In this episode of Storyline Sessions, bestselling author and winner of the Firebird Book Award, Pinnacle Achievement Award, and runner-up Page Turner Award winner Starr Z. Davies talks about the launch of her new book - Stormvalor: A Noblebright Fantasy (Divica Stormborn Chronicles Book 1) that marks her genre shift from dystopian fiction to epic fantasy.

Find Starr Here: https://www.starrzdavies.com/

Watch on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@StorylineSessions

Follow Storyline Sessions Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/storyline.sessions/

Listen to Storyline Sessions on Spotify or Deezer - https://taplink.cc/storyline.sessions

Riverside.fm affiliate link (I receive a recurring commission with no additional cost to you): https://www.riverside.fm/?via=marko

Timestamps:

00:00 - Start

00:47 - Conversation start

01:20 - How does this release feel different from the others?

02:10 - Marketing vs Writing

02:50 - Beta readers, initial reviews and changing the ending

04:18 - Making the first book feel more than just a setup for sequels

07:00 - Difference in writing and worldbuilding process between genres

08:28 - Deciding to shift genres

10:18 - From YA to adult

12:04 - THE CHARACTER ASSASIN - letting go of your characters

16:24 - Surprising yourself and choosing the POV for your story

18:20 - Organized chaos and worldbuilding

20:40 - MAPS!

23:10 - Naming characters

24:30 - How to be a prolific writer and stick to a schedule?

28:38 - Writing awards

33:22 - Finding the right artrwork

36:34 - Kickstarter process and crowdsourcing

40:55 - Audiobooks

44:32 - Self publishing vs Trad vs AI

48:05 - Building your audience

50:15 - What would you do differently if this was your first series?

53:02 - Future plans

55:16 - Outro

In this solo episode, Storyline Sessions host Marko Bogdanović shares his story about growing up with gaming magazines in the 90s and early 2000s, nostalgia, jorunalism and tries to clean up his apartment.

Game Informer Is Back - https://www.gameinformer.com/letter-from-the-editor/2025/03/25/game-informer-is-back

Follow Storyline Sessions Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/storyline.sessions/, https://www.theverge.com/news/635915/game-informer-return-gunzilla-games

Listen to Storyline Sessions on Spotify or Deezer - https://taplink.cc/storyline.sessions

Riverside.fm affiliate link (I receive a recurring commission with no additional cost to you): https://www.riverside.fm/?via=marko

In this episode of Storyline Sessions, Hungarian-born SFF author and the winner of the best Fantasy Choice Award in Hungary Norbert Zsivicz talks about his novel Sealed Empire, experience with translations, mixing genres, building an audience and much more.

Find Norbert here - https://www.sealedbooks.com/en/the-book, https://www.instagram.com/authornorbert/

Follow Storyline Sessions Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/storyline.sessions/

Listen to Storyline Sessions on Spotify or Deezer - https://taplink.cc/storyline.sessions

Riverside.fm affiliate link (I receive a recurring commission with no additional cost to you): https://www.riverside.fm/?via=marko

Timestamps:

00:00 - Start

01:26 - Conversation start

01:41 - Serbian vs Hungarian

02:22 - Fantasy scenes in Europe

05:44 - Self publishing as an author in Hungary

08:46 - Winning an award as a newcomer

10:02 - English translation and finding an international audience

13:46 - Mixing genres and worldbuilding

17:31 - Using multiple POVs and timelines

19:51 - The cover scene

21:13 - World map

23:20 - Prologues - yay or nay?

25:34 - Comparing original and the translation

27:25 - The setting - medieval fiction and history

30:47 - Planning the end - how to get from A to B?

32:26 - Showing his manuscript to others and trusting yourself

34:21 - Dealing with reviews

36:28 - Using a pseudonym or writing under your name?

38:38 - European SFF

41:00 - Marketing as a self published author - finding your audience

44:20 - The unavoidable AI talk

48:00 - Working on scripts for streaming shows and films

52:33 - Gaming

54:35 - Series timeline and future plans

59:03 - Outro