SFF Addicts
SFF Addicts is a weekly podcast about science fiction, fantasy and writing craft, co-hosted by authors Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly. Each episode features interviews and masterclasses with SFF authors, exploring how they build worlds, develop characters and navigate the publishing industry. The show is part of the FanFiAddict community, whose website also hosts the full episode archive along with book reviews and essays. Full video versions of every episode are available on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel and on Spotify.
Episodes
Ep. 224: Do Superpowers Make You a Superhero? with V.E. Schwab (Writing Masterclass)
Join host Greta Kelly as she delves into a writing masterclass on Do Superpowers Make You a Superhero? with bestselling author V.E. Schwab. During the episode, Victoria unmasks superpower myths, discussing why humans are captivated by superpowers, differences between superpowers and magic, cost and consequence, believable superpower origins, showing the before and after of acquiring superpowers, t
TBRCon2026: Breaking Genre Conventions in Self-Pub (with J.A.J. Minton, Philip Chase, Tatiana Obey & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderators/authors J.A.J. Minton & Adrian M. Gibson and authors Philip Chase, Tatiana Obey & Tori Tecken for a panel on "Breaking Genre Conventions in Self-Pub."SUPPOR
Ep. 223: V.E. Schwab talks Victorious, Prophecies, Flawed Characters, The Power of Words & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author V.E. Schwab about her new novel Victorious, the Villains trilogy, writing flawed characters, friends-turned-enemies, interweaving multiple POVs and timelines, personal prophecies, the power of words, building trust in readers, the repeating cycles of publishing, failed careers and publishing traumas, writing for
TBRCon2026: What's the Difference Between Magic & Superpowers? (with Christopher Paolini, Gareth Hanrahan & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/author Andrew D. Meredith and authors Christopher Paolini, Gareth Hanrahan, João F. Silva, Emma L. Adams & Joel C. Scoberg for a panel on "What's the Difference B
Ep. 222: Working with Book Editors with Diana M. Pho, James Logan & Ed Crocker (Masterclass Panel)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson for a masterclass panel on Working with Book Editors, featuring editors Diana M. Pho, James Logan and Ed Crocker. During the panel, they offer up the unedited fundamentals of book editing, discussing what a book editor really does, how freelance editors compare to traditional publishing editors, advice for becoming a book editor, the 101 on developmental editing/line edi
TBRCon2026: Mistakes Authors Make When Querying (with Andrea Stewart, Julia Vee & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/author Julia Vee, authors Andrea Stewart & Greta Kelly and literary agents Laura Crockett & Maeve MacLysaght for a panel on "Mistakes Authors Make When Querying.&
Ep. 221: The Horrors of Technology with Paul Tremblay (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on The Horrors of Technology with bestselling, award-winning author Paul Tremblay. During the episode, Paul deconstructs technological terror, discussing the techno-horror subgenre, technology as a source of dread, tackling technological concerns through horror, the blurring lines between reality and fiction,
TBRCon2026: Writing Fear on the Page (with Sarah Langan, Johnny Compton & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/book reviewer Anna Dupre and authors Sarah Langan, Johnny Compton, Joshua Hull, Annie Neugebauer & Michael T. Kuester for a panel on "Writing Fear on the Page."SUPPORT THE
Ep. 220: Paul Tremblay talks Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, Consciousness, Endings & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling, award-winning author Paul Tremblay about his new novel Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, consciousness and reality, AI and researching technology, Philip K. Dick influences (and the importance of titles), the digital native generation and information overload, writing in second-person POV, studying mathematics, the
TBRCon2026: Cities as Distinct Characters (with Nghi Vo, Tim Hickson, Ai Jiang & More )
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/book blogger Beth Tabler and authors Nghi Vo, Tim Hickson (AKA HelloFutureMe), Ai Jiang, Abel Montero & Robert F. Lowell for a panel on "Cities as Distinct Characters
Ep. 219: Writing Assassins & Contract Killers with James Islington (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Writing Assassins & Contract Killers with bestselling author James Islington. During the episode, James pinpoints the target, discussing why assassin media is so popular, real vs. fictional depictions of assassins/contract killers, why assassin characters work so well in SFF, differences between assass
TBRCon2026: Tradition vs. Innovation in Haunted Houses (with Chris Panatier, Tamika Thompson & More )
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/book reviewer George Dunn and authors Chris Panatier, Tamika Thompson, Stephen Howard, Dan Coxon & Grace Daly for a panel on "Tradition vs. Innovation in Haunted Hous
