In Episode 22 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, we speak with author Peter Darbyshire! Peter Darbyshire is a former journalist and author of six books and more stories than he can remember. He lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, where he spends his time writing, raising children and playing D&D with other writers. We ask him about his new novel, The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, and discover a new way to befriend a Beholder.

Episode Highlights

• Discussing the inspirations that led to the creation of The Mona Lisa Sacrifice by Peter Darbyshire

• The perils of running a TTRPG campaign for a group of authors.

Credits

Guest: Peter Darbyshire

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Upbeat Lo-Fi Chill by Lidérc, Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Special Thanks

Thank you to Peter Darbyshire for joining us today, and thank you to River Street Writing.

Peter Darbyshire: More Information

River Street Writing: More Information

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In Episode 21 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, we had a few more points we wanted to discuss surrounding the fantastical genre of Sword & Sorcery. How does it differ from standard and epic fantasy? We cover the good, the bad, and the other in this wrap-up featuring numerous quotes from work of the genre and a chat about the history and impact of one of Sword & Sorcery’s most well-known female icons, Red Sonja.

Episode Highlights

• Peeling back the layers of Sword & Sorcery to find the deeper connections.

• The history of gender roles within Sword & Sorcery.

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Upbeat Lo-Fi Chill by Lidérc, Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

In Episode 20 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, we take a swim into the lake of Sword and Sorcery, the sub-genre of Fantasy Literature known for smaller stakes, higher pace and plenty of escapist action. Vivid, gritty visceral imagery soaking typically muscle-powered loner or small group protagonists in the blood of their enemies, through a fast-paced magical world, Sword and Sorcery focuses on smaller scale, more personal conflicts, moral ambiguity and tons of action and adventure. This is the land of Conan, Kull and Jirel of Joiry. Here, there be monsters.

Episode Highlights

• What is Sword and Sorcery?

• A brief look into the history of Sword and Sorcery and the genre’s major authors.

• Finding the start of Sword and Sorcery on the big screen.

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

If you’d like a shoutout in episode descriptions, join our Lasting Legends on Substack! Your support makes this podcast possible. Plus, as a Substack subscriber, you get access to sneak peeks, exclusive bonus episodes, and more.

Welcome to Episode 19 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today’s episode… Hindsight Spotlight: Fallout, Finding Inspiration, and Sword & Sorcery!

In Hindsight Spotlight, we take a look at media that struck a chord. Whether it's worldbuilding, a particular character, or even a sequence of camera shots, this content stuck out to us as something to chat about, recommend, or praise. This episode, Emily goes full fan girl on the Fallout series and starts speculating about the cosmic horror elements of the setting, Sapha discusses their interpretation of inspiration and how to write fantastic fiction without scraping your favorite media, and Dazz begins a discussion on Sword & Sorcery decades in the making. We’ll see you next week with a closer inspection of the Sword & Sorcery genre with Dazz!

• Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong
• Audio Production: Emily Armstrong
• Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 18 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today’s episode… Vaporwave Drive-In: Death Becomes Her!

This episode is something entirely different than you’re used to. Rather than get into our regular discussions, we’re giving you a peek at our new series: Vaporwave Drive-In. Each episode we sit down together and provide commentary over a significant movie. Some are great, some are awful, but all have left their mark in some way. This episode, Dazz and Emily introduce Sapha to a campy classic: Death Becomes Her (1992, Robert Zemeckis)! We talk about the use of practical effects combined with CGI in the early 90s, laugh way too much, and lament how hard it is being immortal. Pop in your copy of Death Becomes Her and join in on the watch party with the included countdown click-track!

If you want to listen to more Vaporwave Drive-In soon, subscribe to our Substack! Vaporwave Drive-In will be a subscriber only production.

• Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong
• Audio Production: Emily Armstrong
• Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 17 of We Aren't Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today's episode... Side Chats: Military, Cozy, and Movie Theaters!

In this Side Chat episode, we get into improving the military ranks in our worldbuilding, discuss what cozy really means, and get into the differences between small town and big city movie theater experiences. Join us as we break down the different ranks, from enlisted personnel to high-ranking officers, and discuss their visual designations through badges, medals, pips, and more within the military hierarchy. Then, we ask ourselves: what exactly is cozy worldbuilding, and how does it differ from other worldbuilding styles? We get into our feelings about cozy feels and how to make your worldbuilding fit that vibe. Finally, have you ever noticed how the moviegoing experience can vary depending on where you live? From audience noise and cell phone use to general rudeness and etiquette, the atmosphere in movie theaters can differ significantly between small towns and big cities. Dazz breaks down life in a small town and the way movie theaters used to be.

We’ll see you next week for an exciting chat with the hosts about the media they love right now.

• Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong
• Audio Production: Emily Armstrong
• Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 16 of We Aren't Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today's episode... From Pixels to Polyhedral!

In this episode, the conversation kicks off with a blast from the past, exploring the impact of early gaming systems like the Sega Genesis and the timeless charm of games like Sonic. We discuss our favorite games, hidden gems, and how these early experiences influenced our love for gaming. We remember the days of rushing to open the newest gaming magazine to see the new releases or running home after school to play video games so long your hands ached. The episode culminates in a spirited discussion comparing our experiences with games like Baldur's Gate 3 with traditional tabletop roleplaying games, and talk about our perceived differences between video game RPGs and tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs), from player agency and storytelling to game mechanics and social interaction.

We’ll see you next week for an exciting chat with the hosts about the media they love right now.

• Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong
• Audio Production: Emily Armstrong
• Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

Welcome to Episode 15 of We Aren't Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Today's episode... One Shots Part 5: A Guide to Running One-Shot Sessions!

In this episode, we focus on session preparation and dynamics, exploring the importance of session 0s and working collaboratively with your players to craft the best possible experience. Learn how to set clear expectations, establish boundaries, and create a collaborative environment that fosters creativity and engagement. Next, we get into the nuances of improvisation as a GM, discussing strategies for thinking on your feet and adapting to unexpected player actions. Discover how to embrace spontaneity and turn unforeseen challenges into opportunities for memorable storytelling and player-driven experiences. Tune in and level up your GM skills as we explore the secrets to running unforgettable one-shot sessions!

We’ll see you next week for a sneak peek at Sapha’s newest release: Book of Revels! Come celebrate with us!

• Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong
• Audio Production: Emily Armstrong
• Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn