David Hankins – Humor, Speculative Fiction & D3ath and the Taxman

In this delightfully witty episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle sits down with David Hankins, award-winning author of Death and the Taxman and other laugh-out-loud tales of speculative fiction. Broadcasting from the cornfields of Iowa (with two dragons disguised as cats), David shares how he blends humor, heart, and a touch of absurdity into stories that entertain and uplift.

We dive into the origins of Death and the Taxman, his love for writing lighthearted fantasy, and why he believes the world needs more laughter—especially in fiction. David talks about balancing wanderlust with writing, how humor can deepen emotional impact, and why speculative fiction is the perfect sandbox for asking “what if?”—with a grin.

If you’re a fan of Terry Pratchett-style wit, clever storytelling, or speculative fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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ABOUT DAVID HANKINS:

David Hankins is the award-winning author of Death and the Taxman and other humorous tales. He writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dragons disguised as cats. Afflicted with incurable wanderlust, David devotes his time to his passions of writing, traveling, and finding new ways to pay his mortgage. He writes lighthearted speculative fiction because that's what he loves to read and—this is the important bit—there's not nearly enough humor in the world. David aims to change that, one story at a time. You can find him at https://davidhankins.com

WHERE TO FIND HIM:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | BlueSky | X | Threads

WHERE TO BUY HIS BOOKS:

Universal

OTHER BOOKS MENTIONED:

How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon

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Kickstarter for Authors by Anthea Sharp

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