Aaron Hall joins Pete and Devin to close out April, and this conversation goes everywhere. We dig into what makes The Legend of Uh work and hint, it's not just the jokes! We also talk about how a personal pizza video accidentally launched a social media explosion, why parody fantasy fails when it's all gag and no emotional core, and whether Aaron's next project should be a sci-fi parody or a grimdark political epic fantasy.

He also teases a caveman cookbook that somehow has a fantasy adventure threaded through it, drops some thoughts on Brandon Sanderson's underground lair, and talks about what it actually feels like to go from nobody to getting recognized at a bookstore.

The Second Legend of U is available for preorder and released on 4/27! Check out everything from Aaron at https://aaronnhall.com/ !

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Connect with Realm Runners
=============================
Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good
Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasy

Subscribe on YouTube: / @realm_runners

Chapters:
(00:00) - Intro and reflections on April’s achievements
(01:19) - Aaron’s praise for indie author community and "The Legend of" series
(02:37) - Discussing "The Legend of Up" and its humor
(04:07) - Brandon Sanderson’s prolific writing and book size
(04:58) - Brandon’s resources and underground home tour
(05:37) - The wealth of successful authors and their real lives
(06:48) - Indie marketing challenges and successes
(08:10) - Building an author brand with social content
(10:44) - The balancing act of parody and meaningful storytelling
(12:19) - Flipping stereotypes for emotional depth
(13:55) - The unexpected popularity of side characters
(15:47) - Impactful character moments and connection with readers
(16:32) - Making audiobooks available for free on YouTube
(17:43) - The reasoning behind YouTube audiobook strategy
(19:03) - Challenges with Spotify and other platforms
(21:07) - The importance of quick editing for social media
(32:28) - Insights into attention span and short-form content
(33:17) - The value of rapid shifts in social videos
(34:37) - Content planning and engagement strategies
(39:31) - Future projects including sci-fi, prequels, and series ideas
(44:39) - Debating themes of lighthearted versus grimdark stories
(45:49) - Creating a trilogy structure with thematic covers
(47:03) - The rise of especially popular genres like sci-fi and romance
(50:18) - Challenges in genre switching and audience expectations
(52:21) - Parodies in romance and sci-fi with humorous concepts
(66:31) - Viral videos: the power of one hit to transform an author’s following
(67:23) - The thrill and humbling reality of reader recognition
(68:04) - Connecting authentically with fans and meeting influential authors
(69:03) - Final thoughts and the excitement of future projects


#realmrunners #bookpodcast #indiefantasy #debutauthor #fantasyauthors #writingcommunity

Audrey DeBoer has been living with this story since she was a teenager. What started as a school assignment became Vispilio, a Robin Hood reimagining that reads less like a fairy tale and more like Game of Thrones with a bow and arrow. Lost princes, political betrayal, morally complicated characters who never act like you'd expect. This is the kind of indie book that makes you wonder how it doesn't have a hundred thousand readers yet.

In this episode, Devin and Pete sit down with Audrey to talk about what it actually takes to carry a story for over a decade and finally put it in the world. The craft decisions, the indie publishing reality, and what's coming next. Militis, book two in the series, is on the horizon, and Audrey gives us a look at where Southborn goes from here.

If you've been sleeping on Vispilio, this is your sign to go pick this up!

Follow Audrey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audebo96/

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Connect with Realm Runners

=============================

Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good

Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasy

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

02:40 - Elevator pitch for "Vespiglio" and its thematic influences

03:43 - Robin Hood reimagining and political intrigue

04:54 - The importance of marketing and audiobooks in indie publishing

06:36 - Building complex characters and balancing narration perspectives

11:03 - Overcoming unexpected obstacles of indie publishing

13:28 - The power of community and IndieBookstagram for promotion

16:20 - Local events and creative marketing ideas

17:30 - The significance of audiobooks and distribution channels

21:12 - How character motivations and backgrounds shape storytelling

22:13 - Incorporating subtle twists and maintaining freshness in Robin Hood reinterpretations

26:04 - Character analysis: Morally gray and morally complex figures

27:24 - Exploring themes of destiny, trauma, and war through main characters

33:15 - The role of themes and editor input in character development

37:23 - Adelaide's role as a strategic, impactful secondary character

41:08 - The choice of using amnesia as a plot device and inspirations from history

43:39 - Effectiveness of dream sequences and visceral worldbuilding

46:23 - Multiple POV storytelling and balancing action with introspection

50:02 - Crafting compelling villains with depth, specifically Tanner

53:22 - Sneak peek into "Miletus" and future series plans

57:18 - Series scope: trilogy or beyond and world expansion

58:51 - Final thoughts, connecting with Audrey, and upcoming releases

59:41 - Closing remarks and appreciation for listeners

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁨@realm_runners⁩

#realmrunners #bookpodcast #indiefantasy #debutauthor #fantasyauthors #writingcommunity

Miles Lyon wrote his debut novel The Price of Fear without a roadmap, while he somehow landed a Jeff Brown cover along the way. We talk about what it actually takes to get a book finished, why editors matter more than most new authors want to admit, how luck fits into the indie publishing equation, and what Miles has coming next.

If you've ever thought about writing a book or you're deep in a debut and wondering if you're doing it right, you're gonna wanna check this out!

=============================
Connect with Realm Runners
=============================
Follow Pete: https://instagram.com/pete_reviews_books_good
Follow Devin: https://instagram.com/bromantasy

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@realm_runners
#RealmRunners #FantasyBooks #BookPodcast #IndieFantasy

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format
• 05:29 Cover Art and Design
• 16:31 Influences on the Book
• 21:42 The Impact of Timing and Book Releases
• 30:37 Balancing World-Building and Character Focus
• 37:43 The Process of Writing First Drafts
• 47:47 The Magic System
• 55:10 The Journey to Traditional Publishing

No guest this week. Just Pete and Devin.
Before Season 2 gets going, they sit down to talk about where Realm Runners is headed: who the first guests are, what the show looks like with Devin as a full co-host, and everything else that makes this feel like a real new chapter.
Consider this the introductions before the run begins.

=============================
Connect with Realm Runners
=============================
Follow Pete: / pete_reviews_books_good
Follow Devin: / bromantasy
Follow Realm Runners: / realm_runners

Subscribe on YouTube: / @realm_runners

#RealmRunners #FantasyBooks #BookPodcast #IndieFantasy

Chapters

• 00:00 Setting Up the Stream
• 06:07 Co-Hosting and Instagram Followers
• 16:26 Michelin Star System and Goodreads Ratings
• 25:52 Book Reviews and Audiobook Experience
• 30:57 Exploring Indie Scene and Book Reviews
• 36:33 Unique Storytelling and Book Descriptions
• 43:28 Reader and Writer Perspectives
• 52:36 Guest Announcement and Podcast Plans

Join Pete with special guest-host Devin (Bromantasy) as they talk with Bill Adams, about his new book Death Show Colossus! The kickstarter for it begins on 2/9/26, and has some incredible cool things to go along with it! Don't miss out on that, and keep an eye out for Realm Runners return in April!

On a very special episode, join Pete and guest co-host Bill Adams with Jay Kristoff! The longest talk yet, covering his writing process, influences behind each of his series', the EPIC conclusion in Empire of the Dawn, and what heavy metal band he'd want to see the most! This is an episode you don't want to skip!

The first one. Pete sits down with Z.B. Steele, author of Whispers of the Storm and Prince of Grimdark, for the episode that started Realm Runners.

Join Pete with N.A. Betts, who's 3rd book releases TODAY! This was a huge chat, about influences, football, his military career, and so much more.