Best Alyssa Lauseng Podcasts (2024)

1
SSP Gets Cozy-ish 1:42:23

4h ago1:42:23

1:42:23

Time for some cathartic cozy with the next Shadow Spark's Anthology chat! Today we introduce our Cozy-ish anthology. In typical Shadow Spark fashion, we have a mix of comfy, sweet, and tentatively murder-y stories...the best combo, honestly. Join Val, Erika, Ashley, Jade, Kassidy, Kori, Eric, and Mariah in a chat about Anarchy, dance-offs, jazz mus…

1
Writing Fear & Terror 1:16:29

4d ago1:16:29

1:16:29

Oh no, the HORROR! Today we're back with our EMOTIONS series to talk about the greatest emotion of all...fear! Val is joined by some of SSP's resident horror writers, Kaitlin and Tom, to discuss what fear looks like in their writing and the importance of it in our media. Expect tangents and adoration of various horror stories and characters! And ma…

1
Sugar, Spice, & Everything Nice 1:32:36

7d ago1:32:36

1:32:36

Here we go for episode 69, the surely long-awaited Shadow Spark Podcast episode! And of course, we're here to talk about.... Cinnamon rolls! You know, the sweetest, purest characters who exist in media. What else did you expect?? Join the Chaos Squad in gushing about some of our favorite, sickeningly sweet characters (except Edge Lord Val...will sh…

1
Deconstructing Twitter Writing "Rules" #4 1:06:14

15d ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Heyooo, we’re at it again! Today, join Alyssa, Erika, Kassidy, Az, and Courtney as we tackle more of Twitter’s writing “rules.” Do love triangles need to go? How do we handle filler (and filter!) words? What does it mean to “kill your darlings,” and what do we think about it? Tune in and find out! Link to filler word “master list” courtesy of Court…

1
Favorite Things- Summer 2024 2:44:51

28d ago2:44:51

2:44:51

IT'S TIME AGAIN to join Jess, Kira, and Val as they gush about their latest obsessions! From Fallout to Genshin Impact, we've got a variety of interests to share, as well as some recommendations! Listen up as we chat about villains, interesting new (and old) shows, and maybe cry a little about our favorite characters dying! Spoilers for Madoka 2:01…

1
Demonception 1:08:09

1M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Got an inner Daddy Demon?? From our own writing and the creations of other writers, demon are a broad spectrum of conversation. Join Val, Erika, Alyssa, Kassidy, and Eric as we talk about our inspirations and what exactly demons mean to us. Are they suave, biblical, anime-inspired? Do they have hierarchies, free agents? Find out and also get a litt…

1
The Good, the Bad, and the Scene-Stealing: Side Characters 1:20:02

1M ago1:20:02

1:20:02

Today, Jess, Az, Kori, and Kassidy chat about side characters! What makes a compelling side character? What do you do when one marches in and promptly takes over the narrative? What sort of side characters leave you raging at the page, wishing desperately that they'd just leave, already?! All this and even a SURPRISE SNIPPET READING from eternal Be…

1
SSP Author Interview: Rosalind Dando 1:26:46

2M ago1:26:46

1:26:46

Rosalind Dando's publishing journey with SSP has been a bit more...slow burn...than most. Today, Jess, Erika, and Ashley chat with her about her upcoming middle grade novel, A Gift of Words. A born teacher, Ros' charges inspired her work in many ways, as did her love of mythology and desire to see more neurodivergence representation in the age rang…

1
Character Flaws 1:47:31

2M ago1:47:31

1:47:31

What is a character flaw? Sort of a gray area? Clear-cut? Traits, personality, behavior? Major or minor?! Today, Val is joined by Kori and Jade to analyze character "flaws" in their writing. Stubborn, isolating, overthinkers, and those who care a bit too much - and we haven't even talked about antagonists yet! In the end, are "character flaws" even…

1
Chadow Spark 1:55:12

2M ago1:55:12

1:55:12

Up until now, the podcast has been exclusive to Shadow Spark authors. Today we have a special treat...the very first Actually A Man Husband appearance! Join Jess, Val, and Alyssa as they chat with Deadbeat Chad, the cryptid of the Shadow Spark Discord. An absolute mystery, Chad Moon is a podcaster, artist, cover designer...and President of the Vale…

