What does it take to turn real pain into a world worth exploring? We welcome author Lance Krautlarger to talk Arcane Tides: A Journey Within, a character-driven fantasy that treats mental health with honesty and heart. Eldrin’s path mirrors Lance’s own time leaving the service, navigating PTSD and anxiety, and relearning how to belong—first to himself, then to others.

We trace the book’s DNA from a single therapeutic writing session into a full draft. Then the hard part: cutting a 150k-word manuscript, fixing head-hopping, and compressing travel to keep momentum on the inner quest. Along the way, Sanderson lectures and classic epics influenced structure, but the true guides were therapy and self-help—voices that shaped tone, pace, and purpose.

The story gets personal through chapter-opening quotes lifted from Lance’s own journals. We also dive into the cozy layer: in-world books, a bark-and-amber cookbook, and real recipes—pumpkin bars, porridge, muffins—recast with magical ingredients. Food becomes a ritual of care, a way to ground panic and grief in the small good things.

Alara, inspired by a real friend who demanded help be sought, anchors Eldrin’s growth with judgment-free support. The cleric is a therapist in fantasy clothing, the journal a tool that only reveals what you’re ready to read—because validation can’t be borrowed, only claimed. By the end, Eldrin discovers that the point isn’t rank, adventure, or lore; it’s presence with family, the capacity to rest, and the courage to move forward without outside permission.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more readers and writers can find it.

You can find everything In Other Worlds at www.iowpod.com or on socials:

Tiktok

Youtube

Facebook

You can also subscribe to my newsletter to get episode reminders, access to unedited episodes, a monthly list of upcoming titles and the chance at a free book from each author I interview here.

What if a portal fantasy didn’t whisk one hero away, but dropped an entire magical realm onto our world? That’s the theme behind Paragon Exordium, and today I sit down with author Mikel “Mick” Melwasul to discuss how a college town in Georgia becomes the frontline of a sprawling, character‑driven.

We explore the series central mystery, the Therin Selu, a cataclysmic spell meant to dodge a mythic flood, and how its fallout turns into magic finally returning. Mick shares why the world’s “castology” matters: runes, song, speech, and emotion aren’t just mechanics, they’re culture encoded, shaping grief, faith, and power. We also lean into ambiguity—Jadis bound to a sword, the Weeping King hiding power behind tears—and celebrate the lighter touch that makes the darkness land, from a cult‑favorite basilisk named Shadowfang to the beloved mushroom folk.

If you love reverse isekai worldbuilding, emotionally intelligent magic systems, and characters who force the plot to bend around their choices, this conversation is your map to Paragon. Listen, share with a friend who craves fresh fantasy, and leave a quick review to help more readers find the show. Then tell us: are you team Jadis, and which creatures do you want more of next?

You can find everything In Other Worlds at www.iowpod.com or on socials:

Tiktok

Youtube

Facebook

You can also subscribe to my newsletter to get episode reminders, access to unedited episodes, a monthly list of upcoming titles and the chance at a free book from each author I interview here.

I sit down with Edie Skye to explore how playful tones and decisive heroes (and monster girls) make harem fiction such a great genre. From Cat Girls From Outer Space to Titan Mage’s dragon-laced lore, we trace craft choices, collaboration, and why men’s romance is more wholesome than you think.

• Pen names and genre lanes across HP Hollow, Edie Skye, and Arcadia Sky
• Cat Girls From Outer Space as a spicy rework of Freelancers Of Neptune
• Why harem lands best with humor, banter, and self-awareness
• Men’s romance expectations for active, hyper-competent heroes
• Balancing escapism with scene-level struggle and real stakes
• Making intimacy integral to magic systems and culture
• Favorite characters, disability representation, and comedic leads
• Dragons as terraformers, world maps, and lore that clicks
• TikTok virality and the rise of men’s romance

Find Edie Skye at:

edieskye.com

TikTok/Instagram/Facebook: @EdieSkyAuthor

Patreon: EdieSkyAuthor

You can find everything In Other Worlds at www.iowpod.com or on socials:

Tiktok

Youtube

Facebook

You can also subscribe to my newsletter to get episode reminders, access to unedited episodes, a monthly list of upcoming titles and the chance at a free book from each author I interview here.