“You have to earn readers”

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Daniel Coniff lives in Denver and writes short stories and novels. He is passionate about blending theories of psychology, sociology, and anthropology with brutal themes to create sobering yet transformative pieces. On Instagram, he describes himself as “Guy who writes goofy stories.” In addition to all that, Daniel writes fan fiction for the Netflix adaption of “Lord of the Flies.” (You can find it on Substack at the link below.)

Daniel’s episode of the Write Like a Badass podcast is: “You have to earn readers.”

Daniel writes on Substack: https://substack.com/@danieljconiff

Find his fanfic at: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Daniel_J_Coniff

Connect with him on social media: https://www.instagram.com/daniel.j.coniff_official/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@dc.writer_n_psych_nerd

“I just love the character”

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Matt Posner has been writing fiction and nonfiction since the 1980s. He writes in many genres of fiction, including urban fantasy, YA, literary fiction, horror, and romance (writing as MJ Post).

Matt’s latest novel, an adult urban fantasy series with Mrs. Moore #1: Queen of Doubts. It’s available at: https://a.co/d/0fS9eiLI

About Queen of Doubts:

Mrs. Moore is a wife, mother, diviner. Never perfect, always badass.

Mrs. Goldberry Moore’s secret magic school has closed, her husband is gravely ill, and she’s suddenly raising three children with a talent for trouble and adventure. A practical magician with the wit and resolve of a Jane Austen heroine, she’s not the type to hide and wait.

Instead, she takes on two highly inconvenient apprentices. Gia’s voice compels the truth from anyone who hears her. Preity is a fire‑loving, stone‑lifting magical being whom some people simply cannot see. With a streetwise nanny, a house full of volatile hearts, and trouble gathering at the edges, Mrs. Moore must rely on strategy, nerve, and her talent for staying several steps ahead.

Ruthless treasure hunters are closing in on the apprentices and the fallen school — each powerful enough to upend the magical world in the wrong hands.

The only safe place to end the chase may be the one place no one would dare follow: beneath Mount Denali.

Matt’s episode of the Write Like a Badass podcast is: “I just love the character.” And yes – he’s talking about Mrs. Moore!

Why Dan Bonser Doesn’t Use a Pen Name

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Dan Bonser writes adult fantasies about a 100+ year-old female elf who is a traveling bard. His stories has action adventure, music, poetry and at least one scene Dan concedes is “shocking.”

The Ballad of the Emerald Bard, Opus 1 is available at: https://a.co/d/034BoRur
Follow Dan on TikTok: Dan Bonser Author

More info at: Dan Bonser @ The Leap

Co-Founder of A Brainless Nod– A blog about life and love using poetry, serial webfiction, and personal posts: http://abrainlessnod.blogspot.com

“I Left the Game, But I Couldn’t Leave the Character Behind”

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Dan Bonser’s main character is a 100+ year old elfwhose origin story did NOT start on the pages of his books. Where did she come from? You’ll hear all about it in this episode. In the first book of his series, Dan wrote an opening scene with the specific intention to make himself uncomfortable, pushing the spice and discomfort further and further until it culminated in a scene, which he swore was too far. To this day, he silently judges readers who love THAT scene.

A note: Dan and I had so much to talk about that he’ll be the guest on the next episode of the Write Like a Badass podcast, as well!

The Ballad of the Emerald Bard, Opus 1 is available at: https://a.co/d/034BoRur
Follow Dan on TikTok: Dan Bonser Author

More info at: Dan Bonser @ The Leap

Co-Founder of A Brainless Nod– A blog about life and love using poetry, serial webfiction, and personal posts: http://abrainlessnod.blogspot.com

Ghostwriting for a Living

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Caroline Duggan, a novelist and copywriter, found a new outlet for her writing skill when she was asked to ghostwrite a book for a doctor. That initial experience turned into a career that she loves: transforming other people’s stories and ideas into books that the general public wants to read. Caroline still writes fiction, but she truly enjoys ghostwriting, and generously shares guidance about it in this episode.

Visit Caroline’s website at: carolinedugganwrites.com. 

“I wanted to make it happen”

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Ian Tadashi Moore writes, illustrates, composes music for and records stories of joy, mindfulness, courage, and resilience for all ages. On this episode, he talks about what inspires him, how he wrote his first book to be a keepsake for his two sons and why he chooses and unusual (and costly) method of publishing his books. He also creates audiobook versions of his books – HIMSELF!

Ian’s website is: iantm.com (You can hear samples of his audiobooks and see samples of his illustrations on his website.)

