In this episode, I’m joined by New York Times Best Selling fantasy author, Kel Kade.

Kel’s new book, Sanctum of the Soul, was published by Tor in February 2025 and completes her brilliant new trilogy. As well as discussing the new book, we also dive into the character creation process and how to create fantasy worlds, discussing techniques and methods to ensure we don’t info dump!

Kel also shares her favourite and least favourite fantasy tropes, and we discuss some newer and more shocking tropes that writers should think about before including.

And Kel also discusses her amazing journey through the world of writing, starting out as a popular indie author with The King's Dark Tidings, before getting snapped up by Tor.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

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ABOUT KEL CADE

https://torpublishinggroup.com/sanctum-of-the-soul/?isbn=9781250293893&format=hardback

https://kelkade.com/books/ ⁠⁠

https://www.goodreads.com/series/172856-king-s-dark-tidings

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠ here
And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠ here

Award-winning YA author Sarah Arthur returns to the Toolshed to discuss her brilliant new book, Once A Castle.

Sarah also shares her experiences following the release of her debut YA novel (Once A Queen), what it was like writing book two, and how theme has played such an important role in the writing of both.

We also discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) creeping into the writing world, and Sarah provides her expert insights into what 2025 holds for the world of Young Adult fantasy fiction.

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

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ABOUT SARAH ARTHUR

⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2216828/sarah-arthur/ ⁠

⁠www.saraharthur.com ⁠

ONCE A CASTLE

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213618161-once-a-castle

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707441/once-a-castle-by-sarah-arthur/

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠ here

And learn more about ⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠ here

In this episode, I'm joined by fantasy author and ER doctor, HB Reneau.

HB talks all about injuries we commonly see in fantasy worlds--usually inflicted by swords and magic, and explains how we can best portray things like wounds and infections.

We also talk about the impact of injuries and trauma and mental health too.

HB also tells us all about her new book, The Revenant, and how she's used Kickstarter to fund a pretty awesome project. You can find out more here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theremnant/the-remnant-ya-fantasy-adventure-collectors-edition

GET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASY

⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠

ABOUT HB RENEAU

https://hbreneau.com/

GET IN TOUCH

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th⁠