# #201: Writing Bestselling Fantasy — Holly Black (The Cruel Prince) & Samantha Shannon (The Priory of the Orange Tree) on Magic Systems, Building Worlds From Research, and Writing Through Self-Doubt | Compilation

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/london-writers-salon-5324518/201-writing-bestselling-fantasy-holly-black-the-cruel-prince-samantha-shannon-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree-on-magic-systems-building-worlds-from-research-and-writing-through-self-doubt-compilation
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/london-writers-salon-5324518/201-writing-bestselling-fantasy-holly-black-the-cruel-prince-samantha-shannon-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree-on-magic-systems-building-worlds-from-research-and-writing-through-self-doubt-compilation.md
Podcast: [London Writers' Salon](https://stenobird.com/podcast/london-writers-salon-5324518)
Published: 2026-07-05T00:26:22+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.londonwriterssalon.com/episodes/201-writing-fantasy-holly-black-the-cruel-prince-samantha-shannon-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree-on-magic-systems-building-worlds-from-research-and-writing-through-self-doubt-compilation-qYAbtJZH
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Duration seconds: 2853

## Resource

Bestselling fantasy authors Holly Black and Samantha Shannon on building believable magic systems, researching and constructing immersive worlds, and why the right book often only emerges once you’ve written the wrong one.

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