What do gardening, balloon animals, pulp fiction, Japanese manga, military science fiction, homeschooling, cover design, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and peeing basset hounds have in common? Cedar Sanderson, obviously.

In this lively and often hilarious episode, Cedar joins Mookie Spitz for a sprawling conversation that begins with flowers and parenting and somehow winds its way through publishing, illustration, pulp fiction, education, storytelling, creativity, and the peculiar neuroses that drive writers to spend years inventing people who don't exist.

Cedar shares her winding journey from entertainer, face painter, and balloon twister to scientist, entrepreneur, illustrator, publisher, and prolific author. Along the way, she explains why kids are the toughest audience on Earth, how writing a story for her daughter launched her fiction career, and why characters often refuse to follow their author's instructions.

The conversation quickly enters the kind of nerdy territory both participants clearly enjoy. Mookie and Cedar debate pantsing versus plotting, discuss the strange alchemy of creativity, and compare notes on the ways writers trick themselves into actually finishing books. Cedar talks about her fascination with pulp fiction and classic adventure storytelling, while Mookie defends his self-imposed obsession with writing entire novels in rigid three-line blocks like some sort of literary Lego set assembled by an ADHD mad scientist.

They also tackle bigger questions. Has modern publishing become too safe? Why do so many contemporary books feel interchangeable? Are readers being fed diluted versions of stories that were once richer, stranger, and more ambitious? Cedar argues that many writers no longer read deeply enough, while Mookie ironically wonders whether entire genres have become victims of their own formulas.

The discussion veers into cover design, independent publishing, doing one's own art, storytelling in video games, the collapse of critical thinking, the value of constraints in creative work, and why writing "important messages" into fiction usually produces unreadable garbage.

Somewhere in the middle, they also manage to talk about Cedar's books. She discusses her most popular Pixie Noir, newly released fantasy detective novella Child of Crows and the origins of Tanager's Fledglings, a surprisingly intimate science fiction adventure that begins with a young man, a starship, and a basset hound demonstrating a stubborn refusal to be housebroken on a starship.

Part writing workshop, part publishing insider discussion, part cultural critique, and part two smartasses wandering down fascinating rabbit holes, this episode is a reminder that today's storytelling is too often faked by formulas, focus groups, and committees. the good stuff instead created by curious people willing to follow strange ideas wherever they lead. And occasionally by people who spend twenty years collecting pulp novels and arguing about paragraph lengths.

The Guest

Cedar Sanderson is a multifaceted creator whose work spans both the literary and visual arts. She is celebrated for her engaging storytelling and her ability to captivate audiences with her vibrant imagery and thoughtful narratives. Her work not only entertains but also invites readers and viewers into worlds where science meets magic, and the mundane becomes extraordinary.

Her books, such as "Pixie Noir" and "Tanager’s Fledglings," showcase her unique blend of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery, often infused with a touch of humor and deep human insight. Her art, varying from traditional sumi-e painting to digital creations, reflects a love for both the whimsical and the scientific, with influences from her passion for history, infectious disease, and food anthropology. Known for her eclectic career that includes roles as diverse as balloon twister, face painter, and scientist, Cedar has channeled her wide range of experiences into her writing and art.

Her Books

Amazon

Her Website

https://www.cedarwrites.com/

Her Substack

https://cedarlila.substack.com/

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Stepping into the 55th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Debbie Bishop has spent decades doing what most creators only talk about doing: building her own path. Author, comic book creator, publisher, entrepreneur, marketer, filmmaker, podcaster, and now AI-powered platform builder, Debbie joins Mookie for a wide-ranging conversation that spans fantasy fiction, Hollywood, independent publishing, emerging technology, and the future of creativity itself.

The discussion begins with Debbie's new novel, Pillywiggin Awakening, a dark fantasy adventure that blends magic, technology, history, and human resilience into a story designed for readers who love immersive worlds and larger-than-life heroes. From there, the conversation expands into Debbie's remarkable career, from acting and entertainment marketing to publishing comic books, launching companies, working with legendary figures like Ray Harryhausen, and developing intellectual property across multiple mediums.

Along the way, Debbie shares stories about creating comics decades ahead of technological trends, researching ancient civilizations and Atlantis, predicting AI-driven futures in her fiction, and collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment and consumer products. She also discusses her latest venture, CreatorStage.show, an ambitious new platform designed to help independent creators take control of their audiences, content, and revenue streams in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape.

Mookie and Debbie dive deep into artificial intelligence, the promise and limitations of large language models, the future of data centers, creator economics, entrepreneurship, publishing, networking, and why human creativity still matters in an age of algorithms. They explore the tension between technological progress and personal sovereignty, debate whether AI will empower or marginalize creators, and examine how science fiction often serves as a surprisingly accurate preview of tomorrow's headlines.

At its heart, their conversation is about self-determination. Debbie's philosophy is simple: if the system won't give you an opportunity, build your own. Whether you're a writer, artist, entrepreneur, filmmaker, or anyone trying to create something meaningful in a noisy world, her journey offers equal parts inspiration, practical wisdom, and hard-earned perspective. Debbie Bishop proves that creativity goes beyond imagination to include persistence, adaptability, and having the courage to create your own future.

The Guest

Award-winning author Debbie Bishop is a multi-genre storyteller, creative director, entertainment executive, and CEO of Angelgate Entertainment. Her newest book, “PILLYWIGGIN Awakening: The Complete Story Arc (Books 1–2),” is an epic fantasy adventure about hidden fae, imprisoned boys facing impossible odds, and the courage it takes to awaken, survive, and become your own hero. Rooted in her lifelong interest in fantasy, metaphysics, technology, and cinematic storytelling, Bishop’s work explores the power people discover when they stop waiting to be rescued.

With nearly three decades in entertainment, Bishop has built five companies and worked with major studios including Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal. A former model and actress who moved behind the camera, she became a creative strategist whose digital campaigns have generated more than 2 billion views for the music industry.

Today, Bishop continues to expand her universe through new media, author-focused programming, and conversations about the future of technology. She recently hosted the AI & Human Roundtable podcast series, leads another storyteller-driven series, and is preparing to showcase original content and amplify creative voices.

Find Her

https://www.instagram.com/debbiebishop

https://creatorstage.show/about-pillywiggin-awakening

https://www.debbiebishop.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@by.storytellers

Want to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text!

Support the show