Category: Episodes | The Worldshapers

November 23, 2025November 23, 2025

Episode 205: Betty Jane Hegerat – Elephants in the Room

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A conversation with award-winning Calgary author Betty Jane Hegerat about her latest collection of literary short stories, Elephants in the Room.

Website
bettyjanehegerat.com

Facebook
@bettyjh

About Elephants in the Room

Fourteen jewel-like stories unveil the tender chaos of lives unlived and loves unspoken

In Elephants in the Room, Betty Jane Hegerat masterfully uncovers the quiet fractures of ordinary lives—the unspoken regrets, the buried griefs, and the fragile threads of connection that bind families across generations.

From a devoted son’s frantic dash to help his mother glimpse the Queen to a reluctant father’s stunned reunion with the daughter he never knew, from a woman dressing her mother-in-law for an eternal rest to a boy’s guilty reckoning with a bully’s untimely death, these unforgettable stories illuminate the elephants in our lives we ignore at our peril.

With tender wit and unflinching insight, Hegerat explores the weight of what we leave unsaid: the ache of lost chances, the solace of small mercies, and the stubborn grit that carries us through. As poignant as a stolen glance, as resonant as a half-forgotten lullaby, the stories in Elephants in the Room whisper the unvarnished secrets of family ties—where regrets loom large, and small acts of grace light the way home.

Praise for Elephants in the Room

“Betty Jane Hegerat is a meticulous observer of the human condition, and the family in particular. The stories in Elephants in the Room are written with succinct, unadorned prose and a gentleness that belies the strength of their messages. With warmth, humour, empathy, and intimacy, her characters search for the connection and remembrance we seek in those moments of heartbreak that punctuate all of our lives. A most moving collection of short fiction.” – Lori Hahnel, author of Flicker and Vermin: Stories

“Elephants in the Room is a gorgeously beguiling collection. Individual stories are beautifully paced, with a skilful interplay between past and present. Delightful.” – Peter Midgely, writer, editor, and translator

“Betty Jane Hegerat tells her stories with intense care and in a soft-voiced, clear way that is lean on descriptions, explanations, and emotional fireworks. Even the passages of dialogue are kept short. The stories range from family members struggling to deal with everyday problems familiar to most of us that are nevertheless inescapable and painful, to the heart-shattering issues in the aftermath of broken marriages, to what to do with the willfully (or not) unfailingly incompetent family members of whom most families have at least one, to the deep love for friends whose suffering one is helpless to alleviate. In this collection, Hegerat examines with admirable restraint the serious and mostly unanswerable questions about living the ordinary life with dignity and kindness. This is a book to be loved.” – Sharon Butala, award-winning author of Leaving Wisdom

About Betty Jane Hegerat

Calgary author Betty Jane Hegerat was a social worker in a long-ago life. The stories she has written since she left that career behind reflect an ongoing need to make sense of conflict and chaos in relationships, and to find moments of laughter and even glimmers of redemption.

That seriousness aside, she loves the Calgary writing community. She has taught at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, the Fernie Writers’ Conference and for Continuing Education at the University of Calgary, and was Writer in Residence for the Calgary Public Library. In 2015 she was honoured to receive the Writers Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement in writing

Betty Jane’s stories have been published in anthologies and magazines. She has five previous books: a novel, Running Toward Home (Newest Press), a collection of stories, A Crack in the Wall (Oolichan Books), another novel, Delivery (Oolichan Books), and two YA novels, Odd One Out (Oolichan Books) and The Boy (Oolichan Books). The Boy is a French braid of investigative journalism, fiction, memoir, and meta-fiction. The book was shortlisted for the Calgary Book Prize, the High Plains Book Awards, and the Alberta Writers Guild Wilfrid Eggleston Non-Fiction Award.

November 10, 2025November 10, 2025

Episode 204: John R. Carlos – Cryonic Dreams: Awakening

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A conversation with author John R. Carlos about Cryonic Dreams: Awakening, the first book in a science-fiction thriller trilogy.

Websites
johnrcarlos.com.au

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@JohnRCarlos

About the book

Dr. Michelle Brown pioneers a revolutionary biotechnology: reanimating the long-dead through advanced cryonics.

