He may be a relative newcomer to the world of writing podcasts, but Michael Vadney is bringing a refreshing, enthusiastic voice and dynamite content with his Author Adjacent pod on YouTube.
The title reflects Michael’s own “situation as a writer-in-progress. In his words, the podcast is about his “journey from hobbyist writer to professional author with a focus on novel writing. ” (Check out his brief video summary about the podcast.) The show features interviews with authors and explores topics related to writing, publishing, and the creative process. I also enjoy Michael’s frequent shorts. They often provide morsels of inspiration and encouragement like this one, which I included in a recent blog post about my own writing struggles.
Read on to learn about the man behind the podcast, why he launched Author Adjacent, what inspires him, and more.
1. What sparked the idea for the Author Adjacent podcast, and what’s the core mission you’re aiming to achieve with each episode — whether it’s building community, amplifying voices, or something else entirely?
Before Author Adjacent, there was just the quiet, persistent thought that I wanted to be an author. I’ve dreamed of writing a book for most of my life, but it wasn’t something I could fully admit to myself until I hit my 30s. Up until then, writing was something I picked up and put down over the years, always promising myself I’d get serious about it eventually. But, like so many others, survival came first. I had to make sure I could eat, pay the bills, and keep life moving.
After years of watching me casually start projects before putting them away, my wife encouraged me to join a writing group. Not just dabble, but to commit to writing. I think for many that first step is difficult because it means putting your dream at risk. Around that time, I’d been following BookTubers and writing podcasts, and one piece of advice kept showing up: build an audience.
That’s when the idea of starting my own show came up in a conversation with my wife. She even helped me come up with the title, Author Adjacent. It’s a label for those of us who are actively writing, working toward becoming authors, but aren’t quite ready to claim the title just yet, like myself.
The goal of Author Adjacent is to document my journey from hobbyist writer to professional author, while building a space for other writers and readers along the way. The show has three types of episodes, each with its own focus:
- Author Interviews: Where my audience and I learn from other writers’ experiences, hearing how they got started and what they’ve learned along the way.
- Book Reviews: A chance to analyze other authors’ work and see how they play with the tools of storytelling. I believe reading and dissecting books is the second-best way to learn writing. The first, of course, is actually writing.
- Story Craft Lessons: Where I dig into different aspects of storytelling, like worldbuilding, pantsing vs plotting, theme, character arcs, and more.
It’s a place for anyone else who’s not quite ready to call themselves an author to feel a little less alone on the path.
2. How did your passion for literature take root? Was there a specific book, author, or moment that flipped a switch and made you dive headfirst into the world of stories?
As a kid, I wasn’t much of a reader and wasn’t particularly interested in school either. In an effort to get me more engaged in both, my parents gave me a copy of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
That’s where everything changed.
It didn’t make me like school any more than before, but it did spark a love for reading and for fantasy in particular. That book opened a door I didn’t know existed, and from there, I developed a fascination with stories of all kinds. I grew up consuming the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, and everything R.A. Salvatore wrote until the early 2010s.
I still have a well-worn copy of The Spear Wielder’s Tale, which I must have read a dozen times while working as a mechanic’s assistant during summer breaks. It sits on my shelf, its pages stained with engine grease and marked by black fingerprints.
For years, I stuck almost exclusively to fantasy. These days I center my reading around fantasy, sci-fi, and romance (in that order), with the occasional dip into the classics like East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
I’m captivated by stories. Whether reading a book or watching a compelling movie, I love unraveling the creator’s craft — how they weave setting and characters to deliver a powerful theme that hits you square in the chest. Moments of triumph give me chills, while scenes of loss echo deeply. It’s like living a thousand lives in the span of one.
3. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your approach to hosting Author Adjacent — be it a favorite interviewer, a literary figure, or even a non-literary inspiration that shapes how you connect with authors?
I’d say there are two major influences on how I run Author Adjacent.
The first is Daniel Greene from Fantasy News on YouTube. His journey from YouTuber to indie author was what originally inspired the structure and tone of my show. I’ve followed his channel for years, and his casual, news-room style always speaks to the part of me that earned an undergraduate Broadcast Communications degree.
The second big influence is FanFiAddict. I discovered them after doing an ARC read for Adrian M. Gibson’s Mushroom Blues. Back then, the podcast was hosted by Adrian alongside M.J. Kuhn, and later they were joined by Greta Kelly — who I’ve recently had the pleasure of working with. It was through them that I found the courage to start reaching out to authors and asking if they’d be interested in coming on my show for interviews. To my surprise, everyone I’ve asked so far has said yes. It’s been an incredible experience, not just for the chance to learn from them, but to build real connections — and in some cases, even friendships—with the guests I’ve had on.
While many people have helped shape Author Adjacent, it wouldn’t be what it is today without Fantasy News or FanFiAddict. And beyond them, I owe a lot to the writing community in general. I’ve said it many times, but it still surprises me how genuinely welcoming the online writing world is. No matter how successful someone might be, it’s just a big group of people united by a shared love of stories.
4. Running a podcast like Author Adjacent puts you in conversation with a wide range of writers. What’s one unexpected lesson or insight about the writing craft or creative process you’ve picked up from your guests?
A surprising insight from Author Adjacent guests is that writer’s block often hides a deeper fear of imperfection. Many authors reject the idea of “the block” as some mystical force, viewing it instead as a sign they’re overthinking their work’s flaws. Their solution? Intentionally writing terrible drafts—churning out deliberately rough pages to shatter the mental barrier. This approach frees them to refine later, unburdened by the need for instant perfection.
Too often, writers pressure themselves to craft flawless prose from the start, when the real goal is simply to get words on the page. Transforming raw drafts into polished gems happens during editing, so ease up on chasing a “perfect” story until the final passes. It’s a counterintuitive strategy that turns fear into creative fuel.
5. For aspiring writers listening to your podcast, what’s the one piece of advice you’d share — either from your own experience or something you’ve heard from your guests — that could help them navigate the highs and lows of their writing journey?
For aspiring writers, my biggest advice — drawn from my own journey and the wisdom shared on Author Adjacent — is to focus on what gets words on the page, not on chasing a “perfect” process.
There’s a standard way to structure a story, and it’s worth learning, but don’t let it shackle you. Every writer’s path is unique. If your method works, own it. If it doesn’t, experiment fearlessly with new approaches, but never stop writing. The key is relentless persistence.
I’ve committed to writing until I’m either a successful author with stories people love or I’m dead and it’s no longer my problem. Either way, embrace the journey — learning the craft, connecting with the community, and enjoying the process is what keeps you going through the highs and lows.
Featured image: screenshot of Michael Vadney during a recent episode of his podcast, Author Adjacent
Andy writes! 