The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory
Hosted by writer and ranter Mookie Spitz, the SFFF is where science fiction & fantasy creators, fans, and technologists transform imagination into reality. Each episode explores how writers, filmmakers, and world-builders bring their universes to life, with personal stories about turning wild ideas into finished projects that connect, inspire, and thrill. From indie authors to visionary engineers, Mookie uncovers the creative engines powering the future of sci-fi & fantasy storytelling!
Episodes
58 episodes
James Stuart Kinsey: Crime Scenes to Fantasy Kingdoms
What happens when thirty-two years of walking into crime scenes collides with a lifelong love of Tolkien, Zelazny, and Edgar Rice Burroughs? You get James Stuart Kinsey — retired forensics investigator, Navy submariner, and the world-builder be...
Jef & Mindy on the Liberating Power of Comedy, Creativity, and The Ridiculous
What if the biggest obstacle to living a more creative, fulfilled life isn't talent or opportunity—but the fear of looking ridiculous?Mookie sits down with Jef & Mindy, the married co-creators of The Ridiculous, to explore a...
Cedar Sanderson: Prolific Pulp Pantser
What do gardening, balloon animals, pulp fiction, Japanese manga, military science fiction, homeschooling, cover design, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and peeing basset hounds have in common? Cedar Sanderson, obviously.In this lively and often h...
Debbie Bishop on Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Never Waiting for Permission
Stepping into the 55th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Debbie Bishop has spent decades doing what most creators only talk about doing: building her own path. Author, comic book creator, publisher, entrepreneur, ma...
Leanna Renee Hieber: Gothic Storyteller and Haunted History Tour Guide
The 54th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory has Mookie talking ghosts, gothic fiction, generational trauma, creativity, labor politics, and the thin membrane between the living and the dead with acclaimed author, actr...
B.K. Gibson Debuts with Freedom's Vow
Ben and Karen Gibson have been quietly building an entire fantasy universe for years — not one book, not two, but an entire pipeline of stories forged through late-night collaboration, technical day jobs, parenting chaos, RPG design, and a shar...
D. Scott Allen Goes Skyborne with The Aerie Protocol
Scott Allen has spent years voicing other people’s stories — grimdark warriors, space captains, assassins, at least one traumatized wizard — and now he’s finally thrown his own brain into the ring with The Aerie Protocol. So he's excit...
Sam Robb Brings A Sense of Murder to Selene Press
Sam Robb steps into The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory to talk with Mookie about his new fantasy novel A Sense of Murder, the launch of Selene Press as the fantasy extension of Cannon Publishing, and how he somehow mana...
Marc Neuffer: From Naval Nuclear Engineer to Starship Captain
Mookie's Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory launches its 50th episode with fellow anthology contributor, former naval engineer, and prolific author Marc Neuffer. They met through the 2026 SciFi Anthology, going ...
J. Kenton Pierce Unleashes Freedom, Firepower, and Frontier Science Fiction
Some writers build stories. J. Kenton Pierce seems to have stories stalking him until he writes them down.He joins Mookie in the 49th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory for a lively, sharp-edged discussion abou...
Matthew Kent Powers Up the LitRPG Revolution
What happens when a LitRPG writer walks into the Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory and casually reveals that one of the fastest-growing corners of modern fantasy has also built the best ecosystem in publishing? You get this fascinating conv...
Mike Robinson: Renaissance Author, Editor, and Writing Coach
What happens when two writing obsessives lock themselves in a room and start talking craft, money, madness, creativity, publishing, best (and worst) practices, and the questionable life choice known as “becoming an author”? You get this lively,...
The Crew Returns: Bringing Indie Sci-Fi to the LA Festival of Books
In this goofy and surprisingly useful roundtable episode, Mookie Spitz reunites with fellow indie author road warriors Ingrid Moon, Greg Sorber, and married co-writing duo Sherry Shimshock and Blake Shimshock to unpack their chaotic, sweaty, un...
Catherine Cruzan Dons a Crown of Fire to Expand Her Elfkind Universe
In this lively and surprisingly candid 45th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie Spitz sits down with fantasy author Catherine Cruzan for a deep dive into storytelling, publishing, creativity, and the realities ...
James Kenwood on Mars Fire and the Future of Smart Sci-Fi
In this 44th episode of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie dives in deep with science fiction author James Kenwood to explore his themes and best practices for storytelling. The discussion ranges from war and political p...
Rick Cutler Locks & Loads Colt Ostergaard for a Cosmic Showdown
Saddle up for a wild ride into one of speculative fiction’s coolest frontier mashups: the science fiction western. In this episode, Mookie stirs it up with debut novelist Rick Cutler, author of Colt Ostergaard: A Man with a Gun, to tal...
Michael A. Clement Morphs from Auditor to Architect of Alien Daydreams
In this episode of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Factory, Mookie sits down with Michael A. Clement, a former finance professional turned speculative fiction writer, to trace the unlikely path from spreadsheets to stories, and why it ...
John F. Holmes & Cannon Publishing: Inside the Unit Behind Military Sci-Fi Success
On this 41st episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie sits down with Cannon Publishing founder and Editor-in-Chief John F. Holmes. He's a former platoon sergeant who runs his publishing outfit with the same mindset:...
Saengard Begins with the World Ender
In this episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie sits down with the elusive author Saengard, who emerges from behind a pseudonym to talk about his debut novel The World Ender—a fast-moving, idea-heavy sci-f...
Michael S. Clarke Goes Synthetic: Because One Version of You Wasn’t a Problem Already
In this 39th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie brings Michael S. Clarke onto the factory floor to dissect the craft, the grind, and the brutal reality of trying to write—and sell—serious sci-fi in a world dro...
Rachanee Lumayno Spellbinds with Kingdom Legacy: Building a Seven-Book Fantasy World
What happens when a pandemic kills your D&D campaign? If you’re Rachanee Lumayno, you don’t sulk or bake bread—you construct an entire fantasy universe instead.In the 38th episode of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory,
Peter Gribble and the City of Magicians: Where Pacifism Collides with Reality
In this episode of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Factory, Mookie Spitz sits down with Peter Gribble, author of the sprawling City of Magicians trilogy. They dig into a world where magic replaces military force, complacency m...
Michael Morton's Military Sci-Fi Writers' Workshop
The 36th episode of Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory features Mookie going deep into storytelling craft with Michael Morton, a military sci-fi author, editor, and former Air Force space operations specialist who breaks writing dow...
D.A. Murray's Dominion Ascension: Turning the Gender War Inside Out
The 35th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory features Mookie sharing the mic with debut novelist D.A. Murray to break open her provocative novel Dominion Ascension: a dystopian world where men are reduced to t...
Daniel P. Douglas Gets Real About Indie Sci-Fi—and Why Great Writing Isn’t Enough
In this 34th episode of Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie gets real about what it actually takes to write and sell fiction in today’s chaos economy. Part craft talk but mostly a collision between loving to write and loving ...