Her first subject, Maryanne, awakes after 133 years, her memory wiped, her body restored. But as this breakthrough captures global attention, it triggers a dangerous chain reaction: sabotage, murder, and the rise of AASID—a secretive global order bent on silencing Maryanne’s past.

Forced to flee Gemini City for Mars, Michelle races to protect her discovery and unlock the secrets buried in Maryanne’s DNA—secrets that could reshape humanity’s future or lead to its downfall.

Praise for Cryonic Dreams: Awakening

“This true thriller plunges readers into an electrifying race from Gemini City to the stark landscapes of Mars, where conspiracies rage, and ruthless forces will bury secrets at any cost. Packed with heart-stopping suspense, vivid world-building, and thoughtful explorations of scientific ethics, this novel is a captivating must-read for anyone interested in the world we are all sliding towards.” – International Review of Books

About John R. Carlos

Born in Madrid, Spain, John R. Carlos migrated to Australia while very young, spending his early years in Perth, Western Australia. After completing high school, he enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force and, many years later, commissioned as an officer, ultimately reaching the rank of Wing Commander. John’s permanent career of 42 years included movement to numerous locations around Australia and several overseas deployments, including to the Sinai, Egypt, Baghdad, Iraq, Khartoum, Sudan, UAE, and Afghanistan.

Throughout his career, John was able to advance his educational qualifications to Associate and Advance Diploma level. He retired from the full-time Air Force in 2020. Since retirement, John has honed his professional writing skills through various educational creative writing courses. With the publication of his first novel, Cryonic Dreams: Awakening, he’s accomplished a long-held desire to be a published author.

October 26, 2025October 26, 2025

Episode 203: Mary Robinette Kowal & Sam J. Miller – Red Star Hustle/Apprehension

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A conversation with award-winning authors Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller about the new Saga Double containing their science fiction novels Apprehension and Red Star Hustle, back-to-back.

Websites
maryrobinettekowal.com
samjmiller.com

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@maryrobinettekowal
@sentencebender

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@maryrobinettekowal
@sam.j.miller

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@maryrobinettekowal.com
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@sentencebender

About the book

Two expertly crafted crime stories set in a far-future science fiction universe, from two award-winning authors known for their gripping plots and unforgettable characters—a short novel and a long novella that will thrill fans of space adventures, mystery, and intergalactic intrigue in this Saga Double

Apprehension
A family vacation arranged by Bonnyjean, a grieving mother, her son-in-law Jax, and her six-year-old grandson Tristan, quickly becomes disastrous as Tristan is kidnapped by a terrorist operation that is hoping to affect the planet’s upcoming elections between rival parties. They believe Bonnyjean was given a secret by the double agent who died in her arms. However, not only is this a deadly misunderstanding, but it’s also a dangerous one as Bonnyjean was last on Nahatanau when she was a special forces operative. Unfortunately, that was over thirty years ago, but she won’t let the years nor her bad hip get in the way of rescuing her grandson. Beloved Hugo Award–winning author Mary Robinette Kowal has crafted an intricate mystery of mistaken identity on an alien planet.

Red Star Hustle
Aran, a happy-go-lucky high-class escort, is on the run after he’s framed for the assassination of his famous filmmaker client. The last thing he needs is to fall for the studly and noble clone of a murderous puppet monarch while he’s trying to stay one step ahead of an ace bounty hunter, who is trying to keep a fatal secret from her toxic boss/mom, which means she can’t stop to worry about a little thing like whether her target might actually be innocent. Set within a universe of epic mech battles, and billions of human-made wormholes that make traveling to a distant star as easy as walking through a door or scheduling car service. This science fiction thriller by Nebula Award–winning author Sam J. Miller is a crisscross of heartbreak, addiction struggles, queer messiness, and resisting evil empires, coming together in a space-hopping fight with the whole damn galaxy.

About Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal is the USA Today bestselling author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, The Spare Man, and Molly on the Moon, and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the Nebula and Locus awards. Her stories appear in Asimov’s, Uncanny, and several Year’s Best anthologies. Mary Robinette has also worked as a professional puppeteer, is a member of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses, and performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and Neal Stephenson. She lives in Denver with her husband Robert, their dog Guppy, and their “talking” cat Elsie.

