The NoNaMe StoryTeller Podcast

NoNaMe - A Story Telling Podcast
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A must-listen podcast for aspiring writers, MFA candidates, published authors, and anyone passionate about storytelling. The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast brings together novelists, screenwriters, comic creators, game writers, filmmakers, and other creative professionals for candid conversations about the craft of writing, storytelling, and building a creative life. Hosted by Aki and rotating co-hosts featuring guests from across the storytelling world, each episode delivers practical writing advice, industry insights, creative inspiration, unfiltered humor, and pop-culture detours.

  1. 5d ago

    Becoming a Professional Horror Writer: Brian W. Matthews on Finding Your Horror Writing Community

    On this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, host Aki Liao is joined by Jeff LaSala (The Silmarillion Primer, forthcoming), David Charlton (whose short film If Two Were Dead is forthcoming), and Chris Marrs (Shattered Woman in Stasis, from the horror anthology Abandoned: Asylum) to welcome author Brian W. Matthews. Brian discusses his unconventional journey to becoming a published author, which began with an invitation to collaborate from his friend and fellow online gamer and play-by-post D&D RPG enthusiast Jeff LaSala. That collaboration led to Foreshadows, an anthology of music and cyberfiction, and eventually to a writing career that included publishing his novel Foreverman and landing a three-book deal. Brian later collaborated with James Chambers on organizing and running StokerCon. We also explore the more personal side of Brian’s writing. Drawing inspiration from tragedies in his own life, he roots his horror in real events and uses fiction to give people another chance to be heard—to offer them a final appearance, a voice, and sometimes the last words they never got to say. For Brian, empathy is at the heart of every story: it’s what allows a story to resonate with readers, even when the subject matter is dark or disturbing. That leads to a broader discussion about the emotions and perspectives of villains and monsters, and whether these characters need to be sympathetic for their stories to connect with us. Along the way, Brian shares how his broad network of fellow writers and industry peers has led to invitations to contribute to anthologies, providing opportunities to experiment with new ideas and reach new readers. We discuss his story “The Legend of Harvey Delaney” in Abandoned: Asylum, published by Raw Dog Screaming Press and edited by James Chambers, and the not-so-secret secret beta-writing group he shares with Chris Marrs. Join us for a conversation about horror, empathy, real-life inspiration, creative collaboration, and the unexpected connections that can shape a writing career. Keywords: Abandoned: Asylum Anthology, Brian W. Matthew’s The Legend of Harvey Delaney, Chris Marrs’s Shattered Woman in Stasis, Forever Man, Revelation, Dark Rescue, Conveyance, Foreshadows The Ghosts of Zero, Tor.com, DnD’s Ravenloft, play-by-post game, JournalStone, StokerCon, NecromoniCon, HP Lovecraft, Tolkien, Stephen R Donaldson, Raymond Fiest, University of Michigan, Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Hammer Horror, Dark Echelon, “Lament” and “Graveduggery” from Foreshadows, Rings of Power, Sauron, Craig DiLouie, therapy vs therapeutic, Jack Ketchum (the pseudonym of Dallas Mayr), The Girl Next Door, Christopher Payne, Weird Tales, Cynthia Pelayo, F. Paul Wilson, Peter Straub, Horror Writers Association, World Horror Convention, Rena Mason, Joe Lansdale, Joe Hill, Stephen Graham Jones, Errin Kemper, Lisa Morton, Patrick Freivald, The Beatles, Maxwell Silver Hammer, Norweign Wood, When I’m Sixty-Four, Run for Your Life, I’ve Just Seen a Face, Eleanor Rigby, Kathryn Stockett's The Help, Time & Space Magazine, Beth Massie, John Palisano, Raw Dog Screaming Press Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensedunder a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  2. Oct 23

