Finding the Magic Book Podcast
Episodes
S5 E84 with Fantasy Author Trevor Jones
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the author... from TrevorI started writing when given a typewriter at the age of ten. The world of Kinthur was born in 1991 during the start of ...
S5 E83 with Jesús Canchola Sánchez
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jesús Canchola Sánchez had his first short story published at the age of 7 in his Chicago elementary school newspaper. His debut novel is Escape Fro...
S5 E82 with David Shactman
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Shactman is an expert in national health policy and medical tourism. After careers in real estate and retail, he studied health policy at Harvar...
S5 E81 with Liisa Kovala
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Liisa Kovala is a Finnish Canadian author and book coach. Her debut novel, Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022), received a Literary Creation P...
S5 E80 with 5 Happy Choices Author Kristina Rienzi
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What an amazing gift idea! There is an accompanying journal to Kristina Rienzi's 5 Happy Choices too!Kristina is a critically acclaimed multi-genr...
S5 E79 with Holiday Romance & Multi-Genre Author Melanie P. Smith
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Holiday book & multi-genre author Melanie P. Smith was born and raised in Utah by a loving LDS family. She attended Dixie College and the Universi...
S5 E78 with Women's Fiction Author Kristine Jensen
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Perfect for holiday gifts for all the women in your life... Kristine Jensen's Wednesday Club is a story inspired by her grandmother's real lif...
S5 E77 with Dark Fiction Author Seth Voorhees
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seth Voorhees is a Black Hills Author. Living in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He enjoys drawing from his experiences as a social worker, particula...
S5 E76 with Sci-Fi Author Rick Partlow
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History...
S5 E75 with Fantasy Author Andrew Givler
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew is the author of the Debt Collection and Ironbound series and also a gaming YouTuber known as Sigils. He loves making people laugh, video games...
S5 E74 with Thriller Author Constantinos Koumontzis
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Constantinos Koumontzis graduated from DePaul University Chicago with a Creative Writing bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He was awarded the Mary ...
S5 E73 Paleontology With Children's Author Michele C Hollow
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do your kids love dinosaurs? Do you? Read Jurassic Girl: The Adventures of Mary Anning. In 1811, at age 12, she discovered a 17-foot fossil on the Jur...
S5 E72 with Fantasy Author Cal Logan
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A full-time personal trainer and competitive powerlifter, Cal started writing seriously in 2017, drawing inspiration from history, his time spent prac...
S5 E71 with Author Michael Hingson
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Hingson’s inspiring true story captivated the world when he and his guide dog Roselle escaped the Twin Towers together on 9/11, a story that...
S5 E70 with Author PS Conway
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PS Conway has published more than 50 poems across four online journals and 16 poetry anthologies. Two anthologies have been Amazon Best Sellers (so fa...
S5 E69 with Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author AnnMarie SanSevero
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Annmarie grew up in New York City but was transplanted to the south in high school. She writes stories about hope, courage, and resilience in fantas...
S5 E68 with Sci-Fi Author Jeffery H. Haskell
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning Journalist and USA Today bestselling author Jeffery H. Haskell thinks he should always be himself… unless he can be Spider-Man. Then, ...
S5 E67 with Author Alexandra Villasante
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Villasante has always loved telling stories—though not always with words. She has a BFA in Painting and an MA in Combined Media (that’s art s...
S5 E66 with Author Randee Dawn
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Randee... First of all, I'm the proud owner of a first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow (Solaris)! I'm an enterta...
S5 E65 with Fantasy Author Joel McKay
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joel McKay is an award-winning author of fantasy and dark fiction, including the YA fantasy novel The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan, the horror...
S5 E64 with YA Fantasy Author Julia Riew
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Riew is a Korean-American composer-lyricist, librettist, and novelist from St. Louis and NYC. She is best known for her viral hit Dive, a reimag...
S5 E63 with Author John Howard Kennedy
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Kennedy Howard is a world record holding cyclist and Ironman World Champion who found inspiration in Major Taylor's story when he very first ...
S5 E62 with Fantasy Author L.R. Maley
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, I am Larry Maley (pen named L.R. Maley)An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy stories, trying my hand at writing in these genres is my ...
S5 E61 with Author Alice Ford
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Alice... I grew up without a television, so books became my window toother worlds and I never really came back. Reading turned into writing and I...
S5 E60 with Author Patrick Sangimino
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Sangimino worked as a journalist for over forty years, writing for large newspapers throughout California and the Midwest. He worked during th...
S5 E59 with Jason Kristopher
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Kristopher is the award-winning author terrifying readers with zombies in The Dying of the Light, thrilling them with 1940s noir in Loco Moco, a...
