Brian's guest this week is epic fantasy author Bradley Beaulieu! Brad is known for the Lays of Anuskaya, the Song of the Shattered Sands, and his scifi debut Absynthe under the pseudonym of Brenden P. Bellecourt. Brad and Brian talk about his early career, how characters change and develop during the writing process, and picking proper nouns and book titles that resonate with the reader without pushing them away. They also talk about Brad’s early career and his experience with smaller publishers, as well as his recent stroke and the recovery process. Find Brad on social media or his website. Find Brian McClellan at his website, on Twitter and Instagram, or find his books on Amazon, direct from his bookstore, or wherever books are sold! Don't forget to support the show on Patreon, or pick up some swag on Redbubble. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.