equal measure with a cliffhanger that has readers demanding the next book.🐺 What happens when your power makes you a threat instead of an asset?⚔️ How do you prove yourself in a system designed to exclude you?🩸 And what if the people you start to trust are the ones who hurt you most?This is a must-listen for fans of shifter romance, academy settings, strong heroines with secrets, and stories that blend action, romance, and just the right amount of chaos.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Writing during the pandemic and turning “what if” into a full author career. ✨ The rise of shifter romance and why it’s dominating Bookstagram. ✨ What defines a shifter story (and why it’s so addictive). ✨ Building a world of “variety shifters,” from wolves to mythics. ✨ Why female shifters are rare and feared in this world. ✨ The Guardian training program and brutal academy dynamics. ✨ A quad of powerful male leads (including a professor 👀). ✨ Reverse harem / why choose dynamics and pack bonding. ✨ THAT cliffhanger ending (and the grovel we’re all waiting for). ✨ Designing obstacle courses and sword combat for realism. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Amara (Mythic Mic Rep) – @Bored_Military_Wife📚 Elizabeth Dear – @ElizabethDearWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fate is never simple, power comes at a cost, and stories dare to ask what you’re willing to sacrifice to become who you were meant to be.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Rachel Sandpiper to dive into one of the most buzzed-about indie fantasy books taking over social media: To Touch a Silent Fury. Rachel shares how writing started not as a lifelong dream, but as an escape—a way out of a career that didn’t feel right. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something much bigger, fueled by persistence, smart strategy, and a deep understanding of the indie publishing space. We dive into the world of To Touch a Silent Fury, an epic fantasy layered with romance, political tension, and one of the most unique magic systems in the genre. The story follows Tani, a moon-touched woman bound to a fate she didn’t choose: marry the victor of a deadly tournament to unlock her magic. Alongside her is Lang, a dragon prince caught between duty and defiance, whose path collides with hers in ways neither of them can control.What unfolds is a story of agency, belonging, and survival where both characters are navigating systems that were never built for them, trying to carve out power in a world determined to limit it.🌙 What happens when your fate is decided for you and you don’t want it?💍 Can a forced bond become something real or something dangerous?🐉 And what if the power you’re meant to claim comes with a cost you’re not ready to pay?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, epic fantasy lovers, and anyone obsessed with slow burn tension, forced proximity, and stories that balance emotional depth with high-stakes worldbuilding.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Writing as an “escape hatch” from a career that didn’t fit. ✨ Why Rachel chose self-publishing and how she made it work. ✨ The reality of indie publishing (and why it’s a marathon, not a sprint). ✨ The power of ARC campaigns and word-of-mouth marketing. ✨ Building a magic system tied to the five senses. ✨ Crafting Tani as a complex, underestimated heroine. ✨ Lang as the dragon prince readers can’t get enough of. ✨ Agency, belonging, and navigating systems stacked against you. ✨ The challenges of control in the self-publishing process. ✨ What’s next: a romantic fantasy murder mystery 👀CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Rachel Sandpiper – @Rasandpiper✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where gods are not untouchable, love and loss reshape everything, and stories dare to ask what happens when even immortals can fall.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with fantasy author Kate Asher for a wildly fun, fast-paced, and emotionally charged conversation about her Greek mythology–inspired series, Crown of Olympus and Blood of Olympus. If you love deadly trials, complicated gods, and stories that will make you laugh one minute and spiral the next, this episode is for you.Kate shares how her writing journey started with a single, bold New Year’s resolution—write a book—and just four months later, she had a finished manuscript. From there, everything moved fast: self-publishing, building a loyal readership, and creating a world that flips traditional Greek mythology on its head. We dive into the heart of the series, where gods are not distant figures—they are flawed, powerful, and very much involved in the lives of their children. At the center is Nyssa, daughter of Hades and Persephone, who is forced into brutal trials to compete for the crown of Olympus. What begins as survival quickly becomes something deeper: a story about grief, identity, and learning how to live after loss.Kate brings a fresh, modern voice to mythology, blending humor, heartbreak, and high-stakes tension into a story that feels both epic and deeply human. And yes, this is a world where even gods can die, so no one is safe.⚡ What happens when the gods aren’t immortal after all?🩸 How do you keep going after losing someone you love?🔥 And what if the trials meant to crown you are designed to break you instead?This is a must-listen for Greek mythology lovers, romantasy readers, and anyone who craves high-stakes stories with emotional depth and unforgettable characters.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Writing a full fantasy novel in just four months (yes, really). ✨ Choosing self-publishing for creative freedom and control.✨ Reimagining Greek mythology with a modern, irreverent twist. ✨ The inspiration behind deadly trials for the crown of Olympus. ✨ Building Nyssa as a complex, evolving heroine. ✨ Exploring grief, loss, and identity across the series. ✨ Why humor makes the emotional moments hit harder. ✨ Writing dual perspectives and layered character arcs. ✨ Fan-favorite side characters who completely steal the show. ✨ Cliffhangers, emotional damage, and leaving readers wanting more. ✨ Expanding the series into multiple books and spin-offs. ✨ Balancing indie publishing with future traditional opportunities. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Kate Asher – @KateAsherAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic demands a price, love and loyalty are tested to their limits, and stories dare to ask what you would sacrifice for power and for each other.This week, Host Bethany Amanda sits down with the brilliant writing duo behind Blood Bound, Ellis Hunter, for a wildly fun, emotionally chaotic, and deeply insightful conversation about one of the most anticipated fantasy debuts of the year.From the very first moment, this episode is full of laughter, honesty, and the kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling that makes you fall even more in love with a book. Katie and Becky share how their friendship, built over years in publishing and reignited in Cornwall, turned into a late-night, wine-fueled decision to “just write a dragon book” which quickly spiraled into something much bigger. We dive into the world of Blood Bound, a kingdom of witches and a kingdom of dragon riders bound by a brutal, ancient covenant: once in a generation, two champions must duel to the death for the source of all magic. At the center are two brilliant female main characters: Astrid, a witch destined to die, and Skylar, a fierce, guarded performer searching for the one person she loves most—two women on a collision course neither of them chose.What unfolds is a story built on impossible stakes, layered characters, and one of the most compelling female friendships in fantasy right now. Katie and Becky share how their own bond shaped Astrid and Skylar, why they prioritized platonic love alongside romance, and how they approached writing two distinct perspectives that still feel like one seamless voice.We also get into the magic of collaboration—how they split POVs, merge writing styles, and push each other creatively—and the emotional toll of writing a story that doesn’t hold back. (Yes, we talk about THAT moment. No, they do not apologize.)🔥 What happens when your fate is sealed and there’s no way out?⚔️ How far would you go to save your people or the person you love?🩸 And what if the only way to win is for someone else to lose?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, fans of dragons and deadly trials, and anyone who wants a story that blends epic stakes with deeply personal emotion.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ How Katie and Becky met in publishing and reconnected years later in Cornwall to write a dragon book that turned into Blood Bound. ✨ Building a co-author process (POV splits, shared plotting, and line-by-line edits). ✨ Why their writing voices blend so seamlessly. ✨ The inspiration behind witches vs. dragon riders. ✨ The central duel and why it was the heart of the story from the beginning. ✨ Creating Astrid and Skylar as dual female leads, and why female friendship was just as important as romance. ✨ Subverting tropes while still giving readers what they love. ✨ Designing dragons that don’t breathe fire 👀. ✨ The emotional destruction behind that plot twist (yes, they cried too). ✨ How their publishing backgrounds helped and hurt the process. ✨ Why this book is their “love letter” to fantasy. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Ellis Hunter – @EllisHunterAuthor✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic is written in the stars, heroines are allowed to be messy, and stories dare to remind us that growth isn’t always graceful, but it’s always powerful.This week, Co-Host Sara Santillan is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Britt and author Liv Webster to dive into her addictive Jewel-Light Trilogy, including A Kingdom of Salt and Stone and A Palace of Cosmic Flame. Liv shares her journey from writing short stories as a child (including a very iconic Cinderella-as-a-fish moment 👀) to diving headfirst into indie publishing without a roadmap, without all the answers, and without waiting until she felt “ready.” What followed was a crash course in writing, publishing, marketing, and learning everything the hard way. We dive into the world of the Jewel-Light Trilogy, where magic is embedded into the body through gemstones gifted by gods, activated by a celestial meteor shower, and tied directly to identity, power, and fate. Liv unpacks her unique magic system, the emotional depth behind her characters, and why she intentionally wrote a protagonist who isn’t perfect, polished, or immediately likable. At the heart of the story is Maeve, a heroine navigating anxiety, fear, and overwhelming expectations, all while being thrust into a life she never wanted. Her journey isn’t about instant strength. Instead, it’s about learning to trust, to grow, and to survive even when everything feels like too much.✨ What if your magic made you a target instead of a hero?🩸 What happens when your main character is a little bit of a mess?🔥 And how do you find your strength when you don’t feel ready for any of it?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, indie author hopefuls, and anyone who loves messy heroines, emotional journeys, and magic systems that feel completely fresh.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Liv’s journey from childhood writer to published author. ✨ Writing a book on maternity leave and figuring it out as she went. ✨ Indie publishing without a roadmap (and learning through mistakes). ✨ Why marketing matters more than you think (and what she’d do differently). ✨ The inspiration behind the gemstone-based magic system. ✨ Writing a heroine with anxiety and making that representation intentional. ✨ Why “messy” main characters are more realistic and more meaningful. ✨ Found family, relationships, and rising stakes in book two. ✨ The emotional toll of writing (and reading 👀) stories that hurt. ✨ Teasing book three, including that broken heart emoji 💔CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt (Mythic Mic Rep) – @BrittBooksIt 📚 Liv Webster – @AuthorLivWebster✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where power is never given freely, magic hides in the oldest corners of the world, and stories dare to ask what it costs to take back what was never yours to begin with.This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with author Caitlin Breeze for a gripping, thought-provoking conversation about her dark academia debut, The Fox Hunt. Caitlin shares her unconventional path to publishing, from studying at Cambridge and working in creative industries to discovering that she could write something of her own. What followed was years of rewriting, refining, and chasing the version of the story that felt truly alive. We dive into the world of The Fox Hunt, where elite privilege, ancient magic, and dangerous traditions collide. At its core is Emma, a young woman who finds herself pulled into a powerful and secretive circle of students—one built on wealth, legacy, and something far darker beneath the surface. When a seemingly thrilling game turns into something far more sinister, Emma is forced to confront the brutal systems of power surrounding her and decide what she’s willing to become to dismantle them.Caitlin unpacks the real-life inspiration behind the novel’s most shocking element (yes, the fox hunt is disturbingly real), the layered exploration of power and privilege, and the deeply intentional focus on female friendship.🦊 What happens when power is built on something ancient and deeply unjust?⚖️ Can you dismantle a system without becoming part of it?🔥 And what does it mean to reclaim your power in a world designed to take it from you?This is a must-listen for dark academia lovers, fantasy readers who crave depth, and anyone drawn to stories about power, transformation, and the strength of female connection.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Caitlin’s journey from reader to writer and why this was the story that finally “came alive”. ✨ Writing The Fox Hunt over years while working full-time. ✨ The real-life inspiration behind the fox hunt (yes… it’s real 👀). ✨ Crafting a dark academia world rooted in privilege and power. ✨ The role of ancient universities and places that feel magical. ✨ Exploring power, cost, and the idea that nothing comes for free. ✨ Building a heroine who discovers and claims her own strength. ✨ Why female friendship is central to this story (and rarely done this way). ✨ Rejecting toxic female rivalry tropes in dark academia. ✨ The importance of finding the right agent and creative partners. ✨ Why editing strengthens—not weakens—your story. ✨ Writing layered, meaningful secondary characters. ✨ Teasing book two 👀 (and why it might not be who you expect). CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Caitlin Breeze – @CaitlinBreezeWrites✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where elegance meets danger, magic blooms in the shadows, and every secret has roots beneath the surface.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Britt and author Thomas Kent West for a conversation that is equal parts Bridgerton, botanical magic, and murder mystery. Trust us, this one delivers.Thomas takes us inside his stunning debut City of Iron and Ivy, a Victorian-inspired fantasy where high society hides deadly secrets and magic is drawn from the natural world itself. Think debutante balls, but make it lethal. At the heart of this novel is Elswyth, a brilliant but socially out-of-place scholar of botanical magic who is thrust into London’s elite society after her sister’s disappearance. As she navigates glittering ballrooms and dangerous expectations, she realizes something chilling: one of her sister’s suitors may also be her killer. Suddenly, finding a husband becomes a hunt for a murderer.We also dive into Thomas’s journey to publication from writing fanfiction and exploring the wilderness to facing nearly 200 rejections before finally landing his book deal. His story is a powerful reminder that persistence, passion, and a little bit of luck can change everything. 🌹 What happens when you’re forced into a world you don’t belong in?🩸 How far would you go to uncover the truth?🌿 And what if the very magic meant to protect you could also destroy you?This episode blends humor, heart, and fascinating insight into storytelling.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Thomas’s unconventional path to becoming a published author. ✨ Writing through rejection (and why it’s part of the job). ✨ The inspiration behind botanical magic and “floromancy”. ✨ How wilderness guiding and a love of nature shaped the story. ✨ The Bridgerton-inspired setting with a dark, murderous twist. ✨ Balancing romance, mystery, and fantasy in one cohesive story. ✨ Writing a standalone in a world full of series. ✨ The emotional themes of life, death, and what we owe the past. ✨ Crafting an ending that leaves readers texting him in ALL CAPS. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Britt (Mythic Mic Rep) – @BrittBooksIt📚 Thomas Kent West – @ThomasKentWest✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories hold a mirror to humanity, grief has many faces, and fantasy dares to ask what happens when the world stops making sense.This week, co-host Sara Santillan is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Britt and author Ariel Sullivan for a deeply powerful and thought-provoking conversation about her dystopian romance Conform and its highly anticipated prequel, Beneath. Ariel opens up about her writing journey, from discovering her love of storytelling at just eight years old to navigating the challenges of imposter syndrome, rejection, and finding her voice. She shares candidly about how Conform was born during one of the lowest points in her life, becoming both an escape and a lifeline during postpartum depression and the chaos of COVID. We dive into the world of Conform, a dystopian society where your worth is determined by your genetics and humanity is divided into rigid, oppressive classes. Ariel unpacks the layered themes of duality, power, and perspective—and why she intentionally wrote a protagonist who refuses to see the world in black and white. At the center of it all is Emeline, a character who stands in the gray, challenging systems, questioning narratives, and forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about division, control, and what it really means to understand one another.We also explore Beneath, Ariel’s ambitious prequel that takes readers 200 years into the past to uncover the origins of this fractured world. With heavier emotional stakes, found family dynamics, and a raw exploration of grief and survival, Beneath expands the universe in ways that deepen every moment of Conform.🩸 What happens when a society decides your worth before you’re even born?🔥 Can standing in the gray be the most dangerous choice of all?⚔️ And what does it mean to hold onto humanity when everything around you demands conformity?This is a must-listen for dystopian lovers, emotionally driven readers, and anyone who believes stories should challenge, heal, and stay with you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Ariel’s journey from fanfiction to published author. ✨ Overcoming imposter syndrome and finding confidence as a writer. ✨ Writing Conform during postpartum depression and COVID. ✨ The inspiration behind the dystopian world and its class divisions. ✨ Why Emeline chooses to stand in the gray instead of picking sides. ✨ Exploring duality through character, color, and conflict. ✨ Crafting world-building as a “character” with its own motivations. ✨ The balance between romance, rebellion, and societal commentary. ✨ The emotional depth behind Beneath and its focus on grief. ✨ How different stages of grief are represented through characters. ✨ The decision to write a prequel before continuing the main story. ✨ What readers can expect from the next installment (Core) 👀CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt (Mythic Mic Rep) - @BrittBooksIt📚 Ariel Sullivan – @ArielHSullivan✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where villains get the love story, chaos is part of the charm, and stories dare to prove that sometimes the most dangerous characters are the ones you can’t help but root for.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by fantasy romance author Tiffany Hunt for a wildly fun, laugh-out-loud conversation about her novel, The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating and Other War Crimes. Tiffany shares her journey from teaching high school English to diving headfirst into indie publishing, learning the business of books from the ground up, and navigating everything from rapid release strategies to the ever-evolving world of marketing. She opens up about the realities of writing as both an art and a business—and why finding your audience often means writing the story you actually want to read. We dive into the absolute chaos (and brilliance) of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating and Other War Crimes, a romantasy that asks one very important question: what happens when a villain decides to skip the courtship and just kidnaps his future wife instead (but then has to date her!)