Charlie and Samantha Sotto Yambao (Water Moon) discuss her UK debut - yay! - exploring the concepts of fate and choice, the process of evolving the romance, and, we catch up on the lives of Sam's dogs.

A transcript is available on my site

General references:
Ticket link for the podcast live events
Sam joined me to discuss The Beginning of Always in episode 50
Sam joined me to discuss Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, and A Dream of Trees in episode 5

Books mentioned by name or extensively:
David and Leigh Eddings: The Belgariad
J R R Tolkien: Return Of The King
Samantha Sotto: Before Ever After
Samantha Sotto: Love And Gravity
Samantha Sotto: A Dream Of Trees
Samantha Sotto Yambao: Water Moon

Release details: recorded 11th February 2025; published 9th June 2025

Where to find Sam online: Website || Facebook || Instagram

Where to find Charlie online: Website || Instagram || TikTok

Discussions

03:38 This being Sam's UK debut; how it came about
07:32 The inspirations - Ninenzaka in Kyoto
10:28 Expanding on the pawnshop concept in terms of Water Moon's look at fate and choice
12:56 Sam's interest in putting science and fantasy and magical realism together
15:07 Neutrinos!
17:24 When in the process do you research?
19:01 Creating Hana
23:05 Writing about the loss of mothers
25:40 The romance in terms of when Keishin was included
31:19 The bad guys of the book
34:05 All about the ending and Sam's choices
37:17 Charlie brings in Death of the Author
41:06 Doctor Who references
42:19 What's next?
43:03 Asking about Sam's dogs who have made appearances in our previous episodes