Lasers Dragons And Keyboards

A podcast for readers and writers of science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction.

S4 Ep 19: Kerry Nietz 12/09/2024

S4 Ep 19: Kerry Nietz Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author. He has twelve speculative novels in print, along with two novellas, a handful of short stories, and a non-fiction book, FoxTales. Kerry’s novel A Star Curiously Singing won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe in a world under sharia law. It is often mentioned on “Best of” lists. Among his writings, Kerry's most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space. AViS was mentioned on the Tonight Show and in the Washington Post, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Newsweek called it “a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare.” Kerry is a refugee of the software industry. He spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits, first as one of the principal developers for the now mythical Fox Software, and then as one of Bill Gates's minions at Microsoft. He is a husband, a father, a technophile and a movie buff. In this episode, we talk about his latest book, , set in the Takamo Universe--which was an education for us as the hosts because we weren't old enough to know about this. The show kind of runs the gamut in topics as we talk writing, marketing, and Kerry's other creative pursuits. Learn more about Kerry at . /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/34119401

S4 Ep18 - Gretchen Kuykendall Engel 11/25/2024

S4 Ep18 - Gretchen Kuykendall Engel Back in the day, Gretchen E K Engel enjoyed penning her English teacher’s favorite essays as much as earning highest marks in physics. But science won over the arts, and Gretchen pursued a career as a chemical engineer. Her love of the written word was not neglected as she authored hundreds of technical documents including such riveting works as Spill Prevention, Controls and Countermeasure Plans and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans. She lives in Tucson with her husband, her daughter aka Young Realmie, and her extroverted tuxedo cat, plus a college-aged son across town. Ms. Engel enjoys playing tennis, biking, hiking, traveling, or lying on a pool float doing nothing. An environmental consultant by day and speculative fiction writer by night, Gretchen researches STEM characters in a professional setting and gets paid to do it. She has published short stories in anthologies and magazines. Her manuscript The Barber Surgeon won the ACFW Genesis Award for speculative fiction. Havok Legendary Anthology: Stalk Gretchen on Instagram: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/33954847

LDK S4 E17 - Heidi Lyn Burke: GAME ON! 11/11/2024

LDK S4 E17 - Heidi Lyn Burke: GAME ON! Today we interview Heidi Lynn Burke about her latest super hero book, Game On, and the anthology DOSA Files: Tales from the Supervillain Rehabilitation Files. You can learn more about Heidi's work at: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/33358747

LDK S4 E 16 - Janeen Ippolito 10/21/2024

LDK S4 E 16 - Janeen Ippolito Today we interview Janeen Ippolito about her latest book release, Nobody's Hero, and Author Elevate author services. Learn more about Janeen at: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/33358657

S4 Ep 15 - Laura VanArendonk Baugh 10/07/2024

S4 Ep 15 - Laura VanArendonk Baugh Today we interview Laura VanArendonk Baugh about her Japanese history/fantasy book Only the Dead Face North, and other works. Learn more about Laura and her books at: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/33358617

S4 Ep14 - Jean Rabe 03/25/2024

S4 Ep14 - Jean Rabe I write with dogs wrapped around my feet. I get to wear sandals or bedroom slippers to work, and old, comfortable clothes. When the weather is fine I get to write on my back porch. I love summer. I write mysteries and fantasies because life is too short to be limited to one genre. I started getting published when I was 12, studied journalism at Northern Illinois University, then went to work as a news reporter…eventually for Scripps Howard, where I managed their Western Kentucky bureau. Getting itchy feet, I moved to Wisconsin and went to work for TSR, Inc., the then-producers of the Dungeons & Dragons game. I dipped my itchy feet into the fiction pool and wrote Dragonlance novels for several years. Now I’m back in Illinois, my land surrounded by train tracks that offer music to write by. And there are plenty of dogs in the neighborhood to provide an accompaniment. I am a recipient of the Faust, the grand master award of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, and the Illinois Author Project’s Soon-to-be Famous Award. I’ve been on the USA Today’s Bestseller list a few times … ah, I’ve never hit the Times. I’ve written more than forty SF, fantasy, mystery, and adventure novels (including a couple of ghosted projects), more short stories than I care to count, and I’ve edited magazines and anthologies. When I’m writing I listen to classical guitar and 60s rock … depending on my subject matter. And at every good opportunity I toss tennis balls for my cadre of dogs. - Always hire a copy editor to make sure everything is caught. - How can you not afford an editor? - Read the manuscript backwards for editing purposes. - Buy ads - compare and contrast where is going to be best per novel. - Once a month newsletter for Jean! THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY BROADCAST ON FEBRUARY 17, 2024 ON /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/30400673

S4 Ep 13 - Kickstarter Roundtable! 03/19/2024

S4 Ep 13 - Kickstarter Roundtable! In this episode, we talked with J.J. Johnson, Jason Joyner, and Merrie Destafano about getting your Author Kickstarter going. Quick points: Kickstarter for Authors FB group $500 is a good, solid number to shoot for Keep holidays in mind when planning when to run your campaign Backer update swaps w/other KS authors. Make sure you have your book and graphics complete before launching the campaign. Find out more about the authors at their websites: THIS EPISODE ORIGINALLY AIRED ON JANUARY 27, 2024 ON /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/30400453

S4 E12 - Pam Halter 03/16/2024

S4 E12 - Pam Halter Pam Halter was a home-schooling mom for nine years, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023 when the publishing house closed. She’s the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy novel published by Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, and Willoughby and Friends, a picture book series about friendship featuring Willoughby, who is a dragon. Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she’s not writing, Pam enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes. You can find out more about Pam and Willoughby at /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/30399458

LDK S4 E11 - Thomas Doscher 03/11/2024

LDK S4 E11 - Thomas Doscher Thomas Doscher is an author and retired Air Force journalist with a degree in history from the University of Maryland University College. During his Air Force career, Thomas wrote news and feature stories for the Air Force and joint military publications across 20 years and three deployments. Thomas retired from the Air Force in 2021 and now spends his time writing and being with his wife and two sons in Illinois. We had a delightful chat with author Thomas Doscher, primarily discussing his upcoming book in the Vixen War Bride series. Highlights included: Reading 'Blossoms in the Wind', cultural mixing, being a history nerd Having an epic troll in the book, matching tone of the book with the subplots. Upcoming projects! American Isakai Getting punched by wife for editing. 20 Books to 50K Don't sweat the marketing! Be sure to check out Thomas's books on . THIS EPISODE WAS LIVESTREAMED ON ON AUGUST 12, 2023. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/30301738

S4 Ep10: Paul Regnier 03/09/2024

S4 Ep10: Paul Regnier Paul Regnier is a speculative fiction author. He believes one of the closest things to magic on this earth is imagination. His favorite type of story is filled with adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments between characters. He likes to dream up worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and the supernatural. Sometimes they end up in a book. Paul is the writer of a new fantasy book called Bard Tidings, as well as the Luke and Bandit cozy mystery series, the Paranormia series, and the Space Drifters series. Paul lives in Treasure Valley, Idaho, with his wife and two children. You can learn more about Paul and his books at THIS EPISODE WAS LIVESTREAMED ON ON JULY 22, 2023. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/30300898

S4 Ep9: John Otte & How to Win at Kickstarters 06/26/2023

S4 Ep9: John Otte & How to Win at Kickstarters We had the incomparable on the show this week! John W. Otte is a husband, a father, a Lutheran pastor, and a big ol’ geek. He graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a theatre major, and then from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. By night, he writes unusual stories of geeky grace. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and two boys. On today's show, we discussed his recent forays into Kickstarter campaigns, both for his novel and forthcoming sequel, Drawn Through Blood. His influence to try the Kickstarter method? We also hear about balancing his life as full-time Lutheran pastor and writing novels, and the challenges there. Many shout outs today! All links to Amazon help us stay up and running! Whether you buy a book or a TV, help us stay in the black by using the links to make your next purchase on Amazon by using our affiliate link. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/27256314

LDK S4 Ep 8: Cindy Koepp 06/12/2023

LDK S4 Ep 8: Cindy Koepp For the second time, we had Cindy Koepp on, author of LitRPG novels and graphic novels, among other things! We had a blast learning about the process of turning a novel into a comic book, what it takes to do in-person events at comic-cons, and even a little bit about hooking. (Get your head out of the gutter! It's a legit thing!) Originally from Michigan, Cindy Koepp combined a love of pedagogy and ecology into a 14-year career as an elementary science specialist. After teaching four-footers -- that's height, not leg count, she pursued a Master's in Adult Learning with a specialization in Performance Improvement. Her published works include science fiction novels, fantasy novels, a passel of short stories, and educator resources. When she isn't reading or writing, Cindy is currently working as a tech writer, hat collector, quilter, crafter, and weird joke teller. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/27104715

LDK L4 Ep 7: H.L. Burke 06/09/2023

LDK L4 Ep 7: H.L. Burke We got to hear quite a bit about how Heidi has jumped from many different genres to focus on Superhero Romance. It's a niche that she greatly enjoys and hasn't been able to find many clean examples of. From there, we moved on to favorite characters, what it's like to put yourself in the mind of who started out as a side character and suddenly needing to write a tale about them specifically, and how she researches. To the latter point: ex-marine husband! Snails were mentioned, of course. We love having Heidi on! She's an absolute blast in person and on the show! Follow Heidi at: On Amazon: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/26828961

LDK S4 E6 - Kara Swanson 04/17/2023

LDK S4 E6 - Kara Swanson Today we had Kara Swanson, author of the Heirs of Neverland books, on the show! This SoCal native enjoys running the Authors Conservatory, the writers school she co-founded, and is hard at work at a new series focusing on the phoenix. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/26483847

LDK S4 E5: The Return of the Slytherin 04/10/2023

LDK S4 E5: The Return of the Slytherin We are absolutely delighted to have back on our show Becky Dean! Becky, also known as B.L. Dean, is the author of her debut space opera novel, Rogue Pursuit, which released in March. In today's podcast, we discuss writing for two different major publishing houses, the differences between them, as well as how she came up with the ideas for Rogue Pursuit and its sequels (all coming out by June 2023.) We last had Becky on for S4 E2 discussing her contemporary YA romance which is laced with tons of geeky references. Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. When she’s not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows or Jane Austen adaptations, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. Though she’s a proud Baylor grad and lives in Texas with her husband, she remains a Southern California girl at heart. You can find out more about her books at . /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/26483529

LDK S4 E4: What's His Name Again? Oh, Right. It's Aaron! 04/08/2023

LDK S4 E4: What's His Name Again? Oh, Right. It's Aaron! Under the guise of testing some borked settings, we reinterviewed our very own Aaron DeMott who just released his third novel, "Etherno 2: Catgirl Overload". We discuss everything from needing to do rants (look forward to updates from Patreon!) to the inspiration of his books to finding time to write while working full-time and raising four kids. As one third of the LDK group, Aaron is hugely busy, and the fact he still wants to do the podcast is amazing in and of itself, so it was fun to just sit down and discuss his books for a change. Also in the episode: some personal updates from all three of us. (Hint: two of us are married to each other now!) Check out Aaron's books at . /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/26483466

S4 Ep 3 - Dawn Shipman 04/08/2023

S4 Ep 3 - Dawn Shipman We have with us Josh's aunt this episode, the amazing Dawn Shipman! Dawn Shipman is an award-winning author whose fantasy stories bristle with believable characters fighting fierce battles in strange worlds. Teens of all ages will love these tales of soaring wonder, ferocious loyalty, and heart-stopping romance. Kingdom Lost, the first book in the Lost Stones of Argonia series, is her debut novel. We had a blast talking to Dawn and we know you'll love her too! For more information about Dawn's books, check out her website at: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/26482704

