In this episode of Epic Realms, Nick welcomes the remarkable Jeri Shepherd - a multi-time #1 bestselling author known for her expansive body of work across genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror, children’s books, and game writing.

Jeri shares her lifelong journey through storytelling, from her early days as a playwright and poet to becoming a respected figure in genre fiction and tabletop RPG design. A U.S. Air Force Arabic Linguist veteran, Jeri discusses how her global perspective and sense of community continue to shape her writing and creative approach.

Together, Nick and Jeri explore:

• How she transitioned from stage and screenwriting to fiction and publishing.

• Her collaborations with Luke Gygax, Ed Greenwood, and the team at Chaotic Great Gaming.

• The creation of her system-driven project Dungeon Race RPG and her philosophy on accessible game design.

• The rise of anthologies like Otherworldly, Outerworldly, and Netherworldly under the Nerd Street banner.

• Her upcoming Shakespeare-inspired play Of Thread and Thorn, premiering next May.

• Her insights on community building, burnout prevention, and empowering other creators through mentorship and retreats.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or gamer, this conversation highlights Jeri’s passion for collaboration and storytelling across every medium.

🔗 Visit EpicRealmsMedia.com for more episodes, and find Jeri online at redwritesbooks.com Her New Audio Book at - 🔗 https://soundbooththeater.com/shop/audiobooks/the-broken-fault-lines-book-1-at-fault/

This week on Epic Realms, bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson joins Nick for a wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. Known for his work on Dune, Star Wars, The X-Files, and DC Comics, Kevin shares stories from his incredible career and his creative process—from his early writing days in Wisconsin to collaborating with legends like Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert and Rush drummer Neil Peart.

They discuss Kevin’s latest releases, including Nether Station, a chilling blend of science fiction and cosmic horror from the Weird Tales line, and the newly remastered Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy—complete with its companion rock albums from Roswell 6. Kevin opens up about balancing passion projects, running his publishing imprint WordFire Press, and teaching the next generation of writers.

If you love sci-fi, fantasy, or behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most prolific authors in the genre, this episode is not to be missed.

Listen now and explore more at EpicRealmsMedia.com Follow Kevin J. Anderson: WordFire.com | Patreon.com/KevinJAnderson

In this episode of Epic Realms, author and game writer Brandon Crilly joins us to talk about his journey from teaching to writing and how those two paths have always intertwined.

We dive into Brandon’s early years, discovering tabletop roleplaying in college, and how his goals as a writer eventually led him into the world of RPGs through the Ed Greenwood Group. He shares how his background in education shapes his storytelling, his approach to creative writing, and the way he connects with both students and readers.

We also discuss his TEDx Talk on tabletop roleplaying, gaming groups, and learning, exploring how fantasy and games can inspire youth in powerful ways. And of course, we talk about his novels Catalyst and Castoff, the Aspects of Aelda duology, and the creative process behind his short fiction, long-form storytelling, and RPG design work.

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about imagination, teaching, and storytelling across worlds. https://brandoncrilly.com/ Castoff Pre-Order https://www.atthisarts.com/product/castoff/