? Tiffany unpacks the hilariously unhinged premise, the balance of humor, spice, and action, and why she wanted to write a villain who doesn’t need redemption and doesn’t want it.🩸 What if the villain never wanted redemption in the first place?🔥 What happens when a heroine refuses to follow the script?⚔️ And can chaos, romance, and ambition somehow coexist in one dangerously addictive (and funny) story?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, fans of morally gray chaos, and anyone who wants a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers on every level.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ Tiffany’s journey from teacher to full-time author. ✨ Learning the business side of writing and the reality of marketing as an author. ✨ Finding your audience by writing the book you actually want to read. ✨ The inspiration behind The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating and Other War Crimes. ✨ Writing a villain who proudly stays the villain and a heroine who refuses to be a damsel in distress. ✨ Building romantic tension through forced proximity and negotiation. ✨ Why authenticity matters more than chasing trends. ✨ What’s next in the trilogy (book two coming soon 👀). CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Tiffany Hunt – @TiffanyHuntRomance✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where power comes with a price, destiny refuses to be simple, and stories dare to ask whether freedom is something you choose or something you have to fight for.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy author Hope Cole to dive into her epic novel, Daughter of the Void. Hope reflects on a lifelong love of storytelling that began in childhood and how that passion evolved into a career path that wasn’t always linear. From working in veterinary medicine for over a decade to writing health articles and eventually returning to fiction, her journey is a testament to persistence, reinvention, and finding your way back to what you love. We dive into the expansive world of Daughter of the Void, a high fantasy rooted in a unique magic system inspired by theoretical physics, where every tangible thing has an unseen counterpart, and those who can manipulate it wield immense power. Hope unpacks the journey of Raelyn, a heroine caught between destiny and choice, whose greatest desire isn’t power, but freedom.🩸 What does freedom really mean when your fate may already be decided?⚔️ Can power ever truly belong to you—or does it always come with a cost?🔥 And what happens when the line between hero and villain starts to blur?This is a must-listen for high fantasy lovers, romantasy readers, and anyone who craves immersive worlds, layered characters, and stories that make you feel everything at once.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ Transitioning from veterinary medicine to a writing-focused career. ✨ Losing and rediscovering the spark for creative storytelling. ✨ Why community is essential for writers at every stage. ✨ The importance of advocating for your work as an author. ✨ The inspiration behind Daughter of the Void's magic system. ✨ Blending theoretical physics concepts into fantasy worldbuilding. ✨ Creating a world with checks and balances for magic users. ✨ Exploring freedom as a central theme across multiple characters. ✨ Writing a protagonist who makes mistakes and grows from them. ✨ Crafting a sympathetic villain readers might actually root for. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 H.R. Cole – @H.R.Cole_Fantasy_Author✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic is forbidden, heroines are far more dangerous than they seem, and stories dare to remind us that softness can be power.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with breakout fantasy author Sasha E. Sloan to celebrate her debut novel, The Ruins Beneath Us. Sasha reflects on her unconventional path to publication—from musical theater and pageantry to building a massive online audience and ultimately landing a publishing deal with Disney. She shares how years of rejection, experimentation, and relentless creativity shaped her journey, and why she believes success is built, piece by piece, with intention and persistence. We dive into the enchanting and dangerous world of The Ruins Beneath Us, a YA fantasy that blends the wonder of classic fairytale worlds with high-stakes tension and emotional depth. Sasha unpacks her vision for the story: a “wonderstruck” fantasy experience inspired by the sweeping magic of 90s classics, where castles loom, forests whisper, and nothing is quite as simple as it seems.At the heart of the story is Lyria—a heroine who challenges the genre itself. Soft, compassionate, and deeply feminine, yet fierce, powerful, and unafraid to fight for what matters. Sasha explores her intentional choice to write a character who embodies both strength and softness, pushing back against the idea that female power must look one specific way.Along the way, we explore Sasha’s philosophy of storytelling: that perfection is the enemy of progress, that creativity requires vulnerability, and that sometimes the most powerful stories come from embracing imperfection and trusting your voice.🩸 What if the most dangerous thing about you is the power you were told to hide?✨ Can softness and strength exist in the same character?🔥 And what happens when a forbidden world begins to feel like home?This is a must-listen for fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes magic should feel as emotional as it is immersive.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ Sasha’s journey from musical theater and pageantry to published Disney author. ✨ Building a massive audience before publishing and why it mattered. ✨ The unconventional path to landing a Disney publishing deal. ✨ Writing multiple “failed” books before The Ruins Beneath Us. ✨ The inspiration behind the world of The Ruins Beneath Us. ✨ Challenging stereotypes of female strength in fantasy. ✨ Crafting romance and intimacy for a YA audience with intention. ✨ The balance between vulnerability, ambition, and storytelling. ✨ What’s next in the Ruins series and beyond. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sasha E. Sloan – IG: @sashaesloan and TikTok: @Sashaesloan✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where legends are rewritten, heroines refuse to be tamed, and stories dare to challenge who gets to be the villain.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy and romance author Jayci Lee to dive into her Realm of Four Kingdoms series, beginning with Nine-Tailed and culminating in the explosive finale, Lightburn. Jayci reflects on her unconventional journey from practicing attorney for 15 years to becoming a full-time author, sharing how burnout ultimately pushed her to pursue the dream she’d held since she was fourteen. She opens up about writing her first book in just two months, balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and the reality that sometimes the only way to make space for your dreams is to fight for them. We dive into the heart of The Realm of Four Kingdoms, a sweeping romantasy rooted in Korean folklore. At its center is a nine-tailed fox spirit, traditionally cast as a villain, reimagined as a powerful, complex heroine. Jayci unpacks her decision to reclaim this narrative, exploring how mythology, culture, and identity shape both the story and the character at its core.🩸 What happens when the villain becomes the hero of her own story?🔥 How do you step into your power when the world fears it?⚔️ And what does it mean to choose love, identity, and purpose in a world that demands sacrifice?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, mythology enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to stories filled with power, emotion, and unapologetic heroines.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ Jayci’s journey from attorney to full-time author. ✨ Balancing motherhood, career, and creative passion. ✨ Fighting imposter syndrome and learning to ignore the inner critic. ✨ Why finishing the book is the most important step for any writer. ✨ The inspiration behind The Realm of Four Kingdoms series. ✨ Reclaiming the nine-tailed fox myth from villain to heroine. ✨ Blending Korean folklore with modern American settings. ✨ Building a dual-world system with gods, mortals, and hidden realms. ✨ Writing a romantasy with equal weight on plot and romance. ✨ Crafting a love triangle with very different dynamics. ✨ Writing emotionally intense, high-stakes finales (Lightburn 👀). ✨ Why readers can expect heartbreak—but ultimately, hope. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jayci Lee – @authorjaycilee and https://www.jaycilee.com/✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories don’t just live on the page—they find their readers, build communities, and sometimes, go viral in ways no one expects.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by Mythic Mic rep Amara for a special resource episode featuring Katelyn Ilkani, the founder of Calli—an innovative platform transforming how authors and influencers connect in the world of book marketing. Katelyn shares how a lifelong love of romance books and a background in tech and marketing led her to build Calli. Calli is a platform designed to solve a problem many readers and authors didn’t even realize they were struggling with: discovery. From the frustration of seeing the same books recommended over and over to recognizing the untapped potential of Bookstagram and BookTok, Calli was born out of a desire to connect the right books with the right audiences in a more meaningful way. We dive into the evolving landscape of book marketing and why influencer marketing isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming the backbone of how books find readers. Katelyn breaks down the concept of “trust transfer,” where influencers lend their credibility to the books they recommend, and explains why this kind of authentic, word-of-mouth marketing outperforms traditional ads.Along the way, we explore what authors are getting wrong about marketing (hint: it’s not just about launch week), how influencers are shaping reader behavior, and why the future of book marketing is rooted in relationships, data, and community-driven discovery.🩸 Why are so many great books still getting lost in the algorithm?📚 What makes readers actually trust a recommendation enough to buy?🔥 And how can authors build momentum that lasts beyond a single launch?This is a must-listen for authors, influencers, and anyone curious about how books actually succeed in today’s digital landscape.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ The origin story behind Calli and the problem it set out to solve. ✨ How influencer marketing works and why it’s so powerful. ✨ The concept of “trust transfer” and why it beats traditional ads. ✨ What authors are getting wrong about marketing (and how to fix it). ✨ Why marketing should be an ongoing strategy, not just a launch event. ✨ The broken state of data in book marketing and what that means for authors. ✨ How Calli creates a safe, structured ecosystem for author–influencer collaborations. ✨ What deliverables authors can expect from influencer partnerships. ✨ How influencers and authors build long-term relationships through campaigns. ✨ The rise of street teams and how Calli is reinventing them (new features coming soon!). ✨ Upcoming features like “Stacks” and curated reader discovery tools. ✨ Where book marketing is headed in the next few years. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Calli – @Meet.Calli and https://meetcalli.com/✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where bargains come with consequences, magic is as dangerous as it is seductive, and stories dare to ask what you’re willing to trade for power.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling author Sasha Peyton Smith, the mind behind The Rose Bargain and its highly anticipated sequel The Thorn Queen. Sasha reflects on her unexpected path to authorship—from studying science and public health to discovering storytelling in her early twenties—and what it took to finally give herself permission to pursue writing. She shares how stubbornness, vulnerability, and a willingness to start before feeling “ready” ultimately shaped her career.We also dive into the lush, dangerous world of The Rose Bargain, a story built on glittering deals, layered ambition, and the irresistible pull of power. Sasha unpacks the heart of the series and how writing for joy, rather than the market, transformed her storytelling.🩸 What are you willing to trade to get everything you’ve ever wanted?🌹 When ambition and desire collide, who do you become?⚔️ And what happens when the most dangerous deals are the ones you choose?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes magic should be as indulgent as it is dangerous.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ Sasha’s journey from science and public health to becoming a bestselling fantasy author. ✨ Why it took time to give herself permission to pursue writing. ✨ The role of stubbornness in finishing a first book. ✨ Navigating rejection and being dropped by a publisher. ✨ How Sasha created The Rose Bargain, including the first spark. ✨ Writing for joy instead of chasing market trends. ✨ Why readers can expect from The Thorn Queen. ✨ The evolution from debut author to building a larger fantasy universe. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sasha Peyton Smith – @SashaPeytonSmith✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where memory is a fragile thing, magic is earned, and stories dare to ask what happens when you’re thrown into the fire with no idea how you got there.This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with powerhouse fantasy author Rachel Vincent to dive into her newest release, The Alchemary. With over two decades in publishing, Rachel brings sharp insight, honesty, and a no-nonsense perspective on writing, craft, and the realities of building a long-term career in the industry. Rachel reflects on a lifetime of storytelling, from writing her first story at five years old to becoming both a bestselling author and a professor of writing. She shares what it really means to pursue writing as a career and the constant evolution required to stay in the game.We also dive into the high-stakes world of The Alchemary, where a young woman named Amber wakes up with no memory and is immediately thrown into deadly final exams at an elite alchemy academy. Rachel unpacks the terrifying brilliance of a system where knowledge is power, failure has consequences, and magic isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you have to earn.🩸 What happens when your past holds the key to your survival—but you can’t remember it?⚗️ How do you prove your worth in a world where failure could kill you?🔥 And what does it take to keep going when the industry keeps changing beneath your feet?This is a must-listen for fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who wants an unfiltered look at both the magic and the reality of publishing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT✨ What it really means to build a long-term career in publishing. ✨ Why writing is both an art and a business, and how to navigate both. ✨ Common mistakes new writers make (and how to avoid them). ✨ The constantly evolving nature of the publishing industry. ✨ The inspiration behind The Alchemary and its high-stakes premise. ✨ Building a magic system rooted in science, discipline, and structure. ✨ Creating deadly trials that test both knowledge and survival. ✨ Writing tension through stakes, mystery, and character uncertainty. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Rachel Vincent – @rachelkvincent✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic feels like a warm cup of tea, stories wrap around you like a blanket, and sometimes the smallest moments are the ones that save your heart.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with beloved cozy fantasy author Sarah Beth Durst, the brilliant mind behind The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse. Sarah is joyful, insightful, and deeply passionate about storytelling, and we dive into the quiet power of cozy fantasy.Sarah reflects on a lifelong love of books that quite literally shaped her identity, sharing how she went from a child hauling stacks of library books home to a writer who sees storytelling as essential as food, water, and shelter. She opens up about writing from joy rather than pressure, the importance of stubbornness over talent, and why the act of writing itself is the most magical part of all. We also dive into the heart of The Spellshop, a cozy fantasy built on comfort, community, and a sentient spider plant who has stolen readers’ hearts. Sarah shares how the story began not with plot, but with a feeling — a desire to create a book that feels like a hug — and how that intention shaped every element of the world, from its gentle pacing to its sensory-rich details.Along the way, we explore Sarah’s philosophy of storytelling: that books should heal, that joy is a powerful creative force, and that cozy fantasy is not about lowering stakes, but about shifting them inward. Instead of saving the world, her stories focus on saving hearts, and in doing so, they offer readers something just as powerful.🩸 What if the most important story isn’t about saving the world, but saving yourself?🌿 Can a quiet, gentle story still carry emotional weight?☕ And what does it mean to create a world where readers can finally rest?This is a must-listen for cozy fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes stories should comfort as much as they captivate.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Why writing is driven by joy, not just discipline or talent. ✨ The role of stubbornness and consistency in building a writing career. ✨ How cozy fantasy emerged during a time when readers needed comfort most. ✨ The inspiration behind The Spellshop and writing stories that feel like a hug. ✨ Creating Kaz, the iconic sentient spider plant readers adore. ✨ The difference between cozy fantasy and epic fantasy pacing. ✨ The importance of sensory details in creating immersive, comforting worlds. ✨ Worldbuilding through “vibes” while still maintaining structure and rules. ✨ Expanding the Spellshop world with The Enchanted Greenhouse. CONNECT WITH US:🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sarah Beth Durst – @sarahbethdurst✨ If this episode felt like a warm hug, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fire bends to fury, power is forged in defiance, and women refuse to be ruled.This week, host Bethany Amanda and bookish influencer @IsidoraReads sit down with Sunday Times bestselling author Hazel McBride to celebrate her explosive debut, A Fate Forged in Fire. Hazel is bold, unfiltered, and fiercely intentional in her storytelling, and this conversation moves between confidence, worldbuilding, and the unapologetic power of female rage.Hazel reflects on her unconventional journey from working as a zookeeper and vet assistant to becoming a traditionally published fantasy author discovered through TikTok. She shares how writing was always a passion rather than a plan, what it took to step into traditional publishing, and why confidence was the foundation of her success. We also dive into the blazing heart of A Fate Forged in Fire, a matriarchal fantasy filled with dragons, political upheaval, and a heroine who embodies everything women are told not to be. Hazel unpacks the story of Aemyra, a hidden heir raised to reclaim her throne, whose carefully laid plans unravel when she collides with a rival dragon rider and a world far more complicated than she expected.🩸 What happens when power is your birthright but the world refuses to hand it over?🔥 Can rage be both destructive and liberating?⚔️ And what does a world ruled by women actually look like?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, dragon enthusiasts, and anyone craving stories that burn as fiercely as they inspire.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Growing up in Scotland and writing stories inspired by worlds like Narnia.✨ Transitioning from animal care to full-time author life. ✨ Being discovered by an agent through TikTok and landing a book deal. ✨ Why confidence, not credentials, made Hazel believe she could succeed. ✨ The realities of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing. ✨ Building a matriarchal fantasy world inspired by real animal hierarchies. ✨ Exploring themes of female rage, body autonomy, and systemic oppression. ✨ Writing morally complex, unapologetic female protagonists. And more! CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Isidora – @IsidoraReads📚 Hazel McBride – @hazelmcbrideauthor✨ If this episode left you ready to burn kingdoms and claim your crown, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fate is written in blood, love burns through impossible trials, and stories remind us that even in the darkest worlds, hope can still rise.