The Mythic Mic Podcast

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic is forbidden, heroines are far more dangerous than they seem, and stories dare to remind us that softness can be power.
This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with breakout fantasy author Sasha E. Sloan to celebrate her debut novel, The Ruins Beneath Us. Sasha reflects on her unconventional path to publication—from musical theater and pageantry to building a massive online audience and ultimately landing a publishing deal with Disney. She shares how years of rejection, experimentation, and relentless creativity shaped her journey, and why she believes success is built, piece by piece, with intention and persistence. 
We dive into the enchanting and dangerous world of The Ruins Beneath Us, a YA fantasy that blends the wonder of classic fairytale worlds with high-stakes tension and emotional depth. Sasha unpacks her vision for the story: a “wonderstruck” fantasy experience inspired by the sweeping magic of 90s classics, where castles loom, forests whisper, and nothing is quite as simple as it seems.
At the heart of the story is Lyria—a heroine who challenges the genre itself. Soft, compassionate, and deeply feminine, yet fierce, powerful, and unafraid to fight for what matters. Sasha explores her intentional choice to write a character who embodies both strength and softness, pushing back against the idea that female power must look one specific way.
Along the way, we explore Sasha’s philosophy of storytelling: that perfection is the enemy of progress, that creativity requires vulnerability, and that sometimes the most powerful stories come from embracing imperfection and trusting your voice.
🩸 What if the most dangerous thing about you is the power you were told to hide?
✨ Can softness and strength exist in the same character?
🔥 And what happens when a forbidden world begins to feel like home?
This is a must-listen for fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes magic should feel as emotional as it is immersive.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT
✨ Sasha’s journey from musical theater and pageantry to published Disney author.
✨ Building a massive audience before publishing and why it mattered.
✨ The unconventional path to landing a Disney publishing deal.
✨ Writing multiple “failed” books before The Ruins Beneath Us.
✨ The inspiration behind the world of The Ruins Beneath Us.
✨ Challenging stereotypes of female strength in fantasy.
✨ Crafting romance and intimacy for a YA audience with intention.
✨ The balance between vulnerability, ambition, and storytelling.
✨ What’s next in the Ruins series and beyond. 
CONNECT WITH US
🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Sasha E. Sloan – IG: @sashaesloan and TikTok: @Sashaesloan
✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories don’t just live on the page—they find their readers, build communities, and sometimes, go viral in ways no one expects.
This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan are joined by Mythic Mic rep Amara for a special resource episode featuring Katelyn Ilkani, the founder of Calli—an innovative platform transforming how authors and influencers connect in the world of book marketing. 
Katelyn shares how a lifelong love of romance books and a background in tech and marketing led her to build Calli. Calli is a platform designed to solve a problem many readers and authors didn’t even realize they were struggling with: discovery. From the frustration of seeing the same books recommended over and over to recognizing the untapped potential of Bookstagram and BookTok, Calli was born out of a desire to connect the right books with the right audiences in a more meaningful way. 
We dive into the evolving landscape of book marketing and why influencer marketing isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming the backbone of how books find readers. Katelyn breaks down the concept of “trust transfer,” where influencers lend their credibility to the books they recommend, and explains why this kind of authentic, word-of-mouth marketing outperforms traditional ads.
Along the way, we explore what authors are getting wrong about marketing (hint: it’s not just about launch week), how influencers are shaping reader behavior, and why the future of book marketing is rooted in relationships, data, and community-driven discovery.
🩸 Why are so many great books still getting lost in the algorithm?
📚 What makes readers actually trust a recommendation enough to buy?
🔥 And how can authors build momentum that lasts beyond a single launch?
This is a must-listen for authors, influencers, and anyone curious about how books actually succeed in today’s digital landscape.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT
✨ The origin story behind Calli and the problem it set out to solve. 
✨ How influencer marketing works and why it’s so powerful. 
✨ The concept of “trust transfer” and why it beats traditional ads. 
✨ What authors are getting wrong about marketing (and how to fix it). 
✨ Why marketing should be an ongoing strategy, not just a launch event. 
✨ The broken state of data in book marketing and what that means for authors. 
✨ How Calli creates a safe, structured ecosystem for author–influencer collaborations. 
✨ What deliverables authors can expect from influencer partnerships. 
✨ How influencers and authors build long-term relationships through campaigns. 
✨ The rise of street teams and how Calli is reinventing them (new features coming soon!). 
✨ Upcoming features like “Stacks” and curated reader discovery tools. 
✨ Where book marketing is headed in the next few years. 
CONNECT WITH US
🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Calli – @Meet.Calli and https://meetcalli.com/
✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where legends are rewritten, heroines refuse to be tamed, and stories dare to challenge who gets to be the villain.
This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy and romance author Jayci Lee to dive into her Realm of Four Kingdoms series, beginning with Nine-Tailed and culminating in the explosive finale, Lightburn. 
