This week the Robots sit down with Myke Cole and Van Allen Plexico to talk about the different between magic and super hero powers, how they are the same, and why the difference is important (or not). Enjoy!

Myke Cole’s Website
Van Allen Plexico’s Website

This week’s promo – North Of Reality Podcast

Here are some of the books by the authors we had on this show this week:

And here is that AVENGERS trailer we talked about at the beginning of the show:

Set in a lethal American professional football league seven centuries in the future, THE MVP puts huge humans on the field with five alien races to make a game that is faster, stronger and deadlier than anything we know today. The fourth book in the Galactic Football League series, THE MVP follows on THE ROOKIE, THE STARTER and THE ALL-PRO.

The GFL series is described as “STAR WARS” meets “THE BLINDSIDE” meets “THE GODFATHER.” Join the Krakens as they fight to take the title and achieve immortality.

“THE MVP” PRE-ORDER: Feb. 4 — SUPER BOWL SATURDAY!
Fellow Junkies, it’s nearly time to pre-order Book IV of the GFL series. Set your alarms for Feb. 4th at 9am Pacific Time, noon Eastern time, 5pm GMT. “THE MVP” is the fourth in the series that includes “THE ROOKIE,” “THE STARTER” and “THE ALL-PRO.”

When you order, please use the pre-order code ROBOT to save $3 per hardcover! This code works not only on “THE MVP,” but on ALL the GFL books!

“THE MVP” EBOOK FOR FREE
But wait, don’t order yet! If you pre-order “THE MVP,” the Dark Overlord will throw in the $9.99 eBook for free. Yes, that’s right, FREE! You can get the eBook for your Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, Kobo, Sony eReader and any ePub device.

WHY YOU SHOULD PRE-ORDER ON FEBRUARY 4:

Limited-edition hardcover: When they are gone, they are gone. “THE ROOKIE” is no longer available.

Signed and numbered: The earlier your order is in, the lower your book’s number

Personalization: Every book is signed and numbered, but if you want the FDØ to personalize it he’s only doing that for pre-orders.

Pre-order insanity: Each of the first three books in the series sold 1,000 copies in the first three hours. The books go fast, so be ready at 9am Pacific, noon Eastern and 5pm GMT.

ORDER YOUR COPIES OF “THE STARTER” AND “THE ALL-PRO” HARDCOVERS NOW!

Remember, use the pre-order code ROBOT for your pre-order.

This week the Robots talk with Paul Byers about his novels CATALYST and ARCTIC FIRE, and about writing historical fiction. We then close the show with a review of Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES, and we’re joined by Krista Macumber.

Paul Byer’s Website

If you’d like to purchase his books, here are links to the Kindle ebooks:

We also reviewed Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES. If you’d like to read them as well, here are links to the Kindle ebooks:

This week’s promo – AUDIOTIM, Sound Advice For Aspiring Authors

This week the Robots sit down with former co-host Ryan Stevenson to brainstorm his supernatural mystery story, as well as discuss what we’ve been up and what Apple’s iBooks software might mean for self-publishers. We hope you enjoy!

Lifehack’s iBooks Article

This week’s promo – THE MAD SCIENTIST HANDBOOK anthology

This week Justin and Terry talk about the joys of editing and how it can make a bad story good, and a good story amazing. Editing is where the real story gets told, and learning to love it has immediate benefits for every writer. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

This week’s promo -ETERNITY, a podcast novel by Casey S Townsend

This week Justin and Terry talk with John Mierau about writing, podcasting, the importance of social media, and crowd funding.We hope you enjoy the conversation, and please send feedback!

John Mierau’s website, Twitter, Facebook page, and Google+ page.

And here is John’s Indiegogo campaign page. We highly encourage you to help support this talented and giving storyteller.

This week’s promo – The Weekly Podioplex, a podcast about movies from the Chronic Rift Network.

This week Eli, Terry, and Justin talk about writing groups and what they can offer you as an aspiring writer. We hope you enjoy this first new episode of 2012, and that your holiday season was not only fun, but also safe and rejuvenating.

The Lynn Mixon Facebook page

This week’s promo – BENEATH, a podiobook by Jeremy Robinson

When I think about spellcasting, wizards, and far-flung magical lands, the next idea to jump into my mind usually isn’t the US military, but luckily for all of us author Myke Cole made just such a connection, and his debut novel SHADOW OPS: CONTROL POINT is the result. One part J.K. Rowling, two parts Tom Clancy, CONTROL POINT is a taut military thriller, but instead of guns and terrorists Mr. Cole fills his story with humans bursting with magical powers, powers that spring from a distant world that could be our salvation, or the source of our destruction. And, unlike most urban fantasies where magic runs wild in the streets, unconstrained and unregulated, Mr. Cole — who has a deep military background himself — brings his unique perspective to the genre and shows us a world where the government has clamped down on all magical activity, and where those who have the ability to wield fire, air, and earth are pressed into serving the United States armed forces. Can such power be contained? Can beings who control the very fabric of reality be controlled? These questions and more lie at the heart of SHADOW OPS: CONTROL POINT, and the answers will blow you right out of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Cole’s debut novel, and if you want to see what happens when “Lord of the Rings” is smashed into “Clear And Present Danger,” buy his novel and join the excitement. You won’t be disappointed.

SHADOW OPS: CONTROL POINT will be available in print and on the Kindle January 31st, 2012.

This week Terry and Justin talk about overcoming writer’s block, focusing our efforts, and setting goals for the new year. We hope you enjoy this episode, and that you have a safe and happy holiday season.

This week’s promo: IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, a podcast novel from Seth Harwood

Here’s the BUFFY VS EDWARD video we mentioned in the show. Thanks to Alison. Also look for her email in the comments section of this post.

This week the Robots chat with James L. Sutter, who’s not only the co-creator of the Pathfinder Role-Playing Game, but also the author of the new novel DEATH’S HERETIC, which is set in that world. Justin loved the novel, and this is a great conversation.

Purchase DEATH’S HERETIC at Amazon here!

DEATH’S HERETIC at Paizo.com

James L. Sutter’s Website

James’ Twitter Page

The Pathfinder Role-Playing Game Website

James’ guest essay on moral ambiguity in fantasy at Suvudu.com

This week’s promo – Dragon Ash, a podiobook from Charlie Brown