Tag: author

Episode 66: Creating a Cosplay Book with Zonbi’s Workshop

Episode 66: Creating a Cosplay Book with Zonbi’s Workshop

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Grace Herbert from Zonbi’s Workshop, cosplayer, YouTuber, and author of “The Cosplay Handbook: A Book of Costume and Prop Making Techniques”. Zonbi shares her experience from nearly 15 years of prop and costume making in over 150 YouTube tutorials. She was also a contestant on SyFy’s Cosplay Melee along with former guests KnowOne’s Designs and Marty LeGrow.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 3:00 How Zonbi got started in cosplay and YouTube
  • 5:00 Monetizing a cosplay brand
  • 8:00 Writing “The Cosplay Handbook”
  • 10:00 The book publishing process
  • 15:00 Growing the Zonbi YouTube Channel
  • 20:30 Engaging with the cosplay community
  • 22:00 Filming SyFy’s Cosplay Melee
  • 28:00 Promoting Zonbi’s Workshop

Head to Zonbisworkshop.com to learn more and follow Zonbi’s Workshop on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 51: Writing Habits and Productivity with Matthew Phillion

Greetings Entreprenerds!

This week I’m joined by Matthew Phillion, author of the Indestructibles, to talk about the writing process that has allowed him to write 5 novels, and dozens of novellas and short stories in the past 4 years.

The Indestructibles, which has been called the Justice League meets The Breakfast Club, is a great series for comic book and super hero lovers. A solar powered girl. A ballerina vigilante. A boy with an alien living inside his brain. A werewolf with confidence issues.  A girl with a black hole for a heart. Five teenagers, each with their own unique abilities, are gathered by veteran hero Doc Silence to become their generation’s super-team.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, Matt and I discuss:

  • How he finishes first drafts in only 3 months
  • His 5-9 month outlining process
  • Importance of a daily writing routine
  • Productivity tips for writers

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter @mattphillion, Instagram @mattphillion and on Facebook and learn more about The Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea, The Dungeon Crawlers and his other work at theindestructiblesbook.com

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 48: Creating Focused Podcast Topics with Board Game Design Lab

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Gabe Barrett, game designer, host of the Board Game Design Lab podcast and author of Board Game Design Advice: From the Best In the World. The weekly podcast interviews designers, publishers and board game insiders on specific topics that listeners will find valuable for progressing through game design. Rather than including additional information about pop culture or recent games, this show gets right to the valuable insights for helping game designers.

His book includes interviews with over 60 of the best board game designers in the world.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode we discuss:

  • 3:00 How Gabe got started in game design
  • 8:00 Importance of creating specific podcast episode topics
  • 12:30 Creating bonus episodes for added value
  • 17:00 Asking your audience for input about what they want
  • 21:00 How Gabe has marketed his podcast
  • 22:30 Writing Board Game Design Advice: From the Best In the World
  • 27:00 Best advice for game designers in the book
  • 32:30 Future plans for Board Game Design Lab
  • 38:30 Importance of consistency in building a geek brand

Be sure to check out the podcast at BoardGameDesignLab.com; find his book, Board Game Design Advice: From the Best In the World, on Amazon; join the BGDL Community on Facebook; subscribe on YouTube and follow Gabe on Twitter @BGDesignLab.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 47: Fred Van Lente Author of The Con Artist

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Fred Van Lente, the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning writer of comics like Archer & Armstrong (Harvey Award nominee, Best Series), Action Philosophers! (American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Teens), and Cowboys & Aliens (with Andrew Foley), the basis for the feature film.

