007 - The One Where We Start, Part 2 [Worlds Asunder]

From Marvel to Star Wars, shared universe content is taking over the world. We interviewed Chris Kennedy, publisher, author, and one of the co-founders of the Four Horseman Universe (4HU). Today Chris Kennedy Publishing is made up of six imprints that publish everything from non-fiction to military fiction to fantasy. 

From CKP’s Seventh Seal Press, the Four Horseman Universe is an action-packed, sweeping military science fiction series. It all started in 2016 with Cartwright’s Cavaliers by Mark Wandrey (https://www.worldmaker.us/home/). Now the 4HU has expanded to 8 different series, approaching 100 titles from over 50 authors. Its dedicated fan club has 25 companies across the country. 

We’ll discuss: 

• Advantages of shared worlds and co-writing: stepping out of the author cave and working with others to ping-pong ideas and build your writing community 
• The worldbuilding process: how much is done in advance of writing your novel, and how does this vary from author to author? 
• The iceberg approach: how to determine which worldbuilding details are going to further your story 
• Joining a shared world as a new author: where do you start?
• The editing process: how developmental editing looks different in a shared world 

Resources and Guest Links: 

• Chris Kennedy Publishing: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/
• Mark Wandrey Author: https://www.worldmaker.us/home/ 
• World Building for Novices: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/book/world-building-for-novices/ 
• Quillcraft Press, CKP: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/quillcraft-press/ 
• 4HU Fan Club, the Mercenary Guild: https://themercenaryguild.org/index.html

Host Links: 

• H.Y. Gregor: https://hygregor.com/