On this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri welcomes author Joshua Blum to discuss his fantasy book series, The Thirteen Hour. Blum, who grew up during the 1980s, shares how his writing is deeply inspired by his upbringing and classic '80s pop culture, including films like Back to the Future, Labyrinth, and The Last Starfighter.
The story, influenced by '80s fairy tales and one-shot movies, centers on a young man named Logan from a sleepy village who is recruited into his kingdom's military and eventually sent on a solitary quest around the world.
The series, which includes the prequel A Shadow in the Moonlight, Falling Leaves Don't Weep, and Empty Hands, explores the complex process of growing up and grappling with the transition to adulthood through a fantasy lens. Blum also discusses how '80s teen films, particularly those by John Hughes, helped him understand the stereotypical American teenage experience, influencing the dialogue and banter between his main characters, Logan and Aurora.
The conversation highlights the truly unique element of Blum's work: The incorporation of music into his narrative words. To enhance the reader's experience, he created a retro '80s/synth-style soundtrack to accompany the book, available across two albums: Long Ago Not So Far Away (2016) and the recently released Once Upon a Dream.
We also touch upon Blum's short book for children, Your Star Will Glow Forever, a positive poem intended to offer a message of hope, reminding readers to stay optimistic even during tough times.
Listeners interested in the connection between '80s cinema and fantasy literature are highly encouraged to check out this episode, especially as a companion piece to our previous '80s episode with Chris Clews.
You can find the Thirteen Hour book series on Amazon, including A Shadow in the Moonlight, The Thirteenth Hour, Falling Leaves Don't Weep, and Empty Hands, as well as his short children's book, Your Star Will Glow Forever.
Here's the accompanying soundtrack to listen to while reading the above books. Here's the download code for the accompanying book albums, if Bandcamp asks you to purchase or download them after a few listens: cpv5-6ewds7bg-kudcswxn-gvxwssev-79eskfhh-wlfn. You can redeem it here: Link.
You can also find The Thirteenth Hour Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, which explores the aspects of '80s culture as well as a wide variety of influences behind the books.
If you'd like to contact Joshua Blum or keep up with him on social media, you can find him on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Patreon, TikTok, and YouTube.
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