In this exciting episode of The Uncommon Place, hosts Stacey and J.R. Sparrow sit down with Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey, the dynamic duo behind the Enigma Series of techno-thrillers. What began as a career in technical writing has now evolved into an action-packed literary journey filled with cyber threats, high-stakes drama, and, yes, a touch of humor.

The conversation dives into how two tech professionals transitioned from creating manuals and reports to crafting page-turning thrillers. They share their creative process, the balance of writing as a team, and how they inject humor into the intense world of tech thrillers. Plus, they talk about real-world technology like AI and cryptocurrency—and how fiction can sometimes predict the future.

Whether you're a budding writer or simply a fan of gripping, tech-driven narratives, this episode offers unique insights into the intersection of technology and storytelling.

Key Topics:

• ​The transition from tech writing to fiction: How they shifted from technical reports to crafting the Enigma Series.
• ​The Enigma Series: The origins and themes of their books, including identity theft and cyber threats.
• ​The creative process: How they divide characters, scenes, and plotlines.
• ​Injecting humor into a techno-thriller: How a bit of comic relief adds depth to their otherwise high-tension stories.
• ​Real-world tech and its impact on fiction: From AI to cryptocurrency, how Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey
• ​incorporate real-life threats into their thrillers.
• ​Resolving creative conflicts: How they handle disagreements in their writing process, with a surprising twist!

Resources Mentioned:

• ​Enigma Series (available on Amazon and major retailers)
• ​Charles and Roxburgh’s website: www.enigmaseries.com

"Fantasy isn't just fiction—it’s transformation." In this deeply layered episode, J.R. steps inside the world of award-winning author Tricia Copeland, whose creative journey began with personal healing and grew into an epic fantasy universe. From her first YA series about battling anorexia to the magical depths of The Realm Chronicles, Tricia shares how writing became both refuge and revolution.

🚨 Episode Highlights:
🔹 How a classic like Rikki-Tikki-Tavi helped frame identity, trauma, and healing
🔹 The personal roots behind Tricia’s debut series Being Me
🔹 Inside the fantasy world of The Realm Chronicles—queens, crowns, and a fey realm beneath our feet
🔹 The real impact of reviews, rejection, and emotional recovery for authors
🔹 Tips for aspiring writers battling self-doubt, and how to use writing as transformation
🔹 Why Tricia’s fairies fly against tradition (literally and figuratively)

💬 “Writing isn’t just creation. It’s catharsis. And sometimes, it’s closure.”

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or simply navigating your own arc of self-worth, this episode reminds you that the stories we tell can shape the people we become.

🛒 Explore Tricia’s Worlds:
📚 Visit her website: https://triciacopeland.com
🎁 Grab 2 free short stories when you join her newsletter
📖 Available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback, and Audiobook
🔎 Look for The Realm Chronicles & Being Me series
🦋 Romance fans? Search her pen name: Maria Jane

📌 BONUS TIP:
Buy her books, then take the ISBN to your state capital library. Help immortalize her work in every county of your state—a legacy worth spreading.

🔗 Connect with Tricia:
YouTube | Amazon Author Page | Social Media (links in show notes)
🎤 And don’t forget: authors live for reviews. Leave one if her work moved you.

#AuthorInterview #FantasyBooks #WritingCommunity #TriciaCopeland #Podcast #BookLovers #SelfHealing #FeyRealm #WritingTips #WVUnCommonPlace #ArthurCircle #Audiobooks #KindleUnlimited

In this moving and insightful episode, J.R. sits down with author Tong Ge as part of the Author’s Circle series to explore her debut novel The House Fiddler. Born and raised in China, Tong shares the incredible true story that inspired her book—based on her grandmother’s harrowing and courageous life spanning war, political upheaval, and bound-foot oppression in early 20th-century China.

💡 What You’ll Hear:

• Tong’s deeply personal immigration story, including persecution and systemic oppression in 1980s China

• The challenges of transitioning from a degree in Agricultural Economics to writing historical fiction in English

• Why she wrote The House Fiddler and how it became part of a larger trilogy capturing three generations of Chinese women

• A rare perspective on the Second Sino-Japanese War and cultural dynamics rarely covered in Western historical fiction

• The meaning behind the term “House Fiddler” and how Chinese women who married widowers were viewed

• The freedoms we take for granted in the West—and how simple digital access can be revolutionary

• Advice for authors navigating long creative journeys and writing across languages and cultures

📘 The House Fiddler is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Walmart, and more. Visit www.toge.ca for more about Tong Ge and her upcoming work.

📝 Show Notes Bonus: Want to support the book further? Request it at your state’s Capitol library using the ISBN. Get it into the hands of more readers.

🔗 Follow WV Uncommonplace on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. Check out our merch store and subscribe to our email list at wvuncommonplace.com.