About Sam J. Miller

Sam J. Miller‘s books have been called “must reads” and “bests of the year” by USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, and O: The Oprah Magazine, among others, and have been translated into nine languages. They’ve also been banned in Florida, and stolen by AI. His work has won the Nebula, Locus, Shirley Jackson, and Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards, as well as the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He’s also the last in a long line of butchers. Sam lives in New York City.

October 12, 2025November 10, 2025

Episode 202: Alan Bradley – The Flavia de Luce Mystery Series

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A long chat with internationally bestselling author Alan Bradley about his Flavia de Luce mystery series, which is now up to Book 11: What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust.

Websites
Penguin Random House
alanbradleyauthor.com

About What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

AN INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

One of the best mystery novels of 2024, The Washington Post

Amateur sleuth Flavia de Luce, along with her pestilent younger cousin, investigates the murder of a former public hangman and uncovers secrets that bring the greatest shock of her life.

Flavia de Luce has taken on the mentorship of her odious, moon-faced cousin Undine who has come to live at Buckshaw following the death of her mother. Undine’s main talent, aside from cultivating disgusting habits, seems to be raising Flavia’s hackles, although in her best moments she shows potential for trespassing, trickery, and other assorted mayhem.

When Major Greyleigh, a local recluse and former hangman, is found dead after a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms, suspicion falls on the de Luce family’s longtime cook, Mrs. Mullet. After all, wasn’t it she who’d picked the mushrooms, cooked the omlette, and served it to Greyleigh in the moments before his death? “I have to admit,” says Flavia, an expert in the chemical nature of poisons, “that I’d been praying to God for a jolly good old-fashioned mushroom poisoning. Not that I wanted anyone to die, but why give a girl a gift such as mine without giving her the opportunity to use it?”

But Flavia knows the beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and the obnoxious Undine, Flavia sets out to find the real killer and clear Mrs. Mullet’s good name. Little does she know that following the case’s twists and turns will lead her to a most surprising discovery—one with the power to upend her entire life.

Praise for What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

“Anyone who’s read Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series knows that the author’s superpowers are creating the pitch-perfect emotional vulnerability and mental prowess of his prococious pre-teen heroine, as well as depicting the sometimes-silly antics and logical deductions of this amazing girl. We’re ecstatic that Flavia has returned.” —Canadian Living

“I love the Flavia de Luce novels! I identify, though I unfortunately didn’t have an Uncle Tarquin and was forced to make do with a Christmas chemistry set from the Sears catalog. Flavia is the best female detective I’ve ever read, full of realism, self-confidence and emotion (in roughly equal parts), and her tales are hilarious, engaging and occasionally heart-breaking.” —Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series

“To say I am overjoyed by the return of the magnificent Flavia is a massive understatement. It is a great day when we have her back in our lives with a new, and riveting, crime to solve. Brava Flavia. Bravo Alan!” —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Gamache series

“Cozy mystery fans will love this latest installment featuring Flavia de Luce, Alan Bradley’s plucky and spirited protagonist. Delightful!” —Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

“The enchanting 12th installment of Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series. . . . Flavia’s characteristic quirky humor and unorthodox thinking are on full display, and the ending finds her taking a well-earned step forward in her maturity. This series is as fresh as ever.” —Publishers Weekly

“Flavia De Luce is in top form. . . . Bradley gives his loyal readers a story that will more than satisfy their expectations while also inviting new readers to discover an endlessly entertaining amateur young sleuth who has much to teach her elders.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Bradley’s intrepid amateur sleuth is witty and whip smart as ever, and Bishop’s Lacey remains both a colourful backdrop and a microcosm of a nation in transition, paralleling Flavia’s own trepidation at entering adulthood. A layered plot rife with dastardly deeds and shocking revelations makes for an intriguing and entertaining read, and nicely tees up the (one hopes) next installment in the irresistible Flavia de Luce series.” —BookPage

“Rejoice, fans of fiction’s youngest franchise detective: Flavia de Luce is back after a five-year hiatus, and she hasn’t aged a bit. . . . Nobody could possibly unite intelligence work, mythological monsters and village gossip as adroitly as Bradley’s heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A lively and welcome 11th instalment [to the series].” —Toronto Star

“Watching Flavia grow emotionally is one of the keener pleasures of Mr. Bradley’s inimitable series. Her ego remains undimmed (“It is not always easy being blessed with a superior brain”), but she keeps getting better at working with (and for) others to ensure that justice is delivered.” —Wall Street Journal

About Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley is the Globe and Mail and New York Times bestselling author of eleven Flavia de Luce mystery novels and the memoir The Shoebox Bible. His first Flavia novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, received the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, the Dilys Award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award, and the Barry Award, and was nominated for the Anthony Award. His other Flavia de Luce novels are The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Speaking from Among the Bones, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d, The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place, and The Golden Tresses of the Dead, as well as the ebook short story “The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse.”

