Tell The Damn Story
By Alex Simmons & Chris Ryan
Tell The Damn StoryNov 12, 2023
Tell The Damn Story, ep 287: "From Fright to Insight: Soul Scream Authors on Crafting Powerful Stories"
The Authors Tour Continues!
In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, titled "Soul Scream Authors' Tour 4," hosts Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons are joined by special guests Rebecca Cuthbert, Jonathan Gensler, Kathleen Scheiner, and Steven Van Patten. Listen as these prolific writers delve into various topics ripe for horror tales.
The discussion goes from the responsibilities of cultural sensitivity in storytelling to the clash between big tech and agriculture.
With readings from their captivating stories and insightful talks, this episode is sure to leave you inspired and eager to tell your own damn story.
So grab a cup of tea or coffee, sit back, and enjoy this enriching conversation with our talented guests.
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Tell The Damn Story, ep 286: The Power of Stories: Exploring the Depths of Human Emotions in Horror and Crime
All Stories Come From Within -
It's Part 3 of the Soul Scream Atholozine Author Tour.
In this episode, Alex and Chris speak with Long Island horror writer John Collins about the origins of his story "The Lovers" and his the origins of his call to create,
Also, John gets very candid about the emotional inspirations for his fiction, providing a powerful insight into how creatives function.
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Tell The Damn Story, ep 285: Horror, History, and Heroes: Soul Scream Authors Tour - Pt 2
Once again, we're exploring the creative minds behind the stories that captivate us.
In this episode, hosts Chris and Alex are joined by writers Teel James Glenn, Bobby Nash, and Randee Dawn. The conversation delves into the depths of horror, the intertwining of entertainment and reality, and the responsibilities of writing licensed characters.
From tales of North Africa to the 1990s music scene in Boston, the guests share insights into their writing processes and the challenges and thrill of reimagining iconic characters.
Join us for a journey through the creative minds of these talented authors and their contributions to the captivating Soul Scream Antholazine.
Check out these authors and their works at:
Randee Dawn
www.randeedawn.com
Bobby Nash
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Tell The Damn Story, ep 284: Writing Hybrid Horror - From The Living To The Undead
In this thrilling episode of "Tell The Damn Story"! We have two incredible guests joining our hosts, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons.
First, we have the multi-talented Teel James Glenn, writer, actor, stuntman and more.
Next is the talented actor, writer, teacher, and storyteller Marc Abbott.
Both authors share their creative experiences and portions of the short stories they contributed to Chris’ new publication, Soul Scream Antholozine.
Along with our hosts, these authors delve into the importance of characters, strong plots, and telling tales that range from exploring social norms to elder abuse through horror.
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Tell The Damn Story, 283: Uncovering Hidden Talents and Inspiring Creative Potential
The Art of Collaborating for Success
This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan speak to TTDS friends Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson, writing partners on Vampirella and other projects, about all aspects of attending Cons as professionals.
We discuss how to avoid becoming overwhelmed at major comics cons and conferences, how to work the room, and how to approach professionals such as Christopher Gold and Mike Mignola. And we also dive deep into the evolving writing partnership of these two dynamic storytellers. Come on in and enjoy some pretty fascinating insights and experiences.
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Tell The Damn Story, ep 282: Aiding The Abused, Battling Human Trafficking and Writing Cozy Mysteries, The Life of Shannon Symonds.
Welcome to another exciting episode of "Tell The Damn Story!" This week, while cohost Chris Ryan is on another case, Alex Simmons interviews special guest Shannon Symonds.
The two writers delve into her fascinating world of raising a family of six, working with the police, fighting against human trafficking, and writing cozy mysteries.
Shannon shares her experiences and insights writing her By The Sea Cozy Mystery series and her upcoming book, "Booked for Murder, A Balefire Bay Cozy Mystery," set to be released in November.
We also explore the importance of authenticity and relatable characters in storytelling and valuable tips and techniques for aspiring and struggling writers.
So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit back, and get ready to dive into the captivating world of storytelling on today's episode with our guest, Shannon Symonds.