Ep. 218: James Islington talks Scion, Cyberpunk Influences, The Hierarchy & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author James Islington about his new novel Scion, Blade Runner and cyberpunk influences, the Deus Ex video game series, morally gray protagonists, dystopian technologies, the reality vs. fiction of immortality, The Justice of One and The Hierarchy series, palate cleansers and writing for yourself, transitioning from a f
TBRCon 2026: How to Level Up Your LitRPG & Progression Novel (with Rachel Aaron, Plum Parrot & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/author Paul Todkill and authors Rachel Aaron, Plum Parrot, C. Mantis, Palmer Pickering & Selkie Myth for a panel on "How to Level Up Your LitRPG & Progression Nov
Ep. 217: How to Pace Your Story with Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on How to Pace Your Story with award-winning author Suyi Davies Okungbowa. During the episode, Suyi finds the right speed for your story, discussing what story pacing is, the Four P’s of Pacing: Pause, Propulsion, Progression and Passage, examples of excellent pacing, the term "fast-paced” and marketing
TBRCon2026: Best & Worst Sci-Fi Doomsday Scenarios (with Daniel H. Wilson, Megan E. O'Keefe & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/author M.J. Kuhn and authors Daniel H. Wilson, Megan E. O'Keefe, Ren Hutchings & Abby Goldsmith for a panel on "Best & Worst Sci-Fi Doomsday Scenarios."S
Ep. 216: Suyi Davies Okungbowa talks Season of the Serpent, Writing for IP, Teaching & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning author Suyi Davis Okungbowa about his new novel Season of the Serpent, completing The Nameless Republic trilogy, the challenges of writing a series, the African middle ages, expanding a cast of characters across a trilogy, collective amnesia and the effects of conflict, forgotten magic and forces of nature, teaching c
Bonus Episode: C.L. Clark talks Fortune's Wake, TTRPGs & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson for his chat with award-winning author C.L. Clark, in this bonus episode of the podcast celebrating the release of Fortune's Wake. During the interview, they delve into C.L.'s career, their new novella Fortune's Wake, using TTRPG tools for narrative writing, writing short-form vs. long-form fiction, wannabe monster hunters, character relationships, memory, ho
Ep. 215: Parenting in Speculative Fiction with Laura E. Weymouth (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Parenting in Speculative Fiction with author Laura E. Weymouth. During the episode, Laura lays down the law of the (fictional) house, discussing being a parent AND a professional writer, the stereotypes of SFF parents, good and bad parental role models, writing believable parent characters, how parenthood
TBRCon2026: Gory & Grotesque: How to Balance Body Horror (with Eric LaRocca, Hailey Piper & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2026 all-virtual sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.This week, join moderator/author Nicole M. Wolverton and authors Eric LaRocca, Jess Hagemann, Hailey Piper, Neil Sharpson & Nick Cutter for a panel on "Gory & Grotesque: How to Balance Bod
Ep. 214: Laura E. Weymouth talks The Castle & the Cloister, Religion, War, Lyrical Prose & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with author Laura E. Weymouth about her new novel The Castle & the Cloister, cultural identity and rootedness, the intersection of politics/religion/war, incorporating themes of religion and competing faiths into fantasy, kinghood and tyranny, shifting trends and surviving in publishing, writing YA vs. adult fantasy, lyrical prose t
Bonus Episode: Interview with Sarah Beth Durst (LIVE at TBRCon2026)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly for their chat with award-winning, bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst, recorded LIVE at TBRCon2026. During the interview, they delve into Sarah's career, her new novel Sea of Charms, The Spellshop series and its world, cozy fantasy, career longevity, persistence, avoiding burnout, childhood influences, cheese, chocolate and much more
Ep. 213: Crowdfunding & Special Editions with Bryce O’Connor, Ben Galley & J.D.L. Rosell (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors Bryce O'Connor (CEO of Wraithmarked Creative), Ben Galley and J.D.L. Rosell for our final Indie Appreciation Month panel on Crowdfunding & Special Editions. During the panel, Bryce, Ben and Josiah discuss what crowdfunding and special editions are, crowdfunding platforms, increased demand for special editions, the collector’s mindset, types of c
Ep. 212: Self-Publishing in the Age of AI with Chris McGrath, Gregory Kontaxis & Michael Vadney (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host M.J. Kuhn, guest artist Chris McGrath and guest authors Gregory Kontaxis and Michael Vadney for an Indie Appreciation Month panel on Self-Publishing in the Age of AI. During the panel, Chris, Gregory and Michael discuss the ethics of AI use, whether or not we can avoid it, the deluge of AI slop, risking your reputation, prejudices against self-publishing, filtering AI vs. human-made cont
Ep. 211: Making the Most of Conventions with Andy Peloquin, Tim Hickson & T. D. Orel (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host Greta Kelly and guest authors/content creators Andy Peloquin, Tim Hickson (AKA Hello Future Me) and T. D. Orel for an Indie Appreciation Month panel on Making the Most of Conventions. During the panel, Andy, Tim and Tanner discuss first conventions, attending cons as a fan vs. as a professional, when to start attending conventions, selling books at cons and events, merch and swag, sales