Ian’s books and audiobooks are available at: https://www.iantm.com/books/shop

Facebook: iantm.books

Twitter: iantm_books

Instagram: iantm_books

Advice for Writers – from Writers

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Unless you belong to a writers group or are taking a class, you might be working on your craft all by yourself. Well, you’re not alone! Meet some members of your community who are at various places in their creative journey. Some are published authors with many books to their name, others playwrights who’ve seen their work produced onstage, and there are some who are still working toward completing that first project.

The voices you’ll hear in this episode belong to people who’ve been guests on the Write Like a Badass podcast. They share the wisdom they’ve gained from experience – no matter how much or how little writing experience they’ve had so far. I think we can learn from every fellow writer we encounter.

 In Open Mic Night at the Badass Writers Cafe, I read from a novel I just completed. Sort of. You’ll hear.

Want to learn more about the people featured in this episode? 

Connect with Don Davidson on Tiktok.

Find Ron Shaw at:

Trae Dorn is at:

  • www.trhonline.com
  • Trae’s Doks and comics & etc. include:
  • The Mia Graves Saga, a series of queer contemporary fantasy novels
  • The webcomic Peregrine Lake
  • The comic UnCONventional, a comic based off of their decades staffing conventions
  • Trae is also the creator of the Super Awesome Action Heroes Role Playing Game System

Barb Nessinger can be found on Facebook and on Instagram (Barb’s Instagram (Barbyness84).

Find out more about Dave Durham at: https://www.stagescreenandme.com/

Find out more about Tony Targan at: https://www.tonytargan.com/

hh rune is at:

Connect with Rebecca Wells Phillips:

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

Turning Your Book Into an Audiobook

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In this episode, we get the inside scoop about how to turn your book into an audiobook – from audiobook narrator and voice actor Samantha Norbury. Samantha records books in many different genres, for indie authors and publishers. She explains the process, including how the authors she works with get a 15 minute sample of her work before she voices the entire book, to make sure that that they’re on the same page. Find out about the time it takes and the cost (there is a no cost option, by the way). Also: why the ai-voice narration drive is a big fat fail with listeners.

If you’re considering having your book turned into an audio book with a human voice doing the narrating, this episode is for you!

For information about Samantha Norbury, visit her website https://www.samanthanorburyvo.com

That webinar Samantha mentions is at: https://www.samanthanorburyvo.com/authors

Connect with Samantha on social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthanorbury_narrator
https://www.instagram.com/samantha.norbury_narrator/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRefmRiSfbbOdiYkWQSpkA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-norbury-a69149240/
https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaNorburyAudio

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

·        A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

Writing through Truth, Healing through Story

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Interviewing survivors of Hurrican Helene for her book, Hurricane Helene: Resiliency After the Storm, turned out to be a painful process for Rebecca Wells Phillips (who was affected by the storm as well). Far from being reluctant to revisit their trauma, the people she talked to were eager to tell their stories, to be seen and heard. The result is a deeply felt documentation that one reviewer called, “a poignant account of a catastrophic flood and how a community was able to band together to both survive and heal in the aftermath.”

In addition to the book about Hurricane Helene, Rebecca has written two memoirs (Hating Self and Loving Self), a novel (Butterfly Blossoms) and a number of short stories.

Rebecca brings topics like authenticity, depression, suicidal ideation, abuse, racism, discrimination, destruction, and loss to her writing. She writes, she says, “to uplift and to turn a bad situation into a positive outcome.”

Buy Hurricane Helene: Resilience After the Storm at: https://a.co/d/0hsAkL3k

Connect with Rebecca:

www.rebeccawellsphillips.com

·         Facebook: https://facebook.com/beckywellsphillips

·         Instagram: www.instagram.com/gaphill184240/

·         X (Twitter): https://x.com/RebeccaPhi37526

·         TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebecca.phillips53

·         YouTube: www.youtube.com/@rebeccaphillips231

·         Substack: www.substack.com/@rebeccawellsphillips

·         Threads: https://www.threads.com/@gaphill184240

·         LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawellsphillips/

·         Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaphill1842.bsky.social

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

All About the Booktok Indie Author Awards

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Ron Shaw writes dark fantasy / psychological fiction novels. He also puts a considerable amount of time and effort into the Booktok Indie Author Awards, which he founded. In this episode, Ron talks about why it’s importance to bring recognition to indie authors. He also discusses his own writing – and why readers are sometimes confused about the genre of his books (but they still read them and like them!).

Interested in entering your book or nominating someone else’s book for the 2026 BookTok Indie Author Awards? Go here: https://evocativeimpressions.com/booktok-indie-author-awards/. NOTE: The deadline for this year is August 31.