1
Class is Now in Session 1:27:51

2M ago1:27:51

1:27:51

Lords, ladies, queens, kings, emperors...we could go on and on! Join Val, Erika, Alyssa, and special guest Jade in a discussion about social classes in fantasy! What rankings are present? How is nobility portrayed? Are the leaders fair? Cruel? Full of depth? :o Listen and find out!By Jess Moon, Erika McCorkle, Valerie Storm, & Alyssa Lauseng

1
Deconstructing Twitter Writing "Rules" #3 1:06:47

3M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

It's time for Dumb Twitter Writing Rules #3, and this time, Val, Erika, and Alyssa are joined by Jade! Adverbs, Chosen Ones, Evil Races in Fantasy...don't do ANY OF THEM!!! Just kidding. I mean seriously? As with most "rules" - particularly this series of Twitter Rules - these can be utter nonsense when taken at face value. Join the ladies in compl…

1
SSP Author Interview: Azshure Raine (Shattered Fate Edition) 1:24:07

3M ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Today is all about Shadow Spark's Lady of the Gunblade - Azshure Raine! With her newest book on the horizon, Az joins us (alongside some special guests!) to talk about what got her to the Zodiac Trilogy, what went into creating Shattered Fate, and maybe what's coming up next! Pick up the final book of the Zodiac Trilogy, Shattered Fate, which is ou…

1
Vicious, Volatile Villains Part 2! 2:22:38

3M ago2:22:38

2:22:38

It's time for Villain Roulette! First we talked about villains and what they mean to us, particularly in our writing. Now...the Chaos Squad discusses villains in OTHER media! Anime, video games...books, maybe! Wherever they are, whatever they're doing, we love our antagonists (and protagonists disguised as antagonists?), and we're here to appreciat…

1
All Work and No Life Makes Jack a Poor Writer 1:07:25

3M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

How does Shadow Spark find balance between work, life, and writing? When life gets busy, how do we find ways to get into that special headspace that lets us dip into the worlds of our souls? Join Val, Alyssa, Ashley, and Kori to hear about builders, teachers, mothers, and our tricks for yoloing the heck out of this! P.S. Go check out your local mou…

1
Favorite Things- Spring 2024 2:18:03

4M ago2:18:03

2:18:03

Time for Shadow Spark's FIFTH round of "things we like!" From a discussion about Naruto and its filler hell to Heaven Official's Blessing's Gay Ghost God (king), we've got a delicious variety to obsess and scream about. And look forward to some fantastic recommendations from our lovely Chaos Squad <3 Madoka Magica spoilers 1:26~…

1
Deconstructing Twitter Writing "Rules" #2 1:10:39

4M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

Another episode of hilariously misunderstood "writing rules"! Join Val, Erika, Courtney, and Eric as they tackle show, don't tell, write what you know, and passive voice. While these may be good rules of thumb, as always there is a balance to find. New writers, tune in and learn the Shadow Spark way of writing! And remember, sometimes rules are mad…

1
Valerie Storm's Epic 5th Book Release Extravaganza 1:20:07

4M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

The calm can only last so long... Kari is trying to pull herself back together after the events of Heart of the Storm. When a mysterious blizzard hits, her fears are brought to a head: the witches have found her, and they're ready to end the blight of the Demonic Catalyst. Pop in and listen to Valerie Storm talk about her upcoming book! Learn some …

1
All About Amazing and Astounding Animals 1:20:05

4M ago1:20:05

1:20:05

Demonically possessed insects and fish, near-sapient dinosaurs, massive, house-carrying centipedes, children-snatching birds, and big bad lions and tigers (and bears, oh my...) Today, Val, Erika, Kori, (and surprise guest Rosa!) discuss animals and/or pets in our stories! As another aspect of worldbuilding, animals add a fun creativity to the story…

1
Faceted Femininity: Writing Strong Female Characters 1:29:56

5M ago1:29:56

1:29:56

What does it mean to write a "strong female character"? It's so much more than being a buff female version of a dude who can kick the butts of her enemies. Sometimes, those strong women are just nurturing people with jobs, mothers or not--just women existing! Join Val, Erika, Kaitlin, and Ashley on a journey discussing Game of Thrones, Lord of the …