Ep. 210: Cover Art & Book Design with Jeff Brown, Philip C. Quaintrell, Rachel St Clair & Scott Palmer (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors/artists Jeff Brown, Philip C. Quaintrell, Rachel St Clair and Scott Palmer for an Indie Appreciation Month panel on Cover Art & Book Design. During the panel, Jeff, Philip, Rachel and Scott discuss what cover and book design are, creating a visual brand, the importance of typography and fonts, interior formatting and design, what makes a good vs. ba
Ep. 209: Portal Fantasies with Seanan McGuire & Micaiah Johnson (Masterclass Panel)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly for a masterclass panel on Portal Fantasies, featuring guest authors Seanan McGuire and Micaiah Johnson. During the panel, they open the door to portal fantasies, discussing what a portal fantasy is, the appeal of this subgenre, age markets and genre fatigue, portal sci-fi and secondary worlds, establishing the rules of your portal, reflecting our own
Ep. 208: Incorporating Music into SFF with Peter Orullian (Writing Masterclass)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a writing masterclass on Incorporating Music into SFF with author/musician Peter Orullian. During the episode, Peter strikes a narrative chord, discussing the intersection of music and storytelling, novelizing concept albums, the musicality of prose, writing characters who ARE musicians, music in our world vs. secondary worlds, musical magic systems, co
Ep. 207: Peter Orullian talks Songs of the Dead, Collabing with Brandon Sanderson, Xbox & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with author Peter Orullian about his new novel Songs of the Dead, collaborating on the book with Brandon Sanderson, rock/metal culture, multi-layered worldbuilding, musical magic, the living vs. the dead, creative fluidity, video games and working at Microsoft/Xbox, Unbroken and Kickstarter success, the triumphs of community, Christmas movies, antagonists and
Ep. 206: The Art of the Short Story with Isabel J. Kim (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on The Art of the Short Story with award-winning author Isabel J. Kim. During the episode, Isabel gets to the short of it, discussing what a short story is, short fiction as a testing ground, comparing short-form vs. long-form fiction, approaching theme, plot and structure in short stories, conciseness and pa
Ep. 205: Isabel J. Kim talks Sublimation, Immigrant Experiences, Technothrillers & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning author Isabel J. Kim about her debut novel Sublimation, fleshing out a short story into a novel, the immigrant experience, writing multiple versions of the same characters, tech corporations and technothrillers, writing 2nd-person perspective, book deals and bidding wars, TV adaptations, weird internet culture, studyi
Ep. 204: Drawing from Global History with Shannon Chakraborty (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Drawing from Global History with bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty. During the episode, Shannon traverses the world, discussing global interconnectedness across time, using SFF to shine a light on history, deciding on a historical time/place for your story, knowing when to deviate from history, author
Ep. 203: Shannon Chakraborty talks The Tapestry of Fate, Older Protagonists, Found Family & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty about her new novel The Tapestry of Fate, writing a more mature, middle-aged protagonist in The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi series, portraying motherhood on the page, blood family vs. found family, Middle Eastern poisoners and demons, balancing science with the occult, writing complex antago
Ep. 202: Writing for the Reader Experience with Sunyi Dean (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Writing for the Reader Experience with bestselling author Sunyi Dean. During the episode, Sunyi caters to the reader, discussing why authors should consider the reader experience, putting yourself in the “beginner’s mindset," offering value to the reader, promises and hooking them from the
Ep. 201: Sunyi Dean talks The Girl with a Thousand Faces, Chinese Ghosts, Publishing Rodeo & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Sunyi Dean about her new novel The Ghost with a Thousand Faces, Chinese ghosts and folklore, Cantonese humor, Kowloon Walled City and the horrors of war, juggling multiple timelines, the Publishing Rodeo Podcast and transparency about publishing, living around the world, persistence and community, repr
200th Episode *LIVE* Q&A SPECIAL with H. M. Long, Evan Leikam & Krystle Matar
SFF Addicts podcast has reached a huge milestone: 200 episodes!!! To celebrate, co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly recorded a LIVE FAN Q&A, answering questions from our beloved audience alongside special guests/friends of the show H. M. Long, Evan Leikam & Krystle Matar. During the episode, they delve into all kinds of topics, including their podcasting journey, the ups
Ep. 199: Publishing in Different Genres with Ai Jiang (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Publishing in Different Genres with award-winning author Ai Jiang. During the episode, Ai breaks down the fundamentals of genre, including genre trends in publishing, building a career across multiple genres, genre expectations and targeting audiences, chasing genre trends, self-publishing and short storie
SEND US QUESTIONS for the 200th Episode FAN Q&A LIVESTREAM
We are so excited to celebrate 200 EPISODES of SFF Addicts podcast!!! In honor of this huge upcoming milestone, co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M. J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly will be going live for a fan Q&A 200th episode, and they’ll be joined by special guests/friends of the show Evan Leikam, H. M. Long & Krystle Matar!EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS to sffaddictspod@gmail.com with the subject line "Episo
Ep. 198: Ai Jiang talks A River from the Sky, Science Fantasy, Unreliable Narrators & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning author Ai Jiang about her new novella A River from the Sky, nature vs. industrialization, incorporating technology into science fantasy, unreliable narrators and palace intrigue, family dynamics, rebellion vs. control, big lessons from writing workshops, the appeal of short-form fiction, the learning curve of writing
Ep. 197: How to Query Agents with Laura Crockett, John Baker & Jennifer Chevais (Masterclass Panel)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly for a masterclass panel on How to Query Agents, featuring literary agents Laura Crockett, John Baker and Jennifer Chevais. During the panel, they lay out the fundamentals of query letters and agents, discussing what agents do, what a query letter is, the anatomy of a query letter, social media presence, how authors can seek out agents, query letter
Ep. 196: Memory & Time with Mark Lawrence (Writing Masterclass)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a writing masterclass on Memory & Time with bestselling author Mark Lawrence. During the episode, Mark unlocks the secrets of the mind, including how memory and time play into the human experience, the relationship between memory and identity, forgetting and how memories change across time, the role of emotions in forming memories, collective storie
Ep. 195: Mark Lawrence talks Daughter of Crows, Assassin Schools, SPFBO & More
Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he chats with bestselling author Mark Lawrence about his new novel Daughter of Crows, writing an older protagonist, showing a character across their life, new twists on assassin schools, evoking an eerie atmosphere, drawing inspirations from pagan mythologies, the meaning of "grimdark," the evolution of self-publishing and SPFBO (the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off),
Ep. 194: Writing Romantasy with Carissa Broadbent (Writing Masterclass)
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of highly sensitive topics, specifically depictions of sexual violence in fiction. If you do not wish to hear this, please skip from 39:54-48:40.Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Writing Romantasy with bestselling author Carissa Broadbent. During the episode, Carissa opens the door to the
Ep. 193: Carissa Broadbent talks The War of Lost Hearts, Hybrid Publishing, Marketing & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Carissa Broadbent about her new novel Mother of Death & Dawn and The War of Lost Hearts series, building up broken characters, balancing big stakes with intimate moments, finding hope in dark times, differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing, truths about marketing and product visibility,
Ep. 192: What is an Antihero? with Jeremy Szal (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a writing masterclass on What is an Antihero? with author Jeremy Szal. During the episode, Jeremy delves into the dark core of the antihero, including how we can define antiheroes, the antihero as antithesis to the “heroic ideal”, moral ambiguity and cynicism, flawed motivations and selfishness, why audiences root for antiheroes, ho
Ep. 191: Jeremy Szal talks Wolfskin, Space Opera, Learning Languages & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Jeremy Szal about his new novel Wolfskin, The Common trilogy, crafting a space opera world, alien technology, drugs and addiction, grounding your story in character emotions, channeling rage through action scenes, the challenges of learning new languages, studying film and creative writing, the role of editors and editing, wri
Ep. 190: LitRPG 101 with Matt Dinniman (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on LitRPG 101 with bestselling author Matt Dinniman. During the episode, Matt gives the lowdown on the LitRPG subgenre, including what it is, the rising popularity of the subgenre, incorporating game systems into your story, power progression and consequences, how to pace a LitRPG, writing from the perspective of NP
Ep. 189: Matt Dinniman talks Operation Bounce House, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Gamer Culture & More
Join co-hosts M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Matt Dinniman about his new novel Operation Bounce House, Dungeon Crawler Carl, going from self-pub to traditional publishing, audiobooks and Jeff Hays' narration, the creation of Princess Donut, gamer culture, injecting humor into a story, approaches to editing and research, writing weird characters and more.NOTE:
Ep. 188: How to Talk About Writing with Worldbuilding for Masochists (Crossover Panel)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly for a crossover panel on How to Talk About Writing with Marshall Ryan Maresca, Cass Morris and Natania Barron from Worldbuilding for Masochists podcast! During the panel, they talk about talking about writing, including the importance of communication for modern authors, building your “author brand”, algorithms and authenticity, community a
Ep. 187: Revealing Character Through Dialogue with Scott Lynch (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Revealing Character Through Dialogue with bestselling author Scott Lynch. During the episode, Scott reveals his thoughts on dialogue, including the relationship between dialogue and the human experience, the dialogue that inspired his writing, style and shock value, conveying characterization th
Ep. 186: Scott Lynch talks the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Heists, Mental Health & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Scott Lynch about his acclaimed the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, the origins of Locke Lamora, worldbuilding approaches, planning a heist 101, compelling character relationships, creating impossible situations for your characters, mental health and therapy, (toxic) fandom and being a public figure, child
Ep. 185: Building a Supporting Cast with Nicole Glover (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a writing masterclass on Building a Supporting Cast with author Nicole Glover. During the episode, Nicole gets by with a little help from her friends, exploring what a supporting cast is, secondary character archetypes/tropes, dynamics between the protagonist and supporting characters, conveying character backstory, the motivations an
Ep. 184: Nicole Glover talks The Starseekers, the Space Race, Murder Mysteries & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Nicole Glover about her new novel The Starseekers, the Murder & Magic series, falling in love with SFF and writing, alternate history and blending genres, the Space Race and 1960's history, blending magic with math/science, writing a series of standalones, using the past to discuss modern concerns, the fun of murder my
SFFA Throwback: Jim Butcher Interview
In this throwback interview (Ep. 79 in 2023), join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with bestselling author Jim Butcher about his novel The Olympian Affair, The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera series, teaching his son James J. Butcher everything he knows, a dream Dresden anime, Lois Bujold and The Vorkosigan Saga, writing cats and animal POVs, cherished mentors, paying it for
SFFA Throwback: Martha Wells Interview
In this throwback interview (Ep. 55 in 2023), join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning, bestselling author Martha Wells about her novel Witch King, her acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries series, hard lessons from her decades-long publishing career, re-releasing old works (and confronting her younger self's writing), writing both science fiction and fantasy, demons,
SFFA Throwback: Christopher Buehlman Interview
In this throwback interview (Ep. 109 in 2024), join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Christopher Buehlman about his novels The Daughters' War and The Blacktongue Thief, renaissance fairs, "Christoph the Insulter," comedy and empathy, creating an engrossing atmosphere, writing a range of voices and tones, invention vs. research, trusting your characters and much more
SFFA Throwback: Fonda Lee Interview
In this throwback interview (Ep. 47 in 2023), join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning SFF author Fonda Lee about her novella Untethered Sky, her series The Green Bone Saga, writing both sci-fi and fantasy, TV adaptations, the corporate vs. publishing worlds, falconry, manticores, worldbuilding and much more.ABOUT OUR GUEST:Fonda Lee is the award-winning author
Ep. 183: Our Favorite Reads of 2025 *LIVE* (with Talking Story & OWWR Pod)
The end of 2025 is upon us, and that means it's time to discuss our favorite reads of the year! Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly as they reminisce on the year that was with friends John & Jakob Minton from Talking Story and Hannah & Laura from OWWR Pod. During the panel, they share and discuss their top SFFH reads from this year (2 each for a total of 14), as well as their
Ep. 182: Heroism & Villainy with Christopher Ruocchio (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Heroism & Villainy with author Christopher Ruocchio. During the episode, Christopher treads the fine line of morality, delving into how we define heroes and villains, moral ambiguity vs. complexity, laying the foundations for your heroes and villains, establishing the moral framework of your s
Ep. 181: Christopher Ruocchio talks Shadows Upon Time, Science Fantasy, Rhetoric & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Christopher Ruocchio about his new novel Shadows Upon Time, reflecting on the Sun Eater series, Hadrian’s epic character journey, writing (and finishing) a long, expansive series, the lost art of rhetoric, working as an editor at Baen Books, being on both sides of the publishing curtain, the appeal of sc
🍄 THE BOOK OF SPORES 🍄 Now Live on KICKSTARTER!!!
