Award-winning author, novelist, and video game columnist Sarah Maria Griffin joins Epic Realms for a thoughtful conversation about writing, creativity, gaming, and the stories that shape us.Sarah shares what it was like growing up knowing she wanted to be a writer, despite a world that didn't always see it as a practical dream. She recalls submitting her first novel to a publisher at just 11 years old with her father's help, reflects on the unexpected ways her family supported her creative journey, and discusses the lessons she's carried with her throughout her career.We also explore her experiences in college and graduate school, her early days publishing poetry, and the mixed emotions that come with seeing your work in print before you feel truly ready. Sarah opens up about finding her voice as an author and the path that led to publishing multiple novels.As a newspaper columnist covering video games, Sarah discusses how gaming has evolved into a mature art form with its own history, culture, and generations of creators. We also talk about challenging outdated stereotypes about who plays games, the titles and stories that inspire her, and her love of tabletop role-playing games.Finally, Sarah takes us behind the scenes of her latest novel, Strange Is Light, sharing its inspirations, how it differs from her previous work, and why it may be her most personal book yet.If you love books, storytelling, role-playing games, or video game culture, this is an episode you won't want to miss.