1
Vicious, Volatile Villains! 1:13:39

5M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

Hot, honest, confident, passionate, in control, evil for the sake of it... Today, at last, we reach the best part of storytelling...the VILLAINS! Join Val, Kira, Kaitlin, Az, and Brittany on a journey of self-discovery and adoration for the darkest, cruelest characters in our writing! What even is a villain?! Evil is subjective!! ***SPOILERS*** Sor…

1
A Novel Idea: Construction 1:37:52

5M ago1:37:52

1:37:52

Inciting incident, rising action...NO! Or...maybe. Today, Jess, Val, and Alyssa are joined by Kaitlin Corvus, Jade Black, and Amelia Grimes to talk about constructing a novel! Some people may follow a linear style of writing, others may have used fanfic as a launching point, and OTHERS may pants their way through organic writing with a pinch of tra…

1
Meet the Newbies- Rosantha Tindall & Brittany Engstrand 1:14:07

5M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

Erika and Val welcome our final newbies podcast episode! We've saved the best for last - Rosa and Brittany bring us prophetic dreams, stalking, and twelve year old laptops that just manage to send VERY IMPORTANT EMAILS. Tune in today to learn their preferences for ocean or moon, enemies-to-lovers on deserted islands, and DANCING! And maybe some sto…

1
SSP New Year's 2024! 1:07:41

6M ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Time for a blast to the future...?! Coming up on the new year, Shadow Spark Publishing has A TON going on! Anniversaries, book releases, and more! Join Jess, Kira, Val, and Ashley in a discussion on traveling, streaming, writing, a *cozy* anthology, and...tasty cannibalism??? SSP Book Releases 2024: Feb 2024: Valerie Storm - Demon Storm 5 March 202…

1
The SSP Holiday Special 1:17:01

6M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Welcome to the Shadow Spark Holiday Special! Get ready to cry with some ladies from SSP! Today, Val and Kira are joined by Az, Ashley, and Kaitlin to share emotional (happy?!) scenes from their various works! Sit down, get cozy, and enjoy a series of snippets that will make you ~feel the things~ and maybe there will be some surprises as well... (An…

1
Meet the Newbies- Kori Valley & Jade Black 1:57:00

6M ago1:57:00

1:57:00

Today, Val and Alyssa talk to Kori and Jade, two more winners of #SparkPit >:3 How did these two find Shadow Spark? How long have they been writing? Which of them stalked the house, and which wrote a 50-page story at age 7?! Tune in to find out this and more--what is Jade's compendium and Kori's House Centipede??!! QotD: Is the Top-Hat Man really a…

1
Eric Avedissian (Mr. Penny-Farthing Edition) 1:12:06

6M ago1:12:06

1:12:06

Welcome back, Eric! Eric Avedissian has joined the podcast a few times, always regaling us with jokes and humor. Today he talks with Erika and Val about the second book of his Martyr's Vow series, Mr. Penny-Farthing. Tune in and listen up to learn about an antagonist who carries creepy horror feelings a la Babadook and Slenderman. (He is an instant…

1
Meet the Newbies- Courtney Collins, Clarke Collins, & Kassidy Coursey 1:32:26

7M ago1:32:26

1:32:26

The first in a series of episodes devoted to the winners of #SparkPit 2023, Jess and Erika chat with newbie SSP authors Courtney Collins, Clarke Collins, and Kassidy Coursey. From seasons to Deathnotes to aliens, no topic is off the table as we delve in and get to know some of the newest members of the House! Courtney and Kassidy also regale us wit…

1
Favorite Things- Winter 2023 2:23:07

7M ago2:23:07

2:23:07

Fourth quarterly Things We Love! That makes a year of favorite things with Shadow Spark! Today we are joined by newly signed author, Kori Valley to gush about all manner of amazing...uh...things! In this episode (Spoiler Warning for any and all): Helluva Boss, Scavengers Reign, The Long Dark, Spiritfarer, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Le…

