Fiction Fans

In this week's podcast episode, we're trying not to make anyone too mad with our opinions about THE FINAL EMPIRE, Brandon Sanderson's first Mistborn novel. (It was not our favorite book 😬) Credit where credit's due though, it's got a really cool magic system. We spend some time comparing it to Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, and also talk about the YA to Grimdark pipeline, s*x workers, and fun takes on the Chosen One trope.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

The people have spoken! We let their patreon subscribers choose the book for this episode, and they chose A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. Le Guin. We discuss narrative voice, fantasy tropes from the mid 20th century, and how an author's reputation may affect the reader's experience. We also talk about coming of age stories, warm mentor figures, and depictions of positive masculinity.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

We were thrilled to join podcast tour for EVOCATION, the new urban fantasy novel by ! She joined us on the podcast to talk about occult research, the challenges around writing a polyamorous romance plotline, and more.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Swipe through to the second image to see the whole tour schedule!

Join us and to discuss all things advertising (with a focus on what Lilly will insist on calling "paid media") THIS SATURDAY, MAY 25 at NOON PACIFIC! Come and listen and ask any questions you might have about advertising your book! We'll cover advertising strategies in general, with a deeper dive into Google, Meta (FB &IG) and Amazon Ads.

When Lilly's not reading books and/or podcasting, she gets a paycheck for managing Digital Advertising campaigns. She works with budgets from $100 per month to $50,000 per month, so no matter what budget you're working with, she has ideas. Come and listen and ask any questions you might have about advertising your book! We'll cover advertising strategies in general, with a deeper dive into Google, Meta (FB &IG) and Amazon Ads.

Topics include
What is digital advertising?
Data Data Data
How to tell if any of this s**t is working
The marketing funnel vs YOUR marketing funnel
Google, Meta, and Amazon
Setting up audiences
Creative
How to tell if any of this s**t is working? Coda

You can find the livestream link through the link in our bio

We finally made it to Lilly's favorite book in our Discworld reread: GOING POSTAL! We talked about whether or not it's the best Discworld novel (you can probably guess what Lilly's opinion is), reformed conmen, the intricacies of golem gender, and how we're hesitantly cautious about the romantic interest’s future in the series.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

For this week's podcast episode, we were joined by to talk about BEYOND THE GATES INFERNAL, volume 2 in his Shattered Gates series, but of course we also couldn't resist about volume 1. We discussed SciFi slang, cute alien creatures, and the unsettling familiarity of the slavery system our main character grew up in. We also bring up character agency, heartbreaking romances, and the affect our subconscious has on decisions.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

This week, we were joined by K.R.R. Lockhaven to talk about THE GRIMOIRE, THE GODS, AND THE GIRL, the final novel in his Azure Archipelago series. We discussed ending a series vs starting one, re-emerging villains, and love quadrangles. We also brought up Mrs Covington's, a standalone but related novel that adds an extra layer of coziness to the series as a whole.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Oops, I got distracted by work yesterday and forgot to post about the episode 😅 Our new episode is out!

This week, we're back on Discworld, discussing A HAT FULL OF SKY by Terry Pratchett! We talked about young witches, metaphors for puberty, and theoretical nostalgia. We also chatted about how this Tiffany Aching YA novel fits in to the larger Discworld series.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

This week, we welcomed back on to the podcast to talk about his latest novel, THE REDEMPTION OF MORGAN BRIGHT (out now from )! We chatted about maintaining mystery in a past tense 1st person POV, suspect character motivations, and how distressingly close to reality this horror scenario is.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Since April is National Poetry Month, we thought we would discuss THE SELECTED WORKS OF AUDRE LORDE for this week's podcast.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

We were delighted to welcome back on to the podcast this week to talk about NOISE FLOOR, the latest novel in his cozy detective series! We discussed keeping an ongoing series fresh, managing overlapping storylines, and the woman who stole the show in the book.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Up on our blog today, we have a q&a with as part of the book tour for her novel, CLYTEMNESTRA'S BIND!

"I’m intrigued by characters who, in my opinion, have been unfairly judged"

You can find the interview through the link in our bio!

For this week's episode, we discussed SIDLE CREEK by Jolene McIlwain, a very good but also extremely sad collection of short stories taking place in Appalachia. We talked about content warnings (many), privilege (ours) and heartbreak (lots). We also debated genre for a bit, and argued about whether a sense of horror makes a story Horror.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Did you know that we have a patreon where you can find bonus clips, exclusive episodes, and more? We're currently running a patreon drive, because we'd love to be able to break even on our podcasting expenses (like our website hosting, recording software, and transcription software). Everyone who is a member of our patreon by the end of this week will get a custom limerick written for you, as well as our undying gratitude!

Here are our subscription tiers, and what they get you:

$1 - the hero
VIP discord access
weekly bonus content
pdf or epub of Solstitia: A Fiction Fans Magazine
Voting power for patreon-chosen books

$5 - the fiction fan
everything in the $1 tier, plus
monthly exclusive episodes

$10 - the booksmith
everything in the $5 tier, plus
exclusive access to live episode recordings

You can find the link in our bio, or sign up at https://www.patreon.com/fictionfanspod

We're continuing our Discworld journey this week with a conversation about Monstrous Regiment! We discussed performative gender, unexpected allies, and supportive camraderie. We also talked about a character's near miss with fatphobia, underexplored backstories, and overexplored hair. How do we only have 10 Discworld books left???? This episode contains a hat-centric words are weird.