Last year he branched out into novels with his debut Ten Dead Comedians and his second book The Con Artist comes out July 10th! The Con Artist follows a comic book artist who is accused of murdering a rival at San Diego Comic-Con. The book explores both the mystery and con culture itself.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Be sure to check out The Con Artist and follow Fred on Twitter @FredVanLente and at FredVanLente.com

If you’re attending San Diego Comic-Con, check out Game of Bloggers on Wednesday night! You can learn more here.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 46: Marty LeGrow

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Marty LeGrow, cosplayer, comic book artist and professional party princess. She was a contestant on Cosplay Melee in Episode 3: Angels and Demons. Her most recent comic book work, Toyetica, is currently available on Amazon and Comixology.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 2:00 How Marty got started in cosplay
  • 8:00 Trying out for SyFy Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and Cosplay Melee
  • 14:00 Process of filming Cosplay Melee
  • 21:00 Tips for becoming a Party Princess or other party entertainer
  • 37:00 Creating Toyetica comic book with Action Lab
  • 46:00 Interacting with and representing fans of Toyetica
  • 49:00 Importance of being genuine and not focusing on growing a following

Be sure to follow Marty on Facebook, Instagram and check out her weekly Twitch stream on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9PM EST.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 34 – Comic Book Author B.J. Mendelson

Greeting Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is B.J. Mendelson, writer of the new comic book Vengeance, Nevada. B.J. is best known for his cult classic book, Social Media is Bullshit and has also recently released a new book, Privacy: And How We Get It Back. He applies his nearly two decades of experience in the marketing and social media industries to promoting his independent comic book, which is now available on Comixology.

This is a great discussion for independent comic creators and publishers or anyone trying to grow an audience around their creative project, whether it is a book, film, podcast, YouTube channel or other.

Listen on iTunesStitcher or YouTube:

In this episode we discuss:

  • 3:00 How B.J. got started in writing and social media
  • 7:00 The campaign for Vengeance, Nevada
  • 12:00 Finding your audience at comic conventions
  • 15:00 Creating an independent comic
  • 23:00 Choosing a slower publishing schedule
  • 26:30 Working with Comixology
  • 30:00 Creating velocity and virality during the launch of your book, show, video, etc.
  • 33:00 Applying social media marketing to comic book publishing
  • 43:00 Simplifying the pitch for your comic book or other creative projects

You can read Vengeance, Nevada on Comixology at VengeanceNevada.com

Also be sure to follow B.J. Mendelson at BJMendelson.com and on Twitter @BJMendelson

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 19: Matthew Phillion Author of The Indestructibles

Under the Capes Episode 19: Matthew Phillion Author of The Indestructibles series

Greetings Entreprenerds!

This week I talk to the author of The Indestructibles series, Matthew Phillion.

The series has been described as the “Breakfast Club meets the JLA” and was listed as the best of 2014 and 2015 by SuperheroNovels.com.

A solar powered girl. A ballerina vigilante. A boy with an alien living inside his brain. A werewolf with confidence issues.  A girl with a black hole for a heart. Five teenagers, each with their own unique abilities, are gathered by veteran hero Doc Silence to become their generation’s super-team.

But when they find out someone else is building their own monsters to change the world, will the Indestructibles be ready in time? Or will their inexperience be their downfall?

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

I met Matt at Boston Comic Con last month and talked to him for a few minutes (which I recorded and shared in the Boston Comic Con Recap Episode) and now we were able to sit down for a much lengthier discussion where we cover:

  • His lifelong writing career
  • Working as an actor and director before focusing on writing
  • How comic books influenced The Indestructibles
  • Finding a writing schedule and process that works for him
  • The difference between “Planners” and “Pantsers”
  • How comic cons puts him in touch with his ideal audience
  • Building an expanded universe of books
  • Future plans for The Indestructibles series

Books 1-4 of The Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea and all of the one-shots and holiday stories set in the “Indestructiverse” are available in paperback, Kindle, Nook, iBook and Kobo formats. For more information, visit theindestructiblesbook.com or follow Matt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 16: Boston Comic Con Interviews and Recap

Episode 16: Boston Comic Con Interviews and Recap

Under the Capes at Boston Comic Con

Greetings Entreprenerds!

This past weekend was Boston Comic Con! Over the weekend I interviewed some amazing artists, authors, cosplayers and business owners about their experience exhibiting at the con and growing their geek brand.

In this episode I share those interviews and talk about my own experience at the con!

You can look for interviews with:

I also discuss:

Thank you to all my guests and everyone I met at Boston Comic Con for making it such a fun weekend!

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!