Sci-Fi author Christian Hurst, the creator of the best-selling space opera series 'Lily Starling' chats with me about emotional exploration and using metaphor in 'Fantastic' science fiction writing. He discusses Ursula K. Le Guin's work, mentions 'Arrival' (the 2016 American science fiction drama starring Amy Adams), and together we think about time loops, communicating with extra terrestrials, the definition of courage, and even the world of Horton Hears a Who!

Author Richard H. Moon, based in Southern California, is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and (like me) a self-described history buff. His latest book, "To Conquer Death," is set in Ancient Egypt and has the grandeur of an epic historical fantasy adventure. Richard chats with me about the Bronze Age collapse, which occurred in around the 12th century BCE and brought an end to all civilizations worldwide, with the possible exception of the Egyptian Empire, which survived but became severely weakened. The Bronze Age collapse serves as the historical backdrop for his book "To Conquer Death," and there are unsettling parallels between the fall of the Bronze Age and the decline of contemporary society in our own age. We discuss writing historical fantasy fiction, the differences between screenwriting and novel-writing, and about bringing characters to life.

Author R E HOLDING, who was born in Iowa and now resides in the Missouri Hills with her husband. She has a passion for storytelling across various media, with a special interest in horror. The American Sci-Fi / Mystery author Christopher Pike is a strong influence on her work. By day, R E HOLDING is a scientist... but by night, she is a horror-fantasy writer.

Her recent novel "Reaper's Gamble," features some excellent world-building and a believable magic system that's rooted in crafts and guilds. So I wanted to talk with her about writing plausible magic and describing realistic worlds.

This new interview covers the author's world-building tips, insights into what she describes as 'world-building sickness', her magic system development, and her editing techniques.