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/

In this episode of Epic Realms, we’re joined by Scott Curry, co-founder of Scented Realms, a groundbreaking project bringing the sense of smell into tabletop roleplaying games. From fantasy-themed scents and scent-delivery tools to integrated RPG mechanics, Scented Realms is reshaping how players experience immersion at the table.

We talk with Scott about his own RPG background, how the idea for Scented Realms came to life, and how the system actually works in play. He shares insights into the Kickstarter campaign and fulfillment, the challenges of creating immersive tools, and what the future holds for the company. We also explore the rise of innovative products over the last decade and how they continue to push the boundaries of roleplaying.

Whether you’re a dungeon master, storyteller, or a fan of gaming innovation, this conversation is packed with inspiration for making your worlds come alive. www.Scentedrealms.com

In this episode of Epic Realms, we welcome veteran game designer, editor, and author Steven E. Schend. Steven’s work helped shape the Forgotten Realms, Spelljammer, and Planescape during the golden age of 2nd Edition Dungeons & Dragons. He’s also the author of the novel Blackstaff and contributed to the Marvel Super Heroes RPG and Alternity.

Our conversation explores Steven’s journey from gamer to TSR editor, designer, and novelist, with behind-the-scenes stories from his years at TSR and Wizards of the Coast. We discuss the creative process behind iconic Realms sourcebooks like Sea of Fallen Stars and City of Splendors, the development of his beloved character Gamelon Idogyr, and how his work continues to influence roleplaying games today.

Steven also shares his experiences in writing novels, his reflections on the evolving RPG industry, and his current projects including the Ouroboros RPG and Mythmakers/Realmsbound.

If you’re a fan of Forgotten Realms, classic D&D history, or the craft of RPG design and worldbuilding, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Don't forget to follow/subscribe to the podcast to get notified for all future episodes! Stevens Website https://steveneschend.com/

Check us out at - http://www.EpicRealmsMedia.com

Join us live for an exciting conversation with author Rosemary Jones! She’s written across beloved worlds including Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms and Arkham Horror, with novels like City of the Dead, Crypt of the Moaning Diamond, Mask of Silver, and The Deadly Grimoire. We’ll talk about her career in fantasy and horror, her passion for storytelling, and her journey as both a novelist and short story writer. Don’t miss this chance to hear behind-the-scenes insights. https://rosemaryjones.com/ Check us out at our website www.EpicRealmsMedia.com

In this episode of Epic Realms, we sit down with legendary game designer and author Jeff Grubb to explore his incredible career in tabletop and video games. Jeff shares how his early passion for wargaming grew into a role at TSR, then Wizards of the Coast, shaping iconic campaign settings like Forgotten Realms, Spelljammer, and Planescape.

We dig into behind-the-scenes stories, from developing the Karameikos box set and its lasting impact on the D&D world, to creating games based on classic ’80s TV shows like Dallas and All My Children. Jeff also reflects on the shift from designing RPG material to writing novels — spanning from the beloved Azure Bonds to his final novel, Star Wars: Scourge.

The conversation wraps with a look at his current work on Elder Scrolls Online and the lessons learned across decades of storytelling and game design.

In this episode, we’re joined by fellow podcaster Treavor Bettis, co-host of Writing About Dragons and Sh*t alongside Erin M. Evans and B. Dave Walters. You can also catch Treavor on the DungeonScrawlers YouTube and Twitch channels. Treavor was lead writer for the Dungeons & Dragons based video game Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, where he wore many hats including community manager and podcast host. We talk in depth about that chapter of his career, and how it ties to many other aspects of his journey. We dive into Dungeons & Dragons, roleplaying, video game writing, content creation, and the world of podcasting. Treavor shares insights from his creative journey, along with plenty of laughs and behind-the-scenes stories from both the podcasting and gaming industries. If you love tabletop RPGs, video games, storytelling, and fun, engaging conversations, you won’t want to miss this episode!