Every epic fantasy world has a heartbeat. Welcome to Lore & Love, the podcast that finds out who creates it.
Join author Alexandria Love each week as she sits down with the tale-weavers and world-forgers of modern fantasy. Together, we dissect the 'Lore'—the architecture of world-building and magic systems—and explore the 'Love': the relentless creative drive and human heart behind an author's journey.
Perfect for aspiring writers and devoted readers, with exclusive readings from the authors themselves. Discover the stories behind the stories.
Episode 5-Artisans Touch: The Author's Courage: Finding Your Voice and Finishing Strong
What is the most important tool in a writer's toolkit? It might just be courage. In this passionate and deeply personal episode of Lore & Love, Alexandria explores the author's voice and the courage required to trust your unique vision—especially when it feels too big, too epic, or too wild. Listen as Alexandria shares her own fears and triumphs when writing a climactic scene from her manuscript, Storm Kin, involving a powerful enchantress, a colossal dragon, and a legendary staff of powe...
11 Jul 2025
Episode 4-Artists Touch: Dialogue That Breathes: Subtext, Banter, and Voice
Ready to have some fun? This week on Lore & Love, we're diving into one of the most enjoyable parts of writing: dialogue! It's the moment your characters truly come alive, and great dialogue does more than just move the plot forward—it reveals character, builds relationships, and creates sparkling subtext. Join Alexandria as she explores how to give each of your characters a unique and recognizable voice. Using hilarious and heartfelt examples from her manuscript, Storm Kin, she'll break ...
11 Jul 2025
Episode 2: Artisans Touch: The Soul of the Scene: Mastering Showing vs. Telling
It's the most common piece of writing advice, but what does "Show, Don't Tell" truly mean? This week on Lore & Love, Alexandria demystifies the age-old rule, reframing it as a powerful tool for creating deep reader immersion. Learn the difference between summarizing emotion and action versus grounding your reader in a scene they can see, hear, and feel. Using scenes of intense action and quiet regret from her own manuscript, Storm Kin, Alexandria provides a clear, practical breakdown of h...
11 Jul 2025
Episode 3-Artist Touch: The Rhythm of Language: Prose and Pacing
Step beyond the role of a storyteller and become a composer. In this artistic and inspiring episode of Lore & Love, Alexandria explores the music of prose—the powerful, often-unseen rhythm that dictates the emotional experience of your reader. Learn how to consciously craft your sentence structure, length, and word choice to control the pacing of your story, turning a simple scene into a symphony. Through a close reading of two contrasting scenes from her manuscript, Storm Kin, Alexandria...
11 Jul 2025
Episode 1: Artisans Touch- The First Page Promise: Hooking Your Reader from Sentence One
Welcome back to a new season of Lore & Love! In "The Artisan's Touch," we move from building our story to mastering the craft of prose. And what better place to start than the most important page of your novel: the very first one. Join host Alexandria as she discusses how to craft an opening that makes an immediate promise to your reader—establishing tone, immersing them in your world through sensory detail, and introducing a compelling character before they even speak a word. In a vulner...
10 Jul 2025
Episode 10-Lore and Love: The Brave Leap: Finding and Using Your First Readers
In the concluding episode of this foundational series, Alexandria tackles the essential and often intimidating step of sharing your work. "The Brave Leap" is a practical guide to finding and utilizing your first readers, or beta readers. Learn who makes an ideal reader (and who doesn't), how to professionally ask for feedback with specific, targeted questions, and why you must give yourself 24 hours before reacting to criticism. This episode provides the tools to navigate the feedback process...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 9-Lore and Love: The Heart of the Matter: Uncovering Your Story's Theme
This episode of Lore & Love dives into the heart of your story: its theme. Alexandria demystifies the concept, moving it from an intimidating academic exercise to a core question your narrative explores. Discover how theme is often found during the revision process by examining your main character's emotional journey and the central conflict between your hero and antagonist. Learn practical techniques to sharpen your story's thematic resonance by weaving in motifs, symbols, and mirr...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 8-Lore and Love: The Second Story: Finding the Magic in Revision
Welcome back to Lore & Love! If you've just typed "The End" on your first draft, it's time to celebrate—and then, it's time for the real magic to begin. In this episode, Alexandria demystifies the revision process, transforming it from a daunting task into an exciting journey of discovery. Learn why stepping away from your manuscript is the essential first step, and how to differentiate the "telescope" work of revision from the "microscope" work of editing. Alexandria offers practic...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 7-Lore and Love: The Final Polish: Writing Dialogue and Description That Sings
We’ve built our world, created our characters, and outlined our plot. Now for the final, crucial step: bringing it all to life on the page. In the final episode of this foundational series, we dive into the craft of prose itself, focusing on the two workhorses of fiction: dialogue and description. Learn how to write description that does more than paint a picture by filtering it through your character's unique point of view. Discover the power of engaging all the senses to create a truly imme...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 6-Lore and Love: Forging a Worthy Foe: The Art of the Antagonist
A hero is only as compelling as the challenges they must overcome. This week on Lore & Love, we dive into one of the most exciting aspects of storytelling: crafting a truly worthy foe. We move beyond the idea of a one-dimensional, mustache-twirling villain and explore how to build an antagonist who is the hero of their own story. Using the complex figure of Sa'tar from the Storm Kin Saga as a case study, we break down the three essential elements of a memorable antagonist: a relatable mot...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 4-Lore and Love: Beyond the Archetype: Crafting Characters with a Soul
A grand world is an empty stage without players to walk upon it. In this episode of Lore & Love, we move from world-building to character creation, exploring how to craft heroes and villains who feel less like game pieces and more like people with a soul. We discuss how to use archetypes as a starting point, not a destination, and dive into the techniques that give characters depth and drive. Using detailed examples from the Storm Kin Saga, we'll apply the "But Why?" game to uncover the t...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 5-Lore and Love: The Promise of a Story: Finding Your Plot
Your world is built and your characters are ready, but what happens next? This week on Lore & Love, we demystify the art of plotting. Forget complicated charts and color-coded cards; at its heart, a plot is simply a promise you make to your reader. We explore how to craft a compelling narrative by focusing on that core promise and structuring it with the natural rhythm of the three-act structure. Using the epic journey of Evandar's transformation in the Storm Kin Saga, we'll identify the ...
9 Jul 2025
Episode 3-Lore and Love: More Than a Map: Building a World That Breathes
Welcome back to Lore & Love! This week, we're tackling the grand, intimidating, and absolutely thrilling art of world-building. How do you create a fantasy world that feels like it has a pulse? We explore the "iceberg" method of world-building: focusing on the ninety percent of culture and history that lies beneath the surface to make the story your reader sees feel solid, authentic, and lived-in. Using specific examples from the Storm Kin Saga—from the sensory details of the Seven Curses...
25 Jun 2025
Lore and Love Episode 2 magical Systems
Fantasy author Alexandria Love explores five approaches to grounding a magic system by considering its true cost, including physical tolls and emotional sacrifices.
20 Jun 2025
Welcome to Lore & Love
Host Alexandria Love introduces the Lore & Love podcast, exploring the creation of immersive fantasy worlds and the passion that fuels authors, revealing the show's foundational philosophy.
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