Can Empathy Win a War? Penn Cole on her Epic Finale for The Kindred Curse Saga
Femme & Furious: A Feminist Pop Culture PodcastSummary
The conversation centers around Penn Cole, a New York Times bestselling author, who reflects on her journey from being an indie author to a TV writer, particularly focusing on her series, "Burn of the Everflame." Cole discusses the evolution of her career and the impact of platforms like BookTok in promoting literature and connecting readers with authors. She expresses gratitude for the support she has received and emphasizes the importance of storytelling in addressing themes of justice, compassion, and the complexities of human relationships.
Cole delves into the character development within her series, particularly the protagonist Diem, who embodies the struggle between compassion and the desire for vengeance. The discussion highlights the challenges of portraying nuanced characters in a fantasy setting, where readers often grapple with their expectations versus the narrative's direction. Cole acknowledges the difficulty of writing characters who make morally complex decisions and the importance of allowing them to grow beyond the confines of traditional archetypes.
The conversation also touches on the adaptation of her work into television, with Cole noting the challenges and opportunities that come with translating a book into a visual medium. She encourages readers to support adaptations, emphasizing that the success of one project can pave the way for more stories to be told. Cole's insights reflect a broader commentary on the changing landscape of publishing and media, where the voices of women and diverse narratives are increasingly gaining recognition and influence.
Show Notes
Spoiler warning: this episode discusses the ending of Burn of the Everflame and The Kindred’s Curse Saga. Finish the book first, then come back 🔥 Summary: This week, New York Times bestselling author Penn Cole joins me to talk about Burn of the Everflame, the final book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga. We dig into what makes a finale both satisfying and nuanced, why a heroine who refuses violence in a world built on it becomes a lightning rod for criticism, and what “good” and “bad” even mean if those labels mean we can’t hold anyone accountable. We get into: Whether “good” and “bad” labels serve us at all, and what redemption actually means How hard it is to break personal, familial, and social patterns Femininity, and how young men get pulled into the manosphere How romantasy opened fantasy up to adult women, after years of women’s fantasy being shelved as YA and taken less seriously Why “advocacy takes all kinds,” and why writing for people who disagree with you matters if you want your art to do good
Meet Penn Cole Penn Cole is a fantasy romance author who has just concluded publishing her debut series, The Kindred’s Curse Saga. As many can attest, one of her favorite things to do when she's not writing is discussing theories with her readers—and maybe dropping a few hints to send them spiraling (I didn’t get the title “chaos demon” from them for nothing!). Find Penn Cole Website: https://linkly.link/2rLH6 Instagram, TikTok, and Threads @AuthorPennCole
Add it to your TBR: When you shop through my book links, you're helping keep the lights on for my woman-owned, indie podcast AND you're also supporting independently owned bookstores! It's a win-win-win situation The Kindred's Curse Saga Spark of the Everflame Glow of the Everflame: https://linkly.link/2rLMV Heat of the Everflame: https://linkly.link/2rLP6 Burn of the Everflame: https://linkly.link/2rLOp
Want Femme & Furious Kindred's Curse Saga Playlist, with slay-by-slay deep dives into each book? Check it out here: https://linkly.link/2nl7l On the Pod we may have mentioned... ACOTAR Penn Cole's favorite Romantasy, Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey: https://linkly.link/2z8xp
Book-to-screen adaptations gushed over: The Love Hypothesis Book: https://linkly.link/2jclB Femme & Furious Love Hypothesis Quickie: https://linkly.link/2z90k Femme & Furious Love Hypothesis movie take: https://linkly.link/2z918 My Oxford Year (Book): https://linkly.link/2z91H People We Meet on Vacation Book: https://linkly.link/2z92f Femme & Furious People We Meet on Vacation Quickie: https://linkly.link/2z92q Femme & Furious People We Meet on Vacation Movie Quickie: https://linkly.link/2z933
If you love book to screen adaptations, Check out this Femme & Furious Playlist: https://linkly.link/2xyM9
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