Hidden in the vaults of a world-spanning library lie the records of a mysterious book, one made of mold and magic. Varied accounts of its existence remain scattered throughout the multiverse, but when an archivist attempts to bring its pages together, she will learn how dangerous a book—and her own ambitions—can be . . .Collecting fungal tales from across countless universes, this anthology spotli
Ep. 180: Planning a Trilogy with Jay Kristoff (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Planning a Trilogy with bestselling author Jay Kristoff. During the episode, Jay lays out the foundations for writing trilogies, including what works about the “trilogy” format, examples of iconic trilogies, starting with the midpoint climax, satisfying arcs across each book AND the trilogy, foreshadowing and layin
Ep. 179: Jay Kristoff talks Empire of the Dawn, Vampires, Creative Reinvention & More
Join co-hosts M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Jay Kristoff about his new novel Empire of the Dawn, writing vampires and monstrous characters, (un)reliable narrators, handling heavy themes, the costs of victory, creative reinvention, shifting genres, writing for younger audiences, approaches to beautiful yet brutal prose, Tolkien and the magic of fantasy books and muc
Ep. 178: Prose & Rhythm with Alix E. Harrow (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Prose & Rhythm with award-winning, bestselling author Alix E. Harrow. During the episode, Alix expounds upon prose and rhythm essentials, including what prose and rhythm are, setting expectations with prose style, fine tuning your prose and rhythm, the musicality of prose, beauty and truth in
Ep. 177: Alix E. Harrow talks The Everlasting, Lady Knights, Mythmaking & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning, bestselling author Alix E. Harrow about her new novel The Everlasting, the significance of foundational myths, mythmaking and subverting heroism, the spectrum of cowardice and courage, sexuality and obsession, symbols and the weight of history, magic and time loops, breaking in and changes in the publishing
Ep. 176: Writing Cozy Fantasy with Julie Leong (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Writing Cozy Fantasy with bestselling author Julie Leong. During the episode, Julie gets comfy and lays out the cozy fundamentals, including what cozy fantasy is, the growing popularity of cozy stories, stakes and realism in cozy fantasy, wish fulfillment and reader expectations, whether romance is necessary
Ep. 175: Julie Leong talks The Keeper of Magical Things, Underdogs, Resilience & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Julie Leong about her new novel The Keeper of Magical Things, quitting a corporate job to pursue writing, the appeal of cozy fantasy, the debut author experience, underdog/outsider protagonists, varying magical powers, imposter syndrome and resilience, how opposites can attract, writing effective character arcs, co
What is SFF Addicts Podcast?