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with romantasy sensation Sophia St. Germain, the author behind the viral Compelling Fates saga beginning with A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly. Sophia is warm, candid, and refreshingly honest about the realities of modern publishing, and this conversation moves between craft, career, community, and the emotional heart of storytelling with the depth Mythic Mic listeners live for.Sophia reflects on her journey from a childhood filled with fairy tales and imaginative diary entries in Sweden to building a thriving indie career and transitioning into hybrid publishing after her series exploded in popularity online. She shares what it was like to go from just a handful of preorders to thousands, to take a book viral through a single powerful scene, and to receive a life-changing traditional publishing offer while in the hospital about to give birth.We dive into the world of Compelling Fates, a sweeping romantasy following a half-fae spy bound by blood oath and forced into deadly political trials. Sophia unpacks the emotional core of our main character's journey — the struggle to belong, to claim your voice, and to stand for something larger than yourself in a world that isn’t built to protect you. We also explore the layered dynamics between the characters, and the delicate balance between loyalty, identity, and power.🩸 What does it mean to be bound by blood and still choose your own destiny?🕯️ How do you find your voice in a world that tells you to stay silent?⚔️ And what does it take to rise into power when you were never meant to have it?This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, indie authors, and anyone chasing a creative dream while navigating the realities of building a career.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Growing up in Sweden surrounded by stories and starting to write as a child.✨ Balancing motherhood, writing, and the demands of social media. ✨ The steep learning curve of indie publishing and finding your brand. ✨ The viral moment that launched Compelling Fates into thousands of readers. ✨ Transitioning from indie to hybrid publishing with Kensington. ✨ Building a multi-series shared fantasy universe with crossover characters. ✨ The core themes of Compelling Fates: belonging, identity, and self-acceptance. ✨ Treating writing as both an art and a business. ✨ Staying authentic online and finding joy in the creative process. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sophia St. Germain – @sophiastgermain_author✨ If this episode left you spellbound, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where history bleeds into magic, silence can be a form of power, and stories dare you to think as much as they make you feel.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling, genre-defying author Ava Reid to celebrate the release of her most ambitious novel yet, Innamorata. Ava is as candid, razor-sharp, and intellectually electric as her books, and this conversation moves between craft, career, controversy, and the philosophy of art with the kind of depth Mythic Mic listeners live for.Ava reflects on her evolution from a fanfiction writer on the early internet to a seasoned author who has weathered public backlash, editorial upheaval, and the emotional whiplash of publishing during COVID. She speaks about what it’s like to survive a deeply contentious book, rebuild her career on her own terms, and develop the “terrier-like” determination that keeps her going.We dive into the beating heart of Innamorata, a gothic, grimdark fantasy set on a conquered island where necromantic traditions have been buried but not forgotten. Ava unpacks the fraught, toxic, and mesmerizing relationship between cousins Agnes and Marozia, the Renaissance revenge epic that inspired the book, and the psychological complexity of selective mutism as both trauma response and source of power.Along the way, we explore Ava’s larger philosophy of storytelling: that art’s only obligation is to make people feel strongly and think interestingly. She challenges the trope-driven, trend-chasing pace of modern publishing, lamenting compressed editing timelines and “amusement park ride” books that vanish from the mind the moment you close them.🩸 What does freedom really mean when your past refuses to release you?🕯️ Can silence be both weapon and refuge?⚔️ And what happens when a gothic story centers two women instead of isolating one?This is a must-listen for dark fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes books should linger long after the last page.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Growing up writing fanfiction on the early internet. ✨ How Ava’s writing routine shifts between drafting, editing, and “admin life”.✨ Debuting during COVID, and what that meant for her confidence, jadedness, and learning to survive edit letters. ✨ The fallout of Juniper & Thorn and how it reshaped her career. ✨ Dropping an agent, pivoting to YA, and reclaiming creative agency. ✨ Why comparison and jealousy will “rot your soul” in publishing. ✨ Reading widely as the foundation for building a distinct authorial voice. ✨ Ava’s central thematic question across her work: What is freedom?✨ The origins of Innamorata: Renaissance revenge epics, matriarchal houses, and selective mutism. ✨ Why Innamorata is Ava’s most ambitious and best book to date. ✨ Why fantasy can — and should — be studied like “the classics”. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Ava Reid – @avasreid✨ If this episode left you in awe, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where winter bites, monsters are made by fear, and the stories we tell about ourselves can become the truths we live by. In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with indie fantasy author Isabella Stofka to dive into her chilling, atmospheric romantasy The Ice Queen and the Keeper of Death. Equal parts frosted fairytale and Greek myth–infused epic, this is the kind of winter story that creeps under your skin, makes you question who the “real” monsters are, and lingers long after the last page.Isabella opens up about her winding path to writing, from moving across the world to Okinawa to falling in love with fantasy through The Lunar Chronicles, Percy Jackson, and Once Upon a Time. She speaks candidly about being a “disorganized perfectionist,” battling burnout, and building a healthier writing routine after an intense year of back-to-back releases.We explore the heart of The Ice Queen and the Keeper of Death, a story told by three main characters: Wynter, a feared immortal born from a frozen river; Kieran, a mortal rebel whose hatred turns into something far more complicated; and Niav, an exiled assassin whose loyalty and vengeance simmer just beneath the surface. Isabella unpacks how Greek mythology, personal experience, and the haunting sensation of an ice bath shaped Wynter’s origin, and why being called “the Ice Queen” became the spark for an entire series.🧊 What makes someone a monster: their actions, or how others see them?💀 Can fear turn someone into exactly what others believe them to be?🗡️ And what happens when enemies begin to see each other clearly?This is a must-listen for lovers of winter romantasy, Greek myth–tinged fantasy, and anyone curious about the realities of indie publishing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Books and television series that shaped Isabella as a fantasy reader and writer. ✨ Being a “disorganized perfectionist” and finding a sustainable writing routine.✨ Publishing two books in one year and recovering from burnout.✨ The realities of indie publishing: street teams, marketing, and decision fatigue.✨ Why Isabella chose indie over traditional publishing, and why she doesn’t regret it. ✨ The basis forThe Ice Queen and the Keeper of Death and what inspired this story. ✨ Perception vs. reality and how it shapes heroes, villains, and everyone in between. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📦 Isabella Stofka – @Isabellastofka_author✨ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating & review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors discover The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where ancient magic lingers in starlight, dying worlds demand sacrifice, and epic quests are forged from heartbreak, hope, and destiny.  This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Venetia Constantine to discuss her breathtaking epic fantasy The Last Starborn Seer. Lush, expansive, and deeply emotional, this conversation pulls back the veil on a story that feels at once mythic, intimate, and utterly unforgettable.Venetia takes us through her long, winding path to publication — from growing up in London, falling in love with fantasy as a child, and studying art history, to returning to storytelling later in life as a mother of three. She speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, the persistence required to bring a debut into the world, and the humbling reality of how many people work behind the scenes to bring a book to life.We also dive into the deeply personal origins of The Last Starborn Seer — a world that has lived in Venetia’s imagination since childhood, and a story that ultimately crystallized during one of the darkest moments of her life. Venetia shares how trauma shaped her creative process, how fantasy became a refuge, and how themes of healing, self-acceptance, and environmental collapse came to define her epic tale.And of course, we sink into the dazzling world of Arcelia: a dying realm of  feuding kingdoms, cursed elemental magic, and a heroine burdened with dangerous prophetic power. We explore Leilani Stellarion — shunned princess, reluctant seer, and deeply human heart of the story — alongside Astrophel, her rival and reluctant betrothed, whose perspective reshaped the entire book.🌌 What does it mean to bear the future when it is slowly destroying you?✨ Can a broken world be saved without breaking the people who love it?⚔️ And how do you reconcile wonder and beauty with a society built on darkness?This episode is a must-listen for lovers of immersive, Tolkien-esque epic fantasy, readers who crave lyrical prose and emotional stakes, and aspiring authors dreaming of bringing their own lifelong worlds to the page.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Writing while raising three children and how to carve out time in your busy schedule.✨ Imposter syndrome and why it never truly goes away, even after publication.✨ Why community and support are essential for writers.✨ The beauty and terror of readers finally meeting your book. ✨ Practical querying advice, including agent one-on-ones and Manuscript Academy. ✨ The origins of Arcelia — a world that has lived in Venetia's mind since childhood✨ How a traumatic real-world event catalyzed the writing of this book. ✨ Fantasy as refuge, healing, and meaning-making. ✨ Leilani’s arc from sheltered, self-loathing princess to a heroine forced to confront truth. ✨ Why adding Astrophel’s POV transformed the novel. ✨ Balancing whimsy and darkness in a dying world. ✨ What The Last Starborn Seer represents to Venetia personally. ✨ Hints about Book Two and the true origins of “The Sickening”. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Venetia Constantine – @venetiaconstantine✨ If this episode left you in awe, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where darkness can be healing, stories are forged through survival, and determination turns wounds into wings.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with indie fantasy author, mentor, and writing-community pillar Kara M. Zone, author of Ashes Fall at Dawn. This conversation is raw, real, and deeply inspiring with equal parts craft talk, career truth, and mental health advocacy.Kara takes us through her long, nonlinear journey to authorship from writing dark stories as a child (yes, including a second-grade tale about Bambi’s death) to years of self-doubt, trauma, and survival, to finally waking up in her late twenties with characters who would not leave her alone until she wrote them down. She speaks candidly about neurodivergence, therapy, and how mental health has shaped not only her life but the DNA of her stories.We dive into the gritty realities of the indie path: ghostwriting under exploitative conditions, learning the hard way about marketing, losing money with a hybrid publisher, and ultimately choosing to take full creative control over her career. Kara is honest about what worked, what didn’t, and why resilience — not perfection — is what actually builds a sustainable writing life.We also sink into the world of Ashes Fall at Dawn and the larger series she’s building: a prophecy-driven, found-family epic full of magical bonds, morally complex villains, hedge mazes, hidden libraries, explosive power, and characters who refuse to be easy or tidy.🖤 What happens when darkness becomes the very thing that teaches you how to survive?🔥 How do you build confidence after years of being told you weren’t enough?✨ And what does it really mean to choose the indie path on your own terms?This episode is a must-listen for aspiring authors, indie writers, and readers who love messy, powerful, deeply human fantasy.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Kara’s early writing roots — from dark childhood stories to years of creative silence and how growing up in a traumatic environment shaped her art. ✨ CPTSD, neurodivergence, and why mental health representation is central to her work. ✨ Why she ultimately chose indie publishing, including a focus on control, timing, and creative ownership. ✨ Why traditional publishing isn’t the “golden ticket” many people think it is. ✨ How Kara built visibility through Instagram and indie community. ✨ The origin of Ashes Fall at Dawn and how it originally started as “book two”. ✨ The long revision process for Cinders Burn at Midnight before it became book one. ✨ Book Two’s intense, high-stakes weekend structure — gaslighting, stealth, and escape. ✨ Kara’s vision for the series: four interconnected trilogies about hope and growth✨ Why “failure” doesn’t exist — only pivots and persistence. ✨ Advice for aspiring authors, including start now, keep going, and call yourself a writer. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Kara M. Zone – @karamzone_writes✨ If this episode left you in awe, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where craft meets magic, love stories are built with intention, and the stories you dream of writing finally start to take shape. This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling author, YouTuber, and writing expert Jenna Moreci to break down one of the most requested topics we’ve ever had on the show: how to actually write a romantasy.Jenna joins us to celebrate her craft guide How to Write Romantasy, a powerhouse resource designed to help writers structure compelling love stories in fantastical worlds—from characters and plot to spice, pacing, and emotional payoff. In this episode, Jenna shares her journey from writing romantasy long before the genre even had a name to becoming one of its leading voices. She talks about the moment a major publisher reached out to her to write this book (which she almost deleted as spam), her lifelong love of fantasy romance, and why romantasy has always been what readers wanted, even before the industry caught up.We dive deep into the rules of romantasy, what separates fantasy romance from romantic fantasy, and why so many writers accidentally write a fantasy with a romantic subplot instead of a true romantasy. Jenna walks us through her step-by-step structure for romantasy storytelling, including meet-cutes, inciting incidents, dark nights of the soul, and the concept that changed our brains: the intimacy destination. Along the way, we get candid about over-saturation fears, the pressure to include spice, the truth about trope trends, and how to build a world that supports your romance instead of overshadowing it. ✨ What makes a romantasy story actually work?💔 How do you keep romantic tension alive across an entire series?🔥 And how do you write spice that’s intentional, varied, and emotionally meaningful?Whether you’re drafting your first romantasy, revising your current manuscript, or just want to understand why your favorite books hit so hard, this episode is a masterclass in both craft and confidence.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Jenna’s journey from lifelong romantasy fan to bestselling author and craft expert.  ✨ What romantasy actually is and why it has exploded in popularity. ✨ Why the genre is not “oversaturated” and why there’s room for every author’s voice. ✨ The core rules of romantasy. ✨ How to tell if your book is romantasy or just a fantasy with a romantic subplot✨ The essential romantasy story structure, from meet-cute to climax to resolution.✨ The concept of an intimacy destination and how it keeps readers hooked across a series. ✨ How to build a fantasy world that supports your romance without falling into worldbuilder’s disease. ✨ Tropes Jenna loves (forbidden love!) and ones she hopes evolve (enemies-to-lovers done right). ✨ How to approach spice, from clean to smut, and why you should only write what fits you and your audience. ✨ What makes a spice scene memorable vs repetitive (yes, we went there). ✨ Why variety, emotional purpose, and character growth matter more than explicitness. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jenna Moreci – @JennaMoreci✨ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating & review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors discover The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic is born from rage and resilience, power is written in blood and choice, and stories dare you to feel everything at once.  This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with rising romantasy author Jaclyn Rodriguez to celebrate her breakout debut, A Vow in Vengeance, which delivers deadly bargains, tarot magic, forced proximity, and one of the most addictive enemies-to-lovers dynamics we’ve read this year. Jaclyn brings the perfect blend of warmth, humor, and honesty to this conversation as she shares her journey from relentless querying and 100+ rejections to landing her debut in a whirlwind auction. She opens up about the delusion, determination, and deep love of story that carried her through the hardest parts of publishing, and why perseverance is the single most important trait an author can have.We dive deep into the world of A Vow in Vengeance: a brutal selection process that sends mortals into an immortal realm, a heroine fueled by grief and fury, and a prince who is just as dangerous as he is compelling. Jaclyn unpacks the tarot-based magic system, the layered power hierarchies, and the central thematic tension between vengeance and justice that defines Rune’s emotional arc.Along the way, we explore the kind of main character we don’t see enough of—a furious, unyielding FMC who is willing to burn everything down to get what she deserves—and the MMC who meets her fire with strategy, sarcasm, and just enough vulnerability to make it hurt.🔥 What does it mean to want vengeance instead of justice?🗡️ How do power, trauma, and rage shape the choices we make?🃏 And what happens when two people bound by necessity become each other’s greatest weapon—and greatest risk?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, aspiring authors navigating the querying trenches, and anyone who loves morally complex characters, magical systems with bite, and stories that refuse to play it safe.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Jaclyn’s path to publication, including writing 10 books and facing 100+ rejections before her debut.  ✨ How perseverance, “delusion,” and support systems helped her push through imposter syndrome. ✨ he premise of A Vow in Vengeance: a deadly selection, an immortal realm, and a heroine who will burn the world down for her family. ✨ The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Rue and Prince Draven—and why forced proximity makes it even more explosive. ✨ The tarot-based magic system, power hierarchies, and symbolism behind “The World” card. ✨ The thematic core of vengeance vs. justice and how Rune’s perspective evolves across the story. ✨ Writing an unapologetically angry female main character—and why spite queens are unforgettable. ✨ How Draven unexpectedly took over the book and reshaped the story during drafting.✨ Why Jaclyn wants her books to be readers’ comfort worlds—even when they’re dark, violent, and emotionally intense. ✨ What we can expect from Book 2, including higher stakes, bigger twists, and a completed duology arc. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jaclyn Rodriguez – @JaclynRodriguezAuthor✨ If this episode inspired you, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where art becomes story, imagination becomes world, and creativity is as much about community as it is about craft.  