Story Secrets - "Fantasy Helps Us Discover Our Own World"

Story Secrets - "Fantasy Helps Us Discover Our Own World"

Author: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen February 14, 2025 Duration: 20:22

It’s Fantasy Friday, and I’ve got two things for you: an inspiring interview with fantasy author and illustrator Robin Rozendal and an update on my own fantasy novel.

Meet Robin Rozendal: I met Robin at the Fantasy Festival in Arcen, and her creativity blew me away. Here’s why:

  • Massive, Original World: Her fantasy books explore living cities—yes, cities with thoughts, emotions, and even mental health struggles. It’s a concept I’ve never seen before, and it’s brilliant.

  • Multi-Talented Creator: She’s not just an author; she illustrates her own books and runs two YouTube channels (in Dutch) about writing and videography. Her writing journey even inspired me to start my own Booktube channel.

Her world-building is next-level, blending human characters with sentient cities that communicate through emotions and memories. If that doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will.

My Novel Update: Inspired by creators like Robin, I finally gave myself permission to write. I’m in month two of my novel-writing journey:

  • January: Focused on plotting, world-building, and character sketches.

  • February: Drafting phase with a goal of 3,000 words a day. Surprisingly, I often exceed that, hitting 5,000 words or more.

The story has evolved beyond my original outline, and that’s part of the magic. Writing isn’t just about getting words on paper; it’s about discovering the story as you go.

If you’ve ever wanted to write, consider this your sign: start today. You might just find a new passion.

Want more insights into my writing process? Check out my daily updates on YouTube: My BookTube Channel.

Check out Robin Rozendal's Channel on YouTube
Visit her website and order her books here


Ever notice how a great film or television show can linger in your mind long after the credits roll? There’s often something more happening beneath the surface, a resonance that feels almost spiritual. Story Secrets is where we pull on those threads. Hosted by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, this podcast sits at a unique crossroads, weaving together discussions on faith, popular culture, and pure entertainment. Each episode takes a familiar story-whether from a beloved movie, a gripping TV series, or even a timeless tale-and gently uncovers the themes of meaning, purpose, and humanity hidden within. You won’t find dry lectures here; instead, Fr. Roderick brings a conversational and insightful perspective, revealing how narratives we enjoy in our leisure time can unexpectedly illuminate deeper questions about life, virtue, and connection. It’s for anyone who loves a good story and has ever wondered why it sticks with them. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful friend for a coffee after seeing a fantastic film, where the conversation naturally drifts from plot points to the profound. You’ll come away with a richer appreciation for the craft of storytelling and, perhaps, a new lens through which to view your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Story Secrets
Podcast Episodes
Story Secrets - Warrior Cats: Into the Wild Review (Spoilers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:32
Okay, confession time. I did not expect to get emotionally invested in a book about warrior cats. But Into the Wild pulled me in fast. At first, I thought, "Oh, this will be a fun, light read." And then suddenly, I was k…
Story Secrets - How I Fell in Love with Reading Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:02
I was a library kid. My happy place was a quiet corner, surrounded by books, far from the constant noise of home—my dad’s bagpipes, my brother’s piano practice, and the general chaos of family life. Yet despite my love f…
Story Secrets - Severance Is 'Lost' for the Streaming Generation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:42
I can’t stop talking about Severance. It’s rare for a show to capture my imagination the way this one does. Every episode is like a puzzle piece, and the internet is buzzing with speculation, theories, and analysis. It r…
Story Secrets - The Magic of Star Wars Toys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:11
If you grew up with Star Wars, you probably had that one toy that defined your childhood. Maybe it was a lightsaber, an action figure, or a model of the Millennium Falcon. For me, those early Star Wars toys were more tha…
Story Secrets - The Role of Providence in The Hobbit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:29
Over the weekend, I dived into a fascinating series of lectures on The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce. If you're not familiar with his work, he's written extensively about the deeper layers of Tolkien's stories, especially thei…
Story Secrets - The Irish Saint Who Inspired Tolkien and C.S. Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:41
Did you know that an Irish saint from the early Middle Ages helped inspire both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? His name was St. Brendan the Navigator, and his legendary voyage to a mysterious land echoes through some of…
Story Secrets - Is Assassin’s Apprentice Worth the Hype? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
I finally read Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb—the book that everyone on BookTok and BookTube seems to love. And I went in with high expectations. A fantasy classic? Deep characters? A compelling story? Count me in.…
Story Secrets - Andor Isn’t Just a Star Wars Show—It’s a Warning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:20
The trailer for Andor Season 2 just dropped, and wow—it reminded me why this series is one of the best things to come out of Star Wars in years. And no, it’s not just because of the gritty storytelling or the fantastic c…