Are you new to SFF Addicts podcast? If so, let our three co-hosts—Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn & Greta Kelly—introduce you to the show and explore what we can offer to both sci-fi/fantasy readers and writers. Plus, you can hear a teaser of a bunch of the amazing guests we've had on in the past. Thanks for tuning in and for your support. We hope you enjoy SFF Addicts!EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUEST
Ep. 174: How to Write Battle Scenes with Anna Smith Spark (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on How to Write Battle Scenes with author Anna Smith Spark. During the episode, Anna arms herself for war (and writing), exploring why we love battle scenes, how to study and analyze historical battles, the immersion/cinematography of a battle, laying the seeds of conflict, approaches to warfare acro
Ep. 173: Anna Smith Spark talks A Sword of Gold and Ruin, Anderson Versus Death, Grimdark & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with author Anna Smith Spark about her TWO new novels A Sword of Gold and Ruin and Anderson Versus Death, the 2000 AD/Judge Dredd universe and dystopian prescience, the pursuit and joys of storytelling, the appeal of grimdark, the current state of the grimdark genre (and responses to it), the ups and downs of publishing, writing what you’
Ep. 172: The Shifting Landscape of Epic Fantasy with George R.R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb & More (LIVE at Seattle Worldcon 2025)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly for this special episode of SFF Addicts podcast recorded LIVE at Seattle Worldcon 2025, where they discuss "The Shifting Landscape of Epic Fantasy" with guest authors George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, Rebecca Roanhorse and Ryan Cahill. During this epic two-hour conversation, they delve into a (brief) history of ep
Ep. 171: Surviving the Midlist (or Not?) with David Wragg (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Surviving the Midlist (or Not?) with author David Wragg. During the episode, David dishes on the (often harsh) realities of the midlist, including what “the midlist” is, the debut experience and expectations, (lack of) investment in authors, earnings/expenses/marketing, social support and communit
Ep. 170: David Wragg talks The Iron Road, Parenting, Humor, the Wild West & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with author David Wragg about his new novel The Iron Road, the Tales of the Plains series, parent/child relationships, blending Wild West themes/aesthetics with a fantasy world, balancing darkness and humor, lessons learned from mediocre jobs, crappy first novels and midlife crises, managing a large cast of characters and much
Seattle Worldcon 2025 RECAP (Bonus Episode)
Join SFF Addicts co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they recap their adventures at Seattle Worldcon 2025, from Airbnb shenanigans, yummy meals and hanging out with friends to BarCon, moderating panels and hosting their epic live episode of the podcast with George R.R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb, Rebecca Roanhorse and Ryan Cahill.SUPPORT THE SHOW:-
Ep. 169: Fairy Tale Reimaginings with T. Kingfisher (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Fairy Tale Reimaginings with bestselling author T. Kingfisher (AKA Ursula Vernon). During the episode, Ursula muses on fairy tales and how they can be reimagined, including our modern relationships with fairy tales, the resonance of fairy tales across time, choosing a fairy tale to reimagine and identifying
Ep. 168: T. Kingfisher talks Hemlock & Silver, What Stalks the Deep, Snow White & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author T. Kingfisher (AKA Ursula Vernon) about her new novels Hemlock & Silver and What Stalks the Deep, Snow White and poisons, writing a scientist protagonist, Appalachian horror and coal mining, writing children’s books, creating art and exploring artistic mediums, illustrating and writing comics, lessons learned f
Ep. 167: Interfaces in Science Fiction with Annalee Newitz (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a writing masterclass on Interfaces in Science Fiction with author/journalist Annalee Newitz. During the episode, Annalee deconstructs interfaces, including defining what interfaces are, how they appear in science fiction, tropes and misrepresentations about interfaces, creating believable/functional interfaces in your stories, realis
Ep. 166: Annalee Newitz talks Automatic Noodle, Robots, Journalism & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author/journalist Annalee Newitz about their new novella Automatic Noodle, robots as allegory, near-future San Francisco, writing cozy science fiction, food as a form of community, journalism and founding io9.com, the blogger diaspora, podcasts and punk media, information and storytelling in relation to propaganda, AI, LLMs, ancient Mi
Ep. 165: Self-Publishing as a Career with Tao Wong, Shami Stovall & Michael Michel (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors Tao Wong, Shami Stovall and Michael Michel for an Indie Appreciation Month panel on Self-Publishing as a Career. During the panel, Tao, Shami and Michael discuss the long game of self-publishing, including self-publishing as a JOB, being a full-time vs. part-time writer/creative, budgeting and investment for your books, long-term finances and project ma
Ep. 164: Indie Marketing 101 with Michael R. Miller, Z.S. Diamanti & Blake & Raven Penn (Indie Appreciation Month)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and guest authors Michael R. Miller, Z.S. Diamanti and Blake & Raven Penn for an Indie Appreciation Month panel on Indie Marketing 101. During the panel, Michael, Zac, Blake and Raven offer up some marketing fundamentals, including why marketing is important for indie authors, approaches to marketing over time, building your author platform, mailing lists and reader