    A Long-Expected Primer: Jeff LaSala on The Silmarillion and Writing in Eberron

    Aki Liao is joined by co-hosts Charlie Brown and David Charlton for a conversation with Jeff LaSala about Tolkien, Eberron, and the sometimes unpredictable journey of getting published. We get an update on Jeff’s forthcoming The Silmarillion Primer from Signum University Press. Jeff doesn’t necessarily think everyone needs to read The Silmarillion, but through his primer he shares his love and enthusiasm for Tolkien’s sprawling mythology, offering plenty of dad jokes along the way and highlighting the fascinating tidbits and unexpected details found throughout Tolkien's work. We also trace Jeff’s own storytelling journey back to The Darkwood Mask, his Eberron novel for Wizards of the Coast. But what happens when the next book you’ve written gets stuck in the vaults? Jeff recounts the twice-bitten saga of having another book caught in publishing limbo—and a separate RPG world-building project for the Forgotten Realms setting, even going so far as to get the blessing of Ed Greenwood! Neither project saw the light of day, although Jeff was compensated for both. Along the way, we dive into the realities of publishing, tie-in fiction, intellectual property rights, and what it means for a creator when a story is finished but the path to readers isn't entirely in their hands. So, while we wait for Jeff’s The Silmarillion Primer to be published, come join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the stories that make it to the page, the ones that get stuck along the way, and the worlds that live somewhere in between. Learn more about Jeff and his work at his website, and follow the journey of The Silmarillion Primer through Signum University Press. https://jefflasala.online/ https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/ Keywords: Dirty Magick Magazine, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Tolkien nerd, The Silmarillion Primer, Signum University Press, Christopher Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, Wizards of the Coast, Eberron, Jeff LaSala’s The Darkwood Mask, Inquisitives, pulp noir, Hasbro, fan fiction, Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, tie-in fiction, Star Trek, Star Wars, Aliens, Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, warforged, RPG writing, Ed Greenwood, Drivethru, the hired gun vs the fan, Tolkien fandom, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, Beren and Lúthien, Aragorn and Arwen, Tuor and Ulmo, The Fall of Gondolin, The Bible, Story of Turin, Arendelle. Mount Doom, Amazon’s Rings of Power, Sauron, Eru Ilúvatar and Melkor (later called Morgoth), Signum Collaboratory, dad jokes, Tor.com (Reactor), Beleriand, Manifest Destiny, Curse of Mandos, Hommond and Scull’s The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion, Foreshadowed and Foresung Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  3. Oct 16

    Adventurer Kim Davis on Madville Publishing, Strong Women & Trust Issues

    On this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast, Aki Liao welcomes co-host Brian Petkash, and his friend and publisher Kim Davis—publisher of Mistakes by the Lake—for a conversation about writing, publishing, adventure, and the stories that keep pulling us in. Kim’s journey to becoming an author and publisher has been anything but ordinary. Inspired by high school teachers who encouraged her curiosity and sense of exploration, Kim went from an early fascination with oceanography to attending five different undergraduate universities, pursuing an MFA while teaching and working at a press, and eventually starting her own publishing company (partly because she really wanted to make good use of those 100 ISBNs!). Her latest collection, Trust Issues, features 20 stories about women facing difficult—and sometimes dangerous—circumstances. Along the way, we talk about what goes into creating a book cover, Kim’s adventures working on yachts, her wide-ranging interests in stories and genres, and how those interests have shaped the books she publishes and the stories she writes herself. It’s an adventure story in its own right—and Kim Davis is the kind of adventurer who always seems ready to see where the next story leads. Join us for another NoNaMe Storyteller conversation about the people, experiences, and unexpected turns behind the stories we tell. https://kpdavis.com/ https://madvillepublishing.com/ Keywords: Kim Davis, Madville Publishing, Cornerstone Press, book covers, Jacqueline Davis, Scott Miller, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Ross Tangedal, Vincent Damico, Ernest Hemingway, Jacque Cousteau, Doris Contay, Crewing Aboard A SuperYacht, Book Locker, MFA programs, nycmidnight.com, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, George Drew Chapbook Contest, Bass Clef Books, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, magical realism, Tiphanie Yanique, Micah Dean Hicks’s Vulture Gold, Ishmael Reed’s Mumbo Jumbo, expermental fiction, Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire, accountability sessions, Cornerstone Press Legacy Series, romantasy, Ron Kenney’s An Englishman in Texas, Jan Cole, Rick Campbell, Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), Thomson-Shore, IngramSpark, Sean Carberry’s Passport Stamps, Linda Parsons, Arthur Smith Prize, Mike Hilbig, grief poetry, Michael Martin Murphey, WildFire, Karla K. Morton, Alan Birkelbach, Santa Fe Trail, Michael Amos Cody, Michael Simms’s Bicycles of the Gods Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  4. Oct 9

