This week on Epic Realms, Nick sits down with three-time Eisner Award nominated cartoonist, writer, and illustrator Chris Schweizer for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, storytelling, and building a life around making comics. From his childhood in Louisiana and Kentucky to his years studying art, theater, and filmmaking, Chris reflects on the experiences that shaped his artistic voice and eventually led him into the world of graphic novels. Along the way, he shares stories about making homemade movies as a kid, discovering classic comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes and Pogo, and finding his place within the evolving comics industry. The discussion explores the craft behind visual storytelling, the unique language of comics, and the creative choices that separate newspaper strips, graphic novels, and superhero books. Chris also looks back on the creation of Crogan's Adventures, the project that helped launch his professional career, and discusses how his approach to writing and illustration has evolved over the years. The second half of the conversation focuses on The Outlaw's Apprentice, Chris's upcoming fantasy graphic novel launching on Kickstarter. Drawing inspiration from Appalachian culture, classic adventure fiction, and a lifelong love of immersive worldbuilding, the series follows a young apprentice and his unlikely mentor as they navigate a dangerous world while staying one step ahead of the law. Filled with insights on art, storytelling, history, comics, and creativity, this is a fascinating look inside the mind of one of the most distinctive voices working in graphic novels today.Check out the links for Chris Schweizer's stuff below. https://schweizercomics.com/ https://www.patreon.com/ChrisSchweizer https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/schweizer/outapp1?ref=profile_saved_projects_prelaunch&category_id=Q2F0ZWdvcnktMjUy

Bestselling queer romance author Amanda Meuwissen joins Epic Realms for a special 5 Year Anniversary episode. Amanda discusses her journey from a storytelling-obsessed kid and fan fiction writer to a full-time author known for blending romance with fantasy, horror, science fiction, mythology, and paranormal elements. She shares insights into self-publishing, marketing, working with editors, finding your audience, and the realities of turning a creative passion into a career. The conversation explores the influence of fan fiction on modern storytelling, the importance of authentic representation, and Amanda's advice for writers looking to create characters and experiences outside their own perspectives. We also talk about Robot AU, her newest release and part of an ambitious multi-author collaboration that celebrates fan fiction culture through alternate universe storytelling. Amanda explains how the project came together and why it has become one of her most exciting creative experiences. Plus, we discuss Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, creative burnout, audiobook production, upcoming collaborations, and the novel she has been trying to finish since college. Join us for an engaging conversation about creativity, community, publishing, and the stories that inspire us to keep writing.Check out all her works at her website.https://amandameuwissen.com/

On this episode of the Epic Realms Podcast, we sit down with legendary comic book artist and writer Tim Seeley for a deep dive into his life, career, and passion for storytelling through comics. Tim talks about discovering comics at an early age and how that passion shaped both his creative identity and career path. From growing up with a love for drawing to being encouraged throughout high school and college to pursue art seriously, Tim shares the experiences that helped push him toward becoming one of the industry's most recognizable creators. We also discuss his internship at Marvel Comics during the pre-Disney era and how that experience opened his eyes to both the exciting and difficult realities of the comic book industry. Tim reflects on learning the business side of comics while navigating the early stages of his career. The conversation also explores the creation of Hack/Slash, including how the concept came together, the process of pitching the series, and the impact it had on his career and the horror comic genre as a whole. As a huge fan of Nightwing, Nick made sure to spend time discussing Tim’s work on both Grayson and Nightwing. Tim shares insight into his research process, incorporating easter eggs, honoring continuity, and staying as canon-friendly as possible while still telling compelling stories. We also talk about the differences between writing and illustrating comics, the challenge of balancing creative passion projects with work that pays the bills, and the realities of maintaining longevity in the comic book industry. Whether you are a longtime comic reader, an aspiring creator, or just someone who loves hearing behind-the-scenes stories from the industry, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and honest conversation. Be sure to like, subscribe, and follow the Epic Realms Podcast for more interviews with creators from across comics, gaming, film, and pop culture.Check out Tim Seeley at his website.https://www.timseeleycreative.com/

Fantasy author Chris A. Jackson returns to Epic Realms to discuss his newest Pathfinder novel, Operation Hellmouth, the revival of the Pathfinder Tales series, and his long history writing fantasy, nautical adventures, and tie-in fiction. Chris and Nick dive into the creative process behind the new novel, including writing Valeros, revisiting beloved pirate characters, crafting infernal battles, and balancing action, humor, and emotional storytelling. Chris also shares behind-the-scenes insight into working with Paizo, writing for shared worlds like Shadowrun and Arkham Horror, and collaborating within long-running projects like Tales of Basil & Mobius. The episode also explores Chris’ real-life sailing adventures across the Caribbean, memorable experiences in Belize, gaming, publishing, fantasy worldbuilding, and several upcoming projects currently in development. Filled with laughs, storytelling insight, and plenty of behind-the-scenes discussion, this is a fantastic episode for fantasy readers, tabletop RPG fans, Pathfinder enthusiasts, and aspiring writers alike.Check out Jaxbooks.comHis Books on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4wp1kjo

Get a behind the scenes look at our live stream audience Q and A sessions, recorded right after each podcast episode wraps. These conversations give our live audience the chance to connect directly with our guests and ask questions you would not normally hear. This special release is a four part compilation featuring Q and A moments from four outstanding audiobook narrators: Jarrett Lemaster, Victor Bevine, Andrea Emmes, and Gerard Doyle. Each segment comes from their individual episode recordings, brought together here for a unique listening experience. If you enjoy what you hear, be sure to check out each guest’s full episode for even more insight, stories, and conversation.

In this episode of Epic Realms, we sit down with musician, author, and board game designer Brady J Sadler for a deep dive into his life and creative journey. From his early influences in music and gaming to the unexpected twists along the way, Brady shares how his path was anything but traditional. We talk about his first attempt at college and how it fell apart thanks to Grand Theft Auto, and how he later found his way back by working as a janitor at a college while pursuing creative writing. During this time, he was also writing his first book and performing in the metal band Lorenguard. Brady also takes us behind the scenes of his work at Fantasy Flight Games, including collaborating with legendary game designer and Epic Realms alumni Corey Konieczka. We explore how music shapes his storytelling, and dive into his latest project that brings his novels into the world of board games through Kickstarter. Check out his latest Kickstarter here:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twintalestudios/the-malice-of-light-adventuresBrady J Sadler on Amazon:https://amzn.to/4vGWJsC

In this episode of Epic Realms Podcast, I sit down with Toni Winslow-Brill, an accomplished RPG writer, editor, and project manager whose work spans multiple tabletop roleplaying game companies, including Dungeons and Dragons and the Adventurers League. Toni shares her origin story, from discovering a Monster Manual at a garage sale at age nine to attending her first Gen Con just a year later. She reflects on growing up during the Satanic Panic and how that era shaped her relationship with tabletop gaming and creativity. We also explore how her passion for writing influenced her educational path and early career choices. Our conversation dives into Toni’s professional journey, including her work outside the gaming industry and how reputation, networking, and consistent delivery opened doors to new opportunities. She offers a candid look at how connections and trust fuel long term success in the RPG space. We spend time unpacking the often unseen side of RPG production. Toni breaks down the full lifecycle of creating a tabletop book, from writing and editing to layout, art coordination, and managing timelines across large creative teams. She gives insight into the realities of project management and what it takes to keep complex projects on track. We also discuss storytelling in adventure design, along with Toni’s personal strengths and challenges as both a writer and designer. This episode is a thoughtful and behind the scenes look at the craft, discipline, and passion that drive the tabletop RPG industry.https://www.toniwinslowbrill.com/Use Our DM's Guild Link - https://www.dmsguild.com/en/?affiliate_id=1089765Use our Drive thru RPG Link - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=1089765 Also Check out our Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@epic_realms

In this episode of the Epic Realms Podcast, we sit down with author Justin Rose to talk about the journey of becoming a writer. Justin shares what it was like growing up homeschooled and how that experience compares with traditional public school education. He explains how those early experiences shaped his creativity and influenced his path toward writing. The conversation also explores lessons from college and the advice he received during that time that helped guide his early writing career. Justin reflects on the evolution of his storytelling, including the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. A major theme in the discussion is the role emotion plays in his stories. Justin talks about how emotional authenticity drives his characters and why fantasy and science fiction allow him to explore those themes in powerful ways. We also discuss the authors who inspired him, including legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, and how those influences helped shape his creative voice. If you enjoy conversations about writing, storytelling, and the creative process, this episode offers insight and inspiration for readers and aspiring writers alike.Kickstarter Link - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/justinrose/magic-and-majesty-a-midwest-fantasy-samplerJustin Rose Amazon Page - https://amzn.to/4s9h47D

In this episode, we sit down with Duncan Rhodes, the main voice behind the D&D blog Hipsters & Dragons, to explore the journey that led to his latest book, The Creative Game Master's Guide to Extraordinary Locations, also known as Extraordinary Locations. Duncan shares how his real world travel experiences and detailed travel guides have shaped the immersive settings he creates for tabletop roleplaying games. We discuss his decision to step away from Dungeons & Dragons during college and how returning to it later reignited his creativity and inspired this new project. He also explains how his original creations on the Dungeon Masters Guild helped lay the foundation for the book, combining practical design tools with imaginative storytelling. It is a conversation about creativity, rediscovery, and transforming real life adventure into unforgettable locations at the game table.Check out the new book - Here - Or Visit.https://www.hipstersanddragons.com/

This week on Epic Realms, Nick sits down with independent horror and sci fi author Joe Prosit for a deep dive into creativity, conventions, and carving your own path in publishing. From growing up on GI Joe comics to serving in the Army and eventually launching a full time writing career, Joe shares his unconventional journey into indie publishing. He opens up about rejection letters, discovering the power of self publishing, and why conventions account for 90 percent of his sales. The conversation explores genre blending, fast paced storytelling, outlining versus discovery writing, and how horror, sci fi, and what Joe calls psycho fiction all intersect in his work. They also discuss his latest novel, Reality Reaction Team, a mind bending sci fi thriller about secret agents who determine whether reality itself is real, and They Come From Below, a Lovecraft inspired horror set in small town Minnesota. Not to mention prepping to release his first Fantasy series, of which he has 5 books done and will be publishing the first one soon! Plus, Joe reveals exciting news about The Black Heart Unbroken, a short film adaptation of his work premiering at the North Star Film Festival. If you are an aspiring writer, horror fan, convention regular, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration. Follow Joe at www.joeprosit.com and catch him at conventions across the U.S.