Uncorking a Story Podcast

Uncorking a Story

Hosted ByMike Carlon

Stories influence, teach and inspire us, but what about the storytellers who create them? Uncorking a Story profiles storytellers to uncover how their background and life experiences influence the stories they create. We learn what motivates them, their path to success, and what fuels them to keep creating. It all starts by asking one simple question, where does your story begin? Welcome to uncorking a story. All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory

Website Subscribe

Sci-Fi, Superheroes, and the Unknown, with Caitlyn Grabenstein

September 2, 2025 MPN Uncorking a Story 0 Comments
Share the goodness!
FacebookXRedditEmailLinkedIn

“I wanted to write a character who was a relatable superhero—someone a woman today might connect with, not a god or an alien, but a real person with real struggles.” — Caitlyn Grabenstein

In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with author and artist Caitlin Grabenstein, the creative force behind the surreal collage brand Cult Class whose work has been commissioned by Netflix, Adobe, Glamour, and Porsche. Caitlin joins me to talk about her debut novel One Red Arrow, Part One—a sci-fi thriller that blends creature-feature suspense, relatable superheroes, and a deeply human exploration of anxiety, transformation, and resilience. We dive into her artistic journey from folk music to visual art to fiction, her fascination with aliens, and what it takes to self-publish a story that pushes beyond the tired tropes of modern superhero films.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Creative Evolution – From writing folk songs to creating surreal visual art to publishing a sci-fi novel, Caitlin shares how creativity takes many forms.
  2. A Relatable Superhero – Why she wanted to write a multidimensional female protagonist who reflects the real struggles of modern women.
  3. The Fascination with Aliens & the Unknown – How childhood nights watching obscure TV shows with her dad fueled her art and writing.
  4. The Challenges of Writing a Novel – Three years of work taught Caitlin just how difficult—and cathartic—it is to build a compelling plot.
  5. Indie Publishing & Vulnerability – Why she turned to Kickstarter, the role of reviews, and the vulnerability of putting a book into the world.
  6. The Role of Art in Storytelling – From maps of fictional towns to chapter illustrations, Caitlin integrates art into her narrative universe.
  7. Depth Over Tropes – Her frustration with formulaic superhero stories and her mission to bring more psychological and emotional complexity into the genre.

Buy One Read Arrow Part 1:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Uqdbfn

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798999128713

 

Connect with Caitlyn

Website: https://www.clgdesignco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cult.class/?hl=en

Facebook: 

Connect with Mike

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#UncorkingAStory #CaitlinGrabenstein #OneRedArrow #IndieAuthor #WomenInSciFi #SuperheroFiction #CreativeJourney #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #SciFiThriller

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices