How do you come up with a series concept? How do you write it? How do you pitch it to publishers? In this episode, Chris and Alex dive deep into the intricate world of getting a book series mainstream published. Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan are joined by acclaimed writers Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson, whose diverse projects, including Vampirel…

Welcome to another exciting episode of "Tell The Damn Story," where Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan dive deep into the art of character creation and hero introductions. In this episode, they're peeling back the layers of iconic characters, revealing three distinct ways to bring a hero into the spotlight. Have you ever wondered what makes a dangerous ch…

Or, "The Case of the Anxious Author!" This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss the abyss of imposter syndrome and its often paralyzing effect. In this episode, we explore how imposter syndrome can hinder making live appearances and attending conventions. Chris divulges his personal battles with self-doubt, especially resonant during a f…

"And What’s New In the Vampirella Universe?" Welcome to another exciting episode of "Tell The Damn Story." We have a fascinating lineup for today. Joining hosts Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan are two exceptional guests—renowned writers Tom Sniegoski and the insightful Jeannine Acheson. Join us as we dive headfirst into a recent and surprising developm…

How do you create a video game from scratch? Welcome back to "Tell The Damn Story," where today's episode is a fascinating journey with Rob Stenzinger, an indie game designer who demonstrates that the union of passion and profession is the ultimate game-changer. In our dialogue, Rob recounts his quest, from starting a fledging game creation studio …

"Did you choose your interest in crime, or did crime choose you?" Welcome to another episode of Tell The Damn Story, where your hosts, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons, unravel the art of spinning a tale based on insight, experience and heart. At least, that's part of our goal. On today's show, we sit down with the illustrious Tom Coffey—a former journa…

How do you take a classic story or character from the past into the present-day entertainment media? Your favorite narrative dissection duo, Chris and Alex, are back to stir the pot of creativity with this latest episode, which is ripe with controversy, adaptation, and the evolution of some of the most iconic characters in history. Get ready becaus…

This week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan discuss Oscar Award winners. We've sifted through 54 years, chiseled that number down to 30 significant winners, and plucked out some of the most educational gems for our discussion today. These films received acclaim for Best Screenplay and Best Picture. They stand as exemplars of what every aspiring writer s…

Hello, storytellers and lovers! Welcome to the 301 episode of "Tell The Damn Story" with your dynamic duo, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons. Today, we're riding high off our 300th celebration and ready to dive into the grit of the writing life. Join us as we explore the successes and strategies, the multifaceted role of today's writers in self-promotion…

Alex and Chris are joined by .... to celebrate our 300th episode with a great discussion of all things creative! What a show! That's right, and we have an amazing lineup of guests joining us. We have Teel James Glenn, Tim Fielder, Carol Gyzander, and Rebecca Cuthbert, to name a few, who'll be sharing their insights and experiences from the trenches…

This Is The One Before The Big One In this episode, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan discuss whether society shapes the artist's creativity or whether the artist helps to shape society. Expect to hear reflections on historical events, like World War II and the atomic bombs, and their profound influence on narratives across different eras. Alex and I exc…

What doesn't break you makes you stronger. In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, host Chris Ryan (rolling solo) interviews Daemon Manx, an author with a remarkable journey from bass player to prison inmate to best-selling writer. Daemon shares how he found solace in storytelling during his time in prison and discusses his published works, includi…

An Interview with Rebbeca Cuthbert on her new how-to-c craft Horror book, CREEP THIS WAY. On today's episode of Tell The Damn Story, our hosts, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons, are joined by the amazing author Rebecca Cuthbert. Together, they dive into Rebecca's writing journey and her latest projects. From discussing the genesis of their collaborative…

Welcome to Tell The Damn Story, where we delve into the challenges of storytelling and the creative process with our guests. In today's episode, cohosts Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons are happy to have returning the esteemed author Teel James Glenn. With over 470 manuscripts to his credit, Teel takes us on a fascinating journey through the realm of wr…

We're back. You're back. They're back! And with some candid insight on how fear, risk, and respect factor in collaborative writing. In this episode, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons engage in an enriching conversation with guest authors Jeannine Acheson and Tom Sniegoski. They delve into the intricacies of character development and the emotional rollerc…

Welcome back to Tell The Damn Story! In this episode, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons interview Shannon Symonds, author of cozy mystery novels. Shannon shares her unique writing process using the "save the cat" method and Scrivener while discussing the importance of character development and the difficult personal challenges that influence her storytel…

For a Healthy, Productive 2024- This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss physical, mental, and emotional health for creatives, especially writers. Why? To help them put their bodies and minds in the best position to succeed in 2024. No matter what age, it is necessary for each of us to take care of our bodies, our minds, and our emotion…

As we round out this adventurous year, veteran authors Christopher Ryan and Alex Simmons discuss their favorite works of 2023 in novels, music, TV, and film and discuss the future of Marvel’s MCU. Tune in as they discuss the impact of political history, the art of recasting iconic characters, the future of Black Panther, and Marvel's storytelling s…

And What Does Your Favorite Holiday Films Have To Do With It? This week, veteran authors Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan find themselves smack dab amid the SCROOGE WARS! They go through a March Madness-style bracket filled with Scrooge/A Christmas Carol films, choosing their favorites and making their cases for their merits. Play along and see wh…

Welcome to Tell The Damn Story, where we dive into the world of storytelling and writing. In this episode, host Alex Simmons takes the solo seat to tackle listener questions and provide a rain-day-style episode. Join us as we explore the writing process, including the importance of setting consistent writing time, staying focused on uninspiring ass…

This week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan answer questions from our audience on all things related to writing. We cover salaries and finances, acquiring artists, publishing, first drafts, and so much more. This includes a humiliating story about one of us writing a sex scene for grad school! Oh, what we do and share to help you on your writing journey…

It's not impossible, but it's a hell of a ride! This week, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons delve into the nitty-gritty of independent publishing, exploring the challenges and triumphs of bringing books to life outside of traditional publishing avenues. Chris shares his personal journey from writer to publisher, discussing the meticulous process of cura…

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 f…

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 power…

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. Fro…

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 o…

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, …

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 shar…

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 person…

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 helpi…

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 m…

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 ge…

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 Batma…

... 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 ge…

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 …

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…

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 di…

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 gi…

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 loc…

"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…

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…

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 …

A Tell The Damn Story fan calls in a fun response to her shout-out during episode 267.

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 t…

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 l…

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 in…

This week, Alex and Chris use Spider-Man Across The Spiderverse to teach how to write a great story on multiple levels. We focus on visual storytelling and character to show just a few examples of how many things go right in this movie. And then we compare it with other movies, from Marvel, where the storytelling does not go as well. There are many…

Excerpts from -Tell The Damn Story, Episode 10_ How To Get Character Into Characters (and Why). In revisiting this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Chris Ryan, and Alex Simmons discuss the importance of creating multi-dimensional characters in storytelling. They read an excerpt from two original short stories about Alex's character BlackJack as an e…

"Duuuuuudes, It's Summer Dreaming Time!" This week Alex and Chris have a lot of fun talking about their favorite movies that came out in, or that they rewatch during the summer. It is all part of our Summer Dreaming theme for the next few episodes. The boys also talk about the value of analyzing films and screenplays, including the differences betw…

After creating your world finding your target audience is your next big challenge. This week Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan explore one of the more confounding areas of a writer's journey: who the heck are our readers? Combining multiple sources, we discuss or break down the answer to that question into four steps writers can take. All writers n…