This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with artist-turned-author Riley S. Quinn to talk about her stunning self-published romantasy Gold & Gossamer. This is a conversation about visual storytelling, creative obsession, and what happens when a single animation accidentally blooms into an entire epic fantasy world.Riley pulls back the curtain on how her background in film, animation, and storyboarding shaped her prose, her pacing, and the cinematic feel of her writing. We explore the beautiful, porous boundary between art and story, including how some scenes had to be drawn before they could be written, and how switching between mediums kept her creative energy alive over two years of drafting.We dive into the heart of Gold & Gossamer: a mage king trying desperately to appear infallible, a terrifyingly powerful fairy queen who refuses to conform, and a star-crossed dynamic built on yearning, vulnerability, and self-discovery. Riley unpacks the symbolism behind her title — why gold and gossamer perfectly mirror her leads — and how the book is as much about self-love as it is about romance.We also get refreshingly honest about self-publishing: why Riley chose it, how she designs her own covers, why affordability matters to her, and what it’s really like building a story in public with a deeply engaged community watching every step.🌿 What happens when a fairy queen and a human king are forced into an impossible alliance?✨ How can art literally shape a story into existence?💛 And what does it mean to be loved most deeply when you are your truest self?This episode is a must-listen for romantasy readers, aspiring authors, artists who dream in story, and anyone obsessed with beautiful worlds born from pure imagination.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How art came first for Riley and how her story followed. ✨ The accidental birth of Gold & Gossamer from two TikTok animations. ✨ Why Riley loves self-publishing, including creative control, pricing, and design. ✨ The symbolism of gold (strong, but secretly soft) and gossamer (delicate, but unbreakable) and how that fits into her book. ✨ Why the book is ultimately about self-love more than romance. ✨ Why endings should be hopeful, not cruel. ✨ Building a story alongside her online community. ✨ Marketing by worldbuilding, not sales tactics. ✨ Plans for a sequel and possibly special editions and art prints. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Riley S. Quinn – @RileyQuinnArt✨ If you were inspired by this episode, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where grief meets magic, winter holds its breath, and love asks you to be brave even when it will break you.  This week, host Bethany Amanda sits down with New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Griffin to talk about her deeply moving novel, The Sun and the Starmaker. Equal parts luminous and devastating, this conversation weaves together craft, personal resilience, and the kind of love that lingers long after the last page.Rachel takes us from her winding path into writing — from a career in diagnostic ultrasound to rediscovering her voice late at night on an old laptop — to the realities of querying, submission, rejection, and eventual success with The Nature of Witches. She offers honest insight into what persistence really looks like, why “no” is rarely forever, and how working on the next book saved her during long seasons of uncertainty.We also dive into one of the most powerful parts of Rachel’s story: surviving a traumatic brain injury, navigating an often-dismissive medical system, and ultimately finding life-changing treatment. Rachel shares how her recovery reshaped her relationship with storytelling, how The Sun and the Starmaker quite literally helped her relearn how to write, and why she’s now a passionate advocate for concussion research — including donating $1 from every preorder to the Concussion Research Laboratory.And of course, we sink into the icy, whimsical world of The Sun and the Starmaker: a land beyond the reach of sunlight, a weary immortal sorcerer who pulls the sun across the sky, and a love story that asks whether loving someone is worth the inevitable heartbreak.🌙 What does it mean to love fully when you know loss is inevitable?❄️ How can winter be both cruel and strangely tender?✨ And what happens when a book becomes not just a story but a lifeline?This episode is a must-listen for readers who love wintry fairy tales, aspiring authors chasing their own publishing dreams, and anyone who believes stories can heal.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨Rachel’s journey from healthcare to writing and why she returned to storytelling.✨ Querying for over a year and why slow success can still be the right success. ✨ Why your first book doesn’t have to be “the one”. ✨ Surviving a traumatic brain injury and Rachel's advocacy for concussion awareness and better treatment. ✨ How The Sun and the Starmaker became part of Rachel's recovery. ✨ Aurora, the stubborn mortal beyond the sunlight, and her enchanted icebound world. ✨ Why loving someone — knowing you may lose them — is the ultimate act of bravery. ✨ What Rachel is working on next and why it’s a big departure from her prior works. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Rachel Griffin – @timesnewRachel✨ Loved this episode? Leave us a rating and review — it helps more fantasy and romantasy readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where epic quests begin childhood notebooks, gods get their love stories, and indie fantasy builds worlds without limits. This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by indie fantasy author Beck Michaels, creator of the sprawling Guardians of the Maiden series and the god-centered romantasy prequels King’s Bride and King’s Kiss. From writing toucan reunion stories in elementary school to building multi-series fantasy lore inspired by forests, rain, and classic epic fantasy, Beck shares the deeply personal creative roots behind her worlds.We dive into her journey from teenage notebook drafts to indie publishing success, why she chose creative control over the traditional path, and how her stories expanded from a quest-driven found-family epic into darker, adult fairy-tale romances centered on gods, monsters, and mythic love. Beck also takes us behind the scenes of indie special editions, painted edges, and character covers, and explains how experimentation helped her stand out early in the indie space.We also talk about writing outside your comfort zone, discovering themes after the story is written, and why some of her most powerful character moments come straight from real-life lines spoken by her husband.🗺️ What happens when a teenage fantasy draft refuses to stay unfinished?🦢 How do epic quests and godly romances grow from the same world?🖤 And why do dark gods deserve their happy endings too?This episode is a must-listen for epic fantasy readers, romantasy lovers, and indie authors building worlds of their own.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Beck’s early writing roots from elementary school storybooks to high school epic fantasy drafts. ✨ How Lord of the Rings, fairy lore, and nature shaped the Guardians world. ✨ Pausing writing to raise a family and returning years later to finish the story. ✨ Choosing indie publishing to keep creative control over story, covers, and direction. ✨ The massive learning curve behind indie publishing success. ✨ The Guardians of the Maiden series — epic quest fantasy, found family, magical relics, and shadow demons. ✨ Expanding the same world into adult god-centered romantasy with King’s Bride and King’s Kiss. ✨ Rune, the god of shadows, and why villains need love stories too. ✨ Building special editions as an indie author, including painted edges, boxes, merch, and production challenges. ✨ Real-life inspiration — how her husband’s words become romantic dialogue✨ Writing themes that appear subconsciously, including forgiveness, self-acceptance, loving the “monstrous” parts. ✨ Advice for aspiring writers. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📦 Guest: Beck Michaels – @Beck_Michaels✨ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating & review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors discover The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where beauty and brutality coexist, trauma is treated with reverence, and fantasy becomes a language for healing.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with Louve-CH, author of the hauntingly lyrical romantasy Awakening of the Starborne. This conversation explores what it means to write through pain, to build worlds that can hold broken things, and to trust your voice even when it scares you.Louve takes us inside the emotional origin of Awakening of the Starborn, including how big, unmanageable feelings and a season of personal upheaval became the catalyst for a story steeped in trauma, resilience, and transformation. We talk heroines shaped differently by the same wounds, the power of lyrical prose to hold contradiction, and why she intentionally refused non-linear flashbacks in favor of a grounded, linear journey.We dive deep into Savae’s arc: a feral, stubborn, trauma-forged heroine navigating deadly trials, an elite war university, dragons, and a world that is at once breathtakingly beautiful and relentlessly dangerous. Louve unpacks how healing shows up on the page — not as instant transformation, but as repetition, backsliding, and slow, hard-won growth.We also get candid about the realities of indie publishing: seven months of editing, rewriting an entire 196,000-word book into present-tense lyrical prose, the sting of negative reviews for experimental writing styles, and the joy of a street team that feels like found family. This is a conversation about craft, courage, and the radical act of writing the book only you could write.🐺 What happens when a “wolf-raised” inner child finds her way into epic fantasy?✨ How can lyrical prose carry both beauty and devastation at once?🔥 And what does real, messy healing look like when dragons are involved?This episode is a must-listen for readers who love emotionally rich fantasy, aspiring authors wrestling with doubt, and anyone who believes stories can be both ferocious and tender.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Writing through grief, overwhelm, and “big emotions” — and why channeling them into art saved Louve. ✨ The idea of women being shaped differently by the same trauma. ✨ Choosing lyrical prose to hold contradiction, emotion, and atmosphere. ✨ Switching an entire debut novel from first-person past to present tense for immediacy. ✨ Savae as a feral, stubborn, deeply wounded heroine — and why that matters. ✨ Deadly trials, an elite war university, dragons, and the cutthroat worldbuilding of Awakening of the Starborne. ✨ First-person POV as a tool for intentional confusion, immersion, and emotional impact. ✨ Facing criticism of lyrical styles (à la When the Moon Hatched) and choosing her audience anyway. ✨ Writing for her inner child — and for readers who have lived through trauma. ✨ Letting characters (especially Savae) derail the plot — and writing around them. ✨ The secret subplots that will span the trilogy and a future prequel series. ✨ Why debut authors should take their time: “You only publish your debut once.”✨ Comparison, bad reviews, and why you must know who you’re writing for.CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Louve-CH – @uniqueradiance✨ Loved this episode? Leave us a rating and review — it helps more fantasy and romantasy readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where great books deserve great reach, author dreams meet real-world marketing, and bookish community is built on purpose. This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with Rachel Skye, founder of The Nerd Fam — a reader-first book marketing and outreach company connecting authors with the audiences who are most excited to discover them. If you’ve ever wondered how ARC campaigns, reader lists, influencer boxes, and PR outreach actually work behind the scenes, this episode pulls back the curtain.Rachel shares how Nerd Fam grew from BookTok roots into a values-driven author marketing hub, why she focuses on community fit over vanity metrics, and how thoughtful reader matching creates stronger long-term results than flashy one-day buzz. We talk about realistic expectations for review rates, the truth about reach vs. virality, and why gorgeous PR boxes are not always the right first step for a debut author.We also dig into ethical marketing practices, reader privacy, AI concerns in author promotion, and what success really looks like beyond bestseller lists and social media hype.📦 Are PR boxes the best move — or the last move — in an author marketing plan?📊 Why are review expectations so often misunderstood?🎯 And what actually gives authors the highest return on their marketing investment?This episode is essential listening for indie authors, debut writers, and anyone trying to understand how modern book marketing really works.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How The Nerd Fam started and the gap Rachel saw between indie and traditionally published author support. ✨ What Nerd Fam actually does (and doesn’t do) in the book marketing space. ✨ “Bookish Santa” vs bookish matchmaker — connecting the right books with the right readers. ✨ Building a values-aligned reader community and why cultural fit matters. ✨ AI use in promotion and why Nerd Fam screens for it. ✨ Reader signups, campaigns, and how authors and readers get matched. ✨ What expectations Nerd Fam has for readers and why honesty matters more than hype. ✨ ARC campaigns vs influencer mailings vs PR boxes and when each makes sense. ✨ Why debut authors should focus on review foundations before luxury campaigns. ✨ Vanity metrics vs real success and what actually sustains an author career. ✨ Setting realistic marketing expectations and playing the long game. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📦 Guest: The Nerd Fam – @thenerdfam✨ Love these behind-the-scenes publishing conversations? Leave a rating & review — it helps more authors and readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where power is forged in fire, gods are never what they seem, and love can burn as brightly as it saves.  This week, host Sara Santillan is joined by our returning Quicksilver influencer, Jan from @JanBookShelf for a full-spoiler deep dive into Brimstone, the explosive second installment in Callie Hart’s Quicksilver series. If you’ve read Brimstone, buckle in — and if you haven’t, proceed with caution, because we go all the way into the rot, the gods, the fire sprites, and that jaw-dropping ending.Together, Sara and her guest unpack Saeris's transformation from street survivor to Queen of the Blood Court, the evolution of her bond with Kingfisher, and what it truly means to wield power in a world that is literally unraveling. They explore how Saeris's identity as half-fey, half-vampire reshapes not only her sense of self but the political landscape around her, and how her choices are already rippling toward an inevitable war.We dive deep into the nature of the rot, the devastating truth behind brimstone, and the ethical nightmare of what it may cost to stop the decay consuming the realm. They debate whether the rot is divine, magical, or something even more sinister, and what that means for book three.You’ll also hear a heartfelt exploration of Saeris's relationships — her fierce devotion to family, her found family, and her unforgettable bond with Kingfisher. From dream-walking to desperate rescues, Sara and Jan reflect on how their love for the series has deepened, grown, and been tested in ways that feel both epic and intimate.Of course, no Brimstone deep dive would be complete without celebrating Carrion and Onyx — the chaos duo we didn’t know we needed. The pair break down why Carrion’s role feels less like a love triangle and more like a vital, platonic alliance, and why his future could be pivotal to the war ahead.Finally, they wrestle with the gods and the haunting question of who is really pulling the strings in this world. Is anyone truly trustworthy? And what will Saeris have to become to survive what’s coming?🩸 What does it truly mean to rule a kingdom built on blood and fire?🔥 How far is too far when the world itself is rotting?👑 And what will Saeris sacrifice to become the queen she is destined to be?This is a must-listen for Quicksilver fans, dark romantasy lovers, and anyone obsessed with morally complex heroines and world-shaking stakes.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Saeris's evolution from Quicksilver to Brimstone. ✨ Power, identity, and the cost of leadership. ✨ The nature of the rot and the truth of brimstone. ✨ The fire sprites and the moral stakes of magic. ✨ Saeris's and Kingfisher’s bond, and what that means for fate, love, and sacrifice.✨ Carrion, Onyx, and the power of platonic loyalty. ✨ Predictions and theories for Book 3. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Jan – @janbookshelf✨ Loved this deep dive? Leave us a rating and review — it helps more fantasy and romantasy readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where ambition becomes art, illusions blur morality, and a failed acting career might just be the best writing origin story.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut romantasy author Madeline Taylor, whose book Heir of Illusion is already taking the genre by storm. Equal parts hilarious, unfiltered and deeply insightful, Madeline walks us through her winding path from unsuccessful actress, to  English degree, to self-publishing, to a whirlwind traditional publishing deal in a matter of months.We talk about what it really looks like to write a book during grief, burnout, and mental health struggles, and how spite, therapy, and sheer determination helped her push through anyway. Madeline is refreshingly candid about money stress, timing, and the emotional whiplash of being courted by agents and editors while still trying to pay for wisdom teeth surgery.Then we dive into the deliciously dark world of Heir of Illusion: a female assassin bound to a ruthless king, a mysterious Shadow Reaper, and illusion magic that is as morally tricky as it is powerful. Madeline unpacks Ivy’s journey from self-punishment to self-worth, the seductive danger of invisibility, and why she loves writing razor-sharp banter more than anything.🗡️ What happens when spite becomes your greatest creative fuel?🖤 How do illusions blur the line between survival and morality?🔥 And what does it really take to go from indie debut to trad deal in record time?This is a must-listen for romantasy readers, aspiring authors, and anyone who loves messy heroines, shadow daddies, and brutally good cliffhangers.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Madeline’s unlikely journey from failed acting to published author. ✨ How spite — and someone underestimating her — became a powerful motivator. ✨ The reality of self-publishing on a shoestring budget. ✨ Auctions, foreign rights, and the surreal speed of her trad deal. ✨ Why writing is a business — and how she treated it like one. ✨ Illusion magic, invisibility, and moral grayness in Heir of Illusion. ✨ Banter as Madeline’s favorite thing to write and why scripts helped her master dialogue. ✨ Her favorite and hardest chapters to write. ✨ That evil cliffhanger and why Madeline stands by it. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Madeline Taylor – @madelinetaylorauthor✨ Loved this episode? Leave us a rating and review — it helps more fantasy and romantasy readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where spite can birth stories, birds carry omens, and every book has a secret behind its wings.  This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with Braidee Otto, author of Songbird of the Sorrows, for a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring for aspiring authors.Braidee takes us from her childhood struggles with reading (and a very memorable moment of classroom humiliation) to the exact moment a holographic Del Toro Quest cover rewired her brain and set her on a lifelong path as a ferocious reader and writer. We talk hyperfocus, ADHD, all-or-nothing creativity, and what four straight months of writing actually look like.We also dive into Braidee’s wild publishing journey from indie release, to shock translation and audio offers before her book even hit shelves, to signing with an agent just weeks later, and eventually landing a traditional deal. Along the way, she shares refreshingly honest insights about fear, self-doubt, relinquishing control, and why gorgeous covers really do matter.And of course, we sink our teeth into Songbird of the Sorrows — a princess-turned-spy competing in deadly bridal trials, caught between duty, desire, and a former flame who is now her handler.🕊️ What happens when spite turns into a lifelong love of stories?