Alan was born in Toronto, Ont. and grew up in the pleasant lakeside town of Cobourg, Ont. After a long career in television broadcasting, he took early retirement from the University of Saskatchewan to write full-time. He has published many children’s stories as well as lifestyle and arts columns in Canadian newspapers. His adult stories have been broadcast on CBC radio and published in various literary journals. He has also written several screenplays and taught university-level courses in screenwriting. He was the recipient of the first Saskatchewan Writers Guild Award for Children’s Literature.

After writing for several years on the Maltese island of Gozo, Alan Bradley now lives on an island in the middle of the Irish Sea.

September 28, 2025September 28, 2025

Episode 201: Lawrence C. and Christopher Connolly – Minute Men: Execute and Run

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A conversation with brothers Lawrence C. Connolly and Christopher Connolly about Minute Men: Execute and Run, a science fiction novel written by Lawrence from a concept by Christopher, with a film script, graphic novel, and much more in the works.

Websites
minutemennovel.com
lawrenceconnolly.com

Substack
concomentertainment.substack.com

Facebook
@LawrenceCConnolly

Instagram
@lawrence_c_connolly

About Minute Men: Execute and Run

Mission Impossible meets X-Men—with a twist: You only have 60 seconds to save the day

Currently being considered for a major Hollywood production.

U.S. Marine Daniel Hayes returns from the Middle East in a wheelchair. The only survivor of his team, he’s haunted by more than his physical scars. His survivor’s guilt keeps him trapped on the porch of his childhood home, watching the rust belt crumble around him.

In Africa, Dr. Christian Chase’s once-fearless hands are now useless. Blinded in a rebel ambush, she replays the life she couldn’t save as if torturing herself with endless flashbacks could change the past.

In Ukraine, kickboxer Zoya Zynchenko wakes in a cold hospital bed. Her family gone, her legs paralyzed, a missile strike leaving her a forgotten victim of war.

And bounty hunter Max “Jaxx” Jaquez hides his crippling pain behind false bravado. Drowning in guilt for letting a dangerous predator escape, he hates himself more than the criminal he failed to apprehend.

Enter Norman Blackwell, a brilliant but reclusive biotech engineer. His cutting-edge treatment transforms these broken heroes into something extraordinary. Hayes gains superhuman strength. Chase’s gaze becomes deadly. Zoya moves with lightning reflexes. Jaxx’s intellect explodes into genius.

But there’s a cost: These powers last for only 60 seconds at a time, then pain and incapacitation hits.

Together, they become the Minute-Men, a team of wounded warriors turned reluctant heroes. Their first mission: Stop a ruthless corporate warlord from weaponizing life-saving nanotechnology, turning hope into tools of control and destruction. To succeed, they must master their fleeting powers, trust each other, and find strength in their shared scars. Because in a world where everything can change in a heartbeat, 60 seconds is all they’ve got to save the day—and each other.

About Lawrence C. Connolly

Lawrence C. Connolly’s books include the collections This Way to Egress, whose titular tale of psychological horror was adapted for the Mick Garris film Nightmare Cinema; and the Bram-Stoker-nominated Voices, which features Connolly’s best stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Year’s Best Horror, and other top magazines and anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A third collection, Visions, was praised by Publishers Weekly for featuring an eclectic mix of “entertaining and satisfying” SF.

His novels include the eco-thrillers Veins, Vipers, and Vortex. World Fantasy Award winner T. E. D. Klein called Veins “a crime thriller as intense and fast-moving as a Tarantino movie.”

He is also the writer of Mystery Theatre, a podcast produced by Prime Stage Theatre, who premiered his adaptation of Frankenstein in 2022. His newset commission, a play based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, opens in November 2025 at Pittsburgh’s New Hazelett Theatre.