Let's dive in!
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Tell The Damn Story, ep 281: Unleashing Your Creative Potential - Lessons from the Past
Welcome to a slightly different episode of Tell The Damn Story, the podcast where we delve into the depths of storytelling and creativity. I
This week, your host, Alex Simmons, is going semi-solo and the episode is a mashup, combining the great piece of insight from episode 191 of TTDS.
In this episode, we'll be exploring the complexities of personal pride, the challenges of self-promotion as a writer, the impact of rejection, and the pursuit of creative dreams.
So join us as we share personal anecdotes, discuss influences that shaped us as writers, and explore the power of storytelling in our lives.
So grab a pen and paper, and get ready to Tell The Damn Story!
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Tell The Damn Story ep 280: Burnout &. the Unwavering Spirit: Rebirth of A Creative Mind
In this episode, Chris and Alex dive deep into two topics. The first is about the challenges writers face and the superpowers that sometimes get them out of it.
The boys share stories of passion, resilience, and finding one's voice. They highlight that while a fat bank account might have its appeal, genuine satisfaction, and rewards come from helping young people find their voice and succeed.
They discuss the importance of instilling belief in others, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, and ultimately, positively impacting the world. True.
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Tell The Damn Story, 279: Persistence: Jessica Thompson's Path From Writer To Successful Book Touring Agent
On this episode, hosts Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons continue their interview with author Jessica Thompson.
They delve into Jessica's experience as a self-starter and how she created her own opportunities in the writing industry.
Jessica shares her journey of starting her own book tour agency, Bittersweet Book Tours, and the challenges she faced in marketing her own work.
She also discusses the services she offers and how authors can get in touch with her.
Tune in to gain valuable insights on creating your own success in the writing world.
Stay tuned because this episode is short but packed with great advice.
Now, dive in!
"A Caterer's Guide to Love and Murder," "A Caterer's Guide to Valentines and Violence," "A Caterer's Guide to Holidays and Homicide," "Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up."
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Tell The Damn Story, #278: How to Go From the Kitchen to Crime Scenes
Or, What's A Culinary Cozy Mysteries?
In this exciting episode of Tell The Damn Story co-host, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons are joined by the talented author and mystery enthusiast Jessica Thompson.
We learn how she overcame self-doubt and found the unique niche of writing culinary cozy crime in the writing market.
So, grab your detective hat and get ready to hear the damn story behind Jessica Thompson's fascinating journey as a mystery writer.
Let's dive in!
"A Caterer's Guide to Love and Murder," "A Caterer's Guide to Valentines and Violence," "A Caterer's Guide to Holidays and Homicide," "Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up."
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Tell The Damn Story, #277: Batman Behind the Mask: A Weekend Celebration with Michael Uslan
Welcome back, folks!
In today's episode, Alex and Chris have some excitement in store for you as they dive into the world of Batman.
After all, it is Batman week, weekend, month ... who cares? It's Batman!!
Get ready for a Batman celebration with an amazing guest, Michael Uslan. Michael is a writer, entrepreneur, and the executive producer of Batman films in both animation and live-action.
Actually, we're returning to a previous interview with the great man.
Michael's connection to Batman goes back to his youth, and he has taken advantage of opportunities to build a truly remarkable and lucrative series of projects.
His love of the characters when he was a child. But his career moves started when he was barely 20 and made the most impossible deal of a lifetime.
Listen and find out when, where, why, and how!
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#thebatman #michaeluslan #batmantheanimatedseries #theboywholovedbatman #batman #Batmanbegins #SoulScreamDarkJustice
Tell The Damn Story, Ep 276: Plotting for Others, Balancing Artistic Vision ...
... with Client Expectations. Adventures in Editing
This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss the kinds of feedback you can expect to get from editors when working on a writing project.
The gents talk about constructive criticism, how to embrace it how to learn from it.
We discuss when editors have to help. Insert required points in a genre story, and we discuss when editing gets dark.
They sandwich all of this insight within Alex's experience of plotting over 60 mystery stories for other writers and editors.