🗡️ What if your biggest writing breakthrough came before you even realized you were being watched?🔥 And what does it really take to move from indie to trad without losing your creative soul?This episode is a must-listen for romantasy readers, epic fantasy lovers, and any aspiring author wondering what the publishing journey actually looks like.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Braidee’s unforgettable childhood reading story and how spite became her superpower.✨ Four-month hyperfocus writing sprints and what her real writing days look like.✨ The ADHD conversation and “all-or-nothing” creative brains.✨ Writing through self-doubt and why the fear hit hardest after finishing the book.✨ Navigating indie to trad in record time. ✨ Why investing in your cover can literally change your career. ✨ A deep dive into Songbird of the Sorrows: deadly bridal trials, spies, and second chances. ✨ Why Braidee wants readers to remember how the book made them feel. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Braidee Otto – @braideeottobooks✨ If you loved this episode, please rate and review — it helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where great stories deserve great craft, world building goes beyond imagination, and the details you don't see can matter the most. This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with Hannah Gomez, Senior Editor and Director of Cultural Accuracy and Sensitivity Editorial Services at Kevin Anderson & Associates, for one of the most eye-opening craft conversations we’ve had yet — especially for aspiring authors.We dive into what cultural accuracy and sensitivity editing actually means (and what it doesn’t), why fantasy and invented worlds are never as disconnected from real history as we think, and how small overlooked details can quietly break reader trust. Hannah shares how her work helps authors strengthen their stories, avoid unintentional harm, and build more immersive, believable worlds — not by policing creativity, but by sharpening it.From goblin stereotypes with real historical roots to cookbook naming pitfalls to fantasy races that accidentally mirror real-world bias, this episode pulls back the curtain on blind spots most writers never realize they have until someone shows them.📚 What if your “made-up” fantasy race isn’t actually neutral?🔍 What tiny detail can break reader trust instantly?🧠 And how can curiosity — not fear — make your writing stronger?If you’re an aspiring author, fantasy writer, or worldbuilder, this episode is a must-listen craft masterclass.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ What cultural accuracy and sensitivity editing actually is and why the name evolved. ✨ The difference between “sensitivity” and simple factual or cultural accuracy. ✨ Why fantasy worlds are never truly disconnected from real cultures and history. ✨ Hidden historical roots behind common fantasy tropes (including goblins and witches). ✨ The “IMDb goof” effect — how one wrong detail can pull readers out of a story. ✨ Blind spots authors commonly have in both fiction and nonfiction. ✨ Writing outside your lived experience and best practices that actually help. ✨ Three essential self-check questions every author should ask while drafting. ✨ How cultural accuracy edits work behind the scenes. ✨ Budgeting for cultural accuracy edits as part of your publishing plan. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📖 Guest: Hannah Gomez, Cultural Accuracy & Sensitivity Editor at Kevin Anderson & Associates: @KaWriting✨ Mention this episode when reaching out to Kevin Anderson & Associates and Hannah will extend a listener discount on her services.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fantasy romance spans every mood, tropes are meant to be devoured, and writing careers are built one brave decision at a time. In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling romantasy author Tessonja Odette to talk about her genre-spanning catalog, her indie-to-traditional publishing journey, and her upcoming dark fantasy romance, The Lies That Summon The Night. From cozy fae rom-coms to shadowy, art-forbidden worlds filled with monsters and hunters, Tessonja shares how experimentation, persistence, and reader awareness shaped her career.We dive into Tessonja's 15-year road to publishing her first book, why “failing forward” in indie publishing helped her find her true voice, and how paying attention to reader behavior and market shifts led her to pursue a traditional deal. We also explore her creative process, how she pushes through self-doubt and writer’s block, and why finding your writing crew might be the single most important step for aspiring authors.Then we step into the dark, dangerous world of her newest release, where art is illegal, artists are fugitives, shadow monsters are drawn to creativity, and survival may depend on an uneasy alliance with a deadly hunter.🎨 What if creating art could get you hunted?🩸 What if your only protection came from the one man who could turn you in?🕯️ And what happens when dark fantasy, romance, and rebellion collide?This episode is a must-listen for romantasy readers, trope lovers, and aspiring authors navigating their own publishing path.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Tessonja’s creative roots in art, music, and punk bands, and why she ultimately chose writing. ✨ The 15-year journey behind her first novel and the reality of rewriting, doubt, and persistence. ✨ Imposter syndrome, research overwhelm, and pushing through creative paralysis. ✨ Why publishing her early work — even when it didn’t succeed — helped her grow faster. ✨ Experimenting across fae fantasy, fairy tale retellings, cozy rom-coms, and dark fantasy romance. ✨ The shift in indie vs. traditional fantasy romance audiences and what changed.✨ How watching reader behavior helped guide her publishing strategy.✨ Why genre-shifting is becoming more accepted for authors. ✨ The importance of finding your writing crew and peer support circle. ✨ Recurring themes in her books: found family and romance as emotional healing. ✨ Inside The Lies That Summon the Night: forbidden art, outlaw storytellers, shadow monsters, and a half-vampire hunter hero. ✨ Why emotional damage is basically her brand promise to readers. ✨ Teasing book two (already written) and what’s next in the trilogy. CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Tessonja Odette – @tessonja✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If you loved this episode, leave us a review — it helps more fantasy and romantasy readers discover The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast — where old stories are reborn, fairy tales grow teeth, and fantasy dares to ask harder questions about love, identity, and choice.This week, host Bethany Amanda is joined by bestselling author Lyra Selene, the mind behind The Fair Folk Trilogy — A Feather So Black, A Crown So Silver, and the just-released finale, A Heart So Green. If you love Celtic folklore, mythic romance, morally complex characters, and fairy tales that refuse to stay simple, this conversation is for you.Lyra takes us deep into the origins of The Fair Folk Trilogy, from living in rural Ireland as a child to falling in love with Irish mythology, wild landscapes, and the question of why we keep returning to the same stories over and over again. We talk about her lifelong relationship with storytelling, the winding road to publication, and why perseverance — not talent — is often the deciding factor in an author’s career.We also dive into what makes this trilogy so emotionally resonant: a changeling heroine caught between worlds, a Swan Princess story turned inside out, and relationships built on tension between what a character wants and what they truly need. Lyra opens up about writing complicated heroines, controversial love triangles, and villains who genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing — even when they’re not.🦢 What happens when the Swan Princess isn’t the hero?🌿 How do myth, landscape, and folklore shape a fantasy world from the inside out?💔 And why are the most devastating endings often the most honest?This episode is a love letter to mythic fantasy, character-driven storytelling, and the beauty of bittersweet endings that linger long after the final page.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Lyra’s childhood spent moving between countries, including a formative year in Ireland, and how that shaped her imagination.✨ The Fair Folk Trilogy as a Celtic-inspired reimagining of Swan Lake and The Swan Princess.✨ Writing fantasy that feels mythic, lyrical, deeply romantic, and grounded.✨ Why Lyra considers herself a character-first writer and how internal vs. external wants drive story tension. ✨ Love triangles, banter, and relationships that force characters to confront who they really are. ✨ Turning the Swan Princess into the villain, and why Lyra believes great villains never think they’re the villain. ✨ The theme of self-acceptance and choosing yourself over romance. ✨ The realities of publishing: multiple books that didn’t sell, switching agents, and learning to keep your eyes on your own paper. ✨ What to expect from A Heart So Green, including new POVs, higher stakes, and an ending that is earned, bittersweet, and unforgettable. ✨ What Lyra is working on next, including a Roaring Twenties–inspired adult fantasy standalone. 🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Guest Author: Lyra Selene – @lyraselene✨ Loved this episode? Leaving a rating or review helps more fantasy readers discover The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast where creativity meets courage, stories are shaped long before they're written, and finishing a book starts with believing. This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with writing coach Rachel Giffin, whose blend of mindset work, emotional intelligence, structure, and tough love has helped countless writers finally finish the book they’ve been dreaming of. Rachel brings an authenticity and clarity to the writing process that is rare — one that cuts through fear, perfectionism, and overwhelm to get to the truth: you can do this, even when it feels impossible.Rachel shares her path from film school to writing to coaching, how she discovered her gift for guiding writers through resistance, and why she believes emotional regulation is just as important as craft. We unpack what really stops writers from completing their books, the questions she uses to break through mental blocks, and how to show up for your writing even when motivation disappears.🔥 What happens when you stop waiting to “feel ready”?📝 Why the stories we write are often the ones we’re scared to face💪 And how a writing coach can help you build not just a book but a writing identityWhether you’re drafting your first novel or revisiting a project you’ve abandoned 10 times, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, strengthened, and ready to return to the page.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Rachel became a writing coach and why confidence, not talent, is often the missing piece✨ The mindset patterns she sees most often in writers and how to break them✨ Why open-mindedness matters more than experience when working with a coach✨ The real role of a writing coach vs. what people think coaches do✨ Why perfectionism, fear, and emotional overwhelm stop writers more than craft issues✨ Rachel’s signature question-based coaching method and how it rewires resistance✨ How to build a writing habit even on days when motivation evaporates✨ The importance of separating facts from feelings✨ Her favorite client success stories — and the moment she knew she was meant to do this work🐦 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Guest: Rachel Giffin – @rachel_giffin_writes✨ If this episode gave you the push you needed to return to your book, leave us a rating & review — it helps more writers find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast — where fantasy blends craft and culture, heroines rise from discipline and conviction, and every story has a fire at its core.In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut author Sarah Mughal Rana, whose upcoming fantasy novel Dawn of the Firebird is already one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Rooted in Sarah’s lifelong martial arts practice, her cultural heritage, and years of deep historical and philosophical study, this book delivers the kind of character-first, world-rich epic fantasy we can’t stop thinking about.Sarah takes us behind the curtain of her writing journey — from drafting the earliest version of this book in high school, to joining Pitch Wars, to working with an agent who encouraged her to strip away the very cultural heart that made her story whole. She talks openly about walking away, finding an agent who championed the book as it truly is, and the long road from deal announcement to publication date.We also dive into the intense physicality of her heroine, the discipline and spirituality embedded in the world, and the way Sarah’s love of anime, history, and myth wove themselves together to shape an epic that feels as intimate as it is cinematic.🔥 What does it take to write a heroine forged in discipline rather than destiny?🕊️ How does a story evolve when an author refuses to compromise what matters?⚔️ And how do martial arts, culture, and philosophy become the backbone of an entire fantasy trilogy?This is a powerful conversation about resilience, creativity, and honoring the story only you can tell.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How real martial arts training shaped Khamilla's movement, mindset, and emotional arc.✨ The cultural influences behind the Firebird and why the book draws on ancient mythology without replicating Western fantasy traditions.✨ The role of discipline, faith, and philosophy in building a world and a heroine.✨ Sarah’s Pitch Wars experience and what she learned about standing firm in her creative identity.✨ Navigating agents, bad advice, and finding the right advocate for your work.✨ The long acquisition-to-publication timeline and how it changed her writing.✨ Why anime became a structural and emotional influence for the trilogy.✨ What Sarah is working on next, including a chess-inspired fantasy.💫 CONNECT WITH US📖 Follow Sarah Mughal Rana – IG: @sarahmughal769🎙️ Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️Sara Santillan – IG: @The_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMic✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If you loved this episode, please leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut author Elise Helliwell, whose dazzling time-travel romance Within the Space of a Second will leave you questioning fate, time, and the meaning of love itself.Set against a backdrop of mystery and magic, this novel follows an introverted academic and a charismatic time traveler whose destinies collide across years and realities. It’s emotional, intricate, and breathtakingly romantic — the perfect blend of Divine Rivals, The Seven Year Slip, and A Discovery of Witches.🕰️ What if you could go back in time to uncover the truth about your past?💫 What if every difference you thought made you strange was the key to your destiny?🔥 And what if the love of your life had already met you in another timeline?Elise joins us from Queensland, Australia, to talk about her unconventional path from radiographer to author, the early mornings spent writing before sunrise, and the power of believing in your story even when no one else knows it exists.✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📚 How Within the Space of a Second was born — finished just one day before Elise gave birth to her first child⏰ Writing between 4 and 5:30 a.m. (and why discipline beats “free time” every time)🏆 How Elise landed her publishing deal with Atria (Simon & Schuster) through a live pitch competition💔 The emotional heart of her story — that our differences make us extraordinary💋 The “forbidden touch” first kiss scene that placed second in the Romance Writers of Australia’s First Kiss Competition🕯️ Time travel, hidden identities, found family, and the soul-deep ache of a he falls first love story📖 What aspiring authors can learn from Elise’s writing process and her top advice on edits, pitching, and perseverance🪶 Sneak peek: Book two in The Mark of the Time Traveler series — and a contemporary rom-com she describes as Bridget Jones’s Diary meets The Love Hypothesis💫 CONNECT WITH US📖 Follow Elise Helliwell – IG: @elisehelliwellauthor🎙️ Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️Sara Santillan – IG: @The_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)🛒 Within the Space of a Second releases November 25 (Kindle Unlimited) and May (US hardcover) through Atria/Simon & Schuster — add it to your TBR now!✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you believe in love across time, second chances, or early-morning writing miracles, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where worlds are built one choice at a time, magic always has a cost, and we believe side characters deserve just as much obsession as main ones.This week, we’re returning to Alchemised for Part 2 of our deep-dive discussion. If Part 1 was about the plot, main characters, and emotional impact, this episode is about everything beneath it — the gods, the history, the side characters, and the uncomfortable question of which side is "good" when it comes to war.Hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined again by artist and Alchemised superfan Karina Giada, who returns to help us peel back every narrative layer. We dig into the origins of alchemy, the celestial history of Sol, Lumithia, and Luna, and how one divine catastrophe reshaped the world. We also talk about why the Order of the Eternal Flame may not be as righteous as they seem, how religion became a weapon of control, and the moral line the resistance refused to cross to win the war. Finally, we spend time on some major side characters, including Luc, Lila, and Soren. This episode is for readers who love deep worldbuilding, ethical gray zones, and the kind of magic systems that reveal character as much as they drive plot.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS…✨ The celestial origin of alchemy and why lumithium changed everything.✨ Sol, Lumithia, and Luna, and how the gods/celestial objects still shape the world even in the background.✨ The moral dilemma of necromancy and whether the Resistance made the right call. ✨ Why the Order’s version of “purity” starts to look like control. ✨ Side characters who quietly redefine the narrative, including Lila and Soren, and whether Helena had a crush on Luc. ✨ How history decides who the heroes were, and how this story challenges that.📚 Missed Part 1? Go listen to that one first — it sets the groundwork for everything here. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.CONNECT WITH US:🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤Host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤Host Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill🎨 Guest: Karina Giada – @karinagiada💬 If you love these deep dives, leave a rating & review — it helps more fantasy readers find our chaos.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths take shape, stories become prophecy, and romantasy is a way of life. Today, host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling author Imani Erriu, creator of Heavenly Bodies and the highly-anticipated sequel Fallen Stars.From writing her first kiss scene during lockdown to landing a five-book traditional deal after indie success, Imani walks us through the celestial world of Star-gods, fated romance, shadow selves, and breathtaking cliffhangers that will have readers screaming.✨ If you love lush world building, enemies-to-lovers tension, and myth-soaked fantasy with heart and depth, this episode will feel like coming home.✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS…🌙 The Origin Story of Heavenly Bodies: How a single Pinterest quote sparked an epic celestial romance and became the emotional backbone of the entire series. 📚 Indie vs. Traditional Publishing — and Why Imani Did Both: Imani shares why she chose to indie publish first, how it changed her self-worth as an author, and the moment the traditional deal found her instead of the other way around. ⚔️ Enemies to Lovers + Duality Themes: How light vs. dark becomes a story of healing, shadow integration, and self-love,  not just romance. 🌑 The Shadow Self as Fantasy Magic: Why Elara’s darkness isn’t something to defeat but rather something to embrace, and how real-world trauma and self-acceptance shaped the emotional core of the story. 💥 That Book One BetrayalYou know the one we're talking about, and why you should go into book two with an open heart. 🌊 What to Expect in Fallen StarsA dark maritime adventure with pirates, mermaids, Victorian gothic atmosphere, and a furious heroine burning to wake her beloved. PLUS a new villain and multiple POVs. 