S5 E58 with Dystopian Author Ryan Melsom
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Ryan...I’m an avid explorer of the relationships between technology, culture, creativity, humanity, spaces, spirituality, Zen, mindfulness, art...
S5 E57 with Fantasy Author Bjorn Leesson
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bjorn was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago. He has worked in manufacturing all his working life to feed himself but has ...
S5 E56 with Author Sharon LaCour
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharon’s debut literary novel, The Meeting of Air and Water, was a novel-in-progress finalist in the William Wisdom-William Faulkner novel competiti...
S5 Sept. Bonus with Sci-Fi Fantasy Author P.S.C. Willis
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
P.S.C. Willis (they/them) is a queer British writer, and graduate of both Newcastle University and Reading University. They currently live in Shanghai...
S5 E55 with Author Gary E. Smtih
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award winning author and photographer, Gary Smith, continues his mystery adventure series of the character Warren Steelgrave. True to the title of his...
S5 E54 with Author Jason DeGray
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagination Wizard Jason DeGray conjures vivid worlds of adventure, from the lawless deserts of Those Left Behind to the cosmic horrors of The Dark Go...
S5 E53 with Fantasy Author J.S. Gold
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J.S. Gold is a proud son of New Rochelle, New York – goHuguenots! He’s an alumnus of S.U.N.Y. Binghamton, where he received his Bachelors in Polit...
S5 E52 with Fantasy Author Mikel Melwasul
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mikel Melwasul does not exist. He is the amalgamation of the minds of three-ish individuals who conspired to write together. If you encounter him in t...
S5 E51 with Fantasy Author Edward Willett
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I knew things were getting weird when I saw my best friend’s face in the campfire. I didn’t realize how weird until the campfire followed me h...
S5 E50 Back to School with Tara Hodgson
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me to talk about Tara's firs book, Chasing Through Time, a contemporary young adult fiction that finds two teens connected through time. Her ...
S5 E49 with Fantasy Author Marc Watson
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marc Watson is an author of genre fiction (primarily Fantasy and Science Fiction of all lengths). He began writing at the age of 15 with a pen and p...
S5 E48 with Fantasy Author Sebastien de Castell
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest from Sebastien... Sebastien's eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mage...
S5 E47 with Sci-Fi Author Leo X. Robertson
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leo X. Robertson is a writer, filmmaker and process engineer, currently living in Stavanger, Norway. He has stories in issues 22 and 30 of Pulp Litera...
S5 E46 with Author Jonni Jordyn
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonni Jordyn's newest book is The Calling of the Grull in which the village of an ancient clan is destroyed by a flood. Their journey to discover ...
S5 E45 with Fantasy Author Ryan Null
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Null, the American novelist, is a loving father to his children and a devoted husband to his wife. He is not only a loving spouse, but also a lov...
S5 E44 To be a Fae YA Fantasy Release Day with Tricia Copeland
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To be a Fae is a young adult fantasy book is the finale to the Realm Chronicles series that features a young fae (fairy) queen and her attempts to saf...
S5 E43 with Fantasy Author Jordan Loyal Short
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
JordanLoyal Short is an avid gamer, a couch potato, and a bartender on the weekends. Despite these obvious failings he considers himself quite happy, ...
S5 E42 with Fantasy Author R. D. Moreno
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Connor Balcazar never expected to have a destiny, but on Zada 5, an age-old prophecy waits for him to fulfill it at last—if he can survive long enou...
S5 E41 with Author James L. Hill
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From James... A native New Yorker, born and raised in the Bronx, I spent my adolescence years in Fort Apache, the South Bronx 41st precinct during the...
S5 E40 with Travel Adventure Author Candice MacPhie
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Candice: Born in Montreal, Quebec, I spent years backpacking and working around the world. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an MBA, and work...
S5 E39 with Author Russ Colchamiro
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
RUSS COLCHAMIRO is the author of Crackle and Fire, Fractured Lives, Hot Ash, Blunt Force Rising, and Trigger Point, the first five books in the sci-fi...
S5 E38 with YA Fantasy Author Lisa Amowitz
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Amowitz is an artist and graphic designer by trade, but writinghas always been a deep and abiding passion. Her lastest release is the LOST GARDEN...
S5 E37 with Romantasy Author Cyndi Brec
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cyndi Brec writes her heroine into dangerous webs of deception while she sips French vanilla iced coffee.She’s a young adult romantasy author who ha...
S5 E36 with Author Aaron Starmer
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Starmer was born in northern California and raised in the suburbs of Syracuse, New York. Before pursuing writing full-time, he worked in New Yor...
S5 E35 with Urban Fantasy Author Ben Schenkman
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Schenkman likes many things in life: his 20-pound Maine coon cat, his family, his coffee, and his eclectic hobbies—not necessarily in that order...
S5 E34 with Thriller Author Kay Sparling
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kay Sparling is an international opera and sacred singer. Now retired, she lives in the Upper Midwest with her feline writing buddy, the invincible Pa...
S5 E33 with Author Alison McBain
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Diversity is one of Alison McBain's passions. With dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, a Japanese-American mother and a B.A. in African history and cl...
S5 E32 with Christian Author Barbara M. Britton
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BarbaraM. Britton not only loves to write about the Bible, but she has also taught Bible stories for over thirty years. She is multi-published in Chri...
Free Book Offer Season 5 Bonus June 14 with Teen Fantasy Author Hemie Yao
14 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hemie Yao published her debut novel of the series, The Untold Truth of Club 門神, at the age of twelve in 2023. Daughter of a Chinese immigrant, s...
S5 E31 with S. A. Schneider, Fantasy Author
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
S.A. Schneider has a wolf, so of course he writes middle grade fantasy, wouldn’t you? Since his Lego and action figure days, he’s crafted worlds a...
S5 E30 with Romance Author Savannah Carlisle
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels with idyllic beach settings. Her stories transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where fr...
S5 E29 with Vampire Fantasy Author Dan Klefstad
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Dan.... My latest novel, Fiona’s Guardians, is about humans who work for a beautiful manipulative vampire. This book was adapted by Artists'...
S5 E28 with Thriller Author J.M. Mitchell
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J.M. Mitchell grew up in Texas, now lives in Colorado, and spent the years in between on some of America’s most cherished landscapes—Yosemite, Gra...
S5 E27 with Fantasy Author D. S. McColgan
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From D. S. McColgan ....I grew up in a village not far from the Swiss Alps, surrounded by forest and mountains. Now I live in Wales with my wonderful ...
S5 E26 with Sci-fi Author M. A. Wall
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Sci-fi Author M. A. (Max) Wall: I have been affiliated with the military for most of my life. I curse, I can be abrupt, and I save flowery wordin...
S5 E25 with Fantasy Author Edward Willett
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Edward Willett is the award-winning author (under his own name and as E.C. Blake and Lee Arthur Chane) of more than sixty books of science fiction, f...
S5 E24 with L. Ron Hubbard Winner Patrick MacPhee
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Speculative Fiction Author Patrick MacPhee is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning him a trip to Hollywood for a week-...
S5 E23 with Cyberpunk Author Mark Everglade
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Everglade has spent his life studying social conflict. He runs the website www.markeverglade.com where he reviews cyberpunk media and interviews ...
S5 E22 with Mystery Author Ann Charles
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ann Charles—AuthorNearly Departed in Deadwood, the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award Winner and a 2011 RWA Golden Heart Award Winner.*USA Today Best Sell...
S5 E21 with YA Fantasy Author Aimee Phan
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aimee Phan was born and raised in Orange County, California. She received her BA in English from UCLA and her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop...
S5 E20 with fantasy author Peter Gribble
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Gribble is a writer and a lifelong studentof history whose work explores the intersections of knowledge, power, and the human condition. His fan...
S5 E19 with Dystopian Author Paul G. Vecchiet
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul G. Vecchiet is an author whose speculative fictionbridges U.S. government cover-ups, extraterrestrial phenomena, spirituality, and the future of ...
S5 E18 with Fantasy Author James Bow
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James was born in downtown Toronto on April 19, 1972 and lived there until his folks moved up to Kitchener in 1991 so he could attend the University o...
S5 E17 with Women's Fiction Author Heather Tracy
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Heather Tracy (she/her) is a travel agent by day, and a masked copy editor and writer by night. As a travel agent, she plans Nerdventures—travel for...
S5 E16 with Young Adult Fantasy Author C.J. Hosack
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CJ grew up in Southern California, loving fantasy and science fiction. She is married to her husband of thirty plus years, has four children, and has ...
S5 E15 with Author H.M. Gooden
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
H.M. Gooden is a full time worker bee, mother, and writer by the wee hours of the day. She would write all the time if she had her way, but alas, life...
S5 E14 with YA Dystopian Author CC Robinson
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CC Robinson has over two decades’ experience in cross-cultural settings as a medical doctor working in post-civil war nations and as an Associate Pa...
S5 E13 with Colorado Author Jack Maher
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historical novelist Jack Maher is a proud fifth generation Colorado native and grandson of Eric Douglas, pioneering Denver Art Museum curator, Native ...
S5 E12 with Historical Fiction Author Tong Ge
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It was such an honor to talk with Tong Ge about her new release. Tong Ge was born and raised in China and moved to Canada in 1988. She began writing t...
