Worldbuilding, Warriors, and Wry Humor: Richard Sparks on 'New Rock New Roll' and the Fantasy Beyond Podcast By cover art

Worldbuilding, Warriors, and Wry Humor: Richard Sparks on 'New Rock New Roll' and the Fantasy Beyond

Worldbuilding, Warriors, and Wry Humor: Richard Sparks on 'New Rock New Roll' and the Fantasy Beyond

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 In this episode of Geek Freaks Interviews, Frank sits down with Richard Sparks, writer of the epic fantasy series New Rock New Roll, New Rock New Realm, and the upcoming New Rock New Rules. Richard, a seasoned screenwriter turned novelist, shares how his background in gaming and storytelling led him to build a world where RPG avatars become real. From crafting immersive friendships to battling ogres with orcs, Richard discusses the challenges of writing layered adventures and how great story structure is the foundation of it all. We also explore his creative process, his Tolkien influence, and the exciting potential for a film or series adaptation.Timestamps and Topics:00:00 Introduction to Richard Sparks and the New Rock series00:18 How gaming inspired the novels00:56 Writing the first book in two months01:40 The main characters and their transformation into avatars02:45 Orcs, magic, and humorous worldbuilding03:28 Expanding the world beyond the original story04:06 Upcoming third book and Halloween launch05:11 How the characters evolve beyond their real-life players06:00 Building fantasy stories using game mechanics and puzzles07:12 Mysteries and reader immersion08:19 Puzzles, prophecies, and foreshadowing in book three09:48 Reader and character discovery unfolding together10:33 Early love for Tolkien and fantasy inspiration12:01 Tolkien’s writing habits and influence on Sparks13:28 The film rights and hopes for adaptation15:26 Lessons from decades of screenwriting17:20 From showing to telling—shifting from script to novel19:32 Layering clues for long-term story payoffs21:04 Letting characters dictate their journey22:24 Scaling stories from epic to personal24:00 Narrative structure and balancing multiple storylines26:16 Lessons from directing and acting workshops30:00 Overcoming rejection and growing as a storyteller33:00 Adventures in publishing, writing, and surviving the industry36:15 Pranks, ogres, and organic character moments39:00 Planning ahead while leaving room for surprises40:30 The illusionist's trick—crafting a worthy ending41:02 Final thoughts and where to get the booksKey Takeaways:New Rock New Roll began as a fantasy inspired by online gaming but evolved into a layered, character-driven series with real emotional depth.Richard emphasizes the importance of story structure, learned from his decades as a screenwriter and director.Humor, mystery, and friendship are core pillars of the New Rock world.Writing ahead, knowing your ending, and embracing rewrites are essential to strong fantasy storytelling.Film and TV adaptations are in early development, with industry interest in building a new fantasy franchise from Sparks’ world.Tolkien’s influence runs deep, and Sparks shares personal connections and insights into the master’s creative legacy.Quotes:“You’ve got to learn how to get out of your own way as a writer.”“The readers deserve to be put on an armchair ride and given a good adventure.”“All the best stories are the same but different.”“The times when you’re not writing are the ones that hurt.”“You’re the illusionist. The whole time, you’ve got them looking one way while you’re building something else.”Links and Resources:📘 Visit GeekFreaksPodcast.com for all the latest episodes, articles, and news📚 Check out Richard Sparks’ books at RichardSparks.com🎉 Learn more about the upcoming launch at the World Fantasy ConventionFollow Us:Facebook: facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcastInstagram: @geekfreakspodcastThreads: @geekfreakspodcastPatreon: patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastTwitter: twitter.com/geekfreakspodApple Podcast Tags:fantasy fiction, RPG novels, geek culture, author interview, Tolkien inspiration, writing advice, book series, screenwriting, story structure, podcast interview, fantasy author, creative writing, Geek Freaks
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