Reader/writer

Ben and Mary Ellen discuss The Three by Sarah Lotz. Our picks for this month are:

One thing many writers never have a shortage of is ideas. How do you know if an idea is worth exploring and writing though? We discuss this very question with Starla Huchton with answers from Balticon 2014!Our guest answers come from Charles Gannon, Chris Lester, Christopher Morse, Phillipa Ballantine, Tee Morris, Scott Roche, Scott Sigler and a special guest.How do YOU know an idea is a good idea?

Our first panel from Balticon 48! Featuring DC Wilson, Peter Bryant, Myke Cole and Michael Underwood.Description from the programme: "Scientists look at the blatant disregard for basic reality in some science fiction and answer questions from today's authors on how NOT to repeat those faux pas."

Ben and Mary Ellen discuss their hiatus, Guardians of the Galaxy and their feelings on the Amazon v. Hachette "situation". Our Audible picks for this month:

We talk to Michael R. Underwood about his new book Shield and Crocus, "The New Weird" and how he approaches his novels. Our Audible Picks for this month:

It's our 50th episode live from Balticon! We got Dave Robison in a room with a crowd and we heard answers to the One Question "What makes a good supporting character?" We heard pre-recorded answers from Adam Christopher, Mur Lafferty, Justin Landon and Tom Merritt, as well as from Micheal R. Underwood, Hugh J. O'Donnell and Morgen Rich live in the audience!A huge thanks to Starla Huchton for the brand new cover artwork!

Our final panel from Confusion 2014. We hear from six authors, Jacqueline Carey, Sarah Zettel, J.C. Daniels, Sam Sykes, Merrie Haskell and Cindy Spencer Pape.From the programme:"The Trojan War was fought for the love of one woman. Arthurian legend would be incomplete without the love stories. Quests are often undertaken due to an underlying romance, but our popular understanding of genre and various authors' place within and among them seems to lose sight of this fact. Why is one writer's love story paranormal romance, while another's is a tale of fantasy?"

We talk to Abigail Hilton about her writing, the influence of science, and other upcoming work. Our Audible picks this month: Promos for Farlost and Nutty Bites

While we take some time to prepare for Balticon next weekend, here's another panel from ConFusion 2014. Kameron Hurley, Ron Collins, Howard Tayler, Janet Harriett, Catherine Shaffer and Christine Purcell discuss keeping things consistent across a series.From the Programme:"You have just discovered, upon reading a previous novel in the universe you are writing, a point that completely nullifies the plot of the book you are trying to write. What do you do? This particular issue comes up often, and the solution may make everything better. Our panel discusses how to proceed from this thorn, once you've calmed down..."Promo for Space Casey Season 2

Another panel from ConFusion 2014. Myke Cole moderates with panelists Sarah Gibbons, Janet Harriett and Mike Carey.From the programme:"Books, and those who write them, are sometimes elevated to the status of canon. In science fiction as in fantasy, there are works that are considered must reads for any serious student of the genre. Is this always a good thing? Seminal as they could be, older novels also often have structures and language that are far from conventions now, not to mention societal assumptions and prejudices about race and gender that can shock a modern reader. Is there a point where a work is old enough to be safely retired from the conversation?"Promo for Paul E. Cooley's The Street.

We talk to our first Hugo-nominated guest Justin Landon of Staffer's Book Review and the host of the new podcast from Tor.com, Rocket Talk. We talk about the Hugos, how his Hugo-nominated book came to be, and giving a good review. Our Audible picks this month:

Ben and Mary Ellen review Scott Sigler's newest book Pandemic. If you don't want spoilers, stop listening after the promo for Farlost from John Mierau.

Another panel from ConFusion 2014 in Detroit, MI. Panelists Anne Gray, Candra Gill and Mark Oshiro discuss diversity in comics and Spec Fic in general.From the programme:"Many of us love superheroes because as kids we wanted to be like them, but what happens when you don't see any superheroes or creators who look like you?"Promo for Way of the Buffalo Podcast.

We talk to Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine about The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, The Shared Desk and Kickstarter campaigns.Promos for Farlost and Tales From the Archives.We are asking our listeners to help out and support the show by donating on our Patreon page. Visit http://www.patreon.com/readerwriter to help out. Our picks for this month:

Ben talks to Matthew Pizzolato from The Western Online about writing westerns.

Ben is on his first convention panel at ConFusion 2014. From the programme:Catherine Shaffer, Brian Gray, Ben Delano"Marvel Entertainment recently announced the "Be the next Jane Foster" STEM mentoring program and contest, and even hygiene products are getting in on the act (AXE's "Be an Astronaut" contest). Can speculative media franchises boost interest in the sciences, especially for underrepresented groups?"Promos for Canada Reads and Way Of The Buffalo

We talk with author and graphic artist Starla Huchton about her upcoming book Evolution: Angel, marketing strategies for independent authors, and book covers.Promos for Scott Sigler's Pandemic and Tales from the Archives: Vol. 3We are asking our listeners to help out and support the show by donating on our Patreon page. Visit http://www.patreon.com/readerwriter to help out. Our picks for this month:

The MacGuffin is often a maligned element of storytelling. Most of the time, when you hear it mentioned, you are meant to tread carefully, if not avoid the trope.However, at ConFusion 2014, Ben asked a few authors how you can use a MacGuffin well. These are the responses from Brad Beaulieu, Howard Tayler, John Scalzi, Laura Resnick, Michael R. Underwood, Myke Cole and Peter V. Brett. Of course, what would be a One Question episode without Dave Robison?

It's the return of the Dumb Questions panel from ConFusion! Myke Cole moderates again this year with guests Jacqueline Carey, Nancy Fulda, Sam Sykes and Laura Resnick. It's the one panel where smart questions are discouraged.Includes promo for The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Podcast

We have a chat with Matthew Wayne Selznick about his upcoming project, Reading the Amazing Spider-Man, theme, and Selznick Serials.Promos for The Guild of the Cowry Catchers and Scott Sigler's Pandemic.Matthew has offered a $4 discount to our listeners who pre-order Reading the Amazing Spider-Man. You can order either the EPUB or MOBI (Kindle) versions of the book by clicking. You must pre-order before Feb. 9! Our picks for this month: