GerritVan Eck grew up in Belleville, Ontario, where a childhood spentreading any books he could get his hands on evolved into a passionfor creating stories. A love for all things fantasy led him to serieslike The Lord of the Rings and The Pendragon Adventures. Eventuallyhe decided to stop imagining the stories and actually put pen topaper.

Todaywe are discussing Gerrit’s fantasy novella The Reluctant Blade,Book 1 in his Sparrows Trilogy. The Reluctant Blade follows youngwoman Serenia as she’s forced to flee her father’s noble estateand becomes penniless in the metropolitan city of Ruddreth, where shesoon falls in with a secret society of pickpockets. Book 2 of theSparrows Trilogy, The Dulled Edge, releases August 14th.

Gerrit’swebsite: https://gerritvaneck.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrit_vaneck

Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/gvaneck.bsky.social

Who Killed Arnold Muller: https://www.amazon.ca/Killed-Arnold-M%C3%BCller-Christian-Marchioni/dp/1067862919/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BZ601UIK2S0N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XRb9JbBt4xwCu6oshBkxEg.LRdTHoOclNxIACHU_cJTKX5cpFiEKYBbFJ1zSRSEq8Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=who+killed+arnold+muller&qid=1785942747&sprefix=who+killed+arnold+muller%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

Christian Jerry Marchioni on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianjerrymarchioni/

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon. I am currently seeking beta-readersfor this book. If you are interested, contact me atjm1shannon@gmail.com

Upcomingevents:

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

KristyLee is an author of romantasy and contemporary romance author. Hermost recent book is Mr. Brightside, a contemporary trauma romance.She balances her life as a writer, wife, mother, and full-timebusiness professional in Ontario. When she’s not working, Kristyenjoys a variety of hobbies including outdoor activities (unlessthere’s snow), watching movies, dancing to music in the kitchen,working on various craft projects, playing video games and, ofcourse, reading, and writing.

In addition towriting, she’s also a Twitch streamer, and this interview is alittle different. She hosted me on her Twitch stream live on July16th, where she first interviewed me, and then I turnedthe tables and interviewed her. It was a wide-ranging conversation.We mostly kept things narrow by talking about Mr. Brightside and myupcoming work, Taming the Laser Leopard. Kristy has done a couple ofother author interviews, which you can find on her Youtube channel,and I tried to structure things using her format with some rapid-firequestions. There are also comments coming in from her Twitch viewers,which you will hear her address as we go.

Kristy does areading from Mr. Brightside at timestamp 1:18:30

Kristy's website: https://authorkristy.com/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/authorkristy

IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorkristy/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unknownsole0

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

Wayback in the early days, there was an author with whom I travelled insomewhat overlapping circles. He was promoting his debut novel, ATime and a Place. Online, i saw him sharing screenshots of Audacity,with track titles labelled Chapter 1, 2 etc, and captions that he'djust recorded another. In 2019, I attended a book show that thisauthor organized in Whitby, and I had just downloaded his finishedaudiobook off of Audible. I remarked to him how remarkable it was forhim to do his own audiobook, and he gave me the advice, perhaps inpassing, that if I were interested in audio, I should do my own,which seemed like a ludicrous idea at the time. But, here we are,seven years later, and I have 3—soon to be 4, if I can ever do thefinal touches on the Moon Panther—audiobooks out that I myselfrecorded, and it's Joe Mahoney that I credit with seeding that ideaof doing it myself.

Thisweek I have Joe on to discuss his book A Time and a Place, hiswriting journey, the press that he has founded now that he's retiredand moved out to the east coast, and more, Donovan Street Press. Joedoes a reading from A Time and a Place at timestamp 108:30

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16 *dependent on the current forest fire situation*

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

Andrew LiVecchi is a writer of epic fantasy.

Since childhood, he has been obsessed with all things ancient and medieval, starting with Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, and Greek myth and culminating in an English PhD from Western University. In his fiction, he attempts to capture some of what he has found so endlessly fascinating about his favourite stories, drawing inspiration from classical mythology, medieval romance, and modern fantasy.

Andrew lives in Cambridge, Ontario and works as a literature and humanities professor. In his free time, he enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, playing piano, and gaming.

