[ISBW] Magic Systems and Ruinous Creatures

ISBW 22.11

(There will be a giveaway of Ruinous Creatures! I'm taking entries until May 21! Email me with GIVEAWAY in the subject line! You do not need to be a paying supporter to enter.)

Recently we welcomed Jessi Cole Jackson to the show to talk about her debut novel, Ruinous Creatures!

We cover Jackson's unique bone-specific magic system and her inspirations, not to mention how to wrap your head around romance and spice when you've only written tame things before.

Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is May 16.

This post went live for supporters on May 11, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

Links:

• Jessi Cole Jackson
• Sarah Maclean
• T. Kingfisher
• Naomi Novik
• The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love
• Save the Cat
• The Heroine's Journey
• The Author Burnout Cure podcast
• 4 Act Structure

Evergreen Links

• Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.
• Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate
• Theme by John Anealio
• Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!
• OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!

Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at
no extra cost to you.
You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review!

CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn.
Get archives of the show via Patreon.

May 16, 2025 | ISBW 22.11 | murverse.com
"Ruinous Creatures and Magic Systems" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.