About Christopher Connolly

Christopher Connolly began a designing career in the New York fashion industry in the 1980s, and is currently owner/president of Phoenix Design & Print and Thirty Three Design Solutions, companies that have produced work for Fortune 500 companies as well as the world’s top designers and performers, among them: Jeffrey Deitch of Deitch Gallery (NYC), Sotheby’s Auction House, Martha Stewart Living, Edun Fashion / Bono and Ali Hewson, and the Yoko Ono Coffins Exhibit.

September 15, 2025September 28, 2025

Episode 200: Annmarie SanSevero – The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories

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A conversation with Annmarie SanSevero about her new science fiction/fantasy short story collection, The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories, just released by Stark Publishing.

Website
asansevero.com

Facebook

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@theItalianMuse

Instagram
@theitalianmuse

About The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories

An intricate and harmonious dance between humanity and technology

Dive into Annmarie SanSevero’s gripping collection of speculative fiction, where suspense, mystery, and the supernatural collide with the frontiers of science.

Each story pulses with themes of hope, resilience, and the ethical complexities of technological advancements. A testament to the human spirit, these tales weave suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements into a tapestry of speculative fiction that resonates with contemporary societal issues.

Don’t miss your chance to experience these unforgettable narratives and embark on a journey that both challenges and inspires.

About Jonathan Handel

Annmarie SanSevero grew up in New York City but was transplanted to the south in high school. She writes stories about hope, courage, and resilience in fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and mystery. She loves exploring the human experience and wants readers to feel like they can do more than survive.

When she’s not writing, Annmarie enjoys learning just about everything, playing violin, and singing. She can occasionally be found tap dancing or playing D&D. One day, she wants to go LARPing.

To keep up with her latest releases, writing news, and exclusive content, join her author newsletter.

September 1, 2025September 1, 2025

Episode 199: Jonathan Handel – Who Do You Want to Be?

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A wide-ranging conversation with noted entertainment and technology lawyer, journalist, media commentator, and writer Jonathan Handel, with a focus on his children’s picture book, Who Do You Want to Be?

Website
jhandel.com

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@jhandel

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@jhandel

Instagram
@jhandel99

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@JonathanHandel

About Who Do You Want to Be?

What do you want to do when you grow up?

One day my best friend
Said to me
Who in the world
Do you wanna be?

I thought and thought
And thought and said
Maybe a fireman
Cuz their trucks are red?

That’s not a great reason—but there are dozens of other possibilities in this lyrical, illustrated story. It’s an affirming book written for diverse kids aged 4-8 and their parents, but it just might appeal to anyone who isn’t sure what they want to do for work. (And, really, who is?)

With large illustrations on just about every page and rhymes throughout, it’s a great gift for any young kid. Handel is contributing ten percent of the book’s revenue to The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

About Jonathan Handel

Jonathan Handel is a transactional entertainment and technology lawyer at Feig/Finkel and independently, with an additional specialty in Hollywood unions and guilds, and is also a journalist, media commentator and occasional writer of screenplays, poetry and stories. A preeminent expert on Hollywood unions and guilds and the author of multiple books, Jonathan was a Contributing Writer for Puck News in 2022-2024 and a contributing editor at The Hollywood Reporter from 2010 to 2020, where he wrote about 1,400 articles. He has also appeared over 1,600 times as a commentator on entertainment law and business in most major television, radio, print and online outlets across the world. Jonathan has been an adjunct professor at UCLA, USC, and Southwestern law schools.

Named by the Daily Journal as one of the top 100 lawyers in California, Jonathan has been profiled in a book, articles, websites and podcasts. He is a member of the Television Academy and an associate member of the Dramatists Guild and the Society of Composers & Lyricists. He’s a graduate of Harvard College (1982/83 AB magna cum laude in applied math and computer science) and Harvard Law School (1990 JD cum laude). Prior to law school, he worked in tech and was a Democratic party elected official and gay activist. Visit jhandel.com and jhandel.news.

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Episode 198: James Kinsley – Parallels

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A conversation with UK author James Kinsley about his breathtaking new science-fiction action adventure, Parallels.

Website
unclekins.wordpress.com

Facebook
@JamesAKinsley

Instagram
@unclekins

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@unclekins

About Parallels

Two worlds. One mind. Endless uncertainty.

Jeff is stuck in the mundane now, drifting through aimless days and gnawing doubts. Until the moment he sees the Pale Woman—and reality shifts. Suddenly, he’s Jezz, a mercenary trapped in a savage conflict, battling swarms of alien insects on a war-torn front line.

Is he a restless young man just scraping by, or a desperate soldier risking everything for humanity’s survival? As identities collide, one question rips through his fractured psyche:

What is reality?

About Ryan Melsom

James Kinsley was born in Norfolk in the 1970s, where he still lives with his wife and their two blind cats. Parallels is his third book; he is also the author of Playtime’s Over (Propolis) and Greyskin (Deixis Press). He also self-publishes sci-fi under the name Ray Adams (available on Kindle).

August 3, 2025August 3, 2025

Episode 197: Ryan Melsom – Gods of a New World

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A conversation with Canadian author Ryan Melsom about his gripping new near-future cyberpunk thriller, Gods of a New World.

Website
ryanmelsom.com

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@ryanmelsom

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@ryanmelsom

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@ryanmelsom.com

About Gods of a New World

The trillionaires were powerful enough to reshape the world, but it wasn’t enough. Now they want more . . .

In a world where trillionaires assisted by powerful AIs call themselves gods, a world where miracles are engineered and secret technology is wired into the very air, James Kessler and Maree Shell stumble upon a conspiracy that defies possibility: the new gods’ plan to encode their consciousness into the world and seize control of reality itself, to literally become the gods they have so far only pretended to be.

From the world’s gleaming new AI-crafted cities to the crumbling ruins of the old ones, the two unlikely allies, one a childhood survivor of the Bad Times and the other a privileged daughter of wealth, must run a gauntlet of hostile AIs, vengeful modern-day gods, and mysterious ancient deities, desperately trying to disrupt the plans of the most powerful people who have ever lived. Nothing less than the fate of free will itself hangs in the balance.

A mind-bending cyberpunk thriller of rebellion and redemption, Gods of a New World is a visceral dive into the soul of a world on the brink.

About Ryan Melsom

Ryan Melsom has never stopped dreaming about new ways he could get ideas out of his head and into the world. He holds a PhD in literature from Queen’s University and has long been fascinated with the interplay among culture, technology, spirituality, spaces, and human nature. Through the years, he has explored these topics through numerous creative media, including two previous works of fiction, academic writing, experimental web spaces, music projects, and a black belt in karate. He grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia, and now lives in Ottawa with his wife and two boys.

July 20, 2025July 20, 2025

Episode 196: Lydia Sherrer – Behind the Veil (A TransDimensional Hunter Novel)

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A conversation with bestselling author Lydia Sherrer about her latest collaboration with John Ringo, Behind the Veil, the third in their TransDimensional Hunter series from Baen Books.

Website
lydiasherrer.com

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@lydiasherrerauthor

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@lydiasherrer

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@lydiasherrer

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@lydiasherrer

About Behind the Veil

In the world of the cutthroat augmented reality game TransDimensional Hunter, Lynn Raven must outsmart stalker fans and a rogue algorithm, forcing her to push her limits to survive and win the championship.

Truth is stranger than fiction . . . and it’ll kill you a whole lot faster.

When Lynn Raven set out to win the championship for groundbreaking augmented reality game TransDimensional Hunter, the worst she thought she’d face was sunburn, mosquito bites, and annoying spectators.

The more she plays, though, the higher the stakes become—and the stranger the obstacles she has to face.

From dodging fans-turned-stalker to managing inter-team sabotage to surviving the increasingly bizarre antics of a game algorithm that seems to have it out for her, Lynn isn’t sure how much more she can take.

And then the other shoe drops.

If Lynn has any hope of coming out alive and on top, she’ll have to up her game beyond anything she thought possible.

And even that might not be enough.

About Lydia Sherrer

Award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled adventures Lydia Sherrer thrives on creating stories you love to love, and hate to leave. She is the author of the bestselling Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe featuring multiple series, which have sold close to a million copies world-wide. Most recently she has released a Gamelit series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo described as Ender’s Game meets Pokemon Go. Book 3 in this sci-fi thriller, Behind the Veil, releases August 5th.

Lydia subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing (though she needs it because she has kids to wrangle). Due to the tireless efforts of her game-designer husband and her feline overlords, she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house.