Brad Allard welcomes author Brandon Crisp to discuss his debut science-fiction novel, The Simulacrum. Crisp describes a near-future world in which humanity creates a digital simulation of reality after nearly destroying itself, hoping to prevent future catastrophes. He also shares the practical side of writing a 76,000-word manuscript, including using Reedsy for drafting and typesetting, building flowcharts to track character relationships, and maintaining a consistent writing practice.

The conversation explores the challenges of marketing a first novel, using Amazon and Kindle Unlimited to reach readers, and Crisp's hope that the story might one day be adapted for the screen. The episode also highlights upcoming Burleson events, including the STAND Conference and the Honey Tour.