Jayci reflects on her unconventional journey from practicing attorney for 15 years to becoming a full-time author, sharing how burnout ultimately pushed her to pursue the dream she’d held since she was fourteen. She opens up about writing her first book in just two months, balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and the reality that sometimes the only way to make space for your dreams is to fight for them. 
We dive into the heart of The Realm of Four Kingdoms, a sweeping romantasy rooted in Korean folklore. At its center is a nine-tailed fox spirit, traditionally cast as a villain, reimagined as a powerful, complex heroine. Jayci unpacks her decision to reclaim this narrative, exploring how mythology, culture, and identity shape both the story and the character at its core.
🩸 What happens when the villain becomes the hero of her own story?
🔥 How do you step into your power when the world fears it?
⚔️ And what does it mean to choose love, identity, and purpose in a world that demands sacrifice?
This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, mythology enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to stories filled with power, emotion, and unapologetic heroines.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT
✨ Jayci’s journey from attorney to full-time author.
✨ Balancing motherhood, career, and creative passion.
✨ Fighting imposter syndrome and learning to ignore the inner critic.
✨ Why finishing the book is the most important step for any writer.
✨ The inspiration behind The Realm of Four Kingdoms series.
✨ Reclaiming the nine-tailed fox myth from villain to heroine.
✨ Blending Korean folklore with modern American settings.
✨ Building a dual-world system with gods, mortals, and hidden realms.
✨ Writing a romantasy with equal weight on plot and romance.
✨ Crafting a love triangle with very different dynamics.
✨ Writing emotionally intense, high-stakes finales (Lightburn 👀). 
✨ Why readers can expect heartbreak—but ultimately, hope. 
CONNECT WITH US
🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Jayci Lee – @authorjaycilee and https://www.jaycilee.com/
✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where bargains come with consequences, magic is as dangerous as it is seductive, and stories dare to ask what you’re willing to trade for power.
This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling author Sasha Peyton Smith, the mind behind The Rose Bargain and its highly anticipated sequel The Thorn Queen. Sasha reflects on her unexpected path to authorship—from studying science and public health to discovering storytelling in her early twenties—and what it took to finally give herself permission to pursue writing. She shares how stubbornness, vulnerability, and a willingness to start before feeling “ready” ultimately shaped her career.
We also dive into the lush, dangerous world of The Rose Bargain, a story built on glittering deals, layered ambition, and the irresistible pull of power. Sasha unpacks the heart of the series and how writing for joy, rather than the market, transformed her storytelling.
🩸 What are you willing to trade to get everything you’ve ever wanted?
🌹 When ambition and desire collide, who do you become?
⚔️ And what happens when the most dangerous deals are the ones you choose?
This is a must-listen for romantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes magic should be as indulgent as it is dangerous.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT
✨ Sasha’s journey from science and public health to becoming a bestselling fantasy author.
✨ Why it took time to give herself permission to pursue writing.
✨ The role of stubbornness in finishing a first book.
✨ Navigating rejection and being dropped by a publisher.
✨ How Sasha created The Rose Bargain, including the first spark. 
✨ Writing for joy instead of chasing market trends.
✨ Why readers can expect from The Thorn Queen. 
✨ The evolution from debut author to building a larger fantasy universe. 
CONNECT WITH US
🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Sasha Peyton Smith – @SashaPeytonSmith
✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where memory is a fragile thing, magic is earned, and stories dare to ask what happens when you’re thrown into the fire with no idea how you got there.
This week, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with powerhouse fantasy author Rachel Vincent to dive into her newest release, The Alchemary. With over two decades in publishing, Rachel brings sharp insight, honesty, and a no-nonsense perspective on writing, craft, and the realities of building a long-term career in the industry. 
Rachel reflects on a lifetime of storytelling, from writing her first story at five years old to becoming both a bestselling author and a professor of writing. She shares what it really means to pursue writing as a career and the constant evolution required to stay in the game.
We also dive into the high-stakes world of The Alchemary, where a young woman named Amber wakes up with no memory and is immediately thrown into deadly final exams at an elite alchemy academy. Rachel unpacks the terrifying brilliance of a system where knowledge is power, failure has consequences, and magic isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you have to earn.
🩸 What happens when your past holds the key to your survival—but you can’t remember it?
⚗️ How do you prove your worth in a world where failure could kill you?
🔥 And what does it take to keep going when the industry keeps changing beneath your feet?
This is a must-listen for fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who wants an unfiltered look at both the magic and the reality of publishing.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT
✨ What it really means to build a long-term career in publishing.
✨ Why writing is both an art and a business, and how to navigate both.
✨ Common mistakes new writers make (and how to avoid them).
✨ The constantly evolving nature of the publishing industry.
✨ The inspiration behind The Alchemary and its high-stakes premise. 
✨ Building a magic system rooted in science, discipline, and structure. 
✨ Creating deadly trials that test both knowledge and survival. 
✨ Writing tension through stakes, mystery, and character uncertainty. 
CONNECT WITH US
🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Rachel Vincent – @rachelkvincent
✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.