In this week’s episode we discuss Ema’s latest release and the emotional alchemy of turning fear into art. The Smog Cursed Kingdom will mark a shift in her career, and we dive into how she leveraged her industry experience to navigate a new genre while staying true to her own voice.

• The Birth of "Traumantasy": We explore this emerging subgenre and what it means to weave deep emotional healing into fantastical worlds.
• The "Not For Everyone" Philosophy: Ema gets candid about the reality that no book is universal—and why that’s actually a good thing.
• Embracing the DNF: While some authors fear the "Did Not Finish" shelf on Goodreads, we talk about why we actually love it.
• The Review Spiral: How authors (and humans!) tend to hunt for the one negative comment in a sea of praise, and how to stop picking yourself apart.
• Sobriety & Writing: A vulnerable look at balancing real-life challenges with professional goals. Ema shares how her sobriety journey has reshaped her process and how we’re both navigating a culture often centered around drinking.
• Boundaries & Public Personas: Why keeping an open mind—and a firm set of boundaries—is essential for authors and readers in today’s digital landscape.

Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a dedicated reader, this conversation is a raw, refreshing look at the human being behind the book. Ema knows exactly who she is, and she isn’t pretending to be anyone else. And more than anything, that’s the type of voice we need in publishing.

Elva’s entry into book conventions began when she started tattooing at them, and it’s safe to say she’s been deeply embedded in the book community ever since. One thing that stands out immediately about her is how committed she is to giving back. She’s passionate about helping readers and authors connect with stories—and with each other—which is exactly why the welcome packets for Spellbound Book Convention are famously detailed. Elva shares everything she’s learned so others don’t have to make the same mistakes she did.

In this episode we talk about:

• Building community through book events and why spaces like Spellbound matter
• How Elva approaches the difficult discourse around book conventions
• The growing demand for English-language fantasy across Europe
• Why Dutch summers are absolutely magnificent—and one of Europe’s most underrated experiences while everyone else rushes to the Mediterranean
• Creating spaces where books can become solace and escapism when we need them most
• And why patience and kindness at book conventions go a long way—because authors are people too, and everyone is doing their best

⚠️ Spoiler note: If you haven’t read Legendborn or Immortal Dark, we do touch on a few small spoilers during the episode.

It’s always a treat to find a fellow millenial who has similar tastes in media to you, so we shall dub this, the millenial episode. An ARC reader brough Stevie and I together, and I’m so grateful for the oppurtunity to get to follow Steview and her journey. In this episode, we chat about writing layered characters that reflect our real-life experiences, and how Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Friends helped inspire Shadow of Lillith.

We also get into:

• Why character growth and real change on the page is non-negotiable
• Discovering identity at any stage of life—and how to weave that authentically into fiction
• Why representation in storytelling matters now more than ever
• The unspoken author responsibility to emotionally wreck your readers (lovingly) so they have to keep reading
• The noticeable shift in how indie authors are viewed by readers—and treated by the publishing industry