1
Deconstructing Twitter Writing "Rules" #1 1:29:06

7M ago1:29:06

1:29:06

Writing rules? Never heard of her. Today, Jess, Erika, and Alyssa are joined by SSP newbies Courtney Collins and Kori Valley to discuss a few of Twitter’s infamous “rules” for writers. Prologues, epilogues, ellipses, exclamation points, and starting with your main character waking up are all on the chopping block. Tune in to hear how we think the "…

1
SSP Author Interview: Azshure Raine (Dreamtaker Edition) 1:14:34

7M ago1:14:34

1:14:34

Val and Erika talk with Az, our Lady of the Gunblade! She has been with Shadow Spark for about a year and published ReBirth, her first book of the Zodiac trilogy earlier this year. Today we're here to talk about her second book, Dreamtaker! We've gathered some questions for those people who are curious: what's with the Final Fantasy stuff?! What ab…

1
Yay, Prophecies! Heavy Sarcasm 1:16:37

7M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

Typically, prophecies are thrown into the pile of tropes everyone hates! But they can be written well, we promise~ Though as with many things, the Chaos Squad has different feelings/thoughts, such as: What even is a prophecy? Does it have to be true? Told by a divine person? On a large scale? Listen up to learn our opinions and find out who in the …

1
SSP Author Interview: M.A. Phillips 1:32:49

8M ago1:32:49

1:32:49

Today, Jess, Val, and Ashley chat with SSP author M.A. Phillips. Mama of the House. The First Lady of Shadow Spark Publishing. Inspired by Redwall, M.A. Phillips started writing in middle school and received her first rejection letter from Penguin! That didn't stop her though, M.A. continued writing with Naruto fanfic before breaking into fabulism …

1
Bow Your Head! (Rulers & Countries) 1:22:26

8M ago1:22:26

1:22:26

Greasy kings. Cruel lords. Cinnamon roll emperors. Shameless sadists. Love or hate them, there are all brands of rulers! Just in the Chaos Squad there exists a ridiculous amount of variety. Good or bad, we love our leaders (or maybe love to see them die?!) Join us in a discussion about rulers across multiple universes, be it written, anime, or vide…

1
SSP Author Chat- Jess, Erika, Kaitlin, & Ashley 1:12:12

8M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Today, Jess and Erika are joined by her dark and prolific majesty, Kaitlin Corvus and the gloriously watery Professor herself, Ashley Anglin to chat about Kaitlin's newest book, The Long Way Down, as well as our relationships to water in our lives and in our writing. We discuss everything from trigger warnings to loving your own writing and the pow…

1
::Mindspeech:: 1:25:02

8M ago1:25:02

1:25:02

Mindspeech. The silent, internal dialogue made by our characters. Everyone in the Chaos Squad does it a bit differently - it might be between familial bonds, built on with emotions, or through magical means. Either way, we all have different rules and regulations! Tune in and learn about majestic wolf dads, royal jelly, and Jess' intense hatred of …

1
SSP Author Interview: Dustin R. Cummings 1:08:27

9M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Dustin had been writing for as long as he can remember, looking for publishers when he stumbled upon Shadow Spark during a Google search. When Mandy and Jess showed love and passion for his writing, he knew he was in! Now, inspired by current events in history and a Caribbean background, Dustin writes with a focus on the rise and fall of civilizati…

1
No Surcease of Sorrow 1:17:58

9M ago1:17:58

1:17:58

Sorrow...the deep sadness that engulfs and drowns us. Hopelessness, trauma, the delicious misery! But how is it felt in writing and by the Chaos Squad in general? Some of our characters sequester, some get angry, and others work through their sorrow. Join us in a journey into what things have made us feel that deep, true, sadness. ***SPOILER TIMEST…

1
House Vibe: Pals with Benefits 1:14:14

9M ago1:14:14

1:14:14

Today, Val and Erika are joined by SSP authors Ashley Anglin and Eric Avedissian for a casual chat! What are our dream houses? Who is Salty the Deer? What things are on our bucket lists? And maybe we'll find time for some conversation on myth in our writing! Listen today and follow a conversation with 90's music, Spanish-speaking tips, alien zoos, …