    The Litmus Test: The NoNamers Talk John Boorman's Excalibur (1981)

    Series 6 of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast premieres with a deep dive into John Boorman's Excalibur (1981), one of the most influential and debated fantasy films ever made. Host Charlie Brown joins Ray, David A. Rodriguez, Mark Smylie, and Aki Liao to explore how Boorman's original ambition to adapt The Lord of the Rings led instead to his cinematic vision of Arthurian legend. The panel examines the film's memorable scenes, iconic cast, practical effects, cinematography, theatrical performances, and the dreamlike, fever-dream quality that defines Boorman's filmmaking style. The discussion goes beyond the film itself, exploring the Arthurian sources behind Excalibur, including the blending of different legends, the relationship between Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone, the Fisher King mythology, and the search for the Holy Grail. Joining the conversation are perspectives on medieval arms and armor, storytelling and narrative craft, filmmaking, and collecting rare film and television gems—bringing together different lenses on why Excalibur remains such a significant work for fantasy fans and creators. https://dirtymagickmagazine.com/ https://swordandbarrow.com/ https://battlemex.th3rdworld.com/ Keywords: Black Angel (1980), John Boorman, Carl Orff ("O Fortuna"), Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, Conan the Barbarian, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, DnD, George RR Martin, Game of Thrones, Code Switch, Rankin/Bass Hobbit, Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings, British New Wave, Enemy Mine, Hell in the Pacific, Marcello Mastroianni, Leo the Last, Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Apcalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola, Reagan Era, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Ciarán Hinds, Nigel Terry, Spartacus, Covington Cross, Ione Skye, armourer Terry English, Monty Python, Disney’s Sword in the Stone (1963), Chrétien de Troyes’s Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, Syd Field, John Boswell’s The Marriage of Likeness, Caligula, Nicol Williamson, Received Pronunciation, Graham Norton show, #MeToo, Albert Pyun’s The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), The Empire Strikes Back, Roger Christian’s Black Angel, Roger Corman, LadyHawke (1985), Alan Parons, Beastmaster (1982), Tanya Roberts, Sheena (1984), Valhalla Rising (2009), Norseman (1978), Wizards and Warriors tv series (1983), A Knight’s Tale (2001), Parke Godwin’s Firelord, Scooby-Doo, Thundarr the Barbarian. Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  5. Season 6 Trailer

    NoNamers Are Back: Series 6

    Welcome back, NoNamers. It's been 75 episodes, and we're glad you're still listening! Get ready for another fun-filled, insightful, and inspirational block of new episodes. Listen, share, subscribe, and rate. We appreciate it!

  6. Aug 14

    From Teen Novelist to Publisher: Zara Hoffman on Writing, Selling, and Building Inimitable Books

    Host Aki, joined by co-host Seyi, welcomes author and publisher Zara Hoffman to the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast. Zara wrote and published her first novel at just sixteen, worked behind the scenes at a literary agency, and, before turning thirty, founded Inimitable Books, an independent publisher with Simon & Schuster distribution. In this episode, Zara shares her journey from aspiring novelist, indie author, to literary agency staffer and publisher. She offers a candid look at today's publishing landscape, taking listeners through the life of a book: from author to literary agent to acquiring editor and the many teams within a publishing house that help bring a book to market. Zara also explains how Inimitable Books offers a fresh take on traditional publishing while recognizing the incredible work of publishers' marketing and publicity teams, whose creativity and persistence help books cut through the noise and reach readers. Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing, self-publishing, or simply curious about how books make their way into readers' hands, this episode is packed with practical insights into the craft, business, and collaborative effort behind publishing. https://zarahoffman.com https://inimitablebooks.com/ Keywords: Zara Hoffman’s The Matchmakers, Becca Smith’s Grandma’s Little Secret, David A. Adler’s Cam Jansen Mysteries, Nancy Drew, Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Ann Brashares’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Wiley, The Belgrave Legacy, Star Trek fan video, persistence, perseverance, NYU Master’s in Publishing, Inimitable Books, Jane Friedman’s The Business of Being a Writer, Courtney Maum’s Before and After the Book Deal, Writing the Fiction Series by Writer's Digest Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  7. Aug 7

