I think I was a very... particular kind of undergraduate workshop student. -Dan Kois In this episode, I welcome my old classmate from UNC,  Dan Kois, Slate editor and author of Hampton Heights. We dive into our journey from college classmates to published authors. Both pro writers, we each took a very different path.  Dan shares the inspiration behind Hampton Heights, a thrilling adventure featuring four kids selling newspapers and encountering monsters unexpected relatives, and more.  Of course we discuss the struggles of self-doubt, the impact of mentorship, and the significance of continuing to write despite the obstacles.  <a href= "https://murverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/isbw-s21-ep14-P.docx" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Transcript</a> Links <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.dankois.com/" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dan Kois</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91235/9780063358751" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hampton Heights</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://slate.com/author/dan-kois" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Slate</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91235/9780063162426" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vintage Contemporaries</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_Barry" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lynda Barry</a> </li> </ul> Evergreen Links <ul> <li> <a href= "https://bookshop.org/lists/i-should-be-writing-season-21" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">See all books from Season 21</a> </li> <li> Like the podcast? Get the book! <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Should-Be-Writing-Writers-Workshop-ebook/dp/B079TLDQTQ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">I Should Be Writing</a>. </li> <li> Socials: <a href="http://mightymur.bsky.social/" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bluesky</a>, <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/mightymur2" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a>, <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/murlafferty" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">YouTube</a>, <a href= "https://www.focusmate.com/i/eFYhRYYxW7" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Focusmate</a> </li> <li> Theme by <a href="https://johnanealio.bandcamp.com/" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">John Anealio</a> </li> <li> <a href= "https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/group.html?group=18371" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends</a> </li> <li> Support local book stores! <a href= "https://bookshop.org/contributors/mur-lafferty" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!</a> </li> <li> OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, <a href= "https://www.flyleafbooks.com/mur-lafferty-signed" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Flyleaf Books!</a> </li> </ul> — "Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on <a href= "http://www.patreon.com/mightymur" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Patreon</a>! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by <a href="https://johnanealio.bandcamp.com/music" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">John Anealio</a>, art by <a href= "http://ko-fi.com/numbersninja/commissions" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Numbers Ninja</a>, and files hosted by <a href="https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=MUR" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Libsyn (affiliate link).</a> Get archives of the show via <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/mightymur" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Patreon.</a> August 29, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 14 | <a href= "https://murverse.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" data-link-auto="">murverse.com</a> "Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights" by <a href="http://murverse.com" rel= "noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mur Lafferty</a> is licensed under <a href= "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CC BY-NC-SA 4.0</a> In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

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