1
Pondering Polyamory 1:11:32

9M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Welcome to the SSP Podcast 2.0! Why would you limit yourself to one person? While the Chaos Squad might enjoy monogamous relationships in real life, we can enjoy the idea of polyamory and write them for our characters! So join us, friends, draw a Venn diagram and learn about polyamory, polycules, and get percolated! Poly = many Amory = love…

1
SSP Author Interview: Kaitlin Corvus 58:37

10M ago58:37

58:37

Kaitlin Corvus joined Shadow Spark Publishing during a shoutout for new authors. Her first book with us, Sorrow's Forest, was at roughly 40k words when she decided to submit. After ensuring her story would knock the pants off Jess and Mandy, Kaitlin scored a place on the team! Now she is our resident lady of dark, beautiful prose. With a focus on t…

1
Favorite Things- Autumn 2023 1:16:48

10M ago1:16:48

1:16:48

Our third episode about favorite things! Though we lovely ladies are very busy (that work/life balance is so hard!), we find time for those things that keep us sane. Sometimes we need those relaxing games like Stardew Valley, other times we might want an expansive adventure with Link and Zelda! Or maybe our downtime is made of various anime, manga,…

1
Light and Darkness in Writing and Life 1:24:24

10M ago1:24:24

1:24:24

The light is good. The dark is bad! Right? Right?? WRONG! Since the beginning of time, light and darkness have been used in discussions of good and evil. In the darkness, we are afraid. Is this because of the unknown? Being unable to see, and the easy connection that danger could be anywhere? In writing, these things are often subverted. Is the lig…

1
The Joy of Editing 1:38:31

10M ago1:38:31

1:38:31

Everyone has a different feeling about editing - fear, excitement, boredom, HAPPINESS? Coming down to the bare bones of it, editing should be a symbiotic process between editor, author, and story. Sometimes our impostor syndrome can be a little too loud, but the Chaos Squad is here to assure you: editing is GOOD for you! Just remember: find the rig…

1
SSP Author Interview: Erika McCorkle 1:39:19

11M ago1:39:19

1:39:19

With Merchants of Light and Bone coming soon, we celebrate with an interview of the Great & Mighty Erika McCorkle! Anyone who knows Erika knows her writing can be deep, dark, and heart-wrenching, and Merchants of Light and Bone is no exception. With themes of grief, pain, and adoption tied to polyamory and tropical fantasy, Erika has crafted a beau…

1
Let's Talk About Religion 1:19:01

11M ago1:19:01

1:19:01

Whether you believe in a god or something similar, religion might make a show in your writing! Today, the Chaos Squad touches on this often controversial topic, talking about spiritual powers and beings, literal gods, souls, reincarnation, myths made true, and religious trauma. Join us, and All Hail God Vinoc, the Legendary Pokemon…

1
SSP Author Interview: Azshure Raine 1:03:56

11M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

The Lady of the Gunblade joins us today to talk about her book, ReBirth, a remaster of sorts of The 13th Zodiac. Az joined Shadow Spark Publishing hoping for a new start in her publishing career. Having been writing for twenty years, she started with comics and wanted to make something unique. Dealing a lot in fantasy with romance and fluff, Az dra…

1
Writing Romance the Chaos Squad Way 1:04:29

11M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Among writing circles, romance can get bumpy. Which tropes are overdone? Should there be a certain spice to the romance? What about purity culture? The Chaos Squad is here to say, WHO CARES? Join our ladies in their discussion of romance. The love between characters and how it intersects with our writers is vital - but there must also be talks abou…

1
Phenomenally Disastrous 1:26:17

11M ago1:26:17

1:26:17

Mudslides, avalanches, tsunamis? Nah, the Chaos Squad has their own disasters and phenomena! There's the Groves, places of great power (& fertility, hehe), pockets of elemental occurrences (including an icy place which protects a candy castle), a land-breaking demon ascension, godly phenomenon, & Daisuke the Gay Disaster! And that's just the top of…

1
Happy Happy Joy Joy 1:06:49

12M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

Welcome to the first of our emotion series, focusing on... JOY. Who knew something like joy could be interpreted so many ways? The joy between lovers, parent and child, friends, and even monster and prey - sweet, sickening, wholesome...there are all kinds of flavors in today's episode! Spoilers for MoLaB…

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