Mark Leslie is a writer, editor and bookseller who lives in Southern Ontario. In 2005, Mark joined the blogging bandwagon and started posting random thoughts and musings on writing, bookselling and being a father.noreply@blogger.com (Mark Leslie)Sun, 22 Feb 2026 03:07:30 -0500Blogger http://www.blogger.com1733125http://markleslie.blogspot.com/en-usyesCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs2.5 License.author,horror,scifi,speculative,fiction,writingPrelude To A Scream is a series of writing samples from Mark Leslie (author of horror, science fiction, speculative writing) combined with notes "on the writing" of each selected piece(s) contained within the podcast.Prelude To A Scream is a series of writing samples from Mark Leslie (author of horror, science fiction, speculative writing) combined with notes "on the writing" of each selected piece(s) contained within the podcast.Mark Lesliemark@markleslie.caMark Lesliehttp://markleslie.blogspot.com/2024/12/trivia-about-national-lampoons.htmlChristmasChristmas VacationClark GriswoldCousin Eddiemovie trivianational lampoontriviaWed, 11 Dec 2024 15:01:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-3510622560501395307  Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!If you're familiar with that phrase, then chances are that you're likely a fan of the perennial modern classic Christmas comedy National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. And if you've seen the movie a number of times, you might be up for a quick trivia challenge associated with it.The movie, which was originally released in theaters on December 1, 1989, 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2023/11/anatomy-of-author-photo-die-hard-trivia.htmlauthorauthor brandingBruce WillisCanadianCanadian authorCN TowerDel GriffithDie HardJohn Candymoviemovie triviamoviesNakatomi PlazaPlanes Trains & AutomobilesTorontotriviaMon, 27 Nov 2023 07:46:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-831610066741260655I do try to put careful consideration into which author photo goes on which book.My author photo for The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles for example, was relatively easy. All I had to do was take a shot of me reading the book with a backdrop from the scene at LGA where Del Griffith (John Candy) and Neal Page (Steve Martin) first meet (at least officially).So 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-12-hour-walk.htmlnatureRichard LouvThe 12 Hour WalkThoreauwalkwalkingFri, 2 Jun 2023 12:56:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-451369226377921434 "I've been looking at The 12 Hour Walk," Liz said at the end of dinner one night. This was about a month or so ago.She had that look in her eyes that I know so well.I suppose I would describe it as a medley of intrigue, inquisitiveness, and wonder sprinkled with a layer of playfulness and an underlying sense of adventure.It's one of the things I love the most about Liz. Her sense of 0Waterloo, ON, Canada43.4642578 -80.5204096-1.5205078714539511 -150.8329096 88.449023471453955 -10.207909599999994mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2022/11/yes-virginia-canadian-mounted-was-real.htmlThu, 24 Nov 2022 09:10:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-8940349985275800553One of the most common questions I see asked, whenever someone notices/attends to the book Del Griffith (John Candy) is reading when he and Neal Page (Steve Martin) officially meet for the first time at LGA in Planes, Trains and Automobiles is whether it's a real book.It is a real book.It was originally published in the 80s by a publisher called BEELINE. They produced hundreds of pornographic 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2022/10/five-fascinating-fck-related-facts-from.htmlEdie McClurgJohn HughesPlanes Trains & AutomobilesSteve MartinThe Canadian MountedtriviaFri, 14 Oct 2022 14:09:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-7249424426026367212One of most memorable and quoted moments in PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES is when Neal Page, played by Steve Martin, returns to the Marathon car rental counter at the St. Louis airport and has his fuck-filled tired that ends with "I want a f*cking car, right f*cking now!" and, of course, the classic come-back of the rental agent.Here are five fascinating f*ck-related facts from the film:1) The 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2022/05/lovers-moon-podcast.htmlA Canadian Werewolf in New YorkCanadian WerewolfJulie StraussNew YorkpodcastromanceMon, 23 May 2022 07:32:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-6288079256985159269On May 24, 2022, the latest novel in my Canadian Werewolf series launches.LOVER'S MOON was co-authored with my friend Julie Strauss and is the first full length romance novel I have written. (Well, to be honest, I could NOT have written it without Julie's help. I did try, for the longest time, to write it. But I wasn't able to get that done without Julie's help in both the conception of the story0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/12/meet-cambridge-authors-event.htmlauthor eventbook signingscambridgeeventSelf-PromotionTue, 7 Dec 2021 10:38:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1045080883874840257On December 10, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:30 to 8:30 PM, I'll be appearing, along with more than a dozen other local authors, at the MEET THE CAMBRIDGE AUTHORS DAY event at Cambridge Centre for the Arts (60 Dickson Street, Cambridge, ON) We