In this episode of Indie Author Magazine, our hosts take you inside the unconventional success story at the heart of January 2026’s feature article, “Lady Shadow and The Pirate Hunter.” Their deep dive unpacks how James Hunter—a former Marine turned pirate hunter—and his wife, chemist Jeanette Strode, built Shadow Alley Press from scratch into a powerhouse of the LitRPG and progression fantasy world.

Discover how this duo’s unique backgrounds shaped not only bestselling novels but also a thriving publishing business that’s closer to a role-playing guild than a traditional company. We break down the business mechanics, hiring strategy, and the work-life “deployment cycle” that keeps burnout at bay, as well as the real rules of their creative “guild hall.”

Timestamps:

• [00:02:06] The unlikely origin story: Marine sergeant meets chemist in the world of publishing

• [00:03:38] What is LitRPG and why is it booming?

• [00:07:00] Division of labor: How Lady Shadow and the Pirate Hunter balance creativity and operations

• [00:09:05] The E-Myth and the secret to sustainable growth in indie publishing

• [00:10:16] “Guild rules” for Shadow Alley Press authors

• [00:11:23] Learning from failure and redefining luck as “preparation meets opportunity”

• [00:12:28] Work-life hacks: Deployment cycles, boundaries, and keeping the “health bar” green

• [00:14:12] The real win: Freedom, family, and a business that levels up with your life

Whether you’re a fan of role-playing games, indie publishing, or just love an unconventional success story, this episode offers actionable insights—and some inspiration—to help you rethink your own career “character build.”