This week, Greg is flying solo. He’s locked himself in the office with the dog, a cup of coffee, and a pocket full of dreams in an attempt to write his very first children’s book, and he's bringing all of you along for the ride.

This episode also marks the final episode of the podcastfor 2025. We’ll be back in February with brand-new episodes.

Until then, be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @WritersBleckPod. You can also find us on Patreon at patreon.com/writersbleckpod, where the video version of the podcast will begin rolling out in early January.

In this episode, Greg is sitting down with the author of the acclaimed Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Shannon Messenger to talk about the long-awaited release of Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel, Part Two, what it’s been like revisiting the early days of Sophie Foster’s story in a whole new format, how she balances heart, spectacle, and an absolutely massive cast of characters after more than a decade in this world, and so much more.

Shannon's Website: https://shannonmessenger.com/

Writer's Bleck will be off the air next week. We're going bi-weekly for just a short stretch here with the holiday season and everything going on. I’m also getting over being sick, and we don’t quite have the backlog we’d normally like. It’s just a busy time of year, so we’re taking a brief breather—and then we’ll be back in full swing at the start of the new year.

In this episode, author Spencer Hixon, creator of A Sinister Love and Fate & Fortune, joins Greg to discuss how ADHD has shaped his writing journey, how he shifts his mindset between projects, and the unexpected emotional weight behind some of his most powerful scenes. They also explore what happens when a demon attempts to understand humanity exclusively through romance novels, and how that premise helped shape his unique worldbuilding approach.

Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in helping people understand their emotions and communicate with greater clarity and confidence. In this episode, Greg sits down with Dr. Chloe to discuss her new book, Can I Say That?: Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly. Together, they explore the relationship between free expression and mental health, the pressures of cancel culture, and how to move through anxiety when you’re trying to create.

Nash Falls is the latest thrilling release from award-winning author David Baldacci. In this episode, Greg sits down with David to discuss this new series, the mission and impact of his nonprofit, the Wish You Well Foundation, adapting his projects for the big screen, and using literacy to battle racism.

This week, Greg sits down with the creative minds behind The Galvorn Saga, Mikel Melwasul and David Tullis, to dive into Book One: Paragon Exordium. They discuss the journey of bringing an epic story to life, what’s ahead in Book Two, the art of collaboration, what gets left on the cutting-room floor, handling rejection, producing and self-publishing their audiobook, and so much more.Check out the Galvorn Saga: https://www.melwasul.com/

This week, the dynamic duo of ADHD reunite! Greg and Taylor talk about writing while unmedicated, being awkward in public, the ethical implementation of AI in art and writing, the 2000s pop punk renaissance, and their thoughts on Taylor Swift's new album. Buckle in, gang, this week's conversation has more than a few detours along the way.

This week, in a special bonus release just in time for Halloween, Sandra Magsamen joins the podcast to talk about her latest children’s book, Silly Witch. She also discusses some of her most meaningful projects, her philosophy of living artfully with love and kindness, and her family’s surprising connection to the invention of the Ouija board.