will be selling and signing copies of our books. And there are so many different genres and subjects from the books that'll be there that you're 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-canadian-mounted.htmlDeadpoolJohn CandyJohn HughesmoviePlanes Trains & Automobilesprop bookRyan ReynoldsSteve MartinThe Canadian MountedwritingSun, 28 Nov 2021 09:50:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1074163740889060947If, like me, you pay attention to when books appear in movies, you might be familiar with the mass market paperback that John Candy (Del Griffith) is reading in PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson) holds the same (or at least a strikingly similar) paperback in DEADPOOL 2. It seems to be a cheeky nod to Candy's character in that classic film. Reynolds has publicly 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/10/2021-wmg-publishing-halloween.htmlanthologyHalloweenharvest short storiesWMG PublishingSun, 24 Oct 2021 12:21:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-3695231708126230247If you like the Halloween season the way I do, you're already anticipating a bit of a let down come November, when it's over for another year.But what if I told you that you could continue to enjoy the thrill and fun of the Halloween and Harvest season with a handy little THE HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR CALENDAR 2021 Get a daily dose of spooky fun delivered straight to your inbox. Or. give the 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/10/uncanny-tales-storytime-for-adults.htmlaudioaudiobooksauthor readingChris Humphreyshorrorreadingshort storiesshort storyVancouverVancouver Public LibrarySun, 17 Oct 2021 10:28:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-867436715988296821I was honored that Chris Humphreys recently read some of my short fiction as part of the Vancouver Public Library's "Uncanny Tales: Storytime for Adults" series.In a delightful dark and black and white setting, Chris reads my short stories "That Old Silk Hat They Found" and "Browsers.""That Old Silk Hat They Found" is a tale that appears in my mini short story collection Snowman Shivers: Dark 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/08/meet-author-burlington-public-library.htmlA Canadian Werewolf in New YorkBurlington Burlington Public LibraryCanadian WerewolfeventFear and Longing in Los Angelesreadingvirtual eventThu, 19 Aug 2021 08:13:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1846933555539484987On Aug 31, 2021 Burlington Public Library is hosting an event with me.  During the event I'll be sharing my journey through writing and publishing, the inspiration and origin of my "Canadian Werewolf" series, and an excerpt from my most recent novel in that series: Fear and Longing in Los Angeles.The event is free, but you'll have to register online in order to attend.0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/07/video-review-of-canadian-werewolf-books.htmlA Canadian Werewolf in New Yorkbook reviewbooksCanadian WerewolfReviewreviewswerewolfFri, 23 Jul 2021 13:42:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-374128287080949815 I was beyond thrilled to see how much Nichi, the host of Dark Between the Pages, enjoyed my Canadian Werewolf books.In this video review, part of her Recent Reads video, she shares her thoughts on my character Michael Andrews and the situations he ends up finding himself in in A Canadian Werewolf in New York, Stowe Away, and Fear and Longing in Los Angeles.The part where she talks about my 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/07/best-book-ever-podcast-neil-pearts.htmlBest Book EverbooksinterviewNeil PeartpodcastreadingRushRush lyricsMon, 19 Jul 2021 20:40:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-48029259777738472I was a guest on a recent episode, Episode 58 of the Best Book Ever Podcast.Book worm host Julie Strauss and I talked about Neil Peart's memoir Traveling Music: The Soundtrack of my Life and Times. This was my second appearance as a guest on the show, and I was honored to learn that I was the first repeat guest that Julie'd had. (I chatted about George R. Stewart's Earth Abides on my 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/06/dark-between-pages-live-chat.htmlA Canadian Werewolf in New YorkCanadian WerewolfinterviewSelf-PromotionvideowritingYouTubeWed, 30 Jun 2021 06:43:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1357877812070345338I had the opportunity to chat with Nichi of Dark Between Pages the other day during an hour long live chat. Okay, we went one hour and eighteen minutes. But that's because the chat was so fun, and the folks watching and commenting during that chat were so lively and entertaining.We spent quite a bit of time talking about my Canadian Werewolf series . . .Canadian Werewolf SeriesThough we talked 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/06/i-never-thought-i-would-present.htmlSun, 27 Jun 2021 15:36:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-6317205925480744683I had a great chat with Jennifer Lieberman on your YouTube show I Never Thought I Would and got to share the great honor of presenting Margaret Atwood with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association. This was for Episode 41. Here's one of the pictures from the night in question. Still one of my greatest honors.0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/06/scribble-worths-review-of-fear-and.htmlFri, 18 Jun 2021 09:45:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-142810502374587921I