LOST EPISODE: Post-Apoc and UF worldbuilding with Josh Chadd 10/03/2022

LOST EPISODE: Post-Apoc and UF worldbuilding with Josh Chadd This is a lost episode! The producer has no idea what we discussed, but it's with Josh Chadd. He's awesome. Listen, buy his books, you know the deal. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/14541782

LDK S4 Ep. 2: Becky Dean 09/30/2022

LDK S4 Ep. 2: Becky Dean Today, we talk to Becky Dean, author of debut YA Romance novel Love and Other Great Expectations. Not our normal fare, but Becky is completely awesome and also about to release a series of Space Opera books in 2023! Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. When she’s not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows or Jane Austen adaptations, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. Though she’s a proud Baylor grad and lives in Texas with her husband, she remains a Southern California girl at heart. (Please note there was some technical issues with our recording for Becky's feed. Producer was unable to fix in post.) -- Watch live at /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/24550491

LDK S4 Ep. 1 - Travis Inman 09/18/2022

LDK S4 Ep. 1 - Travis Inman We're BACK! And we've got Travis W. Inman with us, discussing his newest book, Chrome World. Travis W. Inman grew up in the ranch country of West Texas and worked as a cowboy for his first 20 years. Travis graduated from seminary in Dallas, Texas, and later served a year in the mission field in Mexico and South America. Upon his return home, he married Sarah, his wife of more than 25 years. They have two children whom they successfully home schooled. Over the years, Travis has applied his skills to a variety of fields, ranging from marketing and real estate to criminal justice and law enforcement. Travis served in the United States Army where he overcame a devastating hip injury and was able to walk again despite the odds. Writing is a life-long passion for Travis. His short stories and poems have been selected for publication in a variety of newspapers and on Internet sites. Travis’ writing includes children’s literature, action adventure, short stories, one act plays, love stories, westerns, sci-fi, thrillers, and drama. Travis and Sarah Inman currently reside in Northern Virginia. Visit Travis online: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/24407700

S3 E1 - Pineapple Ice Cream and You 11/01/2021

S3 E1 - Pineapple Ice Cream and You We're back in the saddle again with award winning author Steve Rzasa! Check out our chat as we discuss the life a librarian, cool cover designs, and working with a collaborator. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/20994611

LDK - THE LOST EPISODES - Ep 2: Etherno 05/26/2020

LDK - THE LOST EPISODES - Ep 2: Etherno /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/6661341

LDK - THE LOST EPISODES - Ep 1 with Amy Brock McNew 05/23/2020

LDK - THE LOST EPISODES - Ep 1 with Amy Brock McNew In our "lost episodes" files, we interview UF and Paranormal Romance author, Amy Brock McNew. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/6661383

LDK S2 Ep 3 - Plan For Your Success 01/14/2020

LDK S2 Ep 3 - Plan For Your Success Due to a Midwestern snowstorm, Liberty was unable to join Aaron & Josh in this spectacular interview with sci-fi legend, Nick Cole. A former soldier and actor, Nick shares insights into his writing process, tabletop gaming, indie publishing, and who you should pay attention to in this world where everybody is a guru in the indie-sphere. /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/12740090

LDK S2 Ep2: The Bleeding Will Eventually Stop 11/11/2019

LDK S2 Ep2: The Bleeding Will Eventually Stop We sat down and discussed Jason Joyner's debut novel, Launch. As well as what led to the creation of the Realm Makers Consortium in 2015, and how great it is to be a part of a writing community that shares bonds in areas of both spiritual and fandom. Be sure to check out the stream on Twitch.tv/LDK_Podcast for great interaction on the chat! Where to Find Jason + other links: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/11971409