Come on in. Learn from our experience so yours is more enjoyable.
And share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Tell The Damn Story, Ep 275: Can Looking Back At Summer As You Slip Into Fall Improve Your Writing
Or, How Self-Assessment Helps Creativity.
This week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan review what they did on their summer non-vacation to model how to do a seasonal self-assessment of successes, challenges, and disappointments that you can learn from so that you as a creative can build upon your successes, address your challenges, and pursue education and skills to overcome disappointments.
Then, we look into the next season and let you know a few things that are coming up as a way to model how to plan ahead without overwhelming yourself.
We hope this helps.
Let us know in the comments.
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[TV, social media, role models, Archie comic story, hope, Soul Scream]
Tell The Damn Story, Ep 274: Can Old Heroes Fit In A New World?
Here's another way of looking at this episode.
"Are Some Genres Aging Out of Audiences & Readership?"
With Flinch Books' John Bruening and Jim Beard, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss whether pulp, adventure, and other older genres are still marketable.
While we enjoyed these films, we couldn't help but notice the outdated sensibilities and lack of political correctness present in the 1940s. This got us thinking: Can these types of tropes and characters still have a place in society today? What still works, and what has to change?
We'll dive deep into this question and explore the critiques of the new Indiana Jones movie from younger people. Are these iconic heroes still relevant in the modern world?
Let us know in the comments.
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[old films, books, comics, childhood, film club, Manhattan, serials, masked heroes, superheroes, 1940s films, political correctness, tropes, characters, society, Indiana Jones movie, leadership, nationalism, gaming, TV, social media, role models, Marvel movies, Superman comic story, hope]
Tell The Damn Story, Ep 273: The Art Of Successful Adventure Fiction, Creating Timeless Pulp Stories for Today's Readers
In storytelling, can the old please the new? And can it inspire successful variations on the same theme?
Comparing Indy Publishing Notes With Flinch Books' John Bruening and Jim Beard"
This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan talk about the challenges of writing Indy publishing with friends John Bruening and Jim Beard.
The gathering actively discusses the planning, publishing, marketing, and selling pulp adventures to young and old.
Join this fun and information-filled this conversation.
Books in the Flinch Publishing House:
Let us know in the comments.
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Tell The Damn Story, Ep 272: Should Writers Reveal Real Life Secrets In Our Fictional Tales - Part 2
Once again, Alex and Chris are in the tiny Writer's Interrogation Room.
The harsh white lamp lights burn into their eyes as they go deep to answer tough questions from our audience about some of the more subtle challenges of writing.
"How do I write a story about a sensitive subject?
"How do I write a story that's based on my experiences and not give away too much personal information?"
"Can I write about something that happened to a friend or family member without giving away their identity?"
"How do you follow your passions or your passion project when you're getting a lot of outside pressure to Get a job or find something safer or more stable?"
Every writer and every creative faces these questions at some point in their career, and Alex and Chris do their best to answer as thoroughly and hopefully as possible.
Come check out their answers. See if we help you to tell your damn story.
Let us know in the comments.
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Tell The Damn Story, Ep 271: Part 1. Exploring the Unseen: How Do You Write About What You've Never, Done, Seen, or Been?
This week we're Answering audience questions"
And our co-hosts, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan, talk about two top challenges.
The first is the ups and downs Chris is facing by publishing a series of new horror anthologies.
In the second part, our dynamic duo answers audience questions, including:
How do I write a story that takes place in a location I don't know?
How do I write a story a time period I don't know? How do I write a story about a lifestyle I've never experienced?
Should I only write about fictional events, people, and places?
We offer detailed answers for each of these questions, giving different views on how you can approach answering these questions in your own writing.
Come on in and grab some useful knowledge!
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Tell The Damn Story, Ep 270: Monsters, Mayhem, and Marvel, The Voice of Kevin Grevioux
"Underworld," to "Blue Marvel," to "King of Killers," A Writer's Gauntlet.
Break out pen, paper, and an open mind yearning to gain insight!
