EPISODE 739 - J. Bellante Ward - The Wyrd of Skulda Discover Norns, the three legendary females who control time
In this engaging episode of Living The Next Chapter, host Dave welcomes debut fantasy author J. Bellante Ward, a dental hygienist from Virginia originally from Maryland, who stumbled into writing after a coworker praised her knack for words in a simple professional email. Nervous but thrilled for her first podcast appearance, J. shares how she penned her Norse mythology-inspired series in just two months, embracing her "pantser" style where the plot unfolded organically through character journeys rather than rigid outlines. She discusses battling impatience for instant gratification, learning not to chase perfection—since human imperfections make stories relatable and distinct from AI-generated content—and finding her authentic voice about a quarter into the manuscript, shifting to a more confident tone.
J. dives into her series' core: three Norns controlling past, present, and future, reimagined in a world without cell phones or modern tech to emphasize raw human connections and epic quests. Book one follows Bren, the Norn of the future from a dark kingdom, on a self-discovery path amid romance, "smut," and battles against an evil king seeking to dominate the realms via the tree of life. Unplanned characters like Bren's sarcastic best friend stole her heart, earning future books, while part one builds the world lightly and part two accelerates into non-stop action. She credits advice from patients and fellow authors, like writing the ending at 80% to race smoothly to the finish, and cut filler for a lean, approachable read even for fantasy newcomers. Marketing challenges surface too: J. finds social media inauthentic and mentally draining, preferring genuine conversations like this interview over forced videos, and pitches her elf-and-mythology tale proudly despite adult awkwardness. A vivid reading from chapter three paints a terrifying swamp creature encounter, drawing from head-to-toe details inspired by quirky YouTube like Salad Fingers. Her real "moment" came from a stranger's glowing review, not pre-sales from supporters. Looking ahead, book two launches soon, with Instagram and Facebook as key follows.
Key Takeaway: Embrace your creative flow without perfectionism—human flaws and organic storytelling connect deepest with readers, proving anyone can birth a world from a spark.
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