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There’s a book inside you. A message that won’t leave you alone.
But between fear, responsibility, doubt — and now the rise of AI — you keep starting… and stopping.
Welcome to The Adventurous Author Podcast.
I’m Bonnie Jean Schaefer — fantasy author D.K. Drake — and I’ve published four novels while working a full-time job. I didn’t quit my life to write. I built systems that made finishing possible inside it.
Now I help stuck Christian writers do the same.
This podcast is discipleship through storytelling.
We follow a simple framework:
Start with WHO.
Anchor your identity in Christ so fear loses leverage — especially in an AI age where identity matters more than ever.
Live Your Story.
Build sustainable 15-minute systems that fit your real life.
Win Your Race.
Finish what God called you to start — and become the kind of person who keeps finishing.
Every season rotates through identity, systems, and storytelling mastery in a structured spiral of growth.
If you’ve been hiding, doubting, or wondering where you fit in this new creative world — you’re not alone.
Let’s adventurize your life and rise from stuck...together.
Episodes
Friday Jun 16, 2023
Friday Jun 16, 2023
The summer writing season is officially upon us! If your writing plans include busting out a novella this summer, then this episode is for you. I’m picking up where we left on in the write a novella series, and we are on week four.
If you missed the action steps for weeks 1-3, check out episodes 43, 45 and 47.
Those episodes focused on getting the foundation of your story in place regarding your market research, premise statements, setting, and character development. Today we’ll start building your story framework with phase one of the outlining process. Let’s get to it!
Your friend,
DK
Next Steps:
Snag your freebie:
Super Simple Overview of the Publishing Process for Self-Published Authors
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love DK and Published Before College.” If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review my show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode.
And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
These two things I’m about to share with you don’t cost a dime but have the power to change the way you feel and how fast you write.
Ready for today’s fun episode to learn two weird things you can do to speed up your writing success? Let’s get to it!
Your friend,
DK
Next Steps:
Snag your freebie:
Super Simple Overview of the Publication Process
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love DK and Published Before College.”
If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review my show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to rate with five stars and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode.
And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Wednesday May 31, 2023
I've got a super short episode today to highlight the super simple overview of the publishing process.
If you've ever wondered what it takes to get your book published, you can secure your super simple overview of the publishing process here.
Connect with me: dk@authordkdrake.com.
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
To succeed as an author, you do need to build the character muscles of diligence and discipline so that you sit and write at specific, consistent times each week. How do you do that? What do you work on during these weekly writing practices? Who will keep you accountable?
You start by following a five step process that we’ll explore in today’s episode. You break each step of that process into actionable tasks. And you ask a friend or family member to keep you accountable.
If you want me to keep you accountable and on track toward your writing goals, you can join the League of Adventurous Authors. It’s open at an exclusive price to founding members right now. We’ll meet weekly to set actions for the week, track our progress and celebrate wins. You’ll also get training to build your writing skills and have access to Q&A sessions with me. This round of membership is only open until next Friday. When it reopens in August, the price will be higher. So get in now while the price is the lowest it will ever be. The link is in the show notes for you.
So what is this five step process you need to go through to get from idea to published? Let’s explore that right now.
Interested in joining the League of Adventurous Authors? Shoot me an email, and I'll respond with details! Email me at dk@authordkdrake.com.
Wednesday May 17, 2023
Wednesday May 17, 2023
From one author to another, I have a theory. That theory is this: setting aside 30 minutes on Monday to debrief the week before and dream about the week ahead will help us reach our writing goals faster.
But what do we review during the debrief? How do we set achievable targets with actionable tasks for the week ahead? How do we make sure what we work on each day and week takes us closer to our writing goals?
Finding the answers to these questions is at the heart of the super secret project I’ve been working on, and that is what I want to share with you today.
Email me: dk@authordkdrake.com
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Today I have three quick tips to help you write stellar stories.
I didn’t learn these tips from a book or a course or a podcast or some random social media post. I learned them while backpacking in South America.
What does backpacking have to do with writing? Tune in to find out!
Friday May 05, 2023
Friday May 05, 2023
Today I am bringing you some entertainment in the form of an interview. This is the third and final piece of the chat between me and my friend Becky on night seven of our eight day hike. We interviewed each other about the trek while in our tent on that cold night, and now I’m sharing it with you. You can also watch it here.
Listen in to find out how this trip will influence my next novel and discover the cool thing your creative brain will thank you for.
And if you want the inside scoop regarding the super secret project I'm working on for you before I announce it here on the podcast, you can get yourself on the email list.
Now lets go back in time one more time to hear the end of the interview between me and Becky while we were shivering in our tent on March 29, 2023. Let’s go to Chile!
Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
I’ve got another just for fun episode for you today. I’m sharing part 2 of the interview my friend Becky and I recorded while sitting in our tent in Torres del Paine in Chile. It was night seven of our eight day hike. We chat about food, friends and life lessons learned while on the trail. If you ever want to go on a backpacking adventure of your own, hopefully this session will inspire you and give you some insights about what such an adventure would look like.
Crafting adventures of your own allow you to get out and experience the world. Then you can translate those experiences into…wait for it…stories. In other words, adventures enrich your writing!
We’ll finish up this recap series tomorrow, and on May 17, I’ll share the super secret project I’ve been working on to help you start, finish, and publish your book. For now, I’m transporting you back in time to the interview between me and Becky recorded on March 29. Let’s go to Chile!