📖 Five Books, One FateYes — this is a FIVE-BOOK series. Yes — the cliffhangers get worse. No — Imani does not feel bad. You have been warned. 😈🪐 CONNECT WITH US📚 Follow Imani Erriu – @authorimanierriu🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic💫 Follow host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland📝 Order Heavenly Bodies & pre-order Fallen Stars wherever books are sold✨ Love this episode? Leave us a review!Every review helps more romantasy lovers find their way to us and prevents us from throwing ourselves into the sea with Fallen Stars cliffhangers.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with creativity, writing gets real, and the path to publication is anything but ordinary.In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan chat with Kate Black, founder of Bitch'n Books Editorial, about the real side of editing — from finding the right editor for your book to understanding what kind of edit your manuscript actually needs.Whether you’re a first-time author staring down your draft, an indie writer ready to publish, or just wondering what even is a developmental edit, this episode is your new writing handbook. Kate breaks down the entire editorial process with honesty, humor, and heart, and introduces her unique “motivational edit” that might just help you finish that book.🪄 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📖 From Reader to Editor: How Bitch'n Books Was BornHow Kate’s Bookstagram journey turned into a full-fledged editing business, and why she built her brand around being unapologetically herself.💥 The “Vibe Check” PhilosophyWhy every author deserves an editor who gets their tone, vision, and world, and how a “sample edit” helps you find your perfect creative match.🧠 Editing 101: What You Actually NeedThe difference between developmental, line, copy, and proof edits, and when to use each one in your writing journey.🔥 Motivational Edits: The Pep Talk Your Draft NeedsThe most underrated editorial service you didn’t know existed, designed for writers who feel stuck, need encouragement, or want to reignite their passion for their story.🌍 Fantasy & Romantasy ChallengesWhy worldbuilding often goes wrong, how to balance over- and under-explaining, and what editors really look for in fantasy manuscripts.💬 Finding the Right Editor FitWhat to ask, when to book, how to compare samples, and the biggest mistakes authors make when hiring an editor.✏️ Prepping for Your First EditKate’s top 3 must-dos before sending off your draft (spoiler: read it out loud — it’ll change everything).💡 Industry Advice You’ll Actually UseHow to avoid wasting time and money, set realistic timelines, and know when your book is ready to go from draft to polished masterpiece.💫 LISTEN IF YOU’RE…Writing your first (or fifth) book 🖋️Wondering what kind of edit your story needsStruggling to finish a manuscriptBuilding your author team before self-publishingCurious how fantasy editors tackle worldbuilding🩷 CONNECT WITH US🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic📚 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland🪄 Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill✍️ Kate from Bitchin’ Editorial – @bitchnbooks | https://www.bitchnbookseditorial.com/✨ Don’t forget to rate & review!If this episode helped you understand your next editorial step (or made you feel less alone in the writing chaos), leave us a review — it helps more authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast — where myths meet magic and the world of romantasy comes alive!In this spoiler-filled deep dive, Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with Janett, a devoted Quicksilver reader and influencer who knows this book inside and out, to unravel every breathtaking twist of Callie Hart’s Quicksilver — from desert kingdoms and stolen gauntlets to fated mates and vampire-fae hybrids.Whether you’ve just finished the book or need a refresher before diving into Brimstone, this episode has you covered. We talk world-building, character arcs, favorite scenes, and our wildest Brimstone theories. 👀⚡ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…🏜️ The Desert and the SnowHow the brutal Third Ward shapes Saris Fane’s survival and what the frozen realm of the Fae reveals about her destiny.💫 From Thief to QueenThe incredible transformation of Saris Fane and why her character arc sets a new standard for strong female leads in romantasy.🧪 The Mystery of QuicksilverAlchemy, power, and transformation, including what the shimmering silver truly symbolizes and why it may hold the key to the gods’ design.💀 Carrion Swift’s BloodlineThe twist that changed everything. We break down why his blood mattered in the final battle, what it revealed about ancient Fae lineage, and what it means for Brimstone.👑 Fated Mates & Forbidden LoveKingfisher and Saris — enemies, lovers, rulers. How their dynamic balances tenderness, power, and pain.🩸 Vampires, Fae & the GodsHow divinity, alchemy, and destiny intertwine, and our best (and possibly unhinged) theories about what the gods are planning next.🔥 Brimstone Theories & PredictionsFrom secret heirs to divine revenge, we unpack our wild fan theories and why we’re terrified and thrilled for what’s coming next.💫 LISTEN IF YOU LOVE…Fae & vampire romantasy 🔥Found family & slow-burn power couplesPolitical intrigue and alchemy-based magicCharacters who grow, break, and rebuild themselves💬 CONNECT WITH US🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast @MythicMic📚 Bethany Amanda @BethanyinFantasyland🪄 Sara Santillan @The_Magical_Quill👑 Janett — @JanBookshelf💥 Spoiler warning: We discuss Quicksilver in full and tease our wildest predictions for Brimstone — so you’ve been warned.✨ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to join the conversation before the next book drops — and tag us with your own Brimstone theory!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, co-host Sara Santillan sits down with international guest Jackson Ford, author of The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind and the explosive new fantasy The Bone Raiders — a brutal, hilarious, and wildly original tale of raiders in an alternate-universe Mongolia who trade their horses for giant, fire-breathing lizards. 🐉From journalism to genre-bending fantasy, Jackson opens up about finding his authentic writing voice, weaving humor into heartbreak, and creating an all-female raider band that redefines power and complexity. The conversation is equal parts chaos and insight, and every minute is pure gold.🔥 What happens when you decide to write fantasy exactly the way you talk?💀 What if your “villains” are just people trying to survive?🗝️ And what if the most dangerous thing in a story isn’t the dragon but the author behind it?✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📚 How The Bone Raiders was born — from journalism burnout to wild creative freedom💬 Why Jackson’s biggest success came after he stopped censoring his humor (and leaned into “dumb jokes”)⚔️ Crafting action scenes that hit hard and make you laugh — and why he’s writing fewer of them now👑 Building an all-female raider crew inspired by strength, safety, and authenticity🌍 The deep cultural world-building behind his Mongolian-inspired setting 🧠 His no-nonsense approach to writing as a job — word goals, discipline, and knowing when to take a walk🎯 Bonus chaos: the Lightning Round — weapons of choice, favorite worlds, and writing snacks💫 CONNECT WITH US📖 Follow Jackson Ford – IG: @realjacksonford🎙️ Host: Sara Santillan – IG: @The_Magical_Quill🎙️ Host: Bethany Corbin – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, rethink your “villains,” or wish you were a bone-clad raider on a fire-breathing lizard, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, host Sara Santillan sits down with Matt Kaye, co-founder and CEO of Bindery Books, to explore one of the most innovative and disruptive ideas in modern publishing: a tastemaker-driven publishing model that flips the traditional system on its head.Matt walks us through his 20-year journey across traditional publishing, Amazon, and Patreon, and how watching creators build massive, loyal, book-loving communities inspired him to ask one radical question: What if the people readers already trust — i.e., bookish tastemakers — became publishers themselves?From Indie authors who never had a platform to books traditional publishers would “never take a chance on” to runaway successes like Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife and House of Frank, Matt reveals how Bindery is creating a new ecosystem where authors, tastemakers, and readers thrive together.This episode is a must-listen for authors, book influencers, industry professionals, and anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at the future of publishing.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📚 The Collapse of Traditional Book MarketingWhy legacy methods no longer reach readers and how tastemakers organically filled that void.✨ The Birth of Bindery BooksHow a lunch conversation sparked a vision for a publishing model powered by reader trust and community engagement.📣 What a Tastemaker Actually IsNot “influencers” but readers with powerful taste, loyal communities, and the ability to champion books they truly love.🚀 From PitchFest to PublicationHow the Bindery acquisitions process works, why authors retain more creative control, and how tastemakers guide cover design and marketing.📈 Success Stories That Changed EverythingIncluding Destin J. Munden’s Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife and House of Frank,  and how both books took off without the backing of traditional publishing giants.🎨 The Era of Iconic CoversWhy Bindery books look different — i.e., real artists, real creativity, no AI shortcuts, and no trend-chasing copycat designs.🛠️ Building a Platform for ReadersHow Bindery is creating a digital space that goes beyond content by building a true community home for book lovers.📉 What Traditional Publishing Is MissingThe reality of “platform requirements,” the stress put on authors, and why so many incredible books fall through the cracks.💡 The Future of PublishingHundreds of niche imprints run by passionate tastemakers, diverse stories, more risk-taking, and a model where authors finally get the support they deserve.💫 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic📚 Hosts: Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland🪄 Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill📖 Explore Bindery Books – www.binderybooks.com and @Bindery_Books✨ If this episode opened your eyes to the future of publishing, don’t forget to rate & review — it helps more readers and authors discover The Mythic Mic!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan dive into their November book lineup, which includes a magical mix of mythology, monsters, knights, and heartbreak. From Greek goddesses and Slavic folklore to political intrigue and dark underworld bargains, this month’s reads took us across worlds and through every possible emotion.The duo share spoiler-filled reactions, emotional chaos, and (of course) some passionate book rants. If you’re looking for your next fantasy obsession, this is the deep dive for you.💀 What happens when a knight loses half his soul?⚔️ Can love survive a war built on lies and blood?🐍 And what if Medusa’s curse was never a punishment but a rebellion?✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT...📖 To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth – Slavic folklore, holy knights, monsters, and the moral cost of redemption. Why Baba Yaga’s bargains are never what they seem, and how found family and queerness ground this brutal, heartfelt novella.🐍 I, Medusa by Ayana Gray – A feminist retelling that transforms the monster into a martyr. We unpack its powerful themes of justice, vengeance, and survival and why Athena might be the true villain of Greek mythology.👑 The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino – A sweeping tale of forbidden love, political chaos, knights and mages, and devotion that burns brighter than magic itself. The magic system, the heartbreak, and that slow burn had us screaming.🏛️ Fallen City by Adrienne Young – A lush, Roman-inspired fantasy of rebellion, forbidden love, and destiny versus duty. Two lovers, two sides of a war, and one breathtaking story of fate and faith.💀 Daughter of the Underworld by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr – A dark descent into Greek-inspired punishment and power, where soul servers barter freedom in the house of Hades and justice is anything but merciful.🖤 Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano – A chaotic, irreverent fantasy with Disenchantment energy, following a thief and a half-demon prince on a quest filled with curses, chaos, and reluctant romance. Dark, funny, and delightfully unhinged.❄️ A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody & C.L. Herman – The ultimate winter fantasy of destiny and defiance. Two chosen ones bound by opposing forces — summer and winter — must unite to save their world before their magic destroys it.💫 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMicPod📚 Hosts: Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland | Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! Whether you love your fantasy cozy or cataclysmic, your reviews help more readers discover the magic of The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with bestselling author Veronica Lancet, the darkly imaginative mind behind the gothic phenomenon Fairydale — a haunting, genre-bending fantasy that has captivated readers across BookTok and beyond.From writing her first stories secretly in class to self-publishing her debut novel during her master’s program in crime science, Veronica’s journey is proof that passion finds its way, even when it starts on a phone hidden behind a stack of textbooks.We dive deep into her whirlwind path from indie author to USA Today bestseller, the fever dream that was writing Fairydale, and the powerful themes of otherness, identity, and acceptance woven through her work.💀 What if the monsters you fear are simply misunderstood?🗝️ What happens when cozy romance turns gothic, twisted, and unforgettable?🔥 And how do you stay true to your voice when your stories defy every genre box?✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📚 Veronica’s writing journey — from writing in secret during class to building a dedicated reader base🖋️ How Fairydale went from indie success to landing a traditional publishing deal and hitting the USA Today Bestseller list🌒 The fever-dream experience of writing Fairydale in just six weeks🏰 Crafting gothic, historical, and fantastical worlds that blur the line between love and madness👁️ Why limited POV storytelling creates mystery, tension, and emotional depth💔 Themes of grief, otherness, and learning to see beyond fear and difference🖤 The rise of morally black heroes (and why Veronica loves writing them)🪶 A first look at her upcoming dark academia novel Sinister — complete with psychological twists and morally complex characters💫 CONNECT WITH US📖 Follow Veronica Lancet – IG: @authorveronicalancet🎙️ Host: Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode left you rethinking heroes, villains, and everything in between, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎃 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 🎃🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!For this spooktacular Halloween special, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by Noah from @NoahsBriskReviews for a chilling, bloody, and thought-provoking deep dive into Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire and its sequel, Empire of the Damned (all leading up to the third book's release next week!).This isn’t your typical fang-filled discussion. It’s a raw, emotional exploration of faith, monstrosity, and what it truly means to live (and die) in the light. From holy wars and blood feasts to broken saints and heretic hearts, this episode will have you rethinking what it means to be human in a world ruled by darkness. 🩸💀 What happens when faith is your curse?🔥 Can light be just as dangerous as shadow?🕯️ And how do you trust a story told by a man who might be lying — even to himself?Grab your garlic, stake, and favorite candle because this one gets hilariously dark.⚔️ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…🩸 Faith, Blasphemy, and Blood: How Empire of the Vampire flips religious myth into gothic legend.💔 Gabriel de León’s Fall: The man, the myth, and the martyr who refuses to break even when the world does.🔥 The Burden of Light: Why hope burns brightest in the most brutal worlds.🦇 The Women Who Bleed Power: Dior, Astrid, and the fierce feminine energy behind Kristoff’s vampires.📖 Empire of the Damned: What the sequel reveals about guilt, grief, and gods that demand too much.🧠 The Unreliable Narrator: How Kristoff’s choice to let Gabe tell his own story changes everything and why we can’t be sure what’s truth or self-made myth.💫 CONNECT WITH US🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMicPod (temporarily @mythicmic)🧛 Guest: Noah – @NoahsBriskReviews🎧 Host: Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland 🎧 Host: Sara Santillan – @The_Magical_Quill💀 Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you question your faith in humanity (or vampires), leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with Jed and Liz, the brilliant minds behind Writing Habit, a platform built for aspiring authors who want to finally finish their books and turn writing into a consistent, joyful habit.From word count challenges and monster-slaying writing sprints 🐉 to data-driven motivation tools and beta reader feedback forms, Writing Habit is revolutionizing how authors write, track progress, and connect with a community that keeps them inspired.💻 What if writing your novel felt more like a game than a chore?🔥 What if accountability could actually be fun?🗝️ And what if the key to finishing your book was hidden in your daily habits?We dive into the inspiration behind Writing Habit, how Jed turned his own struggles as an author into a full-fledged platform for writers, and how Liz has helped shape its thriving, supportive community. This episode is packed with insights for every writer — from the first spark of an idea to hitting “publish.”✨ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…📚 How Writing Habit began — from a simple Google Docs add-on to a full author platform💡 Turning daily word counts into motivation through gamified tools and progress stats🐉 Slaying monsters, leaderboards, and writing streaks that make consistency addictive🧠 How beta reader questionnaires and editing marks improve feedback quality🪄 Built-in plotting tools, AI-powered chapter summaries, and story templates🤝 Why community and accountability are game-changers for creative success📈 The upcoming 50K writing challenge (and how to join!)💬 Jed’s best advice for aspiring authors: “Just start. Even if it’s messy.”💫 CONNECT WITH US🖋️ Try Writing Habit – writinghabit.app 🎙️ Host: Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode inspired you to write that next chapter, join a challenge, or rethink your creative routine, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this special episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with intellectual property attorney Kirk Sigmon to unpack one of the most heated topics in the book community right now: the legalities of fan fiction and how far authors can go when their work is inspired by existing worlds.From the recent controversies surrounding books like Alchemised, Rose in Chains, and The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy — all of which originated as Harry Potter fan fiction — to the blurred line between “inspired by” and “infringement,” this episode dives deep into the gray areas of creativity and copyright.⚖️ What actually counts as plagiarism versus inspiration?🪄 Can fan fiction ever truly become original work?🔥 And what risks do authors take when they publish stories born in another universe?Whether you’re an author navigating your first book deal, a reader wondering where the line is drawn, or a fanfic writer dreaming of publication, this episode is your roadmap through the myth and law of creative transformation.⚔️ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ What “fan fiction” actually means from a legal standpoint✨ The key differences between copyright, trademark, and fair use✨ Why “I’m not making money” isn’t a legal defense✨ How to tell when a story shifts from derivative work to original creation✨ The role of public domain and why authors should tread carefully✨ What to do if you receive a cease and desist or copyright claim✨ How authors can protect their own IP from being used in fan works✨ Practical tips for fanfic writers, indie authors, and publishers navigating this space💫 CONNECT WITH US⚖️ Guest: Kirk Sigmon, Partner at Banner & Witcoff – https://bannerwitcoff.com/people/kirk-sigmon/🎙️ Host: Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you rethink fan fiction, respect the line between homage and originality, or just appreciate the legal side of creativity, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this special deep dive episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by artist Karina Giada to unpack the breathtaking fantasy that none of us can stop thinking about: Alchemised.From the hauntingly beautiful world-building and intricate alchemical magic system to the characters who shattered us (and maybe healed us too), we’re diving headfirst into everything that makes Alchemised pure fantasy perfection.