Andrew's website: https://andrewlivecchi.com/

Substack: https://andrewlivecchi.substack.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/andrewlivecchiauthor/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlivecchi.bsky.social

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

TatianaObey is a Locus award-nominated author who writes badass charactersslaying dragons. She enjoys combining action with character-drivenstories that feature diverse heroes and heroines. She is the authorof Bonesto the Wind,a 2022 BBA Award Winner, and SistahSamurai: A Champloo Novella,a 2023 Indie Ink Award Winner. She has published short stories invarious anthologies, including FIYAHLiterary Magazine and BestAmerican Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025.She was also a contributing editor for Magicin the Melanin: A Black Fantasy Anthology.She taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and spenther debut year traveling the world. Learn more about herat www.tatianaobey.com.

Website: https://www.tatianaobey.com/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/obeytheauthor/

Threads- https://www.threads.com/@obeytheauthor

Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/obeytheauthor.bsky.social

Newsletter: https://www.tatianaobey.com/mailing-list

Store: https://www.tatianaobey.com/shop

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

ManitoulinIsland Comiccon June 13

EspanolaComiccon June 14

PictonComiccon June 28

SaultCon

FridayJuly 10, 3pm-8pm

SaturdayJuly 11, 11am-8pm

Sunday,July 12, 11am-4pm

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

Daryl J Ball is an indie fantasyauthor. He has written The Name of the Bear, the Tannis Project, andthe now complete, seven book series The Barrier of Mibekel. TheBarrier of Mibekel follows half-human, half-elf Karantu, known asKar, as he journeys to find his human father. Daryl and I talk abouthis process, themes, and what it’s like now that he’s finishedthis epic series. Daryl and I do a reading from Book 1 of the Barrierof Mibekel, Son of No One, at timestamp 59 mins

WhoKiller Arnold Muller:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254527019-who-killed-arnold-m-ller?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=SnH6hhqsEq&rank=2

ACrimson Void: www.davidmkelly.com

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

SaultCon

FridayJuly 10, 3pm-8pm

SaturdayJuly 11, 11am-8pm

Sunday,July 12, 11am-4pm

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

StephanieR Lowell is an author of numerous paranormal themed books, includingher Moonstone Trilogy, Caught by a Lycan series, and Lovers of Loreseries, which vary from steamy paranormal romance to new adult softromance apocalyptic stuff. Today we are mostly discussing The Druid'sDescendant, which is book 1 of her Moonstone Trilogy. In the Druid'sDescendant, her narrator, Selene Stone, is able to see demons andother malevolent entities. Initially hospitalized and put onanti-psychotics, the story begins with her release as a young woman,trying to navigate the world, while realizing it might all have beenreal. As Stephanie explains, some of this was inspired by her ownunexplained experiences.

Stephanie's website: stephanierlowell.com

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/author_stephanierlowell?igsh=MWhxZG9rdXg1N2dtaA==

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Eh1T5HNfX/

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

SaultCon

FridayJuly 10, 3pm-8pm

SaturdayJuly 11, 11am-8pm

Sunday,July 12, 11am-4pm

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds

WhenDavid Blackmore was just a child, he took an inflatable raft out ontoLake Ontario. The wind and the current took him away from shore, andhe soon found himself unable to get back, and the sun was setting.Many years later, he recounted this experience, and his rescue by aship captain, in the true account The Captain and the Kid. David andI discuss his story, how harrowing it was, and how he researched thedetails not known to him so many years later.

David does a readingfrom The Captain and the Kid at timestamp 56:15

David's website: https://www.davidblackmore.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572247148181

JasonShannon is an indie Canadian author of science fiction and more. Hisseventh novel, Tiger Blues, is available now: “A plucky crew ofmercenaries must keep a doomsday weapon from the Maoists inalt-history 1948 Tibet.”

Tamingthe Laser Leopard Coming soon

Upcomingevents:

PictonComiccon June 28

SaultCon

FridayJuly 10, 3pm-8pm

SaturdayJuly 11, 11am-8pm

Sunday,July 12, 11am-4pm

FlamboroughBook Fair at the West Avenue Cider House July 26

BlueberryBlast Festival in Nipigon August 14, 15, 16

Cogsand Clockwork Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Ontario September 12/13

Can*Con,October 16-18

Followmy social media @harujinshounds