The Plot Goblins: Why We Started a Podcast for Readers, Indie Authors, and Book Lovers

Writing has always been about more than books for me.

TLDR;

Yes, I want people to read my stories. I want readers to fall in love with my characters, laugh with them, cry with them, and maybe even throw my book across the room once or twice.

But if you've followed my journey for a while, you probably already know that community has become just as important to me as storytelling.

If you read my post about how I became a dark fantasy and romance author, then you know my path into publishing wasn't exactly smooth. It was full of uncertainty, learning curves, and more than a few moments where I questioned whether I belonged in this industry at all.

Everything changed when I joined Literal Publications.

Working with Literal Publications has given me opportunities and knowledge I never imagined I'd have. While Shackled by Shadows will be my first release through the publisher, it certainly won't be the last. We have so many exciting projects planned for the future, and I genuinely can't wait to see where this next chapter takes me.

More importantly, it introduced me to some truly incredible people.

One of those people is Tracy.

And honestly...

The Plot Goblins never stood a chance of not happening.

Meet the Chaos Behind The Plot Goblins

Tracy and I clicked almost immediately.

She's bright, charismatic, wildly creative, and somehow matches my energy instead of trying to tone it down.

We both suffer from what we've affectionately named Shiny Apple Syndrome.

You know when you're working on one thing, then another exciting idea appears, and suddenly you're planning six new projects before you've finished the first one?

Yeah.

That's us.

For most of my life, I've had someone around to be the voice of reason. The person who would gently remind me I might be taking on too much or trying to sprint before learning how to walk.

Tracy is the complete opposite.

She hears one of my ridiculous ideas and somehow makes it even bigger.

Instead of asking, "Should we?"

She asks, "Okay... but how do we make it happen?"

And somehow, together, we do.

We're both the kind of people who see impossible ideas as puzzles instead of roadblocks. If one of us doesn't know the answer, the other starts brainstorming until suddenly we've found a solution.

Sometimes it feels like we're moving a million miles an hour.

How The Plot Goblins Podcast Was Born

With two people who love books, have zero filters, and apparently no concept of slowing down, starting a podcast almost felt inevitable.

That's how The Plot Goblins was born.

At its heart, it's exactly the kind of space we've always wanted to exist.

A place where we can:

• completely fangirl over books

• force each other to read outside our comfort genres

• host fun book clubs

• talk about writing honestly

• invite amazing authors onto the show

• celebrate stories we think deserve far more attention

  
  

Most importantly...

We want readers to feel like they're sitting around the table with us.

Not listening to two people lecture about books.

Actually being part of the conversation.

Why Supporting Indie Authors Matters So Much

If you've ever published a book independently, you already know.

Writing the book is only half the battle.

The harder part is getting people to discover it.

There are thousands of incredible indie books released every single year. Many of them are every bit as good as traditionally published novels, but they simply don't have the marketing budget or visibility needed to reach readers.

Those hidden gems deserve their moment.

Both Tracy and I know what that struggle feels like.

We've watched amazing authors pour years into stories that barely get seen because the publishing world is crowded.

That's why one of our biggest goals is to bring indie authors onto the podcast, introduce them to new readers, and even feature their books in our monthly book club selections.

Will we change the publishing industry overnight?

Probably not.

Can we help even one amazing author find a few hundred new readers?

Absolutely.

And if we can do that, then every late-night planning session, every recording, every edit, and every bit of behind-the-scenes chaos will be worth it.

It's More Than a Podcast

People see the finished episodes, but they don't always see everything happening behind the scenes. Every episode starts long before we ever hit the record button. There are schedules to coordinate, books to choose, guests to reach out to, graphics to design, episodes to edit, marketing to plan, and plenty of technical headaches along the way. It's a lot more work than most people realize.

Oddly enough, we love every minute of it. Every episode is another chance to build something bigger than ourselves: a place where readers can discover their next favorite book, authors feel seen and supported, and conversations are genuine instead of scripted. That's the kind of community we're working to create, and that's what makes all the behind-the-scenes work worth it.

Breaking Out of Our Reading Comfort Zones

One of the funniest parts of this partnership is how different our reading tastes are.

Tracy loves thrillers.

I'm a dark fantasy girl through and through, with dark romance coming in a close second.

Naturally, we decided the obvious solution was to make each other read books we probably wouldn't have picked up on our own.

Will she convince me to love thrillers?

Maybe.

Will I convert her into reading even more fantasy?

That's definitely the plan.

Either way, we're both excited to discover stories we'd probably never have found otherwise.

Because that's one of the best parts of being a reader.

Sometimes your next favorite book is one you never would have chosen yourself.

The Kind of Author I Hope to Be

There's something I've thought about a lot lately.

Success is an incredible dream.

I'd love for Shackled by Shadows to find thousands of readers.

I'd love to write books full time.

I'd love to stand in bookstores and see my novels on the shelves.

(A girl can dream.)

But there's one thing I never want to become.

I never want to be the author who feels unreachable.

The one where readers assume sending a message is pointless.

The one surrounded by so many layers that genuine connection disappears.

If one day my books become wildly successful, I hope people still recognize the person behind them.

Because I know I didn't get here alone.

Every reader who buys my books.

Every person who leaves a review.

Every comment.

Every recommendation.

Every share.

Every message.

Every single one of you has helped me get here.

You're the reason I keep writing.

You're the reason I keep dreaming bigger.

You're the reason projects like The Plot Goblins exist.

Community isn't something I built after becoming an author.

Community is the reason I became one.

And I promise I'll never forget that.

If you've ever supported me, read one of my stories, shared my work, or simply cheered me on from the sidelines...

Thank you.

I'll always be your biggest hype team if you'll let me.

What's Next for The Plot Goblins?

We're just getting started, and honestly, some of the ideas we have make us laugh because they're so ambitious. We have big plans for more guests, more book clubs, more reader discussions, more indie author spotlights, and probably a healthy dose of the chaos you've come to expect from us.

More than anything, we want to create something people look forward to every week. We want The Plot Goblins to be a place where readers, writers, and book lovers can come together to discover incredible stories, share their love of books, and remember why we all fell in love with reading in the first place.

So, if you're willing to come along for the ride, we'd love to have you. This community is only just beginning, and we can't wait to see where it takes us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Plot Goblins podcast?

The Plot Goblins is a podcast for readers, writers, and book lovers where we discuss books, host book clubs, interview authors, and celebrate the incredible indie publishing community.

Who hosts The Plot Goblins?

The podcast is co-hosted by L.L. Reid and Tracy, two lifelong book lovers with very different reading tastes and a shared passion for supporting authors.

Will you feature indie authors?

Absolutely! One of our biggest goals is giving indie authors a platform to share their stories, connect with readers, and gain more visibility.

What genres do you cover?

Everything from dark fantasy and dark romance to thrillers and beyond. We love challenging each other to read outside our usual genres, so expect a wide variety of books.

How can I support The Plot Goblins?

Listening to episodes, sharing them with friends, joining our book club discussions, and recommending amazing indie books all help us continue building this community.

Join the Goblin Horde

Whether you're a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer, or an indie author looking for a community that genuinely wants to see you succeed, we'd love to have you with us.

Explore Shackled by Shadows, learn more About Me, check out Literal Publications, and don't miss my story of how I became a dark fantasy and romance author. Then be sure to subscribe to The Plot Goblins so you never miss an episode.

The best stories don't just live inside books.

Sometimes they're created by the communities that grow around them.