We're so pleased to be participating in the cover reveal for SHOESTRING THEORY by , out October 8 from !

I am so in love with this beautiful cover, which was done by

ABOUT THE BOOK
The kingdom of Farsala is broken and black clouds hang heavy over the arid lands. Former Grand-Mage of the High Court, Cyril Laverre, has spent the last decade hiding himself away in a ramshackle hut by the sea, trying to catch any remaining fish for his cat familiar, Shoestring, and suppressing his guilt over the kingdom’s ruin. For he played his part – for as the King, Eufrates Margrave, descended further and further into paranoia, violence and madness, his Grand-Mage – and husband – Cyril didn’t do a thing to stop him.

When Shoestring wanders away and dies one morning, Cyril knows his days are finally numbered. But are there enough left to have a last go at putting things right? With his remaining lifeblood, he casts a powerful spell that catapults him back in time to a happier period of Farsalan history – a time when it was Eufrates’s older sister Tig destined to ascend to the throne, before she died of a wasting disease, and a time when Cyril and Eufrates’s tentative romance had not yet bloomed. If he can just make sure Eufie never becomes King, then maybe he can prevent the kingdom’s tragic fate. But the magical oath he made to his husband at the altar, transcending both time and space, may prove to be his most enduring – and most dangerous – feat of magic to date…

For today’s podcast episode, we spoke with translator Nevena Andrić about some of the challenges of translating English SFF into Serbian and how much wine it takes to translate Yeats.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

We were joined by to talk about her novella THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST and her novel THE SIEGE OF BURNING GRASS for this week's podcast episode! Some things we discussed in the episode: moral ambiguity, relatable antagonists, the horrors of war, and also how much we want to give Alefret a hug, even if it wouldn't actually solve any of his problems.

Today, we're welcoming author on to our blog to talk a little bit about his collection of short horror, OPHELIA IN THE UNDERWORLD: AND OTHER MELANCHOLY TALES!

You can find the interview through the link on our website or here: here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

We're entering the this week! We spoke with the wonderful about his upcoming novel MUSHROOM BLUES for this week's podcast episode. This episode gives a sneak peek at his fungalpunk detective novel that features an older female main character, noir inspiration, and cultural fusions. We chatted about his writing process, literary influences, and, of course, mushrooms.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

For this week's episode, we were joined by to talk about her latest novel, THE BONE ROOTS. We discussed beauty bias in fantasy, older female protagonists, portrayals of healthy relationships, and more!

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

In this week's episode, we're discussing THE WEE FREE MEN by Terry Pratchett! We compare it and its main character to The Amazing Maurice, the first YA Discworld novel. Tiffany Aching proves to be the podcast fav. We debate what qualities a book must have to be considered "Discworld" (and in doing so we might accidentally turn "Discworld" into a genre). Witches are evaluated, the Wee Free Men are enjoyed.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with about BIG DEMON ENERGY, her newest urban fantasy novel! The conversation ranged from Jewish culture to vampire mythology to three dimensional hunky love interests (with some detours into knitting, fantastical places on our earth, and complex mother figures).

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

This week on the podcast, we’re talking to .l.stuart about worldbuilding, unlikeable main characters, and unreliable narrators in his epic fantasy novel A DROWNED KINGDOM!

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Today, we're welcoming author J.G. Gardner on to our blog to talk a little bit about his novel THE PATH FROM REGRET!

You can find the interview through the link on our website or here: here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

Submissions are now open for the first issue of Solstitia, our zine celebrating all things genre!

The theme for this first issue is "pets in space" although it's a loose through-line, and won't be strictly enforced. If you have a work that you want to submit that doesn't fit the theme, go for it!

For more info about the submission process, check out the link in our bio

Even though we covered NIGHT WATCH by Terry Pratchett back in 2022, I insisted we cover it again because I like the book so much 🤣 This time, we were joined by to talk about where the novel fits into the City Watch subseries and Discworld as a whole, anti heroes, lampshades, and s*xy lamps (some more metaphorical than others).

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

We have a q&a with Steven J Morris - Writer up on our blog today, where he answers some questions about MOTHER OF TREES, the first book in his new epic fantasy series.

You can read the interview here: https://www.fictionfanspodcast.com/post/author-interview-mother-of-trees-by-steven-j-morris

And make sure that you head over to Amazon to preorder the book!

In this week's podcast episode, we're talking about gothic novels and s*x positivity in POOR THINGS by Alasdair Gray! Lilly compares it to the movie, but not too much, promise. We also use the word "Frankenstein" as an adjective to what is hopefully a hilarious degree.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod

This week, we're covering THIRTEEN WAYS TO KILL LULABELLE ROCK by Maud Woolf! We talked about tragedy, self sabotage, and the worth of a person's life in this engaging and thought-provoking novel. (That makes it sound like a sad book but it's not, we swear!)

You can listen to the episode wherever you listen to podcasts, through the link in our bio, or here: https://linktr.ee/fictionfanspod
Angry Robot Books