Hans Schantz is not your typical author; he is a literal scientist with a background in antenna technology who believes modern physics took a wrong turn over a century ago. Today he joins us to share how he uses his Hidden Truth series to reintroduce the lost principles of 19th-century electromagnetism to a new generation, effectively using alternate history to teach real-world physics.
We also dive deep into the reality of “cancel culture” in publishing. Hans reveals how being de-platformed by Kickstarter for his controversial courtroom drama actually led to him doubling his funding elsewhere. From the mechanics of organizing 300+ authors for the “Based Book Sale” to why he believes traditional publishing has become the “vanity press” of the 21st century, this episode is a masterclass in defying gatekeepers.
In This Episode
Real Science in Fiction: Why Hans believes the standard model of the photon is contradictory (simultaneously a wave and a particle) and how he uses fiction to propose a consistent model based on Fields and Energy.
The Cancellation Bonus: The story of how The Wise of Heart was booted from Kickstarter, only for Hans to double his funding revenue by moving to a competitor platform.
Steelmanning the Opposition: Why writing effective political or courtroom drama requires creating logical, consistent arguments for the side you disagree with, rather than relying on “strawman” caricatures.
The Based Book Sale: How to organize a massive, grassroots marketing event with over 300 authors to bypass algorithm suppression and cross-promote directly to readers.
Bypassing Academic Gatekeepers: Hans explains why he moved his scientific research to Substack after academic journals refused to peer-review his work, finding a hungry audience of students and free-thinkers instead.
Trad Pub is the New Vanity: Why seeking validation from a “Big 5” publisher is an ego trap, and why indie publishing is the only path for authors who want to find their true audience.
Fiction vs. Non-Fiction on Substack: A look at why serialization often fails for novels but thrives for educational content, and how to structure your writing to keep subscribers opening every email.
Guest Links
Hans Schantz
Read The Hidden Truth series: https://amzn.to/3Yj03e1
Based Book Sale Substack: https://basedbooksale.substack.com/
Hans on Substack: https://substack.com/profile/36446731-hans-g-schantz
Hans on X: https://x.com/AetherCzar
Kristin’s Links
Services & Content
Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com
Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristin
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to NFK
00:21 - Meet Hans Schantz: Scientist and Indie Author
00:45 - The Cancellation Controversy
01:48 - Hans’ Writing Journey and Projects
03:00 - The Kickstarter Fiasco
05:44 - Navigating Indie Platforms
08:35 - The Based Book Sale
10:58 - Challenges and Strategies in Indie Publishing
15:42 - Hans’ Physics Substack
21:29 - Writing Fiction vs. Non-Fiction on Substack
26:13 - The Hidden Truth Series
29:12 - The Wise of Heart: A Courtroom Drama
39:51 - Advice for Indie Authors
43:15 - Where to Find Hans’ Work
About This Podcast
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.
New episodes weekly.
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