S5 E11 with YA Fantasy Author K.T. Anglehart
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
K.T. Anglehart has always known she wanted to tell stories. Much of her writing inspiration stems from Scottish and Irish folklore, as illustrated in ...
S5 E10 with Mystery Author Sally Barrilla
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sally Barrilla, AKA Detective Writer, is a Latinx and Italian individual. She was born and raised in NYC by grandparents since the age of six months o...
S5 E9 with Suspense Author J.D. Barker
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J.D. Barker is the the New York Times bestselling author of Forsaken, Dracul, and The Fourth Monkey. J.D.’s latest novel, Something I Keep Upstairs,...
S5 E8 with Author Erika Krouse
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Erika Krouse is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her upcoming short story collection, Save Me, Stranger, will be published by Flatiron Books in Jan...
S5 E7 with Author Carol Plum-Ucci
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carol Plum-Ucci is best known for her young adult novels that explore themes of psychological suspense, mystery, and the complexities of human nature....
S5 E6 with Author Marco Gamboa
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marco has a Bachelor's Degree in English and Psychology, as well as a Master of Jurisprudence. He's lived in San Antonio since the age of 3, via Me...
S5 E5 with Fantasy Author Zachary Hagen
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zachary Hagen is a Minnesota based fantasy author and editor. He lives there with his wife, Claudia, and their dog, Flynn. When he isn't busy writing ...
S5 E4 with Sci-Fi & Fantasy Author Kristina W. Kelly
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Professional Bio She is the coauthor of the epic fantasy and sci-fi fusing series, the Etherea Cycle including Trials of the Innermost. Her scifi and ...
S5 E3 with Fantasy Author Fern Brady
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fern Brady is the founder and CEO of Inklings Publishing. She began her professional life as a foreign correspondent, and taught for 15 years in Ali...
S5 E2 with Fantasy Author Brian D. Anderson
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From an early age, in the small town of Spanish Fort, Alabama, Brian delighted in conjuring fantastical worlds and unique characters. Alone in his roo...
S5 E1 with Author Lance Robinson
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In his day job, Lance Robinson is an environmental social scientist who often works closely with mobile peoples. He is a sporadic nomad himself, havin...
S4 E30 with Fantasy Author Alex Kingsley
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Kingsley (they/them) is a writer, comedian, and game designer. They graduated from Swarthmore College with High Honors and are a part of the SFWA...
S4 E29 with Fantasy Author DC Gomez
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allerg...
S4 E28 with Fantasy Author Loz Cadman
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laurel 'Loz' Cadman was born and raised in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. She is an aspiring author who has been writing fiction since she was young. ...
S4 E27 with Breakfield and Burkey Sci-Fi Authors
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Breakfield & Burkey, professional technology experts, have series and standalone stories available, with more planned. Find sample chapters, autho...
S4 E26 with Holiday Romance Author Lindsay Gibson
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writing stories as a little girl was the way I coped with the world around me. At 16, I faced a traumatic event that forever changed who I am and made...
S4 E25 with YA Sci-fi Author James Bow
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coming November 12, 2024 from Shadowpaw Press 9781998273188 | Paperback, 476 pages | YA Science Fiction Lieutenant Adeheid Koning was only 23 when the...
S4 E24 with Fantasy Author Sebastien de Castell
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Sebastien... When I was sixteen, I was off on an island, camping by myself, and ended up having to wait about six hours for a ferry. While sittin...
S4 E23 with Political Thriller Author Michael Fedor
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former Political operative lifts the curtain as political thriller authorMichael’s Story Award-winning political fiction author Michael Fedor brings...
S4 October Bonus with Dark Fantasy Author Hollis Jo McCollum
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Hollis... Growing up a Navy brat gave me an extreme case of wanderlust and paved the way to becoming certifiably obsessed with ancient cultures, ...
S4 E22 with Romance Author Savannah Carlisle
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Savannah... My debut novel was released from Harpeth Road Press on May 7, 2024: The Library of Second Chances. I’m also currently editing my se...
S4 E21 with Author Don Sawyer
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don Sawyer, writer and educator, grew up in Michigan and moved to Canada in the 1960s. Don has worked with youth and adults from many cultural backgro...
S4 E20 with Stefonknee Wiolscht
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stefonknee Wolscht, is a sixty year old Catholic parent of seven beautiful children, who has lost everything because of transphobia. She is an educati...
S4 E19 with Author Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes is an editor, author, speaker, podcaster, and educational consultant. She is Embolden Media Group's production edit...
S4 Bonus with Author Alexandra Beaumont
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandra Beaumont is a British fantasy novelist with a passion for folklore, playing musical instruments and exploring the wilds of the UK.With a de...