#440. When a Game Designer becomes an Author, with Katie Hallahan
Summary
Craig interviews Katie Hallahan about her debut novel, *The Twice-Sold Soul*, an urban fantasy featuring a witch confronting her past. They discuss the book’s origins in tabletop RPGs, its magic system, and Hallahan’s background as a video game designer. The conversation also covers her publishing journey with Orbit and the challenges of balancing creative and business demands.
Topics discussed
Sponsor message from Marathon Sports
Welcome back to the Legendarium podcast
Introduction to The Twice-Sold Soul plot
Genre classification and romantic elements
Writing history and inspiration from RPGs
The drafting and revision process
Katie's career in video game design
Influence of adventure games on storytelling
Sponsor message from Marathon Sports
Starting in media res and establishing stakes
Magic systems and demon bargains
Flashbacks and cover art by Miranda Meeks
The querying process and finding Orbit
Why she chose traditional over self-publishing
Final thoughts and upcoming series books
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