💔 What makes a villain truly unforgettable?🗝️ How do you balance love, power, and destiny when the world is falling apart?🔥 And what happens when transformation costs more than you’re willing to give?This is Part I of our Alchemised Deep Dive, where we explore the story’s core themes, the characters who linger long after the final page, and the moments that left us completely speechless.If you’ve read Alchemised, prepare to spiral with us. If you haven’t, you’re about to find out why everyone’s obsessed. 👀 IMPORTANT: This episode contains spoilers! 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ The alchemical world and the mythology behind its magic✨ How Alchemised blends dark fantasy, romance, and moral complexity✨ Our favorite characters and why we all love Kaine Ferron✨ Themes of transformation, sacrifice, war, and the human cost of power✨ The aesthetic and symbolism behind Alchemised’s visual world✨ Our favorite emotional moments (and the ones that broke us)💫 CONNECT WITH US🎨 Follow Karina Giada – IG: @KarinaGiada🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️ Follow co-host Sara Santillan – IG: @The_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you scream, swoon, or start annotating your copy of Alchemised, leave us a review — it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut author K.D. Stark, whose sweeping Greek mythology retelling Where Darkness Bloomed brings the myths of Hades and Persephone, Helen of Troy, and Achilles together in one breathtaking, emotional epic.By day, K.D. is a criminal defense attorney, but her journey from the courtroom to the underworld proves that creativity can bloom even in the most unexpected places. With lyrical prose, haunting emotion, and the moral weight of Greek tragedy, Where Darkness Bloomed reimagines what it means to strive for love, honor, and light—even when you know Troy will fall.🗝️ What if Hades wasn’t the villain but the weary king who simply wanted peace?⚔️ What if Helen and Persephone’s stories mirrored each other—two queens trapped by fate, still fighting for freedom?🔥 And what if your creative spark could survive the driest realities of law, life, and loss?This episode dives deep into the inspiration behind Where Darkness Bloomed, the emotional toll of writing Greek tragedy, and what it takes to indie publish a mythic debut that feels timeless.A must-listen for lovers of Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint, and anyone who believes even gods can bleed—and rise again.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How K.D. turned a messy passion project into her first completed manuscript✨ Reimagining Hades and Persephone alongside Helen of Troy and Achilles✨ The emotional weight of writing Greek tragedy—from honor to heartbreak✨ Why third-person narration gives epic fantasy its soul✨ Handling difficult scenes (including violence and loss) with empathy and care✨ Balancing motherhood, law, and creative life as an indie author✨ Marketing lessons from the indie world and why “writing the story you want to read” matters most✨ Sneak peek: K.D.’s next book, an Odyssey-inspired retelling filled with yearning, monsters, and gods✨ Rapid-fire fun: mythic cocktails, bar fights, and which god would 100% cheat at game night🏛️ CONNECT WITH US📖 Follow K.D. Stark – IG: @K.D.StarkWrites🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️ Follow co-host Sara Santillan – IG: @The_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)🛒 Where Darkness Bloomed is available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode rekindled your love of Greek mythology or reminded you that indie authors are the modern-day heroes of publishing, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths meet modern creativity, stories take flight, and now—authors find their voice.In this special new Aspiring Author Segment launch, co-hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with literary power duo Ben and Lauren Grange, the minds behind Books on the Grange and the creators of the brand-new author community and writing challenge Thirty30—the modern answer to NaNoWriMo.Ben and Lauren bring over 13 years each of publishing experience across major houses like HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Amazon. Between them, they’ve done it all—editing, agenting, marketing, and even helping writers land agents and publishing deals. Now, through their growing online platform (with over 23K followers on Instagram), they’re teaching aspiring authors how to write smarter, query stronger, and build community in a tough industry.💡 In this candid and inspiring episode, the Granges share the real stories behind the glamor of publishing—from rejection and low industry pay to rediscovering the joy of writing and building sustainable creative routines. They also break down the creation of Thirty30, a supportive, quarterly writing challenge designed to help authors write 30,000 words in 30 days with tools, community, and accountability built right in.🪶 What if rejection wasn’t the end, but the start of becoming a better writer?🔥 What if success wasn’t about trends or timing, but persistence?💻 And what if the next great author community started with a thousand words a day?This episode is filled with hard-won wisdom, humor, and motivation for every writer determined to make their story happen—whether you dream of traditional publication or indie success.✍️ IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Ben and Lauren each found their way into publishing and why they stayed✨ The realities of low pay, burnout, and creative rejection in the industry✨ Why social media and author platforms matter more than ever✨ How Books on the Grange became a go-to hub for writers online✨ The creation of Thirty30, a seasonal writing challenge designed to revive creative momentum✨ How community can help writers push through self-doubt and finally finish their stories📚 CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS:📖 Follow Ben & Lauren Grange – @BooksOnTheGrange🌐 Join the Thirty30 Challenge – www.thirty30k.com🎙️ CONNECT WITH US:🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic)💫 Follow Host Bethany Corbin – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland💫 Follow Co-host Sara Santillan – IG: @the_Magical_Quill🖋️ Remember: every author starts somewhere—and sometimes, the first step is simply showing up to write.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this first ever Mythic Roundup episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan share 6 unforgettable reads that defined their October — from gothic romantasy and myth-fueled mystery to twisted fairytales. Whether you love atmospheric worlds, slow-burn tension, or stories that blur the line between hero and monster, this lineup will give you chills (and expand your TBR by at least six).🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig — gothic mists, cursed cards, and the haunting brilliance of the Nightmare✨ Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber — folklore, fast-paced mystery, and devilish deals in old Hollywood✨ Hazelthorn — lush worldbuilding, vengeful heroines, and the tangled beauty of blood magic✨ Red City — rebellion, power, and forbidden romance in a crumbling empire✨ Gallant by V.E. Schwab — shadows, ghosts, and a girl who refuses to be invisible✨ Never Ever After — dark fairytales, twisted endings, and villainous charm🔥 DIVING DEEPER…Sara starts us off with Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window — a gothic, mist-filled tale of magic and madness where a cursed kingdom is ruled by fear and a young woman carries a literal monster, the Nightmare, inside her mind. From its eerie card-based magic system to its haunting prose, this is the ultimate dark romantasy to curl up with this season.Then, Bethany dives into Stephanie Garber’s Alchemy of Secrets — the bestselling author’s adult debut that trades fairytale whimsy for old Hollywood mystery. It follows Holland, a grad student researching the Devil’s secret deals with celebrities, who discovers that the myths she’s been chasing might be horrifyingly real. Next, Sara explores Hazelthorn, a book steeped in vengeance and the dangerous beauty of nature itself. With its tangled magic rooted in blood and bone and lyrical writing, it’s a story of rage and renewal and the botanical horror read you didn't know you were missing.Bethany then takes us into Red City, a brutal, vivid fantasy set in a world of feuding alchemy associations. It’s filled with forbidden friendship, ruthless politics, and a heroine torn between survival and justice.Sara then revisits V.E. Schwab’s Gallant — a haunting, gothic tale about a deaf girl who belongs nowhere, drawn to a decaying manor where shadows move, ghosts whisper, and a mysterious journal may hold the truth about her family. Finally, Bethany closes the roundup with Never Ever After, a beautiful Cinderella reimagining where fairytales have darker edges and magic's exploited and feared. Grab your favorite fall drink, light a candle, and get cozy — this episode is packed with immersive worlds, strong heroines, and the kind of book talk that’ll have you adding titles to your cart before we finish the outro.📚 CONNECT WITH US:🎙️ Follow hosts Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️ Follow Sara Santillan – IG: @the_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic) ✨ Don’t forget to rate & review if you loved this episode!

🎙️ Welcome to Season 2 of The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut author Serra Swift, whose gothic fantasy Kill the Beast brings together fairies, found family, and fierce friendships in a lush Victorian-inspired world where love isn’t always romantic, but it’s always powerful.Kill the Beast follows Lyssa, a blacksmith haunted by the past, and Alderic, a melodramatic dandy with a coin purse bigger than his brain. When their paths collide, they’re drawn into a world of broken bargains and monsters that mirror the wounds within. What begins as a tale of survival becomes a story about healing, courage, and the bonds that make us whole.Serra shares how Kill the Beast began with a vivid dream (and one unforgettable scene that refused to let her go), her passion for grounding fantasy worlds in historical realism, and the long, determined road that led to her success. From researching blacksmithing at Renaissance fairs to building a platonic love story that still feels epic, Serra’s journey is a reminder that persistence, creativity, and heart can truly forge magic.🗡️ What if the real monster wasn’t what lived in the shadows, but what we feared within ourselves?🌹 What if friendship was the most revolutionary form of love?🔥 And what if a dream could change the course of your entire creative life?This episode is packed with laughter, heart, and incredible insights into storytelling, worldbuilding, and the realities of a writer’s journey.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Serra’s 15-year road to publication and how Kill the Beast became her “make it or break it” book✨ The vivid dream that sparked Alderic’s character arc and the moment Serra knew the story belonged to Lyssa✨ Researching Victorian London, fairies, and blacksmithing (including a few very patient blacksmiths)✨ Writing platonic love and friendship as powerful, central forces in fantasy✨ How persistence and passion can keep the creative flame alive through rejection✨ Rapid-fire fun: thrift-store hauls with Alderic, therapy sessions with Lyssa, and which character would survive a road trip (spoiler: not all of them)⚔️ CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Serra Swift – IG: @SerraSwiftAuthor🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎙️ Follow host Sara Santillan – IG: @the_Magical_Quill🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Sasa Hawk, whose YA romantasy Unlock the Dark delivers monsters, morally gray heroines, and magic born from grief and hope alike.Unlock the Dark follows Elia Tallis, a girl who can conjure keys to unlock doors to any place—except the one land she’s been banished from on pain of death. When a desperate prince asks her to break that very law, she’s pulled into a journey of curses, creatures, and choices that blur the line between love and survival.Sasa shares her road to publication (including the unforgettable phone call that changed her life), her creative process as a writer and mom, and the real-life inspiration behind Elia’s key-based magic. We also dive into themes of resilience, rest, and rediscovering creativity after burnout.🔑 What if you could open any door—but one could destroy you?💀 What if the god of death demanded your brother’s soul as payment for mercy?🔥 And what if saving your family meant breaking every rule of magic and morality?This conversation is packed with heartfelt advice for writers, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and insights into the publishing world you won’t want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Sasa’s publishing dream came true (and the wild phone call that announced her book deal!)✨ What Unlock the Dark is really about — guilt, love, and impossible choices✨ Crafting a unique magic system inspired by pandemic wish fulfillment and the desire to escape✨ Why creative rest is vital and why not writing can sometimes be the most productive thing✨ Navigating debut life with HarperCollins and learning the business behind the books✨ Reader favorites: the beloved lemur “Cuddles,” grumpy witches, and libraries full of monsters✨ The challenge of writing a complete story in one book—and the dream of returning to the world✨ Sneak peek into her next standalone about a girl who can cancel magic✨ Rapid-fire fun: The God of Death’s Swiftie playlist, magical dating app bios, and “Library of Doom” theme park rides 🎢CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Sasa Hawk – IG: @SasaHawkAuthor🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod💫 Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, rethink what rest really means, or add Unlock the Dark to your TBR, leave us a review — it helps more fantasy lovers find The Mythic Mic!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by co-host Jenn Acidera for a deep-dive conversation with author Whit Stanfield, creator of the sweeping romantasy series A Sea of Song and Sirens.From its tropical world inspired by The Little Mermaid and Moana to its emotionally layered heroine and morally gray love interest, Whit's series blends fierce feminine rage, immersive world-building, and the kind of slow-burn tension that will haunt you long after the last page.Whit opens up about her writing journey—from early drafts and world-building obsession to the surprising success of her ocean-bound saga—and gives us a peek into her upcoming projects, including the Sea of Vows and Silence sequel and a brand-new dystopian romance brewing on the horizon.🧜‍♀️ What if The Little Mermaid took place in a tropical paradise built on secrets and curses?🔥 What if your enemies-to-lovers romance burned with betrayal, loyalty, and redemption beneath the waves?🌊 And what if the ocean itself became a character with a will of its own?We discuss how Whit blends mythic inspiration with emotional depth, what she’s learned from the book community, and why she believes imperfection is part of every writer’s magic.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ The spark that turned A Sea of Song and Sirens from an idea into a published series✨ How Uprooted by Naomi Novik inspired Whit’s first fairy tale retelling✨ World-building secrets and the balance between research and imagination✨ Why Whit loves the “guy uses his body as a shield” trope (and why we need more of it!)✨ Advice for new writers: why your first draft should never be perfect✨ The role of feminine rage, isolation, and identity in Maren’s journey✨ Exclusive hints about Book 4 and Whit’s upcoming dystopian romantasy✨ Rapid-fire fun: favorite tropes, Swiftie confessions, emoji pairings, and Kai’s theme song📚 CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Whit Stanfield – IG: @WhitStanfieldAuthor🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you dream of faraway seas, fall for a cursed hero, or crave your next romantasy read, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Marina Stevenson, whose cozy, chaotic romantasy Behoved brings magical mishaps, chronic illness representation, and laugh-out-loud royal drama to the page.From seven manuscripts and years of querying to two international preempt offers in less than 48 hours, Marina shares the long road that led to her “yes.” Behoved follows Bianca, a chronically ill noblewoman, whose arranged marriage to a prince goes wildly off-script when—oops—he’s magically transformed into a horse on their wedding night. What follows is an unforgettable mix of romance, comedy, and unexpected courage.🗝️ What if your groom turned into a horse before you could say “I do”?🔥 What if the marriage you never wanted became the story you couldn’t stop writing?💐 And what if cozy fantasy could still tackle real-world struggles with heart and humor?We dive into the inspiration behind Behoved, how Marina built Bianca’s voice to feel real and relatable, the business side of publishing no one talks about, and what it’s like balancing romance, comedy, and chronic illness representation in fantasy. This episode is a must-listen for readers who love whimsical, heartfelt stories and aspiring authors chasing their own big break.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ The seven-manuscript journey that led to Marina’s debut✨ How market timing and persistence finally landed her an agent, and the whirlwind of receiving two preempt offers within 48 hours✨ Chronic illness representation and why Bianca’s story matters✨ The comedic heart of Behoved—including “the horse scene” that started it all✨ What happens after an editor says “yes” (spoiler: it’s not just one round of edits)✨ Comparisons to My Lady Jane and other magical romantic comedies✨ Rapid-fire fun: karaoke choices, cursed prince Amazon purchases, and ideal candle scents 🐎CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Marina Stevenson – IG: @MStevensonBooks🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod🛒 Order Behoved wherever books are sold.✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, cheer for an underdog, or want to add a magical rom-com to your TBR, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the globetrotting, purple-haired powerhouse behind Smoke and Scar—the first book in the epic, trial-filled, banter-laced Shattered Crown series—Gretchen Powell Fox.From a childhood spent around the world to crafting a realm torn apart by gods, magic, and political tension, Gretchen takes us deep into her creative process. What began as a “what if the girl was the overpowered one?” idea became a sweeping romantasy filled with deadly trials, elemental magic, and characters you’ll want to protect (and occasionally yell at).🗝️ What if your greatest ally was raised to destroy you?🔥 What if the only way to save someone was to enter the same deadly trials that once stole the love of your life?🌑 And what if embracing your own darkness was the only path forward?We dive into the world of Smoke and Scar, explore Gretchen’s love for flipping tropes on their head, and unpack the emotional heart beneath the magic, battles, and banter. This one’s for every fantasy reader who craves lush worldbuilding, slow-burn romance, and heroines who could definitely win in a tavern brawl.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Growing up across continents and how it shaped Gretchen’s storytelling voice✨ The meandering path from her 2012 dystopian debut to Smoke and Scar✨ The “overpowered fey heroine saves the guy” twist that sparked the book✨ The Arcane Crucible: deadly trials designed to unite enemies✨ Why Smoke and Scar is “LOTR meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night”✨ Flipping romantasy tropes: shadow mommy + golden retriever knight energy✨ How to keep writing when the self-doubt creeps in📚 GIVEAWAY ALERT: We’re giving away a signed paperback of Smoke and Scar (U.S. only) and a paperback copy for our international listeners! We're also giving away a special edition of Smoke and Scar from Aurora Crate! Follow us on Instagram for entry details.CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Gretchen Powell Fox – IG: @gretchenpowellfox🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland✨ If this episode made you want to pick up a sword, enter a deadly trial, or befriend a shadow-wielding heroine, please rate & review The Mythic Mic—it helps more listeners join our epic quest!

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🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Julie Johnson to talk about The Wind Weaver — the first book in her sweeping Reign of Remnants trilogy.From bike rides to the tiny one-square-mile Massachusetts island where she grew up, to a scrappy self-published novel in college that paid off her loans, Julie walks us through a career built on persistence, creativity, and big, bold ideas. Windweaver is a war-scarred, elemental romantasy about prophecies, outlawed magic, and a heroine named Rhea who is literally taken by the wind. Expect lush worldbuilding, emotionally messy growth, and a trilogy that only gets bigger from here.🌬️ What if the one lyric stuck in your head became the heart of your novel?🌊 What if magic had been outlawed—and the only way to restore it was to reunite four scattered elemental beings?🔥 And what if the parts of you that you fear most turned out to be your greatest strength?We dive into the inspiration behind The Wind Weaver, Julie’s wild marketing stunts (think giant book covers at iconic locations), her unexpected Sunday Times #1 moment, the elemental system, and why book two raises the stakes even higher. If you love character-driven fantasy with elemental magic, complicated choices, and a heroine learning to own her darkness, this episode is for you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Julie’s island-child upbringing and how the ocean shaped her imagination✨ Writing her first novel in college, self-publishing in 2013, and paying off loans before graduation✨ How agents found her and how foreign rights led to wider visibility ✨ Why magic was outlawed in Julie’s world—and the prophecy that could bring it back✨ Marketing creativity: lugging a giant Wind Weaver cover around landmarks ✨ Writing craft: drafting in past tense, flipping to present for publication, and converting later drafts ✨ What Julie wants readers to feel: owning the parts of yourself that scare you (and how darkness can be strength)✨ What to expect next🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERTWe’re giving away a special edition copy of The Wind Weaver! Full entry details are on our Instagram — follow along so you don’t miss it.📖 Follow Julie Johnson – IG: @author_julie🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod🛒 Order Windweaver and explore the Reign of Remnants trilogy wherever books are sold.✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you want to feel the sea breeze, plot familial prophecies, or immediately dive into a new elemental world, leave us a review — it helps other readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the brilliant, multi-genre storytelling force behind Dawn of Onyx and the newly published If Not For My Baby—the one and only Kate Golden.From fantasy realms filled with reformed demons and slayer academies to a heart-tugging, swoon-filled rockstar romance that’s already breaking hearts in the best way, Kate takes us deep into her writing journey. What started as a beachside book slump turned into a trilogy, a traditional publishing deal with Berkley, and now an emotional, music-infused contemporary romance that’s ready to steal the stage.🗝️ What if the book you desperately wanted didn’t exist—so you wrote it yourself?🎤 What if a single concert sparked an entire novel?💔 And what if reclaiming your dream meant risking everything—including the safety of staying small?We dive into the world of If Not For My Baby, explore the fantasy roots that shaped Kate’s storytelling voice, and unpack what it means to let go of the path you thought you had to follow in order to chase the one you really want. This episode is for every book lover who’s ever felt stuck, scared, or ready for a second chance.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How A Court of Thorns and Roses (and a really bad book slump) launched Kate’s writing career✨ Why she wrote her first book purely for herself—and what happened next✨ How A Dawn of Onyx went from indie darling to a Berkley-trad deal trilogy✨ What inspired If Not For My Baby—and why this rockstar romance hits deep✨ Chronic illness, invisible battles, and why stories like Clementine’s matter✨ Letting go of dreams, rediscovering them, and falling hard when you least expect it✨ Writing fantasy vs. contemporary: dragons, demons, and...tour buses?✨ The Buffy-core dark academia fantasy coming next in Half City✨ Legos, panic attacks, and the killer tangerine (don’t worry—we explain)✨ A rapid-fire round that includes book hoards, Beauty and the Beast libraries, and stuck-in-an-elevator fears 😱CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Kate Golden – IG: @kategoldenauthor🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🛒 Order If Not For My Baby and the full Sacred Stones series wherever books are sold.✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode hit you in the feels, gave you dream-chasing chills, or made you swoon over poetic Irish rockstars, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to the Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the powerhouse behind Trial of the Sun Queen and Not Safe for Work—the one and only Nisha J. Tuli.From deadly trials to rom-coms and polar bears (yes, really), Nisha shares the winding, inspiring journey that led her from engineering school to the fantasy shelves of thousands. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a thriving author career, balance creativity with market demands, or keep writing even when the odds feel stacked against you—this is your episode.🗝️ What if your first book didn’t sell … and your second didn’t either? 💥 What if you made your own success while publishing said no? 🔥 And what if a South Asian fantasy heroine took back her power one page at a time?We go behind the scenes of Nisha’s bestselling series, explore why enemies to lovers and morally gray women resonate so deeply, and talk about how female friendships, internalized misogyny, and hard-won autonomy shape her unforgettable heroines. Bonus? We get a sneak peek at Nisha’s dystopian YA with Red Tower’s new imprint—and her spicy new rom-com Not Safe for Work.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Nisha went from engineering and burned-out tourism marketer to full-time bestselling author.✨ What indie publishing taught her about grit, growth, and knowing your market.✨ The art of balancing creativity with strategy—and why your first book probably won’t be the one.✨ Why Trial of the Sun Queen is The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games with dragons and soul.✨ Complex women, fierce loyalty, and the politics of writing heroines.✨ How switching genres made space for her contemporary debut.✨ What happens when you put a confident female engineer in a room with her nemesis—and there’s only one bed 😏✨ Sisterhood, villains, soap theft, and PowerPoint-worthy rage.✨ A rapid-fire round that involves half-naked men, evil Instagram takeovers, and polar bear lodges. 🐾CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Nisha J. Tuli – @nishajtwrites🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland🛒 Order Trial of the Sun Queen, Heart of Night and Fire, Cursed Captors Series, and Not Safe for Work wherever books are sold✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode left you feeling inspired (or mildly obsessed with dragons and ragey PowerPoints), leave us a review—it helps the magic reach more mythic ears.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by author Rachel Fallon, whose romantasy series The Star Queen Chronicles (which includes Of Darkness and Ruination and its just-released sequel Of Light and Freedom) will sweep you into a world of elemental magic, chosen ones, dark fates, and the healing power of hope.🌑 What if your magic was tied to destruction?☀️ What if freedom meant burning everything down to start again?🖤 And what if finding yourself meant facing your worst nightmares—and still choosing love?Rachel gives us the inside scoop on how her powerful, slow-burn series took shape, the mental health themes woven throughout her characters’ arcs, and what it means to write fantasy that embraces both ruination and redemption. We also dive into tropes (hello, grumpy/sunshine and enemies to reluctant allies!), character trauma, writing dual POVs, and her writing process.Oh, and did we mention… there’s a GIVEAWAY you don’t want to miss? 👀🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Rachel’s dark and hopeful fantasy world was shaped by themes of mental health and recovery.✨ The meaning behind the book titles—and how light and dark are more connected than we think.✨ Tropes we love: reluctant heroes, elemental magic, forced proximity, and the battle between fate and free will.✨ How Rachel's chaotic writing brain actually helps her build emotional plot arcs.✨ The reader reactions that have blown her away—and what’s next on her publishing path.✨ Plus, an impromptu playlist discussion and a rapid-fire round with fun chaos ⚔️🎶🌟 ENTER THE “OF DARKNESS AND RUINATION” GIVEAWAY 🌟To celebrate this episode, Mythic Mic and Rachel Fallon have teamed up to give away a book box fit for a chosen one:📚 A signed copy of Of Darkness and Ruination📖 Bookmarks🎁 Art prints and stickers📅 Giveaway ends May 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDTHOW TO ENTER: Follow @BethanyinFantasyland on Instagram for full entry details!CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Rachel Fallon – @rachelfallonauthor🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland🛍️ Order Of Darkness and Ruination and Of Light and Freedom on Amazon (or wherever books with magic and mayhem are sold!)✨ If this episode sparked something inside you, don’t forget to rate & review! Every share helps this podcast reach more romantasy readers and brings more magic (and giveaways!) to your feed.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by USA Today bestselling author Kate King, whose new romantasy A Thorn in Every Heart is a lush, emotional portal fantasy where Beauty and the Beast collides with Anastasia. If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping into a snowy realm of curses, secrets, bodyguard romance, and self-discovery—this is your moment.🗝️ What if your one-night stand didn’t end with regret… but with a kidnapping to a cursed fairytale realm? 🌹 What if Belle was your grandmother—and the real story wasn’t the one in the storybooks? ❄️ And what if rediscovering yourself meant stepping into the cold, cursed dark… and falling in love?Kate takes us behind the scenes of her enchanting new series, The Enchanted Legacies, and opens up about what it means to start over at 30, why she intentionally wrote a fantasy for women who grew up on portal stories, and how character art (including the spicy kind!) adds a whole new layer to the reading experience. We also geek out over libraries, Libba Bray, and the YA fantasy books that shaped us.Oh, and did we mention there’s a magical GIVEAWAY? Stay tuned. 👀🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ Why A Thorn in Every Heart is the grown-up fantasy you didn’t know you needed✨ How Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia inspired Kate’s icy, star-lit fantasy world✨ The magical elements behind Alix and Daemon's slow-burn, bodyguard romance✨ Why the heroine being almost 30 matters—and what it says about the future of the genre✨ Tropes galore: one bed, one horse, “touch her and die,” secret identities, found family, and more✨ The surprise of reader fandom and the real hustle behind indie author life✨ How genre boundaries in publishing are changing—and what it means for authors✨ Spicy character art, winter vibes, and fairy tales with a twist✨ A rapid-fire round that includes a cat sidekick named Sushi 🐱🌟 ENTER THE “THORN IN EVERY HEART” GIVEAWAY 🌟To celebrate this dreamy episode, Mythic Mic is hosting a special giveaway that includes:📚 A sprayed edge paperback of A Thorn in Every Heart✍️ A signed bookplate👜 A fairytale-themed tote bag📖 Bookmarks + magical Beauty and the Beast-inspired merch📅 Giveaway ends April 11, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDTHOW TO ENTER: Follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram for details.CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Kate King – @katekingauthor 🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @MythicMicPod and @BethanyinFantasyland🛍️ Order A Thorn in Every Heart on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Thorn-Every-Heart-Enchanted-Legacies-ebook/dp/B0DNNDGMST) or Barnes and Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-thorn-in-every-heart-kate-king/1146578948) ✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode cast a spell on you, leave us a review—it helps bring more magic (and more giveaways!) to your ears.

Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda takes you beyond the veil of sleep into a realm where reality fractures, magic lingers, and a single dream can change everything. Joining us is Rowyn Adelaide, author of Of Withering Dreams, a dark romantasy debut filled with secret realms, forgotten memories, and a love that defies time. If you love haunting dream realms, powerful magic, and romance with a touch of darkness, this is an episode you cannot miss!🌙 What happens when an entire world is forced into six months of magical sleep?💀 What secrets lie in a dream realm that no one remembers?🔥 And how does one woman’s forbidden power change everything?Rowyn gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her mesmerizing world, where an entire kingdom is forced into seasonal sleep—and their stolen time may not be as empty as they believe. She dives into the inspiration behind her dream realm, spills details about her characters (including a fan-favorite who swears too much and stabs first, asks questions later), and gives us a glimpse into what’s next.Oh, and did we mention there’s a giveaway? Stay tuned. 👀🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How a totally random tailgating event sparked the idea for Of Withering Dreams (yes, really!)✨ The eerie law that forces an entire population into hibernation✨ Magic, portals, and the unexpected science behind Rowyn’s fantasy world✨ The tension, secrets, and swoon-worthy moments of the book’s romance✨ How Rowyn’s background in social work influenced her themes of resilience and found family✨ The struggles (and triumphs) of indie publishing—and why it’s like having three jobs at once✨ Her advice for aspiring authors (including how to break through writer’s block)✨ And of course… a round of rapid-fire questions🔥 ENTER THE WITHERING DREAMS GIVEAWAY 🔥To celebrate this epic episode, Rowyn is giving away an exclusive ebook copy of Of Withering Dreams, which includes a bonus epilogue from one of the male character's POV. HOW TO ENTER: For entry details, visit https://mythicmic.com or follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram. 📅 Giveaway ends March 25, 2025. CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Rowyn Adelaide – @AuthorRowynAdelaide🎙 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @MythicMicPodcast and @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Grab your copies of Of Withering Dreams – https://www.amazon.com/Withering-Dreams-Fantasy-Romance-Embered-ebook/dp/B0DKVF1TX7✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If you loved this episode, leave us a review—it helps bring more magic (and mischief) to your ears!

Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda peels back the layers of mythology, magic, and romance with none other than Randi Garner, author of The Goddess Of and the upcoming sequel Even in Death. If you love star-crossed lovers, cursed gods, and the fine line between power and fate, this is an episode you cannot miss!💫 What happens when a powerless goddess defies the gods?🔥 What’s the cost of love when curses are real?⚔️ And why is book two bringing us one of the most delicious enemies-to-lovers rivalries we’ve ever seen?Randi takes us inside the world of The Fragile Divine series, a mythic, darkly romantic saga where gods rule with an iron grip, love is a dangerous game, and fate always has the final say. She spills the behind-the-scenes secrets of her worldbuilding, talks about the inspiration behind her characters (and their heartbreak), and gives us exclusive teasers for book two—including the chaotic, snarky, and utterly scorching dynamic between the High God of Death and Curses and a rebellious necromancer.And did we mention a giveaway? Oh yeah. A big one. Keep reading. 👀🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT...✨ How a PB&J sandwich mishap in second grade sent Randi down the path to writing (seriously, you need to hear this story!)✨ The Greek & Asian mythology mashup that shaped The Fragile Divine series✨ Why The Goddess Of was almost titled something else (and how Randi figured out her heroine’s destiny along the way)✨ Curses, love, and divine power struggles—the major themes of the series✨ The forbidden romance that will rip your heart out (but in the best way!)✨ What to expect in Even in Death (including one of the spiciest enemies-to-lovers rivalries we've ever seen!)✨ Randi’s favorite authors & the books that destroyed her soul (in a good way!)And of course, we end the show with some wild rapid-fire questions where Randi reveals:💀 Which fantasy universe Naia would get thrown into for 24 hours (and how she’d survive?)📺 What would be the biggest scandal on the gods’ version of Keeping Up with the Kardashians?🚗 What would Naia's ridiculous vanity license plate say?📣 How Ronin and Naia would accidentally go viral?🔥 ENTER THE ULTIMATE FRAGILE DIVINE GIVEAWAY 🔥To celebrate this epic episode, Randi is giving away a must-have PR package featuring:📚 SIGNED copies of The Goddess Of and Even in Death🎨 Exclusive character art from top fantasy artists ✨ Special trinkets & surprises straight from the world of The Fragile DivineHOW TO ENTER: For entry details, visit https://mythicmic.com or follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram. 📅 Giveaway ends March 18, 2025. CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Randi Garner – @RandiMGarner🎙 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @MythicMicPodcast and @BethanyinFantasyland📚 Grab your copies of The Goddess Of & Even in Death – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCL38SZK?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If you loved this episode, leave us a review—it helps bring more magic (and mischief) to your ears!

🎙 The Mythic Mic Podcast – Episode 1: Shaedes of Power: The Dark Tinkerbell of Fantasy Romance with Jenny Grimes✨Welcome to the first episode of The Mythic Mic Podcast, where legends come to life, myths intertwine with reality, and fantasy is more than just a story! Today, we have an absolutely magical episode lined up with debut author Jenny Grimes, whose upcoming romantasy novel, Shaedes of Power, is already stealing hearts with its dark Tinkerbell and Thumbelina vibes. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and powerful heroines, this is the episode for you! 💫📖🎧 In This Episode, We Cover:How Jenny’s love for Harry Potter, Eragon, and The Lord of the Rings led her to create her own magical worldThe hierarchy of color magic in Shaedes of Power and why it’s unlike any other fae romantasy you’ve read 🌈✨The two swoon-worthy love interests—the sweet human and the dark and broody prince (we all know which one we’re falling for 😏🔥)Why Opal, the heroine, is stuck between worlds, searching for her power and place in the realmThe inspiration behind the stunning cover art and its hidden symbolismA major book surprise that Jenny has kept a secret…until now! 👀📢 Special Giveaway Alert! We’re giving away two signed copies of Shaedes of Power! Want in? The giveaway runs from 11:00 am EST March 5, 2025 to 11:59 pm EST March 11, 2025. The winners will be announced on The Mythic Mic's social media channels on March 12, 2025. 📚💜 You can find all of the entry details on Instagram @MythicMicPod. 🔥 Bonus Content for Digital Readers! Jenny drops an exclusive reveal: a bonus chapter from Edmund’s POV (and let’s just say…Chapter 19 is already iconic 👀🔥).📆 Release Date: March 11, 2024 Get ready to enter the Shaedes of Power universe with multiple books planned, ensuring plenty of romance, magic, and heart-stopping twists to come! ✨🔗 Links & Resources:Preorder Shades of Power: https://www.amazon.com/Shaedes-Power-Dark-Fantasy-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DJPJGD52Follow Jenny Grimes on Instagram: @author.jennygrimesAdd Shaedes of Power to Your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220226251-shaedes-of-powerLearn More About Jenny Grimes and Her Books on Her Website: https://authorjennygrimes.com/ Enter the giveaway! Follow @MythicMicPod on Instagram for the giveaway details and rules. Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast on Instagram: @MythicMicPod Follow Host Bethany Amanda on Instagram: @Bethanyinfantasyland Want to be on the Show? Apply Here: https://form.jotform.com/242758564047061🎙 Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and get ready for more legendary episodes coming your way! 🚀✨

Welcome to The Mythic Mic Podcast, your new home for fantasy, romantasy, and the stories that make your heart race and your imagination soar. Hosted by Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan - authors, book collectors, and the founders of Mythic Mic, this show is for readers and writers who believe that magic lives in the pages of a book and that the stories we love can change us.  If you're obsessed with epic worlds, unforgettable characters, sweeping romance, and the craft behind it all, you're exactly where you're meant to be! 📖✨ What You'll Find on The Mythic Mic Podcast ✨We've designed this podcast around three core segments, so whether you're a reader, writer, or both, there's something here for you. Our core segments include: 🗡️ Mythic Voices — Our author interview series featuring indie authors, bestselling voices, and rising stars in fantasy and romantasy. 🔮 Magic Behind the Draft — For aspiring authors and early-stage writers, this segment dives into the craft, tools, and resource that help bring stories from idea to page. 📖 Inside the Grimoire — Our reader-focused deep dive segment, where we celebrate and discuss the stories we can't stop thinking about, including book deep dives, monthly reading roundups and recommendations, fandom conversations, and more. 🌟 Giveaways, Community & How to Get Involved 🎁At Mythic Mic, we believe in celebrating stories and the people who create and love them. We host giveaways alongside many of our episodes, including signed books, special and sprayed-edge editions, fantasy-themed merch, and more! We also host rep team opportunities throughout the year. Keep an eye on our socials for giveaways, rep openings, book read-alongs, and more! ✨ Don’t Miss Out!✅ Subscribe & follow to never miss an episode!✅ Follow Us on Instagram @MythicMic, @BethanyInFantasyland, and @the_magical_quill 🎙️ Press play and step into the magic!