We have Kevin Grievioux for a long, in-depth interview about his comic book series, DARKSTORM, and DJINNATRA: RISE OF THE DJINN, as well as his co-creation of the supernatural film, hit UNDERWORLD.
Then we dive into his acting prowess and the inside scoop on his various creative behind-the-scenes experiences with John Singleton, Michael Jackson, and Marvel Comics.
You need to be here. You need to check it out.
The deep voice is speaking!
CLICK HERE to be alerted when the RISE OF THE DJINN Kickstarter campaign begins!
Meanwhile, get on Kevin's DARKSTORM Mailing List.
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Tell The Damn Story, Ep 269: How Prompts Can Open Up Our Writing
Last week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan engaged with challenge prompts from our listeners (with a little help from the mischievous Alex Simmons).
This week our cohosts deliver answers to those challenges.
Both wrote stories based on your challenges and this week, they read them and discuss the process of creating them.
They show how opening yourself up to this kind of challenge or the world around us can really enhance writing.
Plus, Alex Simmons sings!
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TELL THE DAMN STORY, Ep 268: How to Handle The Most Important Writing Challenge, Part 1.
This week, co-host Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss a writing challenge set up by Alex but driven by the people who listen to and watch this podcast/YouTube Show. Participants gave us three words or phrases, and Alex and Chris agreed to choose from this impressively long list, get inspired by what was offered to us, and then write a short story from this inspiration. We discuss this challenge and further agree to do a reading of the results during the next exciting episode.
*Link to the FREE Blackjack book, "REVOLT OF THE RED STAR."
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TTDS 267-B: A Way Back Call Back
TELL THE DAMN STORY, Ep 267 - "Why Some Summer Blockbusters Don't Bust Blocks?"
Alex and Chris's summer celebration continues as we take a look at summer blockbuster hits and misses. We discuss The Flash, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Guardians of the Galaxy III, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, Top Gun: Maverick, and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One! Then Alex Simmons invites us into his time machine to take a look at what a real box-office flop truly is. It's a lot of fun, and we even talk about the common denominator that spells the difference between flops and hits. Hint, it's something we've discussed quite often. Come on over and check it out. Have some fun. Bring popcorn!
Don't forget to pick up your copy of SOUL SCREAM antholozine, on Amazon.com Have questions or comments for us? Post in the comments section below or ... Write: TTDSOnAir@gmail.com And follow us on ... @Tell The Damn Story www.Facebook.com/Tell The Damn Story
TELL THE DAMN STORY, Ep # 266 "Scaling the Soul Scream Production Mountain"
PART TWO.
It's all about learning how to navigate the ride from idea to independent publishing with Soul Scream.
This week Alex and Chris offer up Part Two of Chris's journey through 'Mordor' to produce and publish volume one of Soul Scream Antholozine.
We hope that fellow creatives will gain support by us discussing all the walls hit and all the learning that had to be pursued.
Chris hopes that seeing how this particular dream comes to fruition might ease your way in pursuing your independent publishing ambitions.
Real advice from the trenches. Serious suggestions. And a few laughs along the way.
All this and Atticus.io, too!
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#career #published #community #writers #splatterpunk #extremehorror #invitationlist #event, #personalconnections #influences #Marvel #DC #StephenKing #self-published #Blackjackcomic #collaboration #organizing #negotiation #intellectualproperty #assistanteditor #StokerCon #SoulScream #
Tell The Damn Story, Ep #265 - "Answering The Soul Scream," How To Pursue A Perilous Passion Project
This week, Alex and Chris, discuss following a dream from early influences and inspirations through development until you hit a wall, and then figuring out how to go beyond. Alex interviews Chris about the secret origins of creating his Soul Scream Antholozine, which is finally available on Amazon.com. We hope hearing the challenges he faced can inspire you to go beyond the challenges you face.
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#career #published #community #writers #splatterpunk #extremehorror #invitationlist #event, #personalconnections #influences #Marvel #DC #StephenKing #self-published #Blackjackcomic #collaboration #organizing #negotiation #intellectualproperty #assistanteditor #StokerCon #SoulScream #femaleprotagonist #horrorstories #author