Sidequests with Kelly

In this episode, Kelly Kiewel sits down with J.E. Harter, author of The Butcher and the Bard. They delve into her writing process, inspiration, and the themes of her book. J.E. shares her love for New York City, her theater background, and how it influences her writing. She also discusses the challenges and joys of being a self-published author, the importance of finishing the first draft, and tips for new writers.

Topics include:

• Facing internal scars
• The power of music
• The complexity of relationships
• Dream fan cast for her characters
• Writing fight scenes
• Importance of hiring an editor
• Self-publishing and marketing strategies

Don't miss this insightful conversation filled with advice and inspiration for aspiring authors!

📚✨ Keywords: Kelly Kiewel, J.E. Harter, The Butcher and the Bard, writing process, self-publishing, fantasy writing, theater influence, author tips, New York City, writing advice, fight scenes, book themes

00:00 Intro

00:25 About JE Harter

2:00 How JE published two books in one year

5:00 Balancing writing with work

6:00 From actor to theatre teacher

7:25 Using theatre in writing

8:44 Separating author life from your daily life

9:45 Talking with your family about writing

12:51 Why write Fantasy?

16:49 Writing Music in Books

18:51 Favorite Butcher and the Bard quotes

22:35 What themes were most important to include?

27:35 Book Club Questions

27:50 Any Sunshine x Grumpy relationships that inspired your book?

29:10 Fancast for The Butcher and the Bard

34:20 Creating a story inspired by The Witcher Series

36:44 Are you a Plotter, Panster, or Plantser?

44:22 How did you know your first story was done?

48:09 Editor x Writer relationship

54:02 Process changes from writing Book 1 to Book 2

58:03 Writing Dialogue

1:00:44 How to write good fighting scenes?

1:07:10 Who this book is for

1:08:26 The Self Publishing Process

1:19:17 Follow J.E. Harter

1:20:27 Advice for New Writers

1:24:30 June Book Club Feature - The Dying Sun by L.J. Stanton