LDK S2 Ep 1 - Dinosaurs, Soda Pop, & Snot 11/04/2019

LDK S2 Ep 1 - Dinosaurs, Soda Pop, & Snot We sat down with J.J. Johnson, author of Iggy & Oz: The Plastic Dinos of Doom this week on LDK! We discussed the challenges of writing for middle grade, giant snot blobs, and insights into marketing from a marketing professional. Oh, and there was laughter. A. Lot. Of. Laughter. (But what else do you expect from us?) Links: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/11881265

LDK S2 Ep 0 - Just a Few Technical Difficulties (re-meet the hosts!) 10/26/2019

LDK S2 Ep 0 - Just a Few Technical Difficulties (re-meet the hosts!) We're excited to be re-launching the podcast! And today, we did a test run of our new recording setup. Be sure to join us on Twitch.tv/LDK_Podcast for future episodes! /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/11791541

LDK 77 - The History of Fantasy 04/25/2018

LDK 77 - The History of Fantasy We were delighted to have with us NYT bestselling author, Ed Greenwood, on this week's episode of the show! For those not in the know, Mr. Greenwood is the creator of The Forgotten Realms. Note to listeners: we had not only our producer missing, but the guys had to jury-rig a setup to record. Mr. Greenwood joined us over the phone, which was not what we had planned—but we were delighted to have him despite our technical difficulties. (Liberty's hair may or may not be more grey after editing...) Also, for our listeners with sensitive ears, there is some mild swearing in this episode. The guys mostly let Mr. Greenwood talk, and as such, we think this is an episode best listened to rather than trying to sum it up. But we do get a history lesson on publishing and research. My word, do we have it easy nowadays. Everything in a home exists to support bookshelves. ~ Ed Greenwood Links: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/6520348

LDK 76 - Intellectual Property Law with Steven Fairchild 04/24/2018

LDK 76 - Intellectual Property Law with Steven Fairchild We've got some great insight into intellectual property law with attorney Steve Fairchild. It may sound boring, but as authors, it's important we understand at least a little bit about the law. We start things out with an overview of what's encompassed in intellectual property, and then it really gets fun! In Episode 76: How biology degrees relates to intellectual property How Steve gets his clients Can you use the term "lightsaber™" in your book? Does I.P. law translate to other countries? Finding an I.P. attorney...and do you need one? What's the difference between an I.P. attorney and an agent? When does copyright exist? Do you need to file your copyright with the copyright office? What happens when your work has been pirated? Can I.P. law be funny? How Steven actually informed an episode of Suits--and how they got it wrong! What Steven finds frustrating in fiction about the law Bunny trails! Do I need to copyright my idea formally with the copyright office? Fair use law Steve's advice on courtroom scenes Steve's favorite movies about legal stuff Links: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/6516419

LDK 75 - Alien Artifacts with K.M. Dailey 01/09/2018

LDK 75 - Alien Artifacts with K.M. Dailey We sit down with physics teacher by day, thriller author by night, Kayla--K.M.--Dailey this episode. K.M. is the winner of our flash short story contest with Laura VanArendonk Baugh to write a short story featuring Samwise Gamgee (LOTR) and River Song (Doctor Who.) K.M.'s story had us in stitches, and we're sure you'll see why we picked the story as our winner. We talk about our Harry Potter houses, Kayla's inspiration for the short story, Christmas trees out of books, Liberty admits to having lower standards in her reading, the ever-present need for more bookcases, , the new doctor on Doctor Who and Kayla's and Liberty's concerns about the direction, Doctor Who indoctrination (no pun intended!), Kayla's goal of 100 rejections in 2018 (!!!), Captain America...or Captain Jack Sparrow? Find out more about . Kayla's book recommendations: - Orson Scott Card - Lemony Snicket - Cixin Liu For a transcript of K.M. Dailey's short story, visit our website at: /episode/index/show/lasersdragonsandkeyboards/id/6132759

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