    The Art and Mastery of Memoir: Dawn Davies on Writing Life as Narrative

    Host Aki, joined by co-hosts Brian and Seyi, welcomes acclaimed memoirist Dawn Davies for an episode filled with laughter, wit, and the insight of a masterclass in narrative nonfiction. From her memoir Mothers of Sparta to her work-in-progress Birds of a Feather (working title), Dawn explores how to transform lived experience into compelling stories, drawing inspiration from literary greats including Kurt Vonnegut, Lauren Slater, and Paul Fussell. The conversation delves into the challenge of organizing individual essays into a cohesive memoir, revealing how some pieces emerge in a single six-hour burst while others can take a decade before they're ready. Dawn reflects on the evolution of her writing and, looking back at Mothers of Sparta, jokes that she'd line edit the published edition with every writer's familiar teacher's note: "See me!" Dawn also offers a candid look at publishing with one of the Big Five, sharing why the experience isn't always rainbows, and discusses how her prose and voice have evolved over the years. The conversation concludes with her more recent work in autopathography and the launch of Prestivus, her blind-submission literary press built on merit-based selection, where the writing stands on its own without bias for or against the author. Whether you're writing a memoir, personal essays, or narrative nonfiction, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on structure, voice, revision, and finding the courage to tell your own story. Dawn Davies website Prestivus Keywords: Richard Brautigan, Paul Fussell, Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions, University of Florida, autopathography, Within Your Reach by the Replacements, John Irving, Shooter, Dennis Lehane, Florida International University, John Dufresne, Eckart, Writers in Paradise, Eckerd College, Madeleine Blais, James Frey, Million Little Pieces scandal, Lauren Slater, Michel de Montaigne, The Tralfamadorians, plotters vs pantsers, McSweeney’s, Béla Bartók, aphantasia, Amy Einhorn, Flatiron Publishing, George Saunders, Belle Burden’s memoir Strangers controversy, Colson Whitehead, Alan Moore’s Jerusalem, Howard Dully’s My Lobotomy, co-authored with Charles Fleming, Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, trama porn, Tina Yong's talk on the phenomenon of "trauma essays" in higher education, José Saramago’s Blindness, Lyn Barrett, Prestivus. Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

  8. Jul 31

    On Set with If Two Were Dead: David Charlton & Matt Baker on Friendship, Finding the Story & Indie Filmmaking

    Host Aki is joined by Al, Celeste, and Claude to welcome writer/actor David Charlton and director Matt Baker, the creative team behind the upcoming mystery short film If Two Were Dead. High school friends turned filmmaking collaborators, they share the decades-long journey from early creative dreams to independent film production. Look for that Bigfoot trailer that they made in their twenties! Inspired by Benjamin Franklin's famous quote and adapted from a Hugh B. Cave story, If Two Were Dead follows an investigator who discovers a solved case may not be solved after all. David and Matt discuss writing, directing, adapting fiction for the screen, returning to indie filmmaking later in one's career, and the excitement of creating alongside lifelong friends. Mirror Image Productions Keywords: If Two Are Dead, Kenneth Lonergan, The Waverly Gallery, DM Jeff LaSala, The Hobbit, Bigfoot, Mt Saint Helens, Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, Aristophanes, Lysistrata, Shakespeare, Hugh B. Cave’s The Door Below, Killers Exit short story, aka, Hostage, Cave’s Murgunstrumm, Gary Gygax, Tampa Theater, Myakka River State Park, Jason Brownie, Dobby, and Chester & Arthur Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensedunder a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠license⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100241 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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About

A must-listen podcast for aspiring writers, MFA candidates, published authors, and anyone passionate about storytelling. The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast brings together novelists, screenwriters, comic creators, game writers, filmmakers, and other creative professionals for candid conversations about the craft of writing, storytelling, and building a creative life. Hosted by Aki and rotating co-hosts featuring guests from across the storytelling world, each episode delivers practical writing advice, industry insights, creative inspiration, unfiltered humor, and pop-culture detours.

Information

  • Creator
    NoNaMe - A Story Telling Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © NoNaMe - A Story Telling Podcast
  • Show Website
    The NoNaMe StoryTeller Podcast

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