was thrilled to read this review on the Scribble Worth's blog for my latest novel, FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES.This is a link to the full reviewHere are some of the highlights from the review.How’d your love life be like, if you turned into wolf at night and had to fight crime? Mark Leslie explores this possibility in a entertaining, smooth and unique way blending romance with fantasy 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/06/i-always-feel-like-somebodys-watching-me.htmlhorror authorMichael Jacksonmusicmusic videoRockwellshort videoskeletonskullskullsvideoWed, 16 Jun 2021 17:11:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-917852441225593252Do you ever feeling like someone is watching you?I do.All the time. But perhaps there's a good reason for it. (Click to see video)It could just be the more than two dozen skulls in my office.The side effect of being a horror author I guess. 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/06/why-cant-i-do-normal-memes-boop-floof.html#boopthefloof#whatthehellisthatboop the floofcat videocatshorrorhorror authorhorror writermemememesshort videowhat the hell is thatSat, 12 Jun 2021 09:40:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-5941792098867167897It started off as a normal meme.That cute little audio clip originally created by Matt Cox (@findmattcox on TikTok) while my phone camera sneaks up on Meredith, our lovely cat. But I'm not a normal person.And our pets aren't normal either.How could they be with so many skeletons in and out of our closets?Pets of a horror writer aren't normal pets, are they?0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/05/toronto-public-library-sets-world.htmlaudiobooksebookslibrarieslibraryToronto Public LibrarySun, 16 May 2021 08:12:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1176369875127834749A recent CTV Toronto news update shared that Toronto Public Library (with 100 branches) has broken a world record with 8 million digital downloads in the last year.“Toronto Public Library for the 8th year in a row is the largest consumer of e-content in the world, so it's quite a large system," said Shawn Mitchell to reporter Pat Foran, in the aforementioned article.Did you know that you can 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/05/spirits-in-audio-read-by-eric-bryan.htmlWed, 12 May 2021 13:29:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-4068305013022709911Rob and Sally are having a relationship crisis, and need some time alone together. Where better to do that than the old abandoned Phoenix movie theater? Things don’t go as planned. What should have been a wonderfully romantic night, will end up changing the course of their lives forever.That's the setup that Eric Bryan Moore, professional audiobook narrator and podcaster, shares for my short 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/03/dont-go-into-woods.htmlcampfireeventghost storiesghost storyghostshauntedvirtual eventMon, 1 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-7989028156694874459On Saturday March 13 I'm going to be participating in a live virtual storytelling event with the folks from The Haunted Walks.Eerie & unexplainable tales from Northern Ontario, isolated spots, and haunted locales! Beyond the safety of our city streetlights, and the flickering of our warm and comforting campfire, the darkness is always waiting.Join paranormal author and raconteur Mark 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2021/02/fear-and-longing-in-los-angeles.htmlA Canadian Werewolf in New Yorkbookbook launchCanadianCanadian WerewolfLos AngelesnovelSelf-PromotionserieswerewolfTue, 23 Feb 2021 09:17:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-1825351305791224018Today is the release day for the latest full length novel in the Canadian Werewolf series.It all started back in 2006 when I attempted to turn the short story "This Time Around" into a novel called A Canadian Werewolf in New York. It took me almost ten years to finish writing the book, which was originally published in 2016.But in the summer of 2020, after spending a few years working on the 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-corona-kinda-christmas.htmlChristmascoronacoronaviruscovid-19lyricsmusicpandemicparodyThu, 31 Dec 2020 23:17:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-4386623311867548255Liz and I enjoyed making a pandemic parody medley in the guise of the old K-Tel style television commercials back in the spring.We kicked around the idea of putting together a similar one but with a bit of a Christmas theme.So I started to work on some lyrics. The cool thing about writing a "medley" album spoof is that you don't need to do the whole song; just small bits of it.We never ended up 0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)http://markleslie.blogspot.com/2020/12/youve-heard-of-elf-on-shelf-now-get.html#Elfonashelf#MyElfElf on a ShelfWed, 16 Dec 2020 21:16:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11333602.post-7207658481206625032 I always enjoy a good meme; particularly the creativity that goes into it.A recent one is the "You've Heard of Elf on the Shelf, Now Get Ready For..." and there is a visual of a something on top of something else that rhymes with it.There is usually never any accompanying text - part of the fun is that the image itself needs to convey the punchline. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing, or a0mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie)