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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
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Wednesday May 03, 2023
If you are an adventurous author who likes to hike, I've got a fun treat for you today. While on my own hiking adventure with my college buddy Becky, we interviewed each other about our trip. This is part one of the interview where we discuss tips, tricks and highlights that can help you on your own hiking trips.
You can also watch the video here if you want to see us bundled up in our tent while we chatted on that freezing cold evening.
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Today I don’t want to talk to you about writing or publishing. Don’t get me wrong. Those topics are still close to my heart and will continue to be core topics of the show. Just not today. Or next week.
You see, while on my two-month sabbatical, a lot happened in this magnificent little life of mine. I went on an epic backpacking adventure, finished reading a book on writing that is changing my approach to novel writing and started revolutionizing the way I think, the way I pray and the way I get work done.
And I learned that sometimes the most progress you make as a writer is when you are experiencing life. Listen to this quick episode to learn what I've been up to and how that translates into great things for YOU.
Shoot me an email to say hi here: dk@authordkdrake.com
Check out the videos and pics from my backpacking trip on the blog.
Get on the email list to be notified first of the cool announcement coming on May 17.
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Why do I want to take a break from producing this podcast in March?
Listen in to find out.
I'll be back on April 5. Until then, keep writing!
Connect: dk@authordkdrake.com
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
We’re in week three of our write a novella in 18 weeks series.
In week one and episode 43, we did some initial market research and sketched out our covers.
In week two and episode 45, we came up with our plot premise and purpose premise. We also did some work on imagining our place or setting.
This week, we’re going to start working on developing our main characters. My guest host Bonnie Jean Schaefer will share some normal and important things you need to know about your people. Then she’ll challenge you to answer five random and somewhat ridiculous questions about your characters that will make each of them interesting.
Friday Feb 17, 2023
Friday Feb 17, 2023
It’s Fantasy Fiction Friday!
Today I’m bringing you chapter 27 of The Dragon Collector entitled The Zandadorian Portal.
Do you ever wish you could transport yourself from one place to another with merely a thought? Think of the time you would save and the traffic you would avoid. Plus money would no longer be a barrier to travel, so you could experience endless adventures.
Well, teleportation is a real thing in the Land of Zandador…for the Dawn Stalkers, that is. Humans can’t teleport, but they have learned to utilize that teleportation power and create portals to different regions in the land.
But what you don’t learn in this chapter is that King Omri has banned the use of the portals because he doesn’t want people traveling. He doesn’t want them to explore. To have adventures. To see the world. He wants them to remain contained and compliant. That makes him feel in control and powerful.
However, he doesn’t have as much control as he thinks he does. In today’s chapter, Astor and Javan activate the portal and instantly travel to…you’ll have to listen to find out.
Let’s get to the Land of Zandador!
Get Your Free DK Drake Starter Library here.
Snag one or all of the Dragon Stalker books here.
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Here we are in week 2 of the novella writing process. If you are one of those people who would prefer to speed up write your entire novella in a week or a month instead of the four-ish months it’s going to take me, go for it. I applaud you.
In other words, I’m not leading a fast and furious writing challenge. This is more of a slow-and-steady write-well-with-depth challenge. Why? Because it plays to my strengths and availability.
Today we’re discussing the exact steps to take in week 2, and these steps will take 3-5 hours to complete. Let’s dive in to find out what you need to do this week to make progress on your novella.
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Hey friends!
Chapter 26 of The Dragon Collector is coming your way today.
In this chapter, I utilized the storytelling necessity of foreshadowing to plant some seeds for future books. Pay special attention to the weather event that Astor describes to Javan as that will come into play in The Dragon Hunter, and the second seed makes Javan’s mission to win the throne even more vital.
Listen now to The Old Man’s Warning to, well, be warned!
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Want to get a book written but feel you don’t have enough time between school and sports and family obligations?
Or maybe you’ve already done the school thing and now have a job that doesn’t leave you with much time for passion projects like book writing.
Or maybe you listened to episode 40 and have scheduled yourself some writing practices, but you aren’t sure where to start and how to go about finishing a book.
Then, my friend, this novella writing series is for you. I’m bringing on guest host Bonnie Jean Schaefer to walk through her novella writing process as she writes through it herself one week at a time for 18 weeks.
Tune in for the 7 step plan and your specific action steps for week one.
Prefer to read the 7 steps? Visit the blog here.